Quick question, which would you choose?
So which of the meals did you pick? We need to eat to function. Our food provides us with needed nutrients and energy. However, depending on what and how much of it we eat, we can be doing more harm than good.
Why did I ask you the question in the beginning?
It was really for you to see where you are in your journey to improved health. The picture with the real problem would be the ultra-processed fried food with a side of soda.
Ultra-processed and processed foods have been linked with inflammation which can lead to a list of chronic health diseases you are either predisposed to or can develop over time. Including but not limited to diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, anxiety, depression, obesity, fertility issues, and cognitive decline. In addition, there are links to disruption in your gut health- leaky gut and or unbalanced gut microbiome. (The gut microbiome is made of trillions of microorganisms; bacteria, viruses, and fungi; that live in your small and large intestines). The imbalances in your gut microbiome alters your immune health, mental health, hormone regulation, sugar control, and much more. You need a healthy gut to improve your health.
So you be the judge.
How much ultra-processed and processed foods should you include in your diet? Maybe this is all you have been used to or it is easily accessible in your area. I get it! I grew up in Brooklyn, NY where it was easier to find some french fries at the local bodega than to find fruit that wasn’t molded or on its way out.
Is your food fighting with you?
Before I get to some tips we have one more point to address. In the rest of the pictures above, the food choices are fine as long as your body doesn’t fight back because of the ingredients in it. What do I mean?
After eating have you ever experienced any of the following:
Headache or Migraine
Gas and bloating
Diarrhea
Stomach pain
Nausea and or Vomiting
Heartburn
Brain fog
Fatigue
Joint and muscle pain
Itching and hives
Swelling of the lips and or tongue-EMERGENCY seek help
Trouble breathing-EMERGENCY seek help
Anaphylaxis- EMERGENCY seek help
Maybe you have started including new healthy foods in your diet and you notice some of these issues. Or maybe you have been eating the same diet all your life and have learned to live with these complaints. Your body is talking to you! Is there an ingredient that you are sensitive to, intolerant, or allergic to? Is it another health issue that you should discuss with your doctor?
Here are a few tips:
If you can’t go all in at once, then start with one.
Switch out one processed/ultra-processed meal or snack for whole food. Instead of chips get a bag of raw nuts (no or low salt) or a fruit.
Make one meal at home with real food (vegetables, fruits, grains, meat, beans, seeds)
Get one vegetable to include in your plant-based meal that is Non-GMO.
Make sure the ingredients in your meal are some that will enhance the body versus harm it.
Get allergy testing.
Get assistance with the elimination diet.
Tips related to the pictures above:
Could the pizza be gluten-free (cauliflower, chickpea, or quinoa crust)?
Could the cheese for the pizza be cheese from grass-fed cows? Or dairy free?
Could the tomatoes and the sauce be Non-GMO? Made fresh at home or bottled with no preservatives?
Could the taco shell be from a Non-GMO source or made from seeds?
Could the meat be grass-fed and or free-range, with no antibiotics?
Could the salad be with Non-GMO produce and organic?
Could the rice be quinoa or buckwheat?
Eating healthy doesn’t have to be a challenge if you have some help. Feel free to book a free consultation with me and we can discuss how I can help you and your family.
Before starting anything new, speak with your medical professional.