One of the things that I wanted to share with you all today was how social norms can affect your own diet.

If you were to totally cut out sweets lets say, e.g., a lot of people would think you’re nuts, and that you’re just depriving yourselves. And I am sure that a lot of you have probably been tempted quite a few times throughout the year when hanging out with friends and family.

But the thing is, there are lots of cultures that don’t eat sweet deserts at all, even sugar. Such sweet stuff like sugar cane/coconut oil sweets, while better, are not what your digestive system is expecting. Many sweets are seen by your digestive system as lets say “foreign”, toxic substances that it must get rid of.

I’ve also been thinking a lot about cigarettes lately. It was once the social norm, and even encouraged with ads showing doctors who recommended top brands. The ads are out of favour theses days, but we now have other things that are just as bad for you, yet considered acceptable.

I did a post last month on soda drinking – READ IT HERE and if any of you managed to limit your intakes/not drink at all, I am sure the people around you thought you were going too far and wondered why? But I would say that if we take into consideration the cigarette (if you are a smoker of course), white flour, deep- fried everything- these are now the norm. Its little wonder 1 in 2.5 people get cancer.

The non- foods are also a huge factor in the growing rates of obesity, diabetes and other diseases. Diet sodas aren’t any better, since the sugar is replaced with chemicals. Some day I hope soda will be viewed as socially repulsive as cigarettes are today.

What I take away from these thoughts and what I would say to anyone reading this is, if you want to do something for your health, even if it seems crazy to some, look at the context beyond your own society and upbringing.  Another thing that I do is to listen to the feedback that my body gives me on what I eat, like when I use to eat junk and would get pimples it was my body’s way of telling me something is wrong here.

Sometimes, your body gives you clear feedback, especially in the beginning because you’ve ignored it for many years, but if you stick at it you will see its capability. For the people out there that are like  “ I will be just fine as I am” well you can drink a coke a day if you feel like, but over time your health will decline  (and is declining slowly)

The bottom line:  When listening to your body try to follow common sense and pay attention to your body’s reaction. If the common sense part fails I am always here to help you ;). If you want to be healthy- and I mean truly healthy you are going to have to break some of societies rules, but the best part is that none of these broken rules will mean you go to jail!