SLEEP IS THE NEW ALL ROUND MIRACLE CURE

It will make you happier, healthier and more intelligent. It could even add years to your life and will definitely ensure you look at your sparkling best.

What’s more, this miracle cure-all costs no more than the price of a daily pro-biotic yoghurt and is readily available on the High Street!

It is of course a great night’s sleep: completely free if you can handle sleeping on the floor. Or just a few pence a night to enjoy it in the luxury of comfortable and supportive bed.

“Sleep really is the answer to feeling and looking your best,” says Jessica Alexander of The Sleep Council which will be highlighting the importance of a good bed to a good night’s sleep throughout March, National Bed Month. “People go to huge amounts of time and expense to eat well and exercise regularly but without a good night’s sleep all that effort will be in vain.”

According to latest research, a comfortable uninterrupted seven or eight hours sleep each night can relieve stress, slow down the ageing process, boost your mood, your physical and mental performance and cure a wide range of aches and pains.

“Sleep could be perceived as the neglected wonder cure of the modern age,” according to sleep expert Dr Neil Stanley. “A focus on better sleep habits could improve the health of the nation, boost the economy and save a significant amount in healthcare costs. It has no adverse side effects and comes extremely cheap!”

What’s more, says Jessica, there’s very little effort involved. “A good night’s sleep is enormously beneficial and unlike a programme of healthy eating or regular exercise, the results can be enjoyed immediately.”

Said Dr Stanley: “Sleep doesn’t just make us feel better, it can improve our health by decreasing the risk of heart attacks, diabetes, strokes and it helps us fight off minor ailments, deal better with depression and even tackle weight problems..”

And one of the essential keys to unlocking a good night’s sleep is without doubt a comfortable bed, he says. “Sleep is so vitally important to good health that it’s a mystery to me that more emphasis is not placed on the health benefits of a good bed for sleep.

“Good sleep should be seen as a vital part of a healthy lifestyle like exercise and diet and just as you would invest in the right gear to exercise and buying healthy food so you should invest in purchasing a comfortable bed.”

For less than 60p per night a couple can enjoy the comforts of a £1500 bed over seven years – considerably less than it would cost to have a daily pro-biotic drink over the same length of time.

“It’s a bargain for something that can not only make you look better and feel better but could improve your love life too,” said Dr Stanley. “In fact there are just two things in life for which you should invest in the best possible quality – a pair of shoes and a bed, because if you’re not in one, you’re in the other!”

Added Jessica: “When asked most people make the connection between the comfort of a bed and the quality of their sleep for themselves but our research has shown objectively that this is the case, too.”

TIME FOR A BED M.O.T.?

Don’t let an uncomfortable bed rob you of vital, restful sleep. The Sleep Council’s M.O.T. (Mattress Obsolescence Test) will help you determine if a new mattress would improve your chances of a better night’s sleep. It’s recommended that you conduct this M.O.T. every year after the first three years of new bed ownership. If you answer ‘Yes’ to three questions, you’re not getting the most out of your mattress. Five or more ‘Yes’ answers and it’s time to get a new bed – and National Bed Month (March) might just be a great time to find a great new bed at a great price!

You’re not sleeping as well as you did a year ago?
Did you have a better night’s sleep recently somewhere other than your own bed?
Are you waking up more frequently unrefreshed or aching?
Is your bed seven years old or more?
Is it big enough for you and your partner to sleep and move without disturbing each other?
Do you and your partner roll towards each other unintentionally?
Are there any bits missing, broken, sticking out or wobbly?
Does it feel lumpy in the night?
Does it make suspicious noises in the night?
Would it be embarrassing if neighbours saw it without its covers?

HOW TO GET A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP

If you’re not getting as much rest as you need, try following these simple tips to help yourself to get a better night’s sleep.
Keep regular hours. Going to bed and getting up at roughly the same time, all the time, will programme your body to sleep better. Choose a time when you are most likely to feel sleepy.
Create a restful sleeping environment. Your bedroom should be kept for rest and sleep and it should be neither too hot, nor too cold; and as quiet and dark as possible.
Make sure your bed is comfortable. It’s difficult to get deep, restful sleep on one that’s too soft, too hard, too small or too old.
Try to relax before going to bed. Have a warm bath, listen to some quiet music, do some yoga, practise some visualisation techniques - all help to relax and prepare the mind and body for sleep.
Deal with worries or a heavy workload by making lists of things to be tackled the next day.

Take more exercise. Regular, moderate exercise such as swimming or walking can help relieve the day’s stresses and strains. But not too close too bedtime or it may keep you awake!
Cut down on stimulants such as caffeine in tea or coffee - especially in the evening. They interfere with falling asleep and prevent deep sleep. Have a hot milky drink or herbal tea instead.
Don’t over-indulge. Too much food or alcohol, especially late at night, just before bedtime, can play havoc with sleep patterns. Alcohol may help you fall asleep initially, but will interrupt your sleep later on in the night.

Don’t smoke. Yes, it’s bad for sleep, too: smokers take longer to fall asleep, wake more often and often experience more sleep disruption.
If you can’t sleep, don’t lie there worrying about it. Get up and do something you find relaxing until you feel sleepy again - then go back to bed.