Are you confused about all of the conflicting information on nutrition?
It may be time to truth it out for yourself.
The big question you might ask yourself after eating is
~ ~ “How do I feel?” ~ ~
Food is fuel or nourishment for the body, much like gasoline makes a car go. If your car is sluggish after filling the tank, you might consider that maybe the fuel is tainted in some way? The same goes for the human body if you need to rest after eating, while true for most westerners, this is a sign you did not consume the optimal fuel. If your body is telling you to rest and digest, then by all means do it. Your body knows exactly what it is doing. Think of how you feel after eating a handful of grapes, a few tangerines, a banana, or a big salad. Now remember your last heavy meal. The traditional Thanksgiving holiday meal is a perfect example. Whenever you eat heavy foods, high in fat or laden with gravies, sauces and dense proteins, the immediate result is lethargy. Rather than honoring the body’s inner wisdom to rest and digest, most Americans don’t even take time out for that. They often, instead, drink a cup of coffee, have a soda or eat dessert and get an artificial pick-up to compensate for the poor combinations of food at their meal. This yo-yo effect taxes the adrenals, the vital organs and the nervous system, even compromising the immune system over the long term.
Pay attention to how you feel after eating, not just in the first 30 minutes but over the next few hours and throughout the day, even as you awaken in the morning and in to the next day. Be honest with yourself. Check in frequently. Are you sad, irritable, stuffed, tired or do you feel content, happy and energized? If you consume artificial stimulants like coffee, tea, or candy, you might have an immediate surge of artificial energy that ultimately falls away or even crashes and you might be left craving more. The cycle often continues until exhaustion or illness. Many people spend their day this way and then wonder why they don’t get deep sleep without additional sleep aids. When you consume optimal fuel, just like the high speed race car will be geared for top performance, your body will be primed for peak performance. You will have more strength at the gym, feel motivated to get out of the house, take a swim, walk or run, have more desire, endurance and stamina to do the things that keep your body healthy and you feeling good; you’ll be in a better mood and sleep more soundly too. Being pleasant comes easy when you feel pleasant inside.
One of the most common habits made by people of every age is to over or under eat. The body needs adequate calories to get in all of the nutrients for the day. Generally, the healthier the foods the less calorie dense they are, and the more you get to eat. Much of modern society’s food choices are modified containing concentrated calories that don’t occur in nature. The more processed the food, generally the more concentrated the calories. What kind of calories a person consumes will often determine how satisfied the body is. If the calories are empty or lacking in nutritional value, hunger will still ensue hence the tendency to eat more as the body is craving nutrients. When filling the body with ample amounts of nutrient-rich foods, on the other hand, the body’s hunger is easily satisfied and it makes overeating a less likely event. The good news is that the healthier the choices you make, the more you get to enjoy abundant amounts of delicious wholesome foods that make you feel good too. At the start and end of every day and after every meal, you might pay attention to how you feel. You may choose to keep a log or a journal over the course of a month and notice any patterns. Adjust accordingly. Your body is wise. If you feel hungry after a big salad, bring in calorie dense carbs, perhaps quinoa, purple potatoes, sweet potatoes or make a calorie dense sweet salad by adding grapes, apples, papaya, oranges or strawberries in the mix. If after you eat fruit, you feel light headed, bring in more fiber to slow the absorption of sugar and/or reduce the consumption of fat to prevent fruit sugar from being trapped in the bloodstream. As an example, if as a snack, you enjoy a couple of bananas with peanut butter, you might add or even substitute celery sticks for the peanut butter. Notice the difference in how you feel. If you feel grumpy, depressed, have heart burn, a stomach ache, a head ache, joint pain, foul gas, body odor, fatigue, or any other undesirable feeling, your body is speaking to you and there is likely room for improvement. Imagine, on the other hand, feeling refreshed when you wake up in the morning, vitalized after you eat, and light as you lay down to rest at night.
Need help truthing it out? I am available to guide you to your path of health and support you on a journey of self discovery and pleasant surprises. What sometimes may seem daunting is actually a small adjustment that needs attention, often it is not so much looking at which foods to add or eliminate but to consider timing of meals and proper combinations of foods for better digestion, improved mood and sleep. Your body is constantly giving you feedback. Not everyone understands the signs and signals. I am available to help you to understand how your body speaks to you and what it’s wisdom is revealing. Schedule a consult 808.987.6010.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This content is not intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease and is solely for the purpose of sharing information. Please consult a licensed physician before considering any new protocol.
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