The researchers found that taking an afternoon sleep seems to improve verbal fluency, working memory, and spatial awareness.
You are all aware of how critical the brain is to everyone of you. Possibly the most significant organ in your body is your brain. It enables you to think and feel in all the ways that define you as a human being in addition to controlling and coordinating your actions and reactions! Therefore, it goes without saying that maintaining a healthy, sharp mind is of the highest significance. However, a hectic lifestyle might sometimes prevent you from doing so.
But according to a recent study, having a regular afternoon sleep might help keep your mind sharp. Indeed, taking a sleep in the afternoon is associated with increased mental flexibility.
How An Afternoon Nap May Maintain The Health Of Your Brain
Researchers, including Wei Li from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China, claim that taking an afternoon sleep may improve working memory, verbal fluency, and spatial awareness.
The study, which was published in the journal General Psychiatry, featured 2,214 presumably healthy participants who were at least 60 years old and inhabitants of many major cities around China, according to the experts.
Overall, 1,534 people had a typical afternoon nap whereas 680 people did not. A battery of cognitive tests, including the Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) to screen for dementia, were administered to all participants.
In both groups, the nightly sleep duration was around 6.5 hours. Afternoon naps were outlined as being intervals of at least five minutes of uninterrupted sleep, but no longer than two hours.
Scores For Cognitive Performance Were Higher Among Nappers.
Participants were questioned about how frequently they took naps during the week; answers ranged from once per week to daily.
The 30-item dementia screening tests assessed verbal fluency, visuospatial skills, working memory, attention span, problem-solving, locational awareness, and other higher-order cognitive abilities.
The MMSE cognitive performance scores of nappers were considerably higher than those of non-nappers.
The Benefits Of Napping For Your Health Overall
Because this study is observational, the reason cannot be determined. Additionally, the time and duration of the naps were not recorded, which the researchers stated may have been significant.
One idea holds that inflammation mediates the link between mid-afternoon naps and poor health outcomes; the researchers add that inflammatory substances play a significant role in sleep problems.
According to the study, snoozing is regarded to be an evolutionary reaction to inflammation and that sleep affects the immune response in the body. People who experience greater inflammation tend to snooze more frequently as well.
1. Eat more foods high in omega-3s, such fatty fish and avocados.
2. Include berries and almonds in your diet every day.
3. If you enjoy a cup of coffee to start your day, you’ll be delighted to know that it’s beneficial for your brain.
4. Include extra veggies with green and leafy tops in your lunch and dinner.
5. Consume eggs daily. Choline and B vitamins, which are abundant in eggs and necessary for healthy brain growth and function. Additionally, the vitamins in eggs can aid with mood regulation.
In addition to everything else discussed above, make sure to exercise properly each day. Daily exercise will improve your general health as well as maintain your brain healthy.
