What is the phrase “you are what you eat” actually saying to us? Is your overall health exclusively dependent on what, when, and how you eat? Nope. I’m here to tell you that your health goes way beyond food. Your life matters more than how many vegetables you put in your bowl, how little carbs you can get by on in a day, or what food groups you avoid. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not negating the power of food. However, your health is not solely dependent on what you eat, and it is certainly so much much more than what foods you restrict.
As the world around us continues to suffer from a global pandemic with no end in sight, it is becoming increasingly important to keep your health as a priority. Your life + your health are dependent the things that make you who you are, not simply the foods you eat or don’t eat. The foods you choose right now are important. However, food is not the only way to keep your immune system functioning optimally, your mood up, inflammation down, and keep you …. dare I say …
happy AND healthy.
As I write these tips this week, I will admit, I’m totally over the virus that is raging through our world. I am saddened by the lives that are being lost, the rippling effect on communities, the restrictions on who we can see and what we can do. I sat down to write an inspiring article today about cooking plant-based foods and decided to shift gears.
A few weeks ago my Tuesday Tips were, The Vegetarian’s Guide To Post-Pandemic Eating, and sadly we were so close to “post-pandemic” but never quite got there. My tips from 16 months ago have suddenly become more relevant again, How To Feel More In Control During The Pandemic. Ugh.
So, My Vegetarian Family + Friends, to have the best fighting chance against this virus, other harmful viruses, and all of the acute + chronic illnesses, we need to stay healthy! What we eat or don’t eat cannot be the only tool in the toolbox to stay healthy!
Tara’s Tuesday Tips:
Your Health Goes Way Beyond Food
If the pandemic taught me anything, it taught me that health goes WAY beyond food. Let’s figure out the other tools to put in your keep-me-healthy-even-in-the-face-of-a-pandemic toolbox + fight this thing together.
Be Present
Be here now. Acknowledge your fears but focus on the facts. Live in the new normal without cycling into a “what-if” panic. Your people need you. Pause + cherish the moments. More stress + less social connections = more illnesses, don’t do that.
Sleep
Improving your sleep is one of the easiest ways to improve overall health. As one of the pillars of good health, adequate sleep has been found to stabilize blood sugars, improve athletic performance, boost immunity, decrease depression, and help with weight control. Aim for at least 7 hours per night.
Social Connections
Just because you can’t see all of the people you love right now, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t know you are thinking of them or miss them. Prioritizing social connections has been found to increase longevity, decrease inflammation, improve the immune system, and help you recover from illness quicker!
Gratitude
Did you know that people who actively engage in the practice of gratitude have been found to report less pain, exercise more, have less incidence of depression, improved sleep, and less cardiovascular events? Does gratitude cause better health or does better health make you more grateful? Now that’s food for thought! Either way, adopting an attitude of gratitude is just another tool to keep in the health-toolbox.
Movement Is Essential
Walk, run, bike, download a yoga video, start meditating, anything that moves you! I am like a broken record with this one. So so so so so many health conditions improve with even a little movement.
Food Restriction
Intentional food restriction (and the subsequent anxiety that comes along with it) causes more harm to the body than any food ever could. Life is short, eat the cookie.
Infection Control
Wash your hands, don’t touch your face, wear a mask when necessary, remember you have the power to protect others around you + keep your germs to yourself. This tool is on the top tray of the toolbox. Not much more I can say about this, washing your hands is so much easier than some of the other stuff on this list.
Be Kind To Yourself
You don’t need to give up entire food groups or take actions that you end up being so hard on yourself that you create more problems than solutions.
Self-care
If you are anything like me, you feel the constant need to be productive. It is critical to take time for rest + reflection. Yoga, meditation, music, anything that you incorporate into your life that relieves stress + anxiety is imperative to your health. These relaxing practices have been shown to decrease blood pressure, improve immunity, relieve pain, and even fight cardiovascular events.
“Let Food Be Thy Medicine”
This quote has stood the test of time, and for very good reason. What we eat is a choice, a lifestyle, and a healing power. But what we eat is also part of who we are, our culture, the love + joy we share with the people in our lives. Remember, food can impact your health both negatively and positively. In the same way that you prepare your house for a lurking storm, your car for a long drive, your bank account for retirement, isn’t it appropriate to give your body all of the tools it needs to put up a good fight? Yes. Nutrition is another essential pillar to overall health. But remember, your health goes way beyond food.
A Few Other Articles For Your Health-Toolbox:
- The Vegetarian’s Guide To Mood Boosting Foods
- Signs That You Should Go Plant-Based
- Ten Rules of Eating
- How I Got Here
- How to Lower Your Cholesterol
- The Truth About Carbs (Good vs Bad Carbs
- The Vegetarian’s Guide To Mindful Snacking
Hope this helps you stay healthy, MVF fam + friends 💚
All the best,
Tara 💚
⭐ Do you believe your health goes way beyond food?
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