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!

Flight Attendant Forced Me to Kneel on the Plane While Pregnant – Her Reason Left Me in Shock

Kayla, grieving the loss of her grandmother, is about to return home after the funeral. But when she boards her flight, she has no idea about the nightmare that awaits her. In a case of mistaken identity, Kayla has no choice but to rely on her wits and quick thinking to get her out of the hot water she has landed in.

After a few long days of grieving, I was ready to collapse into my own bed. I was six months pregnant and emotionally drained from my grandmother’s funeral.


People at a funeral | Source: Pexels

The funeral had been tough, but it was a poignant farewell to a woman who had been my rock throughout my life.

“Are you sure you want to leave today?” my mother asked as I packed my suitcase. “You can wait a few days if you need to just sit with this loss.”

I smiled at her sadly.


A person packing a suitcase | Source: Pexels

“I know,” I said. “But I need to get back to work and back to Colin. You know my husband barely manages without me.”

“I suppose it’s a good idea for you to be in your comfort zone,” she said. “But Dad and I have decided that we’ll stay until the end of the week just to sort Gran’s house out and finalize anything that needs to be done. I know that Dad cannot wait to get home.”

“I just wish that Gran would have been around to see the baby,” I said, rubbing my hand along my belly. “That’s what I’ve wanted all along.”


A woman holding her stomach | Source: Unsplash

“I know, honey,” my mother said. “I wish that you and Gran could have had that moment, but it’s okay, darling. At least you were here in the end when Gran needed you the most.”

Now, I was navigating the long lines at the airport. I had hated flying, but it was much easier to fly home than drive. I couldn’t manage spending twelve hours in a car with my bladder fighting me.


People at an airport | Source: Unsplash

But finally, I made it onto the plane, ready for the journey back home to my husband.

“I’ll take that, ma’am,” a flight attendant told me, reaching out for my bag.

“Thank you,” I said, settling into my seat, my body aching for rest.


A pregnant woman sitting in an airplane | Source: Midjourney

“Oh, I hate flying,” the woman next to me said. “It’s the worst. But I hate driving too. I should have just stayed home.”

I almost laughed because I agreed completely. I hated the turbulence that came with flying. It made me feel uneasy and anxious, as though I was absolutely losing control with each jolt.

But still, as I sat back, ready for the flight to take off and take me home, I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was staring at me.


A man sitting in an airplane | Source: Midjourney

Turning around, I noticed a man sitting a few rows behind, intently watching me. His gaze was unsettling, but I dismissed him as one of those people who judged a pregnant woman for traveling.

Soon after, the hum of the engines became a soothing background noise as the plane began its ascent.

“Finally,” the woman beside me said. “Let’s just get home.”

Little did I know that a nightmare was about to unfold.

Ten minutes after we were airborne, a flight attendant approached me, her gaze hard.

“Excuse me, ma’am. Could you please come with me?” she asked, her perfume taking over my nose.

I had no intention of waking up and walking anywhere, but her authoritative tone left no room for argument, and with a deep sigh, I unbuckled my seat and followed her to the clearing just off the bathroom.

Immediately, her demeanor changed.

“You need to get on your knees immediately!” she commanded, nodding to someone that I couldn’t see.

“What? Why? What happened?” I exclaimed, completely shocked.

“Now,” she said simply.

I was shocked and confused, but something in her voice made me comply. As I knelt, I couldn’t understand what was going on. Nothing felt right. I hadn’t done anything wrong.

Just then, the man who had been staring at me earlier entered.

“Where is the golden necklace you stole?” he demanded, his voice threatening.

“What are you talking about?” I asked. “I didn’t steal anything! I am just returning from my grandmother’s funeral!”

He made a clucking sound with his tongue and produced a set of photographs and documents.

“This is you at the museum two days before the exhibit was moved to the hotel. This is you at the hotel foyer where the necklace went missing. We tracked you up to this plane after you ran away from the hotel.”

I looked at the pictures, and they were hazy. But they did bear a striking resemblance to me, though there were clear differences.

“Look,” I said suddenly. “The woman in these photos has a tattoo or scar or something on her wrist. Look! I don’t have anything like that!”

The man examined my wrists, his icy hands pulling roughly.

“See? No tattoos. No scars. Nothing. You have the wrong person!” I insisted. “And I’m pregnant! The woman in the photos is not!”

I felt a sudden wave of fear for my baby. In the heat of the moment, my baby lay there silently.

“But that could be a disguise,” he replied, not entirely convinced.

I thought about whether the police would be waiting for me at the airport. And whether I could get away from this. I just wanted to get home to Colin.

It was as if thinking about my husband had summoned the baby to wake up.

A sudden kick in my stomach made me act impulsively. Without thinking, I took the man’s hand and placed it on my belly.

“No, you can’t fake this,” I said.

He sighed, looking visibly relieved but also very embarrassed.

“I’m so sorry. You look very much like her. I was convinced that we were on the right track. I have to wait until we get back on the ground to actually deal with this.”

“Look, I get it,” I said. “But I’m not her. I’m just trying to get home,” I said, feeling a bit calmer, while I tried to get back onto my feet.

Little did we know that it was time for part two of the nightmare.

Suddenly, the flight attendant pulled out a gun.

“Enough! Both of you, hands behind your backs!”

She reached into her pocket and pulled out zip ties, tying the man’s hands first with her back to me.

“You’re not as foolish as you look,” she said to him. “You were right about tracking me to the plane. But you had the wrong person in mind.”

Another surge of fear for my baby made me act. With her standing with her back to me, I saw an opportunity and kicked her as hard as I could.

She stumbled and fell, dropping the gun. She had been distracted talking to him that she didn’t finish zip tying the man’s hands yet, so he tackled her.

As he did, we caught a glimpse of the gold necklace hanging around her neck.

“She’s the real thief,” he said, securing her. “She’s been posing as different people to avoid capture. I have no idea how she managed to board this flight as an attendant.”

“You are so brave for doing what you did. Thank you for getting to her before she tied me,” he said.

“I was just afraid for my baby,” I said, sighing. “I acted on instinct.”

The rest of the flight was a blur of apologies from the man and explanations to the crew and authorities.

“I’m Detective Connor,” he said, shaking my hand after.

The woman was arrested upon landing, with about fifteen police officers standing at the gate, just waiting.

“I am truly sorry for what you’ve been through,” Connor said.

“Just explain to me what happened,” I replied, needing closure before heading out to find my husband.

“We’ve been tracking this woman for months. She’s been stealing valuable items and using various disguises to evade capture. I received a tip that she would be on this flight. When I saw you, and your hair, I just thought…” he trailed off, clearly remorseful.

“You thought I was her,” I finished for him. “Well, I’m not. And now you know.”

“Yes, and I’m very sorry for the mistake, Kayla. I hope you can forgive me.”

Despite the ordeal, I felt a strange sense of relief.

As I walked through the doors and saw my husband standing there with yellow tulips and a wide smile on his face, I instantly felt at peace.

“Welcome home,” he said, pulling me into a hug. “I’m so glad you’re back.”

We drove home in silence, just enjoying being in each other’s presence again. But when we got home, I sat down with Colin and told him everything that had happened on the flight.

“Are you okay?” he asked me, his eyes wide. “Are you shaken? Should we take you to a doctor to make sure everything is okay?”

“No,” I replied. “I’m absolutely fine, I just wanted to come back home to you.”

My husband put his hands on my stomach and smiled at me.

“I’m glad you’re home,” he said again, kissing my stomach.

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