subject: Is Your Healthy Diet Killing You? [print this page] Do you give much thought to what you eat? Does the food you eat improve your health or harm it? Many of us think that if we eat a diet that is low in fat and high in fiber we are healthy eaters. However, this may not be true. Even the so called healthy foods in the supermarket can have a negative effect on your health.
Don't assume that because something screams 'healthy' on the label it is good for you. If your diet consists of packaged and processed foods you are not eating as healthy as you think. Why? Because when a food is going to be sealed in a bag or shut up in a can, it needs to be processed and that changes the food drastically.
When a food is processed for packaging several things need to happen. First of all, the food needs to have a fairly long shelf life. So, to extend the shelf life of the product preservatives are added to it. Preservatives are chemicals that help the food retain color, crispness, taste, etc. Most foods contain a long list of chemicals that are added to help the food stay fresh longer. While this allows you to take the food home and store it in the pantry for a long period of time, these chemicals are not good for your body!
The chemicals that are used to preserve food build up in our systems as toxins. These toxins are hard on our bodies and can cause a number of health issues including cancer, high blood pressure, chronic fatigue syndrome, headaches just to name a few. There are things you can do to remove the toxins from your body such as detoxification diets, but why put the toxins there in the first place?
It is possible to have a satisfying and healthy diet without eating processed foods. It is important to add as many fresh fruits and vegetables, preferably organic, to your diet. In addition, eat fresh whole grains as opposed to the kinds you find in a box. This is the diet that nature intended for us. Our ancestors were gatherers and hunters. They didn't have the option of going to the store and picking up a box of cereal. Their food came from the earth and was eaten in its natural form.
So where do you find the food for a healthy diet? There are many organic grocery stores opening up every day. If there isn't an organic store in your area, just remember to stick to the perimeter of the grocery store. This is where you will find the fresh fruits and meats that are good for your diet. Stay away from the middle of the store where the processed foods are located. If there is a farmers market in your area, shop there to pick up the freshest produce.
Changing your diet to include more natural and organic foods can help improve your health. You will feel better and have more energy if you stop putting preservatives into your body.
