Food is information and NOT just for pleasure!

Reconnecting with our food source:

Food is information and NOT just for pleasure

We have lost touch with our food source!  We as a society have been “sold” on nutritionally empty foods because they “taste good”.  The fact is that these foods dictate to and change our bodies in such a way that addictions are established and cravings occur.

We have been taught to focus on the gratification aspect of food and NOT the importance of food as information to the body.  Did you know that our ancestors were drawn to foods for their nutritional value and healing properties?

Foods were chosen and combined with a specific purpose in mind.  For example:  Sushi is served with pickled ginger and wasabi because ginger and wasabi are digestive aids and natural anti-parasite agents.  Most of us don’t realize that there is a specific purpose to that chosen food combination, we will often eat sushi without combining these “condiments” because we prefer the taste of the fish when dipped “naked” in the sauce that is provided.

We used to understand our food and have a healthy respect for the way in which our bodies utilize food to meet nutritional need and to protect us from our environment.  We have LOST TOUCH with our food source and now focus on quantity and taste without regard to quality and purpose.

We have all heard the phrase “you are what you eat” But did you know that you are also what you are eating EATS!  The information that your food provides your body dictates your state of health, productivity and general sense of wellbeing.  The food you put in your mouth is responsible for turning on or off genes that cause or prevent cancer… your food is the building blocks necessary for your body to product brain chemistry, and energy necessary for every function.  Whole fresh food is purposeful and essential to optimal health, wellness and a pleasurable productive life.

Choose a natural diet…. But what is a Natural Diet?  One that is loaded with whole fresh foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean protein, nut, seeds, legumes, and healthy oils and fats.

Follow these guidelines to get started.

1. Wash fruits and vegetables well!
2. Are you eating real, unadulterated foods, or are you eating chemical concoctions, pressed and mashed and artificially flavored to give the appearance of being food?  It may even say “healthy” on the package.
3. Are you eating foods that are loaded with antibiotics and hormones? Choose free range and wild caught animals.
4. Are you eating foods that contain ingredients that are genetically modified?
5. Even though we live lives that are far different from those of our ancestors, you can still benefit from their traditional diets by using them as dependable roadmaps to good health.
6. Eat at least 1/3 of diet raw (fruits, veggies, nuts, oils)
7. Avoid processed foods and all artificial flavorings, colorings, and artificial sweeteners. Instead, seek out locally grown and raised foods that are in-season
8. Enjoy fermented foods like kefir and cultured veggies
9. Make sure you eat enough healthy fats, including those from animal sources like omega 3, and reduce your intake of omega-6 from vegetable oils
10. Drink plenty of pure, clean water
11. Limit exposure to toxins– eat whole fresh foods – no boxes, bags or cans
12. Eat organic as often as possible
13. Below is a list of great foods!

Following these guidelines is a powerful way to avoid premature aging and disease of all kinds.

Dr. Beth-ism:  Eat whole, fresh foods…. NO BOXES, BAGS OR CANS Allowed.  Food is information to your body.  Get as close to what nature intended as possible.

Great Foods:

Vegetables

1. Asparagus
2. Avocado
3. Beets
4. Bell Peppers
5. Broccoli
6. Brussel Sprouts
7. Cabbage
8. Cauliflower
9. Celery
10. Collard Greens
11. Cucumbers
12. Eggplant
13. Fennel
14. Garlic
15. Ginger
16. Green Beans
17. Green Peas
18. Kale
19. Leeks
20. Mustard Greens
21. Olives
22. Onion
23. Romaine Lettuce
24. Sea Vegetables
25. Spinach
26. Squash, summer
27. Squash, winter
28. Sweet Potatoes
29. Swiss Chard
30. Tomatoes
31. Turnip Greens
32. YAms

Fruits

1. Apples
2. Apricots
3. Bananas
4. Blueberries
5. Cantaloupe
6. Cranberries
7. Figs
8. Grapefruit
9. Grapes
10. Kiwifruit
11. Lemon/Limes
12. Oranges
13. Papaya
14. Pears
15. Pineapple
16. Plums
17. Prunes
18. Raisons
19. Raspberries
20. Strawberries
21. Watermelon

Beans & Legumes

1. Black Beans
2. Dried Peas
3. Garbanzo Beans (Chick Peas)
4. Kidney Beans
5. Lentils
6. Lima Beans
7. Miso
8. Navy Beans
9. Pinto Beans
10. Soybeans
11. Tempeh

Nuts, Seeds and oils

1. Almonds, raw
2. Cashews, raw
3. Flaxseeds, raw
4. Olive Oil, extra virgin
5. Pumpkin seeds, raw
6. Walnuts, raw
7. Coconut oil, extra virgin
8. Cold press nut oils
9. Tahini
10. Almond butter, unsweetened

Cooking oil

1. Coconut oil, extra virgin
2. Extra virgin olive oil

Spices & Herbs

1. Basil
2. Black Pepper
3. Cayenne Peppers
4. Chili Peppers, dried
5. Cilantro / Coriander Seeds
6. Cinnamon, ground
7. Cloves
8. Cumin Seeds
9. Dill
10. Ginger
11. Mustard Seeds
12. Oregano
13. Parsley
14. Peppermint
15. Rosemary
16. Sage
17. Thyme
18. Tumeric

Natural Sweeteners

1. Blackstrap Molasses
2. Cane Juice
3. Local Honey – not for children
4. Pure Maple Syrup

Poultry, Lean Meats and fish

1. Beef, lean and organic (100% grass fed)
2. Chicken, organic – no antibiotics or hormones
3. Turkey, organic – no antibiotics or hormones
4. Venison
5. Elk
6. Wild Caught Salmon

Other

1. Green Tea
2. Water
3. Braggs Amino Acids
4. Apple Cider Vinegar

Milks and cheeses

1. Goat milk
2. Goat milk cheeses
3. Almond Milk, unsweetened
4. Rice Milk, unsweetened
5. Coconut milk, unsweetened