There’s not much thought that goes into the position we sleep in most of the time. A lot of the time, we don’t care because we’re too tired. After all, getting enough rest is what counts, right? After some research, I found that the way you sleep can really affect your health.
So, what are the real advantages of lying on your left side? To begin, it can help ease the signs of acid reflux and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It’s less likely that acid will flow back up into your oesophagus if you keep your stomach below it. This can stop that painful burning feeling.
By helping blood flow to the organ, sleeping on your left side can also help your spleen work better. This makes it easier for your spleen to get rid of waste, which helps your immune system. Also, sleeping on your left side can be good for your liver because it helps your body get rid of toxins and other substances.
Women who are pregnant can also benefit from lying on their left side while they sleep. Some groups say that lying in this way helps the heart pump blood around the body more easily. This is especially important during the last three months of pregnancy. Sleeping on your left side can also help your heart work better and relieve stress on your liver.
Besides that, sleeping on your left side can even help you have good bowel movements. On the left side of your body is the ileocecal valve, which joins the large and small intestines. If you sleep on your left side, you help move waste from your small intestine to your large gut. This makes it easier to get rid of waste.
If you want to start sleeping on your left side, make sure you’re relaxed and can easily change positions if you need to. The most important thing is to get a good night’s sleep.
