How we keep ourselves healthy

Our last survey asked about all the ways we use to keep our diets nutritious. Here are the results:

How do you maximize nutrition?

Here are the comments listed under "Other":

• I cook at home and eat unprocessed, low fat, whole organic foods much of the time. I drink water to keep hydrated from a stainless steel water bottle instead of plastic when I'm on the go. At pot lucks I bring my own plate and utensils so I won't have to resort to using plastic. I am mindful about eating the rainbow of fruits and veggies, as I know to get all the nutrients I need I have to eat a wide range of colorful foods as well as nutrient dense foods like tempeh, beans, legumes, and dark leafy greens. I read a lot of food blogs and often adapt recipes so they contain less fat, salt, and no sugar. I use fresh herbs and spices so the meal is tasty and high in nutrients. Thanks for doing such a great job at Change the World Wednesday. Warm regards, Nancy Andres, Health & Lifestyle Writer, Author of "Colors of Joy: A Woman’s Guide for Self-Discovery, and Bliss," Blogger at http://obloggernewbie.blogspot.com and http://www.nancyandreswriter.com/colors-of-joy-blog/
• Juicing
• Wow, feeling good about how we eat. Just taking the survey makes one feel validated. Could also see a check box for eating/adding more plant based entrees to your diet.
• Wish I could grow more food! I'm working on that.

My Thoughts

I wasn't surprised that eating more fruits and veggies, and drinking water, were the top methods of staying healthy. In fact, the top 50% answers seem to indicate that we primarily look to a variety of natural, whole foods as a way to ensure good nutrition.

It was a bit surprising that supplements and vitamin-fortified foods were low on the list. Advertisers spend a lot of money convincing us that we can't get our daily requirements of vitamins and minerals via natural, whole foods alone. Seemingly healthy products, like fruit juices and whole-grain cereals are fortified with "essentials". We're told that we need these added ingredients to develop strong bones and resist illness.

In thinking about it, however, I really shouldn't be surprised that green-living proponents view supplements and fortified foods as a last resort to improving nutrition. Those foods are processed, and processed foods use a tremendous amount of natural resources to produce. And in truth, it really makes no sense that a variety of organically grown foods wouldn't contain everything we need for optimal health.

Conclusion

The best way to maintain good nutrition is to eat a wide range of organic, whole foods. If we remove things like processed foods, pesticides, and GMOs from the equation, we are left with healthy food. Food which will sustain and nourish us. The rest is not only unnecessary, but unhealthy.

Thanks to everyone who participated!

Why are whole foods healthy?

This month's survey asked "How do you maintain health?"

Here are the results:

Other:

• yoga
• Eat lots of fermented foods.

The #1 Answer

The body can distinguish between
whole foods and supplements

Eating a variety of whole foods was the number one answer.

We all know that whole foods are better for us, but have you ever wondered why? After all, processed foods are often "fortified" and supplements can fill in the gaps. So what's the deal with whole foods?

Read on ...

• Phytochemicals ("Phyto" refers to the Greek word for plant) can only be found in whole plant foods. There are over 25,000 phytonutrients found in plants and they help protect us from cancer, reduce inflammation, encourage eye health, reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, etc.


• Whole foods are complex and contain a multitude of balanced nutrients which cannot be emulated by a supplement. In short, they contain everything we need, in the right proportions. Supplements, on the other hand, contain isolated nutrients. That means that rather than get the right amount, we could, potentially, overdose on a single nutrient, causing health problems. It should also be noted that supplements, considered medicinal products, come with "side effect" warnings ... whole foods don't.


• Fiber, essential for GI (Gastrointestinal) health, helps fight heart disease and diabetes, controls blood sugar, and helps us maintain a healthy weight. When a food is processed, the fiber is usually removed. Whole foods, as opposed to supplements, contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. They also slow down the digestion process allowing better absorption of nutrients.


• Whole foods contain no added fat, sugar, or sodium.


• Fortified foods artificially add nutrition into the product (often with synthetic vitamins). Studies have shown than even after the "enhancement", the food still doesn't equal the nutrition of a whole food.

A "whole" is better than a "piece"

Consider this ... a fragment of a bottle might be desirable in it's own right, but it will never be able to compete with the functionality of a bottle.

In the same way, processed foods and supplements can never live up to the nutritional benefits of Whole Foods.


How do you incorporate whole foods into your meal plan?


Sneak Peek: Have you checked out the latest energy-saving devices recently? Tomorrow we'll take a look at a few of them.