New Years Resolutions
A recent article in the local paper described how health clubs are overwhelmed with new members every January. These are people who have decided to get fit and more healthy after the holiday season of rich foods, etc.. The article also stated that many of these people would quit this new routine within a few weeks. That got me thinking about how interesting we people really are and I want to share a few of my thoughts with you about this. Perhaps they will help someone to make changes they can live with.
Diet: this is an area where many of us struggle. Hectic lifestyles cause many to grab fast foods and stay on the run. So the first question seems to be Can I actually change my life enough to find the time to prepare better meals? Do I want to make that change enough to make it last? If the answer is yes, I’m very impressed and in a few weeks you will be too, because your health will improve as a result.
But, if you are like many, you will decide that you really can’t make a big change. So, perhaps you can take time in the morning for a good vitamin and mineral supplement to provide your body with what it’s not getting from your diet. I’d suggest you also take your vitamin/minerals in the evening as well.
Water is also vital. Get plenty of clean, pure water every day.
For snacks, have some raw almonds or baby carrots handy, and cut pieces of other veggies for that hungry appetite you may have at times. Cutting back on sweets, chips, etc. will make a noticable difference. See our Support Center for more ideas.
Dr. Andrew Weil, M.D., one of my favorite authorities of natural health, gives the following advise which I also find very useful.
* Rule 1: EAT WITH YOUR SENSES, NOT YOUR INTELLECT. I think he’s saying to listen to your senses and if something smells and tastes good to you, trust them rather than someone who tells you that anything that tastes good or smells good MUST BE BAD!
* Rule 2: EAT WITH FULL ATTENTION AND GUSTO. Your digestive system mirrors your state of mind, which is why so many digestive disorders are stress-related.
* Rule 3: EAT A WIDELY VARIED DIET. This provides a higher likelihood that you are getting the full spectrum of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzymes that your body needs to function properly. This also keeps you from eating too much of something that is NOT good for you.
* Rule 4: EAT FRESH FOODS. These always taste better and are full of life-giving nutrients.
* Rule 5: EAT LESS RATHER THAN MORE.
* Rule 6: LEARN TO APPRECIATE SIMPLE FOODS. Learn to enjoy a fresh ear of corn, lightly cooked, without salt or butter for example. Freshly baked bread without butter, honey or jam is another example.
* Rule 7: EAT A BALANCED DIET. This requires that you have some idea what carbohydrates, proteins and fats are and which are good for you.
If you’d like to read further about Dr. Weil’s thoughts on diet, etc. get his book “Natural Health, Natural Medicine.” It’s available in most book stores and has a wealth of good information. Another book by Dr. Weil that I suggest highly is “Health and Healing” which helps one sort out all of the different kinds of medicine and each one’s strengths and weaknesses.
My personal opinion is that one’s state of mind has as much bearing on how the body deals with food as anything else, but remember that if your state of mind is not calm and peaceful it becomes more important to eat foods which are easier to digest. I also believe that the amount and type of foods we eat is of extreme importance. particularly when we are sick and out of balance. Eating foods that are 80% alkaline when combined with foods that are 20% acid forming is working the best for the people I know so give it a try and see positive results for yourself.
