What you eat and how you eat profoundly affects your emotions and your mood. Look no further than your morning cup of coffee! Every morning, millions of Americans start their day with a mood enhancer called caffeine. To a large extent, everything you eat has chemicals in it that affect your mood. Food is nutrition for body, mind and spirit. Remember that old saying - "you are what you eat"?
The Merck Manual reports that the primary nutritional problems of seniors "are protein-energy undernutrition, vitamin deficiencies, trace mineral deficiencies, and obesity." As we age, the acid in our stomach (hydrochloric acid) can decrease. This decreased stomach acid decreases the amount of protein, vitamins and minerals we can digest and absorb. With less protein, our immune system function decreases, we get sick more often, and we have less vitality.
With less vitamins and minerals, our mental function is diminished and our energy is decreased. Depression is a problem for many seniors, and dietary changes can significantly impact how many seniors feel (remember that cup of coffee?).
So what can we all do to eat better and feel better?
Watch The Sugar
Blood sugar has a direct effect on mood. Remember how you feel when you are really hungry and really full? Try to keep blood sugar from spiking up or down by decreasing the amount of sugar and other refined carbohydrates (white rice, white flour) and increasing the amount of complex carbohydrates (whole grains) and fiber (fruits, vegetables, nuts) that you eat. Sugar is sweet, but it is also lacking in vitamins and minerals.
Flip Your Meals
Most of us eat our heaviest meal at night. Try flipping your meals - eat heavy meals in the morning (your stomach acid is highest in the morning and you have the whole day to digest) and light meals at night (you will sleep better and allow your body to rejuvenate).
Get Help
Consider taking a high quality vitamin and mineral supplement. Stress can deplete vitamin C and the B vitamins. Supplements can help bring our nutritional status back up to normal. Take your vitamin/mineral supplement before breakfast.
By following these simple guidelines, we optimize our health and simply feel better. The next time you sit down for a meal, consider that food is not only what keeps us healthy, but also what can help us stay happy.
For more information, contact Dr. Ken Weizer
at:
Down to Earth Medicine LLC
6501 SE King Road
Portland, Oregon 97222
Phone: (503) 771-0805
Fax: (503) 788-8020
E-Mail: DrWeizer@aol.com
