The Importance of Sleep and How to Get More of It

November 3rd, 2021

By Dr. Edward F. Group

Guest Writer for Wake Up World

Roughly one in three adults in the United States do not get enough sleep.[1] That means that 33 percent of adults are regularly getting less than seven hours of shut-eye each night. Getting enough sleep is important to virtually every aspect of your health, from brain health to immune system function to body metabolism. Scientists believe that your nightly rest even clears “cobwebs” in the brain — metaphorically, of course — by removing toxic waste byproducts.[2] Word to the wise: get enough sleep if you want to think clearly and perform your best!

How Important Is Sleep?

Getting enough sleep is critical for keeping your body and mind functioning at their best. It also allows the body and brain to rest, repair, and recharge. Adults need at least seven to nine hours of sleep each night, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).[3] While sleeping, your body calms, your breathing and heart rate slow down, and your brain enters a state of altered consciousness.

The Four Stages of Sleep

One of the reasons the CDC recommends seven to nine hours each night is so that you can experience all four stages of sleep — three stages of non-REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, plus REM sleep, during which you dream.

Non-REM Sleep

Stage 1: During the first stage of non-REM sleep, your body transitions from being awake to being asleep. The duration of this phase of sleep is short — typically only a few minutes — and you are in a relatively light sleep from which you can be easily awoken.

CONTINUE READING:

Recommended articles by Dr. Edward Group:

• What are Whole Foods and Why are They Important for Health?
• Top Vitamin C Benefits for the Skin
• Wim Hof Breathing: 6 Benefits for Body and Mind
• Camu Camu: The Next Great Superfood
• Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT): 5 Benefits and How To Do It
• Enokitake Mushrooms: 7 Benefits of this Superfood
• Here are 7 Reasons to Try a Cleanse
• 3 Scientifically Proven Ways Meditation Boosts Your Immune System
• What is Candida? Understanding Yeast Imbalance
• Acerola Cherry: 8 Benefits of this High-C Tropical Super Fruit

• PINTEREST]: http://pinterest.com/wakeupword/

  [TWITTER]:  http://twitter.com/joinwakeupworld

  [YOUTUBE]: http://www.youtube.com/joinwakeupworld          

  [GOOGLE PLUS]: https://plus.google.com/112452105795129310867/posts

  [WEBSITE]: http://wakeup-world.com