Getting enough sleep is essential to look younger, lose weight and feel great. Unfortunately, a recent survey found that 75% of Americans believe they are not getting enough sleep on a regular basis. Sleep deprivation causes our skin to look older and drier because during sleep is when our skin renews itself. Lack of sleep also contributes to daytime tiredness, moodiness, inability to focus and poor work performance.
Sleep is equally as important as diet and exercise to a healthy body; and a healthy body is a beautiful body. Sleeping about 8 hours a night reduces puffy, red eyes, dark under-eye circles and pale or washed-out complexions. Furthermore, new research has shown that those who do get enough sleep (from 7-9 hours a night) are more likely to lose weight and keep it off. This is because sleep reduces the stress hormone cortisol that controls our appetite, raises blood sugar levels and promotes fat to be stored on our abdomen.
So, make sure you are getting enough sleep every night. Make it a priority! Here are a few suggestions to help you get a most restful night's sleep...
- Exercise everyday (at least 30 min), it will help you fall asleep faster and increase the quality of sleep. *Avoid working out late at night though it may have a counterproductive effect.
- Avoid large meals before bed as an active digestive makes it harder for your body to properly rest.
- Your bedroom needs to be dark to increase the body's levels of melatonin that is necessary for healthy sleep.
- Use your bed only for sleeping; avoid watching TV, eating, or working in bed.
- Avoid caffeine, nicotine and any other stimulant before bed.
- Also avoid alcohol before bed. It may seem that it helps you fall asleep, but alcohol actually prohibits our bodies from achieving the deep sleep our bodies need to recuperate and it will leave you feeling tired in the morning.