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How do you treat your body?

They say we are what we eat. It may sound repetitive today, but it hasn’t lost validity. The type and quality of the food we eat are vital factors that often determine how our health manifests in our bodies. If we're not satisfied with our physique, it's incredibly important to ask ourselves why. Why do I feel this way about myself? And without denigrating our bodies, we must find an answer. Our body constantly seeks to be in motion to satisfy that biological need for physical activity. So, not only what we eat but also what we do for our bodies will help us accomplish the many goals we set for ourselves every day. This should be common sense, right? But you have to become aware of the things you don't see, or the things you're not allowed to see. Consider the following paragraphs as a guide and a consciousness-raiser that will help you achieve the goals you set for yourself.

Processed Foods

Usually in Highly processed foods and beverages you can find many ingredients that companies add in order for their products to have a long shelf life. Some of them being High fructose corn syrup, Phosphoric acid, Red 40, Canola and Sunflower oil. While, these products have been labeled as “safe to use” diets containing these have linked to cause obesity, hyperactivity, short attention spawn, etc.

What does the FDA and WHO say about this?

The FDA is actively working on regulating the restrictions and redefining processed foods. The WHO works on promoting healthy dietary patterns, and the FDA was looking forward to reducing sodium in a lot of daily products.

What can you change?

Checking the ingredients. It is something so simple that most of us forget or are not interesting in doing it. Specially if you have eczema you should take into consideration what type of eczema you have and find out what worsen your specific type of skin. Usually, eczema flare ups for atopic dermatitis are due to a nickel sensitivity, you can find this mineral in some foods like chocolate, canned meats, seeds, foods cooked in stainless steel, beans, etc. It is always good to contact a healthcare provider or a dietitian to help manage your specific needs better. However if this is your specific case, it doesn’t mean that you cannot consume these foods at all, it might just mean you need to lower your consumption or eat them in a different way that isn’t as harmful to your body. For example, I am someone that loves anything containing chocolate, I know that the fat content and processed conditions can increase the potential of my skin reacting to the nickel in that chocolate I want to eat.

So, to still eat a good snack I have a couple options :

  • Search for a low-fat chocolate

  • White chocolate ( as it doesn’t have a high concentration of nickel)

  • Lower my consumption of chocolate and compensate it with something that I know is good for my skin, like oatmeal.

Other alternatives

Salmon and tuna reduce inflammation and are great sources of protein. Salmon enhances eyesight and is also a great for weight management, it helps satire hunger for longer periods of time. Tuna is a great source of omega-3 and vitamin D. Eating whole grain is always a great alternative not only if you have skin conditions but also if you want to train or prevent bloating. However, if you are increasing your intake in whole grain it is better to do it gradually to allow your body to better digest whole grain. Foods high in quercetin like apples, berries, onions, broccoli, and green tea are anti-inflammatory which can help reduce swelling and kill cancerous blood cells. Quercetin can help with symptoms of eczema because it is a powerful antihistamine. Meaning, it blocks the effects of histamine, a body released chemical when the individual is having an allergic reaction. Simple meals that you can make at home like some broccoli, brown rice, and salmon to simple some better thought into the chocolate you buy can help you relieve eczema symptoms and even give you more nutrients to achieve a healthier lifestyle.