Natural Health - Part 3 - Understanding your diet

Now that you have learned your eating your habits, how your food affects you, and learned more about your food in general. We read every label of every single thing we buy. It the ingredient list is super long, or has too many things we don't know what they are...we don't buy it. We don't drink diet sodas because of the Aspartame. It was created to be a pesticide, the the pests won't even eat, but the FDA approved it for human consumption. While I personally believe that organic is absolute best food to eat, I know that many focus on price instead of quality. I am not saying the going to a store and purchasing organic food is the best or right choice, I am saying if you must make purchases at a big grocery store, do so wisely.

I am a firm believer in growing/raising your own foods, if possible. It is a lot of work, and takes plenty of diligence, but it is so much better for you. Not to mention tastes so much better. If you don't have the room to raise a garden, or livestock, find a local farmer or farmers market. I know many states that now have farming cooperatives. Where they offer a share of the animal or garden for a price. This would work well for those living in cities, towns, or apartments...even those who haven't yet developed a "green thumb."

While learning about your diet, you should have also noted the way you felt while eating certain foods. While each person has their own body type and diet type, one thing you can be guaranteed is that no matter what your ailment is, most can be fixed with a simple shift in your diet.

The obvious argument here, is that doctors tell you that medication is the fix-all for every symptom. Even as recently as today, I was reading about a dietician that claimed that meat bones used to make broth, were bad for you. So, from a naturalist point-of-view, here are my views.

If you know where your food comes from, you can choose to have meat raised without antibiotics, and growth hormones. You can have the option of grass-fed or conventionally fed meats. If you raise/grow/coop your vegetables, you will know what goes into them. You can choose those who don't use chemicals or GMO's or the conventional method. It allows you to have control over what you feed your family.

The next thing you need to understand is how bleached foods are harmful. A rule of thumb, if it's white...it's bleached. Sugar, flour, rice, etc. These are items that most use on a regular basis. This is also why there are so many allergies and gluten sensitivities today. Make a conscientious shift to using unbleached flour, raw sugar, unbleached rice, etc. and take note of how different you feel. Just like those who haven given up soda, find that they actually go through a "withdrawl period," white foods are not any different. You may not have any symptoms, but you may find you have a headache, some irritability, a craving, or any number of other side effects. This is your body's way of eliminating the toxins you have filled it with.

Making just a few small changes will get you started onto a healthier path. While I recommend talking to a holistic doctor, or a dietician that has knowledge in natural health, most of this you can learn for yourself with a little research, a dedication to making yourself healthy, and a desire to overcome what medicine is unable to accomplish.

~S~