The holidays are the perfect time to catch up on what we like best. Spending quality time with family and friends enables us to recharge our batteries and get ready for the year ahead. Too often, we neglect our own bodies and skimp on the rest we really need. That’s why this December, we’re focusing on Rest, Relaxation and Recovery – our ‘Three R’s’ that’ll keep your body in good health.
Too little sleep can lead to increased stress levels, decreased metabolism and suppression of your immune system. Sleep is essential to regulating our metabolic system. Sleep loss is associated with changes in appetite, and disturbance of glucose levels in our bodies, which can lower insulin. A decrease in insulin levels pushes us to eat more. If you’re doing everything right in the eating department but still feel hungry all the time, it may be that you’re not resting enough! Try the ‘R and R’ diet and see what changes for you.
About 95% of all illness is caused or worsened by stress. Without an efficient amount of sleep our cortisol level can remain elevated, keeping the body in a state of alertness and driving up our blood pressure, which increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Your body needs six to eight hours of sleep for your muscles to recover. In the first stage of deep sleep, your body releases growth hormones to help break down fat which supplies energy for tissue repair. Without enough sleep, your immune system can weaken, possibly leading to sickness. If you are getting four or fewer hours of sleep per night, it may lead to higher heart rate and lower heart rate variability which over time can lead to high blood pressure.
So the next time you are overly stressed or sore, try yoga, take a walk or hop into a bubble bath…but listen to your body and get some SLEEP!