My husband always says he won’t eat yogurt because it looks like toothpaste. I never quite made that connection before but he has a point that I can appreciate. Our food has changed its look and taste considerably since the 1900’s. Half the time what we’re eating is not really food. Our food is processed and refined, sugared and salted, chemically engineered to dazzle and stimulate a taste sensation. With the addition of the extras comes the subtraction of fiber and nutrients. When we are eating refined food it really amounts to food with little or no fiber left in it. Take for example a lovely sweet potato that has been specially picked to have her moment in food factory stardom. To meet the demands of her clamoring audience she needs to be highly refined and processed. She is about to be made into chips. Crunchy, salty, oily sweet potato chips. While she may appear to be more appealing to us in her new state she has lost all her charm to nourish our bodies. In her natural wholesome state as a chunky sweet potato she had healing properties with loads of vitamin A and B. She was a natural carbohydrate providing energy for hours on end and fiber to regulate our blood sugar and clean out our colon. In her refined “chippy” state she will be sure to contribute to higher blood pressures with the extra salt. She will spike the blood sugar levels and make us more prone for diabetes. Her lack of fiber and increased oil content will slow down the bowels and lead to constipation. Foods when eaten as close to their natural state as possible nurture and heal our bodies. When that same food is highly processed and refined it contributes to a tidal wave of unpleasant symptoms and diseases.
It can be hard to know at first what an unprocessed food really is. It seems we hardly come across them in our kitchens and restaurants to really get acquainted with them. Well may I take the time to introduce you to a host of friendly foods that are waiting to heal and nourish you. They are fruits, vegetables, beans, peas, nuts, seeds and grains. Fruits that look just as they came of the tree or vine are unprocessed. So apple or apple pie? Which one has the processed feel to you? Okay how about fruits or fruit roll ups? Banana or banana chips, zucchini or zucchini bread? Getting the picture? Whenever the food has made it to the factory and had its fiber removed and extra salt and oil added you can be sure it qualifies as a processed one. If you are ready to embark on a totally nourishing and healing diet then give strong consideration to an unprocessed plant based one. It is the diet proven to have the ability to prevent and reverse chronic lifestyle diseases including diabetes, hypertension and obesity. The awesome part is you don’t have to travel a thousand miles to do this change. You can start in your own grocery store. Stay on the periphery of your supermarket where you find all the produce and fill up your cart only from there. You will have all the foods I just introduced you to. Remember if it has been highly altered don’t put it in that basket. Just to warn you, avoid the cakes and cookies aisle, avoid the chips and dips aisle, avoid the soda and ice cream aisle. The last I heard these foods are pretty notorious in the processed hall of fame.
Get ready for a wonderful adventure and stick with me on this journey. Simple every day choices are what determine the great health that you want and deserve.
Till Next time… Be well
Dr Kathy