I recently read an article from the Weizman Institute of Science that explained how a good diet for one person can be a bad diet for another person. In this study, the scientists followed 800 people over the course of 47,000 meals and monitored the blood sugar levels after eating. Through this study they found that identical meals triggered huge differences in post-meal blood sugar levels. For one lady who had a history of obesity and diabetes, her blood sugar spiked markedly after eating tomatoes. Now, aren't tomatoes supposed to be healthy? Maybe for you. Another person had a larger blood sugar spike after eating bananas than cookies. Another surprising finding.
The premise that a diet can be good for one person and bad for another caught me by surprise at first because I'm constantly reading about the "next big" superfood or a cure-all diet plan. But then I thought about it and realized that I wasn't surprised at all. Intuitively I have learned what foods make me feel good and what foods don't. I know I can eat a piece of quality bread with some butter and feel great afterwards, while someone else may find they come down with a migraine immediately after gluten consumption.
We are all different. Yet we all need support as we aim to be the healthiest we can be. There is so much shaming about what we eat and we all need to stop it. I am a big advocate of the adage that food should be enjoyed. You ate a doughnut for breakfast? Good for you. Did you enjoy it while you ate it? I sure hope so. Did you eat a green smoothie for breakfast instead of a doughnut? Good for you. I hope you enjoyed it.
This week is National Eating Disorder Awareness Week. It's funny to me that this is the same week that my fertility returned 3 years ago, and also the same week my baby was born one year ago. These were two things that were impossible for me while I was in the depths of my eating disorder. Many of you know about my journey through infertility and the eating disorder that I struggled with for 8 years (you can read about it here and here). The problem with having a history of an eating disorder is that I have to, even to this day, constantly keep myself in check so that I do not spiral into danger zone again. For me that means I have to make sure I am not over exercising and I need to allow myself rest days even when I feel like I have to exercise. I have to indulge in desserts when I feel like I am "not allowed" to have it, because I am allowed. Most of the time I really don't desire desserts, but during the occasional times when my orthorexic tendencies sneak in, I have to override my fears and eat the darn piece of dessert. And I need to enjoy it. So when you see someone eating more dessert than they normally do, don't be quick to pass judgement. Maybe they need to eat it.
Another thing I have learned with my eating disorder is how much food I can eat in one meal, especially while I was going through the refeeding and recovery process. It's funny how surprised people are when they see how much I am able to eat. It is really important to not comment or judge someone for how much they eat, especially if it is a good and decent meal. If a child ate more than normal we say, "he must be going through a growth spurt!" So then why do we pass judgement on an adult if they eat what we deem to be a lot of food? We never know if they are nursing an injury or if their bodies are just telling them to eat more. Sometimes, we just need to eat. Our culture is so afraid of obesity that we are so quick to pass judgement on the quantities of food eaten by others. We need to stop. Let people eat as much as they need. Encourage intuitive eating.
Eating disorders are so prevalent in our society, and its more than just anorexia or bulimia, as was my case. If I can give one suggestion to you from someone who has struggled with an eating disorder, it would be this:
Love me the way I am. But encourage me to be the best version of me. Don't comment on the amounts of food I am or am not eating, but encourage me to listen to my body. Be a safe person I can rely on when I am feeling weak. Because I need you.So as this year's National Eating Disorder theme, "Let's Get Real," suggests, let us all love each other enough that we feel safe to open up and be real. If we don't feel safe, we won't ever get the support we need.
No more shaming.
No more passing judgement.
Remember, we are all different.
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