Over a many years I pretty much ate what ever I wanted starting with bisuits and a cup of tea every morning. But as I have got older I have come to realise that some food is better than others and some food it is best to avoid altogether.
Well you wouldn't put petrol in a diesel car, would you? I remember in my youth accidently putting diesel in a petrol car once (doh!) and it got me some way down the road but the car didn't get very far.
There are some foods that are better for us than others. If we persistently consume food every day that is not so good for us, like Friday night comfort food, fast food, ready meals, our bodies are going to start to decline in performance. Does this mean we stop eating this food altogether? Perhaps ... perhaps not. I believe in freedom, we should be able to eat what we want but in moderation.
There are some foods and fluids that our bodies need abundantly more of than others. There are some foods and fluids that our bodies do not need but we give it permission to tolerate them, much less often.
Now what I eat has completely changed. Inspired by the Mediterranean diet (1) and also healthy home cooked Indian food (which I have had the fortune of being taught to cook by my New Zealand born Indian wife)
I have also taken to having a celery juice every day - the research is in that this vegetable is a super veg powered with anti-oxidants, anti-inflammation, anti-bacterial (2)
Here is an organic celery that we get from our local on veg stall - it costs £1 in current times and comes from Italy and makes enough for 2 people.
Now this may seem a bit strange but I have taken a liking to photographing the remains of food in my sink after. The reason being that it has become more vibrant than it ever was and this makes me think that i am on the right track...
An example menu for me
Morning
Start with a guzzle of water upon waking
20 mins later a high antioxidant juice - currently celery juice - the research is in on this awesome plant (2)
30 mins later a guzzle of Water
20-30 min intervals
- Blueberries - small handful
- banana
- kiwi
An expresso coffee
Afternoon
Mostly Salad with some protein (meat of nuts) eaten throughout afternoon in intervals
Yogurt (with cultures)
Water through afternoon (totaling around 1.5-2 L)
Evening
Anything goes in the early evening (5-7 pm)
- Indian vegetarian meal with beans (see below for visual recipe) with yogurt (cultures) and salad
- Chicken, fish or high protein vegan
- low/gluten free pasta/bread
- rice (red/black or white)
Healthy treats only ie 50% - 70%+ dark chocolate
Mugg Monday (indian recipe)
This is a visual recipe for now - the blog will be updated with written version soon.
It includes a range of health spices including Tumeric (containing curcumin which is good for helping to generate BDNF and new brain cells)
Yummmm!!!
Author: Jan Carpenter
References
Spectre.Tim (2016) The Diet Myth (book)