During deep sleep the production of growth hormone is at its peak. Growth hormone speeds the absorption of nutrients and amino acids into your cells, and aids the healing of tissues throughout your body. The hormone also stimulates your bone marrow, where your immune system cells are born. Melatonin, often called the sleep hormone, is also produced during sleep. This hormone inhibits tumors from growing, prevents viral infections, stimulates your immune system, increases antibodies in your saliva, has antioxidant properties and enhances the quality of sleep.
Some studies show the value of maintaining a steady and natural rhythm in sleep patterns.
Researchers at the University of Toronto Centre for Sleep and Chronobiology are uncovering important insights about how sleep heals. Dr. Harvey Moldofsky and his colleagues studied the natural rhythm of sleep by interrupting the sleep of a group of medical students. After a few nights of these disruptions, the students developed the classic symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. Moldofsky conducted another study examining how the immune system reacts to sleep deprivation. On the fifth night, researchers woke the men up at 3 a.m., giving them four hours less sleep than usual.