Ask the EN Experts December 2022
During the holiday season, in what is often the busiest time of year for many of us, it’s important to try to maintain (or work to achieve) healthy sleep patterns. Although schedules are jam-packed, we still want to aim for between seven and nine hours of sleep each night. Scientists are actively learning about an ever-lengthening list of benefits of and the importance of proper sleep habits. Here are some well-documented benefits of regular and consistent sleep:
Helps promote heart health. Adequate sleep patterns allow the heart rate to slow, and blood pressure to decrease, facilitating an opportunity for the heart and cardiovascular system to rest.
Helps manage stress. Getting enough sleep is linked with reductions in anxiety, depression, and other stress-related conditions.
Helps regulate blood sugar. Sufficient sleep affects the body’s relationship with insulin, the hormone that helps blood sugar (or glucose) enter the body’s cells to be used as energy. When sleep levels are adequate, this helps support blood sugar regulation in the body.
When setting your intentions for the upcoming New Year, why not consider including a goal towards improving your sleep practices?
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