Studies around the World have shown that sleeping helps the body to stay healthy, and even lose weight. Sleeping well and enough hours, usually 7-8 hours for an adult, boosts our energy levels and makes us feel so much better.
Young people often don’t take sleep very seriously. It seems to be fun hanging around later than everyone else, even if it is difficult getting up in the morning. When we are young, we don’t really realise the effect this sort of behaviour has on our bodies. “Make sure you get your beauty sleep!” is a saying we have all heard at some time or other. It is actually true. We need our sleep for body restoration, both of muscle-repair, better memory, a desire for healthy foods, and also for mental health and social graces.
Adequate sleep sheds the fat, and makes us better balanced, which boosts our self discipline, and makes it much easier to avoid temptations like chocolate and excess coffee. As a matter of fact, the less we sleep the more sweet and calorie rich food the body usually craves. Too little sleep affects the hormones we need in order to eat right and have the right amount of energy during the day. When we don’t get enough sleep, we don’t have the energy needed to get up and move. Activity is necessary for weight loss.
If falling asleep or staying asleep is a problem, there are certain solutions for this. Melatonin is the hormone that helps us to sleep well at night, but in order for this hormone to work properly, the room needs to be dark. Turning off the computer, and avoiding any other electrical light disturbing your sleep, makes a big difference. If this is not possible, sleeping with a mask over the eyes could help as well. Generally turning off the TV, and lowering the lights about an hour before bed, and just simply doing something quietly relaxing, like having a bath, might encourage a better sleep.