11 Surprising Health Benefits Of Sleep

Sleep makes you feel better, but its importance goes way beyond just boosting your mood or banishing under-eye circles. Adequate sleep is a key part of a healthy lifestyle, and can benefit your heart, weight, mind, and more. 



"Sleep used to be kind of ignored, like parking our car in a garage and picking it up in the morning," says David Rapoport, M.D., director of the NYU Sleep Disorders Program.



Not anymore. Here are some health benefits researchers have discovered about a good night's sleep.

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Your mind is surprisingly busy while you snooze. During sleep you can strengthen memories or "practice" skills learned while you were awake (it's a process called consolidation). "If you are trying to learn something, whether it's physical or mental, you learn it to a certain point with practice," says Dr. Rapoport, who is an associate professor at NYU Langone Medical Center. "But something happens while you sleep that makes you learn it better." In other words if you're trying to learn something new -- whether it's Spanish or a new tennis swing -- you'll perform better after sleeping. More From Health.com: 7 Tips for the Best Sleep Ever Can't Sleep? What Not to Do at 3 A.M. The 11 Kinds of Insomnia

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Your mind is surprisingly busy while you snooze. During sleep you can strengthen memories or "practice" skills learned while you were awake (it's a process called consolidation).

"If you are trying to learn something, whether it's physical or mental, you learn it to a certain point with practice," says Dr. Rapoport, who is an associate professor at NYU Langone Medical Center. "But something happens while you sleep that makes you learn it better."

In other words if you're trying to learn something new -- whether it's Spanish or a new tennis swing -- you'll perform better after sleeping.

More From Health.com:
7 Tips for the Best Sleep Ever
Can't Sleep? What Not to Do at 3 A.M.
The 11 Kinds of Insomnia

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Comments

[stroses]

05:14 PM on 02/23/2011

A good mattress is the start of a good nights sleep. I wish someone would write an article about Mattress Manufacturers & their piss poor warranties! I've read many reviews from consumers including myself that have the same problem with sagging mattresses. When did body impressions become normal for brand new inner spring mattress?

[peterghansonmd]

09:43 PM on 02/22/2011

Good post. Rest is certainly a weapon for all of the next day's battles. My patients are enjoying reading about the father of all insomnia, Thomas Edison, at http://stressworksinc.com/Blog/post/Insomnia-Is-It-Worth-Losing-Sleep-Over.aspx

[katiek2o]

04:28 PM on 02/09/2011

I think overthinking sleep is unhealthy.. every time i conciously try to sleep i don't do it. I the real issue is in our cultural more in ignoring dreams,or considered;crazy subconcious. To make sense of them/bridge the gap to real life takes time and experience.. that is my only focus/purpose here on mutha earth.. our highest selfs can be attained through self-knowledge, listening to our ideas in sleep. without them i would be nothing, mindless, aimless..or like a kid/which i consider not a human being.. kids dont dream because they haven't isolated, worked out/expanded their brains yet. with the right kind of intelligence, the impossible becomes possible.. look at what the discovery of electricity has done for the world/biggest achievment/crucial energy source.. if we played our daily cards and adapted a system in using ourselves and our dreams to achieve happiness, and discarded what society suggests of happiness, daily life/ and the world would be a better place.. Blocking them out with alcohal, and pills is suicide..Intelligence is our assest, people should use it, and not abuse it.. the most important dreams i think are the ones that feel the realest.. like mine was winning american idol lol..will never forget it.. get those once a year or so.. it was pure bliss ill say

[Puffin16]

12:20 PM on 02/04/2011

Couldn't get through the slide show - I nodded off.

[banker67]

09:56 AM on 02/04/2011

Here's one for the mind that's probably not baloney: chess.
I've read that Alzheimer's is extremely rare among old chess players. Could be. I see a fair number of people in their 60s and 70s playing outdoors.
But almost-world-champ Viktor Korchnoi, 79, of Switzerland, just finished in the very respectable middle of a top tournament in Gibraltar, matching the scores of a dozen professionals in their 20s and 30s.
Oddly, physical stamina is very important for hours-long stressful games, but Viktor did just fine as he approaches his 80th year.
You might compare his performance to Jack Nicklaus placing fourth on this year's PGA tour or Billy Jean King coming in sixth or fifth at the next Grand Slam singles.
Some say chess keeps your mind active. I know the game is a heap of fun, and I can't help noticing that I'm never surprised to see some 15-year-old engaged for two hours of intense concentration with someone who looks to be about 50 years older.
Science it ain't, but I see it all the time. Much more than I see it on a tennis court.

[Jill S. Brown]

09:14 PM on 02/03/2011

A small, but convincing study shows that not enough sleep may cause the body to store fat: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jill-s-brown/sleep-the-missing-piece-t_b_814566.html

[AskRxExpert]

08:01 PM on 02/03/2011

It's very important to curb your inflammation with abtiinflammatory foods, gluten free diet and excercise.http://www.gluten-free-today.com/gluten-free-diet.html

[Ken Kinstle]

01:02 AM on 02/04/2011

Gluten Free is a great thing for health. I have found that Nopal Cactus Juice also helps many to reduce damaging inflammation http://TheNopalCactusJuice.com Exercise and plenty of sleep and water are biggies Thanks for sharing ..

[ScottSutton]

04:34 PM on 02/03/2011

You can't eat while your sleeping :) But I had a High School teacher who wisely said that sleeping is your brains homework.

[mary896]

12:22 PM on 02/03/2011

Gee thanks! Now how do I get this thing called 'sleep'?

[SinfullySublime]

09:22 AM on 02/04/2011

A bedtime routine and, have you tried Melatonin?