Eating right, working out, and getting enough sleep are the healthiest ways to stay fit. But many people aren’t getting enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can cause many health problems such as diabetes and even depression, and it can also affect your weight. David Lloyd Gyms, a gym franchise in the UK, recently launched a new health and fitness class where you take forty-five-minute naps called napercise. Napercise helps your mind and body rest and even helps burn calories while you sleep in a temperature controlled room. It’s still a very new concept but people are loving the idea of simultaneously catching up on sleep and burning off some calories.

What is Napercise?

When David Lloyd Gyms first came up with the idea, it was targeted to those who were fatigued from taking care of their children every day. But any tired, exhausted, sleep-deprived person is welcome to join the class.

Participants of this class will find single beds, soothing music and a temperature which helps burn calories during sleep. You can visit this article to read more on how temperature control can help burn fat. When the class starts, you do a few stretches, then you sleep for forty-five- uninterrupted minutes, and that’s it! Kathryn Pinkham, a sleep expert, says that a lack of sleep can cause you to skip out on your daily exercise routine due to exhaustion and could cause you to make unhealthy food decisions.

Why Sleep is Important For Health

According to the American Psychological Association, sleep is important because:

• It allows our brain to recharge and our bodies to rest

• Sleep helps repair muscles and memory consolidation

• Sleep positively affects memory, judgment, and mood

• Chronic sleep deprivation can cause obesity and high blood pressure

Chronic Sleep Deprivation Effects

• Lack of sleep makes you feel hungry even if you aren’t- sleep loss affects the hormones that regulate appetite. (4)

• Lack of sleep increases fat storage- sleep loss could interfere with the body’s ability to metabolize food which in turn leads to overproduction of insulin. Insulin is the number one factor that causes diabetes. (4)

• Lack of sleep can lead to hypertension (high blood pressure). (5)

• Lack of sleep can cause anxiety or depression. (5)

To learn how to deal with sleep deprivation you can visit this article for more information.

According to this Mercola article, excessive sleeping (nine hours or more) can also cause health problems such as weight gain, headaches, depression and heart disease. Everyone is different, but the ideal amount is around 6-8 hours of sleep every night.

How to Sleep Better: Helpful Tips

Mercola advises the following tips to help you fall asleep:

• Avoid snacks before bed, especially grains and sugars- this can raise blood sugar and hinder sleep.

• Sleep in complete darkness

• No screens right before bed- it stimulates your brain too much and can make it harder to fall asleep.

• Go to bed earlier

• Keep the temperature at 70 degrees Fahrenheit- when the room is too hot it’s harder to fall asleep.

Sleep is just as important as eating healthy and exercising right. Sleep helps your mind and body rest, giving you ample amount of energy for the next day to continue your path of healthy living.

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