My health has improved incredibly over the last few years, and I know that it is due to several life habits I’ve adopted. When going public about Dustin going of his antidepressants, we received several inquiries about different things we did that helped him do so. Many friends confided in us saying that they too were trying to release themselves from the chemical grip of pharmaceuticals. This is a hard question to answer because it’s not just one thing that helped free him of his meds. It’s a continuous combination of major lifestyle changes that give him (us) the strength not to need the medical pacifier.
So I want to write a series of posts that outline those lifestyle changes and provide some information for those who are also seeking healthier, happier lives.
Before I begin, please know that everyone’s journey is different. What works for me may not work for you, and vice versa. So please don’t view this as an exclusive list of right and wrongs. It’s here simply as a resource of things you can try in your own life to help you be healthier and happier (and potentially save some cash as well).
The main areas I will discuss in the next few posts are: food, hygiene products, activities/routines, and mental health.
Today, I’ll talk about food – what ingredients to avoid, when it’s worth it to pay more for organic, and how to be conscious of what you put in your body.
Ingredients – Read your labels and avoid the deal breakers!
There are a couple of ingredients I look for that are absolute deal breakers for the foods that I buy: high fructose corn syrup, food dyes, aspartame, MSG, and enriched flour.
HFCS is basically super-mutant sugar, and our bodies are not meant to consume it. It’s highly addictive and contains toxic levels of mercury. And it’s in everything. Ketchup, salad dressings, spaghetti sauce, bread, milk, granola bars… Always read your labels and pay the extra fifty cents for the brand with no HFCS.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/high-fructose-corn-syrup-dangers_b_861913.html
http://www.mercola.com/Downloads/bonus/danger-of-corn-syrup/report.aspx
Food dyes are shown to cause cancer, cause allergic reactions, and promote hyperactivity in kids. Again, they’re just chemicals that our bodies were not meant to consume.
Aspartame is a sugar substitute that is found in most “diet” drinks. It may be calorie free, but it causes a slew of ailments like migraines, weight gain, and depression. I was addicted to diet coke for a very long time, and I’ll admit that I still have one every now and then. But aspartame is not something you want to consume on a regular basis.
MSG is the addictive additive (say that 10x fast) in most processed foods. It causes similar ailments to aspartame, but it also (and this is kind of freaky) causes leptin resistance. Leptin is a hormone that controls our appetite – when we’re hungry and when we’re satisfied. MSG keeps leptin from working, keeping us from feeling satisfied and leading us to eat more. (It’s also interesting to note that before MSG started being added to so many processed foods, it was used as a flavor enhancer in Chinese dishes. Have you ever been starving only an hour after eating an entire plate of Chinese food??) MSG makes our bodies addicted to food. Do you remember the Pringle’s commercial “One you pop, the fun don’t stop” and Lay’s “You can’t have just one” ad? It’s because they’re laden with MSG.
http://foodmatters.tv/articles-1/the-dangers-of-msg
Enriched flour is found in pretty much every baked good that isn’t labeled 100% whole wheat. It’s flour that has had been stripped of its nutritious vitamins and minerals for the sake of a finer texture and longer shelf life. To make up for the vitamins they take out, most manufacturers will add in synthetic chemicals that aren’t even good for you. It’s frustrating. So try to buy only 100% whole wheat bread. Check the label and look for “whole wheat flour” or “whole grain flour”.
http://institutefornaturalhealing.com/2007/08/the-hoax-of-enriched-wheat-flour/
Organic – When the extra money is worth it.
I think it’s pretty obvious that you should eat as organic as possible. A quick Google search will show you the benefits of organic eating and the harms of chemicals and pesticides found on traditionally grown produce. But, it’s also a sad truth that organic eating can be significantly more expensive. So when you can’t get the organic fruits and veggies, at least make sure you’re giving them a good wash before you eat them.
The one area where I’ve opted to consistently pay the extra few bucks is organic dairy. Traditional dairy is such bad news, and many health gurus urge you to eat little to no dairy at all. (But I love my milk, yogurt, and cheese, so I digress.) When you consume organic dairy over traditional, it means you’re leaving out the hormones that cause cancer and infection. Your organic dairy is also free of the antibiotics and pesticides found in nonorganic dairy.
I always buy organic milk and yogurt. It adds about $5-10 extra to my grocery bill, which isn’t much in the long run. I try to buy organic or natural cheese when I can, but it is crazy expensive next to traditional cheese. What’s important is that you read the labels and do your research. Then you can make your own educated decision about what you and your family consume.
Food Consciousness – Bringing awareness to what you put in your body.
I want to close with food consciousness because I think it’s the most important aspect of any diet. There’s no diet that is a one-size-fits-all prescription of how to be healthy. All of our bodies are different, and they all have different needs. What’s important is to be aware and informed about what’s in your food and what it can do to your body. Ignoring all the science and research and just continuing in your old ways won’t lead you to a better and healthier you. You have to choose to be informed and then choose what you will and will not put in your body.
Along those same lines, you need to be aware of the types of foods you’re eating and try to keep as balanced a diet as possible. Have you eaten mostly bread, meat, and cheese the past few days? Try having a salad or vegetable soup for a meal. I’ve found that morning smoothies are a great way to get in some servings of veggies. I normally do a cup and a half or so of kale with some yogurt, frozen fruit of choice, and a bit of almond milk. Smoothies are a great way to get some of those hard-on-the-pallet greens into your diet.
Lastly, start paying attention to your thoughts about food. Science is starting to show the power of thought and intention and how it creates the physical reality around us. So what you think about food is really important. If you tell yourself, “Ohmygosh, this food is so bad for me – I really shouldn’t eat it” but then you do eat it, thinking about the damage it’s doing to your body the whole time, then yes, it’s going to hurt your body. But if you bless the food and thank it for the nourishment and deliciousness it provides, then it could do less harm. That’s why praying before a meal is so commonplace. You’re literally blessing the molecular structure of the food before you consume it.
I also want to note that our purpose for existing here is to experience all that life has to offer. So if that means I want to experience the deliciousness of something (say, a Diet Coke, Dairy Queen chicken strips and french fries, or sugar and enriched flour laden baked goods), I do so, guilt free, under the pretense of enjoying what this physical realm has to offer. I’ll say a little blessing over it, knowing that it won’t harm my body, and I savor it. 🙂
If you aren’t familiar with the studies done by Dr. Masuro Emoto regarding the molecular changes in water crystals based on blessings and intention, do a quick search and learn about him. YouTube has some great videos. I show this clip (from the film What the Bleep Do We Know!?) to my student success classes when we talk about how thoughts create your reality.
I hope this gives you some resources and ideas for creating some new positive food habits in your life. Even the littlest changes can bring some big results. What changes are you willing to make today?
