Many years ago, on a trip to Saskatchewan, I shared the back seat of the car with my young nephew. That’s when he witnessed the effects of a single cup of coffee on his suddenly unbridled auntie. He’s never forgotten it.
It was fun . . . for a while. But sometimes after the euphoric buzz comes the ill, shaky feeling.
Even still, I consciously use coffee as a drug now and then. If I’m going solo on a road trip, for example, a cup ensures I don’t get sleepy. (Funnily, I’ve never had a bad reaction on those occasions. I just get really high. I should travel more.)
How about you? What do you notice about how you react to certain foods? Are you bloated? Foggy-brained? Lethargic? It could be something you’re eating. Of course there might be other things at play. A medical professional could be indicated.
We’re all created differently. If you’re not feeling 100% it might be a good idea to pay attention to your uniqueness. I could eat peanuts until the cows come home. For others? Not so much. The variance can be extreme and the cost can be fatal.
1. The best way to determine the effects a food is having on you is to listen to your body’s intelligence. Even though your mind likes it, your body might not. Pay attention to the subtle, or not-so-subtle, signs when and after you consume something. It might not be as obvious as my caffeine jolt.
2. A food log could be helpful when you’re not sure, particularly if you’re suspicious about a specific food. Record exactly what you’re consuming and how you feel afterwards. Do you notice any patterns? It also doesn’t hurt to record how much you consume. The magic is in the details. You have to be honest and committed to the process.
A food log is also a proven weight management tool. Sometimes it helps to see what’s really going on. It’s intended solely for information and observation, by the way, not judgment.
3. The other way to determine what your body doesn’t tolerate is to eliminate suspicious foods from your diet – one-by-one. Have your symptoms disappeared? Now you know. What will you choose to do about it?
What’s your drug? To what are you sensitive? What’s the cost? What if your life depended on it, would you do things differently?
All of this has me wondering why people the world over rely on morning coffee. Maybe we just need more sleep. Or maybe it’s okay to start the day slowly.