NUTRITION

We are what we eat!

We are what we think!

We are who we are…… until we decide to change it!

The best way to discover about nutrition is to take a walk through a supermarket. Take a look into the trolleys that go by and then take a look at the person pushing them. This is not a judgement exercise, but an exercise in lifestyle choice. Notice those who have a trolley full of junk foods such as chocolates, chips, sugar snacks and fatty foods. Not all waist lines will correspond to the amount of junk in their trolley but they should be a good indication. The more fruits and vegetables you have in your trolley is probably a good indication of how many water rich and alkaline foods you have in your diet.

An optimum diet would have between 60 and 70 % of the foods being raw and unprocessed. There are not many of us that can sit down to continuous meals of salads, raw vegetables and nuts. So moderation is the key here. If you gradually introduce these types of foods instead of radically changing your diet you are more inclined to succeed in changing your eating habits. Fad diets, fasts and cleanses may be great short term measures to lose some weight but they will not change your patterns of eating. That is the key to any change, whether it be eating or life style. You need to break your patterns in life in order to change.

Ways to Optimum Health

• Stop the poisoning - Physical, Emotional and Environmental (Be conscious of eating habits, feelings and any toxins you may be absorbing through food or chemicals.)
• Cleanse and Detoxify - Open up the body to release its toxins (Colonics, Far Infra-red Sauna, Lymphatic Drainage Massage, Deep Breathing, Clean filtered Water.)
• Exercise - 30 mins 3 to 4 times per week. Depending on age your heart rate needs to be in the range where your aerobic capacity is increasing and you are burning "fuel".
• Weight Bearing Exercise - As with fitness, resistance training on your muscles is essential to health. If you can't get to a gym, your own body weight is the perfect resistance tool (yoga, pilates, push ups, sit ups, dips, chin ups, back arches, squats etc)
• Positive Thinking - Not mentioned enough but is essential to health. Negative thoughts can apparently turn an alkaline body into an acidic one in 5 minutes. You are what you think.
• Acid/Alkaline Balance - Your diet needs to consist of roughly 70% Alkaline and 30% Acid. Most vegetables and fruits are alkaline, whereas meats, dairy, bread, pasta and soft drinks are acid forming. A high acid diet is regarded by some as one of the main causes of disease.
• Water - Although mentioned earlier water is absolutely essential to health. This does not include beer, coke or coffee which are all acidic and require excess water to bring the body back into alkaline. Roughly one litre for every 40 kgs of weight for the average person. More in exercising or in a hot environment.
• Cut the Carbohydrates - Studies have shown that one of the ways to live longer is to reduce the amount of carbohydrates eaten. This includes grains, bread, pasta and sugar.
• Increase Essential Fatty Acids - They are essential for brain function, nerve health, cleansing and many other major body systems. They are also an excellent source of energy for those worried about cutting carbohydrates and exercising.
• Reduce Animal Protein and Dairy Products - Supplement with vegetable protein (including nuts) and fish protein.
• Reduce Coffee, Coke, Drugs, Alcohol, & Processed Foods - Essentially they should be eliminated but moderation is the best place to start. While not a food, (although some may disagree!) cigarettes have serious effects on the body. That coupled with the contraceptive pill taken by women can greatly absorb the nutrient levels within the body before the cells can utilize them. Supplements of some form are recommended.
• Relax More - Take time out each day to stop and absorb the days' events. Meditate, bathe, read, anything that takes your mind away from work and any other stress you are experiencing.

I am currently completing a Graduate Diploma in Clinical Nutrition. If you have a nutrition issue please contact me and if I can not answer it, I shall always endeavour to find out.