Could Your Sleep Be Damaging Your Health?

• Find yourself reaching for that packet of chips mindlessly at 3pm?

• Feel constantly low in energy and unable to think straight?

• Find yourself constantly hitting snooze on your 30 morning alarms? 

• Feel your mood shifting throughout the day for no apparent reason?

Before you rush to self-diagnose yourself on WebMD…  guess what? The chances are, you’re probably just struggling to get a good night’s sleep and are feeling the full weight of it! 

With heightened levels of cortisol, nail-bitingly tight deadlines, caffeine-loaded diets, sensory overload from our wall to wall devices, and the stress of our everyday lives, it really should come as no surprise that our bodies are finding it increasingly difficult to switch off from the many distractions around us and reach a restful state. Yet, the question must be asked - why is sleep so important, how much should you be getting, and what can you do about it? Keep reading!

It’s no secret that the way you feel when you’re awake largely depends on what happens while you’re sleeping. Simply put - the quality of your sleep will either progress or regress your mental health, physical health, and quality of life. 

But, why? While you’re sleeping, your body is working hard to support healthy brain function and to maintain your physical health. Your body plays an important role in healing damaged cells, boosting your immune system, recovering from your daily tasks, and recharging your heart and cardiovascular system. In fact, sleep is the secret to maintaining optimal emotional balance, brain health, mental sharpness, energy, and your ability to handle stress adequately. 

To understand exactly why sleep is so crucial, it’s important to understand the sleep cycle and what your body experiences during these phases. The sleep cycle consists of two phases, which you’ve most likely heard of: REM (rapid eye movement) and Non-REM (non-rapid eye movement):

• Non-REM sleep - This form of sleep generally makes up 75-80% of your total sleep each night. It is responsible for tissue growth and repair, the restoration of energy, and the release of hormones that are required for development and growth. 
• REM sleep - This form of sleep typically makes up 20-25% of your total sleep each night. During periods of dreaming, REM sleep plays an important role in helping our minds process and consolidate emotions, memories and stress. Additionally, it’s also essential for learning as it stimulates areas of the brain that are used for learning and developing new skills.

Did you know that the average adult sleeps less than seven hours per night? (National Institute of Health 2011). 

While seven hours might sound harmless, or even an accomplishment to some of us, the harsh truth is that you’re well on your way to chronic sleep deprivation if you continually get less than seven hours a night. While you may be able to operate, you’re certainly not functioning to your full potential, and with this comes compromised cognitive function at work, performance in the gym, and mental wellness at home. 

According to Health Finder, most adults need 7 to 8 hours of quality sleep regularly. However, it’s important to note that sleep recommendations aren’t merely based on ticking off a certain amount of hours, it’s about ensuring your body gets the quality of sleep required to regenerate overnight. Like most things in life, it’s about quality, not quantity. According to the National Sleep Foundation, these age groups require the following amount of sleep:

If you’re functioning, energised and feeling your best throughout the day, it’s highly probable that you’re receiving the amount of sleep your body requires to get the most out of your day, from the time of waking to when you go to sleep.

However, if you’re experiencing the following symptoms, there’s a chance that your body is crying out for a bit of shut-eye: 

• Unhealthy eyes - If your eyes are constantly red, puffy, and have dark circles or bags, it may be a sign that you’re sleep-deprived. Seems pretty obvious, right? But what you may not realise is that those who don’t get enough sleep also tend to have more wrinkles, swelling and droopiness (most likely because your body misses out on the hormone control and tissue repair that happens during deep sleep). If sleeping to reduce the onset of wrinkles and droopiness doesn’t encourage you to get more zzz’s, we’re not sure what will! 
• Weight gain - There are two hormones that help to control normal feelings of hunger and satiety. Ghrelin is known to help stimulate appetite, while leptin is responsible for alerting your brain when you’re full. However, when you don’t get enough sleep, your ghrelin levels increase, which in turn boosts your appetite, while your leptin levels decrease, which means you’re likely to overeat as you won’t feel satisfied. So, if you’re experiencing unexplained hunger cravings and an increased appetite, it might be time to roll down the blinds and pop on some Enya! 
• Constant caffeine cravings - If you find yourself constantly rushing back to the coffee machine to top up your cup, you’re most likely not as rested as you thought. While caffeine may sound like the solution to your fatigue, in actual fact, it’s part of the problem. While the short term effects mean you’ll be more alert and have that extra 3 pm boost, in the long run, it may lead to insomnia or anxiety. 
• Mood swings - Irritability is one of the leading symptoms of poor sleep. Not getting enough zzz’s is suggested to increase moodiness, while also making you more emotional and quick-tempered. In fact, a study that limited participants to only 4.5 hours of sleep a night for one week indicated that all participants experienced heightened levels of stress, anger and mental exhaustion (Nazario 2018).
• Constantly under the weather - While you sleep, your immune system gets to work by producing protective, infection-fighting substances, such as cytokines. These substances are then used to help combat foreign invaders, including bacteria and viruses. Not getting enough sleep is known to weaken your immune system’s defences against viruses, which in turn increases your risk of getting sick. 
• Low libido - If you’re not getting enough sleep, it could very well be the reason for your virtually non-existent sex drive. For men, low libido may be the result of decreased testosterone levels caused by a lack of sleep. If the wrinkles point above didn’t hit hard, SURELY this one will!

If you're looking to improve the quality of your sleep, and ultimately, your health, we've got you covered. Here are our top 3 sleep-boosting supplements: 

Boasting high-quality, slow-digesting protein powder, glutamine, precursors and BCAAs, Evolve Pro-Treat is loaded with all the goodness your body requires for optimal muscle recovery, uncompromising muscle growth, enhanced digestion, and boosted immune health to ensure you get the results you’ve worked hard for, even in your downtime.

When it comes to training hard, there are fewer things more important for muscle integrity and growth than a quality source of protein. With the help of Evolve Pro-Treat, you can now enjoy the ultimate protein-packed treat loaded with over 21g of protein and only 120 calories per serving. Perfect as a late night treat to curb your sweet tooth and boost your daily protein intake in the most delicious way possible, Evolve’s innovative Pro-Treat makes it easy for you to get your sweet quick fix, while supporting your muscles while you sleep. 

Feeling wired and tired or simply struggling to get through your daily tasks without feeling overwhelmed? It might be time to make the switch to a product that has your best interest at heart. Say hello to Body Science’s cutting edge formula, Calm Stress Support!

Body Science Calm is designed to help your body find balance, relieve sleeplessness, calm the mind, soothe your nerves and support healthy body-stress recovery. Whether you’re suffering from overtraining, are feeling the full weight of a stressful 9-5, or simply spend too much time living in your head, we get it. For many of us, stress is abundant in our lives, but that doesn’t mean it should be.

Want to ensure your body is recovering and functioning as well as it’s performing? Look no further than Switch Nutrition’s result-driven, convenient and affordable vegan magnesium support formula. Introducing: Switch Nutrition Adrenal Switch!

As a workout places a strain on not only your muscles but your entire body, Switch Nutrition Adrenal Switch has been carefully designed to support the necessary systems for your body’s nutrient recovery. Recognised as one of Australia’s best selling vegan magnesium support formulas, Adrenal Switch contains the perfect combination of standardised Ashwagandha, bioavailable Magnesium, Zinc, Vitamin B6, naturally occurring L-theanine, L-leucine, and L-glycine to help support optimal nutrient recovery.

References: 

National Institute of Health 2011, Your Guide to Healthy Sleep, National Institute of Health, viewed 22 October 2019, <https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/files/docs/public/sleep/healthy_sleep.pdf> 

Smith, M, Robinson, L & Segal R 2019, Sleep Needs, HelpGuide, viewed 23 October 2019, <https://www.helpguide.org/articles/sleep/sleep-needs-get-the-sleep-you-need.htm> 

Berkeley Wellness 2015, How Much Sleep Do You Need?, Berkeley Wellness, viewed on 23 October 2019, <https://www.berkeleywellness.com/healthy-mind/sleep/article/how-much-sleep-do-you-need?s=EFA_161110_AA1&st=email&ap=ed> 

Biggers, A 2019, The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Your Body, Healthline, viewed on 22 October 2019, <https://www.healthline.com/health/sleep-deprivation/effects-on-body#1> 

Nazario, B 2018, Signs You Aren’t Getting Enough Sleep, viewed on 23 October 2019, <https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/ss/slideshow-signs-not-enough-sleep#>