Eating to Live

Last week I was on the treadmill at the gym, getting ready to start running. While I was standing there setting my IPOD, I overheard the woman next to me talking to her friend, and what she said somewhat surprised me. She commented to her friend how the night before, she had eaten a salad for dinner and she was shocked at how good and “light” she felt. She then went on to say how when she eats pasta or a lot of food at night, how she feels bad in the morning.

Now, the only reason I was surprised because was … well of course that should be obvious!  Yes what you eat the night before will affect you.  Not only will it affect how you sleep, but it will also affect your function the next day.  Sort of like a food hangover. You can’t expect to drink a lot of alcohol and be functioning 100% the next day, and you can’t expect to eat a big heavy meal and be able to feel 100%. 

I like to think (and say) that we should “eat to live, not live to eat”.  However many people in our society “live to eat”, and while that is a play with words, it does make a difference.  The foods we put in our mouth should be there to fuel us, to help build healthy cells, a healthier you. This should include fresh fruits and vegetables and whole foods — not foods that are processed, frozen, or packaged. 

What we do put into our bodies matters, and while it is more convenient and can taste great to eat “bad”, it should be the exception. Make eating healthy a priority and see what it does for your energy level, your sleep, your skin, your health. Focus on “eating to live” and you’ll probably wake up in the morning feeling great (or even better!).

Ask us if we can help you with some nutritional counseling.  It can make a big difference in your life.