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Science & The Spirit
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RHYTHM AND REASON
Health Helps Part 18
By Dane and Vicki Griffin
King Solomon wrote: "To every thing there
is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven"
(Ecclesiastes 3:1). Perhaps the wise king knew what we're just
discovering today; that our body machinery also has seasons and
times. In fact, a whole branch of study called, chronobiology,
is dedicated to studying body rhythms. The body performs certain
functions on a surprisingly regular basis over the 24-hour
period. These activities make up what is called
"circadian" or "biological" rhythms, and
they have a powerful effect on our health and happiness. For
example, scientists gave toxic drugs to animals at different
times of the day. Most animals that got the drug at one time of
day died. However, when the same drug and dose were given at
another time, most of the animals survived.
Essential cycles
Because of the body's circadian rhythms, such
things as body metabolism and temperature change throughout the
day. This means that eating can cause more weight gain at
certain times of the day. in one study, people ate exactly the
same amount of the same food—but some ate only in the morning
and some only at night. The dinner-only people tended to gain
weight, but the breakfast-only people lost weight! Circadian
rhythms not only influence body temperature and metabolism. They
also effect heart rate, blood pressure, and hormone levels. For
example, cortisol, a stress hormone, has the highest levels in
the morning, and then lessens throughout the day. Body
temperature and metabolism also decline in the early evening, to
prepare us for rest. This is the way God planned it! "The
sun ariseth.... Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour
until the evening" (Psalm 104: 22, 23).
God also gave us the 7-day weekly cycle. he
designed us to have periods of planned rest—not only every
evening, but once a week on the seventh day! Our very
physiology demands that we cooperate!
Don't scrimp on sleep
Staying up late at night can
"desynchronize," or unbalance, the circadian rhythms
that govern sleep and other body functions. Nurses who work the
late shift have been found to have disruptions in their
temperature and heart rate. The disruption of the normal
circadian rhythm also caused more fatigue and drowsiness, and
even effected thier ability to think!
Many studies have shown that mood is directly
related to circadian walking and sleeping cycles. For example,
the more sleep we lose during the week the more problems we will
have with mood, motivations, attentions, alertness, short-term
memory, and the ability to finish what we start. in fact, our
capacity to do all sorts of physical and mental activities will
decrease!
Lark or owl?
To make the best use of your circadian rhythms,
try an early-to-bed pattern of sleep, rather than a "night
owl" routine. You'll experience better moods, easier
learning, and quicker healing. For anyone fighting depression,
this becomes doubly important: Studies with depressed patients
have shown that early bedtime patterns results in better sleep
and less depression.
Don't short stack your ZZZZ's!
Don't shortchange yourself by shortening your
sleep. Remember: For healthy cycles, aim for right quality,
timing, regularity, and quantity of sleep. And don't forget to
have regular times for rising, eating, exercise, study, work,
worship, and recreation. your body was designed to be on a
schedule. Don't be a slave to chaos! Ask God to restore order,
sleep, and sanity to your life!
Part 1
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4
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10
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