For those of us who have trouble sleeping, we know that tossing and turning all night is a bad way to start the next day. It leaves us drained both mentally and physically. But it's often the things we do before going to bed, that can influence the amount of sleep that we get.

The bottom line: Sleep is good. And necessary. Roy Kohler, MD, who specializes in sleep medicine at SCL Health in Montana, reaffirms all we know about the benefits of sleep, citing research that shows people who get less sleep tend to be heavier, eat more, have a higher BMI, and are more likely to be diabetic. “Consistent sleep of seven hours a night is what’s recommend for adults just for daytime functioning—being on task, being alert for the day and being able to concentrate and not be so moody and tired during the day,” says Dr. Kohler.

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