But what is sleep, exactly? Why is it so important and so restorative for our bodies and minds? How does it impact our lives when we are awake? Sleep serves multiple purposes that are essential to your brain and body. Let's break down some of the most important ones.The first purpose of sleep is restoration.Every day, your brain accumulates metabolic waste as it goes about its normal neural activities. While this is completely normal, too much accumulation of these waste products has been linked to neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.

The way this process occurs is fairly remarkable:During sleep, brain cells actually shrink by 60 percent, allowing the brain's waste-removal system-called the glymphatic system-to essentially "take out the trash" more easily. The result? Your brain is restored during sleep, and you wake up refreshed and with a clear mind.The second purpose of sleep is memory consolidation.Sleep is crucial for <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3768102/">memory consolidation</a>, which is the process that maintains and strengthens your long-term memories. Insufficient or fragmented sleep can hamper your ability to form both concrete memories (facts and figures) and emotional memories.

Finally, sleep is paramount for metabolic health.<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2951287/">Studies</a>have shown that when you sleep 5.5 hours per night instead of 8.5 hours per night, a lower proportion of the energy you burn comes from fat, while more comes from carbohydrate and protein. This can predispose you to fat gain and muscle loss. Additionally, insufficient sleep or abnormal sleep cycles can lead to insulin insensitivity and <a href="https://www.nature.com/nutd/journal/v3/n5/full/nutd20138a.html">metabolic syndrome</a>, increasing your risk of diabetes and heart disease.

If you want to learn how to sleep better, then you're in the right place. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know if you want to get better sleep. I'll explain the science of sleep and how it works, discuss why many people suffer from sleep deprivation without knowing it, and offer practical tips for getting better sleep and having more energy.

The Science of Sleep: A Brief Guide on How to Sleep Better Every Night

Allen Timothy