Inner Beauty Rest: 6 Health Benefits of a Better Night Sleep

Is your beauty regime falling short due to shortened hours of beauty sleep? While a dull complexion and swollen, puffy eyes are the less-than-glamorous side effects of tossing and turning, it may come as a surprise to know how restless nights can dim your inner beauty. For those insomniacs with chronic eye bags, sleep deprivation can lead to spells of depression, paranoia, or even impulsive behavior.

On the other side of the sleep spectrum, there are a wide variety of health benefits of a better night's sleep. Here's what you should know about the importance of inner beauty rest and how it can affect your health.

Strategies for getting some shut-eye

From maximizing exposure to bright light during the day to minimizing blue light exposure in the evening, there are plenty of strategies for getting some shut-eye. That said, one of the most effective strategies of all is to purchase a new and more comfortable mattress.

When shopping for a new mattress, be sure to research mattress sizes and firmness levels best suited to your sleep needs.  Taking these factors into account will help ensure that you pick the right mattress for you. 

You will be happier and in a better mood after a good night's sleep

One of the most significant health benefits of a better night's sleep is that you will be in a better mood and generally feel happier. When people don't sleep well, they become unusually irritable. While all of us have experienced this sleep-deprivation crankiness from time to time, staying up late and succumbing to your night owl tendencies can render you chronically moody and miserable. 

A lack of sleep can also lead to depression. In contrast, when you get plenty of sleep, you'll be able to bounce back from hardships and face the day fresh-faced. 

Sleep helps you learn and retain information

Sleeping properly has some surprising effects on your brain. When you get the right amount of sleep, you will find it easier to learn and retain new information. Despite popular misconceptions that argue caffeine serves as a cure-all for sleep-deprived minds, there's a fascinating correlation between sleep and information retention. 

If you sleep well the night before learning something new, you will pick it up quickly. However, if you don't get enough sleep after learning something new, you will be less likely to retain the information.

A good night's sleep extends longevity

Other health benefits of a better night's sleep include an association with increased longevity. Studies show that people, particularly women between the ages of 50-79, that get five hours of sleep or less don't live as long as those beauty sleepers who commit to eight hours of rest. 

Even as a senior, it's essential to prioritize your health. Regardless of your age, you should make a concerted effort to get a good night's sleep every night. 

Sleep reduces inflammation

Inflammation commonly leads to serious health problems like heart disease. When you get a good night's sleep, it helps reduce inflammation. 

When you sleep interruption-free, it reduces the count of a C-reactive protein that increases your chance of heart attack. That said, you should commit the signs of cardiac distress to memory so you can be well-prepared. It's also critical to recognize the signs of respiratory distress, should you refuse to give your sleeping habits a much-needed makeover. 

It reduces weight gain

Want to lose weight? Try committing to a better night's sleep. A lack of sleep has been linked to a lack of motivation to work out and hormonal issues that contribute to weight gain. 

Even if you are dieting, you may start packing on the lbs after one too many sleepless nights. With these health consequences in mind, try sprucing up your sleep environment (and sleep hygiene). 

Sleep fortifies the immune system

If you want to build a stronger immune system, it's time to start getting better sleep. People that get fewer than seven hours of sleep per night are more likely to get sick than those who reach the eight-hour mark. 

Before you go

In conclusion, there are plenty of health benefits associated with getting a better night's sleep. If you have been staying up late or have settled for a lumpy mattress, it is time to make a change. Otherwise, you find yourself paying the price when you're diagnosed with insomnia and other health complications.