How many times have we heard that you are what you eat? We all intuitively know this to be true even though we may not think of this simple principle as we eat the things the government and television tells we should eat. What you may not realize is that regardless of your symptoms the things you choose eat will effect the symptoms that you are currently experiencing.
Some of the symptoms you are experiencing may be attributed to food allergies or sensitivities you didn’t even know you had. When you adjust your eating habits appropriately, miraculous things can occur such as weight loss, feeling and looking younger, reduced inflammation, reducing the amount of medications needed or even eliminating the need for medications you’ve been taking for years, and reduction or complete recovery from initial symptoms. A little known fact is that 80% of your immune system comes from your gut. So, if your digestive track is inflamed, it can severely reduce the effectiveness of your immune system. Which in turn can lead to autoimmune diseases or impede healing.
Here are some tips to put you on the path to a healthier lifestyle through nutrition:
The basic principal you will here me say over and over again is eat protein with veggies and fruit in between.
Protein and Veggies
Eating protein and vegetables in combination 3 to 5 times per day will have you feeling better than ever in no time. Grass fed, free-range, organic meats are always best. Eat lots of fresh, local, organic vegetables. The only vegetables to avoid are corn and white potatoes, as those tend to be high in carbohydrates/sugar. Sweet potatoes and yams can be okay but if you want to lose weight you might want to avoid them altogether.
Protein includes:
Red Meat
Beef
Lamb
Venison
Buffalo
Pork
Elk
Poultry
Turkey
Chicken
Duck
Pheasant
Fish
Salmon
Cod
Tuna
Mackerel
Tilapia
Halibut
Trout
*Any sea food including shellfish if you are not allergic
Eggs – eat the whole egg
Egg Yolks
No Sushi.
Breakfast
You should strive to eat a protein breakfast every morning-preferably eggs, slightly runny yolks and steamed vegetables (kale or chard with butter). You can even add bacon, breakfast sausage, or last night’s dinner meat (Yum!).
If you are egg sensitive then you need to change your mindset about what you can make for breakfast. Think any other protein and vegetable. My breakfast over the past few months have looked a lot like most peoples lunches.
Fruit away from Protein
EAT YOUR FRUIT—DON’T DRINK IT!
Store bought juices generally contain sugar and additives. Even if it claims to have no sugar added, the labeling laws allow for company to measure the percent sugar in the barrels after juicing and sugar all of the barrels up to the level of the highest concentration of sugar and make the statement that no sugar was added. Also, keep in mind that they never choose the best fruits to juice.
The best way to eat fruit is between meals as mid-morning or afternoon snacks. The main thing to remember is to not overdo it. Just because fruit grows on trees, doesn’t mean you can eat all you want.
Water
Hydration is one of the most important things to consider in all health conditions. A good general guidline is that you should drink ½ your body weight in ounces per day, it would be better to drink your body weight in ounces. As a minimum of 2 liters of Mineral Water (like San Pellegrino) or other high quality spring water, a day. Preferably a liter before noon and a liter before dinner. Avoid reverse osmosis filtered water like Dasani or Aquafina.
Butter and Oil
Use real butter, coconut oil and olive oil in your cooking and baking. Avoid margarine, butter substitutes, vegetable oil, canola oil, soybean oil, safflower oil, Crisco, PAM, trans fatty acids, and partially hydrogenated oils. Pick up the brochure in our office, “Chewing the Fat.”
Salt is good for you in most cases. Eat Celtic Sea Salt. It contains many of the minerals your body needs.
AVOID “The Five Fingers of Death”
- Sugar
No high fructose corn syrup, agave, candy, cakes, brownies, pies, cookies, ice cream & soda pop. Begin to use natural sweeteners such as honey, molasses, real maple syrup, and Stevia. Avoid all artificial sweetners, especially those found in diet soda and Crystal Light. Look for these names to avoid: Saccharin (Sweet & Low), Sucralose (Splenda), Aspertame (Nutrasweet and Equal), Cyclamates, Acesulfame-K (Sunette). - Wheat
Avoid wheat (gluten) when liver or intestinal absorption issues. Initially, rice is a good gluten-free grain substitution for most people. The next time you’re in our office, pick up one of our brochures at the front desk entitled, “How Does the Flour we Devour Impact our Health.” - Dairy
Avoid cow, goat, sheep’s milk. Real butter and whey protein are O.K. Use rice or almond milk as sbustitutes. No ice cream, yogurt, cottage cheese and American made cheeses. Avoid dairy especially if you are of African American or Asian dissent. - Soy
It is not the Health Food that it was touted to be. Over 95% of American soy crops are genetically modified, even if labeled organic. - Corn
Over 85% of American corn crops are genetically modified, even if labeled organic. Avoid especially if you are of Native American or Hispanic descent.
Remember: The definition of INSANITY is doing exactly the same thing, and expecting a different result. Diet can be the foundation of changing your life. Give it a try and feel better. Anything that is worth anything in this life takes hard work and sustained effort.
THIS DIET DOES NOT SUBSTITUTE FOR CHIROPRACTIC,
CHIROPRACTIC DOES NOT SUBSTITUTE FOR THIS DIET.
You are worth the effort!
Addison Chiropractic & Kinesiology 