EAT RIGHT FOR YOUR BODY

"Everything that goes into food, goes into you!"

It is impossible to turn on the television or open a magazine and not find someone promoting a new diet. The reality is we all know what we should and should not eat. We know we should eat less, but more often (every 2-3 hours); we should eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruits, lean meats and watch our intake of simple carbs, fats, sodium and sugar.

It isn’t always easy to make the right choices, but the more informed you are and the better you know and understand your body, the easier it will be to eat what is best for YOU.

So how can you ensure that you are eating foods that are compatible and being utilized by your body? The first clue is how you feel after you eat – do you get tired, bloated, gassy, maybe a headache or just feel “off”? If so, there may be certain foods or combination of foods in your diet that are causing these symptoms. A food diary can be helpful in pinpointing trigger foods – keep a log of everything you eat and then record symptoms as they occur…you may notice a pattern and be able to identify the cause of your symptoms. You will also be able to identify foods that give you energy and you are getting maximum benefit from.

If you have a food allergy you will generally experience an immediate symptom, but a sensitivity may be more mild and be delayed in showing up. Click here for more information about allergies and sensitivities. It is important to identify foods you are sensitive to as over time the effects can become chronic and create health issues, or worsen those you already have. If there are foods that you suspect may be causing problems for you muscle testing is a great way to determine if it weakens or strengthens you body.

Eliminating foods that are less compatible with your body can have a positive impact on the way you feel. Since eliminating one of my major triggers, gluten products (wheat, oats, barley, rye), I have lost weight, have more energy, my blood sugar has dropped from pre-diabetic levels to normal levels and I no longer suffer with “brain fog”. Sugar and salt are also triggers for me…I was amazed when I discovered that they are added to just about everything, and often in large amounts…soups, salad dressings, and prepared foods to name a few. You will be amazed at what you’ll find when you become a label reader!

When you treat your body with love and respect, and eat healthy, nutritious foods, what you will get in return is better health and quality of life. So the next time you are ready to eat or drink something, ask yourself: “What will this do for my body – will it make me stronger or will it make me weaker?”

Tips:
Make sure you wash all fruits and veges carefully before eating – even if it is organic! And it is a good idea to rinse pre-washed bagged salads, too! Many years ago I was told that soaking fruits and veges in water with apple cider vinegar added to it will help to remove any residue left from processing and growing, especially if it is not organic. I am not sure if this is true, but it’s worth doing if you like to be extra careful!!

Women to Women.com recommends two other ways to clean your produce:

1. Veggie soak: Fill a clean sink or bowl with water, add 1/2-1 cup of white vinegar and 1 tablespoon of salt. Swish the mixture around with your hands and allow your produce to soak for 20 minutes, then rinse well when finished.

2. Veggie spray:
1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon of baking soda
1 cup of water
Put all ingredients into a spray bottle and shake gently to mix. Be careful because the mix may foam up. Spray on veggies and fruit and allow it to sit for 2-5 minutes, then risnse produce under cold water. Keep the spray refrigerated when not using it. It will stay fresh for about a week.

Here is a link to a wonderful and informative article by Marcella Pick, MD from the Women to Women website - it is a terrific source of information on many health related topics. http://www.womentowomen.com/nutritionandweightloss/foodsafety.aspx?

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or to submit questions and comments email me: andrea@healwithhope.com