It’s not just what you eat, it’s how you eat.
At the beginning of a new year many of us make resolutions, such as to lose weight, drink less alcohol and eat more healthily etc. All admirable resolves and made with good intentions, but often we can find ourselves wavering after a few days or weeks. This in turn all too frequently may lead to feelings of guilt and shame, or perhaps a sense of failure. In turn these feelings do nothing to help our sense of esteem, nor create a positive relationship with food.
Our relationship with food is complicated, especially where ‘dieting’ is concerned. This is perhaps because ‘dieting’ typically involves restriction and denial, whereas our primal need for food is about nurture and nourishment. We need this nourishment from food to sustain us and to thrive. Essentially, we need food to survive, it’s as fundamental to life as breathing, and the notion of a diet is in part a denial of that basic need.
The mixed messages we receive about what’s ‘good’ or ‘bad’ for us seems to change as quickly as the weather. We’re bombarded with an array of different food fads, and every week there appears to be another new ‘superfood hero’ added to the list! In equal measure it seems something else is then food-shamed as a ‘baddie’. And just in case we’re not bamboozled enough, there’s always the ‘hero’ which turns out to be a ‘baddie’ and visa versa … or so it would seem! It’s no surprise then that confusion reigns. But the simple truth is that no food can be singled out as ‘good’ or ‘bad’, and it’s not a ‘one size fits all’. As human beings our optimum diet is determined by our age, constitution, level of activity and climate. This adapts depending on our state of health at any given time, and with the change of seasons. While avoiding overeating, or undereating, is part of Chinese philosophy, this is done in a simple and natural way. These ideas are based on the principle of moderation, or the ‘middle way’.
However, what we put into our body is only half of the story. There’s an ancient saying in Chinese dietary wisdom which says that how you eat is of more importance than what we eat. This possibly seems at odds with the modern-day culture, but we may have a lot to learn from these ancient Chinese sages. There are many different facets to this way of life, enough to fill a book, with just a few snippets included here. For instance, one such guidance suggests that if we take care of our digestion, then our ability to remain healthy is improved. On the other hand, if the digestive system becomes weakened then this can lead to chronic disorders. This makes common sense, but our association between food and health has been largely lost with the advent of modern medicine.
In Chinese medicine theory, one concept as to the ‘how’ rather than the ‘what’ centres around eating whilst we are relaxed and at ease, with total focus on enjoying the meal. Simple advice perhaps, and one which reflects our older cultural habits, but not always easy to achieve in the busy-ness of modern life. According to this early philosophy, regularly eating whilst emotional, rushed or when focused on other things can result in digestive disorders. Wise words from ancient wisdom, and probably no coincidence that IBS, or other functional digestive symptoms, are now very common in Western society. A rule of thumb is to savour and take pleasure from whatever we eat, regardless of what that food choice may be. In moderation of course!
Chinese philosophy is firmly rooted in how the human body reflects the cycles of nature. This includes eating according to the seasons of the year, but also in line with the cycles of the day. Between the times of dawn and midday our body reaches its peak for digestion, whereas during the evening our bodies are primed for rest. This means that for optimum digestive health, eating hearty breakfasts and lunches are recommended. With a focus on light meals during the evening and taken at least three hours before retiring to bed to allow ample time for digestion.
As with many things, when making shifts in our eating patterns it’s usually easiest to do so one step at a time. Select one thing to change first, rather than a seismic shift of all our dietary habits. This gradual approach sets us up for more sustained and positive food habits overall. For example, if you’re someone who usually skips breakfast, to start off with perhaps you can resolve to eat this meal at least three times a week. Or resolve to eat earlier in the evening for several nights a week. However, the most important suggestion would be to have a good relationship with food. Consciously enjoy, and therefore be nourished, by whatever it is you have chosen to eat. Do so whilst feeling relaxed, preferably sat at a table, and savour every morsel!
