SICKLE CELL AND HOW FOOD AFFECTS YOUR BODY

If you know me, you would know that I am a bit of a foodie, especially with living with Sickle Cell.  There’s a lot of research out there on how food affects our body and I thought to my own personal research on the subject matter and write this blog. 

There is a connection in consuming nourishing food and feeling healthy.  When it comes to our wellbeing, what we consume in terms of what we eat or drink and put into our body can have a tremendous result, particularly when it comes to our organs.  And living with Sickle Cell Anemia, a disorder or disease that affects various organs, it is most important that we make a conscious effort to eat well.

IN WHAT WAY DOES FOOD HAVE AN EFFECT ON OUR BODIES?

Every food or liquid that we consume, have nutritional value and these in turn give our cells the capacity to carry out their basic purposes.  The way to look at it, is to see your body as the ground space, where you want to plant a fruit.  In order for the fruit to grow, the ground will need to be tilled, grains or seeds planted, put the specific amount of soil and water, and perhaps exposure to the sun.  If you fail to do either one of these, the fruit might not come out as it should, in terms of colour, shape, ability to ripen.

So in as much as you are your earth, it is important that you cultivate it well and hence the saying ‘you are what you eat.’   So, if we eat what we are supposed to eat, drink the right amount of water, your body will produce good fruits, and this means you will see a good health form of yourself.

Looking at one’s diet from this point of view will help you live a more crisis free life and I certainly want that.  So we need to shift our perspective, food wise and make a mindful determination on being aware of what you put inside your body and also what you could be putting inside your body that you are not.

If we can change our thinking to see food as a way to energise our bodies to wellness and assist fight cardiovascular diseases.

Food and sickness

When we eat food it goes all the way through a gastrointestinal process. Some of this activity includes soaking up vitamins and minerals from the food eaten and it then dispenses it into the bloodstream which leads to the blood vessels, coronary arteries, and the heart muscle.

The food you eat can trigger heart pumping faster like someone on a jog and by this I mean you are applying momentum.   This can in the long run lead to heart failure or a heart attack.   Your salt intake also produces a key part in modifying our heart rates and blood pressure.

What is inadequate food 

Robbing our bodies of the nutrition it needs can lead to poor eating habits which can cause other sicknesses.

Poor nutrition is caused by putting the wrong types of food in your body that do not have the nutrients that we need most. These foods include ones that are low in fiber and vitamins or are high in fat, sugar, and salt. While many of the packaged foods we purchase at the grocery store meet our taste bud requirements, the way these are packaged and stored may strip the food of the nutrients our body requires and eliminate your chance of healthy weight loss.

Poor nutrition can also be caused by overeating, also regarded as inadequate food choices.  If on the other hand you are under eating, this means that your body is being deprived of vital nutrients that it requires.

How does poor nutrition affect you? 

Poor nutrition can affect your health in many ways, not only can it lead to certain diseases but it can also affect your mental health, energy levels, complexion, and your overall well-being. In the short term, poor nutrition can contribute to stress, tiredness, and our capacity to work. Furthermore, it can lead to:

• being overweight or obese
• tooth decay
• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• heart disease and stroke
• type-2 diabetes
• osteoporosis
• some cancers
• depression
• eating disorders

Inadequate nutrition can affect your day-to-day health and wellbeing and decrease your capability to lead a pleasant and energetic life.

Healthy eating habits

We’ve all been told that healthy eating can transform your life and help you live a longer and more active one. But what does healthy eating actually mean and how do you start putting this into practice and breaking bad habits? For some, this may be a way to help them lose weight, for others the goal may be to lower their blood pressure, and for others, it may just be to have a healthier way of living.

This transformation doesn’t happen overnight. You can’t just wake up on Sunday morning and break all of your bad habits without the cravings. This is a gradual process and can be as simple as choosing steamed broccoli as a side instead of loaded mashed potatoes. Or choosing an apple over chips for your mid-morning snack.

Here are some helpful tips and ideas that will soon have you well on the way to bursting with health and vitality:

• Get more fruits and veggies in your day. Start your morning with a bowl of oatmeal and some blueberries. Aim for two servings of fruit and five servings of veggies each day.
• Eat less salt. Make a conscious effort to put less and less salt on your food, until just a dash is all you need.
• Eat less sugar. Try substituting honey in your coffee and opt for less sugary desserts. For instance, if you are craving dessert, try blending frozen bananas and topping it some strawberries.
• Drink more water and aim for drinking half your body weight in ounces. Choosing water over sugary drinks can help you lose weight, clear your complexion, and, since our bodies are made up of 70% water, you may feel healthier all around.
• Check your portions. Fill half of your dinner plate with a variety of vegetables or salad, add lean protein foods such as meat, fish, chicken or legumes (chickpeas, lentils, kidney beans etc) to take up a quarter of the plate, last add in grain foods such as rice, pasta or noodles to take up the remaining quarter of the plate.
• Plan ahead. One of the main reasons people end up eating fast food or a bag of chips is because they are in a rush. Plan out your meals on the weekends, including your snacks, and purchase only what you need and prep your food. This will not only help you eat healthier, but it will also save you money.

Reference: https://advancedbodyscan.com

If you would like to know more about food, nutrients and your body, do get a copy of my book: HOW TO LIVE WITH SICKLE CELL.  Available on paperback and kindle from Amazon and also OkadaBooks.