What Does REST Have to Do With Keys to Eating Healthy & Tips to Good Nutritioin?

Daily Quote: "A good laugh, a walk, and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book." - Paul Bragg

You're probably wondering what in the world REST has to do with the keys to eating healthy and good nutrition. Right? Let me explain.

ONCE A WEEK GIVE YOUR BODY THE REST IT NEEDS TO REJUVENATE ITSELF

I strongly recommend you give your body the Sabbath day of rest that your Creator designed for your rejuvenation. The Sabbath day begins at sundown on Friday and continues until sundown on Saturday. Resting during this time period promotes the optimal rejuvenation of your body's cells. Each week a lunar cycle occurs starting at sundown Friday and ending at sundown Saturday. This is the optimum time for your body to rest, recharge, and rejuvenate. Use this special day to spend quality time with God your Creator, as well as with your family and friends. Make it a special day to focus on God and His goodness and to fellowship with other people. Refrain from all of the everyday activities that you're used to like working, cleaning, shopping, banking, doing errands, etc. Instead, use the time for prayer, for worship, for meditation, for reading, for Bible study, for fellowship, for taking a walk, for some fun and recreation with your family, for taking a nap, for laughing, for some unhurried romantic time, for enjoying God's blessing of sex with your spouse, for taking a bath, for calling an old friend, for playing a board game with your family, for listening to music, for etc.

GIVE YOUR BODY A FULL 8 HOURS OF SLEEP EVERY NIGHT

Without proper rest, the cells of your body aren't given the chance to recharge and rejuvenate themselves. Cells that are tired are not able to efficiently eliminate toxins. Most healing takes place during times of rest, and yet most people do not get enough rest, and the rest they do get is often not deep or full.

TRY TO SLEEP BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 10 PM AND 6 AM

Going to bed by 10 pm and waking up around 6 pm seems to allow the body to rest the deepest, rejuvenate its cells the most, and provide the body with the most energy throughout the day. In addition, hormones that heal the body are released only from 10 pm - 2 am, and they are only released when the body is enjoying deep sleep.

Many people are in the habit of going to bed very late (around 1 or 2 am) and then trying to make up for it by sleeping in until 8 or 9 am. Even though they may be getting the same number of hours of sleep (8) as someone who goes to bed at 10 pm, the quality of the sleep is not the same. Generally, our bodies were designed to sleep while it is dark outside and to arise when it gets light. The best, deepest, most valuable sleep takes place between 9 or 10 pm and 6 am. If you give your body eight hours of rest during this critical rest period, I promise that you'll really feel the difference after just a few good nights of sleep. You will have a lot more energy and focus throughout your day.

One more note about sleep. Some research has shown that women actually need more sleep than men. In fact, sleep researchers recommend that women try to get 9 hours of sleep, as opposed to only 8 hours of sleep for men.

FAST ONCE A WEEK ON NATURAL SPRING WATER

It's also very important to fast once a week on water in order to give your body time to rest and heal itself. Fasting from food for a day gives your whole digestive system time to rest while your other eliminative organs can focus unhindered on cleansing your body of toxins and eliminating toxic residues in your cells and system. I will share much more on this very important health point in a future posting. However, I strongly encourage you to pick one day a week and refrain from eating any food, while drinking plenty of natural spring water to assist in the purging and cleansing of toxins.

WHEN POSSIBLE TAKE A 30-MINUTE "SIESTA" OR NAP AFTER LUNCH

If you have this luxury, take advantage of part of your lunch break to rest your body and mind by taking a short nap. You'll be amazed at how much energy you'll have afterwards. If you only have 10 or 15 minutes for this, make it a "power nap."

LEARN HOW TO MANAGE STRESS AND TAKE BETTER CARE OF YOUR BODY

We all are exposed to the pressures of life and the daily stress that seems to come from every direction at times. Learn how to be a good manager of the stress in your life by taking better care of your body. All of the recommendations in this posting will help you to better manage your stress. In fact, I need to include daily exercise as an important part of reducing stress in your body and mind. By simply going for a 15-30 minute vigorous daily walk, you can help relieve a lot of built up stress.

In conclusion, there are many important ways for you to give your body the rest it needs to rejuvenate itself. It all begins with you learning to VALUE REST and what it can do for your body and mind. Remember, God designed your body to rest deeply every night for 8 hours between 10 pm and 6 am, and He designed a special day of the week (the Sabbath) for your body to rest from all work and all of your normal everyday activities. If you cooperate with your Creator in these two ways, you will be wise and you will reap the incredible health benefits He has waiting for you. Just do it.