According to the Center for Disease Control, 1 in 3 people do not get enough sleep.

A lot of emphasis, is often placed on having an active lifestyle and there is no denying that this is important. However, getting enough rest is equally important.

It’s no secret that the amount of rest you get can directly affect your mood and productivity for the entire day. However, there are some surprising health benefits that you may not have considered.

Sleep

Take a look at some of the major benefits of rest.

1. Improve Your Memory and Live Longer

The things you learn throughout the day are cemented while you sleep through a process called consolidation. If you are trying to learn a new language, an instrument or how to play a sport you will perform better after you have gotten some rest.

The amount of sleep you get may also affect your lifespan. Some studies have found that people who don’t get enough sleep do not live as long as people who do.

2. Lose Weight Faster

Interestingly, the area in your brain that controls sleep is also the same area that controls metabolism. In simple terms what this means is that the hormones that get into your blood when you want to sleep are the same ones that can speed up your metabolism.

If you are about to go on a diet you may want to factor in getting enough rest. It will help you to reach your weight loss goals faster.

3. Have a Healthier Heart

The amount of sleep you get can directly affect your heart. When you are sleeping your blood pressure will go down. This gives your heart and blood vessels time to rest. 

When you do not get enough sleep your blood pressure tends to stay elevated for a longer period of time. Constant elevated blood pressure can lead to heart disease and you may even get a stroke.

4. Improve Athletic Performance

If you are an athlete who is involved in any kind of sport that requires you to use bursts of energy you need to make sure that you get enough rest.

Your muscles need time to repair and that is what happens when you sleep. In addition to helping your muscles repair, the right amount of sleep also gives you mental rest so that you are more precise in your actions when playing your sport.

In order to sleep well, you will need to have a good mattress. If you buy online you are likely to see reviews about the performance of different brands of mattresses, look carefully at these reviews before you make a final choice. 

A Final Look at the Benefits of Rest

As you can see there are some amazing benefits of rest. In fact, rest is just as important as physical activity. The challenge then is to create the perfect balance, so that you can have a healthier lifestyle.

If you would like to more informative lifestyle articles, please check out that section of our website.