Intuitive Eating

There’s nothing positive to be said for doing anything mindlessly, outside of meditation. This is especially true when it comes to how we feed ourselves.

The creative intelligence of the body is unique to the individual and factors in region, body type and health/disease condition. I wouldn’t expect the nutritive intuition of Eskimos in Alaska to have anything in common with someone living in South Atlanta. And unfortunately, my body and lifestyle has little in common with pro-athlete Serena Williams, so I don’t expect to eat like her in training mode either. The body’s functionality is based on set and evolving genetic patterns. Some of our bodily needs (and wants) are inherited, some develop over time based on our lifestyle choices.

So, when I don’t wanna eat breakfast, I don’t. For me, it’s a part of my code. To many nutritionists and wellness advisors, this is the first sin of a healthful diet. But we must feel comfortable setting personal standards. Adjust nutritional recommendations according to what works best for you. There’s a reason they are called “recommendations”. My grandmother used to say, ‘What’s good for the goose ain’t necessarily good for the gander’.

Here is what I’ve learned on my intuitive journey:

1. Drink more water. Thirst is illusive, silent and often disguised as hunger. It should be the first thing you consume. Usually for me, it’s in the form of unsweetened tea.

2. Eat only when you’re hungry. The secret’s out: Americans eat too much. Stop eating when you are no longer hungry, not “full”. Full means, you’ve overeaten.

3. Consume mostly whole foods. Even though trendy vegan foods are meatless, many of them still contain chemicals and additives that work against your health. Whole foods are the best foods for us. They naturally communicate with our bodies because they are often foods our ancestors ate.

Listen to your body and take note of your patterns. Be well and be You.