Don’t Eat Dead Food!

Most of us don’t know what dead food is. We didn’t learn about it at school and many parents never think about food as being “alive”. Simply, foods with “life” are the foods that give “life”. Alive foods give the body the nutrients that the body needs to live.

Dead food is food without the natural vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and enzymes due to processing. They include bleached, canned, polished, preserved, refined and otherwise devitalized foods.

This dead food is often presented to us as “fast” and “convenient” foods. They are easy to prepare and save us time. We can always grab a quick something at a nearby fast food restaurant, however the price we pay is the lack of nutritional value in the food.

Ever see a fast food restaurant advertising the nutritional value of their food? Perhaps that’s because there is none! Fast foods are generally refined; high in fat, salt and sugar and nutrient-poor. While they may soothe your appetite they do little to give your body the necessary vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and enzymes that it needs. They do little to build and maintain a healthy body.

The closer the food is to its natural state-fresh, unprocessed, unrefined-the better it is for you and your family. Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Make a big green salad with a variety of raw vegetables part of your daily diet. Raw vegetables contain lots of nutrients and fiber which your body needs.

Cooked vegetables are also great, just don’t over cook them as all the good stuff gets taken out. Lightly steam your veggies, or bake them. Carrots, potatoes and squash all bake really well, add a little tamari and garlic…mmm!

And a bonus if you’ve quit the sugar is that they taste really sweet. Leave or minimize the butter, sour-cream and sugar-get used to really tasting vegetables.

Avoid as much as possible canned fruits and vegetables as they are often “dead” foods containing extra sugar and salt. In the health food stores you can pick up sea vegetables which can be added to soups and stews; nori, kombo, dulse. They are excellent sources of minerals and add a salty taste without the sodium.

Make up your mind to cut refined foods from your diet. Quit the white “balloon” bread, and eat whole-grain and multi-grain bread. Supermarkets carry good breads nowadays, just read the labels and avoid “enriched white flours”.

Once you make up your mind to stop eating refined foods you will find lots of options available. You may have to adjust at first to new tastes and textures, but you will. You will be putting less stress on your system by eating whole foods.

Whole grains are rich in B-complex vitamins which play an essential role in keeping stress levels down and therefore anxiety in the body down. They also supply important amino acids, especially when eaten in combination wih legumes. i.e. Mexican style rice and beans!

Want to learn more and make eating well a part of your life for you and your family? Then give me a call or drop me a line to make an appointment to start you on your personalized wellness Program.

Jacqueline Fairbrass