No matter what stage of life you are in, you are always growing something from scratch…If you are pregnant you are “Growing a Baby from Scratch”, if you have kids you are “Growing an Adult from Scratch”, and if you are an adult you are “Growing the Rest of Your Life from Scratch”. So no matter what stage you are in you are constantly growing something, the question is how strong, vibrant, and truly healthy do you want you or your family to be?
It might sound strange but everything you consume has an end result, a Twinkie will give you unnecessary calories, lower your immune system, and wreak havoc with mental clarity and focus. On the other hand, raw almond butter on an apple will give you energy, provide valuable nutrients to boost your immune system, and will create enough balance to provide mental focus and strength. It’s time you take charge of what you feed you and your family because it REALLY makes a difference!
In our day to day, if we are a student, professional, or parent, we need to keep our brain healthy. Studies show that sugar, in the forms of corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, and table sugar, is as addictive as cocaine, can lower the immune system for up to 5 hours, and creates a sense of excitation in the brain that distracts us from focusing. “No wonder my son doesn’t listen to his teacher the days she passes out candy as a treat”.
Food is designed to nourish the body; unfortunately manufactured foods have taken over and provided little if anything in the form of nutrition. Manufacturers do something called “Fortifying” which basically means that during the processing the food lost all of its nutrition and a chemist came back to add it in….ugh. We don’t absorb any of that synthetic stuff, so it really only gives us calories and nothing else.
It is amazing to me how cancer, diabetes, and obesity have taken over the world! Really? It’s so easy to be healthy – stay away from processed foods, don’t let anyone put chemicals or pesticides on your foods, and eat for the nutritional value of your foods instead of the calories. The trick is when you allow others to make your foods.
It’s Time to Reframe How We Discuss Food
My very first nutrition teacher said it best “if you can’t pronounce it, or don’t know what it is, don’t eat it!”, so when I read food labels or for those very rare moments I eat out and someone hands me chicken, that doesn’t look like chicken any more, that’s when….I’m a vegetarian 😉
It is important to care what is in your foods, and realize that every vitamin and mineral serves a specific purpose, and every calorie is not created equal. We need protein, fruits, vegetables; we don’t need sugar, flour, or man-made foods. We are taught from a young age that food is comfort, socialization, something that is yummy, or a treat.
Unfortunately this is the wrong lesson; we need to teach our youth that food is nutrients; it is what will give us power and strength. It will keep our brain growing, our mind clear and our immune system strong enough to beat anything!
So on your quest for optimal health remember this:
- Fruits and vegetables with dark, rich, colors are higher in nutrition that those with lighter colors
- Essential Fatty Acids from hemp seeds, walnuts, salmon, etc. feed our brain for optimal development and understanding
- Fruit juices are fortified, they only provide us with wonderful nutrients when they are freshly squeezed, other than that they are just sugar water!
- Raw food provide wonderful enzymes that help us break down and digest our foods, so for your cooked dishes mix some raw foods in
- Nothing beats water for proper hydration – hydration keeps our head clean, our body lean, and our energy revved up!
- Good quality proteins help to stabilize our energy so that we feel full and energized for a longer period of time
And with all that said remember that you are the only one that can impact you and your family, you can’t depend on others to give you the quality that you deserve. Empower yourself with knowledge and eat to “Live Large!”
Adita Lang brings over 30 years of experience as a multi-nationally recognized health educator and lifestyle coach. She has presented to audiences from all walks of life in both small group and convention fashion of 5000+. With her incredible passion for health and longevity, she brings a fun, yet motivating, style of presenting that leaves audiences wanting more. Originating in the fitness industry, she has presented for IDEA, ECA, AEA, NASM, and more, in over 20 countries around the globe. As a consumer lecturer she has presented for the YPO and various corporate and private entities. Lifestyle and health are a way of life and her goal is to impact as many individuals as she can for maximum health! www.AditaLang.com
