Nutrition Archives
A healthy diet is made up of ten key components. Following these guidelines will assure you of keeping your digestion, immune system and entire body functioning at its optimum capacity.
Natural Foods
The closer the foods are to the sun, garden, fields, and orchards, the more energy, vitality, and nutrients you will obtain per calorie of food consumed. Processed and packaged foods contain additives and chemicals that pose toxicity concerns for both people and the planet. Vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, whole grains and legumes should constitute the majority of your diet, at least 80%. Eating more than 20% of your diet in the form of animal foods can be detrimental to your health in the long run as these foods are high in saturated fats and low in fibre.
Seasonal Foods
Eating foods that are available and grown locally-keeps us attuned to Earth, its elements, and the cycles of Nature. Eating seasonally is the most economical dietary pattern and gives you the cleanest foods, as fewer chemicals are needed to store or ship them. Eating seasonally is important for providing the right type of fuel to protect you from the climate. Fore example, in summer's hottest months, the juiciest of fruits are available to help cool the body. In contrast, in cold and wet winter, grains, nuts, seeds, hard squashes, tubers and root vegetables-foods that are higher in protein and fats and help keep you warm and protected.
Fresh Foods
Eating fresh foods means eating as close to the garden, field or orchard as possible: such as eating an apple or pear off a tree, gathering a salad from the garden, or cooking fresh picked sweet corn. For packaged foods, it means eating as soon as possible after packaging. The fresher the food, the more nutrients it contains. Check out you local farmers markets to obtain fresh foods. The Ottawa Organic Farmers Market http://www.oofmarket.ca is open all year long.
Nutritious Foods
Eating a nutritious diet means acquiring all the vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, and phytonutrients that the body needs to function optimally and to protect health. It also means eating specific foods that contain good levels of many nutrients such as vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. Animal foods, although high in certain important nutrients are often high in fats and low in fiber. Several studies show that organically grown foods have higher nutrient levels than the same produce grown commercially. Processed foods are mostly nutrient void.
Clean Foods
Eating a clean diet refers to consuming chemical-free (and not genetically engineered) foods and washing and storing food properly to avoid spoilage and contamination. Finding organically grown produce as well as organic animal products is even more important as pollution worsens around the world. The Ottawa Organic Farmers Market http://www.oofmarket.ca is a great source for organic foods and is open all year long.
Tasty and Appealing Foods
Eating a diet that is tasty and appealing satisfies the senses. The more you make each meal a feast for your eyes and mouth, the more it nourishes the deeper levels of your being. Your diet must be gratifying. A diet of foods you do not enjoy is not fulfilling and you will tend to binge and overeat more often.
Variety and Rotation
Eating a variety of foods provides a variety of nutrients, thus preventing any marked deficiencies. Rotating your diet means eating different foods from day to day and not repeating the same foods every day. This reduces the potential to become allergic or sensitive to particular foods. The most common allergenic foods are cow's milk, wheat, eggs, soybeans, corn, beef, coffee, chocolate, tomatoes, yeast, shellfish and mushrooms.
Food Combining
Food combining allows you to optimally digest and utilize the foods and their nutrients. Many people overstress their digestive tracts by eating a large number of foods at each meal. Meals should be balanced according individual needs, not according to some present standards. A nutritional consultation with a Registered Holistic Nutritionist will help you discover what foods are best for you depending on your lifestyle, goals and metabolism.
Moderation
Eating moderately, not overeating or under-eating is probably the basic first habit of good nutrition. Consistent over-eating is the worst thing you can do to your body. It overtaxes your digestion and takes energy away from you. Over-consumption or abuse of sugars, fats, protein, salt, and chemicals can lead to disastrous results.
Balance
For long-term health, eating a balanced diet is probably the most important aspect of nutrition. There are many components to a balanced diet;
o Macronutrients. Proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.
o Micronutrients. Vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, and phytonutrients.
o Food groups. Vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, calcium products, eggs, fish, poultry, and meats.
o Flavours and colours. Sour, bitter, sweet, spicy, and salty: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.
o Acid-Alkaline. Acid-forming and alkalizing foods.
Joanne
Registered Nutritionist
pHChefs
Natural Foods
The closer the foods are to the sun, garden, fields, and orchards, the more energy, vitality, and nutrients you will obtain per calorie of food consumed. Processed and packaged foods contain additives and chemicals that pose toxicity concerns for both people and the planet. Vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, whole grains and legumes should constitute the majority of your diet, at least 80%. Eating more than 20% of your diet in the form of animal foods can be detrimental to your health in the long run as these foods are high in saturated fats and low in fibre.
Seasonal Foods
Eating foods that are available and grown locally-keeps us attuned to Earth, its elements, and the cycles of Nature. Eating seasonally is the most economical dietary pattern and gives you the cleanest foods, as fewer chemicals are needed to store or ship them. Eating seasonally is important for providing the right type of fuel to protect you from the climate. Fore example, in summer's hottest months, the juiciest of fruits are available to help cool the body. In contrast, in cold and wet winter, grains, nuts, seeds, hard squashes, tubers and root vegetables-foods that are higher in protein and fats and help keep you warm and protected.
Fresh Foods
Eating fresh foods means eating as close to the garden, field or orchard as possible: such as eating an apple or pear off a tree, gathering a salad from the garden, or cooking fresh picked sweet corn. For packaged foods, it means eating as soon as possible after packaging. The fresher the food, the more nutrients it contains. Check out you local farmers markets to obtain fresh foods. The Ottawa Organic Farmers Market http://www.oofmarket.ca is open all year long.
Nutritious Foods
Eating a nutritious diet means acquiring all the vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, and phytonutrients that the body needs to function optimally and to protect health. It also means eating specific foods that contain good levels of many nutrients such as vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. Animal foods, although high in certain important nutrients are often high in fats and low in fiber. Several studies show that organically grown foods have higher nutrient levels than the same produce grown commercially. Processed foods are mostly nutrient void.
Clean Foods
Eating a clean diet refers to consuming chemical-free (and not genetically engineered) foods and washing and storing food properly to avoid spoilage and contamination. Finding organically grown produce as well as organic animal products is even more important as pollution worsens around the world. The Ottawa Organic Farmers Market http://www.oofmarket.ca is a great source for organic foods and is open all year long.
Tasty and Appealing Foods
Eating a diet that is tasty and appealing satisfies the senses. The more you make each meal a feast for your eyes and mouth, the more it nourishes the deeper levels of your being. Your diet must be gratifying. A diet of foods you do not enjoy is not fulfilling and you will tend to binge and overeat more often.
Variety and Rotation
Eating a variety of foods provides a variety of nutrients, thus preventing any marked deficiencies. Rotating your diet means eating different foods from day to day and not repeating the same foods every day. This reduces the potential to become allergic or sensitive to particular foods. The most common allergenic foods are cow's milk, wheat, eggs, soybeans, corn, beef, coffee, chocolate, tomatoes, yeast, shellfish and mushrooms.
Food Combining
Food combining allows you to optimally digest and utilize the foods and their nutrients. Many people overstress their digestive tracts by eating a large number of foods at each meal. Meals should be balanced according individual needs, not according to some present standards. A nutritional consultation with a Registered Holistic Nutritionist will help you discover what foods are best for you depending on your lifestyle, goals and metabolism.
Moderation
Eating moderately, not overeating or under-eating is probably the basic first habit of good nutrition. Consistent over-eating is the worst thing you can do to your body. It overtaxes your digestion and takes energy away from you. Over-consumption or abuse of sugars, fats, protein, salt, and chemicals can lead to disastrous results.
Balance
For long-term health, eating a balanced diet is probably the most important aspect of nutrition. There are many components to a balanced diet;
o Macronutrients. Proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.
o Micronutrients. Vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, and phytonutrients.
o Food groups. Vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, calcium products, eggs, fish, poultry, and meats.
o Flavours and colours. Sour, bitter, sweet, spicy, and salty: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.
o Acid-Alkaline. Acid-forming and alkalizing foods.
Joanne
Registered Nutritionist
pHChefs
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Posted on 18 Nov 2008 by IbV