“The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.”
I just want to start off by saying I am not a doctor or medical professional or an RD….maybe one day! I simply love to learn about the latest in wellness and even more, I love to share what I spend my time reading about and listening to. So here is what I know can apply to nearly every single person: (but “please consult your doctor”, “these statements have not been proven by the FDA”, “this information is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease…”) Did I miss any?
This may seem obvious, or possibly it never occured to you, but everything is affected by the food you put in your body.
Heart disease, cancer, diabetes etc may run rampant in your family but according to epigenetics you can turn on and off how that gene is expressed. Actually 90% of your health is determined by the food you eat, how toxic your environment is, stress, thoughts and movement or lack of. I think this is one of the most empowering pieces of information out there. You are ultimately in charge of your health, regardless what genes have been passed down to you. Food is freaking powerful and can nourish your cells or cause chronic inflammation which can cause all of the above issues.
We make all of our sauces from scratch at Nourish so we can avoid added sugar (and so we don’t have to have preservatives in our food). We also create our smoothies with 1/2 a banana so we can keep sugar content in check. Did you know certain chain smoothie shops have the same sugar content as 2 sodas? Yikes! Yes fruit is waaaaaay healthier than soda but it doesn’t do anything for your blood sugar, hunger and hormones in that high of doses.
If you can’t afford to eat all organic consider the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen. This tells you which produce contains the most pesticides which grown conventional. Speaking of conventional and industrial farming…it’s terrible for you, farmers, our planet and the animals. Where you get your food not only matters to your health but you also vote with your dollars. Support farmers and stores like Clovers and Natural Grocers who actually care about the quality of the food they sell.
For grass-fed or sustainably raised animal products check out the EWG’s Meat Eater’s Guide to eating good-quality animal products that are good for you and good for the environment.
Our bodies are all different and regardless if you are vegan or paleo, basing the majority of your diet on healthy fats, vegetables and fruit is always a good idea. Some (well most) people have food intolerances of one kind or another. Consider doing an elimination diet or get tested so you know what foods to eliminate while you heal your gut then you can typically add those foods back in safely.
Food should not be boring but full of flavor and something you are excited to eat everyday…food you crave! Season and sauce it up! Spices and herbs are loaded with phytonutrients and often have more disease fighting antioxidants than fruits and veggies.
And just a little extra while it’s on my brain:
It’s no secret that I have dealt with major hormone imbalances/infertility for years. I have become passionate (borderline obsessed) with balancing my hormones naturally and getting to the root of the issue. Even if you aren’t interested in having a baby, if you’ve ever had your hormones out of whack, you know what a huge role hormones play in your body: mood, anxiety, hunger, weight, fertility…all the things. And what you eat can literally turn off hunger hormones, clear up your skin, eliminate mood disorders and truly change everything. Here are 2 of my favorite hormone books as they pertain to the female hormones!
I also want to iterate that while yes food is crucial to your health, so is your mental, emotional, spiritual state. We live in a time where it’s more and more difficult to turn inward and do things that actually bring us joy, not just things we think should bring us joy. There are so many incredible resources in Columbia from acupuncture, EFT (tapping), energy workers, yoga, etc. But to start now (and for free) just remember to get outside everyday, sit quietly without distractions for even a couple of minutes, do movement your body craves, breath so deeply your belly sticks out like a baby and think of a few things you are so damn grateful for.
