Small Steps Towards Healthy Eating

Mind & Spirit : NST Life & Times 7/9/2010

http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/MIND_SPIRIT_Smallstepstowardshealthyeating/Article

BY CHIM LI YEN

DO you eat to live or live to eat? Do you only eat when you are hungry or do you eat for other reasons?
We all know that we need food to survive but some of us eat to fulfil our cravings or desires, comfort ourselves when upset, socialise with friends or add a little pizzazz to life whenever we are bored.

According to nutritional consultant Elke Wollschon, “consciousness is the awareness of being aware. Conscious eating is about expanding this awareness not just to what we eat but also, to how we eat.” In our fast-paced society, it has become the norm to eat in a rush. Do you eat while driving, while watching television or while reading the newspapers?

Automatic eating cuts us off from the joy and nourishment the food provides. Stressful meals impede digestion, suppress the immune system and stifle joy. Eating slowly gives your body time to release enzymes that tell your brain you’ve had enough food so you don’t overeat. “The entire process of eating needs to be given your full attention. Be conscious of your hunger and the look and smell of your food as you prepare it.

Pay attention to the texture, taste and smell as you eat. Notice how different foods affect how you feel after eating. Do you feel light and energised after eating a particular food?” asks Wollschon. In order to be healthy, we must learn to detach from bad eating habits due to negative conditioning. Many of us make the wrong food choices every day by consuming foods we were never intended to eat.

We sabotage our health by polluting our bodies with food laden with preservatives, artificial colourings, salt, refined carbohydrates and additives. A diet of adulterated foods has been scientifically proven to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, cancer, arthritis and diabetes.

“We have become so brainwashed that we think it is normal to eat a meal of processed, adulterated foods from a tin can, a cardboard box, or frozen dinner containing man-made chemical ingredients that can’t even be pronounced by most people ... but that someone who insists on eating food exactly as it was created by our Creator is a radical.

In fact, those who profit from the processed food industry and medical procedures would like us to think that our current, woefully inadequate way of eating is necessary to sustain our bodies and maintain health,” writes Dr George Malkmus in his book God’s Way to Ultimate Health: A Common Sense Guide For Eliminating Sickness Through Nutrition. Wollschon shares eight simple tips to help you embark on a healthy diet.

1. Eat light for breakfast. Breakfast stands for “break fast”. We break fast in the morning after giving our digestive system a rest when we sleep at night. Be gentle with your stomach and start the day with fruit instead of your usual nasi lemak.

2. Do not skip meals. Skipping meals does not help in weight loss because it increases your tendency to overeat during the next meal. It also slows down your metabolic rate as your body switches to survival mode and stores fat.

3. Eat “whole foods” as much as possible. Whole foods are foods that are unprocessed or unrefined. Examples include unpolished grains, fruit and vegetables, unprocessed meat, poultry and fish, and non-homogenised milk.

4. Sit down and enjoy your food. Really taste your food so you can savour every mouthful of nature’s produce.

5. Don’t eat and drink at the same time. This dilutes the digestive enzymes and stomach acids making digestion more difficult for the body. Drink an hour before your meal.

6. Add one salad to your diet every day. Make your own dressing instead of buying commercial ones. Simply mix olive oil and lemon juice for a cheap, tasty dressing.

7. Don’t combine too many food groups in one meal. Easy to digest food combinations you can explore are protein and vegetables or starches and vegetables. Combinations that are likely to produce fermentation in your system due to slow digestion are fruit and protein, oil and protein, fruit and vegetables or melons with any type of food.

8. Go organic. Organically grown foods are pesticide free and packed with nutrients. You contribute to your health, your family’s health and of course, our beautiful planet by purchasing or even growing organic food.

Wollschon owns an organic shop and bistro called Eco-Oasis in Jalan Riong, Bangsar, dedicated to promoting a healthy and chemical-free lifestyle. As a certified coach and nutritional consultant, she helps people make positive changes in their lives. Check out www.eco-oasis.my for more details.

She will be giving a free talk titled Conscious Eating at The Violet Flame at 7.30pm on Sept 9. The talk is about the benefits of eating healthy and how to do it. She will also answer questions about your current diet and nutrition. For reservations, call 03-2095 9868.

Don’t hesitate or give yourself any more excuses. It all boils down to this: How much do you want to celebrate life and experience vibrancy? It is up to you.

Choose today to be in alignment with nature’s laws of health and healing. Persistence and commitment are key. Take small steps towards healthy eating and you will be surprised with the immediate increase in energy. Your body will thank you many, many times over!