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For those of us who love food, every day, every new meal is a chance to savor and enjoy what we love most. Travelling, even visiting new local restaurants opens the door to experience and it's difficult to say no to new enticing foods, or to old favorites. So what's an epicurean to do?
Like with all pleasures in life, we try to strike a balance. It's much more fun to play than work, but bills have to be paid. We know what the repercussions are when we don't earn the money we need to pay our bills, but do we really consider the repercussions of eating badly, or too much?
Would you eat fewer desserts if you knew that each bite of cookie slowed down the functioning of your immune system? Would you refuse a plate of fries if you knew that the transfats it contains could eventually result in cell damage to your body's cell membranes? And what about if you could look inside your body to see where all the excess calories and fat were being deposited? Would that alter your eating habits?
As a child, I had a Steve Austin Bionic Man doll: a replica of the Six Million Dollar Man TV show character. I loved rolling up his "arm-sleeve" to reveal the computer chip in his arm, or the one in his leg, or peering through his head to see through his bionic eye. I used to wonder at how amazing it would be if we could see inside our bodies at any given moment. I still believe that we would treat our bodies so much better if we could see the incredible things going on inside of them.
In the "Why are Americans so Fat?" article 2004 issue of National Geographic magazine it shows the MRIs of a "morbidly obese woman" and a healthy woman. See how the fat is loaded around the organs of the larger woman? And all the food going through her intestines? Look at this photo and think of the strain on this woman's poor body to try and process all that food. Thinking about how the body is overworked when we overeat, is one way to moderate the urge to dive into that office box of donuts. Long-term, it's also a strategy for avoiding the risk of so many health disorders that are linked to obesity.
It's simply not fair that we are faced with a daily conflict: should we choose food for fuel, or food for YUM! But if we think of our bodies as the wonderfully intricate machines they are, it's hard not to give them the care and attention they deserve. When confronted with delicious but unhealthy treats, try to think about how they'll affect your body. If it's "good for the mouth" but not so good for the rest of the body, could you just say no, and decide to save those treats for once a week? That's just one way to ensure your eating habits are good for your heart, and your soul.
Caroline Rechia is a
Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RHN) and chocolate maker. Her blog, C
is for Cookie can be found here: http://carolinescookies.blogspot.com
