We all know that duration of sleep is crucial for mental and physical well being, but it turns out that the sleeping position may be another important factor in the quest for optimum health. Here are six potential benefits that sleeping on the left side may be the ticket to better health and better sleep.

1. Better Lymphatic Drainage

According to Ayurvedic medicine, sleeping on your left side allows your body to better filter lymph fluid and waste via the lymph nodes as the leftside of our body is the dominant lymphatic side. Western research has also found that sleeping on the left side can help the body process waste materials from the brain. In contrast, sleeping on your right side can decrease thelymphatic system’s efficiency.

2. Back Pain Relief

People who suffer from chronic back pain may benefit from switching to left-side sleeping. That’s because sleeping on your left side can relieve pressure on the spine. Feeling more comfortable, inturn, will improve your chances of getting a good night’s sleep.

3. Heartburn Reduction

A study published in The Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology found that lying on the left side can help reduce acid reflux symptoms. Again this is because our stomach lies on the left side. Conversely, lying on the right side may aggravate these symptoms. The effects are fairly immediate; if you』re struggling with heartburn after a meal, try taking a 10-minute lie-down on yourleft side.

4. Better Digestion

The stomach and the pancreas create digestive enzymes. When you put your body on left-side sleeping position, the stomach and pancreas have good position as well and have adequate space to carry out digestion. Gravity in this case also allows the food to move through the stomach in slowly and it gradually releases the pancreatic enzymes.

5. Better Elimination of Waste Products

The body eliminates waste products through the intestines. By sleeping on theleft side, the gravitational forces make it easy for the food to move from the small intestine to the large intestine. As a result, you』re more likely to have a bowel movement upon waking.

6. Better sleep during pregnancy

Doctors have long recommended that pregnant women sleep on their leftside in order to improve circulation to the heart. It also improves blood flow to the fetus. It can also help to relieve pressure on the back to prevent back pain. Therefore, a left-sided sleeping position may help a pregnant woman sleep well.

我們都知道睡眠時間對於心理和生理方面都相對地重要，但是原來睡姿也是另一個健康的關鍵因素。往左側睡為我們的睡眠和健康帶來有六大好處。

1. 改善淋巴引流

根據阿育吠陀醫學，往左側睡讓身體可以更有效地通過淋巴結過濾淋巴液以及廢物，因為淋巴系統主要位於身體左側。西方研究也指出往左側睡能夠將腦部的廢物排出體外。相反的，如果往右側睡則會降低淋巴系統的效率。

2. 消除背部疼痛

時常為慢性背部疼痛而感到困擾的話，不妨試試往左側睡。那是因為往左側睡可以減輕脊椎部位的壓力。當你覺得疼痛不再，那你就能夠睡得更舒適。

3. 減少胃灼熱

一個臨床胃腸病學的研究發現往左側睡可以減少胃酸倒流的症狀。那是因為胃部位於身體左側。相反的，往右側睡的話則會加重病情。效果非常明顯；當飯後胃灼熱的情況出現，不妨試試往左側睡大約10分鐘。

4. 改善消化系統

胃部和胰臟製造出消化酵素。當你往左側睡，胃部和胰臟不但處於最佳位置，而且有足夠的空間進行食物消化。地心引力則幫助食物慢慢地進入胃部並釋放出酵素。

5. 改善廢物的排泄

身體會將廢物從腸道排出體外。當我們往左側睡，地心引力會確保食物從小腸進入大腸。因此，當你一覺醒來後會比較容易排便。

6. 改善孕婦的睡眠

醫生建議孕婦要往左側睡以促進心臟的血液循環，也促進胎兒的血液流動。往左側睡還可以減少孕婦的背部壓力，避免背部疼痛。所以，往左側睡讓孕婦睡得更安穩。

轉載請註明來源：今天頭條