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Jun 17 15 tweets 6 min read Read on X
You need 8 hours of sleep each night.

But this is a lie.

Here’s everything you need to know about it (and 6 fixes to improve sleep):
During the Industrial Revolution, factory owners split the 24-hour day:
• 8 hours of work
• 8 hours of leisure
• 8 hours of sleep

But there’s no evolutionary basis or science for exactly 8 hours.

New data shows 7 hours is healthiest for most adults:
Before industrial life, humans rarely slept in one 8-hour block.

Historical records show segmented sleep:

• 1st sleep ~3–4 hours
• A natural wake window
• 2nd sleep until dawn

Our bodies evolved for flexibility, not rigid 8-hour patterns. Image
How much sleep do you really need?

7 hours for most healthy adults.

Less than 6 → higher mortality
More than 9 → higher mortality

~7 hours of high-quality sleep hits the sweet spot for health and performance. Image
The cleanest, simplest sleep aid I use every night.

Your nervous system will thank you👇

lvnta.com/lv_J3CBj2Zyepr…
Fix 1: Set a consistent sleep window.

Your circadian rhythm runs on a 24-hour clock.

If you constantly shift your bedtime/wake time, your internal clock falls out of sync.

Aim for 7 hours in bed, same schedule 7 days a week. Image
Image
Fix 2: Sleep environment.

• Block screens 1 hour before bed (blue light suppresses melatonin.)
• Keep room cool (Core temp must drop 1–2°F to enter deep sleep).
• Blackout curtains + silence = more REM

The goal is to maximize your deep sleep and REM sleep.
Fix 3: Nasal breathing.

Many adults mouth breathe during sleep, reducing oxygenation and sleep quality.

Mouth tape is a simple tool to encourage nasal breathing.
Benefits:
• Fewer nighttime awakenings
• Deeper, more restorative sleep
• Less snoring and dry mouth Image
Fix 4: Morning sunlight within 30 minutes of waking.

Light is your circadian anchor.

10–15 mins of outdoor sunlight in the morning improves:
• Sleep latency (fall asleep faster)
• Deep sleep percentage
• Daytime energy and mood

Skipping this delays your body clock by hours. Image
Image
Fix 5: Optimize your sleep position.

Your sleeping posture impacts:
• Airway (snoring, apnea)
• Spine alignment (pain, mobility)
• Drainage (brain detox)

Best option? Side sleeping.

It supports spinal health + boosts brain waste clearance during deep sleep. Image
Fix 6: Use simple, proven supplements.

• Magnesium glycinate → calms nervous system
• Glycine → enhances deep and REM sleep
• No caffeine after 2PM → reduces sleep onset latency

These compounds support your natural sleep architecture, without sedating you unnaturally.
The cleanest, simplest sleep aid I use every night.

Your nervous system will thank you👇

lvnta.com/lv_J3CBj2Zyepr…
Sleep happens in 4 stages, and each one plays a role in recovery:

• Light sleep → transition
• Deeper light sleep → body relaxes, temp drops
• Deep sleep (NREM) → physical repair, growth hormone release
• REM sleep → brain repair, memory, mood
REM sleep and deep sleep are where the magic happens.

During these stages, your body releases:
• Growth hormone → rebuilds muscle and tissue
• Testosterone → supports metabolism, libido, mood
• BDNF → strengthens memory and learning

Sleep is your highest ROI health tool.
Credit: The Economist for the amazing video.

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More from @HumanUpgrade_

Jun 16
Sleep is the most powerful medicine on Earth.

It resets your hormones, burns fat, and cleans your brain.

Here are 10 science-backed foods that help you sleep deeper and wake up restored:

1. Bananas
Packed with potassium and magnesium.

These minerals relax muscles and lower cortisol.

Also contains tryptophan → serotonin → melatonin.

A perfect pre-bed snack.
2. Tart Cherries

One of the few natural sources of melatonin.

One RCT published in the American Journal of Therapeutics showed it increased sleep time by ~84 minutes in adults with insomnia.

Anti-inflammatory compounds help regulate circadian.
Read 15 tweets
Jun 14
Everyone thinks burning fat is diet less and exercise more.

But this is a lie.

You can’t lose belly fat if your hormones are chronically elevated.

Here's how to burn fat correctly (according to science): 🧵
You are born with a set number of fat cells.

You can increase fat cell number (hyperplasia).

With obesity:
• Fat cells expand to store more triglycerides

When you lose fat:
• Fat cells shrink, but they don't disappear

This is why long-term fat maintenance gets harder. Image
Image
When you eat more energy than you burn, the excess is stored as triglycerides in fat cells.

Hormones drive fat storage and lock fat in your cells:
• Insulin
• Estrogen
• Cortisol (chronic stress)

The key is to control the hormones, not only calories.
Read 16 tweets
Jun 12
Every person over 35 blames aging for having less hair.

Turns out it's not age.

It's hormones, blood flow, and years of neglect.

Here are 3 simple fixes to prevent hair loss and reverse hair loss naturally:
Here’s what’s happening:

Your hair grows in 3 phases:

- Anagen (growth)
- Catagen (transition)
- Telogen (rest/shedding)

Stress, hormones, nutrient deficiencies, and inflammation shorten the growth phase and push follicles into dormancy.
Problem 1: Hormone imbalance (DHT)

DHT is a hormone your body makes from testosterone.

Some DHT is normal, but too much can shrink your hair follicles and slowly kill growth over time.

This is why so many men thin out at the crown or hairline first. Image
Read 14 tweets
Jun 11
Your body “dies” when your heart stops.

But your heart ages faster than the rest of your body.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death than all forms of cancer and accidents combined.

Here’s how to reduce the age of your heart by 20 years:
66% of heart deaths happen with no symptoms.

You don’t feel it as pain, you feel it as:

• Poor sleep
• Random anxiety
• Fatigue after small efforts
• Shortness of breath walking up stairs
• Cold hands and feet

These are signs of declining cardiovascular efficiency.
Over time, it gets worse:

• Arteries stiffen
• Inflammation builds
• Blood pressure rises
• Blood vessels clog
• Insulin resistance sets in
• Recovery slows down

Eventually, this leads to:
• Chest pain
• High blood pressure
• ED (men)
• Stroke or heart attack
Read 14 tweets
Jun 8
You don't have a belly fat problem.

You have a visceral fat problem.

This "hidden fat" wraps around your intestines, heart, and silently expands your waistline no matter how much you diet or exercise.

Here’s what it is (and how to get rid of it for good):
Most people worry about belly fat they can grab.

But visceral fat is behind your abs, hidden deep in your gut.

You can’t see it, but it’s the most dangerous fat in your body.

It pumps out inflammatory chemicals 24/7 that damage your brain, hormones, and heart. Image
Visceral fat is linked to:

• Heart attacks
• Type 2 diabetes
• Fatty liver
• Alzheimer’s
• Erectile dysfunction
• Low testosterone
• Fatigue + anxiety

You don’t have to be overweight to have it.
Read 14 tweets
Jun 7
Everyone thinks cardio is the best way to drop 10 pounds.

But this is a lie.

Here are 5 exercises to melt fat faster (and build muscle even if you lose weight): Image
First, the truth about cardio:

Cardio burns calories while you’re doing it.

But once you stop? So does the fat burn.

Strength training, on the other hand, increases something called EPOC...
EPOC = Excess post-exercise oxygen consumption.

You burn fat for hours after your workout ends.

Lifting weights also increases lean muscle mass.

More muscle → higher resting calorie burn → easier long-term fat loss.

Here are the best exercises to help burn fat: Image
Read 13 tweets

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