It is quite obvious that getting enough sleep is beneficial for health. Although we may not really understand what sleep can do for us, we know that our minds and body cannot function properly without getting enough sleep. Have you ever felt terrible after being awake till late nights and getting up early in the morning? Have you ever noticed that you are unable to concentrate if you have not been getting enough sleep? If you go without sleep for too long, you will feel really terrible and if you get enough sleep, then you will feel good.
A number of studies and researches have been conducted to understand the benefits of sleep in detail. Whether these studies have been conducted on animals or humans, it has been found that sleep plays an important role in memory, metabolism, immune function, learning and a number of other functions. No one, not even the scientists are really sure why we sleep, but there are numerous ideas about the role sleep plays in our lives.
Better concentration
If you have a disturbed night’s sleep, you will not only feel terrible the following morning, but you will also find yourself struggling all day. A number of surveys have been conducted which reveal that not getting enough sleep can lead to concentration issues.
Reduces Stress
Sleep deprivation can lead to stress. When the body is not able to get enough sleep, the body does not function well and there is an increase in blood pressure. The body also produces stress hormones which increases the risk of stroke and heart attacks. Getting enough sleep is the only way to deal with such problems because if you develop chronic stress over time, you will find it difficult to sleep even.
Boosts Memory
Memory consolidation is a process which occurs when you sleep. This involves processing what you did throughout the day. Your body may be at rest, but your brain connects between events, memories, feelings and sensory input. Links and memories are made by your brain when you are in deep sleep or when you are dreaming. When you get adequate sleep, your brain is able to process things better which can help improve your memory power.
Helps lose weight
According to a number of researches, people who sleep less tend to be obese or overweight. This is because lack of sleep has an impact on the balance of hormones which affects appetite of a person. Not getting enough sleep disrupts the balance between the hormones leptin and ghrelin. So if you want to get rid of the extra pounds, start getting adequate sleep from today.
Helps repair your body
When you are sleeping, your body produces protein molecules which can help you fight infections. The more you sleep, the more protein molecules are produced which helps the immune system repair the body at a cellular level.