Health Awareness and Disease Prevention
Healthy Diet Habits
It's hard to maintain healthy diet habits in a fast-paced
society that has redefined a meal as something that must
be convenient and quick. Modern conveniences like microwave
ovens and drive-thrus have quickened our eating pace. Business
lunches have turned a much need break into a continuation
of work activities. Even eating while watching TV interferes
with the digestive process. In general, good health can
be defined as good circulation that is smooth and unobstructed
for our body and our lifestyle. Has the celebration of eating
become a tedious obligation obstructing our lifestyle?
What we eat is just as important as how we eat and there
is a science behind this idea. Eating quickly or while participating
in other activities dilutes the digestive process. The body
has two types of nervous systems that enable the release
of hormones for different body responses. The Sympathetic
Nervous System (SNS) enables fight or flight responses that
help us respond to various stressful activities. The Parasympathetic
Nervous System (PNS) enables feeding and breeding responses
of a more relaxing nature. The process of digestion is more
efficiently regulated by the PNS during conditions of relaxation.
Eating quickly or eating while engaged in other activities
can increase stress, not allowing our bodies to fully relax,
thereby diluting the digestive process.
This smooth transition from activity to rest promotes good
circulation and health. Irregularities or harsh transitions
knots up our circulation and can bring on indigestion, acid
reflux, irregular bowel habits, headaches, and more. Promoting
a healthy diet includes taking the time to relax, celebrating
each meal, eating regularly, chewing slowly, avoiding the
mixing of other activities with eating, consuming fresh
whole foods and eliminating or limiting refined fast foods.
Relaxation will allow your body to properly digest food
so when you engage back into your active day your body will
be healthy and ready to respond.
Christopher Carlow, D. Ac.
Doctor of Acupuncture
Date: 10/16/05
