How much sleep do you get each day? If it’s less than 7 hours, you could shorten your life. While it may seem a bit dramatic, sleep deprivation can lead to debilitating long-term health problems such as hypertension, heart attacks, strokes, obesity, diabetes, depression, anxiety, decreased brain function, memory loss, weakened immune system, decreased fertility, and mental disorders.
Most of us have nearly 230,000 hours of sleep before the Big Chill, which means a lot of time is spent resting our minds. Nature seems to pay special attention to such rest. In fact, humans sleep fewer hours, relatively speaking, than other members of the animal kingdom; lions and bats, for example, sleep almost 20 hours a day.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF SLEEP
So, it’s clear that sleep is a natural part of a healthy lifestyle. A Utah-certified  Total Health and Fitness dietitian is as important as any exercise regimen and will make sure to factor sleep into your health plan. But why? Through sleep research, neuroscientists are working to pinpoint exactly why our bodies crave those extra Zs and determine the difference in quality of life between a well-rested person and one “running on half a tank.”
STRENGTHENING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
You may be surprised to learn that sleep directly impacts your body’s ability to fight off colds and recover from injuries. Think of your immune system as your body’s coastguard: various cells, proteins, and antibodies travel through your bloodstream, looking for invaders. If they spot one, they spring into action, surrounding the intruder—whether it’s a harmful bacterium, a virus, or a foreign particle in the body—and destroying it.
The immune system is a constantly adapting collage of responses that your body curates throughout your life. This evolution is divided into two types:
- Innate immune system:Â phagocytes, histamine, and cytokines are already present in your body from birth. If you get sick, your body will produce more blood and send white blood cells to the area to fix things.
- The acquired immune system:Â This particular system releases antibodies that your cells have formed due to previous exposure to disease (such as vaccination) to problem areas.
Working with Total Health in Fitness, your consultant can explain that sleep is a great way to recover from a challenging workout, as your muscles can use the rest of the time to repair what was damaged. Your immune system works the same way. During sleep, essential proteins help the body fight off various diseases.
In fact, you may have noticed that you feel more tired when you are sick or injured. This is your body’s way of encouraging you to let it do its job and heal you.
HEALTHY BRAIN, HEALTHY BODY
Our many Utah-certified nutrition and exercise consultants work to ensure your body is operating at its optimal level by ensuring that what you put into it and how you manage it does not harm it. Sleep is your body’s way of regulating its most important systems, like brain activity.
Poor sleep has some clear consequences for the brain:
- It is more difficult for the brain to absorb new information and remember what it knows.
- While awake, less “waste” is flushed out of the brain, meaning the brain has less opportunity to make room for new, healthy cells.
- Mood swings are more familiar with sleep deprivation.
- Your brain has a more challenging time sending energy enzymes to the rest of your body, leaving you feeling sluggish.
- The less sleep you get, the more depressed and anxious you become.
Regarding the science of sleep, the proof is in the pudding. Your personal trainer at one of our Utah health and fitness centers will emphasize its importance as you embark on your journey to better health.  Schedule a consultation today to begin your new, healthier lifestyle.
