7. Improves Digestion
Did your parents ever tell you that it is bad to eat before bed, that the food will just sit there all night and make you fat? It’s an oft-repeated tidbit, but it’s not true – digestion continues on whether you are awake or asleep.
And there is a reason that a bedtime or midnight snack is a thing. Our bodies are still busy during sleep and need some fuel to get the most out of that time.
Now, even though digestion will occur no matter how you sleep, you can help your body do the work with as little effort as possible by sleeping on your left side.
That’s because our stomachs sit to the left side of the abdomen, and when you lie on your left side, it allows food to pass into the large intestine more easily. It also keeps the stomach from lying on top of the pancreas, which supports the free flow of digestive enzymes.