Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Nourishment


What a perennial topic and a huge industry. As long people put food in their mouths they will be concerned about the effect it has on them. Practically everybody in the western world who can afford to choose what they eat will think about healthy eating at some stage. There are endless diets and opinions about what’s good for you. Conflicting advice abounds and added into the mix is the question of weight which is very often given a higher priority. But how do we wade through this advice and information, How does it effect our food choices.
In reality most of us are on autopilot when it comes to what we eat, influenced by years of marketing by food and drinks companies which have penetrated us on a conscious and unconscious level and also of course by the inherited habits of our parents.  How do we decide what is good and what is bad for us in the knowledge that eating the right foods can help prevent cancer and heart disease. There are many diets but the general consensus is that the following food types are good for your health

•    Fruit and Vegetables
•    Raw foods or food that is cooked as little as possible
•    Complex carbohydrates (Wholegrain)
•    Essential Fatty Acids (Fish, Nuts, Seeds)
•    Protein


These foods are considered by most experts to be bad for you

•    Refined carbohydrate ( White Bread, White Rice, White Pasta)
•    Sugar
•    Saturated Fat

So it should be a simple as eating more from the first list and less from the second and we are well on the way to healthy eating. But of course it’s not that simple because we want to enjoy our food and feel full after we eat. Let’s face it a stick of raw celery, rye bread and a bowl of porridge can be fairly boring. How do we spice things up and make eating healthy food more interesting. Here are some tips

  • Learn how to prepare and cook the healthy food
  • If possible grow your own, a small patch is a good start or if you live in an apartment block some local   authorities provide allotments. This is surprisingly good fun and you will be more motivated to eat the healthy stuff that you grow yourself.
  • Eat foods that make you feel better. For example if you get a good energy boost from changing your foods  it is good positive reinforcement rather than living for the abstract benefit that healthy eating may improve you chances of preventing disease in the future
  • Understand what unhealthy food does to your body and also what the good food does. It’s easier to motivate yourself when you understand the costs and benefits of the food you’re eating. Don’t just go with the general wisdom, do a bit of research if necessary.
  • Promote healthy eating among your family, it’s much easier when everybody wants to try it

Enjoy your nourishment...






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