Many of us focus on eating healthy and exercising, but often forget one crucial aspect of a healthy lifestyle: better sleep. Good sleep is essential for brain function and a strong immune system. Let’s delve into why sleeping better is so important and how much sleep you really need.
A study by the Endocrine Society showed that missing just 30 minutes of sleep per night can lead to long-term weight gain. According to the study, people who missed at least 30 minutes of sleep daily were 72% more likely to be obese than those who didn’t have a sleep deficit.
Research from the American Heart Association discovered that getting 5 or fewer hours of sleep per night resulted in 50% more coronary artery calcium compared to those who slept 7 hours. Interestingly, getting 9 or more hours of sleep was associated with 70% more coronary calcium than sleeping for 7 hours. Additionally, poor sleep quality was linked to 20% more coronary calcium than good sleep quality.
Other research in eLife suggests that pulling all-nighters can backfire if you aim to retain information. Studies on flies indicate that our brains might need sleep to consolidate memories. While more research is needed on humans, the implication is clear: studying and then sleeping could help you remember better.
A SLEEP study found that people who sleep 6 or fewer hours each night are four times more likely to catch a common cold when exposed to the virus. This shows that insufficient sleep affects both our cognitive and physical health.
Loyola University recently updated sleep guidelines, showing how much sleep people of different ages need based on the latest research. Despite our knowledge of sleep’s restorative benefits and its role in memory consolidation, we still don’t completely understand its function. Here are the latest recommended sleep amounts from the National Sleep Foundation:
In summary, make better sleep a priority this year. Along with a good diet and regular exercise, aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night. It’s one of the healthiest habits you can adopt. Your body will thank you for it!
