Living:
Live! As a kid, I have always heard people ask the “trick question”, do you eat to live or live to eat? My response was always both. Although this may be true, there is a reason why I am leaning more in one direction than the other. Health is that reason. Now, before you become standoffish, hear me out.
Our bodies need fuel and the type of fuel matters. The reason why it matters is based on the performance of the body. For example, if you go to an unleaded fuel pump at a gas station, there are three grades to choose from. Importantly, the reason for that is that each vehicle requires a different grade based on performance. Equally important, vehicles still need a specific quality to sustain their health in addition to the grade of fuel.
How Do We Live to Eat?
The confusion between living to eat versus eating to live is subjective. In fact, it is subjective to each individual and their lifestyle. It is common knowledge that there is a clear distinction between healthy lifestyles and unhealthy lifestyles. The basis of living to eat can be subjective to eating to make you happy, full, or to fulfill the satiety of an emotion. Furthermore, eluding to the conclusion of a want rather than a need.
Let’s use the phrase, “I live for good food!”. In this case, most people are meaning that eating flavorful food is their preference. This can mean sugary foods, fried foods, and high-sodium foods that are heavily processed. What’s more problematic with foods in this category is that they are inflammatory to our bodies.
Eating inflammatory foods may cause infections and diseases that hinder the production of our body’s natural function. Again, eating flavorful processed foods may feel like a treat to your taste buds, but it does not necessarily provide us with the nutrients to live a sustainable healthy life. Furthermore, this lifestyle is likely to increase your chance of a doctor’s visit.
How Do We Eat to Live?
If eating great-tasting dishes is subjectively living to eat, then how do we eat to live? Well, let me explain. Eating to live is an alternate lifestyle that is more intentional rather than conventional. Let’s take a look at the lifestyle of an athlete. Because of the athlete’s rigorous training, the athlete needs specific foods that will prime their bodies for continuous performance and health. Furthermore, because of the lifestyle, it is necessary to take in anti-inflammatory foods rather than the latter.
Thinking on a more everyday level. Straying away from inflammatory foods will provide you with the vitamins and minerals needed to keep your body alkalized. Moreover, this will help minimize the growing health concerns that come with having a heavily processed diet. This may be more boring but it is more beneficial to your bodily functions.
The Best Result
Keeping this article subjective, everyone is affected differently by the foods that they eat. With that being said, in the case of living to eat versus eating to live, the line is very drawn. The case of living to eat is a mindset of want while eating to live is a mindset of need. Let me explain.
Let’s say you were out of town on business or holiday and you’re living the hotel life. You’re excited to try the new takeout spots nearby. Not to mention you are eating takeout day and night because of the lack of a kitchen. Although the takeout is great, at some point you will eventually crave the need for some kind of nutrition. Furthermore, you are looking for a smoothie shop, salad shop, or anything that you feel that may bring you nutrition.
This is what I mean, one is a want and the other is a need. Now, food in general is essential but not all foods bring nutritious value. Making the right decisions to be healthy has to be intentional while being unhealthy is an easy temptation to face. Lastly, I have a question for you. Are you eating to live or living to eat? Be blessed!
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