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Clean And Drain Your Brain By Doing This One Little Thing Every Night
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This study used MRIs (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) to observe this pathway in rats. These rodents were given anesthesia and were placed on their sides, backs, and stomachs for sleep. This study showed that the glymphatic movement was most efficient for the rats that slept on their sides. This adds more evidence to the idea that sleep performs a particular biological function besides the obvious — to help the body cleans up the mess that occurs during waking hours. It is interesting that the most popular sleep position, even for animals in the wild, is popular for a good reason, as it clears waste from the brain.
This study would indicate that our sleep position is essential for warding off neurological diseases linked to sleep disturbances, such as dementia. Many people who are afflicted with dementia often state that they had trouble falling asleep for years before the disease struck. This study suggests that sleep disorders are linked to brain waste not being completely removed or not having sufficient time to be removed properly.
A 2013 study published in the journal Science also discussed how sleep can help to restore our brains by flushing out the toxins that build up when we are awake. These studies only highlight the importance of sleep in the prevention of disease and the improvement of health. This fascinating study suggests that certain brain disorders, such as dementia, might be able to be treated or prevented in the future by watching how the glymphatic system works or doesn’t work.
The discovery of the glymphatic system and pathways is literally earth-shaking news! This tells us so much about why we sleep and why most humans and animals sleep in the same position.
SEE ALSO: 22 Top Foods to Help You Sleep Better (No Pills or Alcohol Needed!)
This might explain why those who sleep only five hours a night have difficulty concentrating and focusing the next day. It’s not so much that you are tired, but that your brain has a backup of waste! Kinda gives new meaning to the term “I’m wasted,” doesn’t it?
If you want to ensure that you sleep mostly on your side, you can try a trick that works for people who tend to snore when they sleep on their back. Sew a tennis ball in the middle of your pajama top or a t-shirt. This ensures than when you roll over on your back or stomach, you will quickly move to your side.
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