with illeana barcia
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Balance To Food Ratio
Divert Your Mind From Food
The definition of moderation is the process of lessening or eliminating the extremes in your life.
Who ever told you not to eat the foods you love? Trying to find balance in the everyday foods you love doesn't have to be so hard. But let's get into what carbs, fats and proteins really are.
You probably heard it all before .. carbs aren't good after 6 PM, you can't eat after 8 so your body can digest, fats are not good for you, only lean proteins and vegetables is what you should eat. What is true and what is not anymore? No one can keep up. Carbohydrates are what fuels the body for energy. Healthy food sources of carbohydrates are fruits, vegetables and grains. Unhealthy food sources include soda, candy and sugary desserts. There are 2 types of carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates also known as polysaccharides and simple sugars which are made up of monosaccharides and disaccharides. I know.. really big words here. In simpler terms complex carbohydrates give us a longer lasting sustainable energy where as simple sugars give us little to no energy. These simple sugars get absorbed quickly by the body and used for quick energy. Say you go get an ice cream cone from the shop, once eaten you have energy for about an hour at most and then your body and mind start to get tired. Where as complex carbohydrates have a faster rate of energy and is actually slower to digest. So say if you eat a bowl of rice with some protein then you will actually be fuller and satisfied longer. Once the body craves sugar.. it will continue to crave sugar. It just wants more and more. Anyways, eating healthier carbs throughout the day will help you along the way.
Fats.. also known as lipids. A lot of people are either on Keto diets which is just eating higher amounts of fat so it keeps you full longer with a low carb intake. Not knocking the keto diet at all and if that works for your body then by all means try it. Staying in ketosis is very challenging for some people. Some actually need carbs to stay active. Although, if you actually are on a keto diet then your carbs should be limited to like 20-25 grams per day. Some might say that's a challenge (for me it sure is). Healthy fats have a lot of benefits to them that we shouldn't cut out. Fats are found in plant and animal sources. Healthy fats include avocados, cheese (a nice sharp provolone is where it's at), nuts, red meat, salmon and olive oil. Unlike carbohydrates, fats have a harder time digesting in the body since they are hydrophobic which means not water soluble. But here's the thing, we have essential and nonessential fatty acids going into a fatty acid chain. Essential fatty acids are needed in a persons diet which helps regulate blood pressure, clotting and immune response. Are you still reading? Am I making sense of it all? It's a lot for anyone to think about.
Protein.
The Buddhist Circle which is also called enso. The meaning of the word is circle. It's a meditative practice that includes using a singular brushstroke technique going in a circle. Your body is supposed to feel light and to just let go. That circle is also sometimes called The Circle Of Togetherness. I am currently in an airport reading a book called A Really Big Lunch by Jim Harrison. He relates a plate to the Buddhist Circle. It is an interesting analogy because it's a circle as well as a circle (plate) that brings togetherness. The shape of plates today around round, rectangle, triangle, deep, naarow, even ruffed edges. The shape of the plate matters. Why did you buy it? Do you like that shape or style? Did you like the way it will look on your kitchen or restaurants table? There is also a reason why you got it or have it. That meaning will remind you why you put it on the table. It will show off the food picture perfect. It will fit a large amount. Once the food is placed on that plate, it will be satisfy your eyes and your tastebuds. Sitting down eating duck breast, letting the juice fall all over the creamy polenta or parsnip puree. The juice drip alone opens up a discussion. No phones, no TV, just food and conversation. In the Middle Ages they used to have stale bread used as a plate. Some would cut a bigger piece and slice a little bit through the middle and make it into a bowl. The staler the better it was so the more sturdy the "plate" is. So from stale bread to what we have now, the transition over the years has improved don't you think? A plate placed a on table with others near it or next to it already expresses that it will either 1. Be a good meal or 2. An even better meal while being surrounded with good company. Have you ever been to a restaurant and on your way there you think about the interesting topics or discussions you could be having while enjoying your food? You could just be talking about food, drinks, sex, debates on which method is better to cook a steak, cast iron vs grill. Honestly, once among other people with food and drinks there is no way it lasts less than 3-4 hours (or all night for that matter). I think the message with food goes far back as tradition and culture. It is passed on from generation to generation. Don't throw away that recipe your grandmother gave you. Because 99.9% it was from her grandmother. Before that though her grandmother got it from her mother and then her mother got it from her mother. You catch my drift. It starts with the plate. The point is, it matters what the shape of that plate is, it matters what goes on that plate and it matters who is in your circle.
Ice cream should be enjoyed whenever you feel like having it. Summer or Winter.
