Why you should shift to left-side sleeping: Medical insights from "Journals of Clinical Gastroenterology"

Do you sometimes experience dips in energy during the day, despite having slept the recommended eight hours? This might be due to... sleeping incorrectly. Few of us realize that the side we predominantly sleep on has a critical effect on the quality of our sleep. It might be worth considering starting to sleep on your left side - such insights are drawn from recently conducted research.

First and foremost, lying on your left side benefits proper heart function. When sleeping in this orientation, our heart isn't strained as much, as it has an easier job pumping blood. Conversely, when we sleep on our right side, the blood must be pumped upwards, which impedes its optimal flow.

Furthermore, situated on our left side is the upper part of the lymphatic system, which is in charge of the lymph flow - a tissue fluid responsible for nutrient transport in our body. Sleeping on our left side facilitates the circulation of lymph and the transfer of these nutrients.

As is commonly understood, the stomach and pancreas are located on our left side. When lying on the left side, the stomach doesn't exert pressure on the pancreas, enabling it to operate freely. The enzymes created by the pancreas and gastric juices can flow unobstructed.

Moreover, sleeping on your left side promotes regular bowel movements. This is particularly crucial for individuals suffering from constipation. The benefits of sleeping on the left side are improved functioning of the small and large intestine and the ileocecal valve.