In light of its 25th anniversary, the National Sleep Foundation has updated the most popular feature on its website, a chart advising people on how much sleep they need for optimum health depending on their age. (See photo above)
To provide the most accurate information, a team of 18 scientists and researchers conducted a two-year study, reviewing over 300 current scientific publications and voting on how much sleep is appropriate throughout the lifespan. The panelists included six sleep specialists and representatives from leading organizations ranging from the American Academy of Pediatrics to the American Psychiatric Association.
Research can’t pinpoint the exact amount of sleep a certain person needs, but the foundation’s minimum and maximum ranges might be able to help a sleep-deprived mom get back on track or a parent figure out their kids’ bed times. And of course it’s important to pay attention to your own individual needs by assessing how you feel on different amounts of sleep.
Although most of us know that getting a good night’s sleep is important too few of us actually make those eight or so hours between the sheets a priority. For many of us with sleep debt , we’ve forgotten what “being really, truly rested” feels like.
To further complicate matters, stimulants like coffee and energy drinks, alarm clocks, and external lights—including those from electronic devices—interferes with our “ circadian rhythm ” or natural sleep/wake cycle.
On a nutritional balancing program, one of our basic recommendations for adults is to get 9 or more hours of sleep daily. Napping is excellent, too. We also recommend going to bed early, preferably between 8 and 9 PM. This is optimal. Sleep is the single most important part of this program.
For children, we want parents to make sure their child gets 10 or more hours of sleep daily and napping is definitely required on a daily basis. Children should also go to bed early, preferably between 7 and 9 PM.
Try paying attention to your own individual needs by assessing how you feel on different amounts of sleep. Chances are, without enough sleep you will find yourself looking for any kind of stimulants, such as carbs, coffee, wheat, etc... You will also find you are more moody or irritable.
Sources: National Sleep Foundation
To provide the most accurate information, a team of 18 scientists and researchers conducted a two-year study, reviewing over 300 current scientific publications and voting on how much sleep is appropriate throughout the lifespan. The panelists included six sleep specialists and representatives from leading organizations ranging from the American Academy of Pediatrics to the American Psychiatric Association.
Research can’t pinpoint the exact amount of sleep a certain person needs, but the foundation’s minimum and maximum ranges might be able to help a sleep-deprived mom get back on track or a parent figure out their kids’ bed times. And of course it’s important to pay attention to your own individual needs by assessing how you feel on different amounts of sleep.
Although most of us know that getting a good night’s sleep is important too few of us actually make those eight or so hours between the sheets a priority. For many of us with sleep debt , we’ve forgotten what “being really, truly rested” feels like.
To further complicate matters, stimulants like coffee and energy drinks, alarm clocks, and external lights—including those from electronic devices—interferes with our “ circadian rhythm ” or natural sleep/wake cycle.
On a nutritional balancing program, one of our basic recommendations for adults is to get 9 or more hours of sleep daily. Napping is excellent, too. We also recommend going to bed early, preferably between 8 and 9 PM. This is optimal. Sleep is the single most important part of this program.
For children, we want parents to make sure their child gets 10 or more hours of sleep daily and napping is definitely required on a daily basis. Children should also go to bed early, preferably between 7 and 9 PM.
Try paying attention to your own individual needs by assessing how you feel on different amounts of sleep. Chances are, without enough sleep you will find yourself looking for any kind of stimulants, such as carbs, coffee, wheat, etc... You will also find you are more moody or irritable.
Sources: National Sleep Foundation
 | Josephine Certified Nutritionist. She earned and completed her certification in holistic nutrition and in Functional Diagnostic Nutrition and she is now practicing Hair Mineral Analysis and Nutritional Balancing Science to people all over the globe from her home in Vancouver, British Columbia. You can contact Josephine here. |
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