Are you a fan of TED talks?

If this term is new to you, TED is the abbreviation for short powerful talks given by innovators who want to spread ideas on technology, entertainment and design shared in TED conferences around the world.  This short talk model provides some of the most thought-provoking, stimulating thinking of our time.  I love listening to TED talk podcasts on a wide variety of subjects.  One I’ve enjoyed recently is a talk by Russell Foster.  He is a Circadian Neuroscientist at Oxford University who studies sleep.  Don’t let his impressive title scare you.  Foster has some pretty cool insights into the importance of sleep, and since sleep tends to be an elusive commodity for many of us, I would like to share some of his findings with you.

From Foster’s research, he believes the brain processing and memory consolidation that occurs while we sleep is one of the most important functions of getting a good night’s sleep.  In his study, where participants were taught a task, then sleep deprived, their ability to retain how to complete that task was greatly affected.  He contends that sleep allows us to form novel solutions to complex problems.  It enhances our creativity.  Humans gather information throughout the day and learn it while sleeping.  Helene Emsellem, Medical Director at the Center for Sleep and Wake Disorders in Chevy Chase, Maryland agrees, saying “Our brain restores synapses – taking the information worth keeping and learning it.  As for the information not worth keeping, (not important for completing the task at hand) our brain flushes it out.  It’s as though the brain cleans up the excess riffraff.”

We all know people who would claim that they need very little sleep.  Many would almost wear it as a badge of honor.  However, scientists agree that we need to treat sleep as a basic need – just like we do food and water.  Over the years, since God created Adam and Eve, our bodies have changed, adapted and ‘discarded’ things we no longer need.  If sleep was not vitally important to our existence, Foster contends that it would have been eliminated.

Regardless of age, from teens to retired seniors, we are busy and have a tendency to ignore the importance of good sleep.   Those of all ages who deprive themselves of adequate sleep suffer from loss of memory, poor judgment and, perhaps most importantly, the inability to defend against infection.  Ever wonder why when you are trying to meet a stressful deadline and miss a night’s sleep, you get sick?  Studies show that our immune system is compromised by as much as 25% when we are sleep deprived.

For more information on how to get a good night’s sleep, my new book, Eat Well to Be Well, has an entire chapter co-written with my good friend and renown sleep expert, Dr. James Maas.  The chapter gives specific action steps you can take immediately to improve your sleep.

Speaking of catching up on your rest, this weekend is Labor Day.  Many of us will be joining friends and family for a cookout.  If you are looking for an easy dish to take, that everyone is sure to love, try our Hatch Green Chile Guacamole!