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Sleep - how much do you need and does it matter?

Adequate sleep is essential for health. Before the invention of the light bulb, it is estimated that people slept an average of 10 hours per night.  In our busy word today, research shows that about six and a half hour per night is the average during the working week, with a "sleep in" at weekends averaging seven and a half hours. Were our ancestors just lazy, or were they following the natural rhythm of the body and nature?

While experts recommend seven to eight hours of sleep each night, the amount needed for an individual can vary, but most of us are not getting the amount of sleep our body needs to function at maximum capacity.

Lack of sleep affects a person in one of two ways. First it adversely affects performance of tasks, but the longer term effects of sleep deprivation impact significantly on health. Lack of sleep has been linked to weight gain, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems, depression, and substance abuse.

Adequate sleep is essential for weight control

Lack of sleep disorganises the hormones that control appetite.There is a decrease of the appetite suppressing hormone leptin when a person does not get enough sleep. At the same time the hormone ghrelin that stimulates appetite increases. Inadequate sleep also affects the body's ability to control blood sugar with an increase in general inflammation. Loss of sleep induces a stress response in the body that is geared to increasing weight.

Are you having difficulty getting a good night's sleep?

Quality of sleep is more important than time spent in bed. The body has a natural rhythm of sleep that has lengthening periods of deep sleep as the night progresses. When sleep is disturbed, the amount of deep sleep is significantly reduced. Often poor sleep is linked to anxiety, depression or stress

A number of herbs and nutrients can be very useful to calm the nervous system and encourage a good natural night's sleep without feeling drowsy the next day.I can advise you on the best natural way to treat your sleeping problem.

Special thank you to St George Naturopathic Clinic, Peter Kelly, for this article.
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