Force-feeding. Lessons from a prehistoric grandmother
Excess weight is a problem of our century. Usually its root is in the wrong diet. But for some reason, behind the extra pounds that are clearly visible, we do not see another, much more serious problem. People lack happiness …
Is hunger so terrible?
Excess weight is a problem of our century. Usually its root is in the wrong diet. But for some reason, behind the extra pounds that are clearly visible, we do not see another, much more serious problem. People lack happiness.
It all starts from childhood. A child, not yet spoiled by civilization, tries to eat as his instincts tell him. That is - as much as you want, and when you want. Parents are not happy with this state of affairs. They believe that they know more precisely than nature - how much a child needs to eat and when he needs to eat.
Armed with prejudices, advice, popular books, their own opinion (who knows better than me what is good for my baby, I love him so much!), Parents begin to torment the child: "You must have breakfast!"
And if you don't feel like having breakfast? Usually this issue is not discussed. And the child is forced to stuff food into himself when it is only a burden to him. If only to get rid of … Or to go for a walk. Or to be called a "good boy." But not because you really want to eat.
Before he had time to get hungry - lunch. First, second … And if it does not fit? Nothing, the clever book says that you need to eat at least three times a day. And "does not climb" - he is still small, which he can understand.
Then - dinner … "Eat everything - you will be a good boy." "If you don't eat, I won't turn on cartoons." "Mom tried, cooked, but you don't eat." And so day after day.
In the first years of a child's life, parents, acting out of the best intentions, try in every possible way to bring down his natural program by force feeding. Unfortunately, these efforts are not in vain.
Improper handling of food weakens our craving for the realization of our natural capabilities. This takes away from us part of the pleasures that we could experience without “killing” our true desires with a spoon, fork and knife.
What drives us to develop?
Let's reflect. What makes humanity as a whole and each individual person develop? Let's take a closer look at the representative of the ancient human flock, observe the life of a male individual. Let's imagine that our test subject has all the usual needs of a living creature, with the exception of the need for food.
In order to live, he needs to breathe. The air is full. Here he lies under a tree, breathing. It's warm, but it gets cold - you can climb into the cave. Still thirsty. Not a problem: next to the tree a stream - he turned his head - drank. I felt like sleeping - here you don't even need to turn your head. He closed his eyes and sleeps. I slept enough - he wanted to continue the human race. And next to it lies the same carefree representative of the beautiful half of the primitive flock. They have babies once a year …
Idyll, you will not say anything. Nature satisfies all the basic needs of our "experimental" ancient man. Almost no effort is required from him to survive. It is very easy to destroy this idyll - add here just one need - the need for food.
Food will not go into your mouth by itself. In order to get it, the ancient man has to work hard. And everyone gets food as they can. Someone catches fish, someone picks mushrooms and nuts, someone goes hunting. And someone will make an ax or jewelry out of stone, and even exchange it for food from someone who knows how to take it from nature.
The need for food makes people move, that is, to develop and use their natural abilities.
If primitive man successfully fulfilled his specific role, he received several "bonuses" at once.
First, he received his share of the food, benefiting the flock. That is, it ensures its own survival and the survival of society.
Secondly, doing what he was intended for by nature, he received from this action a lot of positive emotions, pleasure. Hunger forces a person to do what he is best able to do in order to earn the right to life in this way. And mistakes here are fatal both for the individual and for society as a whole. For example, returning to the primitive pack, let's think about what will happen if a person who is not very agile, does not run very fast, but does an excellent job of stone axes, decides to become a hunter.
He made the best stone ax, and in the morning he dragged off to hunt. In the evening he comes, the whole flock is waiting for the carcass of the killed animal, and he sighs mournfully: "I didn't catch up with anyone …" He feels guilt, devastation (the fashionable word "stress" is the best fit here), the flock is on the verge of starvation. And the female doesn't even want to look at him … It would be better to sit in a cave, but make axes. And the ax would be better exchanged for a piece of meat from a hunter. And the one with the best ax would have filled a mountain of game …
In this case, everyone would be happy. And the creator of the ax, and the hunter, and the flock. There are countless examples of this. What happens if a person who is unable to distinguish a striped tiger in the mishmash of light and shadow on the sand under the palm trees takes on the task of guarding the flock from predators? What happens if the head of the pack is a person who only cares about himself?
Nature did not forgive such mistakes, inconsistencies between the innate properties of a person and his activities. And the main tool of natural influence here is hunger. It was he who allowed a person to accurately realize his true capabilities and begin to realize them.
Overeating problem
Human society from a primitive flock has turned into what we see today. In most countries, the problem of food shortages has been resolved. Even in excess. And a person who receives an excess of food leaves in this way from under natural control. The most dangerous thing here is that it is very difficult for such a person to understand what exactly he needs for happiness. What it is best suited for. It is difficult for him to understand his real desires.
As a result, he acts, focusing on anything other than his own deepest needs. He does something because it is accepted in his circle, because it is so fashionable, because it was advised so, shown on TV, wrote in the newspaper. As a result, everything seems to be "like everyone else," but there is no happiness.
From a physiological point of view, one of the components of a state of happiness is the hormones endorphins, which the body produces in response to various influences. Someone is made especially happy by creativity, someone - the size of a bank account, someone - a strong family, someone - power, someone - love …
In response to experiences associated with certain conditions, the body produces endorphins. The main problem of modern people is to understand what they need to be happy. Excessive nutrition interferes with this process.
If we return to the topic of force-feeding children, it turns out that in the first years the child experiences discomfort from portions of food that are more than he needs, which enter the body more often than he needs. Sometimes, of course, eating turns into a real pleasure - if the child is really hungry.
During the first years, the child resists. Gradually, the body adapts to this state of affairs, especially in those whose metabolism is naturally slower. For example, according to doctors, the stomach increases in volume. What is not spent on life support can go into body fat.
By the way, pay attention to how we organize all kinds of holidays. An indispensable attribute of any significant event is a festive table. Usually, the amount of food that a person eats at such a table is equal to several daily norms.
How do many people deal with any kind of stress? Often, as they say, "we eat".
A person is built in such a way that when his desire is satisfied, it disappears, but then it returns strengthened. This can be seen very clearly in simple desires. A man wants a car - if only he could drive. He buys some "top ten" produced by the Russian car industry, happy for a couple of weeks, and then, when the euphoria passes, when he gets used to the new position, the desire increases …
If we are talking about those desires that are inherent in a person by nature, their increase also means the opportunities given to a person for their realization. There will be no harm from this. And when a person is accustomed to receive a considerable share of pleasure from food, he gets the lack of pleasure by increasing the amount of food consumed. And this is very harmful.
What to do?
Who can you ask for advice to parents who want to feed their baby the way nature intended? The main "advisor" in this matter is the child. His body, nature itself, through the feeling of hunger, will prompt the optimal amount of food that he needs. Note that children who are not trained to overeat will not do it themselves. Out of habit, overeating is pretty disgusting.
It is in the power of parents to provide the child with wholesome and healthy food. If you put in some effort, in addition to the tons of blatantly harmful products of the modern food industry, you can find a lot of good things. Porridge, vegetables, fruits, meat, seafood are great food for both a child and an adult.
Work many hours on a plate that your little one eats with force? Do you think your child will never eat simple oatmeal in his life? Well-fed - he is unlikely to do it with pleasure, especially when he was poured porridge full of soup plate. And the hungry, having received a moderate portion of porridge or whatever in a small bowl, will ask for more.
Do not refuse him - more than necessary, he will not eat. As a result, he will eat exactly as much as he needs. Just like that, through a small portion, you can hear the voice of nature. Against the backdrop of proper parenting that meets the inner needs of the baby, intelligent feeding is a solid foundation for a happy adult life.
