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| Whole Foods |
Less than a century ago, our diet was made up almost entirely of whole
foods. We ate what we grew, or what farmers in our communities offered for
sale. We ate it while it was in season, or else it was canned, pickled, or
preserved to eat throughout the winter.
Processed foods began making a regular appearance in our diets around the
time of World War Two, and by the time the women's lib movement was in full
swing in the 1970s, pre-packaged foods had become the norm in our North
American homes. We needed those convenience foods so we could get out and work
while still putting a hot meal on the table at the end of the day, or so the
marketing companies told us.
Yet to have a healthful and nutritionally-sound diet, processed foods
should make up less than 20 percent of our daily intake. But what exactly does
the term "whole foods" mean, and why are they so important to a
healthy body?
What Are Whole Foods?
Whole food is food that has only one ingredient: itself in its natural
form. In other words, a food that hasn't been processed into another state.
Obvious whole foods include fresh fruits and vegetables. Other whole foods that
can be included in the diet include:
·
Dried or canned beans, peas and lentils
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Nuts
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Whole grains like brown rice, hulled barley, millet
and quinoa
·
Raw cuts of meat like chicken legs or breasts, steak,
and pork chops that you season and cook yourself
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Fish and seafood including scallops, clams, oysters,
mussels, lobster, shrimp, and crab
·
Dairy products made from whole milk, like whole milk,
cheese, yogurt and sour cream
Why Are Whole Foods So Important?
Our bodies - our systems for digestion, absorption and metabolism - evolved
to utilize nutrients in the amounts and combinations provided by the food that
grows naturally on this planet.
People working with the human body as a holistic system like naturopaths,
herbalists and health coaches believe that the body will never achieve maximum
nutrition and an ultimate healthy state without whole foods. Vitamin
supplements and foods that are fortified by adding extra vitamins into them do
not replace the nutritional value of whole foods because vitamins only resemble
selected parts of a food. The vitamins that are used to fortify foods are often
synthetic, meaning they are made in a laboratory and not found in nature. The
body has trouble recognizing these synthetic products. These processed food
products do not contain the complex, interwoven structure of nutrients,
phytochemicals, enzymes and other substances found in one bite of whole food.
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| Whole Foods |
The safest bet for getting the full benefit out of nutrients and other
substances in food is to consume it in its original packaging as designed by
Mother Nature. Adding whole foods to your diet enables you to enjoy all the
nutrition offered by nature's bounty, leading to better health and better
eating habits. Diets rich in whole foods, especially vegetables and fruits, are
often lower in calorie and higher in nutrition than their processed
counterparts. This leads to natural weight loss, increased feelings of energy
and stronger immune systems.
Rachel Assuncao, Certified Health Coach
Rachel Assuncao works with busy parents and professionals who are
struggling to eat well and live a happy, energized, and vibrant life. As a
certified health coach she supports and guides you to achieve your wellness
goals and embrace the ongoing process of building total health and achieving
balance on all levels.
More information about easy recipes and diet meals here
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