This early statement from French sociologist Jean Baudrillard in the 70’s  is still so much in focus with our current way of living.

We are constantly under the pressure of slogans, images, reports that we call news. These overwhelming information create an irresistible, unconscious desire to conform to standards  or mislead us to believe this information is relevant to any of us. That’s how emerged strenuous exercise regime, punitive diets, even surgery in an attempt to come delusively close to these models.

It is time to stop the torment and turn to self-care and self-love to live a healthy, vibrant and energetic life. It is time to come back to sensibleness, moderation, to be back in tune with our selves. Rest and reset is a sensible and moderate way to find your path to health and wellness. When you rest and reset your tune back in and ensure you are off to a good start and get the ball rolling in the direction that serves you best.

This is so true about food, and astonishingly this is the base of Abraham’s Maslow hierarchy of needs. Without these physiological needs (air, water and food) being fully met, the human body cannot function properly and ultimately cannot fill the need for physical and spiritual nourishment.

I’ve recently read an article by Jean-Marc Dupuis, author & editor at “Santé Nature Innovation”. In this article he revisits the pertinence and relevance of the ancient teachings of Cassien, a monk from the middle of the 4th century AC. Let me share with you these principles I found so accurate in our consumerist and abundant society. I invite you to stop and reflect on these questions.

1-    Your diet should vary with your state of health

The modern way of eating is often based on what the analytical brain or the news dictate. However, quantity and quality of food for optimal health are first and foremost related to your condition, age, and sex. It sounds profoundly trivial but so often forgotten, with so-called “miracle” products and recipes widely spread around.

Have you recently paid attention to your state of health, or decode the early signs given by your body?

2-     Stop eating before you feel full.

This is where ancient European culture meets the Japanese’s “Hara hachi bu:: “Eat until 80% full”. Moderation is the advice given by Cassien in a time when scarcity was norm! “The rule is to eat what we need for living, not what our appetite asks for”.

Reflect on the quantity you eat? Eat slowly and wait 20 minutes before eating more, to ensure you are still hungry.

3-    Avoid too much bread

According to Cassien, “this is not the wine but the bread that caused crimes and decadence”. This statement is in perfect alignment with current research about excess simple carbohydrates like bread causing mood and metabolic disorders.

Have you ever realize how much your food affect your mood?

4-    Nothing between meals

Cassien recommended the absence of food before or after community meals and at night to “address the internal battles of the soul”.

There is two reminders in this simple statement:
– Snacking has been widely recommended. If it may be useful to recover from certain metabolic disorders, it is certainly not conducive to health for most people.
– Eating is a practice designed to be shared. Sharing a meal brings joy and sacredness in the act of eating, which in turn impacts positively your digestion.

Try for a week to resist the call of your fridge or pantry between meals, as a way to “win your internal battles”.

5-    Avoid to eat too early, too much and avoid “gourmet attitude”

Cassien talked about three types of “gourmandise” to avoid: eating before it’s time, eating in excess and look for food more enticing food that tend to be more caloric.

Cassien was an early adept of chrono-nutrition (more about it in the next posts):  we are beings of habits and when you eat is as important as what you eat.
He also underlined the importance of nourishing, nutrient dense foods and understood the addictive power of rich foods, now explained by neuroscience.

Reflect on your eating patterns: when do you eat?

6-    Don’t exaggerate 

Cassien also pointed out that any sort of excess is not a good example and wrote : «Those who deprive themselves are better not to be shown as examples as they did not receive the gift of science and wisdom”.

The 21st century in the western world is an era of excess: we are at the same time over fed and under nourished. Perpetual movement for balance is the core of life.

What are you doing in excess? Deprivation or over consumption?

These moderate and benevolent statements are a good foundation on your journey to growth and evolution. It all starts by rest ,reset and reflect.

Yours in health and wellness.

PS: I acknowledge Jean-Marc Dupuis’ newsletter as I make it mine to share with you.
PPS: The Food focus detox™ is the perfect program to rest, reset and reflect around your food choices.