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By HealthWatch, November 3, 2010

Sleep, one of the most beautiful words in any language – it conjures images of darkness, dreams, and a feeling of utter relaxation and well-being when you wake up: that is, if you are one of the lucky who is able to consistently find refreshment from a night of slumber. It is known that humans will sleep nearly half of their life away, which can be a disconcerting thought for some, but those moments of sleep is when our bodies recharge for the upcoming day. Anybody can remember a day; multiple even, when they slept badly the night before for any number of reasons, and how badly they felt the next day and how it affected their day-to-day functions.

But for many, sleep can be a harrowing ordeal of tossing, turning, insomnia, and the inability to delve into REM sleep ( the most relaxing state of sleep, which is where dreams are able to occur). And the lingering question in those sufferers minds is, “How can I use healthier sleeping practices to ensure I wake fresh and wide-eyed for the day instead of the dreary, groggy, mental state I usually find myself in?”

There are many ways to contribute to healthier sleeping practices, so it is with great pleasure that I am allowed to share some of these practices with anyone who suffers from horrid nights of sleep.

One of the main things that people forget is that you must dedicate at least eight hours of sleep a day; every day. Your body needs to be fully refreshed for the day to come, and trying to skirt by on four or five hours for weeks on end can be very unhealthy for not only your physical, but mental state as well.

Some sufferers will visit their physician and obtain prescription sleep medication – and it works, truly; but there are a myriad of side effects of such medication. Natural supplements of melatonin and Valerian root have consistently helped men and women alike receive deep, refreshing sleep without the need to use a potentially addictive medication.

These are just a few healthier sleeping practices, there are many more, but even following these two; you may find the restful sleep you have always craved.

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By HealthWatch, May 19, 2009

Weight Loss Linked With Sleep

A new study by the American Thoracic Society was presented at their International Conference in San Diego that found a direct link between sleep and weight. Study participants who were deemed “short sleepers” (meaning they got less than six hours per night) were discovered to have a higher average body mass index, or BMI, than the average for “long sleepers” (those who sleep more than 6 hours per night).

Their data was comprised from a study that was conducted with 14 nurses at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Nurses received counseling on nutrition, exercise, stress management, and sleep improvement throughout the program. Each nurse received identical advice and support.

To measure total activity, body temperature, body position, and other indicators of rest and activity the nurses were required to wear armbands which were capable of storing and reporting the data.

The Data Behind The Study
The average BMI for short sleepers was 28.3. That compares to an average BMI of 24.5 for long sleepers. The BMI range for normal weight is considered to be 18.5-24.9 and for overweight 25.0-29.9. BMI is calculated from a person’s weight and height and is an indicator of body fat. You can find out what your own BMI is using our free online BMI calculator.

Surprisingly, the overweight participants were significantly more active than their “normal-weight” peers. The overweight participants took an average of 13,896 steps per day, compared to 11,292 for normal-weight participants. The overweight participants also burned nearly 1,000 more calories per day on average than their normal-weight peers.

“We found so many interesting links in our data,” lead researcher Arn Eliasson, MD, says in a written statement. “Primarily, we want to know what is driving the weight differences, and why sleep and weight appear to be connected.”

There are several possible reasons for these findings, Eliasson says. Lack of sleep may disrupt natural hormonal balances, triggering overeating. Stress could also be a factor which could result in less sleep and an increase in appetite for the participants.

He says that “higher perceived stress may erode sleep. Stress and being less rested may cause these individuals to be less organized than normal-weight individuals, meaning they would have to make more trips and take more steps to accomplish the same tasks. This might add to their stress and encourage other unhealthy behaviors, like stress eating.”

The organization has stated that they are in the middle of planning and conducting further in-depth tests to try and gauge a better understanding of the role that sleep plays in body weight.

The best advice though is to make sure to get at least six to eight hours of sleep each night along with maintaining a proper diet and exercise regiment.