A Perfect Diet – the Proper Weight is Better for Our Spine

I have spent the past week looking for the article which I am about to quote. I’ve taken way too long, and so I am surrendering and quoting (and embellishing) from memory. This is taken from a column by Lendon H. Smith, M.D. in Dynamic Chiropractic, around 1989. I will write as I remember Dr. Smith’s comments:

Our bodies are not designed to eat three large meals per day. This is a concession to requirements of a working society. Our digestive system functions best with a continual, but limited flow of a variety of different foods. To take full advantage of this, we should be eating twelve meals per day.

Before you surf on to the next website in disgust, peruse the details of this diet. This diet is not easy although it is not particularly expensive. You must begin with a careful planning of each day’s meals. If you are trying to lose weight on this diet, your daily intake should be between 1000-1200 calories. If you are trying to maintain a satisfactory weight, intake should be between 1500-1800 calories.

Divide the meals by food types:  one meal might consist of 100-300 calories of cheese, another 100-400 calories of chicken or fish, several meals would consist of all you can eat of celery or carrot sticks. Occasional deep fried items, or salad dressings would supply the oils needed by the body. Just follow an all-around healthy diet that is a little heavy on the vegetables and light on the fats (staying within the caloric guidelines, of course).

Prepare the foods by cutting them up into bite-sized pieces which can be eaten with a toothpick – cubes are a nice shape. Get twelve sealable containers (can be Ziploc bags) labeled 1-12 and fill them with your meals, randomly arranged so that you are not eating the same thing twice in a row. Drink mostly water – if you are going to have milk it must be figured into the caloric count – and no soft drinks, particularly diet sodas.

Establish a time each hour between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm to take five minutes and eat your meal. The meals you will need during work hours are generally easily transportable. Snacks shouldn’t be needed since every meal is a snack. Chewing each bite thoroughly helps the food digest better and allows your body to feel satisfied sooner.

This diet is not for the faint-of-heart, but it is an excellent diet:  healthy and successful. If you are in the mood for a lifestyle change to help you lose weight, you might enjoy this one. Don’t forget that regular, vigorous exercise is also a necessary part of a successful diet. And, as always, everything goes better with chiropractic care. Come on in and find out for yourself.

Getting rid of your pain,

Dr. Steven Ray, Chiropractor

Val Vista Chiropractic