Healthy Diet to Beat the Dreadful Monday Blues Part 2

This is Part 2 of the Seven Series on how to beat the dreadful Monday Blues.

In Part 1, we discussed how to build the healthy body by combining the Eastern and Western approaches.   In Part 2, we will discuss Healthy Diet.
You as a reader may get impatient and say, “why it’s about how I feel about going to work.  What has eating got to do with me hating to go to work?”   Imagine that your problem you face is much more complex than you think.

In this blog article,  I will explain how beating the Monday Blues and eating healthy diet are the same forces we need to break away from the system that keeps people confined and stuck.  It is like seeing that you also live in the world of the Matrix.   If a kid is acting out, you have to really have a family therapy.  If the wife is unhappy, you’d have to deal with the husband, too.   Stress is the body and mind symptom. Everything isn’t fine and just something is wrong with Monday.   You always have to be a comprhensivist.

My Story:
I was in my mid-twenties, married to my college friend.   We met in Calculus.   We lived in the Upper West Side, Manhattan.  Every morning I took the New York City Subway on  the 7^th  Avenue IRT  Line from the 72^nd Street to Penn Station.  I walked passed Macy’s and went to Park Avenue.  I was a lady chemical engineer.

 

Sometimes being a woman favors you.  There were two of us from my graduating class interviewed at this engineering firm.  My class mate was on top of our class. My grades weren’t fabulous.  I was hired and not him.  I was very proud.   I enjoyed my salary.  I enjoyed my job. 

About a year later I didn’t even know but I started to have lots of digestive issues.  My condition was diagnosed as ulcerative or stomach colitis.   I was beginning to experience the Monday Blues.  My doctor prescribed a tranquilizer. And my eyes were twitching and I had spasms going up and down my right arm. 
I changed my diet.  This really changed my life.  This changed who I was, too. 

 Quick Review from Part 1:

Or you can read a full article Here>>

Are you feeling exhausted, depressed, disgusted, stressed, frustrated or resigned about getting back to work on Monday?  Do you start to feel these stressful feelings on Sunday night?   Then you’ve got the Monday blues.  I talked about the Monday Blues is so pervasive and this is more than a cultural phenomenon.

In this ‘Beat the Dreadful Monday Blues’ Blog Series Part 1, we discussed there is something wrong about the system and society.   Because it isn’t just you.  Most of you depend on your job.  You cannot just stop or quit.  That will be not serving your well being.

The following is the underlying premises for you to change your life so as not the suffer the Monday Blues.

Your healthiest reaction to the things you don’t like and where you are stuck for sometime  is to be able to feel, think and intuitively understand and be able to say…
“I don’t like this.  I will make solid and sound plans to get out of this situation.   You will see clearly what it is that you want.
And you will be able to change your life without lots of negative emotions, anger and hatred. 

One of the things that happened to people in the modern society is that they became rather myopic. 

You need a solid foundation in all areas of your life before you will be able to break free.

I will guide you in 7 major areas of your life:
1. Healthy Body
2. Healthy Diet
3. Harmonious Relationships
4. Healthy MIndset
5. Spiritual Attitude
6. Profession & Work
7. Community & World

 Healthy Diet:

You Are What You Eat:

As you learn what a healthy diet is, you will also begin to see how important it is to understand healthy eating is the foundation for beating the Monday Blues.

Do most people listen to  their doctor for his health advice?

Here is a fun Facebook Post.

The Patient:  Doctor, I don’t feel well and I’m not sure why.
The Doctor: I want you to meditate for 20 minutes, twice a day, exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, avoid processed foods, eat plenty of organic fruit and veg, spend more time in nature and less indoors, stop worrying about things you can’t control and ditch your T.V.  Come back in 3 weeks.

• The Monday Blues I was feeling was so dreadful.  I changed the way I ate.  Then I regained my health.  It changed my life.
• Even if you are unhappy, stressed out and anxious about going to work  on Monday…
• You don’t like it.
• You get the Monday Blues…
• If you are eating well
• and you are very much aware of why you eat certain foods
• and why you don’t eat others
• and make a political statement
• and make a decision as to what kind of economy you are supporting
• Your mindset will have a completely turned around situation…
•  You will be able to prepare your future plans based on the actions you are taking…
• The lifestyle you are creating …
• So I urge you to really consider and take a look at what you are eating
• Let’s make a choice based on education and awareness…

What Foods to Avoid and What to Eat:

[1]  Processed Foods & Fast Food Chains’ Foods, factory produced hamburgers:

Processed foods are filled with food dies, preservatives, artificial sweeteners, genetically engineered corn products, and high refined salt. A new scienctific study show that
processed foods may be related to Autoimmune Diseases. 

When you eat factory produced hamburgers, you are eating the meat from cattle raised mistreated in every possible way and in filthy conditions.  They were fed growth hormones and genetically modified corn.   They were always packed together and probably never saw the sun light.

What to Eat:
Cook your own meals… make extra when you cook.  Freeze various portions to eat another time.
Grass fed beef, free range poultry… if not organic.

[2]  Artificial Sweaters & Diet Soda:

 Very high dose of artificial sweeteners cause conditions related to metabolism, weight gain, neurological disease, depression,  bowel problems and cancer.

What to use: Maple syrup, rice syrup, barley malt, natural honey

[3] Fructose corn syrup and corn (sad to say) & buttered-flavored Microwave Popcorn:

Most corn are genetically engineered and the plants are heavily sprayed with pesticides and seeds are treated heavily with pesticides. Fake butter’s ingredients are considered the trade secrets therefore not regulated.

What to use: Go organic, read labels when you buy pancake syrup.

[4]   Farm Raised Fish & Swordfish that are high in mercury:

The Omega 3 level may be low.   Crowded, confined conditions generate pathogens and disease.
Polluting the neighboring environment and damage the ocean eco-system in that locality. Large concentration of feces damage coral reefs.   

What to eat: Eat wild salmon and fish.

[5]  Non organic fruits and veggies & GMO to be avoided

Apples, Bell peppers, blueberries, celery, imported grapes, cherries, kale, nectarines, peaches, potatoes, spinach and strawberries (Prevention Shopping List)

These listed are massively pumped with chemical fumigants.  Many carcinogens, hormone disrupters, neurotoxins, developmental, reproductive toxins… and killers of honey bees.

GMO (Genetically modified organism) Genetic engineering is used to alter and modify naturally occurring organism’s features.   Controversial issues with pros and cons.  According to Consumer Reprots.org, more than 70 % of Americans say they don’t want GMO in their food.  In many countries GMO labeling is required but not in USA even though 92 % of Americans do want GMO labels on foods.

Most of morning cereals sold in stores have ingredients containing GMO’s.

What to select:  Look for these labels on the food you buy.

[6]   Trans fats (during food processing):

This is partially hydrogenated oil.  This allows longer shelf life.  Raises LDL bad cholesterol and lowers HDL good cholesterol.  You have a higher risk of getting heart disease.
Commercially sold crackers, cakes, cookies and baked goods. Frozen pizza, vegetable shortenings, coffee creamer, refrigerated dough and frostings.  Fried potatoes, fried chicken at restaurants.

Corn, soy and sunflower seed oils, all purpose vegetable oils all form harmful compounds when they are heated. 

The best oils: olive oil, coconut oil and ghee (clarified butter)  They all have a high smoke point and are low in polyunsaturated fats.

[7]   Wheat bread:

 Modern day wheat has been altered sufficiently.  Causing celiac, acid reflux, inflammatory bowel, asthma, skin disorders.  More and more people are finding sensitivity to gluten, protein found in grains such as wheat and rice.   They may experience bloating, fatigue, diarrhea and joint pain.   Many brain disorders are related to gluten.  

Use quinoa, amaranth and millet.  Sprouted bread.

When you are eating well, you are far less anxious and stressed out.  Your negative feelings will be minimized.  Your focus will shift on taking care of yourself.  If you change your eating habits, you will be able to beat the Monday Blues.

Meals and Preparation:

Relaxing and enjoying your freedom are a few of the rewards of your weekends… joyous things you can do on weekends.  Here are some ways to transform your eating and meal preparation to more relaxing and fun sharing activities for the entire family rather than making meals as chores.

1. Have fun cooking nutritious breakfast together. 
2. Include food shopping as a family activity. 
3. Cook at least one supper at home and make some extra for during the week.
   Maybe you don’t want to be spending lots of time at bars. 
4. Organize and clean your house, kitchen and pantry. Start to create a living environment that you would love to spend more time when you don’t have to go to office. 

 

5. After one meal, have a planning time and quite time to plan ahead for your work schedule or project. Everyone has an assigned role in preparing a meal or cleaning up. 

 

6. Include outdoors, nature and physical activities and entertainment. Eat out, no junk foods.

 

7. Sunday night, eat supper a bit earlier. Have some family time in the  early evening. Be ready to go to bed early.  Do some reading before going to bed.

How you plan your weekend varies based on if you are single, a couple and your children’s ages.

Use these 7 tips as guidelines.

Seasonality and Locality:

Now that you can get any types of foods from anywhere all over the world,
now that your home is air-conditioned in the summer and heated in the winter time,
you may not think of seasonal foods.

Your body’s biorhythm changes from season to season.   You want to eat different cooking styles based on seasons.  More raw foods, fruits and salads in the hot weather. Soups, stews and casseroles and baked dishes in the winter time.

If you have farmers markets in your neighborhood, be sure to support your local growers.   It may be so much more economical to go to Costco to buy cheaply priced foods.    I am not going to talk about vegetarian, non vegetarian, meat diet, Paleo diet… what is best.   That is upto you.

Let us use a metaphor.  By following this mindful, healthy eating style, you will stop participating in the economic system that has generated this Monday Blues syndrome.    Mass production.  Profit making is the most important thing.  Use new science techniques in any way the industry wants to keep things superficially attractive, efficient and profitable without examining serious adverse affects.  You are not a unique individual worker.  Like these packed animals, your energy, creativity and individuality… your youth all of who you are …  taken away from you.   It’s like you live in a cage.   Unlike these animals you do get to go home.   You go home depleted. 

Just remember this.  You are what you eat.   This is the conclusion derived through many centuries. 

Beating the Monday Blues isn’t just about trying to change how you feel.    You want to live a meaningful life.  You want your life to make sense.  You want to be free.   You will not be able to find your happiness built on junk foods, chemicalized and processed foods.  You cannot be truly free building your body from consuming the meat of animals that were inhumanely brutalized all their lives.  Your body and mind will be enjoying health and clarity.  You will begin to get closer to your Plan B. 

While you are still struggling to be free, why not really live the idea of freedom for yourself, loved ones and family.  Many people hesitate to buy organic foods.  More expensive.
Far less medical bills.  Being able to plan and think better. 

I changed my diet many years ago.  I was getting healthier.  I planned and I was able to quit my engineering job.  My life opened up to many possibilities. 

At that time there was no Internet.  But I have really enjoyed my life of freedom.  Most successful and rich people are very relaxed and generous.  They love their home and their family. Now in this new Era of Internet Age; it is easier to claim your financial freedom. 

Check out this simple system.  If you can earn extra by working part time, you will be able to allocate more funds to better quality foods.   Thousands of people are already achieving their financial goals.

 

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References: 

1. Scientists Officially Link Processed Foods To Autoimmune Disease
2. Rodale News: 14 Foods You Should Never Eat
3.  9 Things Everyone Should Know About Farmed Fish
4.  6 Reasons Why Gluten May be Bad For You
5. Mayo clinic Diseases and Conditions: High cholesterol
6. ConsumerReports.Org: Where GMOs hide in your food