Back to Nutrition Basics
With all of the conversations I have with each of my clients, I keep coming back to sharing some fundamentals. The world of nutrition was lost in a quagmire of confusion in the 1970’s and has continued to leave us in a perplexed fog ever since, thinking we either have to be scared of everything and perfect, or feeling like we can eat everything and we’re just fine.
So here’s some guidelines to assist you:
Our Digestive Fire
Each of us needs to start our day with a healthy digestive fire. What this means is starting our day with something warm for our digestion. When we have cold or iced things for breakfast, such as a smoothie, we put out that digestive fire, and our spleen isn’t able to absorb the nutrients from the food. Be sure to have warm tea at least with something cool, and try to have things at room temperature, or at the least from the fridge, not the freezer for your first meal.
Healthy Proteins
We also need to start our day with healthy protein and fats. This can look like something plant-based, as well as something with a little meat for those who eat it. To anchor the mind, we need more with our carbs, and I recommend some healthy seeds, nuts or avocado, as well as you can do some bean and grain combo with your food to make that complete protein. Be sure and have very little sugar too. Breakfast (or brunch for those who eat late) is the most important meal of the day, and we don’t want to spike the blood sugar and get ourselves off on the wrong foot for our day. This can lead to anxiety, mood issues and low energy.
We need veggies and fruits
Vegetables should be plentiful, and fruits should also be a part of each day. Fruits are great snack options, as well as ways to flavor and spice up our meals. Vegetables can be a larger portion, and we want to get these in with every meal, or at least 2 a day plus snacks. If you have good digestion then enjoy some raw. If you have digestive issues, stick with cooked veggies.
Carbs are not all the enemies
Carbs are not your enemies, but they should be whole food sources and paired with a protein or fat to stabilize them. So carbs coming from sweet potatoes, squash, or some healthy tortillas or crackers from more whole grains, can be a nice addition to a meal or as a snack. One such snack option is having avocado on rice crackers.
A little sweet is A-Ok
In general, most people overdo the sweet flavor. But remember that a little is okay, and we don’t have to be perfect. Stick with sweeteners such as real local honey, real maple syrup, date syrup or stevia. Another sweet treat is dark chocolate, as this has much lower sugar content.
Organic and Non-GMO
GMO’s are the most difficult thing for our bodies to process, and are one of the reasons many people get sick, especially over time. When we buy organic, we are getting non-GMO. In many cases, when GMO’s are eliminated completely, our bodies start to heal. It really is worth it. GMO’s are sprayed with heavy chemicals that our bodies aren’t meant to process. It is truly worth it to spend the extra money on these foods. You are worth it. We pay either now, or we pay later. And for those of you who have been in chronic pain, or were, you know that it’s imperative that we make these changes, as much as possible. When your budget won’t allow everything, be sure and at least buy the dirty dozen organic.
Meats
Meats also should be either organic, or at least be sure there is no added hormones or antibiotics. These are doing enormous damage to the hormones of people, and again making them very sick. Nitrites and nitrates need to be avoided in processed meats as well. Buying free range is the best, as it ensures the animal has lived a good life, and you aren’t consuming the energy of an animal kept inside a container it wasn’t meant to live inside of. The animals' energies will transfer to us when we eat them, so want to be mindful especially of where we go out to eat, as most places don’t source healthy meat.
To Your Greatest Health,
Korenna