Amira Ayad, PhD
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Food that hum, food that whistle

7/3/2011

2 Comments

 
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In his book, Deep Healing, Emmett Miller, taught how awareness is a key point in dealing with food cravings and weight issues. Over and over again we keep hearing the call: It’s all in your mind. But still, some of us keep seeing only the empty half of the cup, torturing themselves about their own responsibility about any problem that keeps appearing in their lives; while, others challenge their mind and rewire it in their favor.
Dr. Miller sees food cravings in two main categories: Foods that hum and food that whistle.
Foods that hum are foods that your body really needs, they usually have the nutritional value missing in your diet and the craving is just a warning signal from your inner wisdom to alert your conscious mind that you need these nutrients. I remember when I was in first year in college, our physiology professor used to ask his famous question in the end-year oral examination:  Why chicks in poor rural areas walk next to the wall? We didn’t have a clue what he was talking about. The answer, however, was very simple; they are nibbling on plaster pieces covering the wall as their little bodies need calcium. When you experience low blood pressure, you crave salty foods; when you need a boost of energy, you crave sweets; when your body needs B vitamins, you see yourself drawn to freshly baked bread (unfortunately our bodies do not know that our white bread is just empty calories); when you feel down due to low serotonin levels in your brain (the feeling good neurotransmitter), you crave chocolate, and so on.
On the other hand, there are foods that whistle. These are foods that you feel drawn to due to emotional attachment or some kind of mental connection (pop corn and movie for instance) or just due to appealing ads on TV and in magazines. These are usually high calorie, highly flavored, but nutritionally empty foods like fast foods, fatty desserts, highly flavored salty crackers…
Whistling is everywhere around us, in TV, magazines, on the streets, in the malls… Whistling became so loud that we can’t hear the hum anymore. You do not need to be a nutrition expert to understand the difference. After all, who taught those chicks that plaster wall contains calcium? You only need to tune in to your inner wisdom: to listen to your body. It deeply knows how to differentiate between the hum and the whistles, between our needs and our wants. Turning off the auto pilot and learning to live fully aware and mindful help us to know “when we are being seduced (whistled at)” as Miller puts it. Tune to your emotions: Are you feeling lonely, bored, aimless, angry, frustrated…? Then, you can stop and reflect: Do I really need this?
Happy humming!!!!!!!
 

2 Comments
Nargis Raza link
13/3/2011 04:18:04 am

I like the idea of foods that hum and foods that whistle.
Can you give more examples of cravings that are related to our physical, emotional and spiritual needs.
I suppose that these will differ with the individual, when looking at emotional and spiritual needs, But the physical signals must have common ground.
I am lactose intolerant, and lately have been craving milky drinks, like hot chocolate etc. While I satisfy my craving with a self made hot chocolate using rice or almond milk, my concern is that my body is asking for more calcium.Any thoughts or suggestions ?

Reply
Amira
13/3/2011 09:02:57 pm

Hi Nargis,
Thank you for your interest in my blog.
Regarding lactose intolerance, you are right calcium is best absorbed from the body if it is from milk and dairy. But still you can satisfy your calcium needs through many other options. I don’t know the degree of lactose intolerance you have. If it is mild, you can still eat yogurt and cheese. Yogurts that contain active cultures are easier to digest and hard aged or ripened cheeses like hard cheddar are very low on lactose. Treated milk like lactaid milk where lactase enzyme has been added to break down lactose is another option.
Calcium fortified soy milk, tofu, sesame seeds and canned fish that are eaten with their bones are also good sources. And some vegetables can help give your calcium a boost like dark green leafy vegetables and broccoli.
If you introduce different options in your everyday life, you have a great chance to meet your body need of calcium.
Regarding food cravings, there are cravings related to physical needs (like body deficiency of certain vitamins or minerals) and other related to emotional or psychological needs (like drop in the level of certain neurotransmitters in the brain that give the feeling of motivation, happiness, wellbeing, satisfaction, relaxation and so forth).
As you mentioned, the craving issue is very personal, but still there are some common ground. For instance:
- carbohydrate cravings could indicate low level of serotonin (feeling good hormone) that’s why depressed people tend to binge on cakes, crackers and biscuits… This indicates the body need of the amino acid tryptophan which is present in whole grains, legumes and turkey breast. And as I mentioned in the blog, craving freshly baked bread may point at Vit B deficiency.
- Sugar cravings may be emotional pointing at brain need of an energy boost and motivation or physical indicating body need for chromium. A healthy alternative is to eat fresh fruits, cane molasses, lean protein and the cabbage family of vegetables.
-chocolate cravings may also be emotional (indicating need for serotonin as in most cases of PMS) or physical indicating magnesium deficiency. In both cases healthy options are unsalted raw nuts, seeds and fresh fruits.
I hope this answered your question,
Best wishes
Amira

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    About the Author

    Hi, I'm Amira... I'm all for simple, natural, uncomplicated life... My core values are derived from my Islamic faith... My definition of wellness includes lots of smiles, human interactions, delicious food, music, joy, colorful paint, Mediterranean sunshine, blue sky and turquoise sea, care, love, compassion and deep heart-felt peace.
    I love learning… I love books and art supplies… And, I am saddened by human conflict and intolerance.
     
    I am an introvert who loves being around people... I love building communities and gathering around the kitchen table... I am a teacher at heart... I simplify complex health science and speak openly about heart and soul stuff...

    I've been helping people on their health and healing journey for more than 20 years now and I am committed to be authentic, caring and a beacon of love and peace.

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