An apple a day
Hippocrates said, “Let food be thy medicine.” I know that when change my own diet, I can boost my energy and I feel better. When I was in North Carolina a dear childhood friend who is a health food fanatic and loves to cook prepared a few delicious meals for me which helped me physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Her nutritious meals left me feeling me but not lethargic. I am no means a nutritionist and am not qualified to give dietary suggestions. I also live on a cattle ranch, so I won’t be touting a plant-based diet. While there are many books, studies, and research available, sorting through it all is time consuming and difficult.
I believe nutrition first starts with self-reflection and awareness. How do you feel after eating? Do you feel better after eating certain foods?
Food is fuel, which means that how we metabolize and digest it is important. In Ayurveda, the term “Agni” is used in the sense of digestion of food and metabolic products. Agni converts food into the energy that is responsible for all the vital functions of our body. Agni is one of the most powerful transformative principles of Ayurveda and is said to hold the secret to longevity, vitality, high prana (life force), good health, more energy, clarity of mind, and wellness. Ayurveda uses spices and herbs and according to your constitution there are specific foods and spices that can aggravate your constitution (we will save that for another column).
Everyone is different, and each of us metabolizes food differently, and knowing your dosha is important to knowing what types of foods to eat.
But I believe it is important to start with just the basics.
Do you know what’s in your food? Do you ever read the labels and google the ingredients? A healthy diet starts with balance. We all know we shouldn’t live on crackers and cookies. I remember long ago someone telling me they didn’t eat any food with ingredients they could not pronounce. Like anything else I try my best to respect and understand others’ decisions, but I also know that some ingredients usually have a purpose such as adding flavor, enhancing texture, and of course preserving food against bacteria, mold and fungi.
Ingredients are listed in order of quantity, and it is important to know the names of all the sneakily added sugar ingredients They go by many names (aliases), such as agave, corn sweetener, dextrose, juice concentrate, glucose, honey, maltodextrin, maltose, molasses, sucrose and anything with the words sugar or syrup.
I remember the advice from a friend that said “just shop the perimeter of the grocery store--the produce department, dairy, and meat.” It is important to eat lots of fruits and vegetables, and I am inclined to choose organic. Unfortunately, in our country eating organic, healthy food is more expensive and foods that are quick, easy, filling are some of the cheapest. Bringing awareness to your food choices is an important step in the right the direction. Another consideration is big pharma’s role and healthcare costs associated with obesity in this country.
First try something as simple as keeping a food journal and makes notes about how you feel after meals or snacks. I know when I keep a food journal, I tend to make better choices. Don’t forget to track of your water intake. There are many benefits to consuming water; it raises your energy levels as well as your red blood counts, boosts your metabolism, and helps ease aches and pains.
Food is fuel, and it is important to make wise choices. Most of all, do not beat yourself up if you make a bad choice. Just try to make a better choice the next time.
Feel free to share your thoughts with me: ashton@ashtoncannon.com.
Ashton Graham is an educator, book publisher, photographer, cowgirl and yoga teacher. She is currently studying to become a yoga therapist and lives on a ranch in West Texas. Visit www.ashtoncannon.com to learn more.
This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: An apple a day
