The key to staying healthy is sleep

FOX 2 - There's one thing you can start doing that will help keep you from getting sick during the holidays and help you control your weight? You'd be curious, right? Especially since it doesn't cost a thing. 

What is it? Sleep! 

Sleep expert with Beaumont Dr. Gary Trok says T-cells need rest. 

"T-cells, which are very important for immune function, and during sleep we have restoration of T-cell function. T-cells are rejuvenated, replenished because they're constantly being broken down. So if you don't sleep well you don't get the rejuvenation of your T-cells," he explained. 

That's why when we don't sleep well you're more likely to get sick.

Okay how does sleep impact our weight? That's a hormonal issue. 

"There are certain hormones important for weight. A hormone called leptin tells you you're full; stop eating. Ghrelin tells you, 'I'm hungry.' If you don't have sleep those hormones don't function properly, you give up instant resistance and we tend to eat more and gain weight," he explained. 

When your sleep deprived you're also less likely to exercise and more likely to make bad food choices. 

So how much sleep do we actually need? 

"The short answer is, enough sleep that you're wide awake the entire day," Dr. Trok said. 

How do you get good sleep? One of the best tricks is to limit the light. The light from your phone or tablet is one of the main things telling your brain it's time to wake up. 

Stick to a sleep schedule. That means goes to bed and wake up at the same time. 

Limit caffeine, and there is science that says wearing socks to bed will help you fall asleep and stay asleep.