As a wellness blogger, I get a lot of clients that ask me to write about superfoods. Superfoods are those foods that have greater nutritional value than most common foods. In fact, while laughter is the best medicine, the food we eat also have therapeutic value. So why do we naturally want to consume so much junk food? This article will look at this in greater detail as well as look at ways we can eat healthier for more personal growth and self-development.
What is the appeal with junk food?
Maybe it is because human are naturally rebellious that we like things that are naturally bad for us. Or maybe it is because most humans secretly have such low self-esteem that we do not care what we put into bodies. This goes beyond food and into anything that is tied to addiction; alcohol, drugs, sex. Keep in mind that none of these things are bad in and of themselves. Not even drugs if they were legalized and regulated. But that is another article series on recreational drugs that is coming up in the coming weeks.
When you look at your diet, it is ironic that you see a Catch-22. When you eat healthier, you feel better about yourself. You also do not get as hungry and you even sleep better. The trick is how do you eat healthier when you do not feel good about yourself to begin with? Especially since all that junk food zaps your energy and all you want to do is sleep.
Just like pharmaceutical medications, when you cut back you have to wean off under a doctor’s care. It is the same with junk food. Since this type of food in and of itself is not bad, all you have to do is cut back. As you cut back, you will want to incorporate better food into your diet; such as more fruits and vegetables. You can still have the occasional “junk food” such as Potato chips or Oreo cookies. The key is to do it in moderation. The ironic part is humans have the hardest time doing anything in moderation. That is usually because they are always trying to fill some kind of void.
This is why Anonymous groups don’t work by having you abstain from the drugs and alcohol; because in the end you just end up filling the void with another addiction and have to go to another Anonymous group to overcome that addiction you developed while overcoming the first addiction.
See how complicated life can get really quick?
Make your own “junk food” from scratch
Another thing to consider is what makes junk food “junk”? It is generally the bad ingredients that the manufacturers put in the food itself. This is everything from hydrogenated oil to high fructose corn syrup that is found in sodas. The best way to cut out junk food, without abstaining completely, is to make all your food from scratch.
For example, what are potato chips? Or more accurately, what are they made from? The answer is potatoes. You can buy a bag of potatoes far cheaper than you can buy a bag of potato chips. All you have to do is wash and peel them and fry them up or bake them. From this writer’s experience, this method is far more nutritious and filling than any bag of chips. Especially since most of those bags of chips you buy at the grocery store are 50% chips and 50% air. It makes you wonder if you are paying for the food or paying for air.
It might be a challenge to make your own Oreo cookies but you can bake any other variety of sweets from scratch. This will save you money in the long run and the use of creativity is a confidence booster.
Of course it is also good to note that diet alone is nothing without physical activity. This is especially true if you have a job where you are stuck in an office and do not get any exercise. This type of healthy way of eating “junk food” by making it from scratch may make you feel better about yourself, but when you combine it with a few hours a week at the gym you release more endorphins that will have you feeling on top of the world; sort of a natural manic phase so to speak.
Remember if we feel bad about ourselves, we will put bad things into our body. The result is we feel worse and start to develop chronic health issues. When we lose the victim mentality, we feel empowered to take the first step toward a healthier lifestyle. As we persevere in this, we develop self-confidence and show signs of personal growth that overflows into every area of our lives.
E Bishop Wooten
The Liberal Conservative Blog http://ebishopwooten.com
