Healthy Eating

Throw away the junk food!

This may seem obvious, but a smart way to stay on top of your healthy lifestyle is to throw away junk foods and beverages that are not on your plan. Just like watching TV instead of exercising, having unhealthy food and beverages in the house that work against your plan (especially those items that you often crave) can be tempting enough to lead you down the wrong path. The same could be said for someone battling addictions of any kind. It is wise to put yourself in less tempting and safe surroundings if you hope to beat the addiction. So, if you want to have a healthy lifestyle, and reach your weight loss or fitness goals, rid the house of tempting food and beverages.

‘No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.’  – 1 Corinthians 10:13

With food and energy costs on the rise and job losses mounting, many families are finding trips to the grocery store a bit more painful. With such a turbulent economy, any way to save a little is helpful. By making some minor changes, families can still eat nutritiously and cut expenses.

1. Plan out your meals.

Most people eat based solely on convenience. This carries a higher price tag and poorer nutrition. Simply buying more fresh foods and planning meals for the week will save a bundle and provide the nutrients needed to live healthier.

2. Substitute healthier protein sources.

Meat purchases are often significantly more expensive than good protein alternatives like beans, eggs, nuts and seeds. The protein found in eggs most closely matches that of human tissue, so the body uses it efficiently. Any type of bean – pinto, red, kidney or black – is an inexpensive, nutritional choice that can be added to soups, salads, stir-fries, rice or pasta dishes. Nuts and seeds are a healthy snack the entire family can enjoy.

3. Minimize the purchase of prepared foods.

Replace meals such as instant oatmeal and boxed rice meals with less-processed grains including brown rice, wild rice, barley and old-fashioned oatmeal. Most of these can be bought in bulk, improving savings.

4. Eat seasonally.

Choosing seasonal fruits and vegetables can help consumers stretch their budgets while maintaining good nutrition. Apples and oranges are at their peak in the winter. Buy them by the bag and save even more.

5. Drink healthier.

Cutting out the morning trip to Starbucks, or sodas and bottled fruit juices, will not only save money, but will lower sugar and sugar substitute levels. Try clean water flavored with a squeeze of lemon or lime. Herbal teas with a touch of honey or Stevia are another good option.

The UltraMind Solution by Mark Hyman

Recently, I picked up a copy of Dr. Mark Hyman’s book, “The UltraMind Solution”(which by the way, I highly recommend), with the intent of researching two important aspects of balance for healthy individuals – a healthy body & a healthy mind. I’ll most likely be writing more about that issue in future blogs. Here though, my reasoning for mentioning Hyman’s book is that one of his chapters reminded me of a point that I think many of us overlook, especially in today’s tough economic times. Also, keep in mind that what I write here isn’t strictly my opinion or just the opinion of those of us at Transformation LLC or others in the fitness, nutrition and health related fields. Rather, it’s a point that is overwhelmingly supported by many health specialists, scientists and practitioners – and one that Dr. Hyman himself, a medical doctor, reiterates strongly about using vitamins & minerals.

Vitamins & Minerals – a Metabolic Tune-Up or Just Expensive Urine?

Catchy title for a chapter! Well,here’s how he begins this chapter on the topic:

“I don’t think people need vitamins and they are a waste of money . . .”

Are you shocked at his opinion? I was, at least until I read further. Below is Mark Hyman’s follow up to that statement, in context.

Point taken – We all need vitamins. If you want to know more about why, get his book – it’s a great read!

The Cost of Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation

Quite honestly, I can tell you that there are times when I forget to take my vitamins and minerals. Usually it’s due to laziness, a lack of convenience or a disregard for their metabolic importance. Lately, though, I suspect that many are neglecting vitamin and mineral supplementation due to their expense. The question is, what is it really costing us NOT to take vitamins and minerals? Not only is it costing us money, but it may very well be robbing our bodies of desperately needed nutrition – nutrition that we’re not getting from the severely deficient and convenient foods that we’re eating – especially during the current economic down-turn.

My point here is simple – quick, easy and cheap are not always best. Cutting corners nowadays may seem to be the only solution, but we need to keep in mind our health for the future. If in the present we continue to rob our bodies of required nutrition by eating bad, dirty or cheap foods, while NOT supplementing with the much needed vitamins and minerals, eventually we will pay a much larger price than what is currently apparent.

Dr. Hyman’s premise is well stated – in order for our minds to function properly – as God intended – our bodies must first have all the proper nutrients for optimum function and balance. His focus is on mental health – in that, if the bodily processes are not being properly nourished, the mind will not function properly either, hence depression, mood swings, anxiety and ultimately Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease – just to name a few.

The Organic Transformation 2 Step Weight Loss Program

I agree with Hyman’s book. Recently, Barry Bragg, Barry Seneri and I wrote a comprehensive eating program called the Organic Transformation 2 Step Weight Loss & Wellness Program. Our point is very similar to Dr. Hyman’s, except that our focus is more specifically on the body and how eating right, along with the right supplementation promotes weight loss and overall body wellness. We believe that great health, weight loss, fitness and well-being are largely a product of a balanced, healthy lifestyle – as detailed in our program – some of which include:

• Good Sleep
• Clean, Alkaline Water
• Chemical-Free, Unprocessed, Natural Foods
• Regular Detoxification
• 80% Alkaline / 20% Acidic Foods Daily
• Regular Vigorous Exercise
• Rotation of Foods for Balanced Nutrition

Dr. Hyman, in his book, takes it to another level by describing how proper metabolic balance (due to proper diet) promotes healthy mental function. In essence – a truly healthy body equals a healthy mind.