The health is a constant subject that each and everyone of us is addressed with on a daily basis whether we are conscious of it or not. Good nutrition – an adequate, well balanced diet combined with regular physical activity is an cornerstone of good health.
Each day we make choices in what we let enter our mouth
The intake of food, considered in relation to the body´s dietary needs. Every bite is a new opportunity to feel healthier and happier. This is about healing, revitalizing and restoring our bodies from inside and out. Food is medicine, nourishing our mind, bodies and moods. Prevention of disease through food and movement is the most powerful option we have. The understanding that each body is unique and thus has a unique path to optimal health. Knowledge is important but at the end of the day, you need to be the driver of your own vehicle. We are all different and therefore, it is important to listen to the body and become an expert on our personal health.
Generally, eating clean means avoiding packaged and processed foods and eating foods as close to its natural state as possible. The majority of food in a clean food diet should be fresh (avoid items that come in containers; bag, box and package) and free from additives as preservatives, artificial sweeteners and food coloring. Whole fruit is encouraged, avoid foods with added sugar and refined grains. If the clean food diet includes eating meat, lean varieties is chosen, such as skinless chicken, turkey and fish. Consistently eating clean food fills your body with plentiful vitamins and minerals, high-quality protein and healthy fats, which improve heart and brain health, assist with weight management, build a stronger immune system and increase energy levels, among other benefits.
The act of choosing plant first is going to do a number on you mentally in a every positive way. When you eat clean, your body will tell you what is needs and warns you when you are eating something it does not agree with. The benefits from adapting plant based lifestyle is improved digestion, clearer skin, whiter eyes, shinier hair, stronger nails, weight loss, muscle tone, heightened mental clarity, hormon balance and a feeling of stability.
There are choices
You choose. Think about a craving. You just got home from work and the energy is low. The quickest way to boost dopamine is to eat sweet foods, or taking a glas of vin. Cravings have a shape – they build, they crest and then they fade away. We often reach for whatever it is we have learned will make us temporarily feel better. The brain stores that pattern as information. It is a learned response an emotional experience. It is a message telling you that you want to feel better. Notice if the root is stress, pressure, sadness, or hurt? Cravings tend last some where between 3 and 10 minutes. Next time, try to address the cravings before you reach for something to calm you. This is about understanding the effect food has on your mind and, in turn, your body and vice versa.
Personally, I find freedom and well-being through a holistic and plant-based lifestyle, based on fresh fruits and vegetables and sometimes some fresh seafood, chicken and turkey. Many of us walk around in a constant state of bloating or inflammation of the gut, however we rarely recognize it as such. When you eat food that nourish the body and abundance of fresh, nutrient dense plant-based food, the digestive system can work efficiently and more energy can be spent on repair.
The idea is to aim for balance in all aspects of life which are meant to benefit you and also the health of our planet. According to a new comprehensive overview (by Joseph Poore from Oxford University, Science), we can reduce the world’s agricultural area by 75% and CO2-emissions from agriculture by 50% by growing grain and vegetables instead of keeping animals. 15% of large-scale meat producers release 1.3 billion tonnes of CO2 and use an agricultural area on the size of China!
By getting in touch with your internal dialogue, you will find the space that give you the information on what the body is feeling and what it needs.
Eating clean regularly, in season and hang on to it, and you will feel more healthy!
Christina Hop 