So here is a bit of good news for women not getting their 'recommended amount of sleep"...less sleep might be a key to natural anti-aging and longevity health.
An interesting study out of the University of California says that to live longer, the optimal number of hours to sleep is less than 8 hours, and that 5 to 61/2 hours is ideal, and that 8 hours is too much for women.
Kind of a unique study, which was revisited after over a decade with conflicting results.
Between the years 1995 and 1999, investigators evaluated 459 women ranging from the ages of 50 to 81 on a number of different factors. The study then indicated that women who slept 6.5 to 7.5 hours per night had the best survival rates.
Now, 14 years later, the researchers took another look at the original group of women, of whom 444 could be identified for evaluation purposes. Eighty six women had died.
According to the study's lead scientist, Daniel F Kripke MD, "when sleep was measured objectively, the best survival was observed among women who slept 5 to 6.5 hours daily. Women who slept less than 5 hours a night or more than 6.5 hours a night were less likely to be alive at the 14 year follow up."
Interesting data indeed, although from just one study, it is probably too soon to take such a stance. We want to make sure our sleep is consistent, restful, while providing ourselves with a proper balance of stress/renewal within the day for adequate energy and performance.
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