Healthy Eating Basics

Healthy eating for the most part means going back to the days before the development of high technology and food science. It is going back to healthy eating basics of the time before processed food and huge industrial agriculture. Some scientific theories tell us our ancestors ate a lot more plant based diet than we do. The meat they ate were organic and they ate a lot of game. Which is quite different and much healthier than the industrial farm meat we eat today. Many cultures have developed healthy eating habits in various ways. But there are basic components that runs through all of them that makes them healthy. Here a few of these basics.

• Eat close to the bottom of the food chain as much as possible. Meaning eat more plants such as vegetables, fruits, legumes, seed sprouts, nuts, seeds less meat and animal products.

• Eat only when you are hungry and not too much, with fruit snacks in between.

• Eat everything as fresh as possible. If you live near a farm or are a member of csa ( community supported agriculture) then try to get all your produce and even meat and diary products fresh from the farm. The fresher the food the more nutrients it has and the more tastier it is. If you have a garden you can plant your own veggies and herbs. This is as fresh as they come. There is also the farmers markets which are available in almost every city now a days.
  

• Eat more unprocessed foods much less processed food. If it tastes better raw don’t cook it. Eliminate synthetic chemicals from your diet.

• Avoid refined sugar, sweeteners, and concentrated juice. Dilute the juice, and drink plenty of water.

• Eat less refined wheat and grains.
  

• Variety is the spice of life. For nutrition it is essential. Eat fruits and vegetables of every color.

• Eating what is available locally and in season is good for us

• Taste, smell, and looks are important. When you go food shopping smell it, look it, and if possible test it. All this are vital signs that tell you whether a food is fresh, has high amounts of vital nutrients and are good for your well being.

• The way you cook food matters on how nutritious it is going to be. Learn how to cook all kinds of food for maximum nutritional benefit.

• Did you know roasting veggies is one of the best ways of preserving its nutrients.

• The way you eat matters. Set your table and eat all your meals seated at a table. Don’t read or do anything else. Just eat mindfully, noticing the smell, color, texture, taste of the food and enjoying every minute of it. This is one of the pleasures of life.

• If you crave a food real bad then you must have it. It is your bodies way of telling you that it needs the nutrients in that food.

• Do not overeat any particular food because it is touted a super food. Anything that is overdone can become poisonous.

Some of the Best Diets Available to Us Today

• The Raw food diet: Everything is eaten raw and as fresh as possible, no meat. It is all vegetables, fruits, and grains. I find this extreme and without cooking some nutrients may not be available to us.

• The Asian diet: Lots of vegetables and fruits, less refined sugar, less fat, less processed foods, lots of tea drinking ( antioxidant). The down side is too much salt and the use of unhealthy vegetable oils such as artificially processed coconut oil.

• The Vegan Diet: Eating very close to the bottom of the food chain. vegans eat only plant based food no meat. They get lots of fiber., much less saturated fat. But can be deficient in some vital nutrients that is found only in meat.

• The Mediterranean Diet:Has variety, lots of vegetables and fruits, lots of healthy fat, lots of fish and legumes but less red meat, lots of whole grain. great food preparation

Of These diets the one that is closest to the healthy eating basics criteria is the Mediterranean diet.