Homeopathic Medicine » Eating Healthy

Eating Healthy

Whole Foods

Our body requires whole varied natural foods to stay healthy. It is important to include a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, raw nuts and seeds, lean proteins, whole grains, legumes, spices and herbs. The wider the variety, the more diverse and rich the source of our nutrients becomes. As stated in the about page, our body’s evolution is still tied to the time when our ancestors roamed the landscape and consumed an omnivorous diet( fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, and animal proteins), that was seasonal in nature, whatever nature provided at the time people took from the landscape. Therefore, in this day and age of modernization and dependence on what we find in our stores, we must take advantage of including all that may be available to us in the supermarket. The American diet tends to be monotonous and overindulge in starches, fat laden proteins, sugar and convenient fast foods. This leads to the epidemics of high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other degenerative diseases that plague our society. Coupled with a sedentary lifestyle we are destined to fail miserably and be dependent on medications to further cause our miraculous body to age and die slowly and painfully.

Instead health nutrition consists of choosing to ingest a wide variety of green leafy vegetables, fresh fruits, raw nuts and seeds, and lean hormone ad antibiotic free proteins.

Eating healthy is composed of a good balanced breakfast which can include two eggs, whole grain toast, and fresh fruit, or a protein smoothie made with frozen high antioxidant content berries(blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, acai berries, etc), a TBSP of nut butter or two TBSP of hemp seeds, one scoop of whey protein powder, rice protein powder, egg white powder, hemp protein powder, or soy protein powder and water, or a bowl of plain low fat yogurt with frozen berries and a handful of raw nuts and/ or seeds, or a bowl of high fiber granola with nuts and berries. It is best to rotate and change your breakfast menu daily, our bodies need variety to prevent developing sensitivities and inflammatory responses to one certain food.

Lunch can be a bowl of vegetable soup and a salad with spring mix, tomatoes, carrots, bell peppers, scallions, raw nuts, feta cheese or pieces of chicken, salmon, turkey, or lean beef, with a vinegar and herb dressing or just simply olive oil and lemon or lime juice, one can also have two grilled fish tacos, or a sandwich with lean turkey lettuce, tomato, and avocado, or a vegetarian alternative with low fat mozzarella, onion and avocado, or a small bowl of stir fried vegetables with your choice of protein in it.

Dinner can be a lightly steamed vegetable with a lean 3-4oz piece of baked or grilled protein, a whole grain such as brown rice, quinoa, buckwheat, millet, a yam or sweet potato, seasonal squashes, a small dinner salad, a green leafy vegetable such as chard, collards, dandelion greens, etc.

Contrary to the customary habits of the American diet, one should eat the majority of the calories in the first two meals rather than the last. We are more active and can burn more during the first part of our day instead of eating a large meal at the end of the day and then going to bed to let those calories store as fat in our bodies.

The preferred beverage of the day should be water (preferably clean spring or filtered water), our bodies are made of 90% water and need it for cellular health, detoxification, and transportation of nutrients. One needs to consume 1 quart per 50 lbs of weight per day to be properly hydrated. Any other fluid is not going to hydrate because it takes water to process it, therefore it is dehydrating. It is helpful to add electrolytes to our water for better absorption of that water. A percentage of the population has difficulty absorbing plain water due to genetic or metabolic challenges in their kidneys and intestines, so adding a small amount of electrolytes or a few drops of juice( just enough to color the water not change its taste) will help the body retain more of the water and better hydrate itself.

Health nutrition consists of the quality of food one consumes is vital, commercially grown food is the least desirable because it has been grown artificially with pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and genetically modified, it is also picked green and devoid or many of the nutrients our body needs as well and laden with toxic chemicals that have been sprayed on them, the genetic modification has not been studied long enough and we do no know what long term effects that will have on our own genes and body processes, having perfect looking fruits, vegetables and grains that are resistant to temperatures and pests may be more dangerous than the benefits of healthy dependable crops. It is best to purchase organically grown or pesticide free foods that are not genetically altered. There is an abundance of organic growers that will deliver foods to your doorstep and many grocers that are now making them available, for those that have Trader Joe’s market available, they offer very reasonably priced organically grown foods . One can also plant a garden that is seasonal, there are even indoor fruit and vegetable plants available for sale to be grown in your kitchen or home.

In order to maintain optimal health and weight, not only is quality varied food desirable and necessary, keeping our blood sugar levels is another key factor. One must consume breakfast within one hour of waking to break the 7-8 hour fast our bodies have gone through in our sleep, and then eat meals or snacks every 3-4 hours to maintain optimal blood sugar levels. The brain and cells of every organ and muscle in our body require a constant and regular supply of glucose which is generated from our food supply in order to maintain optimal function and health. The brain will destroy its own cells to generate this energy source, so in essence, every time we go for more than 3-4 hours without ingesting healthy food, we cause brain damage. The rest of our body cells are also waiting for glucose to be delivered, the source of energy that allows us them to function and run all of the second to second demands of our organs and muscles, . If more than 3-4 hours go by and the body is deprived of this food source, the pancreas(the organ responsible for generating and producing insulin, and digestive enzymes) is forced to generate insulin and drive whatever little sugar is in the blood into the cells and lead to hypoglycemic states that make us feel shaky, dizzy, anxious, headaches, emotional, and stressed, ultimately, the cells of the pancreas that produce insulin become worn out and start to die, leading to insulin resistance( a condition that renders insulin ineffective and causes weight gain, constant hunger for sweets and heart disease) and then ultimately diabetes. It is easy to see how vital and important regular intake of meals becomes. Attention to healthy eating habits will insure that you have a high rate of metabolism and reduce or eliminate blood sugar stress to all your other hormonal and body organs, leading to optimal weight and wellness.