What Constitutes A Good Diet?
A nourishing diet should be customized to suit each person’s lifestyle, constitution, and particular health issues. Though there is no one right diet for everyone, but there are some general principles that can be applied across the board.
Eat Whole Foods
Eat whole foods in their natural state, grass fed, free range and organic whenever possible. Avoid processed foods. Foodie, Michael Pollen says, “Don’t eat anything that your great-great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food.”
Eat Breakfast
According to Chinese Medicine practices, the most Qi is found in the Stomach and Spleen meridians (the 2 main organs associated with digestion) from 7-11am. Our body is primed to assimilate and digest in the morning. Breakfast sets your blood sugar and metabolism for the entire day. An ideal combination is protein, fiber, wholesome carbohydrates and healthy fat.
Eliminate Simple Sugars
Simple sugars cause disruption in the body and the brain. Functional medicine doctor, Mark Hyman, says we should treat sugar like a recreational substance.
Eliminate Seed Oils
Almost everyone is aware now of the dangers of chemically altered fats. When incorporated into the cell wall they are linked to causing everything from diabetes to cancer. Stick to healthy, stable fats like coconut, olive and avocado oil.
Increase Fruits and Vegetables
Increase whole fruits and vegetables and eat a wide variety of them to avoid over-sensitizing your system to any one food. It’s great to have a favorite vegetable, but surprise yourself – and your system! Wander farmer’s markets and try something you’ve never tried before. Balance protein, carbohydrates and fats to suit your activity level. The more rigorous your physical activity the more carbs you’ll need.
Chew Slowly
Digestion begins in the mouth. The first step of digestion is grinding up the food and moistening it with saliva, which makes it easy to swallow. Saliva is full of enzymes, which start the process of digestion by breaking down carbohydrates into sugars.
Eat Until You Are 70% Full, Then Stop.
We’ve all heard this before, it takes about 20 minutes for your brain to get the message from your stomach that it is full. If you are consuming food quickly or not waiting until you go for second serving, you most likely will overeat.
Eat Foods Locally Grown and in Season
By following the seasons, we get to be in direct connection with nature. Also, by eating what’s in season, you wind up with better quality and better tasting fruits and vegetables. If you’re not sure what’s in season right now, go to your local farmer’s market and you will quickly find out!
