The Journal
Why beauty sleep is more than skin deep
By Nature's Journey
2 min read
There’s an old saying that ‘an hours sleep before midnight is worth two after’ – now, I’m not sure that this is a fact, but it’s true that getting enough shut eye is essential for maintaining a healthy mind and body. In today’s manic world – with hectic work schedules, busy social diaries and family life to manage, sleep is easily overlooked – but without it, it can have a significant impact on our overall wellbeing.
Sleep & healthy-looking skin
There’s no doubt that getting a good night’s sleep is good for your skin. During sleep, our skin cells regenerate more rapidly, collagen production increases and blood flow improves. All of which contribute to glowing, healthy-looking skin. When you neglect sleep, your body produces more cortisol (the stress hormone) – which is known to breakdown the collagen in your skin, leading to lack of firmness. It’s also bad news for inflammation – some research shows that lack of sleep can trigger inflammation, which means skin conditions like acne, eczema and psoriasis can flare up.
Sleep & mental wellness
Without sleep, our cognitive function and emotional balance is disrupted – that’s why, when you’ve had a bad night’s sleep, you can often experience ‘brain fog’ and become easily irritable or emotional. During the deeper stages of sleep, our brains process the information we’ve gathered throughout the day, consolidate memories and clear out the toxins that can lead to degenerative diseases. Lack of sleep can impair our ability to focus, make decisions and manage our stress levels.
Sleep & physical health
Sleep is a must-have for maintaining our physical health. Whilst we’re in the land of nod, our body is busy carrying out vital ‘updates’- such as muscle repair, immune function enhancement, and hormone regulation. Research shows that consistent lack of sleep can increase the risk of chronic conditions, such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Our body’s ability to metabolise food and regulate blood sugar is also influenced by sleep. Poor sleep can lead to insulin resistance, which makes it harder to maintain a healthy weight, and increases the risk of type 2 diabetes. Our immune system needs sleep to function properly, so without it, you’re more likely to experience coughs, colds and infections – and take longer to recover from them.
Struggling to drift off?
If you’re struggling to get enough sleep, the good news is that there are a few simple steps you can introduce into your lifestyle that will help promote a restful night – read our journal ‘simple steps to help you switch off for a better night sleep’ or visit The Sleep Charity website for helpful advice and resources.
Nature's Journey
At Nature's Journey, we're passionate about helping you to live happier, healthier lives. We regularly publish articles that we think you might find useful. Check out our journal archive for more articles like this. Got a suggestion for a future article? - let us know in the comments!
Content published by Nature’s Journey CBD Wellness is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent any disease. Always seek the advice of your GP or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise, or other health-related programme
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