Control Your Appetite, Turbo Charge Your Life – Part 2

Category: The Good Living Guide

Step 1: Switching to Whole-Foods

In the light of the introduction, this is an easy and a logical step, one that will have many other benefits besides the control of your appetite. You will never regret having followed this step.

At the Natural Health Foundation website you will find a substitution programme that will turbo charge your life. You will not be able to make all the substitutions in a day or even a month, but every substitution made will improve your vitality.

Please note – we are not suggesting that you give up anything, only that you should start substituting healthy foods and habits for unhealthy foods and habits.

The following statement by Dr Roger Williams, though not directly related to the subject in question, is included in the hope that it will motivate you and that it will help you to realise the importance of eating and living in harmony with natural law.

“If all prospective human mothers could be fed as expertly as prospective animal mothers in the laboratory, most sterility, abortions and premature births would disappear. Deformed and mentally retarded babies would be largely a thing of the past.” (As quoted by Dr. Michael Sharon, Complete Nutrition, p.155, 156)

Step 2: Mobilizing Your Bowels

The use of denatured foods undermines the entire human system and leads to various problems – including problems with digestion and assimilation. Eventually the bowel can become caked with a layer of what is known as post-putrefactive matter (material that has gone beyond the putrefactive stage) . This hard, rubber-like formation in the bowels hinders the absorption of nutrients from food (via the bowel wall). Once this situation arises, and it often does, our nutritional uptake will be somewhat hindered and our “appetite” will never be properly satisfied. You can read more about the dangers of this condition by clicking here.

Once you appreciate why it is important to mobilize your bowels, you can consider the various ways and means of doing this by studying the article – “Overcoming Constipation“.

Step 3: More Raw Foods in the Diet

Cooked foods can “sustain” life – for a while – but only for a while. It is doubtful, however, whether a diet that is made up mostly of cooked foods is able to regenerate cells and to improve overall health. The main problem being, of course, that cooking destroys many of the essential nutrients and all of the enzymes in our food. In short, therefore, cooked food, to the exclusion of raw food, is unable to adequately nourish the system. This means that cooked food is unable to fully satisfy the appetite.

As one writer suggests . . .

“Preserve the health and increase the strength by avoiding the large amount of cooking that is filling the world with chronic invalids.” (E. G. White, Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 460)

A mainly raw diet, on the other hand, will “help you lose weight, feel fitter and younger; it will also give you a sense of super vitality and a greater resistance to stress, tiredness and disease.” (Leslie & Susannah Kenton, Raw Energy, p.13)

We need to understand that the human palate can be trained to enjoy almost any natural food. If we live on spicy curries for a few months, we will lose any relish for simple fare. By the same token, if we live on an abundance of raw foods, we will reach a point where our taste buds will crave raw foods. This is the goal to be aimed at, therefore, to gradually increase the amount of raw food in the diet and thus gradually educate the palate towards a more natural fare.

We are not recommending that you should live solely on raw foods but, having met a few “rawtarians” (people who live on raw foods only), we must confess that they certainly were a picture of vitality and that they all looked almost half their years.

One particular lady “rawtarian” that we had the pleasure of meeting must have been in her mid-fifties at the time of our meeting, and yet she had the skin and the natural radiance and energy of a sixteen year old. Perhaps her most outstanding characteristic was the deep sense of peace that radiated from her presence.

It has been suggested that the average meal should be made up of 75% raw food and 25% cooked food. For the uninitiated this will take some doing, yet we believe that it is an ideal that is worth working towards – one that will pay handsome dividends in good health, good looks, good feelings - and a deeply gratified appetite.

Step 4: Taking Advantage of The Gag Reflex

When we eat natural foods, that is, foods that have not been refined, cooked or otherwise processed, they bring into play what is known as the gag-reflex. The is an appetite-restricting instinct that is triggered by natural foods and that makes it virtually impossible for one to overeat.

Have you ever tried to over-indulge on dates, or grapes, or bananas, or whole-grain products? One reaches a point where you “gag” and you simply cannot take another bite.

Those who are struggling with appetite can take advantage of this natural instinct by eating a salad or some raw fruit before eating the cooked part of the meal. This will cause the gag-reflex to kick in after the raw food and the tendency to overeat on cooked food will be suppressed.

The gag reflex is nature’s way of helping us to know when enough is enough – but it only ever comes into play with the use of raw foods – which fact tells me that raw foods are the foods that Nature intended for us. (Have you discovered any record of an oven or a hot plate in the garden of Eden?)

Step 5: Home Grown is Gold

Perhaps one of the nicest things that we can do for ourselves, and for our loved ones, is to have a little vegetable garden in the back yard. The very taste of home grown vegetables will convince you that they are nutritionally superior.

When last did you eat a tomato that was not grown on chemically fertilized soil? The difference in taste and color (and obviously nutritional value) between an organically grown tomato and one that has been grown on artificially fertilized soil is astounding.

Remember that, as with humans, so it is with plants – the more we respect Nature, and the better we prepare the soil in which the plant is established, the greater will be the plant’s natural resistance to disease and to insect pests, the better will be the volume and quality of the yield, the better it will taste, the more nutritious it will be, and the more it will tend to satisfy the appetite.

Even if you manage nothing else, why not try a little bed of easy-to-grow crops, such as broad beans, peas, tomatoes and carrots. In fair to good soil, broad beans grow like weeds. Yet the green broad bean makes the most delicious stew (cooked with fresh cream and herbs – absolutely my favorite meal). Have you ever eaten fresh young peas out of the garden and tasted what the Creator really intended for peas to taste like?

Our recommendation for those who are struggling with appetite, therefore, is that you always try and avail yourself of Nature’s best – and Nature will see to the rest.

Step 6 – Conscious Chewing

Few people realize what an important function our saliva plays in the process of digestion. Besides other functions, the ptyalin in saliva converts carbohydrates into simple sugars and thus prepares the food for the further processes of digestion.

The only way we can get our saliva thoroughly mixed in with our food, however, is through proper chewing. This step alone will make a huge difference to those who are struggling with appetite for the simple reason that appetite is satisfied, not only by the quality and quantity of food that we eat, but also by the length of time that the food remains in the mouth.

Make a point, therefore, of eating slowly and chewing well – and this will soon become a habit.

An excellent idea is to train yourself only to load your fork once you have swallowed the previous mouthful. If you wish to count the number of times that you chew then, depending on the type of food, 30 times is a good average yardstick.

Food processors in the home are a boon, but beware that you do not use them to excess. Do not allow the processor to do the work that your teeth are intended to do. If you do use a “sloppy” food, such as blended fruit, mousse, or porridge, never make it too sloppy, and always make it a practice to add something chewy such as nuts, raisins or seeds to the dish. If circumstances do not permit you to do this, then consciously “chew” sloppy foods anyway. Freshly squeezed fruit juice, which is the only fruit juice we recommend, should also be “chewed.”

Remember that Nature presents the apple, the nut, the grape, et cetera, in the ideal form, with the ideal consistency, and with the perfect combination of components for best digestion. The further we move away from Nature’s ideal, the harder it will become to satisfy the appetite, the more we will be inclined to overeat, the greater will be the burden placed on our digestive system, and the more we will be predisposed to constipation – our number one enemy.

Step 7: Avoiding Casual Mealtimes

It is essential that mealtimes should be relaxed occasions. Under no circumstances should negative or unpleasant topics be discussed at mealtimes. We should also not watch TV or read while eating. Treat mealtimes as quality time with the family and give all your attention to the family and the food. Subconsciously, this will put the brakes on our tendency to “gobble” our food down.

Nevertheless, while mealtimes should be relaxed, they should always be treated as special occasions. It is not a good idea to stand around the kitchen eating. Rather, take the trouble to set the table as attractively as you can – even for breakfast – and, via your senses, and the mood created, your appetite will be partly satisfied – even before you start to eat..

Always remember that what is pleasing to the eye is also pleasing to the appetite – for much of the pleasure in eating comes via the eye.

Step 8: Too Many Surprises Lead to Over-indulgence

If you are serving more than one course, always present all the courses on the table before starting the meal, with each course nicely served and neatly laid out before each individual.

Too often, after eating our fill on the main course, a tempting pudding is brought in from the kitchen, together with a host of tempting dainties, and it becomes almost impossible not to over-indulge. Had the pudding and the other dishes been visible throughout the meal, we could have made a wise decision as to how much to eat of the other courses.

Doing this will also help to satisfy the “visual appetite” in that, when we have a clear mental picture of the quantity of food that we have eaten, we will be better able to fortify our reasoning powers in the sometimes formidable task of convincing the appetite that we have had an elegant sufficiency.

Those who are having a real struggle to stop overeating should take very special note of the latter point. Even if you live alone, do not start eating until the entire meal is neatly laid out before you. Before starting to eat, you must satisfy yourself that what is set out before you is sufficient to sustain life and to see you through to the next meal. Now eat slowly, with gratitude, and chew until the food becomes liquid in the mouth. When the set meal is over, immediately leave the table, brush your teeth with an aluminium-free toothpaste and go for a short brisk walk. Once your teeth are brushed, any unnatural desire for food will quickly abate.

The easiest way to lose control of yourself is to nibble while the meal is being served, or to start scratching in the nut, biscuit and bread containers after the meal. This is the downfall of many.

Do not under any circumstances place a huge pile of cookies in the center of the table as a free-for-all after the meal. This only encourages over-indulgence. If cookies are to be served as the sweet, place one or two cookies in each person’s side-plate before the meal begins – and then put the cookie jar back in the kitchen. Make sure you only use wholefood cookies that have been prepared without sugar. At Nature’s Choice we prepare a wide variety of such cookies – speak to your nearest stockist.

Remember, a full plate can either be enough or too much – depending on the size of the plate. Dispense with large platters and do yourself a real favour. It is far better to serve a light helping on a small plate and then to have a small second helping if this is felt to be necessary. The break between helpings will also slow down the rate of eating, and give the gag-reflex time to kick into action.

Western society considers it to be etiquette to remain at the table until all have finished eating. However, those who are working at gaining the victory over appetite should come to an arrangement with family and/ or friends who love to spend long hours indulging in dainties after the meal. If you present your case with tact, nobody should feel offended if you excuse yourself once you consider that you have eaten enough This may not be the accepted norm in some homes, but it is fair and reasonable.

Step 9: Colours and Combinations.

As mentioned earlier, visual stimulus always helps to satisfy the appetite. With this in mind, you should plan your meals in such a way that there are always a variety of colours on the plate. Attractive colour combinations, with greatest contrasts opposite each other, are also able to partly satisfy the appetite even before the meal begins. If it looks good to the eye, a measure of satisfaction will be transmitted to the mind and to the entire system. It is amazing what a small sprig of parsley, or a slice of boiled egg, or a slither of red or green pepper, or a lettuce leaf can do to the appearance of a meal.

Obviously, we should also ensure that the starter (which should not feature too often), the main course, and the pudding, are as different in colour as possible. Having these neatly laid out before the meal starts, will do more than anything to pre-gratify the appetite.

When planning your meal, always take a moment to also consider the consistency of the foods chosen. There should always be a balance between chewy, crisp and soft foods. When serving a stew of soft consistency for instance, make sure that there are at least two chewy vegetables or salad greens to go with it.

Then again, we should watch the consistency of the starter, the main meal and the pudding. Serve a chewy biscuit after a stew, rather than a soft creamy pudding. If you are having soup, do not choose a mousse for pudding etcetera.

It should be borne in mind that sloppy foods are not best for health, as they are made up largely of liquid. Such foods are usually swallowed without being sufficiently chewed, and the liquid will dilute our digestive juices and will also suppress the flow of saliva. More than this, the entire meal will have to remain in the stomach until such time as all the liquid has passed into the intestines – which can lead to acidity and indigestion.

Step 10: Too Many Acid-forming Foods

An acid system is a sick system, and a sick system cannot assimilate our foods properly. If our foods are not properly assimilated, our appetite will never be properly satisfied, regardless of the quantity or the quality of food we eat. A sick system will also be less able to cope with our excesses.

This again emphasizes our need for a raw salad before each meal. Besides being chewy, and besides their action on the gag-reflex, salads are generally alkali-forming, and they would thus counteract the high acid-forming tendency of flesh foods (which should be eaten sparingly, if at all), as well as the low acid-forming tendency of grains.

Freshly picked, fully ripened fruits are usually alkali-forming. Today, however, so many of our fruits are picked while still green that they too may be slightly acid-forming.

This is one reason why we should avoid commercial salad dressings in any manner or form – for they are invariably made up of an horrendous combination of vinegar, spices, pepper and hydrogenated oils. A number of natural alternatives are included on this website.

People with an acid system may find it hard to control their tempers. They tend to be restless, irritable and hard to get along with. Because their nervous system is all fired up, they may also suffer from insomnia.

For your information: Millet is an alkaline grain, potatoes are an alkaline vegetable – as are most vegetables, and almonds are an alkaline nut. Make sure you include these in your diet. Dandelion root is an alkaline herb – which may be taken as a tea together with a little honey or stevia. Celery juice and carrot juice are alkaline. Lemon juice is metabolized in the body to an alkaline ash and should be used in place of vinegar – which is a low grade alcohol. Once inside the body all fruit becomes alkaline if it is tree ripened and consumed correctly.

We include the following extracts to help you to better understand he condition that is known as acidosis.

`Whether a man dies at eight or eighty, his death is the result of a preponderantly acid condition of the body. This is caused by the quality and the quantity of the food that is eaten, the way in which it is eaten and the incompatibility of the mixtures that are eaten.

`So nearly universal amongst civilized peoples is the condition known as acidosis, that chronic acidosis is said to be the one cause of all diseases. It is the basic factor in catarrhal afflictions, the prime cause of rheumatic and arthritic conditions, the source of nerve degeneration, muscular atony, arterial deterioration, and it reaches its grand climax in causing faulty functioning of all the vital organs.

`The texture of the skin improves with the quality of the blood. Glasses can be dispensed with. Hearing becomes more acute. Colds are less frequent. The senses of smell and taste improve. Fears and evil forebodings are dispelled. Life is happier in all its aspects when excess acids are expelled from the body.

`Certain mineral elements produce an acid reaction in the body while others are alkaline in effect. Sodium and potassium, for instance, are the two great alkaline-producing elements. They are especially favored by the sun in growing plants. We have learned that the sun is the source whereby sodium is fixed in our plant life, and fruit that does not get enough sunshine will not be completely matured and will not be alkaline enough to satisfy the needs of the body. One reason why so many persons develop acid conditions in the body is that the immature fruits and vegetables that they buy are low in sodium content.’ (Bernard Jensen D.C.,N.D., The Science and Practice of Iridology, p.336)

Step 11: Regular Daily Mealtimes

Allow your system to become accustomed to eating at the same times every day, and then eat only at those times. By doing this, the system will become strengthened, and will be better able to digest and to assimilate your food.

Getting your system accustomed to regular mealtimes, and making sure that the system is satisfied with natural foods at these times, will eventually result in your stomach only calling for food at the accustomed time – instead of all the time.

Step 12: Depleted Bodily Energy Levels

If the body is weak, the digestive system will be weak. A weak digestive system cannot metabolize or assimilate food properly and, as such, the appetite will not be easily satisfied. This will lead to over-indulgence which, in turn, will further weaken the system. And thus we create a vicious cycle.

Therefore, contrary to what some might believe, weak people should not eat freely, for this will only further debilitate an already weak system. Weak people should rather consult a dietician about an easily digested natural food diet – and about the advisability of fasting.

Nothing strengthens the system, and especially the digestive organs, more efficiently than half an hour to an hour of digging in the garden every day – especially if this is in the sunlight – and you take the necessary precautions.

If you like to eat heartily – and I do believe that many of us do – then you must be prepared to exert yourself more than might normally be necessary in order to burn up the excess energy – and also to build up extra bodily energy.

Nothing, however, can improve on a balanced lifestyle, which would include a moderate food intake, plenty of rest, daily sunshine, and a reasonable amount of daily exercise.

Good luck – and remember – respect Nature, and she will do the rest.

In the light of this article we refer you to the feature: Dietary Wisdom

More in The Good Living Guide

Leave a Comment