Physicians and health care experts have been telling us for years about the benefits of quality sleep for a healthy mind and body and for the reduction of the risk of disease .

Who hasn’t heard of the benefits of beauty sleep which rejuvenates the skin, the eyes and the hair? Afterall, without enough consistent and restful sleep your body simply can’t grow healthy hair.

(Image from Rusk – All Rights Reserved).

Studies have shown that people who are sleep deprived are more prone to developing hair challenges than those that get the best amount of Zzzzzs for their body.  Yes, each person has different sleep needs. There is no absolute recipe for the perfect amount of sleep for every person.

Why is sleep so important for the hair?  Consistent sleep patterns which means an ongoing program of restful and appropriate sleep will help to maintain the body’s natural melatonin and cortisol levels within ranges which promote good overall wellness.  When the body is strong and healthy, the hair is also able to be strong, lush and in positive growth mode.

It has been proven that when the body’s natural melatonin and cortisol levels are not maintained that the body is more prone to developing chronic or serious illness and even weight gain.   When the body is not experiencing optimal health the hair is most likely to suffer.  It has also been proven that when a person is sleep deprived for an extended period of time, their immune system is not able to function optimally.

Some hair loss conditions are tied to depleted immune systems which may be linked to sleep deprivation.

Other sleep benefits?

1.  An instant boost to brainpower.

According to CookingLight.com a study from the University of Luebeck in Germany found that out of 106 people observed, those who obtained a full night’s rest were three times more likely than sleep-deprived subjects to perform well on cognitive tasks measuring memory, creativity, and problem-solving skills. This is due to the brain activity that occurs during certain segments of sleep.

2.  Easier weight maintenance.

CookingLight.com also noted that a joint study of more than 1,000 participants performed by University of Wisconsin and Stanford University researchers found that those who slept an average of eight hours a night had a lower body mass index (BMI) than those who slept less. Researchers believe that this is because sleep keeps two appetite-regulating hormones (leptin, which signals fullness and decreases with lack of sleep, and ghrelin, which stimulates the feeling of hunger and increases when you’re lacking in sleep) in check. When they’re in the right range, you’re less likely to overeat.

3. Helps Wounds Heal Faster

According to Wikipedia wound healing has been shown to be affected by sleep. A study conducted by Gumustekin et al in 2004 shows sleep deprivation hindering the healing of burns on rats.

According to Wikipedia are multiple arguments supporting the restorative function of sleep. We are rested after sleeping, and it is natural to assume that this is a basic purpose of sleep. The metabolic phase during sleep is anabolic; anabolic hormones such as growth hormones (as mentioned above) are secreted preferentially during sleep.

The duration of sleep among species is, in general, inversely related to animal size and directly related to basal metabolic rate.  Rats with a very high basal metabolic rate sleep for up to 14 hours a day, whereas elephants and giraffes with lower BMRs sleep only 3–4 hours per day.

How Does Good Night Sleep Help Grow Healthy Hair?

When the body is deprived of anything necesssary for it to function at optimal levels it will shut down all production of unnecessary functions such as growing hair or removing toxins from skin.  Studies have proven when sufficient protein, through dieting or other abnormal food consumption, is withheld from the human body it will shut down all production of hair.

The body does this as a means to devote all of its energies towards conserving vital body organs.  The same principle is true of growing healthy hair.  If the human body does not have enough sleep for regeneration processing it will focus on the most vital organs and skimp on skin, hair and other lesser important organs.

Summary

Besides proper nutrition, vitamins, fresh air and hydration, it is essential to get consistent and restful sleep in order to grow and maintain a healthy head of hair.

Please refer to:
Hair Growing Tips

Fat Hair or Tight Jeans – Crash Dieting & Telogen Effluvium

More Information

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This entry was posted on Thursday, May 7th, 2009 at 1:02 pm and is filed under Beauty Beat, Body Beat, Hair. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.