This newsletter explores the saying “we are what we eat” and a few variations that add more in-depth health perspectives.

I’m sure most of us have heard the age-old adage, "You are what you eat." This saying has become a cornerstone of nutrition wisdom, emphasising the connection between our dietary choices and our overall well-being. However, we can expand on this beyond our food.

"You Are What You Eat”

The idea that our dietary choices impact our health is widely accepted. The food we consume provides our bodies with essential nutrients, energy, and the building blocks for every cell and tissue. Then of course eating foods bad for us have the opposite affect of encouraging dis-ease. SO there are two sides of the coin as there are with the following versions.

"You Are What You Eat, Drink, Breathe, and Think”

Expanding upon the first quote, this perspective reminds us that our well-being depends on more than just what we eat. This version I remember being told when I was at Naturopathic college, giving a more holistic approach.

What we drink, the air we breathe, and even our thoughts play crucial roles in shaping our health. Hydration with clean, quality water is vital. Again not water that may contain traces of chemicals that affect our health detrimentally. Breathing in fresh air and minimizing exposure to pollutants is essential for lung health. Additionally, our mental state, stress levels, and thought patterns impact our overall health. Positive thinking and stress management can contribute to a healthier, happier you.
Spiritual teachers talk about our cells having “antennas” that are able to pick up vibrations in our environment too. Such as what we are thinking or saying about ourselves. So we must watch how we speak and think about ourselves too.

"You Are What You Absorb”

Nutrition isn't solely about the foods we put into our bodies; it's also about how well we absorb the nutrients from those foods. Digestive health is a key factor in nutrient absorption. A well-functioning digestive system ensures that the vitamins, minerals, and other vital compounds from your meals are properly absorbed into your blood stream to be used by the body for fuel and repair.

As everything with life there is a dichotomy to this. We can also absorb detrimental particles into our blood stream or even partially digested foods that the body doesn’t recognise and leads to inflammation. More on this in a newsletter coming soon .

Foods have toxins in, water does too, also our air and perhaps the products we rub on our skin everyday” Do you pay attention to all of these toxins too?

“You Are What You DON'T Detoxify”

This version follows on nicely. Our bodies naturally detoxify through processes carried out by the liver, kidneys, skin, and more. Our bodies are fortunately incredible at detoxify.

As already mentioned we are exposed to numerous environmental toxins and pollutants on a daily basis. I would go as far to say that it is impossible to completely void them. In fact our body naturally produces it’s own internal toxins that also have to be processed.

We want to make sure that these toxins don’t overwhelm our detoxification systems both by avoiding the toxins in the first place and secondly by supporting our systems of detoxification. For example, the liver can be supported to work more efficiently using nutrients and herbs.

In conclusion, the saying "You are what you eat" holds truth, but it's just the tip of the iceberg. To truly embrace the idea that "You are what you...", we must consider the holistic picture of our health, like we do at The Perrymount Clinic basing our health approach on the Naturopathic Triad.