Carolyn Guilford, CNC So, what makes a healthy diet? Basically, a healthy diet is selecting foods that are clean, natural and nourishing. Wholesome, beneficial, healthful. Clean means to wash it, and handle it properly so that it is not contaminated, after you purchase. But, more so, it is important that the foods we eat have no chemicals added that are known to be harmful. ( Believe it or not packaged and processed foods have more chemicals and additives than you can even imagine.) You would think that living in this country, our food would be free of harmful additives. Think again, then read the ingredients labels. The foods we select to eat for a healthy diet should be locally grown. Foods imported from far away lose a lot of the important nutrients in transport, are often sprayed with preservatives, and are irradiated to be accepted into this country. Foods should be as natural as when they came from the earth, at the time we eat them. So when you look at that package of instant mashed potatoes, you know it did not grow in the box. Organic foods, because of the way they are grown, contain more nutrients than conventionally grown foods in this country.

It is because of the many poisonous chemical treatments; herbicides, pesticides, hormones and other actions the plants are subjected to that make our food supply inherently less nutritious. (However, if you continue to purchase these foods special handling is required.)

Soak, rinse, or scrub fruits and vegetables before cooking and eating. Always. So, this is the condensed version of how to eat: Cook at home. Cook, prepare your own foods, and take your lunch, it will be

cleaner’, healthier and you’ll have more peace of mind about it. Eat lots of fruits and veggies.

Have at least 2 vegetarian meals per week, more is better. Eat only the lean meat and poultry. (That means no wings). Select only 100% whole grains. Pasta, rice, bread, whatever. Try to eat at least 8 servings of fruits and veggies each day. (having a salad and veggies twice a day will make this tip a snap.

Use extra virgin olive oil on salad, toasted whole wheat bread, or in pesto on pasta. This is a great way to get the ‘good fats’ into your diet. Eat more fish. Salmon, mackerel, sardines, herring, and trout. Always choose wild caught.

You are what you eat, so if you are eating chips, sodas, burgers, chicken, and pizza from the drive thru, mashed potatoes from a box, peas and corn from the can, and cereal or sausage biscuits for breakfast, you are ‘doing it’ all wrong. Doing it wrong sets you up for all kinds of illness and disease, and the inability to fight disease and recover well from an episode.

It is true, you are what you eat. Eating a healthy diet, grows

healthy person. A person with normal blood sugar, normal cholesterol, no heart disease. Illness is so common in our society that most people think it is normal to have drugs and doctors for these now common ailments. The right diet can prevent, and reverse disease. Eliminate from your menu all processed meats. - ham, salami, hot dogs, bacon and all smoked or cured meats. These all contain nitrates and are linked to stomach and pancreatic cancer.

Drink lots of water. One half your body’s weight, in ounces of water, every day. Water is the easiest and fastest way to detox. And that is important. We make our own toxins, and water helps to eliminate them, fast. Avoid artificial preservatives, colorings, flavorings and artificial sweeteners.

Avoid white sugar, especially if you are already suffering with some illness. Sugar only makes it worse. Stay away from cakes, cookies, candy, desserts, and soda, (and anything else made with white sugar). Lastly, don’t feed your allergies. If you are allergic to any food, don’t eat it. Common food allergies include wheat, eggs, nuts, milk, soy, and shellfish. Persons can develop an allergy to any food. So, if you don’t feel good when you eat certain foods, take it off the menu. So, look at your diet, and see how you can make it better. And do it, because you are worth it.

Remember, Health is a Choice. If you have any comments or questions about health issues covered in this column, or an issue you’d like addressed, please call or write to:

Carolyn Guilford www.HealthRestoration101.com

P.O. Box 2814, Savannah, GA

31402 (912) 236-8987 © Copyright 2010 - Health Restoration 101 Savannah, GA.