The Importance of Good Sleep

The Importance of Good Sleep

The benefits of sleep impact on nearly every area of daily life. While it may be obvious that sleep is beneficial to one's health, the majority of people don't know why this is or how many hours sleep is ideal.

Research from the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School shows that your body requires sleep the same way that it requires the need for eating, drinking and breathing. Extensive research shows that sleep plays a vital role in the promotion of physical health, longevity and emotional well-being.

People who are often sleep deprived or have erratic sleeping patterns have shorter life spans and are at a greater risk of developing diabetes, obesity, heart attack and high cholesterol.

Unfortunately, there is not -magic number' on how many hours a person needs to sleep. People of different age groups need different amounts of sleep. The amount of sleep you need to function best is different for you than for someone who is of the same age and gender. However, a general guideline for pre-teens to adults is 7-8 hours of sleep.

After an adequate amount of sleep, you feel better, your thoughts are clearer and your emotions are more stable. Inadequate sleep can negatively affect your judgement, your mood and your ability to learn and retain information.

However, getting a good night's sleep can be easier said than done. You could be overly stressed from work or everyday life, maybe your bed is not comfortable, you still feel bloated from dinner or your brain is still going while your body is ready to stop.

'How much a person eats before bed time can greatly effect how they sleep. If a person over consumes what the stomach can hold or consumes hard to digest food, it will cause discomfort and the body has to work extra hard to digest the food while you sleep.

'A person should eat foods that are high in fibre such as leafy greens which are not only good for you, but aid in digestion and can relieve discomfort" said Hopewood Assistant Manager Jennifer Mathieson.

Hopewood Health Retreat has helped in re-educating guests over the years with sleeping issues by providing a well-balanced diet, herbal teas and classes such as Yoga and Meditation all of which can help you to achieve a better nights rest.

With over 50 years of experience, Hopewood Health Retreat is Australia's most experienced health retreat. It has been successful in the assistance of health remedies and heightening the well being of clients since its establishment. Hopewood's focus is on providing healthy, appetising vegetarian food options, stress management, relaxation and gentle, monitored exercise. Nestled in the peaceful foothills of the Blue Mountains on the banks of the Nepean River and only an hour from Sydney, Hopewood Health Retreat is the perfect destination to get back to good health this winter.