What to Eat and What Not to Eat

Are you confused with what to eat and what not to eat? Are you fed up by the conflicting research that gets presented to us? One day it was “don’t eat eggs” they are unhealthy, then there was a u-turn and now eggs are good for us. Then we were advised to “eat fat sparingly” and several decades later reports found that not all fats are bad for us. So what are we to believe? How are we supposed to know what to eat and what not to eat if these are supposed to be our dietary guidelines.

Also there are many different diets out there, from vegan, paleo, mediterranean, ketogenic, vegetarian and carnivore. Which one is right? I do think they all have their benefits however to adopt one method is probably not the answer.

With the ever increasing world problem of obesity, diabetes and other lifestyle diseases we must do something.

I know at the minute it sounds like there’s more questions than answers. However I was like you,…….where do I start? I am going to start by saying I am not going to tell you what to eat and what not to eat. Are you scratching your heads? Well a lot of our diet comes down to our lifestyle and habits….stay with me.

Changes in our food habits

First we need to look at the change in our food habits. Most meals used to be prepared at home compared to now when more and more meals are bought in. Whether it is the prepackaged meals at the supermarket or meals from the local takeaway. Secondly take a look at our environment, supermarket foods used to be natural, wholesome foods compared to now where 80% of what it sells is highly processed. So it feels like there are more and more temptation that we have to try to avoid if we want a healthier, longer life. That’s the difficulty that most people face.

What is Food?

Let’s look at what is food?

Yes food is fuel for our body which gives us energy to complete our day to day tasks, however it is more than that. The food choices we make not only affects our body, but also cares for our mind and wellbeing. The right foods will not only invigorate your health but positively affect your life. Eating the right foods make you feel better and feel more alive and therefore your moods positively affects those around you.

Food exists to give us energy, repair or restore us.

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Not Real Food

Sadly not all of what we eat are real foods. Some have been so highly processed they are just food-like substances.

How can we tell what is real food or not? Just look at the nutritional labels. If they contain loads of ingredients you can’t pronounce should we be putting them into our bodies. An avocado, a lettuce or a banana doesn’t have a label, because they are just food, no other ingredients.

Today highly processed foods have hijacked our taste buds. Sugar is used a lot in the preparation of many processed foods as a preservative or to mask bad after tastes. Food giants even have these special labs to identify which ingredients entice our human taste buds more to become highly addictive. Most of us don’t realise this and blame ourselves for these cravings.

“Science has proved that processed foods – especially sugar – are addictive.” From the book “Food: WTF Should I Eat” by Dr Mark Hyman.

Shift your focus back to real food.

Looking after your body is like looking after your car.  If we put the wrong fuel in our car, what happens? It slows the engine down, becoming sluggish and eventually damages it. When we put the right fuel in our car, it functions well. Our body runs on food for fuel and energy. When we feed ourselves with highly processed foods we are slowly causing damage to our health. When we feed our body with good, wholesome, natural foods we are creating better health and performance.

One way out of this is to get back in the kitchen and cook real food. Don’t make it complicated. Each week introduce a new or different food to keep it interesting. Fit it into your lifestyle. Don’t make it a chore. To make it enjoyable I usually schedule in my favourite podcast while I’m cooking, so I look forward to it.

Mindful Eating

When was the last time you really tasted your food? I mean really savour the flavours. Once I started appreciating each mouthful of food I took and enjoying all the flavours, I started eating more mindfully. I ate less because I ate slower and I was satisfied by smaller portions. I know this sounds easier said than done, and it can be harder for those who are overweight because they could be less responsive to their satiety hormone signals. It’s simple but not easy. Anything of value is not easy, otherwise everyone would be doing it.

Identify what your triggers and cravings are, is it tiredness, stress, or just boredom? Replace the habit of eating that big bowl of doritos with another habit such as a handful of nuts, whatever works for you. Be your own detective and be aware of these triggers and arm yourself with an appropriate response. Prepare in order not to fail.

Does seeing food lying around trigger a response? Hide all temptation and put them away in your cupboards, or even better, eliminate bad foods.

Are you hungry or is it thirst? Some signals for thirst can be mistaken for thirst as they come from the same region of the brain. First see if a drink will satisfy the craving.

Finally find a balance between nourishment and enjoyment. I don’t want to be a killjoy here, I enjoy my favourite Portuguese tart and ready salted crisps on the odd occasion, however don’t let your cravings control you. Take control of your health and be more aware of what you are putting in your mouth.

Bear this in mind,

Every time you eat or drink you are either feeding disease or fighting disease.

Heather Morgan NS NLC

What will you choose?

To summarise

Stick to more wholesome foods and less processed foods, it’s not rocket science. However the food on offer and marketing by food giants are specifically targeting our taste buds and our weakness. Take control of your own health, be more self aware. What triggers your cravings and be armed?

It’s time to focus on why we should take more care in what we eat. We might not feel the repercussions straight away but remember with “everything we eat or drink, we are either feeding disease or fighting disease”.

Eat well for health and longevity.

Next week I will be revealing about a secret tool I use for health and longevity!

Until then, continue

Living Agelessly,

Kath