Living Magazine English Living Magazine 2016 | Page 22

WHAT MANY OF US ARE MISSING
Jeff Dorsett, MSHS dōTERRA Research Scientist

Which is most
important:
Diet, Exercise,
or Sleep?
Everyone knows that diet and exercise
are key components of any healthy
lifestyle. Another key pillar of health,
equally important and arguably even
more so, is sleep. Although the amount
of sleep a person needs varies, experts
recommend that adults get at least
seven to eight hours of sleep every
night 1. Unfortunately, about 33 percent

22 / 2016 EUROPE LIVING
LIVING MAGAZINE
MAGAZINE

of Americans are not getting the
recommend amount of sleep per night,
and approximately one in five adults in
the United States experience occasional
sleeplessness or difficulty sleeping2.
There are many factors that can
negatively impact how much (and how
well) a person sleeps, from family (think
newborn baby), to the conveniences
of modern life (like 24-hour access to
technology), to varying work schedules3,
quality and age of mattresses and
pillows4, and don’t forget consumption
of alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine. This
list can go on and on, and far too often

sleep is the first thing that many of us
neglect in order to meet the demands
of our busy schedules.

Why Is Sleep
So Important?
Sleep doesn’t exist to just pass time
or to keep us from working 24 hours
a day. Sleep is important because it
is inherently physically and mentally
healing, and it allows for our bodies
to not only recoup from the stress of
everyday life, but also to recharge and
refocus. Depriving your body of sleep