A few weeks ago, Teresa and I met up with some old friends—a couple we’ve known for over 35 years. The kind of friends where you pick up right where you left off, where the conversations are both effortless and profound. But this time, something was different. They had news.
She has Glioblastoma. A brain cancer so aggressive it doesn’t give you time to make sense of it. One day she was out riding her bike, walking, working. The next morning, she could hardly make it to the kitchen. In the space of a heartbeat, their life had shifted from routine to survival.
We talked about the doctors, the treatments, the impossible decisions. And then, in the middle of our conversation, her husband—someone who has never been particularly religious—said something that caught me off guard. “You know, more than ever, I realize our body is a temple. What we put in it matters.”
It was a simple statement, one I’ve heard many times before, usually in a religious context or wellness blog. But this time, it hit differently. What if this isn’t just a metaphor? What if it’s a biological, scientific, undeniable truth?
The Science of Treating Your Body as Sacred
For centuries, ancient cultures have emphasized the body as a sacred vessel. But in our modern world, we tend to treat it more like a rental car—something to use, refuel when necessary, and ignore until something breaks.
Dr. Casey Means, in Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health, argues that this casual neglect of our bodies is one of the biggest mistakes we can make. Our metabolic health—the way our cells generate energy—dictates everything: how we feel, how we think, and even how we love. And yet, we sabotage it daily with ultra-processed foods, chronic stress, and a lifestyle designed more for convenience than longevity.
Here's how it works. When we fuel our bodies well—real food, quality sleep, movement, and mindfulness—we create what Dr. Means calls “high-energy states.” This isn't just about having more stamina. High-energy states mean lower inflammation, better cognitive function, and emotional resilience. These are the states where we feel sharp, present, and fully alive.
But when we fill our bodies with things that deplete us—fast food, artificial light at midnight, sedentary habits—we slip into “low-energy states.” And these states don't just make us tired. They set the stage for disease. The body becomes sluggish. The mind foggy. The spirit heavy.
This is why the temple metaphor is so powerful. Because a temple isn't just a structure—it's a space of reverence. It's cared for, maintained, and honored. And yet, many of us treat our bodies more like a storage unit—something we stuff full of junk and hope won't collapse.
So the question is: What would it look like to treat your body like a sacred space?
Five Ways to Honor Your Body
Eat with intention. Food is not just fuel; it's information. Every bite tells your body what kind of energy to create. Dr. Means suggests prioritizing whole, unprocessed foods—vegetables, lean meat or plant-based proteins, healthy fats—and reducing refined sugars that disrupt metabolism.
Sleep like it matters. Sleep isn't wasted time. It's when your body repairs, detoxifies, and resets. Create a bedtime ritual—go to bed at the same time every night, dim the lights, avoid screens, maybe even read a book, and sleep 7.5 to 8 hours nightly. Protect this time like your life depends on it. Because, in many ways, it does.
Move like you mean it. You don't have to run marathons, but you do need to move. Walk after meals, stretch in the morning, take the stairs. Movement signals to your body that it's alive, that it's capable, and that it should keep going.
Hydrate like you respect yourself. Your cells are mostly water. Your brain is mostly water. Your ability to think clearly, fight infection, and generate energy—all tied to hydration. Keep water with you. Drink it often.
Listen to your body's whispers. The body is always speaking. Fatigue, headaches, brain fog—these aren't just annoyances. They're signals. Before your body has to shout with illness, listen to its whispers. Rest when you need to. Nourish when you're depleted. Move when you feel stagnant.
Your Body, Your Sacred Space
It's easy to take our bodies for granted—until something forces us to pay attention. A diagnosis. A wake-up call. A moment where we realize this flesh-and-bone structure we live in is not permanent.
But what if we didn't wait for the crisis? What if we chose today to treat our bodies as something sacred?
Your body is not a problem to fix. It's not a project to perfect. It's a sacred space—your home for every experience, every relationship, every moment of joy and challenge. And every choice you make—what you eat, how you rest, how you move—shapes the way you live in that space.
So the question is: What will you choose to give it today?
Until next week,
Jonathan Penner | Founder & Exec Dir. of LifeApp
Resources To Dig Deeper
Book
Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health
Good Energy offers a new, cutting-edge understanding of the true cause of illness that until now has remained hidden. It will help you optimize your ability to live well and stay well at every age.
-Dr Casey Means
Video
Simple Steps to Improve Your Metabolism
In this shortened video clip. Drs. Andrew and Casey discuss how regular low-intensity movement like walking can enhance your metabolic health and significantly improve your health for the better.
-Dr. Casey Means & Dr. Andrew Huberman (12:23)
Podcast
Transform Your Health by Improving Metabolism, Hormone & Blood Sugar Regulation
Drs. Andrew and Casey discuss how to leverage nutrition, exercise, and environmental factors to enhance metabolic health by improving mitochondrial function, hormone, and blood sugar regulation. You will learn low- and zero-cost tools to improve your metabolic health, physical and mental well-being, body composition and target the root cause of various common diseases.
-Huberman Lab (2:56:26)
Music
Meant to Live
This is a song about finding fulfillment through God. The lyrics talk about the imperfection of the world we live in and why people were meant to live for so much more.
-Switchfoot (3:33)
Learn More About
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