Wellness Journalism: Eating Life

You are what you eat. If you take this to heart, you won’t eat crap. (Or at least, you will keep it to a minimum.)

Here’s how it works: You eat food item. Food item enters your stomach and your body starts the task of digesting it. Digestion means absorption, which means that the food item is processed through your cells. If you’ve eaten something crappy, your poor cells are forced to deal with it (costing your body vital energy), while being starved of nutrients. If the food item is wholesome, however, your cells rejoice, creating vibrant health! The food you eat is critical to your bodily function. If you want to run a smooth ship, eat a wide variety of nutritious foods.

The Good Stuff

Whole Grains

• Whole grains are a good source of B vitamins, Vitamin E, magnesium, iron and fiber, as well as other valuable antioxidants
• It’s easy to find make whole grains part of your balanced breakfast: oatmeal, cereal, toast…it’s a quick and easy way to fill your tank and start your day.
• Whole grain bread makes sandwiches taste better—it’s nutty and sweet and soft.
• “Wheat” is not the same as Whole Grain.

Fruits and Vegetables

• Check it out: Lower blood pressure; reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, and probably some cancers; lower risk of eye and digestive problems; and a mellowing effect on blood sugar that can help keep appetite in check.
• Add baby spinach to just about anything, even smoothies- the flavor is mild and the nutritional value can’t be beat. Remember Popeye?
• When you BBQ, throw some sliced green and yellow zucchini on the grill. Brushed on both sides with olive oil and sprinkled with your favorite seasonings or marinades, they are yum-yum delicious.
• An apple makes a great snack. For that matter, so does a pear, an orange, or a banana…and they even come in their own wrapper!

Protein

• The amino acids in protein are the building blocks of your body. You need ‘em.
• Vegetable sources of protein, such as beans, nuts, and whole grains, are excellent choices, and they offer healthy fiber, vitamins and minerals.
• The best animal protein choices are fish and poultry. If you are more carnivorous and need red meat, stick with the leanest cuts, choose moderate portion sizes, and make it only an occasional part of your diet.
• Cutting back on highly processed carbohydrates and increasing protein improves levels of blood triglycerides and HDL, and so may reduce your chances of having a heart attack, stroke, or other form of cardiovascular disease.

The Food Pyramid

The body is highly intelligent and adaptive…

It’s amazing how quickly your health will turn for the better when you eat wholesome food. And, thankfully, the body is forgiving when you just can’t turn down a second brownie. (Every once in awhile.)