The average human will spend about one-third of their lives asleep, which seems like a lot until you consider all the things your body is accomplishing each night.Not only does your body need the restful time that sleep offers, but your mind does too. Our brains process an astonishing amount of data each day. They answer questions, make decisions, learn new things, react to different scenarios, and deal with processing a wide range of emotions.
All of this information we take in during the day isn’t processed immediately. It’s temporarily logged away so that our brains can analyze the data and place it in the appropriate long-term storage within our minds while we’re sleeping. Without adequate sleep/processing time, our minds can become foggy, clogged, and overwhelmed. In short, sleep is essential to a happy, healthy lifestyle.
Why Sleep is So Important
But that’s not the only reason sleep is so important. It’s just as crucial to your physical health as it is your mental health. Your body needs sleep to:
Lose Weight
People who sleep well tend to eat fewer calories and have less trouble maintaining a healthy weight. People who are sleep-deprived, on the other hand, tend to eat more calories each day and weigh more. Poor sleep is actually one of the biggest risk factors for obesity, most likely because of its tendency to make people feel unmotivated and sluggish. And, while supplements like Health Guardian Slim® can certainly help, there’s nothing that can replace a good night’s sleep.
Maintain Healthy Brain Function
A tired brain will not serve you as well as an adequately-rested one will. Without enough sleep, most people notice a significant drop in their concentration, productivity, and memory, as well as their ability to respond quickly in potentially dangerous situations. An exhausted mind will make more mistakes and be less alert, almost as though it is under the influence of alcohol. Your brain needs sleep to solve problems, boost creativity, and build a strong memory.
Keep Your Body Active
Most adults know the feeling of physical exhaustion that comes after getting a poor night’s sleep. But sleeping well doesn’t just help you feel less tired, it actually helps enhance your physical performance. Those who sleep longer will experience increased speed, improved reflexes, and better grip, which is why it’s especially critical for athletes to sleep well.
Strengthen the Immune System
Your body works hard to keep you safe from disease every day, and it can’t do that without proper sleep. A lack of sleep will cause immune system function to drop, making it easier for infections to develop. Poor sleep also lowers your body’s ability to fight inflammation, which can be linked to a variety of bowel disorders and cell damage.
Help Prevent Heart Attack and Stroke
Sleep helps your body reduce blood pressure, but a lack of sleep means your blood pressure could go up and stay up. Increased blood pressure raises your risk for heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Fortunately, when you pair good sleep with our CardioForLIfe® supplement, you can combat the dangers of high blood pressure.
Reduce Your Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Poor sleep can have an effect on your body’s ability to process sugar and keep it from building up in your blood. Some studies have suggested that getting the recommended amount of sleep each night can significantly reduce the chances of developing type 2 diabetes.
Help Keep You Happy
Sleep affects your emotional health just as much as it does your physical and mental health. People who have trouble sleeping often experience depression and anxiety, and even report increased suicidal thoughts. Lack of sleep can also have a negative impact on your ability to conduct successful social interactions which, in turn, can add to depression and anxiety.
People who sleep well tend to eat fewer calories and have less trouble maintaining a healthy weight. People who are sleep-deprived, on the other hand, tend to eat more calories each day and weigh more. Poor sleep is actually one of the biggest risk factors for obesity, most likely because of its tendency to make people feel unmotivated and sluggish. And, while supplements like Health Guardian Slim® can certainly help, there’s nothing that can replace a good night’s sleep.
Maintain Healthy Brain Function
A tired brain will not serve you as well as an adequately-rested one will. Without enough sleep, most people notice a significant drop in their concentration, productivity, and memory, as well as their ability to respond quickly in potentially dangerous situations. An exhausted mind will make more mistakes and be less alert, almost as though it is under the influence of alcohol. Your brain needs sleep to solve problems, boost creativity, and build a strong memory.
Keep Your Body Active
Most adults know the feeling of physical exhaustion that comes after getting a poor night’s sleep. But sleeping well doesn’t just help you feel less tired, it actually helps enhance your physical performance. Those who sleep longer will experience increased speed, improved reflexes, and better grip, which is why it’s especially critical for athletes to sleep well.
Strengthen the Immune System
Your body works hard to keep you safe from disease every day, and it can’t do that without proper sleep. A lack of sleep will cause immune system function to drop, making it easier for infections to develop. Poor sleep also lowers your body’s ability to fight inflammation, which can be linked to a variety of bowel disorders and cell damage.
Help Prevent Heart Attack and Stroke
Sleep helps your body reduce blood pressure, but a lack of sleep means your blood pressure could go up and stay up. Increased blood pressure raises your risk for heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Fortunately, when you pair good sleep with our CardioForLIfe® supplement, you can combat the dangers of high blood pressure.
Reduce Your Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Poor sleep can have an effect on your body’s ability to process sugar and keep it from building up in your blood. Some studies have suggested that getting the recommended amount of sleep each night can significantly reduce the chances of developing type 2 diabetes.
Help Keep You Happy
Sleep affects your emotional health just as much as it does your physical and mental health. People who have trouble sleeping often experience depression and anxiety, and even report increased suicidal thoughts. Lack of sleep can also have a negative impact on your ability to conduct successful social interactions which, in turn, can add to depression and anxiety.
Tips for Getting Better Sleep
Learning how to sleep better is certainly a process. It takes time and some serious effort to develop a plan and stick to it. That said, the rewards of getting better sleep are many, and the process of improving your sleep routine is well worth it. Below are some ways you can get more and better sleep:
- Develop a sleep schedule and stick to it. This means going to bed and getting up at the same time every single day.
- Try to avoid napping, but if you do need to nap, limit it to no more than 20 minutes.
- Get more natural light. The sun helps with your body’s melatonin production, which helps keep your sleep schedule consistent.
- Exercise more. Even just ten minutes of exercise a day can help you sleep better, although your ultimate goal should be to exercise 2-3 hours per week.
- Make sure your room caters to successful sleep. This means keeping the temperature down, light and noise to a minimum, and making sure you’re as comfortable as possible.
- Avoid using your phone or a TV right before bed, as the blue light can keep you up. Instead, try a calming nighttime ritual, like reading or meditating, to help you wind down without screen time.
- Don’t eat or drink right before bedtime. Large meals before bed can upset your stomach and drinking too many fluids may make you have to wake up to use the bathroom.
- Limit caffeine intake. Caffeine can stay in your system for up to 12 hours, so if you’re really having trouble sleeping, you might consider cutting caffeine out altogether.
- Quit smoking. Aside from the numerous health drawbacks, nicotine is a stimulant that can raise your heart rate and keep you awake.
- Don’t consume alcohol before bed, as adult beverages affect your brain and your sleep patterns.
Laying in bed when you can’t sleep produces more sleep anxiety, so if you’re still having trouble sleeping, it’s best to just get up and do something else. Even just going in another room and reading a book for 15 minutes may be all you need to start to feel drowsy. You should also consider investing in a product that can help you monitor your sleep to find out when you’re waking up, whether you’re snoring, etc.
At Health Guardian, our SmartPulse monitor connects directly to your phone via Bluetooth and can help you keep track of your sleep, as well as things like heart rate, blood circulation, and more. You can find it along with all of our other products on our website, or find out more about becoming a Health Guardian Affiliate by clicking here.