7 Ways Better Sleep Can Improve Your Health

Written By Finnegan Pierson / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

If you are like the majority of American adults, you probably aren't getting eight hours of sleep each and every night. Besides leaving yourself tired, your lack of high-quality sleep may also be negatively impacting your health. Consider these seven ways that getting a good night's sleep can improve your health. 

1. Improved Concentration

Sleep deprivation impairs your ability to focus, which can have serious consequences. For example, when you are not able to fully concentrate, you are more likely to fall behind in school or miss a deadline at work. You may also get distracted while driving and make a dangerous mistake. 

Conversely, when you are fully rested you are better able to concentrate on the task at hand. Whether that is driving, a big project at work, or your favorite online game, you'll find it easier to move smoothly through the steps. 

2. Fewer Random Food Cravings

Getting good quality sleep on a regular basis will help you conquer — or at least tame — some of those seemingly random food cravings that hit at all hours. When you consistently get good quality sleep, it can help to stabilize your blood sugar levels.

However, if you are still hungry at night even after getting quality sleep, try adding in a few healthy late night snacks. These will help you feel satisfied, so you can get back to bed without being weighted down.

3. More Energy

Over time, a lack of sleep will make you feel sluggish. It might manifest as a period of irritability in the afternoon or you falling asleep at unexpected times, while some people find they are just consistently fatigued and unmotivated to get going. No matter how it impacts you, there is a solution: getting more sleep at night.

That's right. Simply committing to getting the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep each night — not just on the weekend or when you are vacationing — will help you feel more energized and refreshed. No more mid-day slumps or falling asleep in those zoom meetings. As an added bonus, you'll be able to get more done and feel less stressed. 

4. Better Heart Health

There is a direct connection between sleep and heart health. While you are sleeping, your body produces hormones and regulates their levels. Many of these control things that can affect your heart and its function. Consistently falling behind on sleep can lead to complications such as high blood pressure and heart disease.

5. Quicker Physical Recovery

Another thing that happens when you sleep is muscle and tissue recovery. The body quietly works to repair any damage that is done during the day, such as from exercise, UV exposure or minor injuries. This is done through the production of proteins that form cellular building blocks.

However, when you don't get enough sleep, your body isn't able to make these repairs, leaving you vulnerable to new damage or injuries. 

6. Improved Moods

One big drawback to not getting enough shut-eye is how it impacts your mood. You may feel irritable, anxious, and generally stressed out when you are running on empty. You may also be more likely to snap at those around you out of frustration — often with yourself.

The good news is that you can fix those mood swings and get a more balanced perspective by increasing your sleep quality and quantity. 

7. Stronger Immune System

Have you ever noticed that you are more likely to come down with a cold when you are running all out every day? That's because your immune system is also impacted by how much sleep you get.

Consistently missing your sleep goals can lead to chronic inflammation and a reduced immune response and — you guessed it — a better chance of succumbing to those germs. 

Sleep is one of the most important activities you do all day and neglecting it can negatively affect your health. As you start to sleep more, you will likely notice better focus, improved heart health, more level moods and fewer colds. 

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Written By:

Finnegan Pierson loves business and has a passion for Health and technology. Even more interesting is the combination of the two. As a freelance writer, Finn hopes to influence others so they can have positive life experiences.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.

Photo by Radu Florin on Unsplash