Our bodies use sleep to repair and strengthen our muscles, joints and other parts that get tired and damaged through use and exertion during waking hours.
This restorative process uses energy to rebuild lean muscle mass and to help rebuild other kinds of body tissue. That is worth repeating — this rebuilding process uses energy — and if the rebuilding process is running smoothly and efficiently, that energy comes from places in our body where energy is stored — from fat.
In other words, the body rebuilds tissue, organs, bone, and lean muscle by burning fat.
Several things about this process are worth noting. They have an important bearing on how efficiently it works.
Collagen is very important to the body repair process…
Collagen is the most common protein found in our bodies. It is the main component of our skin, nails, bones, cartilage, and connective tissue and is found in all of the body organs. Cartilage is the cushion and shock absorber between joints, and the reason we stay flexible and mobile. Healthy cartilage is constantly being regenerated by the body naturally and this process contributes to keeping us youthful and flexible.
As we age, our bodies lose the ability to produce collagen at sufficient levels needed to support the deep restorative sleep processes that our bodies are designed to perform. This can be a major contributor that leads to a premature aged appearance and can definitely affect our flexibility and mobility. It stands to reason that a collagen supplement combined with other natural ingredients can have a dramatic effect in better supporting the deep restorative sleep process. This in turn can allow the body to experience more energy, build more lean muscle, and burn more fat.
I’m not a big supplement take however, collagen is one I now take and this brand was actually recommended to me by my son!! So I’m sharing it with you if you ‘d like to explore your options and hey who doesn’t want to support there skin, hair, nails and of course gut with a natural product?
Not eating before sleeping is very important…
Since the body uses deep sleep for the restoration process, it is important when using a collagen supplement not to eat three hours before going asleep. This is because we don’t want nutrient competition between undigested food and the collagen supplement special nutrient formula itself.
If the body has to concern itself with digestion it will not absorb the collagen formula properly. Therefore your body will not be performing its natural restorative process while you sleep, but rather will be concerned with undigested foods and will actually be storing fat from the continuing digestive process rather than burning fat as the energy for the deep sleep restorative process.
This tends to put us into a “diet circle of frustration”. The less time your body spends in deep restful sleep (without competing digestion), the less time it has to restore its natural health, and the less fat that is burned in support of this natural rebuilding process. Now we understand the key connection between deep restorative sleep and weight loss many times goes hand in hand with our overall health.
Reducing or eliminating the intake of food three hours before bedtime allows the body to use its natural fat reserves for metabolic fuel during the deep restorative sleep cycle.
When you take the time to understand how your body works but also what works for you body then you are in an empowered position to make healthy choices.
Healthy choices lead to weight loss and a healthier version of you! Bonus!
Be Healthy, Happy & Amazing!
Caroline x. 🥑💙
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I just had a birthday.
It wasn’t one of those big celebratory style birthdays but it was still significant.
Why?
Because I’m surprised how old I am!
I’m surprised how fast time has flown and….
I’m too young to be this old!!
Do you still feel like you’re in your 30’s like me?
I’m not sure I’m ever going to feel like I’m the age number I am. And that’s a good thing!
I remember one of my beautiful great aunts telling me exactly that. She was in her late 70’s and said “Darling I still feel like I’m 35 just hanging around in an older woman’s body!”
As woman age we want to defy the aging process. Interestingly this ‘want’ is much more prevalent in women than in men. But lets not go there…
I know many women who have turned to Botox and fillers to correct the passage of time that has been left on their face. And it’s not only those over 40+, many of the gorgeous young girls do it too as a preventative measure.
I don’t believe I will walk that path, but for those that do and it makes them feel fab then… to each her own!
What ever you do remember food can be a powerful way to combat the aging process.
Here are 7 foods full of anti-aging nutrients to include in your everyday.
Let’s start with one of my favourites!
1. Red Wine. Now many will argue that alcohol should not be part of your diet and if weight loss is on your agenda, then I do recommend limiting or removing it until you reach your ideal weight.
2. Beans – as in legumes – contain unique proteins that thicken and strengthen your hair cells, so you can enjoy a full head of hair unlike our male counterparts! Mind you can someone tell that to my eyebrows please!
3. Olive Oil, ideally extra virgin olive oil. The healthy fats in olive oil support healthy arteries and a healthy heart. It contains polyphenols, which are potent anti-oxidants, and they fight a number of age-related diseases.
4. Brazil Nuts. Selenium, is a mineral which aids in the production of the anti-oxidant glutathione to help slow down the skin aging process. And guess where you will find your daily quota of selenium? Just 2 nuts a day will provide you with enough selenium to reap its benefits.
5. Tomatoes. Rich in lycopene, which has been shown to support heart health and healthy cholesterol levels as you age. Did you also know that Lycopene acts as a natural sun block to keep skin youthful and protected from harmful UV rays? Please note I’m not advocating that tomatoes are your only form of sunblock!!
6. Berries! Another one of my favourites! No doubt you’ve heard before that raspberries & blueberries contain important anti-oxidants to help offset inflammation and oxidative stress. It is this inflammation and stress that contribute to skin aging and wrinkles. Go for one serving a day and know that they contain more anti-oxidants than 10 servings of most other fruits and vegetables! If out of season there are great varieties of snap frozen, so you have no excuses.
7. Organic Eggs. I love eggs, and they have received a bad rap over the years due to their cholesterol content, which fortunately now we have regained our senses, you can ignore! They are rich in biotin and iron, which help to promote healthy, youthful skin and hair. Gotta love that!
Be Healthy, Happy & Amazing!
Caroline x
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