Benefits Of Good Sleeping

 

More than half of Canadians report reducing their sleep hours when they run out of time, and one-third of Canadians sleep fewer hours per night than the recommended 7 to 9 hours. Yet the benefits of a good sleep1 are real, both for our overall physical health, our mental health and our overall well-being. Here are five.

Boost the immune system

The immune system protects our body from infections and diseases. To function properly, it needs sleep. When you sleep, organs, tissues and cells repair and regenerate. Sleep increases the performance of our immune system and, conversely, lack of sleep interferes with its effectiveness. This is why sleeping can increase our resistance to fighting certain infections and diseases.

Preserve the heart

Without a good night's rest, the heart and arteries are constantly stressed. Cardiovascular diseases (infarction, high blood pressure or stroke) are more likely to occur. People who sleep less than six hours a night are 27% more likely to have cardiovascular disease associated with hardening of the arteries, and this figure increases to 34% for people with poor sleep quality (frequent awakenings)2.

Maintaining the brain

The brain is particularly active during sleep. He takes advantage of this time to memorize and store the information learned during the day. It therefore helps to consolidate learning. It also takes the opportunity to eliminate metabolic waste, whose accumulation promotes the development of neurodegenerative diseases. This protects the health of our brains.

A good sleep also allows us to remain attentive, motivated, focused and it facilitates the learning of new information, which makes us more efficient at work or school.

Prevent depression

One of the main benefits of sleep is to improve our mood during the day.

• When we lack sleep, the production of cortisol, the stress hormone, increases, preventing us from sleeping well and quickly creating a vicious circle. We're more tired, we tend to ruminate and get depressed.
• On the other hand, when you sleep well, you feel fit and manage your emotions better.

Manage weight

Sleeping helps regulate your metabolism by decreasing the production of ghrelin, the hormone that promotes appetite. Blood sugar is also regulated, which makes us less likely to fall for sugary foods. Good sleep helps us to ward off diseases related to poor diet or overweight, such as type 2 diabetes. And when you sleep well, you have more energy and motivation to practice physical activities, which in turn promote weight management and sleep.