What is Whole Food Nutrition, Anyway? Part 1

I hear it all the time, "I eat well!" BUT as details emerge, I quickly find most people to be in a perpetual state of "Dieting" and have simply labelled it as "healthy eating". Don't get me wrong, I don't think they are being deceptive on purpose or anything like that. I just think we are so inundated with DIET mentality that it has become the definition for "healthy". My goal is to help as many people as I possibly can BREAK FREE of this ridiculous belief.

That being said, I'm not going to give you a "scientific" definition of what whole food nutrition means. I'm going to tell you what it means to ME. I'm no dummy, so I'm gathering there will be those who disagree with me and I can honestly say I'm ok with it! In fact, that someone may be you...that's ok. I can take it! Promise!

Let me clarify one thing right away: I believe in God and KNOW that He is the Creator of this amazing universe we live in. I do not believe the "universe" makes things work for good or that it has any more "control" than the Creator Himself gives to it. Everything that exists does so at His command. There, now we have that squared away...let's move on, shall we?

God is quite smart. In fact, He FILLED the earth with things that heal the human body! What a smart and awesome God...it's like He KNEW there would be need for it someday. Go figure! For example, He created MANY different herbs that are medicinal in nature and help heal countless illnesses, diseases and discomforts, such as Yarrow Tea used most commonly for colds; Echinacea (one of my personal favorites) which is a powerful anti-viral and Basil, an antioxidant used in cooking but also aids digestion among many other issues. Personally, I think much wisdom is needed in the use of medicinal herbs as they can have adverse affects on people especially when mixed with synthetic meds. As a rule of thumb, (not just with herbs but with EVERYTHING) what works for one does NOT work for everyone. Therefore, there are thousands of options and combinations depending on the person and the need. Finding a Master Herbalist is the best way to ensure proper use of these amazing healing foods.(Pictured: Yarrow)

Have you ever heard the word "Superfoods"? This is DEFINITELY a whole food word if ever there was one. But what IS a Superfood? When I first heard it, it inspired visions of Superman, the Hulk (my personal favorite) and Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr? Yes, Please). Much to my dismay, they have NOTHING to do with Superfoods unless they EAT these powerful foods and THAT'S what makes them Super Heroes! Ok...ok...Clearly my home is male dominant! I'll get back on track...

Superfoods are foods that benefit the human body at a higher level than most foods. These foods have the ability to tranform someone's overall health by doing MANY amazing things like cleansing/detoxing the body, strengthening and boosting the immune system, increasing sense of well being by balancing hormones, enhanced sexuality (all the men just sat up and started paying attention), enhancing strength, energy, endurance and on and on. I think I'm starting to paint a pretty nice picture...I mean, WHO wouldn't want these results, right?

Goji Berries are one of the most significant Superfoods on the planet! I'm sorry to say, I've never even TRIED them...but the are on my list of new things to sample (I try something new every few weeks and decide if I will incorporate it in my regular diet). Back to Goji Berries, aka wolfberries. This amazing little berry is from China and is known for its anti-aging properties! I need to move this food up on my list! These little berries are packed with protein (wow!), vitamin B, vitamin E and several trace minerals including Zinc, iron, calcium, and phosphorous. I've heard they taste very good AND they are supposedly easy to digest! This is great news for a girl like me who struggles with digestive issues. Goji berries even help your body create the Human Growth Hormone (HGH), which is why it fights aging. Another IMPORTANT benefit to note is the enhancement of sexual function in men (the store shelves will soon be empty) and are said to improve fertility in women. Isn't that interesting? You can find them in dried fruit form (like raisins or craisins) and even in a powder form. Of course, getting the actual berry straight from the tree would be difficult and quite expensive as they have to travel from China. However, if you're planning a trip any time soon be sure to enjoy these little wonders while there! (Pictured: Goji Berry aka Wolfberry)

It's so difficult to try and choose which Superfood to tell you about because there are so many that do so many wonderful things! But I don't want to go on and on...and I'll talk about them here and there in the future. So, I will talk about one more and move on.

Coconut!!!

Did you have ANY idea that coconuts are Superfoods? I bet you'll think differently about that coconut bra you'll be wearing at your next Luau! Coconuts are powerhouses for the immune system among many other things. Coconut Oil is a MUST HAVE product in my house!

Here's a little weight loss secret for you...2 tsp. of coconut oil (fresh-pressed virgin, organic) each day will increase your metabolism by increasing energy output. How cool is that?

If you have digestion issues, you may want to consider using Coconut Oil! It actually aids your body in absorbing foods and vitamins so in essence it helps you benefit from other Superfoods even more! Coconuts are powerful antioxidants as they help your body utilize Omega-3s more efficiently. Some other benefits: supports cardiovascular health, fights viruses and fungus, lessens symptoms of hypoglycemia (rock on!!), supports hormone health, fights aging and lowers cholesterol! NOW, you can see why I ALWAYS have this product in my home.

One last note about Coconut Oil...don't let the bad press sway you. Cultures that use this product regularly have less issues with obesity than cultures who refrain from using it. Coconut oil isn't stored as fat in the body. It is used up immediately as energy, thereby increasing your metabolism. (Please finish reading this blog before you rush to the store to get some Coconut Oil...I'm almost done!)

I wish I had time to list ALL the Superfoods because they REALLY can have a HUGE impact on your health and well being. You can always do a google search or read some amazing books about this topic!

Whew! I feel like I've written a book and yet I've only given the very tip of the iceberg. Be sure to stay tuned for Part 2...We'll get into some of the confusing issues like grains or no grains, animal products or no animal products, dairy or no dairy and so on! For now, I need to sign off and spend time with my family. After all, they are the one's who motivate me to stick to this "whole food nutrition" way of living.