So often patients ask: What does Chinese medicine have to say about diet?

The simple answer is balance.

You want balance in every meal.
Each and every meal should include protein, carbohydrate, fat and, don’t forget, flavor!

When deciding how much you should consume you can use this simple guideline:
Each meal should contain a portion of protein the size of the palm of your hand, approximately a cup of carbohydrates, and small amount of high quality fat.

Imagine a meal consisting of a portion of chicken, fish, or beef, a lovely display of leafy green vegetables and a piece of whole wheat bread with olive oil or a slice of avocado.
Sounds good doesn’t it?

But what if you have a very specific health goal, then how do you adjust your diet to support your intended lifestyle shift?

Here are a few ideas:

Health goal: to reduce your overall intake of caffeine.

1. Make sure to have protein at every meal. This will help equalize blood sugar levels and prevent weight gain as you reduce the caffeine in your diet.
2. Reduce caffeine intake GRADUALLY a 10% decrease each week. Do not stop “cold turkey,” trust me, you will feel miserable.
3. Replace the routine of sipping coffee with a healthier alternative. Try green tea or for even less caffeine Kukicha (twig) tea, or any tasty herbal tea with lemon ginger or peppermint. They sell sample packets so you can try a variety and decide which ones you like.
4. Keep a food diary and monitor your mood and energy level. This will help keep track of your progress and keep you on top of your health goal.

Health goal: to make better food choices when away from the kitchen.

1. Start with a food diary to see what you tend to eat when you are out. Analyze your choices, identify your unhealthy choices and slowly make an effort to replace them with more healthy foods.
2. Pack a lunch. If possible, try to pre-plan your lunch meal by bringing leftovers from the previous night’s dinner or a homemade sandwich.
3. Find a vendor near your workplace that prepares food in a healthy way. Look for fresh vegetables, high quality oils like olive and sunflower oils, and organic choices, if possible.
4. Continue to monitor your progress. Reward yourself for you efforts and make course corrections along the way if you fall off track.

What is YOUR specific health goal in regards to your food choices?
Send Abbey an email and let’s get going to a happier and healthier you!

Posted February 14th, 2007 by Abbey in articles |