IT’S the time of year when good friends are near, as the song goes. It’s also the time of year when a lot of people are hospitalized due to an excess or lack of something – usually a combination of factors, which is worse – lack of rest and sleep, too much stress, too much salt, sugar, and cholesterol, lack of nutrients in the diet, and lack of physical activity.
The kind and amount of food we eat is one of the main reasons for getting sick. Over indulgence has consequences. The supply is abundant. What with gifts, give-aways, treats, and gatherings left and right. The temptation is great.
How can you minimize your consumption of sweet, salty, fatty, and starchy food?
Make fiber-rich fruits and vegetables a part of every meal. The fiber will make you feel full, so you will eat less. You will also get more nutrients, and fiber is good for your gut.
Just taste the items served and choose your favorites. Cakes may be sweet and delicious, but if I need to choose between cake and ice cream, I will choose ice cream. Why choose if I can enjoy both? It’s the sugar content!
Avoid skipping meals in preparation for a feast or a buffet. If our cells get hungry for a long time, we tend to eat more. Second, skipping meals has bad effects to a person’s concentration and productivity. Third, a sudden drop in sugar is not good, especially for diabetics.
Share your food. Make someone smile even if there is no special occasion. Givers are happy people. When they make others happy, the happiness returns.
Before you touch anything sweet, salty, starchy or fatty, consider its ill effects to your body. This will help you decide the amount of food you are going to eat or if you are still going to eat it. How will getting sick affect your lifestyle, finances, relationships, and career in the long run?
If the urge to eat more is strong, get just the right amount and tell yourself, “This should be enough”. It works! Try it.
