When our lives get busy, or we have too much distracting us, sleep is the first thing we sacrifice, right? It feels like the easy, suitable choice at the time: substituting eight hours of sleep with six, or going to bed late and sleeping in the next day. Usually it’s so we can socialize longer, or finish that new TV show we’re obsessed with. Unfortunately, compromising our rest is more detrimental than we realize, and costing us more than a few extra Zzz’s.

Its recommended that adults get 7-8 hours of sleep every night. If you’re behind on your sleep, or usually feeling like you didn’t get enough rest, then you’re probably sleep deprived. Most people don’t know they are sleep deficient because they’re still able to function well, but the truth is that sleep deprivation takes a serious toll on physical and mental health. Actually, studies have shown that driving while sleep deprived is similar to driving while intoxicated. Every year, sleep deprivation causes around 100,000 car accidents.

For our benefit, and the benefit of those around us, it’s crucial that we understand why sleep is so important and do everything we can to have a good night’s rest.

Sleep Super-Charges Your Immunity

In the same way that we plug in our phone when the battery is low, our bodies need sleep to recharge. Sleep restores us. We need it to function—not only externally, but internally, too.

When we are sleep deprived, our immune cells can’t fight germs and infection as quickly or efficiently. Even a small deficit of sleep can negatively impact the immune system.

A medical study done in January of 2009 investigated the onset of the common cold after giving test subjects the cold virus along with cold medication. They discovered that those subjects who slept 7 hours or less were nearly 3x more likely to experience a cold than those who slept 8+ hours a night.

In addition to this, sleep also encourages the effectives of vaccines. Shalini Paruthi, M.D., a sleep specialist from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine says that sleep issues will prevent someone from “[developing] the same antibody response as well-rested people…”

Sleep is also known to combat inflammation. Being sleep deprived can activate inflammation incells, and negatively affect those with digestive tract issues or Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Your health is one of the most important aspects of your life. If you want to super-charge your body, getting good sleep is one of the best things you can do for a stronger immunity.

Sleep is an Anti-Aging Agent

If you want to keep your skin from aging, sleep is the best place to start. Sleep deprivation can affect the quality of skin, prevent it from recovering from exposure, and age skin faster. As mentioned above, our bodies need sleep so our cells can repair. This goes for skin cells, too.

Another tip for anti-aging is to stay hydrated! Dehydrated skin looks dull, sags easily, and is more susceptible to wrinkles. Drinking water regularly will plump up skin and give it a glow. Keep a glass of water on your bedside table, so you can start your morning with some water, or have something to drink if you wake up thirsty in the middle of the night.

Sleep Helps Your Mind

Sleep is very important for the brain. It enhances concentration, cognition, performance, and productivity. If we’re tired and not well rested, we might struggle in these areas.

The amount of sleep we get has a large role to play in our work, schooling, driving, socializing, and communicating. Our ability to effectively learn, focus, and react is connected to the quality of our sleep. We might feel cranky, impatient, frustrated, or even anxious throughout the day if we’re not sleeping enough. Likewise, children with sleep issues can be overactive, experience attention problems, and misbehave.

Mental health is also negatively affected by a lack of sleep. Depression is strongly linked to sleep deprivation. Around 90% of people who experience depression have said their sleep quality is poor. Sometimes, sleep disorders can make sleeping difficult, and while there are a lot of factors to consider when it comes to mental health, trying our best to have a healthy sleep routine is a small step we can all take toward the goal of feeling better.

Sleep Controls Your Weight

Poor sleep is strongly connected to weight gain and the risk of obesity. We have hormones that affect our appetite. The hormone ghrelin makes our bodies feel hungry, and the hormone leptin makes us feel full. When we don’t sleep properly, our levels of ghrelin increase, making us hungry. Unregulated hunger can cause us to not only consume more food, but eat “satisfying” foods which aren’t that healthy. If we’re sleeping well, then our hunger, diet, and weight will all be better controlled.

Sleep is the Answer You’ve Been Searching For

Sleep is a huge factor when it comes to your health. Whether its striving for a strong immunity, keeping your mind clear, looking and feeling younger, or being in control of your body, sleep can help you do these things and more. In addition to having a great sleep routine, having a good hydration routine is equally as important.

If you want water that refreshes you, tastes great, and benefits all other areas of your health, Cedar Springs is the best spring water you can drink!