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5 – Blood pressure. New research presented at the American College of Cardiology’s annual meeting indicates a nap can reduce blood pressure, comparable to antihypertensive medication.
6 – Helps prevent obesity. The nap decreases ghrelin and increases leptin, two digestive hormones that regulate hunger and appetite. Thus, the nap prevents cravings for junk food that cause weight gain.
8 – Immune system. According to a study, the leukocyte count (white blood cells that fight infection) increases after a night of limited sleep. But a nap restores the basic level of leukocytes. In fighting disease, napping also benefits skin and tissue regeneration.
9 – Neural connections. Lack of sleep causes eye fatigue or increased hearing sensitivity. The development of various sensory abilities depends on the brain’s ability to produce new neural connections, which sleep strengthens and stabilizes. A nap provides a refreshing break for tired senses.
10 – More creativity. When a computer crashes due to an overload of open files, restarting it puts everything in its place and allows better functioning. With a nap, the brain restarts and clears out excess air. This explains your ability to solve problems and find new solutions when waking up from a nap.
How long should a nap last? The ideal length of a nap varies from 10 minutes to an hour. One study suggests a half-hour nap is perfect for the brain to rest and refresh.
What are the adverse effects of a nap for too long? According to some studies, long naps (more than 60 minutes) increase the risk of death from any cause. Too, a long nap causes sleep inertia, making you feel dizzy and disoriented after waking up. It also affects the quality of nighttime sleep, especially if you already have insomnia.
🌍🌏🌎 Which countries have a “Siesta” tradition? Napping is common in Spain, Latin America, Greece, Italy, Nigeria, the Philippines, Croatia, China, and India. In Spain and Greece, the Siesta is a sacred tradition, and in Italy, it is called “riposo” in the North and “pennichella” or “pisolino” in the South. In some places, the Siesta is more for the elderly or during the summer to avoid high temperatures.
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🟡 NAP BARS. 🔴 NAP.
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