Your body needs sleep and it just does not need sleep so that you can have a stress free day ahead, but it also needs that adequate 7 – 9 hours that is absolutely essential to keep a host of illnesses at bay. Getting the right amount of sleep will prepare your body to fight ills such as the flu, developing heart disease and even diabetes.
So, if you think that life is getting the better of you and you are unable to find the time to sleep, let us make you understand, why it is that you need to take a break and get at least 7 – 9 hours to sleep.
Junk Food
When you do not sleep enough, hormones in your body that is responsible for regulating one’s appetite are shaken up. This may make you want foods that are rich in carbohydrates, and you may start needing more calories as well. This loss of sleep can also lead to weight gain, because of sleep deprivation.
You Attract Germs
Those who get at least seven hours of sleep every night are less likely to catch a cold. It also affects your immunity and your body may not be able to create antibodies in the right amount to fight your infections.
Sugar
If you have gone as little as six days without enough sleep, your body will start resisting insulin. Insulin is hormone that is responsible for transfer of the glucose from the blood stream in to the cells of the body.
Stress
When you do not get the right amount of sleep, you will note that you will more stressed, as the stress hormone cortisol receives a spike when you are stressed, and this will happen usually the next afternoon or evening. High stress will lead in to high heart rate, high blood glucose levels and eventually hypertension, and type 2 diabetes risks as well. The worst part is that these spikes in cortisol come at a time when you should actually be winding down.
Bad Mood
Reaction time is affected after a night of hardly any sleep. Facing rush hour traffic after you have not received enough rest can be a dangerous experience. One’s mood and sleep are affected by the same chemicals in one’s brain. This could also go on to lead to depression.
Old
Your skin tends to look older when your levels of stress are high and cortisol is being produced. The cortisol production affects the levels of collagen production and therefore, your skin starts looking older, sooner.
There is a reason why, you need your beauty sleep, to regulate hormones and get yourself to look glowing once again.
It is indeed important that you get the sleep you need. If you do wish to call it a night earlier than a usual time, and make it a habit, you have to ease in to the practice of doing so.
You can do this by following the steps below:
1. Go to bed, about fifteen minutes earlier than you usually do.
2. Dim the lights about an hour before bed, may be put on some lilting music.
3. Try not to watch any TV or log on to the internet.
4. Some light stretching and meditation can indeed help you too.
Speak with a Registered Holistic Nutritionist to find out how your diet is affecting your sleep patterns. Also find out how a Homeopath can help you find natural remedies that can indeed bring you a healthier lifestyle.
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