Deep Sleep Is The Difference Between Winning and Losing
By: Greg Haughton
Three Times Olympic Medalist & World Champion
Sleep is the body's way of recharging itself after a hard days work. Lack of sleep limits your ability to learn, listen, concentrate and solve problems. With proper sleep, the body will speed recovery from infections, injuries, wear and tear on muscles, ligaments, tendons, organs, and ward off potential injuries.
Humans are like diurnal animals, this means that we naturally sleep at night and stay awake at daytime. When we do not get enough sleep, we increase the risk of damaging our immune system; the bodily system that protects from foreign substances. The immune response that protects us includes the thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, and special deposits of lymphoid tissue.
The adrenal system does the majority of the recharging and recovery when you sleep. Conversely, this recharging can only take place between the hours of 11:00 PM and 3:00 AM. Male athletes must be in deep sleep before 10:30 PM, because this is the time growth hormones are released in the body.
During this time, the body also cleanses itself by using the gallbladder to dump toxins found in the digestive system and blood stream. When you are awake, the toxins tend to circulate throughout the body and back into the liver. This causes fatigue, injuries, tiredness, and further health problems.
Getting adequate sleep assures that the body and mind is at its optimal mental and physical health. Athletes are prone to injuries and illness on the days they deny the body of sleep. When this happens, the immune system is affected because the measurement of inflammation in the body is high. This can be reverse by increasing the amount of time spent sleeping. According to research, rats deprived of sleep die within two to three weeks, a time frame similar to death due to starvation.
Sleep has a powerful impact on every athlete’s emotional health; it eases stress and helps them to maintain a balance life. Conversely, sleep deprivation compounds cellular damage by limiting the production of enzymes and hormones. This is the reason athletes should work to have deep peaceful sleep daily. They should also make sure that the proper minerals and nutrients are available during peak repair time.
Scientists have concluded that when the body experiences intense physical, emotional and psychological stress, more sleep is required to restore the body’s energy to its optimal level. This makes it easier to stay focus. When deprived of sleep, athletes tend to lose concentration and focus relatively easy. Getting sufficient sleep should be a daily regiment, because concentration is paramount when the body and mind is fatigue.
To increase your ability to maintain concentration and focus for extended periods, you should establish a healthy bedtime routine that assures adequate sleep time. This will minimize bedtime struggles, which reduces the occurrence of sleep problems. You should also avoid consuming products that contains caffeine throughout the day, especially at bedtime. When these products are consumed, you tend to lose the sleep required for optimal health and cognitive functioning.
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