Seven Reasons Sleep is Even More Important than I Thought
Sleep is a life or death issue, so why don’t we treat it like one
I’ve just been doing an online course in sleeping. I’m not even kidding. It’s called The Science of Better Sleep and is available through Masterclass. It seemed a little frivolous as a topic, but apparently it’s not.
Sleep is arguably as important to our health as eating well and exercising. Sleeping well can guard against a range of diseases, from diabetes to Alzheimer’s. It can help us lose weight, and gain muscle, learn better, and avoid (sometimes fatal) mistakes.
As Matthew Walker (who teaches The Science of Better Sleep) puts it:
“Scientists have discovered a revolutionary new treatment that makes you live longer. It enhances your memory and makes you more creative. It makes you look more attractive. It keeps you slim and lowers food cravings. It protects you from cancer and dementia. It wards off colds and the flu.”
Sleep is vital. I will never feel guilty about sleeping in again. It’s not lazy, it’s healthy. Here’s why.
Sleep helps you lose weight
New research suggests that just one extra hour of sleep every night could help sleep-deprived people who are overweight eat 270 fewer calories per day, without even trying.
What’s more, sleep actually helps you build lean muscle, which may seem counter-intuitive, but actually makes sense if you think about it. Your muscles ‘tear’ while you’re working out but repair and grow while you’re sleeping.
Sleep alone won’t build muscle, sadly, but if two people do identical workouts and one sleeps a lot longer than the other, their muscles will have more chance to grow.
Given how many illnesses and chronic conditions are linked to being overweight, sleep is literally about life and death. In fact according to sleep specialist, Walker, there is a 200% increase in the likelihood of heart attack or stroke among adults of 45 or older who…
