At present, in our daily life, the concept of health preservation is everywhere. Regardless of gender, when the term “health preservation” is mentioned, a phrase jumps into mind: “Soaking wolfberries in a thermos, burning my calories.” Although just a joke, everyone still wants to comfort themselves. As the saying goes: “Men rely on eating, women rely on sleeping.” This means that the ways men and women preserve health are different, with different focuses. However, both ways of health preservation are important to us.
Everyone knows that men have yang energy, while women have yin energy. Therefore, men rely on eating to provide energy to the body, thus promoting the yang energy within. In contrast, women need to rely on sleep to maintain their yin energy and increase the level of estrogen in the body.
Currently, men face significant social pressures. For example: pressures from mortgage and car loans, work, interpersonal relationships, etc. Therefore, their unhealthy lifestyles and dietary habits, such as chronic fatigue, alcohol and tobacco intake without control, irregular rest times, can easily harm their bodies, especially the kidneys.
So, men eat mainly to nourish the essence of the kidneys because the kidneys in the body mainly have the dynamic energy of collecting yang energy. Since the body’s yang energy comes from the kidneys, and the kidneys are the source of our life activities. Therefore, men can eat more foods that nourish yang. For example: wolfberries, chestnuts, etc. Compared to women, although eating may not be as crucial as sleeping, if it is, it simply means you are not eating right. Unlike men, women need to nourish the liver and blood, so they need to consume more blood-nourishing foods daily. For example, dates, eels, lotus seeds, young roosters, etc.
Due to the difference in the division of labor between men and women in society, compared to men, women do not face as much pressure. Traditionally, women are expected to focus on nourishing yin and replenishing blood, and sleeping is an excellent way to replenish. For women, sleeping before 11 p.m. is the most suitable time. At this moment, the yin energy in a woman’s body is abundant, and the yang energy is relatively weak, making it easier to fall asleep.
If this time is missed, the yin energy in the body will gradually decline, and the growth of yang energy will lead to decreased sleep quality. Prolonged insufficient sleep can cause imbalances in yin and yang in the body, resulting in a pale complexion and eventually, illnesses. In addition, women who are constantly anxious may experience a decrease in sleep quality, leading to a dull complexion and decreased energy due to reasons such as menstruation, pregnancy, and breastfeeding. Furthermore, women can slightly extend their sleep duration during menstruation when there is excessive blood loss.
Experts also suggest that both men and women should aim for around 8 hours of rest. Night rest time should not be less than 5-6 hours, with an additional half hour to an hour nap during the day. However, it is essential to ensure the optimal rest time. The best rest time for individuals is from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next day. Some people may sleep from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m., even though the duration is sufficient, failing to optimize bedtime can result in poor sleep quality.
So, what is the healthy way to sleep for health preservation?
Firstly, regardless of gender, if you have trouble sleeping, try exercising before bedtime to tire yourself out, making it easier to fall asleep. Secondly, drinking a cup of yogurt or foot massage before bed can help you sleep. Lastly, try to nap for half an hour every day. Not only does this refresh the mind but it also boosts energy levels, allowing you to focus better on work.
In conclusion, both ways of health preservation are essential to us. They just have different focuses, but they are beneficial to our bodies.
