What Do Our Bodies Need?

Eyes need protection from the sun. Long-term exposure to ultraviolet rays contributes to cataracts – a clouding of the eye's lens, as well as macular degeneration – damage to the retina which destroys central vision, and pteryglum – tissue growth over the eye's white surface that changes the curve of the eyeball causing astigmatism. Even a few hours of intense, unprotected exposure can cause photokeratitis – a temporary but painful cornea burn resulting in blurred vision or temporary blindness. Considering a 2009 American Optometric Association survey found 33% of adults were unaware of possible UV light damage to their eyes, they could be "blindsided".

Brains need sleep to avoid our being mad at the world. Irritability, moodiness and complaining are well-researched side effects of sleepiness. However, a study presented at SLEEP 2011, the 20th anniversary meeting of the Association of Professional Sleep Societies, found sleepy people think differently. They are more likely to think about how events could have turned out differently and how situations could have been better. This often results in their blaming others and even seeking revenge. Researchers refer to sleepy thinking as "counterfactual". That word in itself is an "eye-opener".

Brains also need sleep to avoid our making bad food choices. In another study presented at the 2011 meeting of the Association of Professional Sleep Societies, 12 healthy adults were shown photographs of low- or high-calorie foods during a 4-minute period when their brains were scanned. The participants also completed questionnaires about how drowsy they were during the day, their food preferences and their typical eating habits. The sleepier they were, the less the prefrontal cortex – the brain's inhibition center – was activated when participants were shown photos of high-calorie foods. The participants weren't chronically sleep-deprived - just tired from staying up an extra hour or two – which is "two" bad.

Finally, our bodies need exercise – but exercise isn't always possible. In a study to mimic the inactivity astronauts experience because of weightlessness in space, rats were hung by their rear legs. Half the rats received a daily dose of resveratrol – an ingredient in red wine. Those rats didn't experience reduced muscle mass and strength, reduced bone density or develop insulin resistance – a prelude to diabetes. Resveratrol lets cells "breath internally", counteracting the negative effects of inactivity. Unfortunately, it would take more than 1-2 glasses of red wine to achieve the same results. Nevertheless, drinking red wine is a "moving experience".