How to Eat
- angiewhitenutritio
- Nov 18
- 3 min read
Why in the world would you need to learn how to eat? Most of us have been doing it for a while. You probably think you have this down. In reality though, most of us are doing it wrong.
Food serves multiple purposes. I like to think of food as fuel. It provides all of the components that our bodies and brains need to function. Think macronutrients like carbs, fat, and protein as well as micronutrients such as vitamins, minerals, polyphenols, prebiotics and antioxidants.
Not only does food provide physical energy, it also carries a particular energy depending on what it is. Root vegetables and animal proteins are said to be grounding, whereas fruit or chocolate, for instance, can lift our energy up. Some foods leave us feeling unsatisfied or weirdly addicted, so we keep reaching for more. Think processed foods.
Finally, food can be a source of enjoyment and connection. Think of a slow, delicious meal shared with people you love and care about.
Your ability to digest and absorb the nutrients from the food you eat, to embody the energetics of food, and to enjoy and connect around food depends as much on what you eat as how you eat.
Read that again…HOW you eat.
I have heard digestion referred to as a North to South process. Did you know that digestion actually starts in your brain? Yep, we are going that far North. The sensory experience of food, that ideally starts before you begin eating, is imperative for proper digestion. The smell, sight and anticipation of food, cues the brain to send signals for enzymes and digestive juices to begin flowing. This literally primes the mouth and gut, getting them ready to receive the food that smells and looks so good. The body and brain also need to be relaxed in order to properly digest and absorb food. Our body does not prioritize digestion when we are stressed and in fight/flight/freeze mode. Once we begin eating, food needs to be broken down properly.
Because digestion works North to South, no matter what digestive issue you are wanting to alleviate, you must start here. North. HOW you eat. If you start South without fixing North, all of your efforts will be for naught.
Will fixing this fix every digestive issue out there? Nope. But you must start here. Because the brain and gut are so tightly linked, digestive issues can get pretty complex. That said, there are basic principles and behaviors that will move you in the right direction. (Pun totally intended.)
So follow along over the next 4 weeks and learn HOW to eat to support digestion and overall health. The goal is not to eat like a monk, in complete silence, meditating on every bite. There is a big, beautiful gray area between this and palm stuffing food while totally distracted. Or stressed. Or mad. Or totally in your head.
Over the next four weeks, you will learn simple tweaks and adjustments you can make to improve not only your digestion but your enjoyment of food. Change nothing else right now, just HOW you eat, and see what shifts.
Are you with me? This is a doable. You will get tools you can implement right away. In your life. Exactly as it is.
And…If you have never seen the movie Babette’s Feast, I highly recommend it. I watch it this time every year. It is long and slow. And beautiful. My daughter endured last year and made it through. The pleasure, enjoyment, and bliss portrayed during the feast scene is everything.
With Love and Gratitude,
Angie
AWN
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