Category: sleep

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According to Science, Sleeping in a Cold Room Leads to Better, Healthier Sleep

Do you or someone you know (such as your partner) have trouble getting sleep at night? Do you toss and turn all night? Lack of restful sleep can be seriously bad for your health. It turns out there’s a simple, science-backed tip to get better sleep right away.

According to an article written by Dr. Christopher Winter, medical director at Charlottesville Neurology & Sleep Medicine, there are several reasons to keep your thermostat between 60-67 degrees F while you snooze. According to his research, if the temperature falls below or climbs above that range you’re more likely to toss, turn, and generally get worse sleep.

Image by Michal Jarmoluk from Pixabay

Why? It’s important to note that our bodies have a natural, 24-hour cycle in which our temperatures peak in the late afternoon and fall to their lowest point around 5 am. We’re typically able to fall asleep when our body temperature begins to drop, so keeping your room cold could encourage you to fall asleep faster.

A cold room encourages a more restful sleep, says research out of University of South Australia that connected poor body temperature regulation with certain forms of insomnia.

It could keep you looking younger, since sleeping in a room warmer than 70 degrees stops your body from releasing melatonin.

Image by Jess Foami from Pixabay

Naturopathic doctor Natasha Turner says that healthy sleep patterns and a predictable temperature drop release a growth hormone and decrease your stress hormone, the combination of which could actually help you lose weight.

One study even found that it could lower your risk for metabolic disease like diabetes. Participants burned more calories while they were awake and also doubled their amount of brown fat, or good fat, while allows the body to store fewer calories. Over time, that combination can lower your risk for metabolic disease.

Image Credit: Pixabay

So, there you go – make sure to turn down your thermostat and get ready to catch some totally restful, totally healthy zzz’s tonight!

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Target Is Selling Affordable Weighted Blankets, and You Are Definitely Gonna Want One

I was visiting a friend recently, and all she could rave about was the weighted blanket she’d just bought. She admitted that she was basically obsessed with her new purchase. Frankly, up until she went on a 15-minute rant about these blankets, I had no idea these even existed. So, I went home, fired up Google, and did a little research.

These products are all the rage because they’re helpful for people who have anxiety, are stressed out, or just want to get a really good night’s sleep. But the big drawback has always been that they’re pretty expensive.

Not anymore, ladies and gents!

Target is selling a 12-pound weighted blanket for $70, significantly less than most weighted blankets on the market.

While they’re less expensive, they are also a little lighter than standard weighted blankets – often it’s recommended that weighted blankets weigh about 10% of the user’s body weight. Though maybe that’s just Big Blanket…

I haven’t actually tried one of these babies out yet, but all I’ve heard are glowing reviews from friends and reviews online. And they’ve been scientifically proven to relieve stress and anxiety. So grab them up while you can! Perhaps as a Christmas gift?

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Worker ants take hundreds..

Worker ants take hundreds of 1-2 minute naps per day, so that they can essentially work around the clock. There is something similar in humans called polyphasic sleep. While many claim that polyphasic sleep was widely used by some polymaths and prominent people such as Leonardo da Vinci, Napoleon, and Nikola Tesla, there are few […]

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Here’s How You Can Beat Insomnia

Around 15% of the population suffers from insomnia, and 100% of those people can confirm that it totally stinks. The human brain needs a good amount of solid sack time every night to function at capacity, so if you’re someone who struggles to fall (or stay) asleep, check out these tips for giving your insomnia the boot for good.

#5. Try light therapy.

Photo Credit: East News

It’s not a new concept, but research out of the University of Buffalo concludes that light plays a major role in keeping our circadian rhythms in sync. Too much or too little light can affect your sleeping cycle, and some recommend glasses with built-in lamps to pick up the slack.

#4. Drink cherry juice.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Research out of Louisiana State University claims that if you drink cherry juice every morning and night for 2 weeks, your sleep time will increase by up to 90 minutes. Cherries are a natural source of melatonin.

#3. Practice yoga and meditation.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Studies suggest that both yoga and meditation, when practiced regularly over a period of time, can help relieve insomnia and promote better quality sleep.

#2. Check out alternative herbal options.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

What we eat can positively and negatively impact our bodies – for example, you’ll be more likely to get better sleep if you avoid spicy foods late in the day (or better yet, altogether). Other herbs, like valerian, hops, chamomile, and wort are well-known for helping a person drift off to dreamland.

#1. Get comfortable.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Some sleep positions are better than others as far as promoting good sleep, so even if you prefer your stomach or back, sleeping on your left side may increase the length and quality of your sleep. It facilitates lymphatic drainage from your brain, encourages digestion, and supports healthy spleen function.

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12 Facts About Sleep That’ll Make You Wanna Take a Snooze

Full disclosure: I consider myself a professional sleeper. There’s nothing better than a good night’s sleep or an extended power nap, in my personal opinion.

Browse these interesting facts about sleeping and I guarantee you’ll be ready to hit the couch for an hour (or three).

1. Sleep with one eye open

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2. Your brain is protecting you

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3. International sleeping

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4. Gross…and cool

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5. I need one of these

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6. This is important

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7. Don’t fight before bedtime

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8. Cannibalism

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9. Get your beauty sleep, please

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10. Placebo sleep

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11. Let the kids sleep!

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12. That’s a myth

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Good News! Sleeping in on the Weekend Might Prevent an Early Death

A study by Swedish and American researchers shows that people under the age of 65 who get less than five hours of sleep during weekends have an increased risk of death.

Photo Credit: US Army

The study followed over 30,000 people over a 13-year period and the results were published in the Journal of Sleep Research. But if you get less than five hours of sleep per night during your busy week, don’t fret. Catching up on sleep during the weekends can help you offset these risks. Keep in mind that getting more than 9 hours of sleep each night can also be harmful. It’s best to shoot for 6-7 when you lay down for the evening.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

But these scientific findings don’t affect people over the age of 65. The researchers note that most people at or above retirement age get an equal amount of sleep during the week and the weekends.

Photo Credit: Flickr,Marc Lewis

Bottom line: if you’ve had a long week, sleep a couple of extra hours on Saturday and Sunday. Your body will thank you for it.

h/t: Mashable

The post Good News! Sleeping in on the Weekend Might Prevent an Early Death appeared first on UberFacts.

Posted on

Good News! Sleeping in on the Weekend Might Prevent an Early Death

A study by Swedish and American researchers shows that people under the age of 65 who get less than five hours of sleep during weekends have an increased risk of death.

Photo Credit: US Army

The study followed over 30,000 people over a 13-year period and the results were published in the Journal of Sleep Research. But if you get less than five hours of sleep per night during your busy week, don’t fret. Catching up on sleep during the weekends can help you offset these risks. Keep in mind that getting more than 9 hours of sleep each night can also be harmful. It’s best to shoot for 6-7 when you lay down for the evening.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

But these scientific findings don’t affect people over the age of 65. The researchers note that most people at or above retirement age get an equal amount of sleep during the week and the weekends.

Photo Credit: Flickr,Marc Lewis

Bottom line: if you’ve had a long week, sleep a couple of extra hours on Saturday and Sunday. Your body will thank you for it.

h/t: Mashable

The post Good News! Sleeping in on the Weekend Might Prevent an Early Death appeared first on UberFacts.