Right Diet for Your Body

With summer winding down, our appetites cool with the weather, while our palates crave richer, warmer foods for the fall. It's important to remember that a part of being healthy is eating the right foods for your body, and your body alone.

In my practice, I often come across cases where food that may be considered “healthy” for one person may not be true for the next. Have you ever tried a diet that worked great for your friend, but when you followed it, you didn't see the same results? That's because you are not just physically, but internally different from your friend. You have a different stomach, metabolism, medical history, and physical makeup.

Being an advocate of eastern practices, I examine each patient as an entire individual—not just by pre-existing medical conditions. For example, if I had a patient with diabetes, I would consider what that individual is experiencing and assess his or her symptoms as a whole, not just blindly giving a treatment based on the diabetic condition alone.

Similarly, the result of food intake also varies per person. As you look toward the fall and winter months, examine your eating habits to learn about yourself. A food journal is a great way to track your eating routine, and teaches you a lot about items that work well with your body, as well as others that might not be the best for your system. You'll find below a few suggestions when starting your own journal.
Document Your Servings, Portion Sizes and Moderation

How many daily servings do you get of the different food groups? Track these items in particular to gain a clearer idea of what may be missing from your diet, or what could be affecting your energy levels.

• Overall daily food intake

• Fruits and vegetables

• Lean protein

• Raw foods

• Whole grain fiber

• Soluble fiber (e.g., oatmeal and bananas)

• Water

Pay Attention to Your Movements

Believe it or not, your bathroom habits can tell a lot about how your body accepts or rejects the food you eat.

• Describe urination and note in particular any sensitivity, colors, ease, or difficulty.

• Note when you have irregularity (and regularity) in your bowel movements.

• Consider the consistency of each movement and the presence of undigested foods. This could be an indication of food your body is rejecting.

Note Allergies and Pain

If you have a pre-existing health condition that dictates your diet (such as Crohn's, Diverticulitis, IBS, or Diabetes), pay attention to any particular foods that could be causing an adverse reaction. In the same vain, those with food allergies should be sure to note their current allergies, and document any time they feel similar symptoms when trying a food that they do not consider themselves allergic to. The below points can also tell you more about the possibility of certain ingredients or food groups that do not agree with your digestive tract:

• Bloating after eating green vegetables

• Abdominal pain after high-fat meals

• Abdominal pain after eating nuts

• Preferences/tendencies toward warm or cold drinks

With a little help from you, a practitioner of Chinese Medicine can help assess the right diet for your body. By keeping a unique balance created for you, maintaining your health over time becomes an easier task, giving you more time to focus on the things that you truly want to spend your time doing.

Eat consciously, know what you put in your mouth, and enjoy each bite!