I have just finished reading THE DAYLIGHT DIET. I actually woke up at 5am just to finish it. I usually go to sleep around 3 or 4am, so this is amazing. I went raw 8 years ago and it has been the most important thing I have ever done for my health. Until now! This book is going to change my life! There, I said it. I really mean it too. I recall an Oprah show about 15 years ago where she asked people ‘What is the ONE thing you know if you did it would change your life?’ I knew right away what that one thing was, but I felt it was absolutely impossible! In fact, that one thing was actually 2 things because that one habit morphed into another new one.
It starts with sleep way back…I have always had a sleep problem. Ever since I was a kid. When I was about 4 or 5, I used to make myself stay awake while listening to my mom and my step-dad argue because he was so abusive that I thought I could protect her as long as I stayed awake. (amazing how much kids feel responsible for!) I actually used to climb out of bed so I could see the light from underneath the closed door and listen, to be on guard, and I would fall asleep lying on the floor right next to my bedroom door. And I remember my mom used to come in to check on us and she would always be so surprised to find me there, and would carry me back to bed.
At age 11, I got an early morning paper route for a few years to earn my own money and had to get up at 4:30-5 am during the week to finish my route, get home for breakfast and get ready for school. I loved being up in the dark when most people were sleeping. I felt so grown-up. When my by-now single mom suddenly died when I was 16, and now living on my own, I used to stay up all night either painting, reading or working on school essays. Most teenagers stay up to party…I didn’t need alcohol or drugs- the night time was when I felt so creative and free, and I think it was also my time to rebel and just do whatever I wanted. I had no one telling me what to do, I made all my own decisions, was completely independent, and I liked it.
Although I never smoked, drank coffee or booze, or touched drugs, I was always pretty frail and got sick a lot with colds, flu and cold-sores- up to 8 on my mouth at a time. When I went raw at age 36, my immune system had crashed and I was aging fast. Fast-forward to now just shy of 45, I am healthier than I have been in my whole life and people say I look like I am in my 20’s. Raw food healed and transformed me. I am joyful and grateful for this knowledge every single day.
However, I never did change my sleeping habits. I would go to bed every night between 3 and 4am, or later, or not at all. Due to school and work, and then later having my babes, I always got by 7 or 8 so I could never catch up on lost sleep. Especially since going raw, I felt like super-woman to have so much energy and be so productive. But that habit eventually morphed into another which was late night eating. I knew instinctively when Oprah asked that question, that if I could have a more natural sleep cycle such as rising at sunrise and sleeping well before midnight, it would change my life. I didn’t know how my life would change, but now I do. My health would go to the next level! And who knows what that will do..!
Paul Nison with his new book The Daylight Diet says that when we eat is just as important as what we eat. So going raw just isn’t enough for true health and longevity! Paul makes it very clear in this fascinating and easy to understand book how our eating and sleeping are tied in together, and that we just don’t sleep properly when we eat late. And the body does all its healing and cleansing while we sleep, so this is critical for health. Without proper rest and sleep, the body just cannot digest and assimilate nutrition, and our bodies become more and more taxed and depleted.
Paul also points out that eating too much food- be it over-eating at each meal and/or eating too many times in a day, is doing us no favours whether we are raw or not. I am not a snacker and really tend to eat mostly after my kids are in bed having only green juices and smoothies during the day, then one big meal at around 9pm and a midnight snack around 1 or 2am…I didn’t realise how damaging this actually is. Instead, Paul recommends eating the bulk of our nutrients early in the day when our digestion is most vital, instead of at night when our stomach is literally asleep. Makes sense…but not easy!
There are ideal times to eat and Paul tells us exactly when they are. And there are ideal amounts. As well, there are ideal combinations, and lastly, there are ideal foods. Paul helps us to know precisely what we need to know to get the most out of our beautiful raw diet. So many of us raw foodies believe we can eat whatever we want whenever we want as long as its raw…this is a mistake. I also find people who eat raw often don’t sleep enough because we feel so good and think we are invincible. After reading The Daylight Diet, I now see sleep as a nutrient, as important as food or air or water. I plan on catching up!
I now know that I CAN change that one habit, Oprah! Through the knowledge and inspiration from reading The Daylight Diet, I not only know exactly what to do, I also know how. I am soooooo excited because I feel empowered and ready to challenge myself and break some life-long habits of mine so I can experience richer health than ever. I hope you will all join with me and read this book and tweak and improve your health habits. Many of us have psychological and/or physiological issues around our eating and sleeping habits just as I do, and it takes patience and understanding and discipline to change. That is the beauty of going raw; we can heal ourselves body/mind/spirit. It’s Ok to go at YOUR own pace and be gentle and loving with yourself. There are 3 stages in the DAYLIGHT DIET and next time I will share what stage I am in and exactly what changes I have made so far. And I’d love to hear about your progress too.
We moms have a tough path to walk as we help our daughters navigate the sometimes choppy waters of growing up girl. It’s our job to protect our children and do our best to keep them safe and healthy, yet we also have to allow them to grow, stretch and learn from their own mistakes. It’s a fine line between letting them be who they are and wanting to “tweak” them just a little bit so they don’t suffer from the same mistakes or struggles that we did.
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Fill up in the day with fresh fruit, veggies and dips, raw soups and flax crackers, raw trail mixes, raw puddings and cereals, salads and garden burgers and zucchini pasta and cabbage burritos and manna bread avocado, tomato, lettuce, cucumber sandwiches or peanut butter/almond/cashew butter with banana.
Yesterday I picked up my daughter, Kim, and granddaughter Hannah, and brought them over to our house for a visit. Just like any other grandma (or mom), my first thought was that they must need to eat; so on the way to our house we stopped at the grocery store to pick up a few things. We went to the produce department first and Hannah picked out a pint of bright red strawberries for her snack. As we browsed the rest of the store she held on to her treat. Later when it was our turn at the cash register Hannah would not release the package and protected it as if her life depended upon it. The cashier had to walk around to the cart where Hannah was sitting so she could scan the price label.
My husband Emrys may even love them more than me. My daughter Ella, will have a whole blender full, if you turn your back, your breakfast is gone!
So Benji and Ella tucked into their green smoothie soups with finely chopped fruit salad on top.
I always do everything. I plan the meals, buy the food, prepare the dishes. I also do all the cleaning, all the bills, and generally just keep the family running. I do it all. My family could not survive without me.
Whether you notice a runny nose, little cough, or just red eyes, these are all signs that your angel might be coming down with something. I have never taken my children’s temperature other than with the palm of my hand on their face, yet as soon as I feel a fever coming on, or any sign that they might be run-down, I stop everything for a moment and think about the last few days, what has been happening in their reality. Have they been staying up late, getting behind in sleep? Has there been celebrations and other functions where they have been eating differently than usual? Has there been any emotional stresses for them lately? Maybe ther is something going onthat they are anxious about…Just reflecting about their SLEEP, DIET and EMOTIONS gives me just about everything I need to know to understand what has been the catalyst for their physical symptoms.
I do not give any fever medication as I know the fever is ‘burning off’ any little critters and is actually a sign their immune system is functional. To thwart this natural response by giving ‘fever medication’ only serves to reduce the SYMPTOMS and their discomfort, but doesn’t strengthen the body. I like the discomfort! Otherwise, they are still running around when what they obviously need is rest. There are natural ways to keep a fever in check, and still allow the body to let Nature take its course; a cool cloth to the forehead, a cool bath in the tub or sponge bath, wearing wet woollen socks that have some lemon juice or lemon essential oil in the water wrapped in a towel while lying in bed, all these methods work to help the fever stay in safe range while it is doing its work.
Step 1:
If you read my last article I mentioned a game of “Try It”.
