A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a blog post titled “Self-affirmations: Are they just wishful thinking?” One of the affirmations I came across was, “I am what I eat.” First, I am not currently saying this affirmation, at least not yet. As a matter of fact, I quickly skipped this affirmation because it was quite frightening. Am I really that delicious piece of cake I ate at a friend’s birthday party the other day? Truth be told, I am not ready to repeat “I am what I eat” to myself daily. But I know people who have used this particular affirmation and swear by it. They tell me it helps them make better choices when they eat. So, I decided to look into this more. Are we really what we eat? But first, why is it we never stop talking about food?
Food, food, everywhere
The reason why food is always trendy is that food is one of the basic necessities of life, together with water, air, and shelter. That is why there are tons of restaurants everywhere you look. It’s also why food is topmost on our minds within the first few hours after waking up or even before going to bed the previous night. Besides, it doesn’t help that we have a myriad of choices when it comes to food. So, there is always food for thought, literarily.
In addition, our bodies use food as fuel to accomplish everything. It is what keeps us alive and healthy. Food is also a social tool that brings us together, giving us happiness and joy.
Even God knew at creation how vital food is to us. In Genesis 1:29, shortly after creating man, He said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.”
Bearing all these in mind, how does what we eat determine who we are?
I am what I eat: Is this true?
Is there a connection between our food choices and who we are? The answer is yes. What we eat is one of the most important factors in our overall health. The food we eat affects our physical, mental, and psychological well-being. If you think about it deeply, it can even affect our financial well-being. And if you don’t believe me, try eating dinner daily at Restaurant Guy Savoy in Las Vegas for the next few weeks, and let me know if your wallet does not feel the pinch.
What we eat and our health
Some researchers carried out a study in the United States in 2012. They wanted to know if eating too much or too little of ten different foods and nutrients can raise the risk of dying of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. They found that nearly half of all the deaths from these conditions (heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes) were associated with poor eating habits. Here are the study findings:
Now that we know that what we eat and how much we eat affects our health and lives, how do we make better food choices?
Choose wisely
The goal of eating better is not to deprive yourself of the foods you love but to eat a healthier version of these same foods. Below is a sample food guide showing you how to make healthier food choices. You can find more information and more examples here.
Final thoughts
I hope to, one day, get to a place where I can boldly declare “I am what I eat” and be truly happy with ALL of my food choices, but like many, I am a work in progress.
However, I came across an extended version of the same affirmation that made me reflect even more deeply – “I am what I eat or consume.” Now, this takes the affirmation to a totally different level because it is not only about the food we eat. We already know that the foods we eat affect our health and lives. But, how about the other things we consume? For example, what we watch, who we listen to, what we read, and much more. No wonder Christ Jesus said, “It is written, Man is not to live by bread alone.” (Luke 4:4, NLV).
Many of us understand how important eating well is to our health. Therefore, we adjust our diet and meal plans to stay healthy. But, beyond that, we should always ask ourselves, “What effect will this material I am consuming have on my mind and body?” In other words, daily, as we make healthier food choices, we should also make better choices on what we consume. Then, and only then, can we become the best versions of ourselves!
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Yours in health and fitness,
Doctor Abi
