Once upon a time, when our great-grandparents were children, there was no need for the label ‘organic’, simply because toxic pesticides, herbicides and fungicides weren’t around. Everything was organic! Nothing was genetically modified either.Once upon a time, when our great-grandparents were children, there was no need for the label ‘organic’, simply because toxic pesticides, herbicides and fungicides weren’t around. Everything was organic! Nothing was genetically modified either.Agriculture has become very different however, and many of the chemicals that are currently being used are detrimental to our health. Many of our common ailments such as hormonal imbalances and high toxicity levels can be traced back to foods laden with chemicals that ought to be deemed unfit for human consumption.
So what can you do? If you want to improve your health, lose weight, and feel energetic and healthy overall, it’s a good idea to begin eliminating processed and chemical-laden foods from your diet. Replace them with organic, unprocessed foods that are as close to their natural state as possible. Such high-quality food is free of additives that contribute to health issues like headaches, fatigue and weight gain.
If you have a very busy lifestyle and convenience foods like frozen dinners and ready meals are your go-to, changing your eating habits can seem very difficult. Therefore, I recommend switching slowly, you can start by making some small steps.
Here is a step-by-step plan to switch to a healthy diet:
1. Find a local, organic food source. This may be your local grocery store, a farmer’s market, or an organic box delivery service. Internet search engines are your friend here! So do a little research and see what is available in your area.
2. A good way to start is by adding more vegetables to your meals, particularly green leafy vegetables and also seeds. Try alternating which vegetables you have each day to help with digestion and absorption. Some great vegetables:choices are kale, mustard greens, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, leeks, onions, chard, cucumber, celery, green beans, bok choy, brussels sprouts, and green peppers.
3. Increasing your protein intake will also be very beneficial to your health. Some good sources of protein are: chicken, beef, lamb, pork, duck, goat, quail, venison, bison and certain types of fish. Proteins can also be found in beans and legumes, however, if you choose to eat mostly a plant-based diet, make sure that you know how to combine non-animal proteins properly so that you are well nourished.
Sometimes your body can take a while to adapt to increased protein intake, so listen to what your body is telling you and be sure to increase your protein gradually.
4. Fats have been seen as the enemy by many people looking to have a healthy diet, but they get a bad rap! As long as you consume good fats in appropriate correct quantities, they are actually very beneficial – indeed essential - to your health. So which fats should you be avoiding? Hydrogenated fats, trans fats, non-organic butter, canola oil, vegetable oil. Good fats include avocados, eggs, coconut oil, hazelnut oil, organic butter, olive oil and ghee (clarified butter). But remember, make sure you buy organic! It’s even more important with fats because the body stores toxins in fat tissue.
Now let’s talk about portions. How do you know how much you need of each food group? This takes a bit of experimentation; try equal portions of proteins, fats and vegetables to begin with and see how your body feels. If you feel full of energy, clear-headed and emotionally stable, you’ve most likely got the balance right! Here’s how you will know if the balance isn’t quite right for you:
Too much fat: you feel bloated, tired, lethargic or nauseous
What to do: eat some carbohydrates like a bowl of berries, an apple, or some carrots.
Too much protein: you feel heavy, tired and lethargic
What to do: eat some carbs! Again, a few berries, an apple, or some carrots are a good choice.
Too much carbohydrate: you feel anxious, moody, panicky, light-headed
What to do: eat some fat or protein, something like half an avocado should do the trick!
Finally, if you suffer from bloating, indigestion or gas, it may be that your gut needs healing. To do this, consume fermented foods, probiotics and bone broths.
Changing to a diet of organic and whole foods is something that can dramatically improve your health and wellbeing! Why not give it a try and see the benefits yourself?
I hope you have found this information useful! If you have any questions, I’m more than happy to help so please get in touch!