07/24/2023
Sleep is of utmost importance for our body's health and ability to maintain homeostasis.
Our brain cells use energy and while this happens it creates toxic byproducts that must be ridden.
According to Dr. Sarah Ballantyne, author of Paleo
Principles, “we now know that the main purpose
of sleep is to allow for detoxification processes in
the brain” (p. 324)
Without this time to detoxify, our brain and body are weakened. The many functions and systems within our body rely on a full night's rest, ideally 8 + hours before 10.
-Our brain doesn't shut off and while we sleep, we enter into the REM state. During this time our brain takes our recent memories and indexes them into our short-term memory or hippocampus where they will be permanently stored, and this takes place during the brain processing.
During sleep our energy conservation reduces our metabolism by 10%.
Although dreaming is not fully understood, it is involved in the integration of thoughts and emotions.
The production of the growth hormone takes place while sleeping, which supports tissue growth.
Our immune function relies on optimal sleep as our immune cells are most active during sleep.
Our bodies are regularly making new neural connections and is dependent on quality sleep.
Our cells produce waste during time of energy use, which requires disposal upon entering the blood cells. this often happens between the hours of 11-2.
Sleep normalizes our functions and systems within our body including digestion, blood sugar, fatty acid balance, endocrine immune system, cardiovascular, brain and nervous system.
SO, if you choose to do one thing for your health, choose sleep as your priority as our entire being relies on it.
Sweet dreams, Thrivers!