Keep the Comfort Food Healthy

We all turn to "comfort food" when our bodies or minds are stressed and often this comfort food we crave is carbohydrates or the infamous sugar, but that doesn't mean we can't give our bodies what it's asking for.

We all know that sugar (glucose) is fuel for our brains and I've mentioned many times the importance of complex carbohydrates; they may be the most important nutrient our body can get, but the biggest problem with most people is that they misinterpret these cravings for unhealthy nutrient lacking empty calorie processed foods high in refined carbohydrates and simple sugars.

Complex carbohydrates (fresh vegetables, natural whole grains, and legumes) contain an abundance of nutrients most of which is lost during processing, so all you are really getting with that bread or bagel, plate of pasta, or precooked processed grains is empty calories and an unwanted spike in blood sugar.

And the same goes with that candy bar or sugary snack you call "brain food"... unlike complex sugars simple sugars (refined white sugar, high fructose corn syrup, etc.) is that the same processing that rendered the carbohydrates useless has removed any nutrients from the sugar, so all you're left with is, well, sugar.

So give your body what it wants, not what generations of misleading and misinforming information have lead us to believe.

More Environmental Hazards

More and more I'm seeing top stories in the news related to environmental (more or less man-made) hazards and their links to Cancer. This is not surprising to me since I've been reading such things for years in many books written by accredited N.D.'s or even ordinary people with a deep interest in a natural approach to health and wellness. Only now though is a light being shed on such topics bringing some much needed attention to a previous over looked and hidden truth. The facts have been there and the research has been done, but for some reason bringing these startling conclusions to the masses has not been any easy task.

It is a fact that we willingly yet unknowingly expose ourselves to cause cancer agents on a daily basis; from Cell Phones, to Laser Copiers, to Household Cleaning Products Paints and Chemicals, to Cosmetics... the list goes on and on.

Below is a link to yet another example of people putting themselves and others in harm's way.

Toxic goo tracked from parking lots into homes

Be smart and make the conscious healthy choice not to continue putting yourself your family and the environment in danger.

Eat Healthty for Your Immune System

A healthy diet is important for many reasons, but the most important is to maintain a healthy immune system. The immune system is an amazing yet complex system composed of lymphatic vessels and organs, and specialized cells including white blood cells whose main objective is to protect the body against infection, viruses, and disease.

When healthy it's like Fort Knox... simply impenetrable to all intruders. On the other hand an unhealthy immune system is like, well, this Microsoft operating system that is currently on my computer... a hacker's delight if not for the help of add-on anti-virus and spyware software, and an external firewall.

So where can you find the secret to a healthy immune system?

It's not in that box or bag of precooked pre-prepared and or package of microwavable food... and it's definitely not at the fast food joint you often frequent. No, it's not at any of those places, and as a matter of fact it's those heavily processed high fat high sodium high cholesterol chemical infused foods that are undoubtedly causing the chronic immune deficiency that plagues so many Americans.

The good news is the secret to a healthy immune system isn't a secret at all. In fact you can find it in the produce aisle and organic section of any supermarket, or at your local farmers market, or at your local health food store, or at a local farm stand... it's fresh (organic preferably) fruits and vegetables. It's natural whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, and organic grass fed beef and free grazed chicken.

It's nutrient rich foods with vitamins like B, C and D, minerals like selenium and zinc, it's the antioxidants and anutrients like carotenes that enable the body to fight off most anything that comes its way.

Unfortunately it's the nutrient deficient diets of processed foods high in saturated fats, sodium, cholesterol, refined flowers and simple sugars that depress the immune system and have cultivated a civilization of people suffering from chronic illnesses and disease.

Make a healthy new choice for the new year... choose to be healthy!

Rethink "Diet"

It's time to rethink the word diet and what it means to you...

Most see "diet" as an ugly word that translates into an undesirable shift from the unhealthy but palatable processed foods that make up the majority (if not all) of your current meal regimen, to a much less palatable and surprisingly (but not really) not much healthier selection of processed foods; often consisting of pre-made meals, shakes, bars, and other "approved" snacks.

*The problem with this, other than the fact that you are replacing processed foods with processed foods, is that the word "diet" symbolizes work or an undesirable and subsequently unachievable goal; you have to stop thinking of diet as homework!

*Another common misconception and poor assumption health-wise is that protein is the most important food source, automatically labeling all other food on your plate a "side-dish". This is not the case... In fact Complex Carbohydrates are by far the most important part of a healthy diet (Vegetables, Grains, Legumes) and should make up at least 65% of your daily caloric intake. Due to their chemical make-up they're broken down by the body into simple sugars SLOWLY therefore maintaining better blood sugar control.

*That means that Proteins and Fats, although very crucial to a healthy diet and nearly equally important, should only make up about 35% of your daily intake of calories. One important note here is that the complex carbohydrates listed above can and are good sources of protein, which is why that piece of steak or chicken or pork does not have to take up three quarters of your plate. Another important note is that although animal sources of protein (beef primarily) get a bad rap due to the content of saturated fats (fats that are solid at room temperature), you will find as I have that Grass Fed Beef is very lean as they should be; so much so that its recommended you coat them with olive oil prior to grilling.

1. The most important part of your diet, hands down, are vegetables. Vegetables are so important they should be the "centerpiece of your plate". Fresh Raw vegetables are usually the highest in nutrients and anutrients and should account for the bulk of your vegetable intake; look for Organic vegetables whenever possible.
2. Whole grains are also very important part of a healthy diet, but it's important not to confuse the more familiar unhealthy processed foods labeled "whole grains" as your main source. The best whole grains are Natural Whole Grains or those in their NATURAL form (organic when possible); Long Grain Rice, Millet, Oat Groats, Buckwheat Groats, Hulless Barley, Kamut, Quinoa, and Amaranth just to name a few of my favorite grains. They typically take anywhere from 20 - 45min to cook, and they're great for breakfast, lunch, or a dinner side-dish.
3. Another important and healthy addition to your diet should be Legumes (beans). Once again these should be purchased in their natural state for the most health benefit. For legumes this means either fresh (like peas for instance) or dried; avoiding canned as your main source due to the high amounts of sodium. Nuts and Seeds should be fresh unsalted and with the shells (nuts especially). Fact: Legumes + Grains = Perfect Protein
   
4. Fruit is also an important food and just as vegetables should be consumed fresh not processed (and organic whenever possible). It's best to avoid pre-bottled fruit juices (due to the high sugar content) or pre-cut/pre-packaged fruits (due to a loss of nutrients) as your main sources.
5. Nuts and Seeds are Great sources of Healthy Fat, and should be apart of any healthy diet... Allergies permitting of course.
   
6. Finally a healthy diet should consist of Organic Grass Fed Beef, Free-Grazed Chicken and Eggs, Wild Caught Fish,*Cheeses and milk. I put them last on the list because most Americans or those with a Western diet often put them at the top. Because of the quality of most of the meat consumed in this country (corn/grain fed, non-organic, high in saturated fat) as well as the quantity (main focus of every meal) meat consumption, especially red meat, is one of the leading causes of many of the health issues plaguing Americans today. The surprising thing to most people though is when consumed as previously stated (Organic Grass Fed and Free-Grazed) they no doubt provide important nutrients without the high levels of saturated fats and harmful hormones and antibiotics found in grain fed animals.

*Note: I truly believe that the human body can and should do without anything derived from cow's milk", it is not easily digested resulting in food allergies and its importance due to Calcium has been highly exaggerated and even falsely presented. In its place I use Goat or Sheep products (Organic Grass Fed or course).

So there you go... No fancy point system or gimmick, no specially designed "health" shakes bars or pills, just healthy foods consumed in their most natural healthy state. If you rethink they you eat as stated above then you WILL be healthy, and that is Priority 1; a healthy weight will follow suit.

And yes it's inevitable that you will consume processed foods, but they must NOT be the primary sources of any of the 6 food groups listed above. It is also important to make sure that the processed food you do consume is organic whenever possible.