I have such a profoundly deep respect for people who change their lives. The kind of change I’m of course referring to is lasting change, significant change. Complete 180 degree change. The morbidly obese man who one day decides that life is too precious to be wasted. The ‘terminally’ ill woman who decides to go against everything she has ever known and take charge to educate her way to a new body with a new lease for death to get used to.

When I watch someone drink a diet soda, fizzing with ignorance and beautiful blackish red marketing lies I can’t help but feel rage with the heat of a thousand blue flames. How could it go so wrong? How can so many people be so ignorant? Why is it so difficult to stand up one morning and say ‘Screw you, majority, I’m now part of the educated minority and I’m going to change my life!’ ?

Because it takes effort. And because the world is not accustomed to people taking a stand. If you are conscious of what you put in your mouth, you are just seen as ‘that weird one’ or a ‘hippie freak’ or whatever charming term is given to an intelligent person who simply researches and thinks about what fuel their ‘car’ really needs.

But lo and behold, I am lucky enough that I’ve been given two arms and two hands, a brain that can think, eyes that can read, ears that can listen and stellar reasoning capabilities.

I can apply logic to the debate of whether to shove down my throat substances with such delightful names as 3,3-dimethylbutyl and the like. These are of course cleverly disguised from the ignorant as something like E961 at the bottom of the list of even more obscure words that has tired your eyes by the time you pass ‘Sugar, hydrogenated vegetable oil…(veggies are good, right?!)’ in size 2 font.

Yes, I can do precisely the opposite of what the marketers, drug companies, etc, want me to do – I can use some of my braincells each time I pick up something in the shop. I can, wait for it… read *labels*! Oooooohh, who DOES that?! Well, I do.

Oh it’s a mission, sure (particularly when you’re as nomadic as me…discovering each of those obscure ingredients in German and Italian ‘aint exactly a ‘supercar experience for one’, I assure you).

But our bodies put in a lot more effort to keep us running 24/7/365 than we expend in deciding what to give it in return.

So there we have it. My eyes can see those words. My brain can use logic and reason to decide its potential affect on my already starved cells. Then I can decide whether to reach my arms and grip with my precious hands a poison disguised as ‘food’ to punish my poor body with; or to search a little further and spend a few more euros on a live FOOD. A blessing to my cells that can absorb the life force inherent in that divine cacao bean, that beautifully juicy strawberry. And I can revel in the joy I feel as it absorbs into my cells.

Pfff, reality check! As if. I, and possibly you, have made the wrong choice far too many times. Somehow there’s always a justification. “What a crap day, you deserve this tub of Nutella – just take it easy on yourself’.

And all my poor cells want to do is heal so that they can give me a better day next time. My thank you for their perfect intention is some brown sludge that they have to spend the night trying to mop up.

Well it’s times like these when I think of those that turn their lives around overnight. Or even over some time. They heal themselves of stage 4 cancer, they start the arduous battle to lose 200 pounds. They WAKE UP. Surely we can all start somewhere?

Let’s read our labels, think about what we’re giving our cells. Garbage or life force? Our choice. Literally. Bite by bite.

Spread the word