The Good, the Bad, and the Hungry

Ah, yes, the topic of food. What can we eat? We have evolved into a generation of fast food. We depend upon drive-through restaurants, granola bars, energy drinks, squeezable yogurt, deli sandwiches, etc. For parties, we stock up on soda, pretzels, chips and dips, and prepared foods. We have embraced this lifestyle of eating poorly as being normal.

Hmm… something seems to be missing. Where is the nutrition in these foods? What happened to the staples such as fruits and vegetables?

It's no wonder that we are seeing more and more diseases in younger people than ever before. Just to mention a few, we are seeing the early stages of heart disease, cancer, and type-2 diabetes once known as adult-onset diabetes, in young people and children. A poor diet has long been a large component of the downfall of health in our country.

Over the past few decades, we have seen the addition of preservatives, colorings, and chemicals to extend the shelf life of many products. High fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils have been added as well. Marketing of most items will detract your attention from the real ingredients, that is, unless you take a close look at the food label.

Let's go back a generation. For those of us who were fortunate enough to spend time with our grandparents, we remember their vegetable garden. They would show us how to till and prepare the soil, plant the seeds, nurture the seedlings, and of course, the best part is to pick and eat the vegetables that you've grown! Sadly today, most of us don't have or make the time for vegetable gardens. Yet, it is worth seeking out the few local farmers that are still left to buy fresh produce and know that it is nutritionally sound.

We do, however, buy much of our produce from supermarkets. But, are we buying nutritional produce? Over the years, we know that soils have been nutritionally depleted, pesticides are used, produce is picked early to allow ripening on the truck while being transported to the store. Heat is the enemy for nutritional value when it comes to produce. If there are no temperature controls on the truck, heat can reduce the nutritional integrity of the produce.

In respect to our bodies, let's consider the fact that we need energy to live well. How we attain that energy? Remember the phrase, “We are what we eat.” This holds the truth. Foods with energy include fresh, raw fruits and vegetables. A balanced diet must include these but not these alone. Yet, what is equally important is the variety of fruits and veggies as is the amount. Excluding high fat and processed foods is the essential in starting on the road to better health. Taking a serious look at reducing or eliminating the five white poisons is just as important : white flour, salt, sugar, sugar substitutes, and milk. The reasons why these are so unhealthy are numerous, but necessary, to work towards optimal health.

Our fast-paced lifestyle has sadly brought our culture so far from the basics of living. If we can stop… for just a minute… and think about the importance of our health, perhaps we will realize that our health is our wealth. And, without it, we have nothing.

Education is the foundation to living a healthy life.

Take control of your health… today.