subject: Transforming with Nutrition [print this page] "Every day in every way I am getting better and better" is a simple and transformational affirmation from Emile Coue`. It focuses our attention on the power and potential we all hold within ourselves. We know that life is a journey and our bodies are the vehicles we have been blessed with to take us through this life. Yet there are times when we forget the most basic needs of our own physicality. We live in a rushed society, rushing to work, to school, to sports events or lessons. We are over scheduled,over connected, over fed and under nourished. Many times we grab the quickest and most convenient form of food we can eat on the run. How we honor our bodies today will effect our tomorrows.
If you could change one thing about your health what would it be? What will your physical health look like a year from now, or five years from now? Certain things have to be maintained daily to reach our full potential and for our children to move onward upward and forward into their best lives. Good nutrition is the foundation to good mental and physical health. Good nutrition is the fuel our bodies need to move, grow and heal. Good nutrition at the cellular level, decreases stress, improves our concentration and focus, increases our energy, stabilizes our moods and gives our cells the daily nourishment they need in the amounts they need to function at their best. So what constitutes good nutrition? It's really simple!
Eat whole foods. That is foods that are in their natural state as our maker meant them to be. Eat plenty of raw fruits and vegetables in a rainbow of colors! More really does matter! Be a smart consumer, rather than purchasing a food product based upon it's marketing turn it over and read the ingredients list. Does the list actually sound like the food it says it contains? Does it contain any of the terrible three ingredients such as high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils and artificial food colorings and flavorings? If it does, put the package down, step away from the shelf and no one will get hurt! Eliminating or reducing the amount of the terrible three ingredients in your diet will significantly reduce the amount of empty calories and harmful additives you and your family are consuming.
Drink plenty of water. We are overburdened with highly colored and sweetened energy drinks that can actually slow the absorption of water and trigger low blood sugar. Artificially sweetened low calorie sodas can leave you feeling bloated and are linked to a reduction of calcium in our bones. Pure water is the best way to hydrate your body. The recommended amount of water is 1/2 ounce per day per pound of body weight. Signs and symptoms of dehydration include, headaches, stomachaches, dry mouth, constipation, muscle aches and pains. I'm terrible about drinking water. I don't recognize I'm thirsty and frequently go through the day with only 8 oz of fluid. I now carry a container of water with me everywhere I go as a reminder to hydrate. Sometimes I meet my goal and sometimes I don't, but I am getting better and better every day!
Our bodies are made for movement! Movement is medicine for changing a persons physical, emotional and mental state. Studies show that 30 minutes of aerobic exercise is more effective in treating mild to moderate depression than prescription drugs! Limit TV, computer, and video game time or balance it out. Every hour on the computer or in front of the TV means an hour of active play time or exercise. Exercise builds strong bones and lean muscles, boosts the immune system, strengthens the heart, curbs our appetite, boosts our moods, prevents constipation and improves sleep. Get up, get out and move! Our children model our behaviors, if we are couch potatoes we will raise tater tots!
We can easily,effectively and effortlessly transform our lives and the lives of those we love by practicing some basics each and every day. Eat whole foods, read labels, drink plenty of water and get out and move! The one thing most people of any age do not get enough of is fruits and vegetables. Fresh raw fruits and vegetables contain the vitamins, minerals, enzymes and phytonutrients our bodies need in the quantities our bodies can readily absorb and use for maximum health.
I no longer take vitamins, but as a nutritional safety net my family and I eat Juice Plus+ daily. Juice Plus+ is 15 nutrient dense fruits, vegetables and 2 whole grains in easy to swallow capsule and chewable form. I like the solid research behind Juice Plus+ and I especially like the health benefits my family and I have been experiencing. I know that good nutrition is the foundation for good mental and physical health but the reality is I don't always get the best nutrition every day. Juice Plus+ does not replace fruits and vegetables but it is the next best thing to eating them and insures me that my family and I are getting the nutritional intensity we need day in and day out. So, if you could change one thing about your health what would it be?
