How to Eat Healthy; How to have a natural healthy diet

Clients, friends and family are constantly asking how to establish and maintain a healthy all-natural diet.  Luckily, the availability of natural, organic and locally sourced food is constantly increasing.  I guess we can start with what not to eat, well basically anything with ingredients you can’t easily pronounce.  Check the ingredients on everything you consume, the more ingredients, the less natural.   Don’t consume sugar-free or calorie-reduced foods and beverages, the reduction of sugar and/or calories equals, the addition of chemicals.  

Organic food is not sprayed with chemicals to extend shelf life it is also not grown with genetically modified seeds and is therefore, the most natural.  The pricing is definitely more expensive as a result; however, there is a clear taste difference and obvious health benefit.  If it is not within your budget to purchase organic produce, locally grown produce is an excellent alternative as it does not need to be sprayed heavily with preservative chemicals for transport  and there is less risk of contamination. 

In my experience, the main problem with the North American diet is the over consumption of processed white flour and sugar.  Candy, pastries, white breads etc. are too often considered to be “healthy choices.”  Our breakfast choices are mainly white flour and sugar: waffles, pancakes, strudels, cereals which are often again coated with white sugar icing or sugar-syrup.  Sure the jolt of sugar wakes you up but the sugar rushes wear off and is followed with a crash, and when you crash you lose focus and can no longer operate at a high level. 

In order to maintain consistent focus and clarity, you need to maintain a healthy blood sugar level.  To do this you have to eat foods that release sugar into your blood stream slowly, like whole grain cereal (oatmeal, bran, whole wheat etc.)  Eating healthy means eating to live not living to eat, so all the foods you have been eating since childhood (coke, chips, candy, fries) are not your friends anymore. 

 If you want to be healthy you have to think of food as fuel for your body and portion size as the amount of fuel required to run your body effectively.  Look at what your about to consume, is it a healthy salad or is it vegetables covered in a processed creamy sauce, with chunks of white bread and fattening cheese?  Is the fried chicken going to nourish your body? How will you feel after eating that giant carb filled lunch?  Can you afford to be lethargic moping around all afternoon?  Asking these questions will open your eyes as to how to identify what to eat and what to avoid and will help you to begin to have a healthy, natural diet.