The importance of diet

Yes, it is that important

MY HEALING JOURNEY

3/19/2026

A proper diet can be crucial for healing and a better quality of life, but if you ignore its importance, it can just as easily lead to chronic disease.

As someone currently navigating a journey to heal a disease in the digestive system, I’ve come to a firm realization: my diet—rather than medication—is what will make the difference in the end.

I’ve developed a set of core principles that guide me.

I want to emphasize that none of these are more important than the others.

They aren’t listed in order of priority; they are all equal pieces of the same puzzle.

This isn't a short-term change; it’s a long-term lifestyle I’ve chosen to embrace to help me flourish and maintain my well-being.

Because this is a marathon, not a sprint, I’ve built a toolkit to help me stay on track—and, more importantly, get back on track when life gets messy.

1. Flexibility

In the real world, "perfect" dieting isn't always possible.

Sometimes you’re out of your house, and don’t have the means to cook a meal you should eat, you’re starving, and the only options available are things that don't necessarily "sit right" with your system.

Here’s the thing: If you don’t maintain mental flexibility- and let yourself knowingly eat wrong things- the long-term damage is actually going to be worse.

When the body doesn't get enough energy because it's too rigid with its diet, it enters a state of protest that can sabotage your ability to stay consistent with your diet later on.

Sometimes, eating the wrong thing is the right choice for the bigger picture.

2. The Never-Fall-Twice Rule

Life happens.

Sometimes we have an emotional rough patch and overindulge or eat the wrong things, even when we do have a choice.

When that happens, I forgive myself immediately, I remind myself that I’m only human, and that I, too, slip up sometimes.

How do I overcome this, then?

By the very next meal, I’m back on my meal plan.

I don’t let one slip-up spiral into days or weeks of self-destruction.

I Eat Until Satisfied, Not Stuffed.

I make sure to eat until I’m genuinely satiated.

When I eat until I’m truly full—meaning I don’t want to think about food until the next meal, but I’m not too full—it prevents the emotional crashes that lead to binging, which is usually not the stuff that makes things better in the system.

this also means avoiding harsh spices that irritate the stomach.

3. needed supplementation

In a world of over-processed soil and pesticides, it’s incredibly difficult to get al our essential nutrients from food alone. Supplements are a non-negotiable part of my routine, since their job is to fill the gap left by malnutrition.

Note: Not all individuals have the same dietary needs. What I need isn't necessarily what you need.

I’ll be posting my specific supplement list-the what, why, and when I take my supplements very soon, so you can have an idea of what could benefit you and a starting point with supplementation.

4. remaining Present

As humans, we often feel the urge to distract ourselves during meals—scrolling through our phone or daydreaming, thinking about our day/ problems we’re facing.

But when I’m actually present, I breathe deeply and focus entirely on the food.

This mindfulness does two things:

It helps me listen to my body’s fullness cues, and it ensures I chew thoroughly, which is an essential part of digestion.

Simple, Warm, and Seated

I keep my meals simple—no overly complex combinations.

I stick to whole, raw ingredients in their original form.

I also make it a point to eat sitting down; eating on the go spikes stress, which effectively shuts down digestion.

Finally, I prioritize warm, cooked meals- they are easier to digest, especially in the evening when our body isn’t as active as the rest of the day in terms of digesting food, because when the sun sets, the body starts getting itself ready to sleep and closing off its internal systems gradually.

The cooking process reduces anti-nutrients, making it easier for the body to absorb the good stuff.