Reasons why you must sleep on your left side
Introduction:
Your sleeping position is associated with what you get in your scenario. There are a few common positions people sleep like sleeping gon their sides, back, stomach and curled up in a fetal position.
Some people stay still all night in the same position while some turn and toss. It is completely fine until you don’t wake up. Do you know your body is still active even while sleeping? Yes, it will be digesting food, filing away memories, recharging your batteries and obviously taking in oxygen, circulating blood. You can have a great sleep depending on the position you sleep in.
Sleeping on your left side is perfect for a sound sleep. Keep reading what all it can do.
Better Digestion:
Have you heard from your parents or grandparents not to eat before bed that the food doesn’t digest and stores as fat? Well, this is a myth. The process of digestion continues whether you are awake or sleeping. Midnight cravings are a thing as our body needs fuel to carry out the functions of the body.
Though digestion takes place irrespective of how you sleep you can support the system by sleeping on the left side. This is because our stomach is on the left side of the abdomen and when you lie on your left side it is easy for the food to pass through the large intestine. As the pancreas and stomach are on the left side sleeping on the same side might help them function better. With gravity, the food passes easily through the stomach and pancreatic enzymes are released when required. Also, flushing waste from the body also becomes easier. The undigested food or waste and toxins move from the small intestine to the large intestine and into the colon where it gets excreted in the morning.
Relax your heart:
From day 1 of birth, the heart functions without rest in order to sustain life. Good heart health is also associated with good air quality. We know that heart disorders are the leading factors for death these days. You can reduce the risk by sleeping on the left side to lighten your heart's work.
This might not seem to be an effect, sleeping on the left side. You are helping the heart to transport blood due to gravity. Aorta carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the body and arches to the left and begins its route. When you lay low you reduce the work of the heart to transport to some extent.
Back Pain:
Have you had back pain because of your sleeping position causing strain in the back and neck? If not let us know your secret. If you feel sore when you wake up try sleeping on your left side.
In the beginning, left side sleepers have stress relieves on the spine. The more pressure on the back the more pressure is needed to keep it all in place for the muscles. Sleeping on the left side can also improve blood circulation. This can also reduce inflammation related to strained muscles.
Assists lymphatic System:
The lymphatic system is a network of vessels that carry the fluid lymph. This system plays a vital role in transporting the fluid throughout the body and also immune function. Lymph picks up toxins and other waste while circulating so any blockage in the system is removed.
It is known that sleeping on your left side can lymphatic systems filter out waste. Lymph drains through the left so gravity eases the functions of the lymph.
Reduced Heartburn:
Does heartburn hurt? It can be caused due to eating before bed, which might allow the stomach to develop more acids that creep up to the oesophagus. Scientists have found that sleeping on the left side helps in reducing heartburn while sleeping on the right can spike it up.
The junction of the oesophagus and stomas is higher than the acid level in the stomach when we lay on the left side. On the right side lower oesophagus sphincter is relaxed and can let acid creep.
Important to Pregnant Women:
Pregnant women circulate blood to two bodies that need high blood volume. A growing foetus puts on the pressure on the spine as well as other organs.
Lying on the left side can relax circulation with the two bodies and also the pressure on the mother's spine. It can also protect the liver from being squeezed. In short lying on the left side is both for the mother and the child.
Prevents Snoring:
Snoring becomes an issue in marital relationships. If you or your spouse Snoring becomes an issue in marital relationships. If you or your spouse snores then it becomes an aggravating issue. Don’t get excited as this might not cure but can prevent up to some extent. Sleeping on your left side does keep your tongue in a more neutral position and leaves the airways clear.
During sleep, our throat, mouth and
tongue relax. Back sleeping isn’t for snorers as the tongue may relax backwards
and obstruct the airway. Snoring is nothing but the vibration caused due to
pulling air in in the crowded space.
Brain health:
Our minds also benefit from sleeping on the left side as our mind needs rest too. Compared to sleeping to your back or stomach, sleeping on your left side can stimulate the brain and clear interstitial waste from it. This cleansing might help in reducing the risk of developing Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer’s or any neurological disorder.
Conclusion:
If your not a left sider then it might be difficult until you get used to it. Try using pillows at your back or between your knees to avoid rolling. By this, you can easily make it a habit to sleep on your left side. Moreover, left-sided sleeping has way more benefits than you can imagine and enjoy rejuvenating sleep. There is no harm in trying it out! So which point shocked you and are you planning to sleep on your left side from today?