Healthy RD Challenge: Day 5

How are you doing with the #HealthyRD Challenge? I hope you are doing well. Don't be discourage if you've hit some roadblocks on your journey to becoming healthier. Obstacles are a normal part of change. Here's a reminder of what I've done for the Healthy RD Challenge: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, and Day 4.

What is the Healthy RD Challenge?
This is my challenge for each of us to take one step a day on the road to being healthier . . . the healthy road or #HealthyRD if you will. If you participate in the #HealthyRD challenge, make sure you use the hashtag #HealthyRD and tag or tweet me, @RDtipoftheday, for a chance to be featured! I am sharing the five healthy choices I'm making each day this week. 

Healthy RD Challenge: Day 5
Today, I got 8 hours of sleep, which is my #HealthyRD Day 5 healthy choice. Sleep is vital. Sleep gives our bodies time to heal and repair itself. We have better mental capabilities when we are well rested. And, I find that I have more patience when I am not tired.

Thanks to the National Institutes of Healthy (NIH) we know that sleep is important to maintain the health of our bodies. When we exercise, we tear and rebuild stronger muscles. When we sleep, our body repairs itself. Sleep deficiency has been linked to "increased risk of heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke" according to the NIH. 

Getting adequate sleep is also important for maintaining a healthy weight. Sleep helps regulate hormones. When you are not getting enough sleep, it throws the hormone balance off. Your levels of ghrelin and leptin, two hormones that help regulate hunger and satiety (fullness), are disturbed. Ghrelin is one of the hormones that stimulates hunger. Ghrelin levels are higher when you are not well rested, and leptin levels are lower. When you are sleep deprived, you actually become more hungry! So, make sure you are getting enough rest as part of your healthy lifestyle.

So, try to get some good rest this weekend. Then, wake up refreshed and smell the roses . . . or the pansies. Have a great weekend!

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter . You can subscribe to this blog, RDtipoftheday.blogspot.com, through BlogLovin.

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Healthy RD Challenge Day 4

Homemade Granola Recipe

 

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