All of us have our own favorite sleeping positions. But new research is showing that sleeping on the left side of our body is actually the best position for our overall wellbeing.
No, this is not some New Age hippie notion. Nor is it a new scientific discovery. Actually, practitioners of Ayurveda, which is a form of traditional medicine developed in India, have been recommending this simple technique for centuries.So, why is sleeping on the left side so great for our health? First, sleeping on the left promotes healthy digestion.
The gravitational pull of sleeping on your left naturally helps your body push food from your small intestine into your large intestine. Some people actually claim its best to lie on your left side for 10 minutes after every meal, especially if you have digestive distress.
Also, sleeping on your left side has been proven to keep your spine in good alignment and provide great air-flow into your lungs. Finally, since most of your lymphatic system is on the left side of the body, sleeping on the left side gently clears away lymphatic congestion.
While both Western and Ayurvedic doctors agree that sleeping on the left side is the best option, they also caution that it is not healthy to change your sleeping position too quickly.
Changing your sleeping position by sheer force can actually disrupt the patterns your body has established for years. If you are not used to sleeping on your left, it can take some time to get used to this position.
Be sure to transition into this position with patience and gentleness each and every night.
