Wonderful Organics
During my escapade with cancer, I discovered that it was vital that I take a good look at the food I eat. I started to eat organic food. I am lucky, I happen to live in an area where it is relatively easy to visit a farmers market, order vegetable boxes, or go to an organic food shop.
When I first started to eat organic food again I was amazed at the flavours! I’d forgotten what real food tasted like! We are spending so much of our life eating fast foods these days; ready meals, tinned this and frozen that, drinking canned drinks that are proven to be full of poisonous chemicals.
So what do we need?
We need to provide our bodies with vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and phytonutrients and limit foods such as refined sugars, refined flours, and hydrogenated fats. Indeed, white generally is bad. Always go for whole food. We need the whole balance of nutrient and fibre. A varied wholefood diet promotes good health and helps to support the immune system. Fresh fruit and vegetables are an absolute must: I know the FSA (Food Standards Agency) suggests five portions a day, but I go along with the Bristol Cancer Help Centre in believing that seven or eight portions should be the aim.
These are their recommendations:
- eat a wide variety of fresh vegetables and fruit, including some salad and raw vegetables with most meals (juicing is a good addition for getting more fruit and vegetables into the diet)
- increase the range of wholegrains eaten: eg brown rice, barley, millet, quinoa and wholewheat bread and pasta
- include a range of beans and pulses such as lentils in meals on a regular basis
- consume fresh raw nuts and seeds
- use only cold pressed plant oils and only olive oil for cooking
- start to include freshly made vegetable and fruit juices wherever possible
- drink plenty of water, preferably filtered or mineral water - aim for two litres a day
The second step is to cut down, and possibly avoid the foods that undermine health, these include the following:
- sugar and refined carbohydrates
- dairy products
- red meat
- processed foods
- smoked/cured foods
- caffeine
- alcohol
- salt
Please note this area will be expanding
Our change of diet has had many impacts, one of which is the growing epidemic of diabetes. Because of the growth of this disease I shall be submitting information on glycemic food levels, loads, as well as a low glycemic index list; foods to provide health for the future. The healthy food pages will also be expanding with a number of health food nutrition facts and articles.
