It’s cold and flu season, and getting some extra sleep might help your immune system fight illness.
Sleep helps our immune systems remember previous encounters with bacteria or viruses, according to a research paper from Germany's University of Tübingen, published in Trends in Neuroscience.
When we encounter a bug, our immune system collects fragments of the bug that are turned into “memory T cells” that help us recognise previous infections. Our bodies respond faster, giving us a head start when confronted with an illness.
Likewise, the scientists found that a lack of sleep puts our immune system at a disadvantage. So get enough rest for a healthier winter.