What is good nutrition?

Well with the thousands of different diets/food choices out there it is truly overwhelming sometimes to decipher what good nutrition really is. Considering everything from Raw Veganism to Atkins to the food pyramid to Got Milk? and McDonalds, the average person is bombarded with an overwhelming amount of information about what they should or shouldn't be eating. And to further add to the confusion, from what I am learning (take away all of the really bad stuff), different people require different things.

Holistic nutrition focuses on eating foods that provide your body with the highest levels of nutritional value. It is much more than just eating a balanced diet. It is all about finding out what works for you as an individual. Some people will thrive as a vegetarian while others function optimally with more meat in their diets. To understand what is right for you requires listening to your body by identifying potential food allergies, possible metabolic disorders like hypoglycemia or diabetes and what just plain makes you feel better both physically and mentally.

Because there is so much information to sift through and finding your optimal diet may take some time, I thought a good place to start may be to identify some basics of holistic nutrition that apply to all individuals who wish to follow a holistic nutrition plan.

They include the following:

• Food should be organic as much as possible.


• Avoid junk food and processed food. (This means most of your shopping will take place on the perimeter of the grocery store where the fresh foods are usually found.)


• No foods with additives and preservatives.


• No sugar or caffeine. ( I know, but you will feel so healthy and alive that you won't need it, right?)


• Drink adequate amounts of pure water. (Preferably filtered and free of chlorine and other contaminants.)


• Avoid microwaves. (Concerns include the leaching of chemicals from plastic containers and possible destruction of nutrients while cooking.)


• No genetically engineered foods. (Soybeans and corn are often genetically modified.)


• Identify hidden food allergies. (For instance, many migraine sufferers have food allergies.)


• Address nutritional deficiencies. (You may need a blood test to identify vitamin/mineral deficiencies.)


• Eat whole foods in their natural state as much as possible. (See why Raw food is optimal.)
  

So no matter where you are today in your journey to a more whole life, you can't go wrong with the principles of holistic nutrition. At its most basic level, it will lead you toward a feeling of well-being, a better quality of life and a higher level of functioning.

- Shannan

Sources: www.holistichelp.net