I remember I would fall asleep on the left side, when I was little. Oddly enough, my body still feels more comfortable sleeping on the left side, and there are at least 8 reasons why sleeping on the left side is better for your health.
It looks like sleeping on your left side is the most natural thing. According to some research there are at least 8 health benefits of choosing left over right.
According to traditional Indian medicine, Ayurveda, sleeping on your left side boosts the lymphatic system, which has a key role in detoxicating our body. Flushing out toxins is more effective if we sleep on the left side, because the lymphatic system is more active on the left side in our body.
A study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, suggests that sleeping on the left side may also help to remove brain waste and thus prevent neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.
As strange as it may sound, sleeping on your left side is actually good for the heart. Clearly it happens because the lymphatic system gets boosted, and not just that! In fact, when we lie down on the left side, our heart pumps the blood more easily, because aorta – the main artery – has a curved shape on the left side and up towards the abdomen. Sleeping on your left side is a good way to take care of our heart’s health in a natural way.
Did you know that: an average adult changes sleeping position every 60 minutes?
Sleeping on the left side is better for your back, especially if you sleep in the slightly curled-in fetal position. This can help in case of chronic backache, because it relieves pressure on the spine and makes you much more comfortable in bed.
Sleeping or just lying down on the left side can help prevent and soothe acid reflux symptoms. The explanation to this is very simple: the stomach lies on the left side with the way out towards the right. If you lie on the right side, the gastric juice will struggle to go up the esophagus, causing a burning feeling.
Did you know that: Lying down on the left side for 10 minutes after a meal may be a good way to fight the unpleasant heartburn sensations and improve digestion.
When we sleep on the right side, the stomach “squashes” the pancreas and prevents it from working properly. Sleeping on the left side, instead, is a healthy habit to improve the work of pancreas and the digestion in general, because stomach acids are better steered, and the production of pancreas enzymes increases.
Did you know that: about 74 percent of people are side sleepers?
Sleeping on the left side helps our bowel to work properly. Thanks to the law of gravity, this position makes it easier for the food waste to move through the bowel, thus promoting peristalsis.
Spleens is an extremely valuable organ. It is part of the lymphatic system and is on the left side in our body. Spleen filters our blood and cleanses it of waste substances. Lying on the left side is healthy to the spleen because, doing so, its activity is boosted by gravitational pull.
Sleeping on the left side is better in pregnancy.
It is beneficial for a healthy pregnancy, because it improves the pregnant woman’s circulation, increasing blood flow to the uterus, fetus and kidneys. This habit can also help fight back pain, by relieving pressure on the back.
A study on “Typical sleep positions in pregnant women” conducted in 2014 showed that the majority of pregnant women sleep on their back, which may compromise the cardiovascular system and cause stillbirth.
Sleeping on your side (whether it is the left or the right side) can help people with breathing and snoring problems, as it helps open the airways and breathe better.
It doesn’t support the natural curve of the spine and puts extra pressure on your muscles and joints. Although this could be the perfect sleeping position for the snorers, sleeping on your stomach can cause neck pain and backache, due to a 90-degree neck angle.
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Stay healthy!
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This is a very interesting article. I think many of us don't give much thought to our sleep position and how it may affect our health.