What daily habits might be detrimental to our overall well-being, and how can we cultivate healthier habits to promote good health?
Some common reasons for the deterioration of health in modern times are:
Several habits in our daily routines contribute to an unhealthy lifestyle:
Effects of Sedentary Lifestyle:
- Sedentary lifestyles involve prolonged sitting and minimal exercise.
- Lack of physical activity contributes to obesity, cardiovascular issues, and muscle weakness.
Impact of Indoor Living:
Today we work indoors, exercise indoors, travel in AC and closed vehicles and spend the whole of the daytime indoors not getting any sunlight
- Spending extended periods indoors without sunlight disrupts the body’s circadian rhythm.
- The circadian rhythm regulates hormones and essential bodily functions.
Dietary Factors:
- Carbohydrate-heavy diets without sufficient protein and fats can lead to health issues.
- Lack of exposure to sunlight negatively impacts the breaking of carbohydrates.
- Imbalanced nutrition affects overall well-being.
- Consuming heavy meals after sunset can disrupt metabolic processes.
Exposure to Radiation:
- Proximity to various radiation sources like wifi, artificial lights, and charging devices can have adverse effects on our health.
- Bright artificial lights post-sunset can lead to increased blood sugar levels and leptin resistance. Leptin resistance is responsible for the inability to reduce weight even after working out.
Effects of Carrying Devices:
- Keeping phones in pants pockets affects the reproductive system due to radiation.
- Carrying phones in a shirt pocket or carrying Bluetooth devices close to the neck may impact specific areas like the heart or thyroid glands.
Emotional Eating:
- Binge eating out of stress or eating to feel good is a large contributor to lifestyle disorders and obesity.
- Munching on fried and salty food, dependency on vices like smoking and drinking alcohol, or consuming too much sugar (pastries, chocolates, sweets,) and caffeine to feel good to cope with stress and burnout activates the brain’s reward centre and releases dopamine and serotonin which makes us feel good.
- However it also shoots up the blood glucose levels and when we do not engage in any physical activity that takes the blood sugar to our muscles, we fall prey to chronic illnesses.
- Playing victim and blaming others for our problems also gives the same result as emotional eating.
Overall Impact on Circadian Rhythm:
- These factors collectively disrupt the body’s circadian rhythm which affects our body’s metabolism, rest, and repair processes.
Why is circadian rhythm important?
The hormones ‘Cortisol’ and ‘Melatonin’ are the main hormones responsible for regulating our endocrine system. Proper functioning of the endocrine system is essential for all our hormones to function optimally. Getting the natural light source – the Sun– is important since it releases cortisol, which is responsible for managing blood glucose and energy production that helps us stay active. It is important that Cortisol is released in our body from sunrise to sunset and then Melatonin is released post sunset and while sleeping. Melatonin is produced only in darkness. Melatonin is a key antioxidant and is vital for our metabolic health and hormonal balance.
We have light receptors on our entire body other than just in our eyes. Using Artificial blue lights at night increases the blood glucose levels even in the absence of food. Blocking Blue light at night (artificial bulbs, TV, mobile screens etc) helps to release melatonin which aids in our body’s rest and repair. It is best to have candlelights or light oil lamps post-sunset. Snacking at night or having dinners close to sleep time keeps insulin levels high. High insulin at night causes a condition called ‘Leptin Resistance’. In this condition, the stored energy in the body cannot communicate with the brain. Leptin resistance is a major cause of being unable to lose weight even after exercising.
How to maintain a healthy lifestyle?
To keep one’s health in good condition and to overcome any prevalent disorders Guru Pashupati recommends following ‘the yogic dinacharya’.
Guru Pashupati advises the following simple steps that one should weave into their routine:-
- Waking before sunrise. Watching the sunrise without spectacles and taking the first rays of the sun on one’s body.
- Starting the day with prayer, chanting and meditation. And not by checking messages on the phone.
- Eating some protein and fat within half an hour of waking up helps our metabolic activity to start for the day.
- For every hour indoors, stepping out and taking in sunlight for 10 minutes reduces the impact of artificial electric radiation on our bodies.
- The sunlight till noon gives UV A and the sunlight post noon gives us UV B. Getting both of these is important to have good health. While taking in sunlight, it is good to have minimal clothes and fabrics that allow sunlight to penetrate through them.
- Those who consume more carbohydrates, need more sunlight to process it.
- ‘Earthing’ should be practised every day. Earthing barefoot on natural earth like soil or sand (not concrete floor, marble or ceramic tiles) helps to increase electrons in our body and helps us fight any infections.
- Minimizing the use of electronic devices like phones, TV, Bluetooth, post sunset.
- Not using artificial white light bulbs post-evening. Using orange glasses and covering up the full body to protect from artificial lights.
- Consuming dinner closest to sunset and not eating anything after that meal till the next sunrise.
- Keeping wifi off at night. Not keeping phone with active sim close to the body while sleeping.
True health encompasses physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Only if someone is healthy on all these levels can they be truly considered ‘healthy’. Being healthy not only helps us to develop a good immune system and stay in shape but also impacts our mental state. A healthy mind lives in a healthy body and hence prioritizing physical fitness also helps in overcoming issues like sleep disorders, anxiety, indecisiveness etc.
If you’re tired of feeling stuck and unhappy with your progress, it’s time to take control of your life and strive for excellence. Mediocrity doesn’t have to be your destiny. By embracing the teachings of Guru Pashupati, you can unlock your true potential and achieve greatness. Start your journey to becoming elite by watching this free video, where Guru Pashupati shares invaluable insights and practical advice. Implement these powerful lessons in your daily life and witness a transformative change in your personal and professional growth.
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