The incredible health benefits of sleeping on your left side

Updated

I have often heard that getting a good night's sleep is important for my health. But I never thought that they way I was sleeping might be having a significant effect on my health, too.

Amazingly, just as there are sleep positions that can be causing me pain, there is also one sleep position that experts say has a great many health benefits.

According to health expert Dr. John Douillard, "Emphasizing the left side for rest and sleep offers some time-tested wisdom for very real health and longevity benefits."

I had no idea that sleeping on my left side could have quite so many positive effects. And while I certainly may toss and turn during the night, I will be trying to fall asleep on my left starting tonight!

Scroll through below for an exclusive look into the health benefits of left-side-sleeping, and for a few simple tips for training your body to stay to the left.

And while this should never take the place of advice from your doctor, I can't wait to work on improving my health while I snooze!

Will you be trying out left-side sleeping tonight? Let us know in the comments.

How Can I Train Myself To Sleep On My Left Side?

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There are several easy and effective techniques you can use to get in the habit of sleeping on your left side.

Some people recommend sewing a tennis ball onto the back of your old pajamas. Every time you start to roll onto your back during the night, the tennis ball stops you, forcing you to return to the side.

Another easy method is by sleeping with a body pillow against your back. The large obstruction will prevent you from rolling over during the night.

Keep scrolling below to see just how helpful sleeping on your left side can really be.

1. Relieves Heartburn


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For those who suffer from heartburn after a particularly rich or spicy meal, becoming a "left-side-sleeper" may be just what the doctor ordered.

According to WebMD, "Research suggests sleeping on the left side can relieve heartburn symptoms, while right-side sleeping makes them worse."

2. Stops Snoring


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We all know what it is like to stay up all night listening to someone snoring loudly. But the cure might just be simpler than previously thought.

According to Medical Daily, "Sleeping on your side is beneficial for patients who have obstructive sleep apnea, prone to general snoring."

3. Improves Digestion


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While it might surprise you, your ability to stay regular can actually be directly affected by your sleep position.

According to Dr. John Douillard, "Sleeping on the left side allows gravity to encourage the food waste to move more easily from the small intestine into the large intestine."

4. Promotes Heart Health


Maya Borenstein for LittleThings

The heart is one of the most important organs in the human body. Sleeping on the left side can do wonders in promoting your overall heart health.

According to Dr. John Douillard, "It makes sense that if you sleep on your left side, the lymph drainage toward the heart will again be helped by gravity, taking some of the workload off the heart as you sleep."

5. Improves Spleen Health


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The spleen is another organ that will reap the benefits if you switch over to sleeping on your left.

According to Dr. John Douillard, "When you lay on the left side, drainage back to the spleen is once again helped and made easier by gravity."

6. Helps Lymphatic System


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While many people don't put too much thought into their lymph nodes — in the neck or armpit areas— they are actually part of a very important system.

According to Healthy Life Tricks, "The left side of the body is the dominant lymphatic side, and while you're sleeping on this side, your body will have more time to filter toxins, lymph fluid, and waste."

7. Helps Circulatory System


Maya Borenstein for LittleThings

Better circulation and a decrease in varicose veins are two very important benefits of left-side sleeping.

According to the Vein Clinic, "If you have varicose veins, it's a good idea to sleep on your left side — this improves circulation by reducing pressure on your vena cava (the body's largest vein), located on the right side of the body."

8. When Pregnant, Improves Blood Flow To The Fetus


Maya Borenstein for LittleThings

Perhaps you've heard about sleeping on your left when you are pregnant, but you may not have known why.

According to WebMD, "Sleeping on the left side is also recommended during pregnancy to improve circulation to the heart — good for Mom and baby."

The health benefits associated with sleeping on the left side are absolutely incredible!

Will you be switching up how you sleep? Let us know in the comments.

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