Posted in Healthful Eating and Living

We have all heard/read about the obvious concept "you are what you eat".  I believe that in general this is a true statement, although there are, admittedly, exceptions.  But there is more to what you eat to keep you healthful.

One must also take into consdieration when you eat (and in what combinations).  Did you know that eating meat based protein with starch (potatoes, bread, rice, etc) actually prolongs digestion.  Meat based protein can take up to 2 days to digest.  When coupled with starches, the terrible lingering allows for excessive sugar & fat to be absorbed into the body.  Early on, man only ate meat based protein sparingly(as it wasn't readily available).  The reason they didn't have the weight issues we have today is because they allwoed their bodies time to digest and process their foods fully, before the next meal with meat was consumed.  So when we eat meat at more than one meal and everyday, our bodies go on overload.  Pairing meat proteing with vegetables is a better choice, because the vegetables tend to break down right away regardless of the lingering digestion process of meat.  Depending on what type of veggies you consume, they may acutally aid in digestion. 

Eating regularly helps to keep portion sizes in control.  No high level thinking to get to that idea.  However, the times you eat are very important.  In general, a body will go into starvation mode 3-4 hours after the last meal.  So even if you aren't hungry, you should eat a snack, like an apple, a couple of crackers, some carrot sticks, etc.  Save your most calories for meal times.  For all my fellow non breakfast eaters, consider eating a piece of fruit, a yogurt smoothie, or a handful of nuts within an hour of waking.  It will greatly help you get through the morning, as well as rev up your metabolism from the get go.

Now, here is the one I will be testing.  Don't eat 3-4 hrs before you aly down to go to sleep.  Did you know that breakfast is so named, because you are breaking a fast when you eat in the morning?  I will be discontinuing any food after 7:30-8pm each night for the next 3 weeks.  Water is allowed, as is fresh queezed juice (b/c there is no digestable fiber to break down).  I am a snacker in the evenings, so we shall see what changes I experience over the next few weeks.  Some swear by this practice, as a good way to get your body the best daily fast as possible, and others are nay sayers. 

Take a moment to look at how AND when you eat.  It's for your health.

These are my thoughts.

·              Leslie and her husband homechool their 4 children in SW Florida.  Their "school" ranges from preschool through high school.  Homeschooling, Bible study, soccer, volunteering keep them busy.The family enjoys RVing, reading, movies, ice hockey, and are on the look out for a new homestead to expand their journey to simplicity.

·              Leslie finds her respite in reading, anything frugal and simplistic, cooking, scrapbooking, music, and continuing to expand her knowledge of homeopathics, natural living, and walking lightly on the earth.  She also maintains a group for barter and trade to help her community become stronger and more resourceful.

·              Visit Leslie at:  www.homeschoolblogger.com/Boltbabe

                                                            www.homesteadblogger.com/Boltbabe