Our food should be our medicine. A famous quote by Hippocrates used every day in the health and wellness world. This is my world, I went to college for this world. I am very passionate about this. My sister posted on her wall in facebook today titled Tuesday’s Mindset, “The 3 C’s of Life: Choices, Chances, Changes. We must make. Choice to take a chance or your life will never change.” It made me think of a paper I wrote in college. The benefits of adapting to the choice of using “food as medicine” to help heal our bodies can start the minute we make the change in our next meal. The problem we often face is we do not want to do the work because we know it is hard and we want a fast and quick fix. We know the weight or health problem such as high cholesterol, diabetes, chronic pain, wanting our favorite foods, watching other people eat unhealthy foods happened because of years of eating unhealthily, not exercising, or an incurable disease as personal issues.
I went to a gathering and the food there was something I do not eat due to my health problems. I did eat a chocolate chip cookie because I felt my sugar crashing because I did not plan my morning like I normally do. I paid dearly for this with high sugar readings and a massive migraine the next day not to mention sleeping all day. I made a choice, and it was a choice that reminded me that I am not changing. After the gathering, we went to a local restaurant near my home. I did semi well. I had ½ a roasted chicken with a side of arugula. BUT I just had to get french fries, why? I blew my chance of counter acting the cookie I ate earlier and added to the high fat carbs consumed. I know better, but yet still ate crappy. I watched others with me consume alcohol beverage, massive, breaded sandwiches with homemade potato chips and wrapped the dinner up with a gluten free dessert. But WAIT its gluten free, that’s good. Sigh. We all have serious health problems, but because we take medicine to hopefully counteract the bad food and drinks. Let’s just leave this with next day, we all experienced astronomical body pain, migraine, fatigue and having to spend 2-3 days detoxing or sleeping because of these choices. When do we learn? Let’s not talk about diet coke and the dangers of aspartame, shall we.
I saw a post on facebook from someone I know discussing or asking about mushroom coffee. Facebook has been posting an advertisement about this using a beautiful skinny and fit model. So naturally, people want this or think they can be like this model. YES, you can if you already eat healthy, and are at a healthy weight. BUT the health benefits are moot if continue to eat unhealthy foods and make no effort to change the lifestyle. I am seeing so many people celebrities and others I know doing Ozempic injections. This drug is for people who are diabetic and are eating healthy foods to manage weight loss. So now, the words “weight loss” has grabbed the interest of everyone wanting this to lose weight and this has created a mass shortage of this drug for diabetics because doctors are prescribing this to their patients to lose weight. COME ON!!! Really??
I asked my sister how her sugars were because she has been doing carnivore for 6 months. I have been coaching her for a few months. I believe she has successfully reversed her diabetes as long as she stays on the no carb or very low carb foods. Her sugars were excellent when she tested them back home, but she’s struggling with her sugars this week. I think after losing more weight she will be great. I am thinking to myself and hope she does not do this mindset I often do to myself; my sugars were fine; I can eat some unhealthy foods now and then. Another thing I’ve noticed, when we change our food, it takes 6-8 months for the body to adjust, adapt, and have healthier blood labs. A few I know want quick results in 2-3 weeks and think unrealistically. When that mindset of “but I ate healthy for 2 weeks” is not accomplished, frustrations set in and often the attitude resorts back to the foods consumed before that made us sick or unhealthy. We all know that food and health does not work this way. The 3 C’s Choices, Chances, Changes will we, do it?
Now as we get older, losing weight does become harder and more challenging. Our hormones are not what they were when we were younger. The phrase “Our Food Should Be Our Medicine” rings truer and something we need to be very mindful of. Stay Strong!