The pillars of good health which consist of a nutritious diet, exercise and good mental health rest on this foundation. Poor sleep makes these pillars much harder to achieve. The majority of people in the world need at least 7 hours of sleep and up to 9. Less than 6 hours of sleep results in a number of detrimental processes that contribute to chronic disease and mental illness.
These processes include but are not limited to;
Metabolic waste in your brain
The brain is not washed clean of the metabolic waste built up from processes that occurred during the day, leading to a build-up of waste proteins in the brain.
Memory and concentration
Memories are not transferred from short-term memory storage to long-term storage leading to memory, concentration and focusing problems.
Appetite
Appetite hormones become disrupted including an increase in ghrelin which is an appetite stimulant leading up to eat more and over time gain weight. Obesity is a risk factor for chronic disease including cancer. Leptin, the appetite suppressant hormone, is lower in sleep deprivation.
Immune system
Our immune system works at its peak during deep sleep, sleep deficiency leads to immunodeficiency and a greater risk of precancerous cells taking hold. An immune system that is working well will remove these cells (as well as infected cells).
Chronic inflammation
Sleep deficiency causes a stress like response in our bodies which sets up chronic inflammation. Normally acute inflammation is responsible for healing damaged tissue, releasing chemical messengers that increase blood vessels and nutrient supply to an area. In chronic inflammation these changes stimulate cancer growth, helping feed it and stimulating it to grow blood vessels by which it can grow even more and possibly break off and spread to other parts of the body.
Mental health
Sleep deprivation has a negative impact on our mental health causing decreased motivation, increased negative and even suicidal thoughts. This makes it hard to stick to a healthy diet and exercise program.
Achieving a good night sleep is a reward for good choices made throughout the day. Some self-discipline is required but the rewards are second to none. Here are some of the things you can do to improve your chances of getting a good night’s sleep:
Routine
You need a routine. Same time to bed at night (that time is when you start feeling sleepy), don’t fall asleep on the chair but go to bed and fall asleep in bed. This way you will learn to associate falling asleep with your bed. Don’t use your bed for anything but sleep and sex, again this increases the association you make with falling asleep. Get up at the same time every morning (that time when you naturally start to wake up) don’t stay in bed and fall back to sleep. When you get up, open your curtains and gets some natural light as this helps set your biological clock and you benefit at the end of the day.
Fasting
Fast (go without food) for 12 hours overnight. If you go to bed at 10 then stop eating at about 8, don’t eat again till 8 in the morning. This increases the health impact of your sleep and further strengthens your biological clock.
Nutritious diet
Eat a nutritious diet during the day and try and eat most of your meals with friends and family. Try not to snack too much. Cut down on sugar, especially sugary drinks.
Avoid caffeine after 12pm
Avoid caffeine after midday. Caffeine has a long half-life of 6 hours so its stimulating effects hang around for a long time. Even if you think it doesn’t stop you sleeping, sleep studies have shown that sleep quality is poorer with caffeine in your system.
Avoid alcohol
Avoid alcohol especially in the last few hours before bed. Alcohol has a number of negative effects, in this case disrupting sleep and causing you to wake up frequently. If you have to drink, try and limit it to one glass at dinner time and only 2 or 3 nights a week.
Exercise
Exercise every day, move as much as you can but don’t do any strenuous exercise in the 2 hours before bedtime.
Wind down
In the hour before bedtime, start winding down, dim the lights and put away electronic devices (the white light disrupts your biological clock and may delay the onset of sleep).
Limit fluids
Try not to drink too much fluid so you don’t have to get up at night to go to the toilet. If you do need to get up then use a red light which doesn’t disrupt your sleep as much (by confusing your biological clock).
Warm bath or shower
A warm bath, shower or spa before bed can help drop your core body temperature which can help prepare you to sleep. Keep your room cool and don’t overheat in bed.
Meditate and clear your mind
Learn to meditate to reduce stress before bed so you are not ruminating on the days events. If you have a lot on your mind make a list of your thoughts so you can deal with them the next day. Try not to overstimulate your mind with TV and Gaming.
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