5 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT SLEEP

1. ALARM CLOCK GENE

Do you wake up every morning before your alarm goes off? Researchers have identified an alarm clock gene that starts our biological clocks every morning. Our biological clock kick starts our metabolism each day, which in turn initiates other important body functions and wakes us up. 

2. SLEEP POSITION

Believe it or not, our preferred sleep position is a good indicator of our personality type. People who sleep in a fetal position tend to have tough exteriors but are sensitive and shy. Those who sleep like logs (on their sides, straight with arms extended down their sides) are social, easy going, trusting, and gullible. Soldier position sleepers (sleep on their backs with their arms at their sides) tend to be reserved and quiet and have high standards.

3. "YOU ARE WHAT YOU SLEEP"

We've all heard the expression "you are what you eat" to explain how the foods we eat affect our health. The same is true for how much sleep we get. People who only get five hours of sleep a night are 73% more likely to gain weight compared to those who sleep more. That percentage drops to 27% for those who get six hours of sleep every night. Our genetic makeup plays a factor in how much we weigh. The more we sleep the less our genes determine how much we weigh. 

4 DREAMS

Here's what you might be dreaming about: men dream about other men 70% of the time, but women dream about men and women equally. Only 12% of us dream in black and white. And that percentage was higher before the advent of color television. 

5. YOUR BODY OS STILL WORKING WHILE YOU SLEEP

Ever wonder what's happening while you're asleep? Would it surprise you to know that your brain recharges itself? And your cells repair themselves? Plus, your body releases important hormones. Each of these complex processes takes time, which is why it's important to get a full 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night.