The Body Image and Nutrition Trap
When did we, as a collective, begin to overly narrow “food” as a way of molding the body within patterns of trending beauty?
Food is so much more than just a tool for short-term aesthetics.
Food consumption practices and choices should be advertised by rules that take into account the distinction between nourishment, needed for surviving and thriving, a pleasure action, and peak mental and physical performance and wellbeing. The issue of food cannot be limited to just an aesthetic one, as that lowers our understanding and connection to food as a prominent power player in our life satisfaction.
It appears that the Australian Health Policy has spawned an old understanding, that food just affects our weight. A closer inspection of these parroted promotions reveals a dark underbelly, with many becoming outraged that nutritional advice from previously trusted government sources has been tainted by food industries looking to profit from the sale of their products rather than the health of the human collective. Food has classically been staged as nothing more than a means to provide energy and growth to the body but it’s ability to prevent and protect against disease needs to be matched with a loud shout out, from health authorities.
If we choose to view food through the lens of health, it gives us power!
Many people recognise that junk food, fast food, processed food, white flour, sugar, maple syrup, agave nectar, and all the junk substances people are eating contribute to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, dementia and cancer, but many don’t realise the inescapable link of an unhealthy diet to mental illness.
Clinical data exists between fast food, processed food, commercial baked goods, and sweets and the destruction of brain cells and lowering of mental clarity and memory capacity. On the flip side, correlational, longitudinal and experimental studies link the consumption of vegetables and fruits with enhanced well-being. High well-being is irrevocably linked to increased longevity, improved immune functioning, better personal relationships and increased career success!! Tell me that you don’t want those wishes granted ✔️
Given the many important possible benefits of well-being, and accepting the indulgence that people desire happiness, why are we not promoting the power of food in this light? Good food choices can enhance happiness, life satisfaction, and flourishing ♥️
Are we recognising the power of food for all it’s worth?
We know that people have the power to change when significant effort and attention is directed to the problems at hand. With good information, emotional support, increased food availability and food preparation instruction, people will be enthused and willing to work together for change. They don’t have to be convinced of the tragic dangers of fast food; they see the obesity, diabetes, hypertension, mental illness, and coronaviruses all around them. But if people don’t have good information, then they don’t have a choice. If they don’t have access to healthy, affordable food, and they don’t know how to make it taste good, then they are not given a chance to change.
Community activists, teachers, health professionals, athletes and politicians need to spread this critical This information. The more people who know the critical importance of eating healthfully, and the more they take a stand, the greater the effect will be on transforming the health of all Australians. By working together, we can save millions of lives ❥