Eating whole foods.

It is crucial to understand the importance of nutrition in maintaining wellness and preventing disease. While many fad diets come and go, there is only one diet that has been scientifically proven to prevent disease and reverse illness. That is a whole food, plant-based diet (sorry my keto friends). While many of us know to eat our veggies, how many of us know which foods have been known to lower risk of cancer? Which foods have been linked to a higher risk of cancer? We have been conditioned to think that if we are eating certain foods, then we are eating healthfully. One good example of this is eating whole grain bread or a granola bar. We think we are eating healthfully because of the whole grains. But where did this whole grain bread or granola bar come from? How much processing has gone into it? What preservatives have been added in order to make it shelf-stable? The standard American diet is full of packaged, processed foods and preservatives has become rampant, leading to detrimental effects on our health, including weight gain, inflammation, and an increased risk of developing chronic diseases. I thought I was eating healthfully by choosing white meat, over red meat. It wasn't until I came across a World Health Organization article that showed that my deli turkey slices were actually a class 1 carcinogen, (in the same carcinogenic category as tobacco smoking). The health risks associated with the processing overrode any health benefits of choosing "healthy" white meat over red meat (which also is carcinogenic).

Whole food plant-based foods offer a natural approach towards nourishing and healing our bodies. By incorporating a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts into our diets, we provide our bodies with essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. This type of nutrition not only promotes overall well-being but also helps prevent and manage chronic diseases such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. It is crucial to prioritize our health and make informed choices about the food we consume to lead a vibrant and fulfilling life.

Recommended readings:

1. Food Processing and Health | The Nutrition Source | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

2. 11 Banned Ingredients In Other Countries That Are Okay In The US (foodrevolution.org)

3. A plant-based diet and coronary artery disease: a mandate for effective therapy - PMC (nih.gov)

4. Processed meat and cancer: What you need to know | MD Anderson Cancer Center

5. Cancer: Carcinogenicity of the consumption of red meat and processed meat (who.int)

6. Red Meat Genetic Signature for Colorectal Cancer - NCI

Recommended YouTube videos:

I Love Nutritional Science: Dr. Joel Fuhrman at TEDxCharlottesville 2013 (youtube.com)

The plant-based diet | Michael Greger, MD, | TEDxBismarck (youtube.com)

Please look to this information as a supplement, not a substitute, to medical advice you receive from your doctor.