Sleep, the Nightly Elixir for Good Health

When we get good sleep, our body undergoes dozens and dozens of repairs each night.

According to an article appearing in the Epoch Times, our memories undergo a process called "consolidation" during sleep. As such, newly acquired data is integrated into our long-term memory banks. By maintaining an effective sleep routine we can optimize our long-term memory and more.

Our immune systems, amazingly, also have a kind of memory. When foreign pathogens enter our bodies, our immune cells learn to recognize the invader through a complex series of biochemical adaptations. Hence, our bodies are able to produce more antibodies and fight off the disease. What helps to enhance our immune system's memory? Good sleep. Studies have shown that lack of sleep can actually decrease antibody counts following exposure to viral pathogens. 

During deep sleep our bodies also use that time to flush out metabolic waste from the brain. I don't know about you, but I don't want any metabolic waste in my brain!

Alarmingly, sleep disruption has been shown to be a contributing factor, potentially, to the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Americans in particular are a sleep deprived populace. Given what we know about the benefits of good sleep every night, there really is no excuse for not establishing an effective routine, and sticking with it.