Not sure where I heard it, but someone once said,
At a cocktail party, never discuss the following visceral issues: politics, religion and nutrition.
I would never have guessed dietary preferences could be so contentious!
Strong opinions about food are akin to religious and political leanings. People can become very dogmatic or set in their ways.
There are countless stories about people cutting out foods not suited for their constitutional types who experience miraculous recoveries from health afflictions. The sense of purpose derived and the enthusiasm to want to share makes sense.
The lesson to learn, however, is that we are all biochemically unique. What works for me may not be ideal for you. The science continues to evolve. And sadly, while the right food can help alleviate symptoms, proper assessments and well-trained health care professionals are not accessible to most.
We all benefit from adding fresh, clean, whole, local, seasonal, sustainable, naturally raised and produced foods to displace lesser quality choices over time. Nature packages food such that nutrients are optimally absorbed. Fractionated and reconstituted foods can deplete the body of the nutrients required to help assimilate what is consumed. We are left overfed and malnourished.
Reflecting on nutrition school life lessons
Fifteen years ago, I enrolled in a holistic nutrition program. I had intended to become a registered dietician. But, due to my perceived urgency, as if by divine guidance, I ended up in a more integrative, unconventional learning environment that challenged me to think outside the box.
Early on, one of our teachers surveyed the class to find out who was vegan. She implied that those who were not, had yet to become enlightened. She went on to say that dairy was suitable for the growth of a calf. Consume only if you want to become the size of a cow.
Our teachers had very diverse opinions about what the ideal diet might be. The mixed messages made it clear that the science was far from settled.
Permeating the perspectives of many of my classmates were feelings of mistrust and betrayal.
Of course, I’ll be the first to admit we see things as we are, not necessarily as they are.
When mainstream medical care has failed to rectify health concerns or has caused harm, some blame, and some seek a better way.
Collectively, because we felt betrayed by a disease management system that had failed to deliver, we were driven to empower ourselves with the knowledge to do better.
But as with medical school syndrome, where students begin to embody the symptoms of the disease they are currently studying, some of us became increasingly judgmental of food, and some even developed food phobias.
The list of potentially harmful foods and drinks grew daily. Included were:
The obvious:
Packaged and processed foods
Fast food
Artificial sweeteners
Soft drinks
The questionable, depending on quality, quantity and condition:
Saturated fats
Red meat
Cooked foods
Gluten in wheat, rye and barley (for the time being the only treatment for Celiac disease)
Casein (the protein) and lactose (the sugar) in dairy
Caffeine
The complicated:
FODMAPS (fructose, onion, garlic, beets, beans, artichoke, asparagus, avocado, ripe bananas, fermented cabbage that can irritate the gut)
High histamine (alcohol, dried fruits, avocados, shellfish, ,aged cheese, fermented foods like yoghurt and sauerkraut if suffering from allergies and intolerances)
Foods high in oxalates (beet greens, rhubarb, spinach, beets, Swiss chard, endive, cocoa powder, sweet potatoes)
Goitrogens (soy, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, mustard, mustard greens, radishes, rutabagas, turnips impact thyroid)
Nightshades (tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, peppers - inflammation)
Along with the growing list of foods of concern, emerged a list of people, industries and organizations, who were violating the sanctity of our food supply. The angst was palpable. Perpetrators were lurking in every corner.
Having previously been very trusting of our leadership and physicians, and respectful of guidelines, rules and regulations, I became disillusioned and rebellious. My trust had been violated. I was inspired to lobby Public Health Organizations to invoke the precautionary principle when authorizing food-like substances and additives to our food supply.
Food obsessions and addiction
Orthorexia Nervosa is an obsession with healthy food and clean eating which interferes with daily life. The afflicted become obsessed with procuring and creating the perfect diet. It can be very isolating and become all-encompassing.
When we consume food with judgment, even the purest foods can be harmful. Gratitude and appreciation facilitate optimal digestion, absorption and elimination.
Obsessing over food may distract from addressing the actual underlying cause of our health afflictions - unresolved emotional trauma. It can become a way to numb emotional pain - and become a form of addiction.
Holistic nutritionists take comprehensive health histories and treat the person. We do not diagnose or treat the condition.
We learn about the impact of unresolved mental, emotional and spiritual traumas on the body.
We believe that food is the best medicine, and while there is a lot of truth to that, I have come to realize that psychology trumps diet when it comes to healing ourselves and others.
The power of the mind to create health and disease is the biggest life lesson I have had to learn over the past decade. Hence my gradual progression away from focusing on the physical realm to mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of healing.
Common sense dictates that the sensible thing to do when it comes to food is to choose the highest quality options accessible. When visiting others, as advised by my favourite teacher, bless it and let it go. Appreciation of the time and effort made on our behalf improves digestion. Of course, there are exceptions but, for the most part, heal the mind, and the body will function as it should.
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