Disciplining yourself with a few simple eating rules.
Diet has become synonymous with dieting or ‘going on a diet’, and we need to understand the difference if we are going to set ourselves on a path towards balance and self control and hopefully a longer, fuller life with less sickness.
Diet is the total amount of food consumed by a person or other organism. Basically, that's what you need to eat to survive.
In nutrition, it is the certain amount of nutrients need on a daily basis to make all your organs function at peak capacity and intake varies according to culture and food preferences, religion, personal tastes and taboos among other reasons.
Dieting is seeking to create an imbalance in energy and decrease or increase fat levels for a variety of reasons, of which the number one reason is health and life longevity. Most diets are for some form of weight loss or even weight gain, and may not be only for cosmetic or health reasons but also psychological. It can be a sensitive issue that should not be taken lightly.
Honestly, humans would hardly have to ‘diet’ if they adhered to a specific healthy diet, and as we are not all the same, it really comes down to what works for you. Alas, we live in a very different world compared to 100 years ago where food was fresh, regional and seasonal and processed food was a mere thought. Nowadays, more food is sold in boxes and plastic wrapping than fresh fruits and vegetables are available and as a result, we are more obese, sicker and constipated than ever before.
One of the easiest and most adaptable way of eating is The Taoist way of eating
The basic rules for this manner of eating are relatively simple.
a. Eat sparingly. The human body cannot and is not meant to consume enormous quantities and combinations of food. E.g Buffets
b. Thoroughly chew food before swallowing. This allows the alkaline enzyme in your saliva to start breaking down food to liquid form.
c. Avoid extreme hot or cold temperatures. Both temperatures impair that natural salivation process.
The Taoist way of eating also concentrates on food combinations that work together and allows the stomach and digestive functions and the colon to work as a well-balanced machine. Foods to avoid eating together are:
Protein and Starch. The good ol’ American meals like cheeseburgers with fries and a milkshake, and steak and potatoes. Instead, try having a big salad or non-starch vegetables like cabbages, greens and squashes with your full protein meal.
Protein and Fat. That richly marbled steak with a thick fat cap and fatty bacon will stay in your stomach for hours. Whilst you may not be able to avoid this mix altogether, having salad greens and vegetables with the protein and fat combination will aid in digestive issues. Fats should be eaten with carbohydrates, vegetables and fruits, and by all means stay away from hydrogenated oils and margarine!
Protein and Sugar. The problem with this combination for the body is that sugars pass straight on to the small intestine and are not digested in the mouth or stomach (This is true also for starch and sugar). Consuming dessert or any sweet food after a complex protein meal will only inhibit the free flow of sugar to be digested and will encourage bacterial growth to aid in breaking down these sugars. If you know you won’t be able to resist dessert, have a salad and skip main course altogether
Increase your intake of salads and raw vegetables on a daily basis and aim for having one full starch meal and one full protein meal per day separately. Remember, diet is a way of eating, and by creating healthy practices we nourish the body for it to operate at peak capacity.
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