How Rest
and Sleep Affects Your Health
There are many factors that will run down the body, and
make you feel tired. Stresses to the body can be physical, emotional or chemical. They can be caused
from running a marathon, having a hard day with your boss at work, or even eating too much sugar.
When you feel tired or sleepy, that’s your intelligent body telling
you what it needs. Pushing your limits by taking caffeine or other stimulants can cause the body to ultimately break
down. Lack of seep increases the likelihood of many different illnesses because it lowers your
immune system, leaving you more
susceptible to colds, infections and disease.
In fact, sleep deprivation affects the body much like
stress, including weight gain, increased cortisol levels, distorted thyroid hormone levels, and elevations in glucose and
insulin.
Rest is necessary for renewed energy. When we are adequately
rested, we concentrate better and improve our efficiency.
Resting is definitely not a time waster if it helps
us be more focused and effective in what we do.
Sleeping is not a time waster either. When we sleep, the
body gets rid of waste products, circulates minerals, vitamins and hormones, and allows the body to naturally defend and repair
itself from potential diseases.
