The 5 reasons why lounging on the sofa is actually really good for you – from clear skin to weight loss

THIS festive period, it’s time to embrace the art of sitting on your sofa and doing absolutely nothing.

And while many of us berate ourselves for lounging around, science suggests it’s actually better for you than you think.

Kicking back and relaxing on the sofa with a cuppa in hand can help with weight loss

Proper downtime, which means no TV, music, or social media (basically anything that could stimulate you), can boost your immunity, help you lose weight and prevent diseases.

“In the modern world, we live in a permanent state of low to medium stress,” says Danny Penman, one of the authors of the international bestseller Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Finding Peace in a Frantic World.

“Being continuously on edge takes its physical toll on the body because it diverts all of its resources to the fight or flight response.

“That’s not a problem in the short term, but if prolonged it means other functions suffer, like the immune system, skin maintenance and digestion,” Danny told The Telegraph.

When we don’t get a lot of downtime, our body produces high amounts of the stress hormone cortisol.

Cortisol, which is made in the adrenal glands, puts the body in fight-or-flight mode. 

According to the Cleveland Clinic, cortisol has many important functions, like regulating blood pressure and helping you wake up or fall asleep.

However, too much cortisol can weaken your immune system, so when stressed, you are more prone to bacterial and viral bugs.

Another major downside is the impact on our weight.

Even if you’re eating very little and exercising a lot, you will still see your waistline get bigger. It can also make you gain weight in your face, making it a lot rounder.

It can also lead to high blood sugar levels, which often turns into type 2 diabetes.

High levels of cortisol can also cause a surge in blood pressure which can increase your risk of heart diseases like stroke and heart attacks.

High cortisol levels can also make the skin more oily, which can cause acne.

How to relax

The NHS recommends taking steps to manage your stress, such as deep breathing or building time into your day to relax.

Relaxing can mean different things to different people. For many, that might include spending a few hours lying about on the sofa, with a cup of tea.

It’s been proven that tea leaves contain antioxidants which reduce stress and help the body fight bugs.

US food scientist Dr Taylor Wallace said: “This bountiful beverage is one which people can easily add to better their diet and create a healthier and longer life.”

The US Tea Council looked at the benefits of flavonoid compounds from black, green and herbal teas.

These strengthen the immune system and help fight off bacterial or viral infections.