March Into Spring With Good Nutrition!

Did you know that March is National Nutrition Month?

Ironic isn’t it? It’s a good kick-start to head into spring and I can’t think of a better time to be promoting health and immunity.

It’s nice to have a month dedicated to good health and awareness, but personally I believe every month should be designated to good nutrition and better yet, every day. Now more than ever, people are concerned about staying healthy and are looking for advice. Many people today have health issues related to their diets and are struggling. A big part of the problem is that our society today eats more processed foods, which contain artificial ingredients, preservatives and GMOs than ever before. Many individuals are also missing key nutrients in their diets that promote well-being, which can lead to sickness and disease.

So What Can You Do?

Many people in our society eat the Standard American Diet (SAD), consisting of lots of processed and restaurant food. Think of it as “The Beige Diet.”You know, chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, french fries and the like. This type of diet not only lacks color, but lacks the nutrients your body needs to thrive and stay healthy. It’s no wonder many people are experiencing health issues and have problems with their weight. The good news is we all have a choice when it comes to nutrition and better eating habits and it’s time to take charge.

7 Ways To Promote Good Nutrition

Eat The Rainbow—Fruit and vegetables are loaded with vitamins and minerals that your body needs to function properly. Many fruit and vegetables are also rich in antioxidants that help fight free radicals, build immunity and fight off infections, so it’s important to keep your plate bright. Our eyes are naturally drawn to bright colors, so reach for plenty of carrots, tomatoes, peppers, celery, zucchini and more to fuel your body. Shoot for eating 7-13 servings or more.
Eat More Healthy Fats—Eating a healthy diet rich in nutrients and fat is important for overall health. Limiting fat in your diet is not a good idea and can have serious side affects on your body. In fact, in my book, Wholey Cow It Works! A Holistic Guide To Eating And Recovery From Iron Deficiency, I talk about how eating a diet rich in nutrients, including iron and fat, is important for overall health. Limiting fat in your diet is not a good idea and can have serious side effects on your body. Restricting fat can impair digestion and compromise your immune system. While there are a variety of fats found in food, you should focus on monosaturated fats (MUFAS), which are the good fats that help your body function optimally. Think avocados, oily fish, seeds, nuts, olives, dark chocolate, coconut oil, olives and flax seed.
Add Fermented Foods to Your Diet—Fermented foods are rich in probiotics, which help keep your gut healthy. Try including foods such as sauerkraut, pickles, kefir, yogurt and tempeh to help keep your gut and bacteria in check, which will help keep your immune system healthy.
Eat Foods That Promote Brain And Gut Health—I am not sure if you are aware, but our gut and brain work together and pass messages back and forth, which affect your immune system, influence food choices and can affect your mood and behaviors. That’s why it is important to eat foods that help keep your brain and gut healthy. Some good brain and gut foods include: salmon, blueberries, spinach and nuts.
Buy More Pre-Biotic Foods—While some people may supplement their diet with probiotics or eat foods rich in probiotics, it is also important to feed your body with plenty of pre-biotic foods. Pre-biotic foods help feed the good bacteria in your gut and help promote good health. Try eating pre-biotic foods such as lentils, leeks, almonds, garlic, chick peas and bananas to help stave off illness.
Avoid Artificial Sweeteners—Artificial sweeteners are popular these days and are used to sweeten thousands of food products and beverages. Unfortunately, artificial sweeteners are loaded with chemicals your body doesn’t know how to process. Artificial sweeteners are also a common irritant for your gut and can wreak havoc on your body. Try and steer clear of any artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharin and sucralose, which are found in a variety of processed foods, soda pop and other beverages. Instead look for natural sweeteners such as honey, agave, stevia or dried fruit.
Avoid Processed Foods—It’s hard to avoid processed foods, but we can all do our best to limit them in our diet. Processed foods typically contain large amounts of trans-fats, sodium, sugar and high fructose corn syrup, which contribute to sickness and disease. Many are loaded with chemicals, preservatives and artificial sweeteners, as well and can wreak havoc on your body. When buying processed foods, make sure to read the food label and avoid those products with long ingredient lists. Shoot for 5 ingredients or less, when possible.