Eat your way to happiness

By Elizabeth Somer

You've heard the old adage 'You are what you eat.' Most of us realise the truth of that statement when it comes to our physical health... 

Literally,what you eat or don't eat for breakfast will affect how well you feel,how much energy you have and how clearly you think by midafternoon.What you have for lunch may well determine how sharp you are midafternoon or set the stage for whether you battle cravings at night for buttery popcorn or gallons of ice cream.It also might affect how well you sleep that night,which then affects how alert and energetic you are the next day.

Every atom,every molecule,every cell,tissue,organ and system in your body is made up of the ingredients in the foods you eat,the water you drink and the air you breathe.Cell membranes are made up of fats and proteins from foods like the pulses or nuts you had for lunch.The energy your brain uses to relay messages comes from the carbs in a bowl of cereal at breakfast,and the B vitamins that convert those carbs into cell energy came from the milk you poured over the cereal.So it just makes sense that you literally are exactly what you choose to eat.

Every sprig of broccoli,every leaf of spinach,every bite of tuna or egg or potato is converted into the living organism your friends call you.Give your body the right mix of the right nutrients at the right time,and your body hums along like a well-oiled,highly tuned,perfectly-timed machine.Feed it junk,and it's no surprise you feel horrible,gain weight and are likely to age before your time.

Citings / ET