Red Mountain Spa (Utah)
If it makes you feel bad - don't eat it.
For some reason, our culture tends to accept a certain amount of discomfort from poor eating habits. People drink too much coffee even though it disturbs their sleep. People eat large, heavy meals even though it gives them a belly ache. We hardly ever eat enough fruits and vegetables, even though it would improve health, energy and encourages digestive regularity. How long would you survive in nature if a belly ache kept you from being able to run from falling rocks, a brush fire or a grizzly bear?
Spa Detoxification programs essentially provide a food elimination plan. For those unfamiliar with a food elimination diet- it is a process whereby the foods that commonly cause discomfort symptoms are removed from the diet for 4 weeks. These 4 weeks are a clearing time, where the body has a chance to recover from the offending foods. At the end of 4 weeks, a process begins to re-enter the foods, one at a time. If symptoms return - then that food is the culprit and should be eliminated from your diet.
Wildlife just knows on an instinctive level - don't eat too much and don't eat stuff that makes you feel bad.
You have to work for your dinner.
A strong appetite as a result of physical activity tends to encourage the consumption of healthier foods. Your body knows what it needs to function well. If you are burning lots of calories through strenuous activity you are more likely to salivate over brown rice, lean protein, veggies and stay away from the junk.
It may take time to re-train your taste buds. We are fooled by the abundance of sugary, high fat foods available. In reality, it is bad habits (as opposed to really thinking about the choices) and our stress levels that cause us to reach for sugar, refined carbohydrates and caffeine.
Our modern world has separated us from our true nature. We need physical activity to remain fit and healthy. Every time you engage in brisk exercise, you generate a bunch of positive hormonal messages. Exercise tells your body to "stay young" and helps keep your appetite focused on healthy food. Therefore, work for your dinner - it will make eating healthy food more pleasant.
Food is occasionally abundant, but more often scarce
Presently, Americans eat as if every day were a major day of feasting and celebration. It's just not necessary to eat so much food. As a result, we have an astounding level of obesity and our medical system is burdened treating "diseases of affluence."
In nature, there is the e and flow of the seasons. We get baby asparagus in spring, berries in summer and root vegetables in the fall and winter. Some foods come in bunches, but everything doesn't ripen at the same time.
Observing wildlife, you can see that the animals get fatter over the summer and fall and then leaner in winter. Humans just seem to get fatter and fatter. We seem to have a deep fear of feeling hungry, but a little healthy hunger is not such a bad thing.
Try planning your food intake so that you eat more food in the early part of the day. For most of us, the evening meal can be very light. If you exercise, eat lots of fruits and vegetables and take a light evening meal, you will wake up in the morning with a roaring hunger. That's good. Eat a nice, hearty breakfast and start the cycle all over again.
Obviously, I'm not suggesting that we return to primitive times. We love our cell phones, air travel and comfortable homes. Still, we should stay in touch with our true nature and our connection to wildlife and the great outdoors. Take some lessons from nature, but you can still e-mail this article to your friends.
http://www.redmountainspa.com/
(800)407-3002 (435)673-4905
