“Healthy”, Defined Flexibly and Sensitively
Written by Natalie Lui
In this day and age where a vast number of people are captivated by the ever-evolving health and wellness industry, healthy eating can mean a lot of things.
It can also mean different things at different times. With each new trend, whether it be the evolution from the traditionally healthy olive oil to the modern “clean” alternative of coconut oil, or the crowning of superfoods like chia seeds or maca powder, what society defines as “healthy” changes all the time.
Haven’t you heard? Coconut oil isn’t healthy anymore. No, it’s dated. You need to keep up with the times. Avocado oil is the one we want now.
Not only are we taught to treasure particular foods, we are also taught to avoid certain food groups.
Dairy-free, gluten-free, refined sugar-free… these labels are now commonplace. And what’s more, I feel attracted and intrigued by these labels, because the wellness industry has taught my brain to seamlessly associate these labels with health. Instinctively, my brain is convinced that dairy, gluten and sugar should be feared because eating them would be like poisoning my body. So naturally, products that are void of them are undoubtedly healthier. Cleaner. Purer. Superior.
But should dairy-free, gluten-free or refined sugar-free foods be accepted as healthy foods without challenge?
Though my brain gravitates towards a “yes”, I feel my body prompt me with a question mark. You see, my body doesn’t actually feel different when I eat bread for breakfast versus when I eat oatmeal. My stomach isn’t any more bloated when I have dairy. I do, however, feel a difference in my body when I eat a significant amount of refined sugar. My heart beats noticeably faster, I feel lethargic, and I’m easily out of breath. Thus, of the three “clean” labels revered by health and wellness enthusiasts, the only one my body resonates with is refined sugar-free.
But, I would like to emphasize that my body’s response to refined sugar doesn’t make it “bad”. The way my own, unique body responds to having different foods in its system has no impact on the inherent value of the foods. Unlike diet culture which suggests that certain foods have moral value by labeling them as “good” or “bad”, my observations of how I feel are simply pieces of information that can give me guidance on how I can take better care of myself in the future. Bodies don’t follow the one-size-fits-all approach. Consequently, what is unhealthy for one person is not always unhealthy for another. Therefore, I propose that the definition of “healthy” should be flexible — one that differs from person to person and from day to day.
Health should not only encompass nutritional needs for our bodies but also for our minds.
Sugar-free foods don’t always taste as good, and sometimes my mind just wants the experience of relishing sweetness. In these instances, health might mean eating the full-flavor version. It’s all about finding a balance between our physical and mental needs, and eating the foods that will satiate both our bodies and our minds.
This perspective of health demands a great deal of self-analysis and introspection.
Determining what is healthy and unhealthy for me on this day requires that I truly listen to my body and my mind when they ask for what they need, and allow them to direct me to the foods that will nourish them. Depending on my state of activity and emotion, my body and mind are going to want different foods at different times, and I will need to be flexible and sensitive enough to realize that what is healthy for me is what makes my body and mind feel good. Then, I will need to trust that I made the right decision for myself, in the moment.
Viewing health in this way means that there can be no uniformly and inherently healthy or unhealthy foods because each food is going to be healthy in some situations but not others.
It also means no one else should have the right to judge my food choices because no one is able to experience my body and mind and know what feels good as well as I can. So, let’s all tune in to our bodies and minds, create our OWN definition of health, and remember that the definition will need modifying everyday.
About Natalie
Natalie is Body Banter’s Program Director and she contributes to Strands of Our Stories from time to time with short articles that explore her personal experiences, lessons learned, and thought processes throughout her own journey towards self-growth, self-empowerment, body acceptance, and emotional resilience.