There’s nothing quite like settling down with a good book to help you wind down after a long day, but the simple act of reading could be more beneficial than you think.

While it’s well-known that reading can make a big difference to our wellbeing, the health benefits of reading aren’t as well-documented. Perhaps because sitting down for hours on end (as you might when reading a book) might not, on the face of it, seem like the ‘healthiest’ thing you can do.

But combining reading with other healthy habits (such as exercising regularly, getting a good amount of sleep and eating a nutrient-rich diet) could make a real, positive difference to your health, thanks to the incredible impact reading has been shown to have on our minds and bodies. 

Below, we’ve rounded up just a few of the most fascinating health benefits it can offer. 

A 2009 study from Mindlab International at the University of Sussex found that reading can decrease stress levels by as much as 68% – and that reading silently for as little as six minutes can begin to ease tension in the body.

The research also found that sitting down with a book was more effective at relieving stress than activities such as listening to music or having a cup of tea or coffee.

As the neuropsychologist behind the study Dr David Lewis explained at the time, reading is an effective tool for relieving stress because it goes beyond simple distraction.

“By losing yourself in a thoroughly engrossing book, you can escape from the worries and stresses of the everyday world and spend a while exploring the domain of the author’s imagination,” he said. 

It’s no secret that stress can take its toll on your heart. The stress hormone cortisol triggers an increase in heart rate and blood pressure to prepare the body to face a threat, and when your stress levels remain high for an extended period, this cardiovascular impact can put you at increased risk of serious conditions such as heart disease or strokes.

Because reading is a good source of stress relief, it makes sense that it also has the potential to reduce the pressure being put on the heart.  

And a 2009 US study proved just that, revealing that 30 minutes of reading could lower the blood pressure, heart rate and feelings of psychological distress of students on a stressful course. In fact, the study found that reading was just as effective in this regard as yoga and humour.  

The importance of looking after your brain health throughout your life cannot be understated, and reading is a great way to give your mind the regular workout it needs.

As Fran Vandelli, dementia lead at Bupa Care Services, previously told Strong Women, activities which engage your brain – such as reading – can help to protect you against age-related cognitive decline, including when it comes to conditions such as dementia.

And the older you get, the more powerful the impact of reading may be. In 2021, a study published in the journal Neurology found that activities which led to high levels of cognitive activity – such as reading, playing games and writing letters – could delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease (the most common cause of dementia) by five years among those aged 80 or older. 

If you tend to toss and turn for ages after you go to bed, then it might be time to pick up a book. Not only does reading help you to relax and wind down, making it easier for your brain to switch off, but it could also improve the quality of your sleep once you do nod off.

In 2021, a study of almost 1,000 people found that those who read a book before bed experienced improved sleep quality compared to those who didn’t. Time to crack out the old library card, we think.

Images: Getty