By this point in our lives, we have come to understand the importance of a good nights sleep. We can physically and mentally feel the difference when we gotten little to no sleep verses a full nights rest. But sleep is much more important than you make think. In this article we will touch upon what is actually going on internally while we sleep, how a lack of sleep may be affecting our short and long term health, and what you can do to help your body get the proper amount of sleep for optimal health.
So first, we must understand what is physiologically happening to our bodies while we sleep.
Our sleep cycle is made up of 4 stages of NREM (Non-Rapid Eye Movement) and REM (Rapid Eye Movement) throughout the night.
Some of the most important work happens in Stages 3-4 of sleep.
Summarized by the National Sleep Foundation our bodies:
Blood pressure drops
Muscles are relaxed
Blood supply to muscles increases
Tissue growth and repair occurs
Growth Hormones are released essential for recovery
With each deeper stage of sleep, our bodies become more relaxed as it enters into the REM state. Our first REM state may last upwards to 90 minutes and increases in length with every cycle.
Once in the REM state, our bodies can begin to recharge and restore brain function.
“Sleep changes the cellular structure of the brain. It appears to be a completely different state,” said Maiken Nedergaard, M.D., D.M.Sc., co-director of the Center for Translational Neuromedicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York, and a leader of the study.
So what is the brain doing while we sleep? It is working with our glymphatic system to clear out wasteful tonics. Essentially, acting as a plumbing system to literally clear our minds.
As you can see, sleep has much more to do with your overall health then you may have thought. Sure, waking up well rested feels great, but what is happening internally can affect your short and long-term health.
It is safe to say that if you are reading this article, you are a fitness enthusiasts. Sleep plays a vital role in how your body recovers and transforms.
According to a article written by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute titles “Why Is Sleep Important,” sleep helps keep a healthy balance of a number of different hormones that can be linked to weight loss and weight gain. When our bodies do not receive the ample amount of sleep our ghrelin (the hormone that makes you feel hungry) rises while leptin (the hormone that makes you feel full) decreases. That would make sense wouldn’t it? The less sleep you get the more energy (food source) your body is asking for to stay awake.
We all can agree that a restless night, where we find ourselves tossing and turning, can lead to a less productive day. We may feel sluggish, our reaction time may decrease dramatically, and our overall personality may be affected. But have you ever stopped to think about the long term affects that a lack of sleep may be causing?
Earlier we mentioned that our brain clears out of toxins through the glymphatic system in its deepest state of sleep. A recent study conducted by Dr. Nedergaard Lab at the University of Rochester may have found a connection between lack of sleep, built up toxins, and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.
“These results may have broad implications for multiple neurological disorders,” said Jim Koenig, Ph.D., a program director at NINDS. “This means the cells regulating the glymphatic system may be new targets for treating a range of disorders.”
With all things considered, we can agree that getting at least 7-9 hours of sleep, as recommended by the Nationals Institute of sleep is very important, not only for our physical well being, but also for our long term mental health.
So what can we be doing differently on a daily basis to improve our sleep?
Create a regular sleeping pattern,
Pay attention not to ingest sugary or caffeinated items later on in the evening.
Take a hot shower before bedtime.
Turn off all outside distractions. i.e. Television, cell phones, etc.
Luckily, ProSupps has created a supplements that could not only help you relax your mind and help your body transition into a sleepier state but also improve your overall sleep/wake cycle.
ProSupps Crash has been formulated to help reduced fat by supporting your adrenal system and help control cortisol levels. Infused with GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyruc Acid and Valerian, Crash aids the body and mind to relax in order to get a more efficient nights rest. Best part about Crash, is that it won’t leave you feeling groggy or sluggish throughout the day like some sleep-aid supplements do. For more information, frequently asked questions, and instructions on how to take Crash, visit our website!
References
http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/matters/consequences/sleep-performance-and-public-safety
https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/brain-may-flush-out-toxins-during-sleep
http://www.sleephealthjournal.org/article/S2352-7218%2815%2900015-7/fulltext
https://sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/what-happens-when-you-sleep
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/sdd/why
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