Sleep and the Menopausal Body

Sleep is so important, especially for women in midlife. Quality sleep-- and 8 hours of it–affects your hormones positively and, believe it or not, helps reduce stubborn fat and fatigue.
First thing in the morning, hormones like cortisol are normally elevated and wane as the day goes on. Later in the day melatonin levels rise and start to prepare your body for sleep. This is the healthy process of your biological clock.
With enough quality sleep you will enjoy:
Increase in muscle mass.
Hormone balance
Improved immune function
Ability to recover from exercise and injury.
Cognitive repair and memory
Lowered risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression.