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How Much Shut-Eye Should You Really Aim For?

The complaint of fatigue remains a common health concern. How much sleep does a person really need to try to get for optimal health?

Why Do You Need Sleep?

Sleep is restorative. It helps your body repair itself. To get enough sleep, an adult needs between seven and eight hours of sleep per day. This amount of time is sufficient for most adults to reap the health benefits of being appropriately rested.

Health Benefits of Getting Enough Sleep

During sleep, the body gives off hormones that promote tissue growth and repair. Sleep can help you recover from a strenuous workout of from an injury. Because getting enough sleep repairs tissue, it can therefore also keep you looking younger by keeping skin plump and smooth.

Not only does adequate sleep heal you, but it can prevent you from becoming ill. More white blood cells are created by the body when you sleep. White blood cells help you recover from injuries as well as keep you protected from bacteria and viruses that you may encounter in your daily life. So, to avoid coming down with the flu or the bug that’s going around, make it a point to get between seven and nine hours of sleep at night.

Weight Loss

Who would have thought that sleeping would help you lose weight? But it does. In many cases, a person who has adequate rest frequently eats less. An individual who is well rested tends to consume 300 calories less than a person who doesn’t get enough sleep. This is because the same part of the brain that controls sleep also controls appetite and metabolism.

A tired person produces more of a hormone called ghrelin. Ghrelin signals to your body that it is hungry. On the other hand, a well-rested person produces more of a hormone called leptin, which sends signals to the body that it is full.

Sleep Enhances the Mind

Sleep increases memory and can tend to help make you smarter. Study, then go to bed and get a good nights’ rest. During the process of sleeping, the mind sorts through the information gathered during the day. It stores crucial information, while deleting unnecessary items. Cramming for a test without rest lessens your chances to recall the information you studied.

Adequate sleep restores your mind in such a way that you may also be able to think more clearly. If you need to make a decision or find a new way of attacking a problem, getting a good night sleep may just restore your brain’s ability to concentrate and find a solution to your problem.

Sleep Improves Mood

A well-rested person tends to be in a better mood. This enhanced mood allows your body to gain much-needed refreshment. In turn, a refreshed person is a relaxed and positive person. So if you want to manage daily stresses more efficiently, get a good night of sleep. Those who get between seven to nine hours of sleep also experience fewer depression symptoms, too.