Have you ever sat down to a meal, savored each bite of food, while paying attention to how each bite makes your body feel? Or once you are done with a meal taking note of any feelings of discomfort? Did you know that your body talks to you? Sounds crazy but it’s true!
Everything we put into our bodies sends us valuable feedback. Such as when I eat certain dairy items my throat gets phlegmy and my nose becomes stuffy. Eating certain raw vegetables tears my stomach up, but when they’re cooked I feel totally fine. I only know this because I have taken the time to listen to my body. Not only to listen to my body, but to figure out what my body is telling me.
I don’t really believe in “good foods” and “bad foods”. I believe there are foods that make us feel really good, full of energy, and there are foods that make us feel not so great. Hello brain fog! In order to know which foods affect you negatively, you have to take the time to listen to your body.
The easiest way to start listening to your body, is to eat slowly. Eating slowly allows us to assess each bite we put into our bodies. It helps to digest our foods fully and properly. Eating slowly also helps you figure out when you are full sooner than when you eat fast and mindlessly.
As you are eating slowly, pay attention to your body. How does your stomach feel, nothing at all or is it starting to feel a little bubbly? What about your head, any headaches, phlegmy feelings, congestion, stuffiness? How’s your throat feeling, scratchy, tight? All of these feelings are feedback from your body. If you feel nothing while you eat, awesome! But if you start to notice symptoms like the ones listed above I suggest you start figuring out which food or foods are making you feel this way. Even healthy foods can make people feel not so great, so don’t just assume because it’s healthy it’s fine. Just like I mentioned above, eating carrots raw makes my stomach cramp up but eating them cooked doesn’t affect me negatively.
We are each our own big experiment! By putting in a little time and effort we can figure out what makes us feel amazing and what makes us feel like crap. Once you know which foods do what you can plan accordingly and start feeling your best in no time at all!
Lindsay Morinville Coaching