Amir Khan - You Are What You Eat

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Contents

Dr Amir Khan & Trisha Goddard

Having good health is central to our happiness as human beings.

Being healthy means different things to different people, but most agree that it should include having optimum physical, mental and social wellbeing not just the absence of illness.

Our bodies are wonderful, unique things that perform little miracles each day-most of which we are not even aware of! Our bodys job is not only to keep us in the best condition it can be so that we can perform our daily tasks at an optimum level, but also to provide the mental stability that is needed to take on day-to-day challenges.

For too long, physical and mental health have been thought of as two very separate entities, but it is impossible to have good health without both body and mind functioning well, and increasingly research is showing us just how intimately the two are linked. Although it can feel like a daunting task, looking after both your physical and mental health every single day is what will keep you happier in the long run.

Think of your body and mind as a machine they both need fuel to function. Your mind requires fuel in the form of positive relationships with other people and your own self-esteem, but mental health is also impacted by what we eat. Some foods can be detrimental to our mental health, but certain foods have actually been proven to have beneficial effects on our moods.

Our physical bodies need good food in appropriate amounts. A healthy diet isnt just about counting calories even if you are overweight but how much nutritional value those calories have. It might seem obvious, but you can actually eat quite a lot of food that is high in nutritional value and not worry about its calorific value.

To carry on the analogy of your body and mind being a machine, imagine a shiny new car. Then imagine that you and your next-door neighbour buy new cars at around the same time. Despite spending time washing and polishing it so it looks good on the outside, your neighbour doesnt give much care to the inside. She puts knock-off petrol into hers, never gets the car serviced or checks the tyre pressures. She insists she hasnt got the time. Your neighbour is so busy with other things, she doesnt top up her cars oil or water and seldom even takes it out of the garage to keep the battery in good running order.

You, on the other hand, fill your motor with the best fuel you can afford, you get it serviced regularly and you spend time keeping it in tip-top condition inside and out. You also insist on taking it out for a drive regularly to stop any of the parts seizing up or becoming damaged. You are busy, too, but you would be stuck without a car to get about in, so you make the time to keep it in good order.

Five years later, your neighbours car keeps breaking down (if she can even get it started!), the tyres are flat and it looks a wreck. Envious, she peers over the hedge at your car, which still runs like a dream. She tells you how she wishes she had looked after her car as well as you had.

So, bearing in mind that when it comes to our bodies, we only ever get to own one which owner would you rather be? Since youve bought this book, were guessing that youre more interested in getting as much service out of your body as possible, for as long as possible.

The good news is that it is never too late to adopt a healthier routine in your life and to look after your mental and physical wellbeing.

Food is the fuel that we use to power our bodies and minds, and getting that right doesnt have to be hard work. Even small changes can make a big difference to our overall wellbeing. Remember that being healthy isnt only about cutting things out, often it is about trying new things and discovering whole new flavours and foods that you never knew existed!

By choosing to fuel our bodies with healthy and nutritious foods, we can not only help reduce our risk of developing serious illnesses like Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and even certain cancers, we can also improve our immune systems and even our mental health.

We want to introduce you to a range of recipes and flavours that will tickle your taste buds, get you excited about eating healthy food and ensure you stay as healthy as possible. We have included some of our favourite and most nutritious recipes from around the world. Every one of these recipes is nutritious and nutritionally balanced so that you can to share them with all the family and there is something for all budgets, too! There really is something for everyone here.

And if you are like the two of us and enjoy a dessert every now and again, we even have some tantalising afters options that will send your senses into overload without upsetting your all-important gut bacteria!

We are both passionate about the Mind, Body and Soul approach. Food is a huge part of that, but it is only one piece of the good health puzzle. Its really important to get that car off the drive and out onto the road remember to keep moving, as regular exercise is good for both your body and mind and will keep all the cogs in your machine working at their very best.

Sleep is a truly powerful thing. It is so important to prioritise this, and to get the best-quality sleep that you can. Not only is it vital to rest your body and mind, sleep has wonderful healing qualities that allow your body to recover and repair itself, and means you are in the best mindsest to make healthy food and exercise choices.

If youve struggled in the past to prioritise your health over work, family or other commitments, now is the time to change all that, and if you need help, enlist it. Surround yourself with people who will positively influence you and support your goals. When it comes to giving your time to others, make sure they are worth it, life really is too short (even with a smooth-running engine) to get bogged down in negativity.

So take on board these changes to your daily lifestyle and you will soon feel the benefits and be a happier, healthier you. Make these changes part of your lifestyle for the long term and your machine-like will body drive like a dream for many years to come.

Having seen the fantastic improvements our You Are What You Eat guests experienced in a relatively short time by adopting these tweaks and changes to their lives, we know how powerful these can be, and how easy to implement. Were so excited to introduce you to your opportunity to be the best version of yourself!

When you eat well, you feel well

Eating healthily isnt just about losing weight, its about making sensible choices around how you live and feed yourself every day so that you can feel in your very best shape. With the right combination and balance of a wide range of nutritious foods, alongside regular exercise and getting good-quality sleep, you will find you have plenty of energy to enjoy life. The bonus is that this lifestyle will also help you reduce your risk of contracting many illnesses from coughs and colds to more serious and life-altering conditions such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes.