The simple, everyday way to help your body stay healthy

Here’s a new finding on how to lower your blood pressure, boost your immune system and lower stress.

And the best part: it doesn’t involve a treadmill, taking 10,000 steps, or even any exercise at all. Nor is it a flavorless, meatless diet or any other strange food regimen.

Actually, it’s as simple as taking a 30-minute nap.

That’s right, a nap!

Researchers at the Sorbonne University in Paris were studying what happens when we’re deprived of sleep. That affects levels of a stress hormone that increases heart rate, blood pressure and blood sugar.

Their test subjects, 11 healthy men between the ages of 25 and 32, were only allowed two hours of sleep. The next day, they took two 30-minute naps – and their hormone levels were all normal.

And that wasn’t the only result.

The study also found that skimping on your shut-eye lowers levels of an antiviral protein that helps your immune system respond to infection or trauma. But those levels were also back to normal after the subjects took those naps.

While this study was the first of its kind, previous research has shown napping can have other benefits. A 2011 study found that a 45-minute snooze could lower blood pressure in those experiencing stress. And taking such “down time” has also been linked to better productivity, mood and creativity.

So next time you’ve been up too late, or even need a break from stress and worry, try grabbing a quick nap. And tell your spouse or your boss, you’re self-medicating…

Source:

“How naps do your brain (and body) good” Carolyn Gregoire, February 13, 2015, Huff Post, The Third Metric, huffingtonpost.com