Rest is important, rest is important, rest is important … This phrase, in my opinion, does not help at all. Why is quality rest so important? Nutritionist tells in the language of hormones.
Remember: leisure is not a change of activity. Rest – a time of reduced physical and / or mental activity, compared to the usual level of activity, aimed at restoring the body and activating the parasympathetic nervous system (hormonal cascade of relaxation). What will give us rest? That is, why activate the parasympathetic system?
To reduce cortisol, adrenaline and norepinephrine from high to baseline levels, resulting in:
Mental processes will become more agile
Memory will improve
Sleep will begin to recover, not weaken by drowsiness, when you can neither sleep normally nor wake up
Skeletal muscles will relax, which means that a pleasant lightness will appear in the body
Digestive activity of enzymes is optimized
Gastric motility is activated, which means it will be easier to get out of constipation
The intensity of Na + ion storage will decrease, after which edema will decrease and “weight gain” will cease to frighten, which in fact is 80% water and gastrointestinal contents.
Thyroid activity is close to optimal (relevant if there is a condition of subclinical hypothyroidism or predisposition to it)
The effect of cortisol will be reduced, which has a positive effect on glucose metabolism and its penetration into cells and works as a prevention of insulin resistance
The wild craving for fatty and sweet and / or the need to constantly chew will pass (it is the combination of fatty and sweet foods and chewing reduce cortisol, and when its level is normal, there is no biological need for fast food)
How to rest to relax?
The key aspect is to slow down and not be distracted. The rule of interval work (work-rest) – good on weekdays to increase productivity. There is no need for this on weekends. First, you can “drown” in the phone, then take a walk, and then go for a massage or pool. Deeper, deeper and deeper into relaxation.
Another task is to allow yourself to rest. It is necessary to have a rest at least because only having relaxed, it is possible to work productively and to help others.
