What’s the Big Deal About Whole Foods?
We have all heard the recommendations to eat more whole foods and less processed foods. But does it really matter? Is it worth investing your time, energy, and money? Is it worth making changes to your current patterns that are comfortable?
If you have wrestled with these questions and are curious about the “why behind the what” of healthy eating, then read on. In addition to the pros and cons, I will also be sharing practical tips on how to start incorporating nutritious, delicious, whole foods into your diet in simple and easy ways.
Contradicting Information Regarding Your Diet
You see and hear the news articles talking about the negative impacts of eating processed foods. Maybe you are personally experiencing problems with your health, and you wonder if eating healthier could improve your symptoms. You ask your doctor, and they say that food doesn’t play a role in your symptoms. But you hear otherwise from other sources…and you wonder which is right?
If you do decide you would like to try eating a healthier diet, there is the additional issue of what to eat. The contradictory information out there is enough to make your head spin! Not just subtle differences, but complete opposite ends of the spectrum differences!
· Eat nothing but plants
· Eat nothing but meat
· Eat large amounts of healthy fats
· Eat low fat
· Only eat during limited times of the day
· Eat 5 small meals throughout the day
All those contradictions are enough to make you want to give up on healthy eating, before you even attempt it!
I have walked this very road
I personally have multiple autoimmune conditions, with my first symptoms starting back as early as elementary school.
About 20 years ago I began to read about the benefits of eating healthy. It all seemed intriguing, but at the same time overwhelming. I lacked food knowledge, as well as cooking knowledge. Those were intimidating obstacles that kept me on the sidelines for awhile. I was an observer, wanting to get into the game, but was too confused.
The more I read, the more I became encouraged at the prospect of improving my health through nutrition, despite being told by my doctors that nothing would help. I don’t fault them for this guidance. The reality is that they were not taught about nutrition in medical school. It is just recently that current med students are getting one semester of instruction on the connection between nutrition and health.
My thought was that pursuing changes in how I ate was worth a shot. It was either going to work, or it wasn’t, but it wasn’t going to make things worse.
I spent the first10 years “wandering through the desert.” I was all over the place, trying different trends, theories, and protocols. I would see improvements in my symptoms, but it was inconsistent and unreliable.
It was at that time that, through the input of my chiropractor, I started to approach my health through the lens of biology…and that made all the difference!!
I saw the autoimmune symptoms I had for over 35 years go into remission!! To say I was shocked, stunned, and in disbelief, would be an understatement!
Sharing this information with others, bringing clarity out of confusion, is what drives me!
Connection between biology and whole foods
As a person of faith, the lens of biology resonated with me. Recognizing the beautiful, complex, and perfect design our bodies have, and their ability to thrive and function optimally. Truly a miracle!
Ultimately our bodies are designed to heal.
· You get a cut, and it heals
· You break a bone, and it heals
· You consume things that are not good for you, and you have systems that filter it out
· You get an infection, and your body’s immune system fights it off
Here’s the cool part where biology and whole foods come together.
God as Creator designed your body with the systems in place to navigate this imperfect world.
Your perfectly designed body systems, organs, and cells require a variety of raw materials to function optimally and efficiently. These required raw materials are the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients found in whole foods.
· Vegetables
· Fruits
· Animal meat
· Seafood
· Poultry
· Herbs
· Mushrooms
· Healthy fats
God as Provider has made sure you have the resources you need to support His perfect design!
The Problems with Processed Foods
How it is made
Processed foods are typically made at such a high heat that the natural nutrients that were in the food are killed off during this process. This then leaves the food void of any of the necessary vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.
Seed Oils and Vegetable Oils
The main issue with seed and vegetable oils is the way they are prepared. Once again, the high heat plays a damaging role in the process. Seed and vegetable oils (canola oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, and sunflower oil) are fragile and cannot withstand the high heat. Upon being heated they breakdown and are rancid before they even hit the grocery store shelves. Consuming rancid food is then a toxin that is damaging to your body.
Yes, your body does have the capability to filter out toxins. The problem is that in our current food supply, these toxins are in such a large amount that our livers become overburdened. With there being so much, the liver then struggles to be able to do its job properly.
Preservative, Additives, and Chemicals
Another problem with processed foods are the necessary ingredients added to make it shelf stable. The food manufacturers need to add manmade ingredients, which end up compromising your health. Your body does not know what to do with these foreign ingredients. Your body does not recognize it as food. This too creates another burden for your body to try to process.
In addition to this, many of these ingredients are in fact harmful for your health. Especially when consumed regularly and accumulate in your body.
So Where to Begin?!
Just Start…Small Steps are Great!
Start small…no step is too small! Pick one meal or snack to start with, whichever seems the easiest. Decide to add a whole food option to that meal/snack. Do that regularly for a week and you will see how easy it can be. Doing this will bring confidence and encouragement, which will help you see that your journey towards healthier living is doable.
Think Nourishing Over Restricting
Instead of focusing on taking away certain food groups, an excellent first step is prioritizing what nourishing foods you can add! Pick one type of food at a time. When that becomes routine, add another type of food.
Progress Over Perfection
Don’t worry about perfection! Any and every step has value, even missteps! Shifting your patterns one step at a time, one meal at a time, one snack at a time matters. Each one will be tipping the scale in a positive direction!
Ideas To Get Started
Suggestions for whole food additions to your meals…
Cup of bone broth before a meal, or in between meals
Being intentional to have protein with your meals is a big win
Have a handful of fresh berries with breakfast
Have a side salad with dinner
Add some raw veggies to your lunch, like carrot sticks and celery sticks.
Pro hack…cut up your veggies over the weekend, and then you can have them on the go all week long. They are a helpful option to take to work or have on busy running around days. They store well throughout the week in a sealed glass container, and mason jars work great too.
Suggestions for whole food snack options…
Handful of nuts and seeds, sprouted ones are ideal
Apple slices with a nut/seed butter
Raw veggies with guacamole
Pro-hack…you can buy guacamole in single serving cups. I prefer the one that is just mashed up avocados, where the only ingredient is avocados.
Next Steps
1. Pick one of the suggestions from above that resonates with you.
2. Focus on implementing that one thing until it feels routine.
3. Pick another suggestion from the list and continue with that one until it becomes routine as well.
These steps will begin to build upon each other. As you add nutrient dense whole food options into your diet, you will be giving your body the necessary vitamins, minerals, and nutrients it needs to feel its best!
Here’s the honest…and cool thing!
If I can be totally honesty, there are days I just snack and have crackers and cookies for lunch. I happens…I am certainly not perfect!
But here is the thing…the days I eat whole foods for lunch I feel noticeably better in so many ways!
I don’t have any stomach issues
I have more energy
I have less cravings
I think more clearly
I feel more satisfied
As I stated earlier, your body is designed with the ability to heal! Any proactive step you take is a step in the right direction! Starting small is a solid start that will lay the foundation for a positive shift in how you are feeling!
You are worth it! Your quality of life is worth it! Your future self is worth it!
I believe in you and know that you can do it!
Share in the comments what first step you are going to take! I will be cheering you on!!
If you would like to receive priority notification of my future blog posts, as well as priority access to my events and offers, sign up with the link below.
https://www.gracewaynutrition.com/thegraceway