Why You Should Sleep on Your Left Side: Health Benefits and Tips

Since our stomach and pancreas are located on the left side, sleeping on the left side keeps them in their place naturally and enables them to function better. When we sleep on the left side, food passes easily through the stomach due to the pull of gravity and pancreatic enzymes are released as needed and not only this, waste food also passes out easily. These undigested food and toxins naturally move from the small intestine to the large intestine and finally to the colon from where it is removed in the morning through bowel movement.

Ayurveda experts say that you should take a nap by sleeping on the left side for 10 minutes after a meal, this will improve your digestion and also increase your body energy. It helps in treating problems like indigestion and heartburn that you may experience after eating too much.

(Read more – Benefits of Sleeping on The Floor)

We all know that our heart is on the left side. Therefore, when we sleep on the left side, due to gravity, blood flows easily towards the heart. This reduces the load on our heart and gives rest to our body.

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Experts say that pregnant women should sleep on the left side most of the time as it reduces the pressure on their back and also increases blood flow to the uterus and womb. Sleeping on the left side reduces the pressure on the spine, which is likely to make you feel more comfortable and sleep better. Apart from this, it also helps in the comfortable flow of nutrients in the placenta to keep the baby healthy. For this, sleep on the left side and bend your knees slightly and keep a pillow between your legs so that you can sleep easily.

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The reason for this is that it keeps your tongue and throat in a neutral position and keeps your airway clear so that you are able to breathe properly. You should also know that when you sleep on your back, your snoring condition can get worse because sleeping on your back causes your muscles to go behind the throat, which makes it difficult for you to breathe and snoring also increases. 

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Now you must have understood why you should sleep on the left side. It is a bit difficult to change your sleeping style all at once, but gradually you will get used to it which will be good for your health. Getting good sleep is important for your health. Choosing the right type of mattress is also important to get good sleep. If you sleep on your left side, you should choose a soft mattress as a hard mattress can put pressure on your hips and shoulders. Apart from this, you should choose a mattress that gives you natural comfort and you do not have to face problems like pain when you wake up in the morning.

(Read more –Can Sleeping Too Much Cause a Stroke?) 

Sleeping on the left side has many health benefits. It helps in improving the digestive system, as it supports the position of the stomach and intestines, which helps in easy digestion of food. Apart from this, it reduces pressure on the heart and improves blood flow, which benefits heart health. This posture is especially considered beneficial for pregnant women, as it puts less pressure on the uterus and helps in delivering more oxygen to the fetus. Sleeping on the left side also helps in flushing out toxins from the body and improves sleep quality. Also, it reduces problems of acidity and sore throat.