got light?
… keep it to yourself.
People who are conscious about what they eat and drink, seem to go for “lean” and “light” whenever possible these days. I have never been given good reasons as to why that is, and other people's choices for what to consume are of course their's to make anyway.
Being conscious about what one is eating and drinking, is good – at least in theory. Knowing for certain what one is consuming, and why, is even better, and hopefully most consumers are on top of those issues too.
Right, so I have also become more conscious about what to consume and what to avoid. I want my body, and
mind, to work optimally, and – with reference to the headlines – the only thing I want “light”
is pure water.
To continue along those lines, I am also not fond of bottles and cans with intended or unintended
pollution, which, for the most part, rules out softdrinks, juices and bottled water. Thus, although I'm not an avid beer
drinker, good beer in glass-bottles may be the best option if there is no clean tap-water or unpolluted natural
water source available.
When it comes to the “all-important” question of how to keep weight under control, my choice is not to consume more light and lean, but to consume less … especially less of what my body, and mind, have no need for. Seems to work fine.1
safe choices
The human body has had thousands of years to adapt to natural food and processing, and from only a few years to a century or so to adapt to polluted, “improved” and over-processed food. No doubt in my mind when it comes to what serves my body best.
Naturally produced food-items that haven't been altered or polluted compared to how they were available let's say one
hundred years ago, are sure winners when I go food hunting. I have very little interest in “improved
food” no matter how and with what it is improved, and – when at all possible –
I prefer to process my own food all the way from raw, unpolluted, ingredients to the plate.
I may of course choose “lean”, “light” and other unwanted and
(in my mind) totally unnecessary “improvements”, over suffering from hunger and
thirst, but only if there is no proper food and drink available where I happen to be.
No big deal once in a while – every few months or so.
health fanatic? no way…
I love to prepare simple and delicious dishes, with or without basis in traditional recipes. Almost
anything can go into a dish, as long as I know exactly what it is so I can weigh it in at the right
amount and process it properly.
Some naturally lean products do then of course also go into my meals, because they contain necessary proteins, minerals
and vitamins. I don't count calories, only usefulness.
“Rich and balanced” is the main rule.
Hardly a dinner without meat when I'm in charge. No big steaks, as all meat is cut or shaped into bite-size pieces before being slowly fried in a mixture of real butter and/or coconut oil, flaxseed meal and spices. Usually served with a rich mixture of simmered vegetables and seeds.
As I no longer have access to raw milk from our own farm, a selection of fermented milk products with medium to high fat content has become part of my diet.
Light, low-fat milk or milk products … forget it – that's bad even for calves.
If eggs are on the menu for breakfast – or any meal for that matter, one can hardly have too many. Two, three or four eggs, and sometimes more. And preferable organic – they really do taste better.
Real (organic) eggs contain a pretty balanced mix of the vitamins we humans need – all except vitamin-C. Thus, real eggs in the diet make most supplements unnecessary.
And don't bother to mention “cholesterol” in eggs as something negative, as nothing could be further
from the truth in an otherwise rich and balanced diet.
something extra…
My taste-buds are well developed, which means there's no need to exite them with extra flavors. I am definitely no health fanatic though, and am consuming what may be considered to be less healthy substances simply because I like them.
I enjoy good whiskey and good tobacco – both as potent and pure as I can get them. If I want something
added to my drinks or tobacco, I'll add it myself.
(FYI: I consume alcohol in moderation, but smoke more than
my doctor, and my lungs, like.)
Coffee isn't bad either. I prefer mine laced with Cinnamon, and without fake cream or sweeteners. May on occasions
add real butter and/or coconut fat to my coffee, and maybe also more spices.
Chocolate is a delicious treat – especially my home-made chocolate mousse variants consisting mainly of cacao, coconut fat, yoghurt and honey, and spiced to taste.
a pretty basic idea
All nutrition my body will ever need for whatever I ask of it, I intend to supply it with in the form of food. What my body doesn't need, including residue of pesticides, antibiotics and all the various food compounds and additives invented over the last hundred years or so, I intend to avoid consumption of to the degree possible.2
I have minimal interest in rules, recommendations or guidelines from experts on nutrition or related subjects, regardless of whether these experts are professionals or of the more regular home-spun kind.
I develop my personal preferences as I go when it comes to what I will consume or not, and will continue to let others figure out and keep their preferences without me interfering.3
what's the point…
There are no lofty goals, like wishes for a “long life” or “great health”, behind my new,
more conscious, diet preferences. It is all so very much simpler…
You see, sticking to sound choices seems to have tremendously positive and lasting effects on my wellbeing
today, every day, and who doesn't want that.
The good thing about sound food choices is that doses won't have to be increased over time to achieve the same positive effects. This indicates that there are no “addiction” effects at play, only adjustments to my daily needs.
no fad…
More and more in life circles around increased, and pretty mindless, consumption, as people jump on one cleverly initiated fad after another. I have never paid much attention to fads, and am not about to start now.
The slight changes in lifestyle indicated in this article, don't really cost me anything in time or money now, and will probably save some of both in the future. So, I think I'll make these changes permanent.
After some down-turns in the near past, I am now in the process of rebuilding my constitution – in part by consuming proper food. Apart from the damage caused by “medical expertise” (that will probably take a few more years to heal), everything seems to be working out much better than I could have dreamt up.
sincerely
Hageland 01.aug.2015
10.sep.2016 - minor revisions
last rev: 10.sep.2016