Posted on Friday, January 22nd, 2021 at 10:11 pm
For many, the new year is a time to renew their personal promises of eating healthier, getting more sleep, and exercising more frequently. However, many people do not realize the myriad ways that diet, exercise, and sleep can affect each other. Scientists have discovered an intricate, highly symbiotic relationship between each of these factors of healthy living, and it is necessary to understand it in order to reap the ultimate benefits.
One of the most obvious benefits of healthy eating is that it fuels the body for exercise and staying energized throughout the day. It keeps our bodies in check by lowering our risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, and obesity, but it offers benefits for our mental health, as well.
According to the Sleep Foundation, healthy eating can help reduce the risk of developing anxiety and depression. Plus, fueling our bodies with the right foods to help us exercise regularly will reduce feelings of depression and hopelessness. Exercising releases endorphins, hormones that keep us feeling happy and motivated.
Being mindful of our diet also has an impact on our sleep habits. The Sleep Foundation suggests that eating too close to bedtime or consuming too many caffeinated beverages can hinder our ability to fall asleep. Additionally, if you do not have enough calcium, magnesium, and vitamins A, C, D, and E, you could have more trouble falling asleep at night.
A study from 2010 entitled “Exercise as a Treatment to Enhance Sleep” suggests that engaging in aerobic exercise or weightlifting can actually improve your quality of sleep. However, researchers found that exercising in the afternoon or early evening is the best option. Getting a workout in right before bedtime actually does more harm than good, hindering your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. Some studies have even suggested that regular exercise can help to reduce the effects of sleep apnea in some patients.
Getting quality sleep each night gives our bodies the opportunity to heal and recover from the day’s activities and workouts. It also gives our brains a chance to temporarily take a break before the stimulation of the next day. People who do not get enough sleep tend to overeat and experience stress, anxiety, and depression more often. They are also at a higher risk of developing health issues such as obesity, high blood pressure, and stroke, according to the department of neurology at Columbia University.
Contact Silent Night Therapy
If you are not getting enough sleep and worry about how this could affect your health, don’t hesitate to reach out to Silent Night Therapy. Our sleep specialists are here to help. Call us at (631) 983-2463 or fill out a contact form online.