DDD Centre for Recovery

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You are what you eat?

In 1923, nutritionist Victor Lindhlahr said

"Ninety per cent of the diseases known to man are caused by cheap foodstuffs. You are what you eat." 

I find this quote so misleading. 

Eating highly processed junk foods all day probably won’t help you propel in grand allegro or let you execute a flowing extension.

Your muscles and bones, and most importantly your brain, will just not have the power or stamina to do that. 

But

The food choices you make does not dictate your worth as a person or a dancer. 

And I say this because many people have this belief that “eating good foods make me a good person” and that “eating bad foods make me a bad person". 

No. That's bulls**t. 

Just because you ate chips doesn’t mean you’re an awful dancer who doesn’t care about his/her own body.Just because you ate chips doesn’t make you the cool guy that doesn’t give a damn about health.If you ate chips, you’re someone who’s eaten chips.

That’s it.

You don't become chips (duh).

You don't become a dancer who doesn't have discipline over food.You don't become the rebel who doesn't give a damn about health.  

You.  are.  still.  you.  

Taking the moral superiority/inferiority away from food choices is one of the most important processes in building a nurishing relationship with food and your body. 

Maybe next time you sit down for a meal, you can pay more attention to HOW you eat and HOW you feel rather than WHAT you eat - experiment with how much comfort, safety, and ease of mind you can achieve by switching what you focus on at the table. 

Fumi