This is what sleeping on the left side does for our brain, stomach & glymphatic health

Most of us don’t think twice about how we sleep. We just curl up in whatever position feels most comfortable and drift off. But did you know that your sleeping position can affect your brain function, digestion, and overall health? Studies suggest that sleeping on your left side offers surprising benefits, from improving digestion to enhancing your brain’s natural detox system.

If you’ve never considered changing your sleep posture, now might be the time! Let’s explore the science behind left-side sleeping and how it can positively impact your body.

The Surprising Benefits of Sleeping on Your Left Side

Sleeping on your left side isn’t just about comfort—it can actually improve several bodily functions. Here are the top benefits of making the switch.

Supports a Healthier Spine & Reduces Back Pain

Ever wake up with an aching back? Sleeping on your stomach or even your back can put unnecessary strain on your spine. When you sleep on your left side, your spine stays in a more natural alignment, reducing tension in your lower back. If you suffer from chronic back pain, switching to your left side could be a game-changer.

Helps Reduce Snoring & Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Snoring happens when the airway is partially blocked. When you sleep on your back, your tongue and soft palate fall backward, making snoring worse. Side sleeping, especially on the left side, keeps your airway open, reducing both snoring and symptoms of sleep apnea. If your partner often complains about your snoring, this might be the easiest fix.

Video : What Sleeping On Your Left Side Does For Our Brain, Stomach And Lymphatic Health

Aids Digestion & Reduces Acid Reflux

Sleeping on your left side can actually help your digestive system. Since your stomach is naturally positioned on the left side of your body, lying on that side allows gravity to aid digestion. This can help prevent acid reflux and heartburn, improve digestion by helping food move smoothly through the intestines, and reduce bloating and constipation.

Boosts Brain Health Through the Glymphatic System

Did you know your brain has a built-in cleaning system? It’s called the glymphatic system, and it works mainly while you sleep. This system helps flush out toxins and waste that accumulate in the brain during the day.

Research suggests that side sleeping improves glymphatic drainage, meaning it can help remove harmful substances linked to neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. In short, sleeping on your left side may support better brain health and reduce the risk of cognitive decline.

Enhances Circulation & Heart Health

Sleeping on your left side also helps your heart work more efficiently. Because your aorta (the main artery) curves to the left, sleeping on this side reduces pressure on the heart, making it easier for blood to flow.

For pregnant women, doctors highly recommend sleeping on the left side to improve circulation to both the mother and the baby.

How to Train Yourself to Sleep on Your Left Side

If you’re a back or stomach sleeper, you might be wondering how do I train myself to sleep on my left side? Here are some helpful tips.

Use the Right Pillow & Mattress

A firm mattress and a good pillow will support your neck and keep your spine aligned while you sleep. A memory foam pillow that conforms to your head and neck is ideal.

Use a Pillow as a Barrier

Placing a pillow behind your back can prevent you from rolling onto your back while you sleep. If you want extra support, try hugging a pillow to keep your upper body stable.

Put a Pillow Between Your Knees

If you experience hip or knee discomfort, a small pillow between your knees can help reduce strain on your joints and keep your spine aligned.

Wear a Sleep Shirt with a Tennis Ball

This is an old trick, but it works. Sewing a tennis ball into the back of your sleep shirt makes it uncomfortable to roll onto your back, helping you stay on your side.

Try Sleeping on a Couch Temporarily

If you’re struggling to train yourself, sleeping on a narrow couch for a few nights might help, as it naturally limits movement.

The Downsides of Side Sleeping

While sleeping on your left side has numerous benefits, it’s not perfect for everyone. Here are a few potential drawbacks.

Shoulder & Hip Discomfort

If you sleep on a too-firm mattress, your shoulder and hip may feel sore due to added pressure. The solution is a softer mattress or a memory foam topper that can help cushion these areas.

Facial Wrinkles & Puffiness

Pressing your face into a pillow every night can cause wrinkles over time. If this concerns you, try using a silk pillowcase to reduce friction on your skin.

Jaw Stiffness

If you suffer from TMJ (jaw pain), sleeping on one side might add pressure to your jaw. Switching sides occasionally or using a softer pillow can help alleviate this issue.

Comparing Sleeping Positions: Which Is Best for You?

If sleeping on your left side doesn’t feel right for you, let’s compare other sleeping positions.

Sleeping on Your Back: Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Good for spinal alignment
  • Reduces pressure on joints
  • Helps prevent facial wrinkles

Cons:

  • Can worsen snoring and sleep apnea
  • Increases risk of acid reflux

Sleeping on Your Stomach: Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Can reduce snoring

Cons:

  • Puts strain on the neck and spine
  • Increases risk of back pain
  • Can restrict breathing.

Sleeping on Your Right Side: Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Still helps with snoring
  • Better than stomach sleeping

Cons:

  • Can worsen acid reflux
  • Doesn’t support circulation as well as left-side sleeping

Video : Sleeping on Your Left Side…Your Body’s Best Resting Position! Dr. Mandell

Final Thoughts: Should You Switch to Sleeping on Your Left Side?

Your sleep position plays a bigger role in your health than you might realize. While everyone has their own preferred sleeping posture, sleeping on your left side offers significant benefits for your brain, digestion, heart, and spine.

If you often wake up with back pain, acid reflux, or poor circulation, making the switch to left-side sleeping might improve your overall well-being. However, comfort is key, so if this position doesn’t feel right, listen to your body and find what works best for you.

Now, over to you. Do you sleep on your left side, or will you try switching? Let us know in the comments. Sweet dreams and better sleep ahead!

I Invited My Colleague to Secretly Introduce Her to My Single Grandson – My Heart Stopped as They Saw Each Other

Elsie just wants Josh, her grandson, to meet someone with whom he can consider settling down. When a young new teacher enrolls at her kindergarten, she thinks that she has hit the jackpot. But when Josh meets Allison, Elsie learns that they already have a connection.

I’m a meddling grandmother. Not in a bad way — I just want my grandson Josh to move along with his life. He’s 27 and spends most of his time at work or gaming.

During weekends, he stays at home, working on something around the house, or gaming.

A person gaming | Source: Pexels

A person gaming | Source: Pexels

“You need to get out more, Josh,” I said. “I want you to live your life to the fullest! Don’t you want to meet someone?”

“I get it, Gran,” he would say, pausing his game. “But I’m just not interested in that at the moment. Work is taking up all my time and energy, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing.”

“You’re not getting any younger,” I said, handing him chips to snack on.

“It’s because you’re surrounded by kids all day, so you just want great-grandchildren,” he laughed.

A person holding a bowl of chips | Source: Pexels

Josh wasn’t wrong. I was a kindergarten teacher, and I loved every moment of it. But I was done with the life of raising children away from their homes. Now, at 70, I wanted a quiet life of knitting and baking — a soft life, as Josh put it.

A person holding a bowl of chips | Source: Pexels

I’m leaving my position at the school at the end of the year. And maybe it’s just maternal instinct, but I wanted to know that Josh would be okay and not so alone.

Children playing with wooden blocks | Source: Pexels

Children playing with wooden blocks | Source: Pexels

A few months ago, we welcomed a new teacher at the kindergarten, Allison.

She was a few years younger than Josh, and I loved having her around during the day. So, of course, I thought about setting her up with him.

But I knew my grandson — Josh would never agree to an arranged date. He probably wouldn’t even show up.

The next best thing was to invite Allison over for dinner, where Josh would be forced to meet her.

A smiling young woman | Source: Pexels

A smiling young woman | Source: Pexels

“Alli,” I said to her one day during school. “Would you like to come over for dinner?”

“Yes! Of course, I would, Mrs. Barnard,” she said. “Since moving here, I’ve really missed family dinners. This will be great.”

I arranged for Allison to come over for dinner on a Friday evening. She went on and on about coming early to help with the cooking or bringing things over.

“Please just let me help, Mrs. Barnard,” she pleaded, as she helped me put the toys away one afternoon.

Toys scattered on the floor | Source: Pexels

Toys scattered on the floor | Source: Pexels

“You can bring dessert,” I told her. “And call me Elsie.”

I loved her.

And I knew that she would complement Josh well.

But nothing on earth could have prepared me for the connection between Josh and Allison.

A table setting | Source: Pexels

A table setting | Source: Pexels

That evening, as I was setting the table, Josh walked in.

“What’s this about?” he asked, nodding to the table.

“We’re having a new teacher over for dinner, okay?” I said, putting the cutlery in place.

“Sure, do you need me to help you?” he asked.

Cutlery in a jar | Source: Pexels

Cutlery in a jar | Source: Pexels

Allison arrived, her presence a breath of fresh air, carrying a cake with her.

She hugged me at the door and made herself at home — while Josh was still in his bedroom.

And then, the entire evening was turned upside down.

“Allison?” Josh’s voice came from the doorway, a mix of disbelief and an inexplicable hint of recognition.

“Josh?” Allison answered, her eyes wide. “Mrs. Barnard, this is your grandson? Josh?”

A chocolate cake | Source: Pexels

A chocolate cake | Source: Pexels

Confusion wrapped the room like a thick fog.

“Wait, you two know each other?” I asked, my heart racing at the possibilities of their connection.

“Yeah, Gran,” Josh said, sitting down.

“How?” I pressed on. We were past the niceties; I needed to know more.

“Allison is my sister,” he declared, each word resonating with the weight of a thousand unspoken stories.

The room fell silent.

A shocked older woman | Source: Pexels

A shocked older woman | Source: Pexels

“Explain, please,” I told Josh.

Josh isn’t my biological grandson. In fact, I had spent years of my life wanting a child, but I struggled with personal relationships. So, when I was 48, I took the plunge and went to an orphanage.

That’s where I met Josh. He was 5 years old and was a survivor of an accident in which his parents had died.

“Elsie,” Mandy, the social worker, said. “He’s a great kid! He’s curious, charming, and polite as ever. He just needs a chance to get out of here and live.”

A smiling little boy | Source: Pexels

A smiling little boy | Source: Pexels

When I met him, he was a scared little boy who had lost the most important people to him.

“What about the rest of his family?” I asked. “Wouldn’t they come looking?”

“There isn’t anyone else,” Mandy said. “We’ve searched. Which is why he had to be separated from his sister, too. She was adopted three weeks ago.”

“And the family didn’t want to take Josh?” I asked.

An older woman talking | Source: Pexels

An older woman talking | Source: Pexels

“Sadly, no,” Mandy admitted. “They just wanted the youngest child we had, so that they could have as much of her childhood as possible.”

In the end, despite my asking for more information about Josh’s sister, there was just no way such confidential information could be given out.

I adopted Josh as his grandmother because I was already going gray, and I didn’t want anyone to ask him why his mother was so old.

A smiling little girl | Source: Pexels

A smiling little girl | Source: Pexels

Eventually, on his 15th birthday, I told him the truth about the adoption — but nothing about his sister because I just didn’t have the information.

So, Josh has known the truth — or as much of the truth as possible.

“Tell me,” I pressed on.

“Gran, after you told me the truth about me being adopted, I felt settled. I mean, you had chosen me, after all. But I just felt that there was more to the story, you know?”

A boy standing with birthday balloons | Source: Pexels

A boy standing with birthday balloons | Source: Pexels

I nodded. I didn’t want to interrupt him. But I would choose this boy every single time.

“So, a few months ago, I went back to the orphanage, and I was told about a sister — Allison. And they were able to give me information because we were biological siblings.”

“And then, Josh found me on Facebook,” Allison chimed in. “We’ve been talking for a while. Although, he didn’t tell me the truth at first.”

“Well, I didn’t know if you knew the truth or not,” Josh retorted. “I couldn’t just say that I found your details in an old file at an orphanage.”

A stack of old files | Source: Pexels

A stack of old files | Source: Pexels

“I didn’t think that our first meeting would happen here, in your home,” Allison said.

“I think we need some dinner,” I said, waking up to get the food.

As we sat down at the table, I silently observed Josh and Allison’s reunion. I had absolutely no idea that there was a possibility that they could have known each other, let alone be siblings.

Josh ate quietly, processing his thoughts while he chewed. Allison’s eyes were glazed over — I wondered what she was thinking, and whether she was okay.

Food on a table | Source: Pexels

Food on a table | Source: Pexels

“Gran, why did you invite Allison over?” Josh asked, pouring more wine.

“Because I wanted to play matchmaker,” I said honestly.

Allison started giggling, and soon the room echoed with laughter.

The sense of awkwardness that had initially overwhelmed me transformed into a profound joy — I had hoped to bring love into Josh’s life, never imagining it would come in the form of a sister’s bond long severed by fate.

But their roles in each other’s lives were restored.

Wine being poured | Source: Pexels

Wine being poured | Source: Pexels

Later, when Allison took it upon herself to do the dishes, Josh and I stood outside.

“I can’t believe this,” Josh whispered, his voice cracking with emotion as he turned to me.

“I’m as surprised as you are,” I said, looking at the night sky.

“You’ve given me so much,” he said. “And now, you’ve unknowingly brought Allison back. We’ve been talking, but neither of us had the courage to actually meet.”

The rest of the night unfolded with stories of childhood memories lost and found, of heartaches and hope, and the unshakeable bond of family.

A man looking at the stars | Source: Pexels

A man looking at the stars | Source: Pexels

As I lay in bed that night, the house quiet once more, I couldn’t help but feel that their meeting was predestined by some other force.

At least now, Allison will be in Josh’s life, in some capacity or another.

A smiling older woman | Source: Pexels

A smiling older woman | Source: Pexels

Do you have any similar stories?

Related Posts

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*