A 20 Point Nutritional Guide
There is so much more that goes into maintaining health than counting calories and nutrients. Our food choices impact us on emotional and mental levels and a holistic view of health understands that all of parts of us are interconnected. Therefore the quality (and quantity) of our food influences our inner terrain - either feeding or depleting us.
Here are 20 nutritional points I come across frequently with clients that you may find interesting.
1) Farmers can do more for your nutrition and health than your doctor.
There is a saying that “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”. That apple is a healthy food produced by farmers. Medicine is produced by a pharmaceutical industry that attacks the effect of eating junk foods. If everyone ate healthy, whole foods, this would dramatically reduce the need to go to the doctor. Trust the (organic) farmer, not the doctor.
2) Fruit juices lack fiber and impact your body similarly to pop.
What happens to fiber when juicing? When you juice, you don't get the fiber that's in whole fruits and vegetables. Notably, up to 90% of fiber is removed during the juicing process, depending on the juicer. Some soluble fiber will remain, but the majority of insoluble fiber is removed.
While juices are more nutritious than sodas, they often contain just as much sugar. For example, a 12-ounce glass of orange juice contains nearly the same amount of sugar as a can of Coke, around 10 teaspoons of sugar. Similarly, cranberry juice contains almost as much sugar as the average root beer.
3) Processed foods cause blood sugar spikes, insulin resistance, inflammation and chronic disease.
Rapid effect on blood sugar levels: Highly processed foods that are high in calories and low in vitamins, minerals, and fiber break down quickly in the body and can cause a rapid rise in blood sugar levels. Sugary drinks are notorious for this, as are processed and junk foods. You also have to watch out for packaged “health foods” which often are just disguised junk as well. If it’s not a whole food, it’s probably going to cause bodily disruption.
4) The gut-brain connection does more for your health than you think
Another reason why taking care of your gut is so important is because of the “gut-brain connection.” This describes the relationship between your microbiome and central nervous system (your brain and spinal cord), which are in constant communication. There are many millions of neurons located in your gastrointestinal tract, and these send signals back and forth to your brain regulating mood, concentration, capacity to handle stress, learning and the ability to get good sleep.
5) Keep foods simple.
Even 50 years ago, we didn't eat something new every night. All these new foods can’t be good for you because you’re ingesting so many strange ingredients. Microplastics, PCBs, chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, antibiotics or bacteria destroying medications, mean the cumulative effects on gut health is one of constant deterioration.