2016
Food (and love) is what makes the world go 'round'. We now live in a society with an overwhelming abundance of food choices. You enter the grocery store and you have an idea of what you need, but then get side tracked with the different labels, spending time ‘deciding one over the other’. Should I get: “All natural?; Multigrain?; Sugar free?; No sugar added?; Zero trans fat?; Free range?; Fat free; Light?; Gluten free?; Made with real fruit?; Lightly sweetened?; Cholesterol free?; Organic???" I grew up with not a lot of money and always found creative ways to entertain myself. Hot dish, hamburger helper, and “pigs in a blanket”, were some of the meals I ate…not many greens.
I had no idea what a calorie was until someone asked me in high school how many calories were in the ‘cream cheese bagel’ I was eating. I said, “what do you mean by a calorie…” That’s how much I knew about nutrition. I was fortunate with a really high metabolism, but obviously that only lasts for so long, until you get older and have no idea what to feed your body. I know what it’s like for a single mom raising one or more kids by herself. My mom, Staci, raised my brother and I by herself, so just having food to eat at dinner (and all meals) was a blessing.
Staci, as an individual, is the most caring person I know and I can’t thank her enough for HOW she raised my brother and I. Being a mom in general and raising a family is a “job” itself. I want to inform and educate all people, especially people and families who don’t know much about nutrition and it’s importance. I’m happy I had someone in my life step in (Luke) and show me how influential healthy food is for you, so I want to do the same, and step into your life.
If you change the way you eat, you can change your entire life. I believe “we” (as a society) have become too confident with the food we consume, or moreover, too confident in what we think our body “needs”. Food is complex- we (each person) can’t consume the same exact foods, we’re too individualistic. I could center my whole blog on food itself, that’s how important this topic is- I just want to provide to you, reasons WHY eating well for your body, is important for you. I’m not writing this saying I don’t ever indulge (I love french fries and pizza, so much), but most of my days I’m aware of what I’m going to eat and how it will play a role afterwards; mentally and physically.
Eating “healthy” and finding my individualistic diet (by bio-hacking with myself), I have found to be more fun and the outcome greater than anything else imaginable. I have complete control in my physical and mental health. I have said this before and I hear this a lot: “healthy food is so expensive, I can’t afford it.” If you have a family, try as best as you can to buy greens and find a fun dish to cook (maybe find a meal prep day) rather than microwaving pre-made meals (I know that this is convenient, but there is no nutritional value left in the food, and in-turn will possibly lead to health complications for you and your family).
I have found a way to make, organic; free range; wild; and organic meat, a part of my finances and put healthy food as a priority of mine because I know that in the short-term (present moment) and long-term, I’m going to benefit no matter what. “If you eat meat, it’s important to be aware that conventional meat contains hormones, antibiotics, and pesticides. The pesticides found in cows, chicken, turkey and other animals comes from their feed which is grown using synthetic fertilizers and herbicides. The negative impact that the hormones, antibiotics and additives can have on your body make organic meat worth the extra money, says Luz Plaza, in an article ’19 Foods to Always Buy Organic’.
There is nothing negative involved when putting good food into my body. You could spend very little money on unhealthy food, but where does the money actually end up? Doctor appointments? You get sick more easily and then have to go see Mr. Doctor, as he prescribes you a band-aid medication for your “illness” that ultimately can be prevented JUST BY EATING HEALTHY FOOD. Now, if this does apply to you, don’t take offense (I’m writing this to HELP YOU and inform you)- take responsibility and help yourself as well as the people around you by taking action. I used to eat unhealthy, all the time, I realized this and instead of feeling sorry for myself, I said “I want to feel good, look good, and be in control of my own life.” I took responsibility and three years later, I see how it’s benefiting every aspect of my life.
According to Joshua Rosenthal in his book ’Integrative Nutrition’, “Americans spent $230 billion on prescription drugs in 2005. Pharmaceuticals are ranked No. 3 on the Fortune 500 list of most profitable industries in the country. This boom of prescription drugs is partially due to advertising and doctors guiding the public to believe they need more medication. These advertisements, which usually feature attractive people- sometimes celebrities- smiling in the outdoors, send the message that what people need to be healthy is more prescription drugs. You name the health concern and a drug is out there for it. Drugs help us control cholesterol, lower blood pressure, regulate the menstrual cycle, prevent osteoporosis and end acid reflux. We are nutritionally deficient. The idea that prescription drugs cure diseases is a fallacy. They only work as a band-aid to a larger problem.”
I have talked about: self love and confidence; chasing your dreams; manifesting your reality; sleep; valuing yourself; and loving your imperfect life. Now, actually acting upon personal self development could be difficult for you because you can’t get over, say, ‘your low self-esteem’. I believe that if you change what you eat and change your eating habits, with time…being confident and believing in everything you want to achieve, won’t seem so impossible. This may sound crazy to you, but I feel as if I can think on the level of Elon Musk. He believed/believes so much in himself and what he wants to achieve in his life, that nothing involving his aspirations, sound “crazy”. I believe nutrition has something to do with his mentality.
I have been so nutritionally positive to myself in every aspect, that I only think big and I never let anyone tell me that “I can’t do it or how impossible it’s going to be.” My problems now are outside of myself. My daily problems are not “things” like: running out of gas and/or getting upset because my bike tires got stolen- it’s all so much bigger than that. I don’t think realistic anymore, because I believe it’s silly to be “realistic”. I feel emotionally stable and fulfilled with my life that now when I dream big, I see everything around me synchronizing and aligning. Now I’m not telling you this to tell you have amazing I feel (haha). I’m telling you because each of us has that single important quality within ourselves that the universe wants you to use, develop, and bring to life. We doubt ourselves and I know with time, we can all overcome doubt and fear and recreate an amazing world- full of peace and love…with free organic food everywhere! Once we walk away from the middle aisles at grocery stores, we can let our mind be free again and start developing a clear and positive outlook.
In the “Well Being Journal,” Leslie Korn points out, “There is no doubt that nutrition affects mental health. Poor nutrition leads to and exacerbates mental illness, while optimal nutrition can prevent and treat it.” Korn goes on to explain, “Where there is mental illness, there often is a long history of digestive problems. By incorporating nutritional and dietary changes and improving digestion, we will forever change our approach to mental well-being and enhance the efficacy of all our treatment methods. The standard American diet (SAD) makes us sad! This typical modern diet consists of overly processed foods, often containing refined sugars and other refined carbohydrates. These processed foods are loaded with chemicals, including synthetic preservatives, hormones, antibiotics, and food coloring that are known to alter our mood. This type of diet is an important contributing factor in many health complaints. We know, for example, that aspartame, a common ingredient in diet soda, causes mood changes due to its effects on brain neurotransmitters. The SAD causes inflammation in both the body and brain.”
The cool part about all of this, is that you have control over every decision you make. If you know you are unhealthy, don’t kick yourself. Take that first step and go from there. If you fall back and get back into old eating habits, just get back up- you are strong and capable. Don’t let “bad” food control your happiness, health, motivation, drive, ambition, persistence…your life. Once you have a clear mind, you will see the path. That word “depression” will not be felt as you will feel too great and have much greater things to focus on. So why be healthy? “When you switch to a natural-foods diet and lifestyle you begin dancing to the beat of a different drummer. You start to think and feel quite differently than others. As your daily diet changes, your blood quality also changes. Slowly but surely you notice that you don’t fit in like you used to. You naturally see the world from a different perspective than those who are eating fast foods and junk foods. You become clearer, calmer and more aware.” - Rosenthal