Not much of a book person? Perhaps it's time to turn yourself into one.
Check out these five science-backed reasons that show how reading a book can have amazing benefits for a person's health and well-being.
Reading Is An Effective Stress Buster
A 2009 study done at the University of Sussex proved that reading a book is the fastest and most effective way to manage stress — working 68 percent better than other de-stressing tactics, such as listening to music, sipping a cup of tea, or going for a walk.
After reading silently for a mere six minutes, researchers have found that the participants felt less stressed, with a more relaxed heart rate and eased tension in the muscles.
"Losing yourself in a book is the ultimate relaxation," David Lewis, a cognitive neuropsychologist and one of the authors of the study, said.
"It really doesn't matter what book you read, by losing yourself in a thoroughly engrossing book you can escape from the worries and stresses of the everyday world and spend a while exploring the domain of the author's imagination," he explained.
@oursharedshelf's Nov & Dec book is #Mom&Me&Mom by Maya Angelou
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Lowers Risk Of Alzheimer's Disease
It's common knowledge that reading is an efficient brain exercise, stimulating the mind and keeping memories sharper than ever. Interestingly, several studies suggest that book readers and people who frequently busy themselves with other brain-boosting activities experience slower memory decline. They are also less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease when they grow old, as opposed to their non-reading counterparts. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. A memory-robbing illness, this debilitating condition affects approximately 5.4 million Americans.
The Secret To A Good Night's Sleep
Because of its proven calming effect, experts say that reading before bedtime is an effective strategy for quality snooze time. Foolproof this sleep strategy by turning off bright lights and electronic devices like smartphones and laptops inside the room. These things emit blue light, which signals the brain to stay active.
Self-Help Books Can Ease Depression And Mood Disorders
A 2013 study released in the open-access journal PLOS One has found that self-help books, also known as bibliotherapy, and support sessions on how to use them properly, was a valuable tool in reducing depression in patients who used them for a year.
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Today it's common practice for most doctors to recommend books to their patients as part of their treatment program. "[Reading] can help you escape to another world and get out of your everyday life," Debbie Hicks, director of research at the Reading Agency, stated. "There's lots of evidence that reading can really help you relax and escape and this is a good strategy for dealing with stress and anxiety," she continued.
Reading Is A Rad Weight Loss Strategy
Interestingly, researchers have linked reading books to shedding excess weight in both kids and adults. In 2008, experts at North Carolina's Duke Children's Hospital handed 31 obese girls a copy of the novel Lake Rescue, which is about an overweight girl. Six months after, all the girls who read the book had a 1 percent reduction in their total body mass index. In addition, reading a page-turner while working out on an exercise machine like a treadmill may actually keep people on the machine longer, sweating it out more.
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