Healthy foods are nutrient-rich foods that have the ability to heal and sustain our health. In turn we are better able to protect ourselves from illness and diseases that occur because of nutritional deficiencies in the foods that we eat. Today many, many foods are deficient in nutritional value. This is especially true of highly processed, additive and fat laden foods.

Simply put, the healthiest foods in the world are whole, unprocessed (or very minimally processed) foods. Healthy foods are free of chemicals and additives. Vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and nuts and seeds are healthy foods. [SunFood.com] Meats, dairy and dairy products that are naturally raised and processed are also healthy. Natural animal products contain no antibiotics or growth hormones.

In order for a food to be healthy it must be nutrient dense and a rich source of the essential nutrition our bodies require to retain good health. Overall, this includes hundreds of elements such as vitamins and minerals, fiber, essential fatty acids and complex carbohydrates. Whole foods [SunFood.com] contain these elements and a varied diet promotes better nutrition.

The two best ways to make sure you are eating the healthiest food possible are to buy food that is organically grown, [HouseofNutrition.com] or grow at least some of your own food. All naturally grown foods are better for your health, but those foods most common and most familiar to all of us are most nutritionally powerful as whole and unprocessed.

These are the foods that are the most affordable and the most familiar. Some of the most nutrition-packed foods are those we already eat. The question is whether we are eating these foods in their most nutritious state. Or, are we eating them as highly processed fatty junk food full of dangerous chemicals and additives that contain little or no nutritional value. It is our responsibility to make the correct and healthy food choices, [MotherNature.com] and our job to educate ourselves about what we eat.

A century ago all our food was organic, simply prepared and nutrient-rich. Today, many believe that even organic food [BotanicChoice.com] is somewhat lacking in nutrition because of the mineral depletion of the soil. That has resulted in the demand for, and the explosive growth of natural dietary food supplements. [VitaDigest.com] And we definitely agree. Nutritional supplements [WebVitamins.com] have the ability to “bridge the gap” between the nutrients you get from your food and the nutrition your body absolutely must have to maintain good health.

More nutritious whole foods, especially those that are organically grown, [HouseofNutrition.com] are somewhat higher in cost than conventionally grown foods. However, this cost and that of a quality multi-vitamin and mineral supplement [VitaminWorld.com] will always be far less than the cost of treating diseases that could have been prevented with the proper nutrition.

Today I dug out a book I’ve had forever it seems. It was certainly most interesting the first time I read it several decades ago. It was then, and still is I believe, one of the most important books ever written about the food-health connection. It is titled “Food is Your Best Medicine” by Henry G. Bieler, M.D. The publisher is Ballantine Books. It’s still available in paperback for less than $10 from Amazon.com and also from the Price-Pottenger Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to natural health and healing. They can be reached at www.ppnf.org.

I say it’s still available because it was originally published in 1966, and interestingly the message Dr. Bieler put forth so many years ago has not changed. It is that the human body must have whole, nourishing food to live. As I’ve said before, there is so much information out there now, and not all of it is correct or true. So it’s a good thing to find correct information from a qualified person. Although he died in l975, Dr. Bieler’s message is even more important today than ever before. Read the rest of this entry »

So you’re in a rut. You have no control, or so you think. Wrong! You do indeed have control over how you view and deal with ALL of life’s situations. Your attitude and mental state determine how difficult your life actually is. And, the most interesting thing is this: Your brain works a whole lot better if you eat good nutritious foods. Good whole food nourishes your entire body including your brain. It stands to reason a healthy brain is more capable of dealing with whatever life throws at us. I believe there are quite a few studies around that confirm this.

Lots of smarter people than I agree that the lack of good nourishing food is the root cause of a number of problems related to the brain and it’s ability to function well. I do believe one of the villians is junk food, and we have just begun to see that fallout, especially with kids. So, get started by deciding to eat good food that actually helps your brain get and stay healthier. And get some exercise too. Anything you want, so long as it provides aerobic activity. My very favorite is just plain walking. It is the healthy brain that makes the smart decisions in life. Read the rest of this entry »