REST

 

A reward for a day's faithful service.

Now focusing finally on our need for rest. Because lying down to rest is the last thing we do at the end of the day. There's no need to continue nervously polishing your amour. 

Rest is essential for keeping up a high energy level. If the body is constantly weary, its very hard to be alert when you are tired. When you slow down and rest more, the time you use spend working becomes more productive. 

The importance of managing stress wisely: 

• It is during rest /sleep that the body heals itself from the damage of all the stress in your life.

• The body uses sleep to recharge and recover. 

• Getting better sleep doesn't just improve your morning mood; surprisingly, it boosts your health, too. In fact, good sleep is one of the pillars of good health, along with eating right and exercising regularly. Each and every night, majority of people suffer from a bout of insomnia from time to time. The bigger concern is chronic sleep loss. Normally sleep requirements vary, but the average adult should get between seven to nine hours of sleep every night for peak health benefits, according to the National Sleep Foundation. 

Here are 7 surprising benefits to get better rest and why you should make an early bedtime a priority. It may just be the ticket to help you reach your health goals. 

1. Healthier Heart

While you are resting, your blood pressure falls and gives your heart a chance to rest. It also allows your blood pressure to regulate. However, cutting that time short means  your blood pressure stays higher longer during each 24-hour period. Overtime, this prolonged high blood pressure would result in a heart disease or stroke. 

2 .Weight Control 

When you are rest-deprived, it affects the hormones in your brain that regulate appetite. Lack of rest not only knocks your appetite hormones out of balance, causing you to eat more, but you also have less motivation to get moving. Which is a recipe for weight gain. Not to mention, people who haven't

gotten enough sleep have the tendency to choose unhealthy, higher calorie “comfort” foods. 

3. Improved Athletic Ability

A good night  rest sets you up for your best performance. Not getting enough sleep robs your body of energy and adequate time for muscle repair. It also  zaps your motivation to keep on going, whether you're crossing the finish line or increasing the incline on a treadmill. Without proper rest, you'll face harder mental and physical challenges. 

4 Sharper Brain Function 

When you don't get a good night's rest, it interferes with brain function, including concentration and productivity. It is more difficult to focus and commit new information to memory when you are tired . In addition, without adequate sleep, your brain wouldn't  have enough time to store memories so you can recall them later on. In essence, your brain needs time to catch up so you're ready for the next day. 

5. Better Mood 

While you sleep, your brain processes your emotions. Adequate sleep allows you to hit the reset button, enabling you to be a more positive and also be better prepared to meet the days challenges. When that time is cut short, you tend to have more negative emotional reactions. 

In fact, some studies point to an increased risk for mood disorders with chronic lack of sleep. 

6 Balanced Blood Sugar 

During your deepest sleep, your blood glucose levels drop. Without your body's  time to rest and reset, it will have a harder time responding to your cells needs and blood sugar level. In fact, studies have shown sleep deprivation can cause prediabetes in healthy adults. 

7. Immune Boost

Chronic lack of sleep can actually change the way your immune system works. Therefore, your cells may not react to harmful bacteria and viruses as quickly, causing you to get sick more often. 

Thanks for reading!

Article By:

Ojo Olalekan Solomon

Food, Nutrients & Health

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