Food therapy – what is it?
What is food therapy and how is food therapy different from other forms of therapy? What are the benefits of food therapy for individuals with various physical and mental health conditions? Here, we will learn the importance of food therapy and how food therapy can change our lives for the better.
As per food therapy advice, there are a lot of different things that you need to eat to be able to attain the health benefits you need. You should choose the food based on what your body is going through, and the choice of food that you have to consider may depend on the weather and your mood, such as thinking about food and grief, food and anxiety, food and stress, and so on. This is one of the aspects considered in food therapy.
What You Eat Defines You!
“The food you eat can have a direct effect on your energy level, physical health, and mood. A “healthy diet” is one that has enough of each essential nutrient, contains many foods from all of the basic food groups, provides the right amount of calories to maintain a healthy weight, and does not have too much fat, sugar, salt, or alcohol,” as stated by Carol A. Gooch, M.S., LPC, LCDC, LMFT.
However, in medical terms, the therapist uses food therapy to balance the disharmony of your health to be able to find and reduce the causes of certain illnesses such as depression and anxiety. The process should be able to make you feel better. So how can this therapy help you? Listed are the things you need to know when it comes to choosing the type of food to consume, as well as more facts about food therapy.
Therapy In Food
How Should You Eat Vegetables?
Eating vegetables will somehow depend on the weather. Most raw vegetables are cool or cold in energy properties. In some cases, it will not be good for your health to eat cold raw vegetables when the weather turns cold since most of it already lost their nutritional properties at that time. That is the reason why you need to cook your vegetables lightly to be able to get the energy property of the food. This is a concept that is taught when an individual turns to food therapy.
Cooking is essential in releasing vitamins and minerals for easy absorption. However, you still have to consider the process of cooking. Some vegetables require cooking with no water while there are some that need a short period of cooking time. Ultimately, food therapy encourages people to consume vegetables the right way.
How Should You Properly Cook Your Meat?
According to a food therapist or nutritionist, eating meat has become part of most people’s lives, and they tend to serve it regularly during their meals. In some instances, there are those people who consider eating the food raw and some would like it well done. As per food therapy guidelines, while raw meat may sound dangerous due to bacteria and parasites, cooked meat also has no excuse either. Meat cooked at a high temperature creates chemical compounds that can be associated with cancer. However, marinating it or using several herbs and spices can significantly negate the harmful effects.
When Is The Appropriate Time For You To Eat Fruits?
Yes, food therapy values the essence of eating fruits. Fruits are mostly made of glucose and fructose so they can efficiently process digestion. However, there’s still a basis to know the right time when to eat fruits. We tend to eat fruits after a meal. However, among the recommendations of food therapy is eating meals that are high in protein and fat takes a while to digest, and eating fruits on top of that meal will start to cause indigestion. In this case, it is advisable to consume fruits alone rather than accompanied by any meals to be able to get good digestion. Food wellness therapy promotes this. Also, eating fruits on an empty stomach helps mostly in weight loss and detoxification. However, not all fruit is suitable to eat on an empty stomach, so you still need to be careful in choosing the right type of fruits to consume. You can check with your food therapist or nutritionist for additional information.
The Essence Of Food Therapy In Overall Wellness
Eating the right food that helps your body is a necessity and the way you choose to consume it depends on your preference. According to psychologists Lawrence Robinson, Jeanne Segal Ph.D., and Robert Segal, M.A., “Eating a healthy diet is not about strict limitations, staying unrealistically thin, or depriving yourself of the foods you love. Rather, it’s about feeling great, having more energy, improving your health, and boosting your mood.” However, there are still considerations that you have to make to get the proper nutrients that you need, and food therapy definitely agrees with this.
Therapist’s Advice
In case you’re not sure of how to properly eat the different kinds of food you want, you can always seek a piece of advice from any food therapist or nutritionist. “Compared to some health-related changes (such as quitting smoking or jogging each day), consuming more fruits and vegetables is easier and less time-consuming. And unlike medications, fruits and vegetables do not have a long list of negative side effects. In short, adding fruits and vegetables to your diet may be a safe bet,” said psychologist Arash Emamzadeh.