Struggling to sleep? You'll want to read this
Sleep is the trending area of health research, and for good reason. According to a recent survey, only 17 per cent of UK adults catch the recommended eight hours per night, with more than half only managing six hours, or fewer.
Aside from millions of pairs of bleary eyes, the potential consequences of this are dire. Insufficient sleep increases your risk of obesity, diabetes and even alcohol abuse. Perhaps the most eye-opening statistic, however, is that it can raise your odds of an early death by 12%.
Fortunately, scientists in the US have found that adding a hot shower to your bedtime routine can put you on the fast track to the Land of Nod. That it’s a comforting end to cold, winter nights is a bonus – as is the fact that your sheets won’t serve as the final resting place for the grime of your rush-hour commute.
In a study, taking a warm shower 90 minutes before bed helped test subjects to nod off 50% faster and increased their total sleep by 15 minutes. Hot water dilates your blood vessels, improving your skin’s ability to lose excess heat. This helps your body to reduce its core temperature, a process that is essential to falling asleep easily.
Compound this effect with a savvy choice of shower gel. Use a product infused with citrus — like Baylis and Harding's Citrus Lime and Mint shower gel — and it can reduce your blood pressure and sink your cortisol levels, making dropping off even easier. Consider this your clean bill of health.
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