A good quality sleep produces the right hormones in right quantities to make us leaner, stronger and happier. Lets see how!!
Our brain sorts and processes and files the days information and stimuli, while we think we are shut down. Many of the most radical breakthroughs in human history, including the periodic table, the structure of DNA and Einstein’s theory of special relativity, have supposedly occurred while their discoverer was unconscious in deep sleep.
Sleep protects new memories from being over-ridden by stimuli of wakefulness and it also consolidates and files memories based on the expectations of remembering it. For instance, if a student wants to recall his material later, it will work better if he sleeps after the first study.
Also hormones control many body functions including growth, development, reproduction, responding to stress, metabolism and energy balance.
During sleep, several of the body’s hormones are released into the bloodstream. These include growth hormone, which is essential for growth and tissue repair. Also some proteins that help in reducing inflammation, infection and trauma in any part of the body.
Sleep helps to balance appetite by maintaining optimal levels of ghrelin and lectin. Ghrelin stimulates hunger and is suppressed during sleep. So, if we get less sleep than normal we may feel an urge to eat more.
Sleep also increases hormones that metabolise blood sugar ( insulin) and control hunger and digestion (cortisol) so that we eat at the right time and are also prepared for stress. Less sleep can increase cortisol which can activate the sympathetic nervous system, which if chronic, can play havoc with our hunger, digestion and hence all other body functions. Also belly fat is directly related to cortisol.
If we get less sleep than normal, our prolactin levels may get out of balance and we can end up with a weakened immune system, metabolism, focus and increased carbohydrate cravings during the day.
Oxytocin, the love hormone peaks 5 hours into sleep. This is an important ingredient in making you feel loved and loving, so that you have boundless energy to go through the day with doing your best in any situation.
And there are many other hormones regulating our body functions that are improved with good sleep.
To sum it up, sleep helps improve memory, focus and healing of min, heart and body. This is enough motivation for us to sleep on. So that we can be more creative, feel better and better and look more and more amazing!!!
HealthKarma - my musings on wellbeing 