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Abstemiousness

 

Abstemiousness is a virtue of the cardinal virtue of Temperance, and growing in the virtue of abstemiousness is about making food and drink choices that meet your body's needs without allowing taste to overpower purpose. Using a food journal can help with abstemiousness and understanding the impact of food and drink choices on your body. Here are some examples of better habits you can exercise every day to grow in the virtue of abstemiousness:

 

Hydrate

• Drink half your bodyweight (pounds) in water (ounces). (eg. 150 lbs of weight = 75 oz of water per day)

• Replenish electrolytes after intense exercise or illness.

• Limit alcohol and sweet drinks.

 

Nourish

• Eat 3 nutritious meals per day with no in-between snacks.

• Eat only single-ingredient, "whole", unprocessed foods.

• Fast to moderate the amount of food you're eating for each meal rather than to abstain from any meals.

 

Supplement

• Aim for approximately 1 gram of protein per 1 pound of weight. (eg. 150 lbs of weight = 150 grams of protein)

• Consume nutrients mostly from food.

• Use supplements as directed by your physician to supplement food, not to replace it.