refresh, restore, renew - part two

how many hours did you sleep last night?

sleep needs are as individual as we are and vary across our lifetimes. by now, im sure most people are aware that the recommendation to get 8 hours of sleep out of every 24 is a rule of thumb that may or may not apply. however, its also true that many of us are seriously sleep-deprived, meaning that most of us are running dangerously close to an energetic empty almost all of the time.

for the Angels, sleep counts as a necessary nutrient to the body. during sleep, the body repairs and renews itself. children grow when they sleep, and not getting enough sleep can literally stunt their growth.

during the latter part of fall through the early part of spring, the longer nights invite us to indulge in our need to sleep. many people report feeling more sluggish and tired during these seasons, and turn to artifical energy-enhancers in order to feel "normal." for the Angels, our need to sleep is a biological imperative critical for good health.

this week, as you keep track of your protein or "white-light food" intake, the Angels suggest you also pay attention to the amount and quality of your sleep. in your journal, note how many hours of sleep you got each night, or within each 24 hour period. note if you took any naps. if anything woke you up or kept you awake, jot those down too.

depending upon the issue, there are many resources available to deal with any problems you identify. there may be more than one issue, and there may be underlying issues you may not be aware of. for example, the quality of my sleep can be affected by something as easily rectifed as my pillow but i have to be aware that that's the issue before i can fix it.

our next blog will be about the importance of Green Energy in our early spring diets, and hopefully tips from some Special Guest Bloggers!

for more about Eating...the Angel Way, karen and i invite you to check our new regular feature column in New England's Inner Tapestry Journal.

refresh, restore, renew - part one

the light is coming back. here in the northern hemisphere, the days are perceptibly longer. this morning, in fact, i noticed that despite the slight coating of snow, and the frost in the air, i didn't need to turn the porchlights on to walk the puppies.

i love this time of year. february is a short month, and spring seems not too far away. the worst of winter's cold lies behind me, and the warm days aren't too far ahead. this year i was fortunate enough to spend two weeks in hawaii, and when i got off the plane, i could literally feel the cells of my body expand in the light, turning like a plant toward the sun. needless to say, it's easy to follow the Angel Guidelines in hawaii!

but what if you havent been lucky enough to spend the worst part of winter soaking up the sun?

the food that corresponds to white light and its effect on the body is protein. begin by examining if you're getting sufficient protein for your specific needs. an easy way to check to see if you're getting enough protein is to look at your fingernails. when im not getting enough protein, my nails tend to be much more prone to chips and breaks. your skin can also reflect a lack of protein. protein forms the building blocks of every structure of the body, so it is critical to ensure you're getting enough.

this is why it's important to "eat a white-light food at every meal."

protein doesn't have to mean a meat or dairy product, of course. vegetarian combinations such as rice and beans or pasta and peas, form the complete proteins which are the basis of your physical body. nuts and seeds are other sources of complete proteins.

if you are already following the Guidelines, i encourage you to take this week to take a close look at the amount and sources of protein you're feeding yourself. if you're keeping a food journal, take some time to review how you've been eating in the last month. are there any patterns you'd like to change or tweak in the weeks ahead?

if you're not following the Guidelines yet, i encourage you to begin by noticing how much protein and what kind you eat. if you feel so inspired, keep track in a small notebook or other type of journal. what you may see at the end of a week may not just surprise, but offer a definite place to make a small change that can have a lot of impact on how you feel.

in the next few days, i will offer more ideas for ways to step into spring feeling refreshed, restored and renewed.