How the seasons affect our mind, body and soul

The Affects  of  The Changing Seasons on our Mind, Body and Spirit.


Summer is coming to a close . But as it does, we now have to find ways to continue to exercise and remain in perfect health.
I have noted while in practicing medicine for some 16 years now, that the metabolism changes as the weather or season does. The mind, body and spirit is affected.

I notice it mostly in patients with Thyroid Disorder . The time being changed from daylight saving time to the other effects the mind, the body, the Spirit.

The appetite is altered, we change to other types of food, but not necessarily trying new foods. The foods consumed during the winter is different from foods we intake during the summer. Yes, fruit and vegetable has its season as well as to why there may be the switch for us. The basic foods, eggs, meats, bread etc remain the same.

 Some tend to eat less or more as the weather changes. With this , the mood is affected as well.Some will experience increase in depression, due to the fact that the sunsets sooner than before, as one example.
Therefore you see the difference in weight of the body.
 The question then asked, how can that be corrected .That is where you take more control of the changes being made at the same time controlling and maintaining a stable diet, excercising, and  keeping a positive attitude.
Determine who and what You want to be!

A Daily Walk Improves Blood Sugar Levels

Taking a 30 min walk daily will lower the blood sugar levels thus decreasing the amount of diabetes medication  needed for the day.
It also decreases insulin resistance, there by allowing the sugar to enter the cells, thus providing you energy to move about more.

So pull those tennis shoes out and lets start. Start slow.........!


Enjoy

A New Fruit Or Vegetable

Add New fruit or vegetable to you meal. They  are brilliant with colour for one reason,they are trying to get
Your attention.

Drinks to better your health!!

At times it may become difficult to choose a healthy drink. Well the blog this week will help you with that decision.

Choosing a healthy drink can help prevent weight increase and high blood sugar levels, therefore it is important to know the better or healthier drinks.

The choices are many including :soda, milk,vegetable juice ,fruit juice, water and diet drinks.
In order to prevent weight gain and increase blood sugar, we note the carbohydrates in the individual drink.

Non Carbs.                                        Some Carbs.                                     High Carbs.
Water.                                                   Vegetable juice.                                Fruit smoothies
Water with flavor.                                  Juice, light                                       Milk, chocolate
Diet soda.                                                Skim/low fat milk.                          Lemonade
Iced Tea, diet.                                           Low fat soy.                                    Fruit juices, multiple cups

Tips For Eating

                             TIPS FOR....................EATING

1. When you sit down to eat, remove all other foods from the table.

This makes it harder for you to have seconds. Put the food on a counter far from the table, or place in the refrigerator.

2. Eat four to six small meals  a day.

Most people who are overweight skip meals , making them hungry, when it is time to eat.Therefore if you eat small meals thoughtout the day,this will prevent over eating ,if  you are only eating two to three meals a day.

3. Take time to EAT

Take at least 20 minutes to do so. Think of your intake , savor the moment to chew and enjoy every bite , and taste.

4. Decrease the size of your positions by one quarter to one third !

MINDFUL EATING

MINDFUL EATING


As I sat and wrote the last blog, I woke up the next morning to hear the news, that a restaurant in Brooklyn, NY, will dedicate the Sundays to Mindful Eating. The restaurant ask that there be no TALKING in the restaurant , while eating!

Why? They want the patrons,to enjoy, savor every bite. To think  and enjoy every bite! What a great idea, I thought for I just wrote on this, it says , I am not the only one thinking it.

You are given the opportunity to closed your eyes and taste every molecule of the food on the end of The your fork.
The ability to savor the moment.......chew.........breathe.......and relax.Follow the bite of food in your mouth. Dissecting it, the texture, sweetness, tasty,salty,the hint of mint!! Take in the moment ......continue for every bite, until the meal is complete.

With this,you will pay attention to what you are putting in the body. Selective of the choices of food and you will lose weight in the process.


Check out http://wellnessfordiabetes.co

Theresa Clarke PA, MBBS, MSc, PhD(c)

Mindless Eating

Mindless Eating.....



This is a topic that is rarely spoken on. Mindless eating, is something that is done with out thought. Stop for a day, to think about what we are putting in our mouths to eat.
Once you have made the choice of the food, placing it in the mouth comes next. Most times we may not look at it once we made the choice. This happens mostly after ordering food through a drive thru. The food is ordered, picked up at the pick up window,it is  unwrapped  and eaten for we have to drive as well.
Instead........

Look at the food you are about to place into your month. In the first bite, what do you experience? It is the texture, then the taste ......?
The chewing starts. As you chew, you continue because of the taste or the texture of the food you like at this point.

Is it sweet, sour,salty.......whatever the taste, you want to continue ,for you like the taste right now, so you continue .

As you continue ,focus on your meal. Do not drive, turn the TV off, hang up the phone. Focus on what you are putting in your mouth. Savor every bite . Chew 6-8 times before swallowing. Look at  your next bite. Become aware of  the hand movement towards the mouth. Pay attention to the food you are feeding yourself.

Be MINDFUL of what you are PUTTING IN  YOUR MOUTH for  EVERY TIME, daily.
 With this, one would be able to  think twice of what they are putting in the body!

Theresa Clarke  PA, MBBS, MSc,PhD(c)