The sleepy solution to fighting free radicals

Dark chocolate. Berries. Green Tea. Kale. These foods contain antioxidants that fight oxidative stress and protect you from disease.

But what if the most powerful antioxidant is in the bedroom, not the kitchen?

That would be an interesting twist! Especially if you’ve been trying to fend off disease-causing free radicals through what you put on our plate.

Now, don’t get me wrong, eating healthy will always be a fabulous way to get enough antioxidants. But a recent study shows that sleep could play an antioxidant role in your body too.

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More sleep means less oxidative stress

It’s no secret that getting plenty of sleep is good for you. But researchers may have figured out exactly why…

A new study from researchers at Columbia University found that sleep could act as an antioxidant.

The study was inspired by the theory that sleep is essential for health for all animals, everything from humans to fruit flies. Animals that don’t sleep as much pay the price with poor health, faster aging etc.

To see if their theory was correct, Columbia researchers examined fruit flies genetically altered to sleep less. And they found that fruit flies that weren’t getting enough shut-eye, shared something in common — they had more oxidative stress. Researchers also checked to see if increasing sleep reduced oxidative stress in fruit flies. And, sure enough, it did.

As you probably know, oxidative stress happens when too many free radicals accumulate in your body and damage your cells. Antioxidants can prevent oxidative stress. And since sleep appears to prevent oxidative stress too, it’s technically an antioxidant.

Who would’ve thought? You’ve been spending all that money on organic produce so you get enough antioxidants when you could’ve just slept a few more hours?

In all seriousness though, this study provides a hint why sleeping enough helps reduce your risk of cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and many other diseases.

How to get more antioxidants in your sleep

Now, clearly, we need more research (in humans, not fruit flies) before we know for sure that sleep is an antioxidant.

But the health benefits of getting a good night’s sleep are so scientifically proven that there’s no need to wait. Commit yourself to a solid sleep schedule NOW. You won’t regret it.

To make sure you’re sleeping well night after night, you can practice something called sleep hygiene, a collection of habits that sets you up for a successful night’s sleep.

Here are a few sleep hygiene tips that can keep you snoozing soundly every night:

• Keep your sleep schedule consistent. Go to bed and wake up at the same time most nights.
• Keep the temp comfortable and the room dark.
• Steer clear of big meals, caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol before bedtime.
• Stay away from melatonin-stealing digital screens at least two hours before bed.
• Do something relaxing before bed, like Yoga, meditation, or reading.
• Exercise during the day, but not close to bedtime.

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