Mingle, Sleep, and Be Merry

Looking for fun ways to stay well? Spend more time with friends -- and in bed.

Having close pals you can laugh and cry with, through thick and thin, is a blessing. So is getting a good night's sleep, especially in restless times. But wait, there's more. Both also reduce your blood levels of an inflammatory protein that's been linked to Alzheimer's, bone thinning, heart trouble, rheumatoid arthritis, and even some kinds of cancer.

Everyone knows a good diet and regular exercise can help ward off a boatload of Bad Things. But they may not be enough to control IL-6 (interleukin-6), an inflammatory protein. In normal amounts, IL-6 acts as an immune system helper, but excess levels have been linked to a whole string of age-related diseases. Researchers studying older women found two natural ways to help keep IL-6 at healthful, not harmful, levels: solid sleep and good friends. The best news: if you're loaded with bosom buddies but struggle with sleep -- or vice versa -- you're as protected as if you have both. So if you want to stay up all night talking with your best buds, go for it.

Social relationships, sleep quality, and interleukin-6 in aging women. Friedman, E. M., Hayney, M. S., Love, G. D., Urry, H. L., Rosenkranz, M. A., Davidson, R. J., Singer, B. H., Ryff, C. D., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2005 Dec 20;102(51):18757-18762.