Getting real with diet and health
I am definitely not one for fad diets.
I see smoothies as being a bit of a fad in recent times.
When I do have the occasional smoothly, I think hard about why I'm having it (is it because everyone says they are soooo nutritious?!) and what I'm putting in it. Under no circumstance will I ever include an ingredient, just because it's in a recipe (and that goes with ALL the food I prepare).
This is the beauty of understanding my nature at an elemental level, understanding my digestion, and understanding the energetics of food.
We are well into spring here in the southern hemisphere and I noticed a little while back that my morning appetite had diminished.
I haven't been getting hungry until 9 or 10, and if I eat something then, it will effect my lunchtime appetite.
You see, it's important to be hungry when we eat...we want to ideally FEEL that hunger, rather than simply eating for the sake of it. Our hunger cues let is know that the stomach is ready to take on food, and when this is the case, the food can be properly broken down and digested. Otherwise, the belly fire may not be strong enough to do the job effectively.
Back to breakfast...I came across a shake recipe that sounded good to me and I liked the idea of having a hearty drink at this time of the day. I knew it would satisfy my and yet not ruin my appetite for lunch.
And the food combinations were good, which is super important for good digestion and hence, health.
This one is a banana shake/smoothy. Bananas typically aren't fantastic for my constitution, so I approached with caution and made sure to pay attention to how it made me feel (because it all comes back to this, right!). I had it over a few days, and still, all good.
But I'm not going to just assume it's the perfect fit for me here on in. Every day I notice what's going on for me...if there's some soreness forming on my tongue, or redness around the edges of a finger nail, or eye irritation, then I'll consider my diet first and foremost. Because my diet is relatively simple (as in simple recipes) and I've been cultivating awareness around my reactions and responses to food for many years now, I have a pretty good idea of what a culprit might be if something crops up.
The other ingredients were almonds (soaked and skins removed), almond milk (did you know that bananas and cows milk is a big NO NO?), honey (or maple syrup), optional protein powder, cinnamon, and a splash of aloe vera juice.
All in all, this is a fairly digestion-friendly drink (which many of the nutrient-dense smoothies are not).
My invitation to you today is to pay attention to how your food is effecting you. 10 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour later...and also, contemplate your beliefs around food, health, and why you eat what you eat, and when you eat it.
In health and harmony,
Bel
Ps. need to figure out how to rotate the photo lol!
Recent Comments
2
Thank you for the tip :)
I typically have smoothies for my breakfast. My wife is super kind and she makes me a shake every morning.
I wish I could take care of my diet but I just can't :)
Hi Victor, we can all take care of our diet and make new choices, it just requires a willingness and some awareness :)