Did you know that you burn calories while you sleep? Calories are energy, and you use energy while you sleep. You are so fearfully and wonderfully made that 24-hours a day, every day, whether you are awake or asleep, countless chemical reactions occur in every cell of your body. These chemical reactions use energy.
The moment God breathed into you the breath of life, your body became an auto-pilot miracle that constantly uses energy. Consider for a moment just a few things that happen in your body all the time:
- Your heart beats. If you have a resting heart rate of 70 to 80 beats per minute, your heart beats at least 40 million times each year.
- You breathe. Your lungs inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. This process involves a chemical exchange across the delicate air sacs in your lungs. If you breathe 16 to 18 times a minute at rest, you breathe at least nine million times each year.
- Your liver detoxifies waste products produced by the chemical reactions in your cells.
- Your kidneys produce urine by filtering waste products and excess water from your blood.
- Your body is under construction. You use a portion of the nutrients you absorb after a meal as raw materials to build and repair tissues. You metabolize another portion of the nutrients to release energy. You store any leftover nutrients as fat.
All of these functions and many more occur around the clock with no conscious effort or thought on your part. A wide variety of powerful chemicals help regulate the delicate balance of your miraculous body. Chemicals like endorphins, adrenalin, serotonin and melatonin all participate in this exquisite chemical symphony. And the music can change as you interact with your environment.
- Endorphins increase when you exercise. They also increase when you eat comfort foods. Endorphins make you feel good. If you want to feel good, exercise is the healthier option.
- Adrenalin increases when you are afraid or anxious. It’s part of the “fight or flight” reaction that prepares your body to handle short-term stress, like public speaking. You notice your heart beating faster. Blood is shunted from your intestine to your muscles. When you feel afraid or anxious, take several slow deep breaths while focusing on your breathing. This will calm your nerves and clear your head so that you can handle the task at hand.
- Serotonin influences your mood; low levels are associated with depression. When you feel down or depressed, find a way to help someone else. It can be very uplifting.
- Melatonin is involved in your sleep-wake cycle. Abnormal melatonin levels are associated with jetlag and other sleep disturbances. Light inhibits melatonin production and darkness permits its production by the pineal gland of your brain. Getting enough sleep is as important to your health and fitness as getting enough exercise. Try to get at least eight hours of restful sleep each night in a dark, quiet, well-ventilated room.
Your body is one of God’s marvelous works. It’s an amazing temple that is temporarily on loan to you. Take good care of it.
Dr. Deborah White is the founder, President & CEO of Health Meditations, LLC, a health education consulting firm that provides health information on body, mind and spirit for the wise consumer. She is a board-certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist with 22 years of experience overall, including 11 years in patient care and clinical teaching, followed by 11 years in the corporate world. Dr. White earned her medical degree at New York Medical College in Valhalla, New York. She did her OB/GYN residency at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York and has an MBA in Finance from Columbia University. For additional information, go to www.healthmeditations.com or email Dr. White at drdwhite@healthmeditations.com .
