Health and Food, and Food and Health and...

We see it all over the web, well depending on what circles you run in, for one CAN be totally ignorant and oblivious to the world even at this day and age of technology, but as I digress, the thing I speak of is: GMOs, Food, Organic Food, Vegan, Health, Obesity, Health care, exercise and fitness, diet and weightless, Gluten-free, Monsanto... These are all huge topics in the world of health and food...

I live a healthy lifestyle at times, and then every now and then I stray. Some call it binging, sometimes its depression. Whatever it is called and even when I try to be healthy, disease = Dis + Ease, finds me. Recently I find myself with Ulcerative Colitis. Ulcer and Colitis caused by dairy. Now every food seems like a demon to me. I fear to eat.

Is it just a part of this affliction? Or IS there something with the foods these days?
How many people are obese?
How many are afflicted with diabetes?
How many have gluten allergies?
How many people are lactose intolerant?
The numbers grow, so how do we not see that there is something profoundly sick with us?

We gave power to corporations because we thought they were good...

Are we now paying the price?

Let's take back our health... let's help out small organic farms so we can eat good food. Truly good food.

I'm tired of suffering. I'm convinced it isn't me its the food.

Breathe

and

Live!

Food Groupies = Foodies

Everyone is now a foodie or not a foodie. Thanks to my boyfriend, I have learned to loathe eating. I eat to survive, I don't live to eat. For some reason we have become a world wide culture that bonds on eating. Nothing wrong with that, food is great, I love all types. I'm also not saying everyone must be a fitness maniac, because there is a fitness wave of fitness crazed people rocking the world, not to mention adrenalin junkies growing, X-treme outdoor sports and of course all these runner running the "warrior dashes", the "spartan races", "tough mudders" etc. You're either in or not. I'm not saying we must all be stick thin like runway models or Kate Moss. I'm calling for an awareness to what we put in out bodies, a growing culture revolving around food, and food activities. I recently read this rather lengthy article about obesity. Obesity, or being heavier has risen not only in the USA but all around the world... EVERYONE is fatter. Genetics? Monsanto? Lifestyle? take your pick. Obesity is as subjective as the psychology of a 16 year old!

Here we are wondering which restaurant to eat at next, what's the must haves at which place. Imagine 1- how many people do not have that luxury 2- do you really need that luxury? Yes, in a way you are helping the economy out, however are you helping your own bank balance? We're all career oriented people, and cooking comes as easy to us as breathing... not really. Cooking is as easy as finishing your summer reading list. With all the distractions, career, family, friends, etc. It's tough to get basic chores done, not use the credit card, not eat out at least 2-3 times a week and not veg out on the couch for an evening. It happens, its the luxury of our busy lifestyles. Watch the show, cause reading the book is so laborious; get take out instead of cooking that elaborate meal for one. How many of us situate ourselves in a major city, because of the diversity... the diversity of food!? Many. I have less options in Suburban/ Rural Ohio, than my counterparts in Cleveland, Chicago or New York. Way less options, but I still have 2 places for sushi, a couple of burger and wings places, an Italian place or three! At least 2-3 breakfast places, 2 cafes, bars galore (warning: they are a bit hillbilly), and I kid you not, but some of the most amazing steak joints are this side of town. Sadly though I do not review these wonderful eateries, but instead I am amazed at my own cooking skills.

I marvel at how I can cook a dinner for 4, for less than the amount I spend when out for a dinner for two. And yes I cook better than most places, also i am more aware and mindful of the ingredients I use, right down to the salt. Do read that article on obesity I posted: The Obesity Era: As the American people got fatter, so did marmosets, vervet monkeys and mice. The problem may be bigger than any of us By David Berreby. It's amazing what not only food, our genetics, environment etc. is doing to our bodies. The most we can do to control it, is control what we put in, how much, and how much output/ energy we burn. Yoga is a great way to keep organs healthy, as healthy you can get them, and eating right! A lot of people can't/won't try or put forth the effort, so at least be aware, and conscious of this.

Suddenly in your 50s you realize you have fat around your organs, fat cells in your liver, (you don't have to be fat outside)... just don't let it get to that! It's almost like being a smoker, or a drinker. You know it's bad for you, but you keep doing it. Obesity, eating, health, is being studied in a major way today, especially since its weighing down on the health care system here and everywhere, pun intended. Is it that hard to be aware, and start doing something about OUR OWN bodies now?

I'm in my early thirties and I realize some damage has definitely been done already, but its not too late for me. I can fix pre-existing conditions, the internet has most of the information I need. I want the bacon, I can eat the bacon, but does my body need it? How will it affect my body? Does it all come down to discipline? Are we the most lax of all generations when it comes to discipline?

Just some things to think about...


Breathe!

Too busy too cook/ read/ work out/ yoga? Meditate = take some time for yourself and do what's good for you, your mind, your all round well-being!

START NOW!

Fittness Journal - Understanding Calories Simplified

So this week I have been pretty healthy and active.
I ate chipoltle twice: (no sour cream), yes on the guacamole, and I picked brown rice, carnitas meat, the corn salsa and mild tomato salsa. Little bit of cheese. All in the bowl.
Then I also ate sandwiches for lunch all week, which was probably bad because of the bread.
One night I had one slice of pizza, and a smoothie (see recipe in my blog piece).
Breakfast consists of hot tea, banana, and trail mix (which i keep at my desk, and make at home).


Sunday - Bicycling 3 miles, painting the deck
Monday - Bicycling 6 miles, Frisbee, painting the deck
Tuesday - Ran 2 miles
Wednesday - Bicycled 5 miles
Thursday - Climbing (approx 150 ft). but it works out my whole body, stamina, strength, muscle memory, and cardio-vascular
Friday - Run or Bicycle or Yoga
Saturday - Run / Bicycle/ Hike

Also: Ran up and down the stairs at work - Tuesday - Friday (at-least 5 times).

For activities like Yoga and Climbing the calories is hard to calculate. However if you are doing it right, and for an hour, with four 3 minute breaks, I think it would burn 300 - 500 calories.

I don't really count calories, but I make sure I am not over eating calories (ice creams, desserts, burgers, fried foods - french fries, pizza and pasta). It's important to understand your daily caloric intake needed for survival and functioning (mentally and physically), this is different from person to person, due to a multitude of factors (genes, metabolism, lifestyle, body type, work, age, weight, height etc.). Also see my blog on eating right.

Calories is the amount of energy you expend, it relates to how much and what you eat, because what we eat becomes energy. Our bodies burn/use up sugar and fat for energy. So we always want to eat as much as we burn, and in case of chubbier people - eat less energy food (calories/ fat) than we burn. This is so that the body starts using the reserves - fat. Fat is lighter than muscle, but it takes up way more space than muscle (unless you want to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger, in that case it's a whole different story, but we still need to burn off all the fat first, otherwise the muscle gets built under the fat and just looks bulky). Once again we all have different bodies and different body chemistry's, rates of metabolism. So understand you body, but also learn to discipline it and control it ie. cravings, being hungry all the time, etc. These mean you aren't doing something right.

Pine Nuts are awesome cause it helps you get the good fat, and also helps you feel full. Thus making you feel less hungry. A palm full a day, should be good to help you through the day.

Healthy eating!

Active Living!

and


Breathe

Pine Nuts