In my experience, I have found that there is really no one definitive answer to this question.  Obviously, when it comes to our physical health and wellbeing, the answer is so much clearer than, for example, when asked about the impact of food on our emotional and mental health.

So, let us start with the physical. Simply put, food is the source that gives our bodies the ingredients they need to work and function properly; assuming that we are following a healthy and balanced diet.

In the event that we should fall short in providing our bodies with these vital tools, then it is safe to assume that our health will decline over time. And, if we get too much of the wrong foods, these can in turn lead to other health problems such as obesity, diabetes and heart diseases… to name a few.

This month, I wanted my posts to focus on diet and health, and the little changes we can make to help us along the way.  When I sat down to write however, I found that the topic is in fact, extremely broad, and has so many areas to cover, which I will in all likelihood end up covering in multiple blog posts (if I haven’t already). To break it down, I started with a list of questions and worked my way from there.

Question 1: How does food work in our bodies?

• Firstly, it is not the food, but the nutrients within them that allow our bodies to develop and function.
• Therefore, if our diet is lacking in these essential nutrients, then overtime, our metabolic processes and body functions will decline, and our health will suffer as a result.
• My advice here: eat whole foods as much as you can, and always read the labels of things in the supermarket to make sure there are no ‘nasties’ as they say.

Question 2: Is there a connection between food and certain health problems?

• For the longest time, we were led to believe that certain diseases such as heart problems and diabetes were due to genetics – if one of your parents is diabetic, then it stands to reason that you may be diabetic as well.
• Did anyone however, ever think to ask ‘well, why is diabetes so prominent in your family?’ – The truth is, yes, many health problems are indeed genetic, but that doesn’t mean that we all should just sit back and see what happens, but rather take measures from as early as possible to prevent or delay their onset. For those of us already suffering from ‘genetic’ health problems, managing your diet is also a good way to manage the disease itself.

For example, both my parents deal with high blood pressure, and in the last year, I found that at every doctor’s appointment, I had high BP readings, not dangerously high, but given my young-ish age and the fact that I am not overweight and lead a generally healthy and active lifestyle, my doctor was a little bit concerned. I however, attributed it to the fact that both my parents have high BP, so it makes sense that I would be heading in that direction too. But that didn’t stop me from looking into what little things I could be doing to at the very least, manage it as best I can.  One advice that came up consistently was cold hibiscus tea; simply brew it overnight with a stick of cinnamon and a sprig of fresh mint (optional), then drink it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.  I did this daily, and without fail, and I am now 4 months in, and happy to report that my BP readings are back to normal.  Though I know this doesn’t necessarily mean I won’t develop high BP later in life, but for now, I’m feeling pretty damn good!

Going back to the question at hand, yes, many health problems, though attributed to genetics, are also partly related to diet, and to prevent them we need to have a better understanding of how nutrients work and as a result, make better choices and conscious decisions when deciding on our meal plans, long term goals and when it is okay to allow for certain cheats and treats.

Question 3: What about food that is good for the soul?

• These include all our guilty pleasures, be they French fries, ice cream or any naughty treat that we crave, most of which are highly processed and generally not good for you.
• Though ideally, we should be cutting these things out completely, for some of us, this decision makes for a very boring life indeed.
• To this I say that I wholeheartedly believe in food that is good for the soul just as much as I do in food that is good for our physical health.

Bear in mind readers, this part is not based on any medical research, but is entirely my own personal opinion.  I believe that when your body is craving something, then that means it needs it.  So yes, have a cupcake (but not 4 cupcakes), order that side of fries with your meal (but maybe not every day), and go ahead and open that packet of extremely processed instant noodles (but again, not every day) … You get the picture.

To end, I will remind all of you that moderation is key, and I have learned to go by the 80/20 rule, meaning that if I am ‘good’, 80% of the time, then I can afford to be a little kinder to myself 10% of the time.  And guess what, some weeks I go a little over 20%, but that’s also okay.  For the most part, I have seen a difference in my moods, energy levels and overall productivity, so clearly this works for me, and lately I’ve found that most weeks I have moved up from 80/20 to 90/10. Great news all around!

Please check out my blog post on Mindful Eating.

And would also love to hear from you guys on your food and health journeys and any helpful tips you can share!