Sleep Helps Fight the Aging Process

Are you getting enough rest for your body torejuvenate, heal, and replenish? The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) recommends that adultsget between seven and nine hours of sleep each night in order for the body to perform neurological, physiological, and biochemical maintenance tasks.

In a recent poll by the NSF,39 percent of American adults claimed to get lessthan seven hours of sleep each weeknight.

How does this sleep deprivation affect your health andappearance?

When your body gets enough rest, you wake up in the morning refreshed and ready to go. Your bodyhas renewed energy to get through day. It has also had time to fight infection and replace old cells in organs and muscles.

Your skin is the largest organ of your body. Collagen and elastin, two protein fibers, give the skin its elasticity and help keep it hydrated. As the skin ages, the fibers become less efficient and are replaced at a slower rate. It is impossible to stop the aging process; however, sleep plays an important role in preventing premature aging

of these fibers.

During the deepest stage of sleep, your body releases growth hormones for cell repair. If your sleep is frequently interrupted or of short duration, your body has less time to repair and replenish itself. Adequate rest, along with a healthy lifestyle, can help your skin rejuvenate and glow on a daily basis.

Tips and tricks to sleeping better:

• Avoid caffeine, nicotine and foods close to bedtime.
• Exercise at least three hours before bedtime.
• Establish a relaxing bedtime routine.
• Create a dark, quiet, comfortable environment conducive to sleep.