I have always been a big advocate for sleep. I have a magnet on my refrigerator that reads: "I've so much to do, I'm going to bed". You can imagine how pleased I am to report that some of the latest studies coming out report the benefits of 7 - 9 hours of sleep per night. As Benjamin Franklin wrote: "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." Well, here is some support for that thinking:
The following benefits come from resting early and enough:
- boosted immunity (those without are 3 times likelier to catch colds)
- less prone to being overweight (the hormones ghrelin and leptin which regulate diet are disrupted with lack of sleep)
- lower risk of heart disease and diabetes (lack of sleep increases stress)
- heart will be healthier (lack of sleep worsens the blood pressure and cholesterol)
- more energy, alertness, and memory
- less likely to get cancer (level of melatonin, which protects against cancer, is effected in persons who are exposed to light late into the night)
- experience less stress (as bodies of those deficient in sleep go into a state of stress)
- a healthier body (as stress raises inflammation levels which tend to deteriorate your body)
- cells are repaired (cells produce protein which forms building blocks and allows the cells to repair themselves during sleep)
- less chance of depression (sleep enhances production of serotonin, a deficiency in this chemical can promote depression)
"It is senseless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night,
fearing you will starve to death; for God wants his loved ones to get their proper rest."
If you are still not buying it, go ahead, stay up late. But for me... I'm off to bed!
You and your doctor should make responsible decisions regarding your health.
Please do not rely on my comments and opinions for your diet choices.
