Ever wake up after not getting a restful night's sleep feeling groggy and end up going through the day feeling like you're in a fog? There is a scientific explanation for this phenomena. Turns out not getting your zzzzzz's at night can not only be harmful to your body but also your brain! It's during sleep that the brain is cleared of waste products and like a computer hard drive with a bunch of open windows, it consolidates, organizes and stores thoughts and ideas.
How It Works
Every organ in the body needs a steady supply of nutrients and oxygen to survive. This is delivered through nutrient and oxygen rich blood via blood vessels. The brain comprises only 2% of the body's mass but can use up to 1/4 of the body's energy supply. Just as the cells of the body produce waste, so it is with the cells of the brain. The organs of the body remove waste through a system referred to as the glymphatic system. It is a second system of vessels which run through the body, collects proteins and waste at the cellular level and dumps them into the blood so it can be disposed of. The brain however, is packed inside a rigid housing known as our skull. The skull is packed with cells, blood vessels which leave little room for a set of lymphatic vessels.
The brain has a unique system for ridding itself of toxins. The brain is surrounded by a fluid called Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF). The CSF is pumped alongside the blood vessels where it flushes through the brain Waste from the brain activity is secreted to the CSF and cleared from the skull into the body where it is removed. During waking hours, the brain is stimulated and blood which is carrying nutrients and oxygen are ushered to the brain. This causes vasodilation or expansion of the blood vessels. This expansion minimizes the circulation of Cerebrospinal Fluid around the brain due to the limited space in the skull.
IT IS WHEN WE SLEEP the brain is less active, creating less blood flow causing the blood vessels in the brain to constrict or shrink. This in turn, creates space allowing Cerebrospinal Fluid to circulate, flushing cellular waste from the brain. It's when we sleep the brain switches from working mode to cleaning mode! The glymphatic system is ten times more active during sleep than while awake. The cleaning system removes waste including proteins called amyloid-beta, which accumulate into plaques that contribute to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Not only is a restful night's sleep important for the health of our body but also our mind! If you're looking to "clear the cobwebs" in your head, think clearer and have more energy, be sure to get your sleep. I have said many times, the brain is the control center of the body. If you don't give it the proper environment to clear out the toxins, your body will suffer as well.