You are probably well aware
that your body requires sleep every night – ideally around seven to eight hours
– to function properly and maintain your health, but you may not realize how
much goes on while you are sleeping. Read on to learn eight surprising things
your mind and body are doing while you snooze.
Your Body
Temperature Drops Significantly
During sleep, your body
temperature drops to reduce the rate at which it burns calories and release
melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that plays a key role in your circadian
rhythm.
Toxins are Cleansed
When at rest, the body filters
out toxins and clears damaged molecules. These processes allow the body and
brain to rejuvenate. Without sufficient amounts of sleep, the brain is unable to purge toxins. This may
lead to an increase is neurological deterioration.
You Lose
Weight
Throughout the night, you lose
weight due to expelling humid air and losing water through perspiration. As
opposed to during the day, there is no consumption of food or beverages to
offset this effect. This leads to a decrease in pounds by the morning. During
sleep, your body also regulates hunger hormones. You are better equipped to
fight off junk food cravings if you got an appropriate amount of sleep the
night before.
You Dream
Everyone knows the mind creates
dreams during the night but you may be surprised to learn how much you dream.
We can spend as many as 2 hours dreaming each night.
You Get Taller
Your body actually experiences
an increase in height while you sleep. When you are laying down, the discs in
your spine decompress and rehydrate causing them to get bigger and slightly
boost your height.
You May Jerk
Involuntarily
Whether you sleep alone or with
a partner, for many people, falling asleep produces a phenomenon where muscles
suddenly contract involuntarily. This creates a sudden jerk. In some cases, it
may be noticeable enough to wake you back up.
Your Skin is
Boosted
Collagen – a protein that
contributes to youthful, healthy skin – is produced at an increased rate while
you sleep. It is stimulated by growth hormones that are released as you snooze.
Higher levels of collagen promote more resilient, vibrant skin.
You Wake Up –
Often
During the night, we actually
wake up numerous times – up to 15 – each hour. This usually occurs when we are
shifting to a different sleep stage. The periods of wakefulness are usually so
brief that we do not remember them.
Final Thoughts
Getting an adequate amount of
sleep is a crucial component of good health. Given all the health benefits and
the fascinating facts mentioned above, make a point to get a solid chunk of
sleep each night. To increase your odds of getting deep, restful sleep, avoid
caffeine too close to bedtime, keep your room dark, and skip screen time prior
to hitting the pillow.
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