JTA Wellness is fortunate to work with Dr. James B. Maas, one of the world’s leading experts on sleep. We are pleased to be featuring his research and expertise in today’s article.  So here it is:

Everything you wanted to know about sleep but were too tired to ask:

  • Most of us are sleep deprived and we don’t even know it!  Sleep deprivation causes reduced concentration, lowered productivity, and poorer quality of work and athletic performance.  We also experience an increase in moodiness, stress, accidents, and illness.  Our well-being and quality of life are significantly compromised.
  • For all of you midnight oil burners, it is neither “macho” nor smart to operate on less than the required amount of sleep.  In fact, recent medical research proves that sleep deprivation literally “makes you stupid, clumsy, stressed out,
    [hungry], unhealthy and will shorten your life.”

To be a peak performer at school, at work or at play, you need to be fully alert, dynamic, energetic, in a good mood, and cognitively sharp.  You must be able to concentrate, remember, have a great reaction time, make critical and creative decisions, communicate persuasively, and be productive all day long.  NONE of this is possible without quality sleep. 

Healthy sleep has been proven to be the single most important determinant in predicting longevity.  It is more influential than diet, exercise, or heredity- but our modern culture has become a study in sleep deprivation. We must learn to value sleep, yet most of us do not grasp the importance of the healing activity that occurs during the course of each night, and how it affects our health, happiness and overall performance.

Did you know that comfort food has been shown to induce feelings of relaxation and sleepiness?  Here is a healthier twist on Lemon Almond Tea Scones, a comfort food classic that pairs perfectly with a calming cup of tea before bed.  Enjoy!