NEW ARTICLES EVERY MONTH
February 2010
Changing your diet
What the peasant doesn’t know, he doesn’t eat. There is a lot of truth in this saying from Germany. Nothing is more deeply rooted in us than our eating habits. Not only what we eat, but also how much and when. Sometimes we forget the most important thing in the process: listening to our inner voice when eating. It’s high time we sharpened our ears.
Who would have thought: If you want to eat properly, you have to put pleasure at the top of your priority list. Start by being intensely aware of every bite and every sip. By doing just this, your cravings for unhealthy foods will quickly pass. Incidentally, enjoying your food fills you up better. Fast-food that needs little chewing is often swallowed too quickly. Slow and thorough chewing, on the other hand, activates satiation stimuli and supports healthy digestion, too. Calmly close your eyes when eating and concentrate on the various aromas. You do not need new recipes to do this – your perception will be equally good with vegetables and chocolate alike, whatever tastes good to you.
The Indian teachings of Ayurveda (“knowledge for living longer”) provide many good ideas for holistic nutrition and diet. Ayurvedic cuisine reduces the amount of meat in the diet in favour of a balanced diet made up of vegetables, fruit, grains and legumes, supplemented by herbs and spices. Food groups are organised according to the impact they have on the body: stimulating, exhaustive or soothing.
In selecting food consider your personality type. Temperament – fiery, intellectual or calming – differs greatly in every person. Likewise you should note how different spices affect you and decide which ones work for you. But do not be guided by habits, like a craving for a chocolate bar; instead, let yourself be guided solely by the effect. Try new foods, starting with simply-prepared dishes accompanied by water to drink instead of soft drinks. Stick with what makes you feel good and forget all the rest. The goal of Ayurveda is to balance your temperaments by selecting foods for inner harmony.
