Why a Good Night's Sleep is Essential

Sleep takes up about a third of our lives.

Before the invention of the electric light bulb, the average person slept around nine hours each night. Today, that average has dropped to less than six hours, and it's steadily decreasing as more distractions and activities fill our days.

Let's imagine how we would behave without technological advancements. Our body’s mechanisms haven't changed; the biological clock continues to tick, and all our bodily systems are still tuned to the cycles of sunrise and sunset.

Our digestive system works during the day, so it's important to eat during daylight, up to the early evening hours.

The immune system is active at night, making early night sleep crucial for allowing the immune system to function well. In cases of health issues, it's even more important to maintain correct sleep hours during darkness to let the immune system combat the problem.

Sleep has a significant impact on many bodily mechanisms, especially in children and adolescents.

Sleep consists of several stages: The first stage is the transition from wakefulness to sleep, a time when muscles start to relax. The second stage is light sleep. The third stage is deep sleep, during which the body's energy reserves are replenished. Deep sleep is the most important for the renewal and recovery of the nervous system.

During deep sleep, growth hormone is naturally secreted. Children and adolescents who don’t get enough sleep at night harm themselves. Too little of the growth hormone is secreted, leading to disruptions in growth during adolescence. Timing of sleep is also important—growth hormone is primarily secreted between nine p.m. and one a.m. Morning sleep is much less effective for growth.

Both insufficient and excessive sleep are linked to health issues, such as the development of type 2 diabetes, depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, fatigue, and metabolism disruption, leading to obesity.

Enhance your sleep by resting during the appropriate hours, between ten p.m. and six a.m. If you struggle to fall asleep, listen to calming music or practice deep breathing. Inhale and exhale slowly. Limit intake of caffeine-containing beverages. Avoid vigorous physical activity close to bedtime.

Deficiencies in calcium and magnesium can lead to insomnia. Ensure your diet is rich in leafy vegetables, oatmeal, almonds, and nuts.

Additionally, chamomile soothes the nervous system. Drink a cup of chamomile tea in the evening.

Zohara Sharvit is a Naturopathic Doctor (N.D.) and an expert in iridology, with extensive experience in treatment, counseling, and workshop facilitation. To book a complimentary workshop, call 073-2221290