10 Ways Rest Benefits Your Health

We were designed for rest. This aspect of our wellbeing was so important that God created a space in time for us to do just that, enjoy a Sabbath rest. Just as God rested from His creation, His intention was that we would take a weekly sabbatical from our work. As Hebrews 4:10 says, “for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their work, just as God did from His.”

Today we understand rest to be a vital part of maintaining physical and mental health. In fact, rest is the second component of AdventHealth’s CREATION Life model, a comprehensive wellness program that helps individuals achieve optimal well-being through a faith-based, wholistic approach. 

Science shows us that God’s ways are best. Rest can reduce stress, lower blood pressure and provide even more health benefits to the body, mind and spirit that we are just beginning to discover through science.

Here are 10 ways rest can benefit your health.

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Improve Concentration

If stress begins to overpower your ability to focus, it may be difficult to accomplish even simple tasks.

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Improve Digestion

According to digestive experts, relaxation seems to help those with gastrointestinal (GI) disorders to lesson pain and manage GI irritability.

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Increase Blood Flow

Relaxation can help your arteries widen slightly, increasing blood flow, which increases the amount of oxygen reaching your body tissues.

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Lessen Anger and Frustration

Do your muscles tense up when you become angry or frustrated? Muscle tension is a sign of stress; so when you feel your muscles tighten, it's time to relax. 

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Lower Blood Pressure

As your body relaxes, your breathing becomes slower and your body slows down other functions. As your heart rate decreases, your overall blood pressure lowers.

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Lower Risk of Stroke

According to a recent study, people who coped best with stressful events had a 24 percent lower risk of stroke. 

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Promote Emotional Well-Being

Studies have linked chronic stress to brain health. When the stress hormone cortisol is elevated, serotonin and dopamine levels decrease, an effect that has been linked to depression.

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Reduce Fatigue

Relaxation, when combined with consistent sleep schedules, can contribute to a better night's rest.

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Reduce Inflammation

Stress can impact your body's ability to fight off common illnesses, such as colds. Inflammation can build more quickly when you're stressed, which could, in turn, alter your body's immune response. With a weaker immune system and a higher level of inflammation, you're more likely to feel under the weather.

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Slow Down Your Heart Rate

Stress can increase your risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks and other heart issues. When your body relaxes, you're protecting your heart by slowing your heart rate.

Visit CREATIONLife.com to learn more about rest, and other CREATION principles that can help you live a whole life.

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