Happy Easter! Now put down those chocolate bunnies and Cadbury Eggs!
So I have a confession to make. I have had an affair. Don't jump to conclusions. It's probably not what you're thinking! I've had an affair with food & wine for the past few weeks! I must admit, it was fun to indulge. I mean, it was really fun! I toured 3 wineries with a friend who was in town for the weekend and sampled several varieties of whites and reds. Gotta love the names of some of these local varieties: Cari's Crush, One Night Stand, Floozy Red,...
The names were sinfully appropriate, much like my little tour away from my healthy habits plan,...
Regretfully I must admit, the indulgence didn't stop there. I purchased some artichoke brochette and gourmet cheese. We also stopped at a chocolate shop and sampled some sinfully delicious delicacies. And in the same vein as some of my intellectually disabled clients who get chided by peers for being so forthright about telling on themselves, I willfully posted my sins on Facebook. One of my brothers defied me to post my confession in my blog. I had to laugh. "Of course!" I told him. "There are health benefits to be touted in both wine and chocolate!"
Professional Friends of Wine write:
The medical profession has recognized the healthful and nutritive properties of wine for thousands of years. Recent archeological evidence shows wine was in use as a pharmaceutical as early as 3,150 B.C.1 Hippocrates recommended specific wines to purge fever, disinfect and dress wounds, as diuretics, or for nutritional supplements, around 450 B.C. A French doctor wrote the earliest known printed book about wine in 1410 A.D. (Retrieved 4/7/12 from http://www.winepros.org/wine101/wine-health.htm).
And don't forget that "moderate consumption of red wine on a regular basis may be a preventative against coronary disease and some forms of cancer" (WinePros.org).
Here's a recap of a study that compares red wine to the non-alcoholic components of red wine, as well as to another alcoholic solution. The title of the article is "Beneficial effects of a moderate consumption of red wine on cellular cholesterol efflux in young men". Results indicated that in young men, a "modest, specific beneficial effect of moderate red wine consumption was demonstrated in comparison to an alcoholic solution". (Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2000 Apr;10(2):63-9, as cited by the National Institutes of Health. Retrieved on 4/7/12 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10919170.)
And the research goes on and on,...
Now about chocolate,...
Here's one study that demonstrates the the acute ingestion of both solid dark chocolate and liquid cocoa lowers blood pressure: "Acute dark chocolate and cocoa ingestion and endothelial function: a randomized controlled crossover trial" (Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Jul;88(1):58-63 as cited by the National Institute of Health; Retrieved on 4/7/12 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18614724.)
I could go on and on about the health benefits of chocolate as well. When it comes down to it, we can find research to back us up, no matter what side of the coin we are on (or no matter what type of chocolate or wine we are consuming). Most of us probably have a good idea about what is healthy and what is excessive. And we have markers in our everyday lives that tell us when we've gone overboard, whether it's the button on our slacks, the pain in our joints, the number on the scale, or the results at the doctor's office. Sometimes it's just the lack of energy or that feel-good feeling one gets from working out and eating right. I know it's time for me to get back on track and shed a few pounds.
We are all human.
That is the bottom line.
I know many intelligent medical doctors, psychologist, psychiatrists, etc. who struggle with the same health and weight issues. It seems to be part of the human condition. It is not easy to make permanent lifestyle changes. Sometimes we try to blame the problem on laziness or lack of drive. In my experience, however, that is usually not the case.
Sometimes things crop up in life that cause us to go way off course. This can include reactions to crisis events, overwhelming emotions, such as depression, stress/anxiety, etc., battling fatigue and attentional problems, specific developmental markers that are navigated unsuccessfully, and/or existential issues. (Interesting to Note: Several of my psychologist friends have gone into full blown binge mode when studying for the national EPPP licensing exam.) Sometimes genetic factors have to share the blame. Consuming food that tastes good helps to alleviate the negative emotions. I have found that people generally do not willfully choose to be unhealthy. It's just that the unhealthy options seem more gratifying in the moment. The decision to rely on food as a source of comfort is a learned habit. And it’s not necessarily bad in moderation. We just have to intersperse those habits with more of the healthy ones, such as walking and taking time out to cook and consume nutritional meals.
In a way, it is kind of like someone who's had an affair. Having sat with couples who have been in that situation, my experience as a psychologist tells me that not all relationships are created equal and not all stories of infidelity are the same. Sometimes a spouse faces life choices that appear overwhelming and instead of turning to their partner for support, they turn elsewhere. Maybe they didn't have the tools to communicate what they needed to effectively. For others, however, their spouse was unable to listen or reciprocate in a way that seemed appropriate. The person having the affair may have felt the need to fill a void, escape a seemingly unacceptable emotion or situation, or simply to feel heard or to share a reality. They needed to feel loved or just to feel again, period. It can be a wake-up call. Sometimes the affair has seemingly very little to do with the spouse. I am certainly not advocating the idea of having an affair. However, an affair doesn’t have to necessarily equate the end a relationship. Some relationships are not meant to be. An affair may be a stepping stone to the end. For some people, the mere thought of their spouse being disloyal is unforgivable and the consequences are nothing short of tragic. Yet for others, as difficult and painful as it may be, the aftermath of an affair is often very telling of the strength of the relationship. It can force the couple into learning to connect on deeper levels than they would have ever attempted prior to such a situation. When facing a relationship crisis and potential loss of a marriage, suddenly the sanctity of the union becomes crystallized and worth fighting for. Adversity can and often does brings people together. With guidance and hard work, a couple can improve communication and the relationship in general, if both parties are dedicated to doing so.
Diets, like relationships, can go stagnant if we let them. Using the affair analogy, the marriage between longevity and healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to divorce as a result of a temporary human slip up. We are all flawed, after all, but we also have the ability to make choices and do the right thing. What's most important is that we do somehow grow along the way. And we love ourselves enough to be supportive in our own self-talk and not adversarial. We need to get the walking shoes back on and eat our fruits & veggies, while understanding that sometimes in life, we also need to sip the wine and taste the chocolate (as long as it doesn’t become a full-blown affair)!
Happy Easter Everyone!
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