"Two experts weigh in on the benefits and how to make the most of this break in your day. Is taking an afternoon nap healthy? "Yes, but only if they're power naps," says Markus Specht, director of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Sleep Medicine at DKD Helios Clinic in Wiesbaden, Germany. These are short naps of about 10 to 30 minutes - also called catnaps - that end before you enter deep sleep."
"Studies in Mediterranean countries, where siestas are historically common, have shown that people there are less prone to cardiovascular diseases , obesity and strokes than those from non-siesta cultures. "What's more, studies of people in the US showed their risk for these conditions decreased when they started taking afternoon naps and hadn't previously," says Dr Simone Koch, a German doctor, hormone expert and biohacker who investigates how healthier behaviours can optimise natural bodily processes."
Power naps of 10 to 30 minutes end before deep sleep and prevent post-nap grogginess when an alarm limits duration. Short afternoon catnaps can refresh and recharge and strengthen mental health over time. Populations with a siesta tradition show lower rates of cardiovascular disease, obesity and stroke. Data from the US indicate risk for these conditions decreased among people who began taking afternoon naps. Optimal timing for a restorative nap is about 15 to 20 minutes after lunch, typically between 1pm and 2pm.
Read at South China Morning Post
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