Bodies

Updated July 11, 2022

Eating and Sleep

You are what you eat, right? Food is both fuel and medicine for our bodies. It provides us with the energy and nutrients we need to achieve our full potential in all life stages and situations. Food is also a way to connect with our families and communities, honor our cultures, and respect our environment. Adequate sleep each night gives our bodies a chance to process healthy food and the day's challenges, and to rejuvenate.

Healthy food can be accessible for all. SNAP benefits, farmers markets, community and home gardens, and the "store outside our door" (an abundance of wild food high in omega 3's, antioxidants, vitamins, and other healthy nutrients) can help. Common sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, insomnia and restless leg syndrome are often treatable.

Habits around food and sleep start early. That's why it's so important to make informed nutrition decisions for our children from pregnancy on, and to make regular, stress-free bedtime a daily habit. Honoring the relationship between healthy food, sleep, and our bodies can also reduce risks for chronic diseases, plus make us less susceptible to falls, substance misuse, and mistreatment.

These resources may help:

• U.S. Department of Agriculture: MyPlate
• National Institutes of Health: Vitamin D Fact Sheet
• CDC: How Much Sleep Do I Need
• Anchorage Daily News: How to Get a Good Night's Sleep under Alaska's Midnight Sun

Follow us on social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as we explore, shall we say, the ingredients for better food and sleep. We share many more resources.