What does health mean to you? Do you often hear the terms food therapy or you are what you eat but have no idea what that means or how it relates to you?
I am a firm believer in food therapy and whatever you put into your mouth will reflect in good or bad health, poor sleep, great energy levels, bad dental conditions, glowing skin or maybe illness.
Being healthy isn’t good luck or bad luck and genes only play a small part, its really how you live your life and what you “feed” your body (and mind) on a day to day basis. So what do you eat? have you ever stopped and thought about what you ate today, this morning, last night or plan what you are going to eat tomorrow? How much of your diet is fresh, non packaged, non processed and/or home cooked food?
If you answered less than 50% then I encourage you to re-consider your lifestyle and evaluate what kind of long term health and how you want to be illness-free in future. It’s hard for young people to think about their health in 10-20 years, kind of like retirement, you don’t need to worry about it now. But I believe you do. We all know how to be healthier and what areas are suffering but make you sure you proactively think about the link between to what you are eating (or what you aren’t eating too) how good you look and feel.
Some common problems and suggestions I know people face in Shanghai;
- Notice what you eat and how you feel afterwards. Spicy food, deep fried foods, raw food, cold foods, hot foods, sweet food, sour foods have different reactions on different people.
- Clearing up skin – our skin is affected by hormones, sleep, stress, food, types of food and elimination. I suggest you get to know your body and what it can take and what works for you. (this applies to both men and women) You only need to ride the metro on any day in Shanghai and see the increase in acne amongst teenagers, young office workers and even some middle aged folks. If you aren’t “eliminating” everyday by regular bowel movements then the toxins and waste in your body has nowhere to go…. it shows up in other forms on your skin in the form of rashes, break outs or pimples. Quite simply your body is blocked and the skin is the only way out.
- Don’t be fooled by ads for “healthy” options and certainly don’t get sucked into junk food. If you want a snack avoid quick, instant, sugar coated, salt overloaded packaged food. Try natural fruit, nuts, energy bars (check ingredients) or filling smoothies. I love smoothies or green smoothies.
- Not eating regularly and not eating proper meals- this affects your metabolism, hunger attacks and level of vitamins and fibre. (snack foods don’t tend to have much goodness or fibre) Try to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, don’t skip meals and coffee shouldn’t replace a meal (!)
Food is directly related to your health, if someone hasn’t already told you then believe me its true.