Food for Thought, Food for Body

Nourishing Foods that Promote Health

Why do we eat?  We eat to provide our bodies with nourishment and energy to sustain us throughout our lives. Every cell in our body, every thought and nervous impulse is dependant on the nutrition that we are taking on board each and every time we eat & drink.

The body is very resilient and can function for a time even under stress and poisoning from the various toxins we take into our bodies in the form of so called “foods” and drinks, drugs (prescription & non-prescription), alcohol, beauty products, and environment stresses. On top of this many of us run our bodies into the ground working with very little sleep, under constant emotional & physical stress with zero nutrition to sustain our bodies and minds.

Consider for a moment what you are making your body out of and subjecting it to on a daily basis. Is it any wonder we are a sick and unhealthy society?

When choosing foods to nourish your body and promote good health, here are a few things you might like to consider:

-         Why are you eating a certain food? Is it simply to subside your hunger or is it providing your body with essential nutrients?

-         Are you getting a balanced meal? i.e.) Fats, Protien and Carbs? Yes! We need fats for the production of all of our hormones (which also govern our emotions) and to provide every cell in our body with stiffness & integrity. Without good quality saturated fats, our cells are subject to free radical damage, resulting in various illnesses and an aged appearance. Also note that “Carbs” does not simply mean grains (cereals, rice, pasta, breads), which contain little nutrition. We can get plenty of carbs in the form of fruits and vegetables.

-         Try to avoid sugar, caffeine and other stimulants that pick you up and then drop you down. If we learn to eat smaller meals more frequently we can keep our blood sugar levels more constant and avoid feeling like we need a pick-me-up later on. If we have the adequate nutrition on board, we are also less likely to be craving something to give us energy. This is your body’s way of letting you know that something is missing.

-         Consider what additives and hidden ingredients are in the foods we buy? Try to get good at reading labels. Generally the more processed something is and the more ingredients and additives it has that you can hardly pronounce, the less likely it is to be good for you.

-         If possible steer clear of all packaged foods as they have little nutrition- although the packages often claim otherwise! Don’t get fooled by the marketing techniques!

-         Opt for whole fresh foods that are locally sourced if possible. The sooner it arrives from the farm to our plates and the more nutrients they are still likely to contain. It helps to eat with the seasons.

-         Going organic is a simple way to cut down the pesticides, antibiotics and other toxins that we get when we eat most conventionally farmed foods. Not only is it better for your body, it’s better for the environment! Farmers markets are a great option. It supports the local community and is quite often cheaper than store bought food. Talk to your local farmers and find out if they use sprays and pesticides on their produce if you can afford to pay for the label “organic”.

-         Avoid microwaves that completely destroy and de-nature your food. Microwaves destroy food cells, making it pretty much impossible for your body to absorb any nutrients. Buy a thermos instead!

-         Be careful when eating in restaurants. It’s hard to know what cooking oils and ingredients they use.

-         Finally, have fun with it. Enjoy cooking and looking after yourself. Make the time to prepare meals and snacks that are going to sustain you. (Left-overs are great and save time!) Remember if you don’t take the time now, you might be forced to later. So look after yourself and enjoy making wholesome, tasty foods for you and your family! Get them involved and share the joy of a happy, healthy lifestyle.