Did you know that humans spend an average of 1/3rd of their lifespan sleeping? According to research, we spend approximately 26 years actually sleeping and 7 years “trying to sleep”. This is obviously one of the biggest chunks of our lives to be spent on one single activity. And of course, as intelligent humans, we have questioned the need for sleep in the first place. Scientists and researchers in the post-industrial revolution considered sleep to be a total waste of time. But decades of research have revealed some surprising findings about sleep. In this blog, Upside Health will share some facts, insights, and nuggets of knowledge that will explain why sleep is an essential part of our life and how it impacts our metabolic health.
What Is Sleep?
Sleep is one of the most basic functions performed by the human body from birth to death. It is an indivisible experience of human life. People tend to fall asleep during night time and rise during day time. On the surface it may look like, falling asleep equals doing nothing, but the reality is a stark contrast. Our brain is extremely active when we are sleeping and it performs many important functions during that time span.
Sleep & Its Impact On Different Bodily Functions
- Rest
First off, the most important function that is performed during sleep is rest. Our body and mind have been put to work during waking hours and need proper rest. This rest is optimized during sleep time.
- Repair
At the time of sleep, your body releases a growth hormone through the pituitary gland in the brain. This hormone works to repair any wounds or injuries in the body. Hence, you may have observed that wounds seem to have healed a little more when you wake up.
- Positive Impact on Respiratory System
Your body does not breathe very deeply during sleep. When you sleep, you need less oxygen. Your respiratory system gets to relax a little and is not overworked.
- Strengthening of Immunity System
The body’s immunity is strengthened during sleep time. According to research, people who are sleep-deprived are more likely to catch colds and infections than those with an optimal sleep cycle.
- Boost In Memory & Concentration
The brain uses sleep to sort through all the information accumulated during the day. It then prioritizes information, throws out unnecessary details, and retains only the essentials. This allows the brain to perform better on the next waking day.
- Impact on Type – 2 Diabetes
Sleep is vital in the management of diabetes. Lack of sleep builds insulin resistance in the body and thus aggravates blood glucose levels. Proper sleep helps in controlling and managing type 2 diabetes.
Metabolic Health & Sleep – The Essence
Metabolic health is a vast concept that begins with the body’s interactions and response to food, different activities, exercise, stress, and even sleep. The pursuit of optimal metabolic health assists in increasing the “health span” of the individual and gives them the power to live life to the fullest.
People with bad metabolic health are often victims of metabolic syndrome which leads to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and other cardiovascular issues.
Sleep plays a major role in optimizing metabolic health. Blood glucose levels are partially under the control of the hormone “cortisol”. Cortisol is a stress hormone. When the body perceives stressful situations it releases cortisol. Cortisol mobilizes blood glucose into the bloodstream and stops insulin from being released from the pancreas.
When we sleep, our body releases extremely low levels of cortisol. Thus stabilizing the blood glucose levels. Good or bad sleep directly affects the insulin resistance levels of the body.
Regular sleep patterns stop excessive weight gain. They keep the body’s metabolism at normal levels. Also, good quality sleep impacts the central nervous system, immunity system, cardiovascular system, and others, hence it is a vital element in optimizing metabolic health as well.
Food For Thought
“Sleep is like the golden chain that binds our health and body together.”
– Thomas Dekker
If you are working on optimizing your metabolic health in 2023, we suggest you prioritize sleep for maximum benefits. In our upcoming blogs, we will share tips on building a fantastic sleep routine and how it will help you in performing better in life.
