Healing Journeys with Suzie Daggett
I started thinking about nutrition recently because we are in the midst of the holiday season, when many highly spiced and rich foods are presented to us at every party we attend. I heard that the average American will gain seven pounds between Thanksgiving and Christmas! Whether that is true or not, I wonder, when you sit down to eat, do you consider what is in the food? Do you know if the food you eat supports your body nutritionally? Do your eating habits help you to stay healthy or do they provide too many empty calories, high fat and highly processed foods? Why are we seeing so many problems with overweight people and early onset diabetes today? How can we as consumers be sure we are getting good nutrition, or are we just doing the eat and run without consciously knowing about our food? It is true that what you eat is who you are, so I asked some nutrition experts, Mary Marlet and Dr. Susan Rice to answer questions to demystify the world of nutrition.
Mary Marlet:
Culturally, what are some common misconceptions about nutrition?
The rate of obesity and illness has gone up since the low fat, low carbohydrate craze. There is a misconception between the fats and carbohydrates our bodies can’t function properly without, and the ones that are killing us. People believe that eating healthy is complicated, time consuming, and expensive. Not necessarily, especially compared to costly medical bills and doctor visits.
What is the connection between the mind and the body for eating habits?
Chemical messengers are released through pathways linking the mind and body. They signal the brain when we are hungry and tell us when we are full. We often tend to ignore these signals. This, and a diet lacking nutritionally, can then alter the release of these important brain chemicals, like serotonin. We don’t feel satisfied, so we overeat, then we diet and deny nutrition, and the cycle continues.
What can people do to change their poor eating habits to healthy habits?
There are simple ways to learn about healthful eating. Take a diet and eating habits inventory and decide what needs to be changed, implementing 1 or 2 a week. Doing this gradually will help avoid overwhelm, confusion, and potential failure.
Are their any guidelines you can suggest for better eating habits during the holidays and after?
Don’t starve to save yourself for the ‘big one’. This can cause low blood sugar, irritability, and then overeating. Have protein snacks throughout the day, enjoy raw holiday nuts and seasonal fruits such as mandarins and anti-oxidant rich pomegranates instead of some sweets. Take smaller portions, especially starches, eat slow, and wait awhile before having a second helping, you may find you don’t want them. Then, have that piece of pumpkin pie. Easy on the eggnog, stay hydrated, stretch and breathe.
Mary Marlet is a Certified Nutritionist, and a Whole Foods Chef and caterer since 1974. For more information you can go to her website at www.treeoflifenutrition.com, or call 530-268-0484.
Dr. Susan Rice:
Culturally, what are some common misconceptions about nutrition?
Three misconceptions are: “nutrition is confusing”, “it is too much trouble to prepare nutritious meals”, and “I’m too busy to plan my meals”. Nutrition is basic—the basic food groups. You need all of them, especially the fruits and vegetables. Planning is easy, but like anything else, it takes practice. Preparing meals is not difficult and probably takes less time and is more satisfying than getting that fast food fix.
What is the connection between the mind and the body for eating habits?
The mind controls the way that we think about food and our eating habits. As humans we seek pleasure and avoid pain. Food serves both purposes. One reason that we succumb to so many temptations during the holidays is that we associate rich and plentiful food with family, friends and good times.
What can people do to change their poor eating habits to healthy habits?
Changing any habit requires a serious self-appraisal and commitment to do something different. With a decision to change, you need a plan of action for what, when, and where you will eat. Buy healthy foods that you like to eat; avoid foods with empty calories and lots of fat. Eat at regular intervals and avoid getting to the point were you are “starved”. If you work out of the home, pack a lunch and avoid fast food.
Are their any guidelines you can suggest for better eating habits during the holidays and after?
During the holidays, plan ahead. Think about where you want to be weight-wise in the New Year. Think before you pick up that irresistible morsel. Prepare healthy snacks and have them available whenever you are hungry. Read nutritional labels—knowledge is power. Select small food portions and stop eating before you are full. Limit alcohol, which stimulates appetite.
Susan A. Rice, Ph.D is a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology. She has over 29 years’ experience in health and biological sciences and consults in Nutrition, Pharmacology, and Toxicology. 530-346-9612
Healing Journeys is a column written by Suzie Daggett for the Grass Valley Union newspaper. Suzie interviews a variety of health practitioners most Fridays in the Wellness section. Click here to read past articles. Enter "Suzie Daggett" in the search box to get listing of all articles. |
