NICE DREAMS! WHY A LOT OF SLEEP IS GOOD FOR YOU

 You spend about one third of your life sleeping. How important is your sleep for your fitness?

 

performance increase

A study by Standford University prescribed American football players sleep more than 10 hours a night every day. Over eight weeks, the results showed that the players had significantly more energy, better endurance and better times in their sprints. Not only does sleep have a positive effect on football players - overall, it improves performance, helps you stay focused, and subsequently minimizes injury.

 

Weight control

During sleep, your body releases the hormone leptin, which controls appetite. If you don't sleep enough, your desire for carbohydrates and fat increases. Most of the time, this goes hand in hand with high-calorie foods - and the more energy you consume, the faster you gain weight. As part of a study, the University of Chicago tested two groups who wanted to lose weight: one was sleep deprived and the other was not. Although both groups lost the same amount of weight in the reference period, those with sleep deprivation had increased muscle mass and the rested group more fat.

 

Boost for your psyche

Anyone who has slept well is in a good mood - who doesn't know that mood when you've had a bad night. In the longer run, too little sleep causes anxiety, depression, and emotional upset. Dr. Jodi A. Mindell of St. Josephs University says: "Emotions cannot be regulated in sleep deprivation." Therefore: Try sleeping at least 8 hours each night to keep your mood and psyche fit.

 

Improves the immune system

Getting enough sleep is also a form of disease prophylaxis. While you sleep, your body can fight infections better because it can focus on it. Illnesses can cause long breaks in training, so getting enough rest is a prerequisite for regular training. Studies endorse this: People who sleep less than 7 hours a night are three time more like to get sick than these who get enough sleep.

 

Muscle regeneration and building

When you exercise, you cause small injuries to your muscle. As your body processes the training, the muscle becomes firmer, thicker and stronger in order to be able to cope better with future training sessions. While you sleep, the body heals and the cells regenerate. Sleeping should be part of your fitness routine: your body not only recovers from your workouts, but also from stress. In addition, he can cope better with the daily stress.