Most of the time when working on optimal health, you’ll be focusing on eating healthy, exercising, changing your lifestyle, etc.
This is beneficial, but can take quite an effort.
But there is one activity that’s completely effortless, that drastically improves all markers of health. Unfortunately, most of us deny ourselves of this activity, even if it’s completely effortless and doesn’t cost a dime.
Sleep deprivation, whether caused by being overworked, insomnia, sleep apnea, or any other reason, has catastrophic consequences all throughout the body and causes many serious conditions.
Here are 5 critical reasons YOU need to focus on improving your sleep if you want to have optimal health.
Sleep is restorative – While you are in deep stages of sleep, your brain releases hormones that trigger the chemical reactions that repair tissue. Injury and stress to the body is repaired primarily while we sleep. This is true for joints, arteries, muscles, and all other parts of your body.
Sleep heals high blood pressure – while you sleep, your blood pressure drops significantly. Give your body the break it needs and let sleep beat back the stress hormones that can build up during the waking hours, causing high blood pressure and other stress-related problems.
Sleep stockpiles energy – When we are awake, even when we’re sedentary, we are consuming energy. Sleep is the only state in which we stockpile more energy than we expend. By getting good sleep, you fuel your powerful for the next day.
Sleep makes your brain work better – Have you ever had a major decision to make and going to bed it seemed hopeless, but the next day it was crystal clear? Sleep is the key factor. Having a clear mind also reduces stress as you don’t feel confused about things. Which again lowers blood pressure and improves overall health.
Sleep keeps you fit – Studies have proven again and again that people who sleep better burn more calories than people who are sleep-deprived. The reduction in blood sugar levels, inflammation, and all the other detrimental effects of metabolic-based problems cannot be overstated. This improves your cardiovascular health as well as overall health.