Nourishment for Life

Eating well is the most important act we can do to ensure health - Dr. Mark Hyman

Nutrition is life it’s self, the food we eat feeds every single cell in our body and provides us with the energy we need to thrive. It’s hard to fathom but right now we have 100 trillion bacteria living in our gut and we call this the gut microbiome. It is essential to take care of this huge ecosystem inside us as it controls our quality of health and wellbeing.

The Ideal Diet

The ideal diet consists of quality fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, whole grains, protein, fermented foods, herbs and spices. Our digestive systems are designed to recognise real whole foods. Try and choose as many foods as you can without labels and in their natural form. If there is a label try to limit to five natural real ingredients. Plant variety is key, aim for five different coloured veggies per day. Plant foods contain phytochemicals which are nutrients that your body needs for optimal function.

Limiting Process Foods

Aim to limit processed foods in your diet. These foods often contain saturated fat, salt & sugars, artificial sweeteners, flavors and genetically modified organisms which all have a detrimental effect on our health. When we eat unhealthy foods it creates a craving for that food, which makes us want more. These foods do not actually feed our cells with the nutrients it needs, so our body gives us hunger signals and we eat more as a result. Many years ago a peach or an apple were the sweetest things around, but these fruits don’t taste as sweet as a chocolate bar for example. When we reduce our intake of foods high in sugar, salt and fat our taste buds actually change for the better and we can put a stop to the cravings.

Organic Food

It’s also important to limit the toxins going into your body through your food. Where possible I would suggest buying organic food. Organic is often a word that is thrown around a lot and most people just think it a term for overly priced food and this is not the case. Organic plants have been grown in nutrient rich soil, so the food is much more beneficial for our cells. Organic plants have not been sprayed with chemical toxins which negatively affect our body so organic means we are limiting toxins entering our body. When it comes to organic meat this meat has been ethically raised and not pumped with growth hormones or antibiotics which then ends up on our plate to consume.

Mindful Eating

Taking time to prepare meals actually aids digestion. When our brain registers that we are about to eat it starts to generate more digestive enzymes in our mouth through our saliva and prepares our stomach acid to receive food. Digesting actually starts in the mouth when we chew our food, so it’s important to take time when eating. It’s also equally essential to eat in a calm state, this will promote our rest and digest, parasympathetic nervous system to help with digestion. When we eat in a rush or stressful state we often tend to eat more at the time and afterwards as a result.

13/06/2022