Whole Foods

A trip to the supermarkets these is a dazzling experience of brightly coloured packaging, vast choices and ailes chock-a-block with potato chips, lollies, biscuits, soft drinks, and all sorts of convenience foods.

Not surprisingly, our diets today are very different to those of our grandparents, who ate mainly whole foods and unprocessed foods, preparing things at home and consuming much less in the way of sugar, salt and fat. Today you have to make a conscious decision and effort to avoid or minimize these things.

There are only two categories of foods: whole foods and processed foods. Opting for whole foods at every chance is a great step towards healthy eating. Eating healthily is vitally important at so many levels, from our health and weight to how we feel mentally and emotionally.

An orange is an example of a whole food, but orange juice is refined, raw peanuts are a whole food but peanut butter is processed, raw milk is a whole food, but yogurt is a processed product. As such, some refined or processed foods are fine, such as fruit juice, but many come with preservatives, sugar, salt, transfats, and should be avoided or eaten minimally.

HEALTHY WHOLE FOODS

Many studies have found that a diet high in healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are associated with a reduced risk of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, many types of cancer and type 2 diabetes.

Whole foods are foods that are in their natural state, providing you with all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients in the food balanced as intended and able to work synergistically, rather than being the bits left behind after refinement and processing. One of the key problems with refining foods, such as with sugar and white flour, is that many of the essential nutrients are destroyed in the process, however when consuming these foods the body still needs these now missing nutrients to digest and break it down and since they are absent the refined food leaches nutrients from the body’s stores, worsening the situation.

Your body does not require refined sugar of any kind for energy. All your sugar needs are met when your body metabolises and breaks down complex carbohydrate-containing foods, such as whole grains, fruits and vegetable.

NUTRIENT LOSS AND ADDITIVES

The loss of nutrients during the refinement process are not the only disadvantage of eating processed or refined foods. What’s added can also be problematic, such as salt, sugar, saturated or trans fats and preservatives.

WHOLE FOOD BONUS

A big bonus of opting for whole foods is the cost – it’s much cheaper generally to make things yourself from whole foods rather than to buy processed, packaged and manufactured foods. What’s more they are naturally flavourful and enjoyable.

I hope you find this information useful and if you have any questions about your diet or health please contact me.