When we are sick, the Bible instructs us to pray for healing. This is the first thing my husband and I did after hearing those devastating words, “You have cancer.” God can supernaturally heal us in the blink of an eye. He can choose to heal our bodies over time through the self-healing mechanisms He designed. He can heal through our doctors and modern medicine. But it took an aggressive journey with cancer for me to experience my body’s innate ability to heal. Although God created our bodies to perform miracles of healing throughout our 24-hour day, our lifestyle habits can either stifle or enhance our ability to heal and regenerate.
As a cancer patient, it’s a daunting experience to examine one’s own lifestyle and determine what went wrong. What prevented my body from working as God designed? The Bible instructs us to care for our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit. When we exercise discipline and common-sense care for our bodies, it’s amazing how they can thrive.
After three years of research, I have found numerous ways that our bodies heal themselves. We’ll look at three this week, and three more next week. But there are thousands of ways our body heals itself daily.
Hydration.
Water transports nutrients to every part of our body nourishing our cells and facilitating every chemical reaction of healing. This is why proper hydration is key to preventing many diseases. Every cell and every system in our body requires sufficient water to work properly and perform chemical reactions and functions that promote healing. For example, the mucus (99 % water) in our lungs that provides an important barrier against infections is empowered by water. Drinking half your body weight in fluid ounces daily is your minimum goal. Most Americans are living with compromised immune systems due to dehydration.
Water enhances the function of every cell and every system in the body.
Deep Sleep.
Our bodies heal, repair, and detox when we engage in regular, deep sleep. Your cure can be as close as your pillow—and it’s free! While you are reading this article, your body is performing miracles. But when we sleep soundly, those miracles increase in intensity. Melatonin, a cancer and disease-fighting hormone, is released during deep sleep. The average American gets six to seven hours of sleep, yet eight to nine hours is recommended. Too many Americans are sleep-deprived.
When we sleep, our body repairs and detoxes.
Food as Medicine.
God created fruits, vegetables, and the plant world as necessary nutrients to enhance healing in our bodies. It’s amazing how He designed each fruit, vegetable and herb with a chemical profile to enhance and heal our DNA. These foods contain antioxidants and phytochemicals which neutralize the free radicals and toxins we get exposed to daily. Unfortunately, the average American eats two to three servings from this category daily, when the USDA recommends eight to ten servings. Many Americans think that French fries are a healthy vegetable. Think again!
Fruits and vegetables contain plant chemicals that enhance our immune system.
I’ve just given you three important ways our body heals itself, but not when we neglect these important areas. We must properly hydrate, engage in deep sleep nightly, and choose foods that enhance our DNA and immune system rather than suppressing it. Our lifestyle matters.
What are some foods that you enjoy that are high in nutrients and low in calories?
For Your Health,
Ginny
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