While good sleep boosts physical and mental health, it is not just the duration of sleep that matters. It’s the position of your sleep that is important for optimum health. There are more health benefits of sleeping on your left side than any other sleep position, claims ancient Ayurveda. Read on to know what are the benefits of sleeping on your left side.
You must be wondering how’s this possible because the human body is symmetrical. Well, the organ placement makes our body asymmetrical internally. Therefore, sleeping on the left side offers more benefits than sleeping on the right.
Here are a few science-backed health benefits of sleeping on your left side:
1. Aids Detoxification
Sleeping on your left side positively affects the moisture balance of the body and stimulates the lymph vessels. The lymphatic system carries metabolites and removes impurities and toxins from the body, by draining them into the thoracic duct, which drains into the left side of the heart.
When you sleep on your left side, you will accelerate and facilitate the removal of toxins from the body also called detoxification. Sleeping on your right will make the lymphatic system work extra hard to transport substances to another side of the body.
A clogged lymphatic system can cause serious health problems like –
- Arthritis
- Headaches
- Muscle damage
- Chronic fatigue
- Skin conditions and others.
If you see these signs try sleeping on the left side to cleanse and restore the optimal function of your lymphatic system.
Read: 20 Tips For A Better Sleep That Don’t Require A Prescription
2. Supports Spleen Function
The spleen is an organ that is located on the left side of the body. It is a part of the lymphatic system and functions to filter lymph and purify the blood. There are spleen health benefits of sleeping on your left side.
Left-side lying facilitates easy movement of waste substances through lymph vessels to reach the spleen. Gravity boosts the blood flow to the spleen allowing it to filter the impurities. Therefore, the spleen functions better, when you sleep on your left as emphasized by Ayurveda.
The Lymph system drains all the body cells through movement and muscle contractions instead of being pumped by the heart. It is beneficial to help the lymph to drain to the spleen and heart with gravitational force.
Read: The Amazing Benefits Of Sleeping Naked
3. Keeps Pregnant Women Safe
There are more health benefits of sleeping on your left side while pregnant than on the right side, according to Spinning Babies-founder and fetal and mother positioning expert Midwife Gail Tully.
A pregnant woman lying horizontally with her face and torso facing up is associated with compression of the inferior vena cava and reduced venous return. Consequently, the amount of blood pumped by the heart per minute is decreased and ultimately leads to reduced blood flow to the uterus, which may hamper the baby’s health or trigger a need for C surgery.
Left-side sleeping can help gently lift the bump and relieve pressure from your uterus off the liver, which is on the right side of your abdomen. This in turn can help better blood flow – and therefore nutrients – to the placenta. However, there is a lack of sufficient research on pregnant women to validate these benefits.
Other health benefits of sleeping on your left side while pregnant are:
- Better blood circulation
- Knee and leg support and
- Back support.
If you are pregnant, then reap the benefits of sleeping on your left side! It is recommended to consult your doctor before changing your sleeping position during pregnancy.
