Weight Control Clinics Brookings SD

Seven Steps to Ideal Weight

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Quantum physics tells us that when we go beyond the mask of matter, the universe is revealed to be energy and information. Your body and the environment in which you live are intimately interwoven fields of energy and information. All living beings face the challenge of how to acquire energy and information from the environment and transform it into the energy and information of their bodies. Eating is the process of acquiring, and digestion is the process of using energy and information from our environment.

We describe the energy component of food by the number of calories it contains and the informational component of food by its nutrients—vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. To get the energy and information we require, we need food that supplies optimal levels of calories and nutrients.

Unfortunately, the common Western diet tends to provide too many calories and not enough vital nutrients. As a result, 60 percent of Americans are overweight and almost 40 percent are carrying enough excess weight to affect their health. Even our children are showing an alarming rise in the incidence of obesity.

The six tastes
The human brain sends hunger signals when it becomes aware of the need for energy and information. As we eat, our taste buds send messages to the brain informing it if we have ingested foods that provide the energy and information we need. The six tastes, known in Ayurveda as sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent are the codes that inform our nervous systems of a meal’s nutritional content. If we sample foods that correspond to each of these tastes throughout the day, our meals will provide a wide assortment of health-promoting nutrients. If we do not have all flavors available, the brain is not satisfied and continues to send signals to eat more. As a result, we take in too many calories but remain malnourished

Additionally, in every category of taste, some foods are highly nutritious and others should be eaten more sparingly. Favor fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, cereals, breads, and nuts. If you do not want to become vegetarian, reduce your intake of red meats, favoring cold-water fish and egg whites. Minimize your intake of highly refined sugar and wheat products.

The role of emotions
Our emotions also play an essential role in our eating habits. We learned early in life how putting something in our mouths soothed upset feelings. Whether it was a breast, a bottle, a pacifier, or a thumb, all of us were conditioned to associate our mouths with comfort. It’s not surprising that adults under stress resort to smoking, drinking, or excessive eating. In addition, when we experience stress, our bodies release hormones that cause us to conserve energy, and recent studies have shown that disturbed sleep patterns associated with stress increase levels of hormones responsible for appetite.

What can we do to regain and maintain our ideal weight? Commit to these seven practices for one month, and your b...

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