I CAN'T BELIEVE I ATE THE WHOLE THING!

     Some of you may remember this funny 1972 advertisement for Alka-Seltzer. I can't believe I ate the WHOLE thing!  

     Today's discussion, however, is not about consuming a huge amount of food like the man in the commercial.  Rather, I'm talking about eating foods that are whole, as in unrefined.  Whole foods found in nature are complete and nutritious just as they are out of the ground or off the branch.  When we refine a food we are taking away much of what makes it healthy in the first place.  Yet those foods tend to be the most popular. Think white bread, white rice, potato chips, and all forms of sweet drinks, candy and desserts.

     For example, when we take a whole grain and refine it into a white flour we remove the germ, the bran and the vast majority of nutrients and fiber.  Manufacturers then add in some synthetic "man made" vitamins and call it "Enriched".  HA! Joke's on us!! I'd say it is really DEPLETED! Over time this leaves our body empty of all it needs and we become malnourished, lowering our immune function, thereby more susceptible to mental, emotional and physical diseases.

     Then, to make matters worse, companies often stick in a wide variety of chemical additives and preservatives.  Now the food has gone from something that leaves us malnourished to something that is downright toxic!  Think Caffeine, Monosodium glutamate (MSG), artificial colors, sweeteners, and preservatives. To stay healthy we must neutralize the toxins and get them out of our bodies.  Doing that takes lots of energy and many of our own vitamins and minerals, leaving us all the more depleted and open to injury and illness.

     To maintain vibrant health we want to eat a well rounded diet that includes 7+ servings of fresh fruits and vegetables a day, 3 or 4 servings of plant proteins like beans and legumes (or optional fish or lean animal protein), a small amount of healthy fats like raw unsalted nuts & seeds, olives, avocados or coconut, along with some whole grains such as quinoa, brown rice, barley, oats, etc.  Eating real food found in nature will keep us full of energy and vitality.  We will think clearly, feel happy, look great, have less pain and have a dynamic immune system. 

     Can I challenge you to start eating more healthy whole foods? Let's spend our energy and nutrients on healing and growing rather than on flushing out toxins. 

      Let me know one more healthy food you are going to add into your menu this week.