Sleep can often seem mysterious to us, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to understand the facts. There are common myths about sleep that make it unclear. The truth about sleep can clarify your understanding and help you make decisions that will have you sleeping long enough and enough time for you to feel great. Here are a few myths about sleep, debunked:
- Saturday is a great day for catching up on sleep. Some people think they can make up for lost sleep over a weekend by sleeping in on the weekends, but this isn't true. You can never completely make up for lost rest or bank sleep from the future, so it's best to get enough nightly hours of sleep (7-8 hours).
- Research has shown that there is no such thing as "sleeping out" of old age because older people still require the same amount of time as they did in their prime. Older people tend to wake more often at night, but still need a full 8 hours of sleep in order to maintain health.
- It's well-known that alcohol can make you feel sleepy, but did you know drinking before bed isn't the best lucid dream inducer? As it turns out, sleep isn't when your body actually metabolizes alcohol - it does it throughout the night. And since alcohol (especially this potent kind) slows our brain waves, like REM sleep cycles. It’s just not the best idea to drink before bed.
- Get the best sleep of your life. Some people believe that you can make do with a new mattress, but that's not enough for a good night's sleep. A mattress and box spring work best together to provide support and comfort. If you replace just the bed, you may void your warranty so never do it!
- Sheep are anything but quiet. Counting sheep is a popular suggestion to help you fall asleep fast. A University of Oxford study found that doing this actually lengthens how long it takes to fall asleep. Instead, try soothing music or reading a book to get the job done and finally put your head on the pillow
- How firm is right for me? There are many myths surrounding the best type of mattress when you have back pain. The truth is that what feels best to someone else might not feel right to you, so it's very important to try out a mattress of various levels of firmness.
- There are numerous reasons why people might get drowsy after Thanksgiving dinner. The turkey may be making some people sleepier than others, but it's not the reason for the yawning during the meal. Instead, it's likely the heavy meal, change in weather, hard work of putting together such a feast and interacting with many people at once that are to blame.
- Eating cheese before bed hasn't been shown to cause nightmares, in general. Eating two to three hours before bedtime is a good idea for better sleep, too.
- According to a common myth, a glass of warm milk before bed will help you sleep. But there's no evidence of this - only the suspicion that it's related to something you might find comforting because it's something your parents always used to do.