“Food, glorious food” is the first line of the chorus in Laurence Jeffcoate’s song of the same title. The orphan boys in the musical, Oliver, danced and sang while they imagined all sorts of gastronomical delights. Food affects every part of our lives, doesn’t it? It’s personal, comforting, social, familial, traditional, and spiritual. Ever hear someone reminisce about grandmother’s fried chicken? Ever try making a major change in your own dietary habits?
Diet is always bit of a hot topic. The conversation may go, “What is your eating plan? Keto? Vegan? Pescatarian? Low FODMAP?” So many different types of dietary trends exist touting “good for you” or “bad for you.” The truth is that no one dietary plan fits all. Because we are all bio-individuals, while one dietary plan is appropriate for one person, or for a particular therapeutic regimen, it may be absolutely inappropriate for another. I strongly recommend working with someone trained and knowledgeable in the practice of using food and nutritional supplementation therapeutically rather than going it on your own. That being said, what and how we eat may affect the results of your digital infra-red thermal imaging, particularly when it comes to inflammation.
Certain foods, additives, colorings, preservatives, etc. are known to stimulate an immune response in the body often as inflammation. Not everyone responds to these ingredients in the same way. Food sensitivities and current state of health may play a part in a reaction.
The fast pace of culture leaves many of us eating on the run in the car or standing by the kitchen sink. This finds us in the sympathetic state. Unfortunately, digestion occurs during the parasympathetic state of rest and repair. So, not only are you not digesting properly, but your sympathetic nervous system may also be triggering an inflammatory response in your body.
Eating in a hurry or mindlessly robs your body in so many ways. You miss out on the flavors, which stimulate proper digestion.
You may not be chewing thoroughly, which then, like the snowball effect, adds pressure and inflammation down the line in your digestive system and the inability of your body to extract and metabolize nutrients from the food.
Your body is able to handle temporary bouts of inflammation, however, chronic inflammation in the body, whatever the source, has been implicated with acne, allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, and even serious disease such as autoimmune disease and cancer.
All the above only scratches the surface of the impact of food on wellness and your thermographic images. Here are some ideas to try in order to make a positive impact on your thermographic image:
Eat whole foods of each food group, properly prepared to preserve the most nutritional value.
• Select foods (not the packaging) with bright colors. Darker colors typically relate to higher nutrient content.
• Chew your solid foods until they are in a liquid state, and likewise, chew your liquids like they are solids. This technique will help to stimulate your digestive system.
• Avoid mixing meals with meetings or working at your desk. ‘Nuf said.
• Can’t relax? Try sitting on the floor or the ground in a quiet spot while you eat your meal. It may help you switch to a parasympathetic state.
• Don’t like to eat alone? Find someone to share a meal with you.
• Give thanks for your food. This simple act is powerful in that you are stopping and expressing gratitude. A possible link exists between expressions of gratitude and lower levels of inflammation.
What’s the bottom line? Slow down. Be grateful.
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