Adequate sleep is a key part of a healthy lifestyle and can benefit your heart, weight, mind and more. 

Here are 6 key benefits your body gets from sleep:

1. Improve memory

During sleep you can strengthen memories or "practice" skills learned while you were awake

2. Curb inflammation

Research indicates that people who get less sleep—six or fewer hours a night—have higher blood levels of inflammatory proteins than those who get more.

3. Improve athletic ability

Less daytime fatigue and more stamina. 

4. Sharpen attention

How we sleep affects the brain, more sleep allows for more recharging. 

5. Have a healthy weight

"Sleep and metabolism are controlled by the same sectors of the brain," Dr. Rapoport says. "When you are sleepy, certain hormones go up in your blood, and those same hormones drive appetite."

6. Lower stress