Sleep is an often overlooked aspect of wellness but its benefits are endless. Now, there is research to show that sleeping better could improve your health in the decades to come.
A brand-new study done in the journal of Nature Communications shows that getting more sleep in middle age can decrease your risk of getting dementia. Participants who reported less than six hours of sleep consistently, were around 30 percent more likely to develop dementia in their seventies.
Wondering how to do it? We’ve got you covered.
INCLUDE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN YOUR DAY
Including physical exercise into your daily routine is one of the most well-studied ways to improve your sleep. Exercise can reduce the time it takes to fall asleep by around 50%.
PUT YOUR DEVICES AWAY!
Your smartphone and tablets emit large amounts of blue light, which tells our bodies that it’s time to wake up! Not exactly what you want as you’re trying to fall asleep. Try putting your devices away two hours before bedtime.
WATCH YOUR CAFFEINE INTAKE
Caffeine can be great in the morning for getting you up and at ‘em!
However, caffeine can stay in your bloodstream for up to eight hours, so watch what time you’re having that afternoon coffee. Studies show that caffeine after 3 pm can significantly worsen sleep quality.
Sleeping well is one of the best things we can do for out health, and you will notice the effects immediately! There is nothing better than a good night’s rest.
You might also enjoy this article on how swimming helps fight aging in new research.
