One exercise = BETTER sleep?

It’s no secret that the more you MOVE the better you FEEL…

And not to mention, the better you’ll SLEEP.

In fact, research from Johns Hopkins Medicine says that getting any exercise can lower your risk of insomnia.

But it doesn’t mean you’re immune to ANY sleep troubles.

However, there is ONE exercise that research says can enhance both the quantity AND quality of your sleep!

According to research presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology, Prevention, Lifestyle & Cardiometabolic Health Conference, incorporating STRENGTH TRAINING into your fitness routine can give you the most bang for your buck in the sleep department.

Researchers at Iowa State University looked at how various forms of exercise affected overall sleep patterns among folks that had difficulty getting at least seven hours of sleep each night.

At the end of their 12-month study, they found that sleep duration increased by an average of 40 MINUTES among the folks who incorporated resistance training into their lives three days a week.

Can you imagine how much BETTER you’d function with an extra 40 minutes of sleep?!

In fact, study leaders went so far as to deem resistance and strength training as the ‘superior’ form of exercise when it comes to helping folks get more sleep.

It should be noted that other forms of exercise (i.e., cardio) did help folks sleep more… but on average it was less than resistance training.

If you’re already incorporating weights into your workouts, keep it going! But if you’re new to the world of resistance and strength training, you don’t have to join a gym or workout alongside a bulging meathead.

A quick Google search for “chair exercises” is a great way to find simple, effective resistance moves that can be done in the comfort of your own home.

There’s also in-depth research on how pistachio can promote better sleep. We dive into it in our monthly Health Sciences Institute newsletter. If you’re not yet a subscriber, click the button below.

Cory Templeman
Senior Editor, eAlert

PS – Speaking of exercise, check out this afternoon’s eAlert on how one in-home exercise can lower your risk of falls.

Sources:

Anderer, John. “Struggle with sleep? Resistance exercises may be more helpful than aerobics.” https://studyfinds.org/resistance-exercise-sleep/

Johns Hopkins Medicine. “Exercising for Better Sleep.” https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/exercising-for-better-sleep