One of the oldest and most widely used clichàs refers to getting your ‘beauty sleep.’ Is there really such a thing as beauty sleep and if so, how can you get enough of a good thing? Actually, beauty sleep is something more than an old wives tale and the more medical and scientific data that is gathered, the easier to see there is a great deal of truth in the matter.
Although people of days gone by didn’t have access to the same technology we have today, they must have seen something for them to coin such a phrase. It may be difficult getting the amount of sleep you require but with a good mattress that offers plenty of support and comfort, you should be able to get the required amount of healthy, regenerative sleep.
Lack of Sleep Significantly Speeds Aging
Many biological processes take place during deep sleep. Tissue repair is one of those processes and part of the ultimate cause of premature aging is the inability of the skin to repair itself. While it could be a lack of hormones and chemicals that supply nutrients to the skin, the most common cause of premature aging (other than UV damage) is lack of sleep. Want younger looking skin? Increase the amount of time you spend sleeping.
Lack of Sleep Worsens Immune Issues
When we get too little sleep, tissues within the body tend to get red and inflamed. It is this inflammation that causes increased activity within the immune system and so if there are any immune issues causing blotchy or bloated skin, it will only get worse through lack of sleep. It is good to remember that the body does its soothing and healing during restful hours and when you are looking at immune issues, this rest is doubly, if not trebly, needed.
Lack of Sleep Can Cause an Increase in Weight
Recent scientific and medical data has linked lack of sleep to an increase in body weight. The ultimate reason for this is because when we are overtired, we crave energy that normally comes in the form of carbs. As a reaction to the need for increased levels of energy, we tend to pick up high caloric snacks and begin munching away. Unfortunately, this does little to energize us but it does quickly add up to excess pounds that are keeping us from looking our best. Insomnia can often lead to this, but luckily it’s possible to treat insomnia with something as simple as medical marijuana. You can buy marijuana online in a variety of strains, but some are specifically grown to treat insomnia, so it’s best to choose them over anything else.
Lack of Sleep Hinders Healing
Sleep is often seen as a time of repair or regeneration. There are a number of complex reasons for this assessment but the primary reason why healing takes place during restful hours is due to activity within the parasympathetic system. You could also look at it from the perspective of the brain. When you are overtired it is obvious that your reaction times are slower. Much of healing is dictated by brainwave activity sending nutrients and healing chemicals to areas of the body that need repair. It stands to reason that if you are sleep deprived enough to hinder cognitive function, other brain activity would be hindered as well.
Lack of Sleep Inhibits Release of Growth Hormones
We know that growth hormones are beneficial to stimulating the growth of new cells within the body, among which are skin cells. These hormones are only produced and released when we are in a deep sleep, so consequently, lack of sleep can actually cause a rift in the production of new, healthy skin cells. You may not be looking to advance through puberty any more but you certainly want new skin cells to be developed daily!
Lack of Sleep Shows!
When all is said and done, lack of sleep shows! If you still have any doubts as to just how much you need your beauty sleep, just look in the mirror the morning after you don’t get enough. You will likely notice black circles under your eyes, your skin will appear to sag and lose that natural glow you have when well rested. The reason why your eyes swell and blotch with dark circles is due to the dilation of blood vessels. Blood accumulates there and no amount of rubbing your eyes is going to disperse those unwanted pools.
Years ago they certainly didn’t have access to all the technology we have today but they were just as certain as we are today that we really do need our beauty sleep. Our skin is not the only thing that suffers. The expression on our face also changes when extremely tired so if you want to look your best, get the beauty sleep you need. Wake up refreshed, invigorated and so much lovelier than you’d imagine. That’s what beauty sleep is all about and yes, it is for real.
