​吃对食物，保护血管：预防高血脂、血管堵塞和糖尿病的饮食建议

​吃对食物，保护血管：预防高血脂、血管堵塞和糖尿病的饮食建议

随着年龄增长，很多人开始关注几个非常常见的健康问题：高血脂、动脉粥样硬化、血管堵塞、血糖升高以及糖尿病。

这些问题虽然看起来不同，但在饮食方面却有很多共同点。简单来说，就是要少吃过多的饱和脂肪、精制碳水化合物、添加糖和高度加工食品，多吃蔬菜、水果、全谷物、鱼类、豆类和其他富含纤维的食物，同时控制食量和体重。

美国心脏协会2026年的最新饮食指导也强调，多吃蔬菜水果、以全谷物代替精制谷物、选择健康蛋白质和不饱和脂肪，并减少添加糖、饱和脂肪、钠和高度加工食品。这样的饮食模式不仅有利于心血管健康，也与2型糖尿病的饮食管理方向一致。(professional.heart.org⁠)

一、多吃鱼，特别是富含Omega-3的鱼

如果医生建议“多吃鱼”，这是一个很值得坚持的习惯。

三文鱼、鳟鱼、鲭鱼、沙丁鱼等鱼类含有比较丰富的Omega-3脂肪酸。美国心脏协会建议，每周可以吃至少两次鱼，尤其可以用鱼类代替部分脂肪较高的肉类。(www.heart.org⁠)

鱼的另一个优势是，它可以提供优质蛋白质，同时很多鱼类的饱和脂肪含量低于肥牛、肥猪肉等高脂肪肉类。

因此，与其经常吃一大块肥牛、五花肉，不如把一部分肉类换成：

* 三文鱼

* 鳟鱼

* 鲭鱼

* 沙丁鱼

* 金枪鱼

* 其他新鲜鱼类

当然，烹调方法也很重要。清蒸、烤、煮、炖通常比油炸更健康。

二、鸡肉可以吃，但最好去皮

鸡肉也是很好的蛋白质来源。

如果选择鸡肉，可以尽量选择去皮鸡胸肉或其他较瘦的部位。鸡皮以及带有大量脂肪的部分，饱和脂肪会比较高。

所以，“多吃鸡肉”并不是让我们大量吃炸鸡，而是用比较健康的方式烹调，例如：

清炖、蒸、烤、煮、少油炒。

美国国立卫生研究院（NIH）建议心脏健康饮食中，可以选择去皮禽肉、鱼类、豆类、坚果和其他健康蛋白质来源。(NHLBI, NIH⁠)

三、牛肉、猪肉和其他红肉要适量

并不是说以后完全不能吃牛肉和猪肉，而是应该减少频率和份量，并尽量选择瘦肉。

牛肉、猪肉、羊肉以及加工肉类中的一些脂肪含有较多饱和脂肪。摄入过多饱和脂肪会升高LDL，也就是通常所说的“坏胆固醇”。LDL水平过高与动脉粥样硬化以及心血管疾病风险增加有关。(www.heart.org⁠)

因此，可以把过去的饮食习惯做一个简单调整：

过去：

牛肉、猪肉经常作为主要蛋白质。

现在：

鱼类、去皮鸡肉、豆腐、豆类、坚果等作为更多的蛋白质来源，红肉减少一些。

如果吃牛肉或猪肉，可以选择比较瘦的部位，去掉明显的肥肉，同时控制份量。

四、米饭不是不能吃，而是要控制量

很多中国人的饮食习惯是“一大碗米饭配菜”。

对于需要控制血糖或者体重的人来说，真正需要注意的并不是“米饭有毒”，而是精制碳水化合物吃得太多，会让一餐的碳水负担增加。

美国心脏协会建议，在可能的情况下，用全谷物食品代替精制谷物；糖尿病饮食建议同样强调控制份量，并选择全谷物。(www.heart.org⁠)

因此，与其完全不吃米饭，更现实的方法是：

少吃一点饭，多吃一些蔬菜和蛋白质。

例如一顿饭可以简单地按照“餐盘法”来安排：

* 一半：蔬菜

* 四分之一：蛋白质

* 四分之一：米饭、全谷物或其他健康碳水

美国心脏协会也推荐类似的餐盘比例。(www.heart.org⁠)

如果习惯吃白米饭，也可以逐渐减少白米饭的比例，适当加入糙米、燕麦、全谷物等。

五、豆腐是非常值得保留的食物

豆腐是中国人非常传统的一种食物，同时也是很方便的植物蛋白来源。

它可以作为部分肉类的替代品，例如：

* 豆腐炒蔬菜

* 豆腐炖鱼

* 豆腐汤

* 凉拌豆腐

* 豆腐配蘑菇和青菜

美国心脏协会也把豆腐、豆类、豌豆和扁豆列为可以替代部分高饱和脂肪肉类的健康蛋白质来源。(www.heart.org⁠)

因此，中国人的传统饮食其实有一个很大的优势——豆腐、豆浆、黄豆、黑豆等豆制品本来就是我们熟悉的食物。

不过，如果是糖尿病患者，也要注意不同豆制品的具体营养成分和份量，尤其是含糖豆浆、甜味豆制品等。

六、炒菜可以使用橄榄油

在烹饪油方面，可以考虑把黄油、猪油等饱和脂肪较高的脂肪来源减少一些，改用液态植物油。

橄榄油是一个很好的选择。

美国心脏协会建议使用橄榄油等非热带液态植物油，代替黄油、猪油等含较多饱和脂肪的固体脂肪。(www.heart.org⁠)

这里有一个容易产生误解的地方：

不是说牛油果油不好。

牛油果本身含有健康的不饱和脂肪，牛油果油也属于植物油。从心血管健康角度看，重点是用不饱和脂肪代替饱和脂肪，而不是简单地把某一种健康植物油说成“唯一最好”。(American Diabetes Association⁠)

所以，如果家里已经习惯使用橄榄油，可以放心把橄榄油作为日常主要烹饪油之一。

不过，即使是健康的油，也不能因为“健康”就大量使用。油的热量仍然很高，关键还是适量。

七、多吃蔬菜，特别是非淀粉类蔬菜

如果希望同时照顾血脂、血糖和心血管健康，蔬菜应该成为每天饮食的重要组成部分。

例如：

* 西兰花

* 菠菜

* 芥蓝

* 白菜

* 菜花

* 芹菜

* 青椒

* 西红柿

* 黄瓜

* 蘑菇

* 茄子

* 生菜

这些蔬菜通常可以提供丰富的膳食纤维和多种营养素，同时相对于米饭、面条等主食，碳水化合物负担较低。

可以尝试一个非常简单的原则：

每顿饭先保证蔬菜，再安排蛋白质，最后控制主食。

八、燕麦、豆类和全谷物对降低胆固醇很有帮助

如果担心高血脂，膳食纤维尤其值得注意。

NIH的胆固醇管理建议强调增加可溶性膳食纤维，例如来自燕麦、豆类、水果等食物的纤维。可溶性纤维可以减少肠道对胆固醇和脂肪的吸收，有助于降低LDL胆固醇。(NHLBI, NIH⁠)

所以早餐可以考虑：

燕麦 + 坚果 + 少量水果

而不是：

甜面包 + 果酱 + 含糖饮料。

豆类也是很好的选择，例如：

* 黑豆

* 红豆

* 黄豆

* 扁豆

* 鹰嘴豆

但对于糖尿病患者来说，需要记住：豆类虽然健康，但其中也含有碳水化合物，因此仍然要注意份量。(American Diabetes Association⁠)

九、坚果可以吃，但不要吃太多

核桃、杏仁、开心果等坚果含有不饱和脂肪、蛋白质和其他营养成分，可以作为健康饮食的一部分。(www.heart.org⁠)

但是坚果有一个特点：

健康，但热量很高。

所以不要一次吃一大把又一大把。选择原味、少盐或无盐坚果，并注意份量。

十、最需要减少的是哪些食物？

如果把所有建议浓缩起来，以下食物应该尽量减少：

1. 肥肉和加工肉类

例如：

* 五花肉

* 肥牛

* 香肠

* 培根

* 火腿

* 午餐肉

2. 油炸食品

例如炸鸡、炸薯条、油炸肉类等。

3. 含糖饮料

例如：

* 汽水

* 奶茶

* 加糖咖啡

* 果汁饮料

* 能量饮料

尤其是液体糖，很容易在不知不觉中摄入大量糖分。

4. 甜点和高糖食品

蛋糕、饼干、糖果、甜面包等都应该控制。

5. 高度加工食品

美国心脏协会目前也特别强调减少高度加工食品，同时减少添加糖、钠和饱和脂肪。(professional.heart.org⁠)

⸻

一个简单的“护血管餐盘”

如果不想记太多复杂的营养学知识，可以记住下面这个简单原则：

每一餐：

½盘蔬菜

↓

¼盘健康蛋白质

鱼、去皮鸡肉、豆腐、豆类

↓

¼盘健康碳水

少量米饭、糙米、燕麦、全谷物等

↓

少量健康油脂

橄榄油、坚果、鱼类等

这种吃法比单纯地说“这个不能吃、那个不能吃”更容易长期坚持。

⸻

最后，记住一个非常重要的原则

预防高血脂、动脉粥样硬化和2型糖尿病，并不是靠某一种“神奇食物”。

真正重要的是长期的整体饮食习惯。

可以把它总结成一句话：

多吃鱼、鸡肉、豆腐和豆类；多吃蔬菜和全谷物；适量吃水果和坚果；用橄榄油等不饱和脂肪代替部分动物脂肪；少吃肥肉和加工肉；少吃精制碳水和甜食；少喝含糖饮料；控制饭量和总热量。

同时，不要把“血管堵塞”简单理解为吃某一种食物就能够把血管“清理干净”。饮食能够帮助改善血脂、血糖、体重以及整体心血管风险，但已经存在的动脉粥样硬化需要根据个人情况由医生评估和治疗。对于已经有高血脂、糖尿病或心血管疾病的人，饮食调整也应该与医生开的药物和治疗方案配合，而不能自行停药。

健康饮食最重要的不是短期“忌口”，而是把每天吃的东西慢慢改变。

今天少一点肥肉，少一点米饭，多一点蔬菜；把一顿红肉换成鱼或者豆腐；炒菜用适量橄榄油；少喝一杯甜饮料——这些看起来都是很小的改变，但长期坚持，才真正有意义。

Wonderful

Wonderful

Many years ago, I worked at the California office of WATG (Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo), one of the world’s leading hotel design firms. At the time, WATG enjoyed an outstanding reputation in the hospitality design industry and was widely regarded as the No. 1 hotel design firm in the world.

Back then, we were involved in the design of a very famous project—the Venetian Resort Las Vegas. It was a huge project with extremely demanding design requirements, bringing together designers and professionals from many different backgrounds to create this impressive hotel.

It was during that time that I met a designer on the team. He was probably in his forties or fifties, and I believe his name was Steve. He had been transferred from WATG’s headquarters in Hawaii to the California office to work on the project.

One day, while chatting during a break from work, our conversation somehow turned to my educational experiences in China. I mentioned some of my classmates from middle school, college, and graduate school.

As we talked, I suddenly remembered that Xiaohong Wu had also worked at WATG’s headquarters in Hawaii. So I casually asked Steve:

“Do you know Xiaohong?”

To my surprise, he answered almost immediately, without the slightest hesitation:

“Wonderful human being. She’s a wonderful human being.”

In other words:

“She’s a wonderful person. A truly wonderful person.”

He said it so naturally that it seemed he did not even have to stop and think about it. That spontaneous response made a particularly deep impression on me.

At the time, I never imagined that so many years later, I would still remember those words.

Ever since then, whenever I hear the word “wonderful” in English, I can’t help but think back to that conversation in the WATG office. I remember Steve, the designer who had come from the Hawaii headquarters, and I remember the words that came so naturally from him:

“She’s a wonderful human being.”

In reality, you don’t always need to look at someone’s résumé to know how well they have done professionally. And you don’t necessarily need to hear how they describe themselves.

Sometimes, the most interesting evaluations come from other people.

Especially when someone doesn’t know that you are going to hear what they say, and has no reason to deliberately praise you, a spontaneous compliment may actually be the most genuine kind.

Steve had no idea what my relationship with Xiaohong was, nor did he imagine that I would remember his words for so many years. He simply heard her name and naturally responded:

“Wonderful human being.”

Those words have always made me feel warm.

Looking back many years later, I think the fact that Xiaohong was able to work at a top hospitality design firm like WATG—and to leave such a positive impression that a senior designer from the company’s headquarters, someone who had worked with her, immediately responded “wonderful human being” when he heard her name—says a lot about how well she must have done there.

What makes me even happier is that we were not only classmates; we also shared the experience of being students at the same university.

To have someone speak of a fellow alumnus in that way is, in its own way, something to be proud of for South China University of Technology.

But over the years, I have gradually realized that this invisible connection among alumni has another very interesting meaning.

When one alumnus does well in another country, that person can often create opportunities and make things easier for younger alumni who come later.

This influence is not always intentional or planned. Sometimes it may be nothing more than a chance encounter, a familiar name, or a piece of work from years ago. Yet something that seems so small can help someone who comes later avoid many unnecessary detours.

That reminds me of another experience from my own life.

When I was a graduate student at the University of Southern California (USC), my advisor was a graduate of Harvard Graduate School of Design. Several years later, another younger alumna from our university, Yang Yang, applied to a university in North Carolina and received a graduate scholarship.

As it happened, my former advisor had also moved there around that same time and became the department chair.

And so, a very interesting “alumni chain” was formed.

Yang Yang and I were fellow alumni from South China University of Technology, but later, after we both came to the United States, we became connected again through our shared academic advisor.

Even more interestingly, when Yang Yang was working on her thesis, my advisor gave her one of my papers from years earlier as a reference and example.

Looking back now, I probably never imagined that a paper I had written many years earlier would one day be used as a reference by a younger alumna from South China University of Technology who had later come to the United States.

And at the time, I certainly never imagined that some of the experiences I accumulated while studying and working in America might, in some small and unseen way, become stepping stones for younger alumni who came after me.

That is actually a very meaningful kind of legacy.

The people who come before plant the trees; the people who come after enjoy the shade.

One person goes out into the world first and establishes a foothold in an unfamiliar environment. When those who come later venture out, they may discover that someone has already left a few traces along the way—a name, a piece of work, a mentor, a company, or even simply the words:

“I know this person.”

These things may seem small. But for a young person who has just graduated and arrived in a foreign country, they can be incredibly valuable.

That is why I have increasingly come to believe that being an “alumnus” is about much more than simply having attended the same school.

The real value of an alumni connection is that after someone has gone far enough, they can still leave something behind for those who come later.

It might be a little trust.

It might be an open door.

Or it might simply allow someone to know:

“Others from our school have already walked this path.”

And when I think about Xiaohong’s story today, I find Steve’s words even more meaningful.

When that WATG designer, Steve, heard her name all those years ago, he said without hesitation:

“She’s a wonderful human being.”

Perhaps that was not only one of the best compliments anyone could give Xiaohong personally.

From another perspective, her professional achievements in the United States also helped build a little more trust and confidence for the younger alumni from South China University of Technology who would later leave China and pursue their careers in America.

Just as my own experiences may, without my realizing it, have helped pave a small part of the road for those who came after me.

Each of us may unknowingly become a tree along someone else’s path.

When we plant that tree, we may have no idea who will one day come and sit beneath its shade.

And perhaps that is one of the most beautiful and meaningful forms of legacy among alumni.

So now, whenever I hear the word “Wonderful,” I think not only of Xiaohong Wu.

I also think of all the Chinese students and South China University of Technology alumni who have worked hard and built their lives far from home, as well as the paths that people like us—the “ones who came before”—have walked in America.

Perhaps every one of us has, at some point, walked beneath the shade of a tree planted by someone else.

And without even realizing it, perhaps we have already planted a tree for those who will come after us.

Wonderful.

A simple English word that, because of one casual conversation many years ago, became one of the warmest words in my memory.

“A wonderful human being.”

Those are words I still remember, even after all these years.

What Is “Ghost Pressing” During Sleep?

​What Is “Ghost Pressing” During Sleep?

—My Personal Experience and Reflections on Science, Faith, and the Unexplained

Many people may have experienced something like this:

You are sleeping at night when, suddenly, you feel as though you are awake. You know exactly where you are and can even sense the room around you, but your body refuses to move. You cannot move your arms or legs, and when you try to call out, no sound comes from your mouth.

Even more frightening, you may feel as though someone is pressing down on your chest or sitting on top of you. Sometimes, you may even sense that there is a strange “presence” in the room.

In Chinese culture, this phenomenon is commonly called “ghost pressing on the bed” or “ghost pressing on the body.”

Many years ago, I experienced something very strange myself—an experience that I still remember vividly.

A Strange Experience

At the time, I had just purchased my first home in Irvine, California.

Because I usually left a small gap in the bedroom door or window while sleeping, the room sometimes became quite cold during the night.

It was during this period that I began experiencing something very unusual.

Quite often, just five to ten minutes after lying down in bed, I would suddenly have an intense sensation:

It felt as though someone was pressing down on my body.

It did not feel like an ordinary dream.

My mind seemed to be completely conscious. I knew where I was lying, but my body simply would not respond. I tried to get up, but I could not. I tried to move my arms and legs, but they would not move. Most frightening of all, I wanted to scream, but I could not make a sound.

It was an extremely uncomfortable and terrifying experience.

And it did not happen just once.

During that period, something like this happened almost every night.

Looking back now, I realize how frightening it can be when someone is fully aware of their surroundings but suddenly discovers that they cannot move their body. When they feel as though something is pressing on their chest and they cannot call for help, the fear and helplessness are difficult to describe.

At the time, I had no idea what was happening.

I simply thought, “How strange!”

Could there really be something in the room?

Could this actually be what people call “ghost pressing”?

Something Even More Amazing Happened Later

Several months later, I was baptized in church.

After that, something happened that made a particularly deep impression on me.

One night, I experienced the same kind of episode again.

I felt as though I was being pressed down. I could not move my body, and I could not call out.

But this time, something different happened.

A very clear image suddenly appeared in my mind:

Jesus, dressed in white.

At that moment, I do not know why, but I immediately thought of Jesus.

I began desperately calling out in my mind:

“Jesus, save me! Jesus, save me!”

What happened next was truly amazing to me. As soon as I called out, the sensation of being pressed down immediately disappeared.

My body suddenly became free again.

I could move. I could breathe normally and speak.

This experience left a very deep impression on me.

From a rational, human perspective, there may be several possible explanations. But from the perspective of my personal faith, that moment felt completely real.

I believe that the name of Jesus gave me strength and that the Holy Spirit delivered me from fear.

What Does Medicine Say About “Ghost Pressing”?

Looking back on this experience today, I have learned that modern medicine has conducted extensive research into this phenomenon.

In medical terms, it is generally known as sleep paralysis.

Sleep paralysis typically occurs when a person is falling asleep or waking up. The mind becomes partially or fully conscious, but the body is still experiencing the temporary muscle paralysis associated with REM sleep.

In other words:

The brain has awakened, but the body has not completely awakened yet.

REM, or rapid eye movement sleep, is an important stage of sleep during which vivid dreams often occur. During this stage, the brain temporarily inhibits most skeletal muscle activity so that we do not physically act out our dreams.

Under normal circumstances, we are unaware of this process.

However, if consciousness returns before the body’s muscle inhibition has ended, a strange state can occur:

The person is already “awake,” but the body is still unable to move.

This is sleep paralysis.

Medical descriptions of sleep paralysis are remarkably similar to what I experienced:

• Temporary inability to move the body;
• Inability to speak or call out;
• A sensation of pressure on the chest;
• The feeling that someone or something is present in the room;
• Extremely vivid visual, auditory, or tactile experiences;
• Intense fear and helplessness.

The Cleveland Clinic explains that people experiencing sleep paralysis may be conscious but unable to move or speak. They may also feel pressure on their chest or sense that a threatening presence is nearby. An episode usually lasts from a few seconds to several minutes.

Medical research has also found that sleep paralysis can involve vivid experiences of an “intruder” or a sense of pressure on the body. Some people feel that an unfamiliar and frightening presence is in the room, while others feel as though something is pressing on their chest.

Therefore, from the perspective of modern medicine, my experience closely resembles the typical symptoms of sleep paralysis.

Why Does It Feel as Though Someone Is Actually Pressing on You?

This is one of the most frightening aspects of sleep paralysis.

If the only symptom were an inability to move, perhaps it would not be quite so terrifying.

What makes it so frightening is this:

The sensation feels incredibly real.

Researchers believe that during the transition between sleep and wakefulness, dream-related experiences associated with REM sleep may enter conscious awareness.

As a result, a person may simultaneously experience two seemingly contradictory realities:

“I know I am in my bedroom.”

And:

“I also feel that someone is in the room.”

Some people see shadowy figures. Others hear voices, feel someone standing beside the bed, or experience pressure on their chest.

Medical sources explain that hallucination-like experiences associated with falling asleep or waking up can involve vision, hearing, touch, or a sense of movement. Such experiences do not necessarily indicate that a person has a mental illness.

Some laboratory studies have also documented vivid hallucination-like experiences associated with REM sleep, showing that the transition between sleep and wakefulness can involve unusual states of consciousness.

So, from a medical perspective, the sensation of someone pressing down on you does not necessarily mean that a real person or supernatural entity is present.

But that does not change one important fact:

For the person experiencing it, the sensation is real and extremely frightening.

Why Do Different Cultures Interpret This Experience Differently?

This raises a fascinating question.

Stories resembling “ghost pressing” exist in many parts of the world.

Some cultures interpret the experience as the work of ghosts. Others associate it with demons, spirits, or supernatural beings. Certain religious traditions may understand it as an experience involving the spiritual world.

For example, medical and cultural studies have found that in Turkey, some people who experience sleep paralysis associate it with a traditional phenomenon known as Karabasan. Some people respond by praying or reciting passages from the Quran.

Another study published in Transcultural Psychiatry explored the relationship between sleep paralysis and spiritual experiences. Researchers noted that a common feature of sleep paralysis is the feeling that a threatening, nonphysical presence is nearby. This helps explain why many people naturally interpret the experience through a religious or spiritual framework.

This leads to a very interesting observation:

The same physical and psychological experience may be interpreted in completely different ways depending on a person’s cultural background.

In China, people may call it “ghost pressing on the bed.”

A Christian may think of demons or spiritual warfare.

A Muslim may interpret it through the traditions of Islam.

Modern medicine calls it sleep paralysis.

Why Did the Experience Disappear When I Called Out, “Jesus, Save Me”?

This is probably the part of my experience that left the deepest impression on me.

From a purely medical perspective, one possible explanation is that when a person experiencing sleep paralysis suddenly focuses on escaping the episode, changes in attention, emotion, and arousal may help the brain transition fully into wakefulness.

Medical guidance sometimes suggests trying to focus on small movements, such as moving one finger and then gradually moving other parts of the body. For some people, this may help them regain movement more quickly.

Therefore, science can offer one possible explanation:

My calling out may have coincided with the moment my brain was completing its transition out of sleep paralysis.

However, for me, the experience has another important meaning.

I had been baptized, and this was the first time I clearly thought of Jesus during one of these terrifying episodes.

When I saw Jesus in my mind, dressed in white, and cried out, “Jesus, save me,” I felt an overwhelming sense of security.

That experience meant more to me than simply a medical phenomenon.

It became a deeply personal experience of faith.

Must Science and Faith Be Mutually Exclusive?

I do not think they necessarily have to be.

Science asks:

“How might this phenomenon occur in the human body and brain?”

Faith often asks a different question:

“When we face fear, death, the unknown, and things we cannot explain, where can we place our hearts and find peace?”

These are not exactly the same question.

We can acknowledge that, from a medical perspective, my experience was very likely sleep paralysis.

At the same time, I can also acknowledge that, for me personally, the sense of security and strength I experienced when calling out to Jesus was real.

Medicine may explain why my body could not move, but it cannot simply determine what that experience means to me spiritually.

Likewise, a person’s religious experience cannot, by itself, prove that all episodes of sleep paralysis are supernatural.

It is best to consider these two dimensions separately.

The Power of Jesus’ Name in the Bible

For Christians, the name of Jesus holds special significance.

In Luke 10, the seventy-two disciples returned and told Jesus:

“Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

Jesus then spoke about authority over the enemy.

Philippians 2 also emphasizes the supreme position of Jesus’ name, describing it as “the name that is above every name” and teaching that every knee will bow before Christ.

For ordinary Christians, there are also comforting words in Scripture.

Psalm 4:8 says:

“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

Proverbs 3:24 says:

“When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.”

These verses have a special connection to nighttime, fear, sleep, and the sense of security that faith can provide.

Looking Back on That Experience Today

Many years later, when I look back on what happened, I no longer simply attribute everything to ghosts.

I now understand that modern medicine has developed a substantial body of research on sleep paralysis.

Sleep paralysis itself is usually harmless. However, if it happens frequently, it may be associated with insufficient sleep, irregular sleep schedules, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, or other sleep-related problems.

If someone experiences sleep paralysis repeatedly, especially together with severe daytime sleepiness, they should consider consulting a doctor or sleep specialist.

But knowing the medical explanation does not mean I have to dismiss my personal experience of faith.

That experience taught me something important about myself:

When a person is overwhelmed by fear, what can help them find strength again?

For me, the answer is Jesus.

Perhaps medicine can explain why my body could not move at that moment.

Perhaps neuroscience can explain why I saw or felt certain things.

But when I was at my most frightened, I saw Jesus in my mind and cried out:

“Jesus, save me!”

And then the fear disappeared.

For me, that moment was more than just a sleep-related experience.

It was a very special experience in my life.

Whether we understand it as sleep paralysis, a spiritual experience, or a combination of experiences that I cannot fully explain, I believe it is something each person may reflect on for themselves.

What I do know is this:

When I think back on that period, I no longer think first of ghosts. I think of Jesus.

Because in that darkest, most frightening, and most helpless moment,

I remembered one name—Jesus.