The Importance of Sleep

A good night's rest makes everything else in your life easier. Along with nutrition and mental wellbeing, optimal sleep fuels us to live our best lives. The following information provides some insight into how sleep affects our health and how good sleep habits can provide just what you need to sleep like a baby once again.
 

Our bodies turn their energy inward when we sleep. Instead of expending energy to walk, talk, eat, exercise and digest, our bodies focus on repairing damaged cells and tissues, recharging the immune system and giving our minds some well-deserved time to wander freely through our dreams. Without time to sleep each night, bad things start to happen and fast!

A recent survey by the National Sleep Foundation found that on average people sleep one and a half hours less than they did a century ago. The survey also found that most people feel best with at least eight hours of sleep each night; however, the number of people that reported actually getting eight or more hours of sleep each night fell from 38 percent in 2001 to 28 percent in 2008.

Insufficient sleep over time has been linked to depression, decreased cognitive performance, immune suppression, blood sugar imbalance and even obesity. Just one night of poor sleep can cause fatigue, memory loss and decreased mental capacity.
 

The bottom line? Sleep should be kept at the top of your to-do list each day.

By making optimal sleep a priority in your life, you may be amazed at the positive impact you can have on your mental and physical outlook. With a few simple rituals in place you lay the foundation for attaining optimal wellness.

Source: www.kashi.com