The Benefits of Sleep For Optimized Personal Fitness

A quality mattress can contribute far more to your personal fitness regimen than even the most advanced fitness machines. As bodybuilder Dave Robson points out in his informative article at bodybuilding.com, the most sophisticated training routines, the latest supplements, and the healthiest diets are all important essentials for optimized personal fitness but none of these is more important than a sound restful sleep.

"Without adequate sleep, time in the gym could be, to a large degree, wasted."- Dave Robson-Owner of Elite Physique Training Studio

Maximizing Muscle Gains With Proper Sleep

Spending more time in the gym is no guarantee of better results. The International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) reported on the results of a 2011 study on the effects of sleep deprivation on muscle mass and recovery. The study found that individuals who slept 5.5 hours had 60% less muscle mass by the end of the study. Conversely, those who slept for 8.5 hours were able to gain 40% muscle mass. This powerful effect of sleep on muscle development can be understood by taking a look at how energy is stored in the body.

Glucose is the only type of sugar which can be used for energy by the body, and all other sugar types are broken down into glucose. While we sleep blood glucose is stored in muscle tissue as muscle glycogen. Muscle glycogen produces more energy than glucose stored in the blood and liver. Muscle glycogen is crucial for muscle recovery and without enough sleep maximum replenishment of muscle glycogen doesn't occur.

Human Growth Hormone (HGH) and Sleep

HGH is produced by the pituitary gland and has vital roles in important biological processes such as cell repair, metabolism, growth, and body composition. Boosting HGH levels naturally can increase muscle growth, enhance strength and athletic performance, and is especially effective for recovery from injuries or disease. Maintaining optimized levels of HGH is an even higher priority when engaging in rigorous fitness regimens. Deficient levels of HGH can eradicate the positive results of the most intense workout and actually cause a gain of body fat while decreasing resistance to disease. Poor sleep can reduce the amount of crucial HGH your body produces.

High-intensity exercise is one of a variety of ways to boost HGH levels but the majority of HGH is released in pulses when you sleep. The largest amount of HGH is released in the first hours of deep sleep, but HGH continues to be released in more moderate pulses throughout the night. 7 to 8 hours of quality sleep can ensure that your body can make the best use of HGH produced by that intense workout you endured during the day.

Time For a New Green Mattress

Quality sleep is so critical for enhanced fitness and performance that a new mattress is recommended by the ISSA as one of the essential tools for optimized training results. A new mattress can provide better sleep to boost energy levels during weight training, and increase endurance. Perhaps most importantly, a sound sleep can invigorate the mental mindset to provide the motivation and positive attitude required to persist with a challenging workout routine. Individuals who upgraded with a new mattress got 7 to 8 hours of sound sleep and were much more likely to engage in the required physical activities in their training regimens.

At My Green Mattress, we've always made fitness and health our highest priority. All of our mattresses are GreenGuard Gold certified for low chemical emissions and are meticulously designed and crafted from all natural, organic materials. Our mattresses are tested and safe for the most sensitive individuals, and we've made it our priority to protect the sensitive environment we all share as well.

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