Diet Changes Come With
Aging
I had become
aware of the difference in the food we are eating compared to that we ate when
we were younger. I thought it was
because we changed our diet, but when I sit back and think about it, it may be that
our own bodies are responding to the aging process.
Food was consumed for enjoyment.
When we were
young, Sunday was a special day, and a
big meal was prepared for the family. Birthdays
required a cake, sodas, sandwiches, chips and ice cream. The holidays, Christmas, 4th of
July, Thanksgiving and Easter, were celebrated with piles of food. Funerals brought all the relatives together, and everyone gathered at the table
laden with food.
In our forties, food covered the table. The vegetables, potatoes and salad were served in bowls, and the
main course appeared on a platter. After
saying grace for all this food, those around the table filled their plates and
often refilled them two or three times until all the food was gone. Dessert: pie,
cake, cookies or custard, followed.
There was always room for something sweet.
When we reached
seventy, all that food still lured us to over indulge. However, when we did so, our bodies rebelled. We became bloated, had a stomach ache and
sometimes suffered for a day or two. It
took us longer to get the body back to working properly.
Today some of us
have arthritis, diabetes, heart problems, gout, brittle bones, etc., and we have
learned our consumption of food may be the cause. The food we have eaten over the years has
been stored throughout our bodies, much to its detriment.
As we aged, we
became wiser. The bowls of food
were no longer on the table, and the meal
was plated. That meant the food we were
to eat was on the plate, and there was no
more on which to gorge. What we didn’t realize
was that we were satisfied with the lesser amount of food. Our bodies were not urging us to eat anymore, and we did not fall onto the couch
after dinner. The body was saying thank
you.
As the years passed,
our bodies became weaker and stiffer, and our movements slowed down, and we became
concerned about the food we were eating. Those around us who were overweight wanted to know the fat content of foods. To stay regular, we heard we needed roughage; just what
is roughage, anyway? We seem to be eating less; perhaps we need to supplement
with vitamins. Which foods have the vitamins
we need? We turned to our daughter, a
health and life coach, for the answers. http://georgiegrossman.com/…/reviewing-personal-health-plan/
Her basic
instructions were, “Eat fresh fruits and vegetables with a limited amount of
meat, exercise daily, drink plenty of water, and continue serving plated meals with
measured portions. Do not over eat!”
Gordon, who does
the grocery shopping, began to view the produce section as a drug store and a
fun place to shop. As a child, his
family didn’t eat fruits and vegetables that were out of season and he now enjoys buying and eating these
foods all year round. Berries and fruits
are high in Vitamin C. All dark green
vegetables are high in Vitamin A, iron and calcium. Yellow and orange vegetables
are high in beta-Carotene and are good for the eyes. As we changed our shopping habits, we became
aware of how the food we eat really works in our body.
The problem for me has been trying to drink eight glasses of water a day. That was a tall order as I used to drinking only minimal
amounts.
To start each day, I prepare a
smoothie; fruit one day and veggie the next.
The Ninja is filled with veggies or fruits and eight ounces of water and ice. A few good bursts of the Ninja and Viola! Our
healthy day has begun.
In the
first two years of this lifetime change, we
each lost over twenty pounds without feeling hungry between meals. We are now taking less over the counter supplements, and our medications have certainly
decreased.
As for
our food intake, we eat at home most of the time, and when we do eat out, we
order one meal and ask for an extra plate.
We eat anything we want but only
in moderation. Life is good.
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