Are you a Magnet, or a Sponge?

The answer is both.

Our souls appear to be magnetic.  We become what we surround ourselves with, and who we embrace in our inner circle.  Have you ever noticed that repetition and exposure breeds behavior?

Much like when we are around someone who has a charming Southern Drawl and we start to inadvertently pick up that sweet twang? As people, we are generally influenced by what we surround ourselves with.

I tend to keep people close to me who are positive, hard-working, compassionate...and funny!  By nature, I'm no comedian, and can't tell a joke to save my life.  So, I try to learn to take a lighter approach on life, and laugh at myself when I need to from my friends who have a humorous edge.

I recently read something about people who had serious illnesses achieving much better progress and healing by watching a funny movie every day.  It sounds cliche, that laughter is the best medicine, but the fact is that human beings seek joy in everything that we do.  When we laugh we are experiencing joy, and are in a state of fulfillment.  So to my funny friends, you know who you are, I love you for helping to keep me healthy.

Your body is not so much a magnet, as it is a sponge.  When you eat or drink, your body is going through the process of Absorption of what is contained in whatever you ingest.

The definition of Absorption is literally:

uptake of substances by a tissue, as of nutrients through the wall of the intestine

By no means am I a nutritionist, or anything closely related to that.  What I am, is just like you!  A person made of organic materials and cells that are relying on my choices throughout the day for the nutrients that I need.  

Keep in mind that absorption doesn't just involve food.  When a person smokes, or uses drugs the body has to ingest this too.  The body is then absorbing materials that it doesn't need and that are in fact harmful.  

Although a person may not be considering this when they are smoking, or eating unhealthy foods, the human body does not discriminate.  It MUST do something with what we give it.  It must ingest it and process it.

I've always had a healthy respect for nutrition for two reasons.  First because I grew up in a household where we cooked fresh food with fruits and vegetables.  The second was a result of having attended a high school that specialized in Math & Science. 

Biology, Physics and especially Chemistry, opened my eyes to the magic behind food.  I was able to see how the body processes the food we eat, and how it's used after we ingest it.

This made me conscious eating was more for staying healthy, alive and vibrant than it was for the pleasure of tasting the food.  Taste is just an added bonus.

Although growing up in my home we ate very fresh and nutritious foods we had 2 very serious problems that I was not aware of until I was an adult.  The first was portion-control.  

You would be shocked to know how much less food our bodies require in comparison to how we feed.  For instance, I read once that a pregnant woman really only requires an extra glass of whole milk a day to compensate and feed her growing baby.  This means the cravings for everything extra is not really because she's "eating for two", but rather hormonal and should be watched closely.

Recommended daily caloric intake for women is often said to be 2,000 per day and for men 2,500.  Calories are what the body transforms into energy.  It's fuel.  If we consume more energy than we need, the body has no other alternative than to turn it into fat for storage.  

If you look at a recent picture of yourself and find that you have more fuel "stored" than you did last year then science says that you either have to cut back on caloric intake or increase your exercise so that the furnace inside of you can metabolize and burn that stored fat. 

The second problem with the diet in my household was diversity of nutrients.  Although we ate fresh and healthful foods- we always ate the same kinds.   I only realized this problem very recently.

This past January, I had my annual physical.  I can't stress enough how important annual check-ups are.  Reality is that we get busy and fall into routines.  However, remember that our bodies do not discriminate.  Just because we're not thinking about it doesn't meant that there aren't issues to be attended to inside of us.  Those issues can me emotional, psychological or physiological.  All need to be attended to.  To feel completely healthful we strive for harmony in all aspects of our being.  

Let the professionals tend to the parts of you that you aren't equipped to.  The best way to do this is to schedule your annual physicals and exams.  

By doing so every year, it gives you the time, and chances to fix any fluctuations or concerns.  My results did not come back so good this year.  I was told that my blood and Vitamin D counts were severely low.  The risks of this could likely become breast or bone cancer. 

I have always believed that we should focus on what we can control and leave the rest in God's hands.  What I was able to control was my faith, a positive outlook, my nutrition and exercise.

In a recent article, I let you know that my daughter talked me into buying the Ninja Food Processor.  It's a very high-powered processor/blender.  I didn't want that money to go to waste and I thought it would be a good idea to put it to use.  

My friend Brett is a nutrition guru.  That's who I often talk to when I need encouragement on how to eat and exercise better.  Having a friend or some time of moral support to brighten your outlook is key!  If you need one, I can be yours.  

I also reached out to my aunt Liza.  We cannot ignore family history and genetics either.  We have to try and incorporate history into our outlook for the future, right?  My paternal grandmother died of bone cancer at a very young age.  My aunt Liza went through all of this with her, and since had become very knowledgeable on nutrition as well.

I took all their information and encouragement and gave it all a lot of thought.  First, I decided that I was going to be healthy and make permanent life changes.  Not only for me, but to serve as an example for my daughter and the people I love.  I don't force my eating habits on them, but they are welcome to join, or try new things.  If one or two positive changes happen for them as a result, then this is what I hoped for. 

I started to research the foods that they recommended and learned even more.  I'm a person that will stick to something if I can understand how it really works. Try this website.  In simplest terms it explains so much.  I have it book-marked because I reference it all the time.  You can easily and quickly look up fruits, veggies, spices, nuts and oil for nutritional content and uses.  It also inspired to try new things!

http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/index.html

In the next few articles, I'll share with you some of my favorite and fun ways to ensure that I have balanced, healthy nutrition that's fast and easy to make.  

Remember, you are a magnet- so choose to only attract the very best around you.

Also remember that you are a sponge... choose to absorb only the best inside of you.