Food plays a major role in our health and wellbeing. We are what we eat, and there is a limit to how much waste our body can filter out and continue to function properly.
It is very hard to make a lasting change in our daily eating habits without first examining how we eat and what we eat.
HOW WE EAT
Most of us plan our meals around our schedule, a.k.a. “Drive by Eating.” This happens when we put our work, family, and other obligations in place, then try to squeeze in a minute here and there to swallow enough food to keep us going (or at least keep the hunger headaches at bay).
HOW WE SHOULD EAT
First recognize that it is not about perfection; but rather making a proactive effort to be in control of your nutrition. Plan your meals in advance. Know your options, and be creative. Have some healthy “to go” food items in your car for those times when you just don’t have time to eat. I like to keep nuts in my car and fruit on my desk at work which keeps me fueled between meals and away from processed foods. I also recognize that good nutrition is essential to good health, so carving out some time to eat is just as important as anything else on my schedule. I know there are parents out there that can’t fathom putting themselves first; but I guarantee this is the proper order. If your health fails, who will take over your responsibilities? It’s the same principle that the airlines use when they tell you to put your oxygen mask on before helping your children. They know that your children will not survive if you are unconscious. So take care of yourself first, guilt-free!
WHAT WE EAT
We eat “man made” foods; the kind that’s loaded with chemicals we can’t even pronounce. Sure it’s convenient, and it tastes good, but it’s also highly processed, dead food that is purposely designed to taste good so that we will continue to buy it. And your body is not designed to live off of it: at least not long-term without sacrificing good health. The more we eat it, the more we become weak, obese, and at risk for disease.
You might say “well, I feel just fine, I may have a few extra pounds, but I feel okay.”
But stop to think for just one minute; cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease doesn’t happen overnight. It develops from years of not eating nutrient-dense or healthy foods.
Let’s review two of the worst man-made or processed kinds of foods, and what they do inside your body:
Highly Processed Foods (made with sugar):
(Donuts, candy, cookies, soda, etc.)
- Ages your arteries
- Empty calories, no nutritional value
- Quickly absorbed into the body which means you are hungry sooner
- Produces a quick raise of insulin which signals the body to stop burning fat
Hydrogenated oils (unhealthy fats):
(Donuts, chips, crackers, cookies, etc.)
- Food manufacturers add this to prolong the shelf-life of their products – a longer shelf-life means more money (they don’t care what chemicals are needed as long as they make a profit)
- Raises your triglycerides, which can lead to high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart disease
- Turns into trans-fat; which creates free radicals inside your body
- Free radicals damage your cells which can lead to cancer
WHAT WE SHOULD EAT
Love your body enough to want what’s best for it. Move away from the boxes and start eating foods that have life and color; like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and dairy. These foods have properties that build up your immune system, help your body to build and maintain healthy tissue, give you real energy, and don’t create extra work for your liver and kidneys (removing toxins).
So think about your health like you would a road trip. Consider the journey, plan for the refueling stops and the maintenance that is required. Make sure you will be able to not only get to the destination, but enjoy it when you do.