How many times have we heard this phrase...and then laughed?
Well it is very true, and should be taken very seriously. Everything, we put into our mouths affects all of our cells, which make up our being. Eating proper foods is the most important factor in the basis of our health, along with water. Most disease and ailments could be avoided by simply making better food choices, this does not mean eating all vegetables and never eating a dessert or pizza again!
It means, the majority of the time you are paying attention to ingredients on labels, and making a conscious choice of what you will put into your body.
Small changes such as picking whole grain bread over white bread, cooking fresh vegetables as opposed to frozen or canned, and not just grabbing high-refined carbohydrate snacks such as chips, crackers etc. will make a difference in how you feel and the state of your health. Change takes time so don't rush yourself with making a drastic change overnight or you probably will not stick with your new eating habits.
Try one small change, like changing your current bread to whole grain bread. If your bread is quite squishy, it is not good for you whether it is whole wheat or not. This means most of the fiber has been taken out and replaced with things such as trans fats, sugars, dough conditioners etc. Find a bread that is fairly heavy and dense. This one change alone will make a difference in your health.
Start reading labels, once you do it a few times you will see how quickly you can make a good decision of what you choose to put into your body. Avoid things labeled as: trans fat, saturated fat, mono and diglycerides, MSG, aspartame, and any dye that is not labeled as natural.
A good rule to follow is, anything you have trouble pronouncing you should in most cases stay away from. Labels are also listed in order of how much of each is in the product, for example if the product is mostly flour, then flour is listed first and so on. When you start reading labels you may be surprised to see how many times sugar is listed in the top 3 ingredients!
Reading labels is not a time taker, most of the time you will be able to make a decision after reading the first four ingredients! If you love chips and just can?t give them up read the label, do they have trans fats? MSG? Sugar? If so try another brand that is healthier.
Many health food stores carry s to the foods we love like chips, cookies, chocolate bars etc. and they taste great too! Remember, just because it is from a health food store, does not mean it is healthy and you can eat tons of it. Always eat in moderation.
Limit your treats like Pizza, dessert, etc. to once per week, this way you will not feel deprived, this is not a diet, it is a lifestyle change for the better so don?t feel guilty when you eat the treat. Guilt causes problems with eating habits, digestion, and depression.
Feel good about what you are eating, enjoy all of your food and think about how it is affecting your body and your future!
Written by Bobbi Krien
Herbalist/ Sports Nutrition Specialist
Manager of the Pentictons Nature Fare Natural Foods
