The article was written by the brilliant Rachel Zimmerman, and I was invited in to be the voice of reason and practicality.
You see, what had happened a week before was that a New York Times article had been published that trashed kale.
It was what I call: a fear-of-food piece.
My contribution to the NPR blog was that yes – kale can promote an imbalance in iodine levels that can in turn impair the proper functioning of the thyroid…for people who have hypothyroidism – but there’s no reason to be afraid of kale.
Kale (and all the other cruciferous veggies in it’s category) are wonderfully nutritious foods that can and should be enjoyed. Those of us with iodine related thyroid issues however, would be well served to eat their kale cooked and add iodine rich foods do their diet.
The NPR blog was important to me for a couple of reasons.
1. I got to be “out there” in a bigger way! The article went viral – that was cool!
2. I was able to take a stance against the fear of food! We have such a fear of food in our culture, and I was happy to come to the defense of real, whole food!
But there’s an important issue that needs to be worked out before you can access that inner wisdom, and that is…
Food Fear
- I drink skim milk because the whole milk is fattening
- A whole avocado everyday? Isn’t that too much?
- Coconut oil? But that’s a saturated fat!
- What about that brown rice and arsenic scare? Should I really eat that?
- No, I don’t do any carbs at all – they’re bad for me, aren’t they?
Woah, that’s a relationship based on fear. The fear of something bad happening if I eat “X” food.
The fears I hear usually fall into these categories:
- Fear of fat
- Fear of illness and dying
- Fear of pleasure (surprising, but true)
- Fear of ‘doing it wrong’ (based on the assumption that there’s a ‘right’ way to eat
Now here’s what I know about living and eating in a state of fear:
It’s Exhausting & Stressful!
And guess what? (You probably know this already) Being exhausted and stressed is not good for health.
When we’re exhausted – we have more cravings (sugar, refined carbs) – we reach for more stimulants (coffee, chocolate). We try to feed our depletion, but that doesn’t work if we’re going for long-term vibrancy in our life.
When we’re stressed, our metabolism actually slows down. We burn calories less efficiently and that makes it harder to lose weight, if that’s what we’re after.
So what’s a conscientious woman to do, who wants to be healthy, who wants to listen to her body, who wants to choose foods that deeply nourish the body?
Walk Towards Food Freedom!
You may be thinking…
“Food freedom?
Eeek? Does that mean I get to eat anything and everything. Oh oh, I don’t want to do that! I’ll gain weight, my back will start to hurt again, my digestion will get all wonky. Food freedom…no way! Thats not for me”
But it really is for you, and this is why:
When I talk about food freedom, I’m talking about the ability to choose. That’s what freedom is, right? We get to choose, we are not enslaved by someone else’s doctrines and ideas, we are the mistress of our own choices.
And that’s what I want for you.
Freedom with food. Freedom to eat and not feel guilty that you just ate. Freedom to have pleasure from food. Freedom to eat carbs or whatever else is on your “bad” list.
Now don’t misunderstand, I’m not saying just eat anything at all – you know if you’ve watched my videos or read my articles – that I’m a big believer in quality and eating for what works for YOUR body.
I want you to have the Freedom to choose what you eat from a place of listening and respecting your body.
What I am saying is be the one who is choosing for your highest good. Choose food the makes you feel energetic. Choose food that makes your digestion easy. Choose food that gives you great pleasure.
Choose food that makes you feel more alive – not less.
It took me a while, and a boat load of support to go from living in Food-Fear to Food Freedom, but I know it’s possible, because that’s where I am now, and that’s where many of my clients are as well.
It’s not the easiest of journey’s, but it’s ever so much more fun to live in a body you love and have a delicious, pleasurable, and freedom-based relationship with food.
I know you can do it!
If you’re in Food-Fear and are done with being stuck there, I can help. Let’s talk.
Nina Manolson, MA, CHC, certified Health Coach and Psychology of Eating Coach believes that every women deserves to feel good in their own body. She helps women create a healthy and positive relationship with their food and body so they can love their body and life! She’s the founder of NinaManolson.com and HealthyYummyKids.com.
She helps busy women look and feel their best, and helps them feed their kids well in a world that doesn’t.
She’s the author of “Feed Your Kids Well In A World That Doesn’t: an everyday guide to make healthy food happen in your home and beyond”. She’s also the recipient of the prestigious Health Leadership Award from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.
To get your F.R.E.E. Video Series “What to do now, when everything you’ve done hasn’t worked” by mail and receive her healthy recipes and wellness tips click here.
Nina Manolson, MA, is the founder of Body-Peace®.She helps women end the war with food and body and finally feel truly at home in their body—as it is.
She is known for her deeply feminist, anti-diet, body-peace® approach. She brings her 30 years of experience as a therapist, Body-Trust® Guide and Psychology of Eating Teacher to helping women create a respectful and trusting relationship with their food and body.
Nina’s Body-Peace® work is all in service of helping people get off the diet roller-coaster, and into a compassionate and powerful way of eating & living which creates a positive long-lasting change in and with their bodies. Her courses, coaching, poems and Body-Peace APP positively change the conversation that women are having with their body.
Start your Body-Peace® journey with this free masterclass that will help you understand and shift your relationship with your body.
Hooray for Nina and your fear issue. The US public needs more food experts like you because the biochem companies and media are so biased. I eat kale 2 xs a day (cooked) and it gives me beautiful toxin elimination 2-3 times a day. Thaks so much for YOU and your passion to help people with your expertise!