I was just reading a blog (sorry forgot who's it was) from a mother worrying about what she was eating and therefore transferring to her child through breast milk, this made me think about food and diet in general and why we crave certain foods.
Ok, I'm not an expert on this but through regular blood tests (I get my nutrition checked when I get my blood tested to see if the cocktail of medication I am on is at the right level) I know that my nutrition is unbelievably good. This is strange for someone on a strict vegetarian diet. Don't get me wrong, us veggies are usually better off than most omnivores because we generally have to put more thought into what we eat however we tend to be low on certain vitamins and minerals like B12 , iron etc.
I believe we crave what we need, and if we all ate what we felt like (not to excess) we'd all be allot healthier. By eating what you feel like I don't mean living on chocolate (though some is ok ), I'm talking about being in touch with what your body (not mind) really wants and needs. If your craving processed food for example, It's possible that your immune system is a little low at the moment and you are less likely to get food poisoning from something processed ( you'll notice that many pregnant women crave things like olives or gurkins both quite processed. Is their body protecting the foetus at a time of vulnerability?) If craving milk, or ice-cream maybe your low on calcium. Eggs (free grange of course) possibly protein. Mushrooms or vegemite toast, maybe your low on B vitamins.
If overweight there's no problem with eating what you want (remember in talking body not mind), cut your portions, how will you know how much is enough? Well eat slowly. I think this is something everyone should do, Savour the food, enjoy it. Food is a pleasure, no reason for it not to be just because your over weight. If you eat slowly you are more likely to notice when your full (I don't mean bursting ) and not eat to excess. Don't use as much cooking oil, margarine or butter.
Above all else exercise, that is the only way to burn what we don't need (let alone keep our hearts and lungs healthy), If you can't get to the gym, park your car a little further, don't use a trolley if you can manage, carrying the groceries is a little bit of weight training, I could go on forever and you've all heard this all before. And this post isn't meant to be about weight loss any way.
It's all about being in touch with what your body wants and therefore needs.
Lada
