THINK LOCAL AND ORGANIC!
With a little creativity and community support, budget should not be a determining factor in whether you are able to choose a healthy diet and lifestyle. If it becomes a limiting factor for you, please consider reaching out to your elected representatives in government, at all levels, and demanding better! Ask them a simple question: why are our elected representatives supporting a system that subsidizes, with our tax dollars, the biggest agricultural companies and outdated agricultural practices that destroy critical topsoil, while allowing small, organic farms to languish? Please also consider reaching out to your friends and neighbors and growing your own food and pooling resources to make it possible.
The importance of organic
Good planets are hard to find. Organic is the original good for people, good for planet choice. It’s always been sustainable, soil regenerating, non-GMO, toxic synthetic pesticide-free, healthy, climate-smart and tasty. Organic is everything you're looking for in healthy, responsibly sourced food - and it’s backed by rigorous third-party inspections and federal certification. How can choosing organic help the planet you ask? Well, it just organically...
* Reduces greenhouse gas emissions
* Sequesters more carbon
* Protects natural resources
* Regenerates soil health
* Protects biodiversity and pollinators
* Increases resiliency of agricultural systems
...and so much more. Read more about the science.
Why is it so important to pursue adequate nutrition?
I make good nutrition the starting place for anyone who listens to my advice. It forms the foundation of who we are and what we are capable of changing in our lives (also your thoughts are key). Sadly, because of centuries of a faulty agricultural approach, America's soils are seriously devitalized, so it won't be enough to just "eat a rounded diet" or "eat your veggies." That's why I promote my smoothie recipe because it includes concentrated powders. That's the only way your body will get what it needs to function. If you learn this early in life, you can leverage it to achieve impressive results over time. Most people underestimate the brilliant subtleties of how your body, when it has the raw materials it needs, creates an extraordinary variety of complex chemicals in exactly the right amounts at exactly the right time to function optimally. Nothing the guys in lab coats create can match this natural brilliance. This is worth reflecting on for a moment: we are the result of a billion years of evolution (think the science of evolution) and we are very likely to be healthy and function well when we fully understand what we are designed to have and do. That's why organic and natural and movement are all keywords in my decision-making.
It's a BIG deal when your body doesn't get what it needs as raw materials. Suffice to say, your body can adapt for a while, but at great cost and eventually starts to fail in ways that we see as chronic illness--one of them is an imbalance of pH in your body which leads to inflammation issues. This inflmmation, in turn, is suspected as a culprit for many/most chronic conditions. Functioning properly, your body (really best to say mind/body) can help you adapt to stressors and the normal tragedies of life and more often stay centered. This is the centerpiece of what is called "functional medicine" in the world of natural health.
Also of great importance: find out more about energy healing.
Cleansing/Fasting/Juices
14 Foods That Cleanse the Liver (Global Healing)
1. Garlic
Just a small amount of this pungent white bulb has the ability to activate liver enzymes that help your body flush out toxins. Garlic also holds high amounts of allicin and selenium, two natural compounds that aid in liver cleansing.
2. Grapefruit
High in both vitamin C and antioxidants, citrus fruits like grapefruit, oranges, limes, and lemons support the natural cleansing abilities of the liver. Have a small glass of freshly-squeezed grapefruit juice to boost production of the liver detoxification enzymes that help flush out carcinogens and other toxins.
3. Beets and Carrots
Both are extremely high in plant-flavonoids and beta-carotene; eating beets and carrots can stimulate and support overall liver function.
4. Green Tea
This liver-loving beverage is full of plant-based antioxidants known as catechins — compounds known to assist liver function. Green tea is a delicious, healthy addition to any diet. While some people like green tea extract, as well, stick to the beverage to enjoy the benefits of green tea.
5. Leafy Green Vegetables
One of our most powerful allies in cleansing the liver, leafy greens can be eaten raw, cooked, or juiced. Extremely high in chlorophyll, greens soak up environmental toxins from the blood stream. With their distinct ability to neutralize heavy metals, chemicals, and pesticides, these cleansing foods offer a powerful protective mechanism for the liver.
Incorporate leafy greens such as bitter gourd, arugula, dandelion greens, spinach, mustard greens, and chicory into your diet. This will increase creation and flow of bile — the substance that removes waste from the organs and blood.
6. Avocados
This nutrient-dense superfood helps the body produce glutathione, a compound that is necessary for the liver to cleanse harmful toxins.
7. Apples
High in pectin, apples hold the chemical constituents necessary for the body to cleanse and release toxins from the digestive tract. This, in turn, makes it easier for the liver to handle the toxic load during the cleansing process.
8. Olive Oil
Cold-pressed organic oils such as olive, hemp, and flaxseed are great for the liver when used in moderation. They help the body by providing a lipid base that can absorb harmful toxins in the body. In this way, they take some of the burden off the liver.
9. Alternative Grains
If your diet includes wheat, flour, or other standard grains, it's time to make changes. And alternative grains like quinoa, millet, and buckwheat can help. Your liver is your body's filter for toxins, and if you have certain sensitivities, grains that contain gluten only add to them. One study found that persons who experienced sensitivity to gluten also experienced abnormal liver enzyme test results.
10. Cruciferous Vegetables
Broccoli and cauliflower are good sources of glucosinolate, which supports enzyme production in the liver. These natural enzymes flush carcinogens and other toxins from the body, and may significantly lower risks associated with cancer.
11. Lemons and Limes
These citrus fruits are high in vitamin C, which aids the body in synthesizing toxic materials into substances that can be absorbed by water. Drinking freshly-squeezed lemon or lime juice in the morning can stimulate the liver.
12. Walnuts
High in the amino acid arginine, walnuts support the liver in detoxifying ammonia. Walnuts are also high in glutathione and omega-3 fatty acids, which support normal liver cleansing. Make sure you chew the nuts until they are liquefied before swallowing.
13. Cabbage
Much like broccoli and cauliflower, eating cabbage stimulates liver detoxifying enzymes that help flush out toxins. Kimchi, coleslaw, cabbage soup, and sauerkraut are great cabbage-foods to add to your diet.
14. Turmeric
Turmeric is the liver's favorite spice. Try adding some of this detoxifying goodness into your next lentil stew or veggie dish for an instant liver pick-me-up. Turmeric helps boost liver detoxification by assisting enzymes that actively flush out dietary toxins.
RESOURCES
Juicing, Fasting, and Detoxing for Life: Unleash the Healing Power of Fresh Juices and Cleansing Diets (paperback)
by Cherie Calbom MS (Author), John Calbom MA (Author)
Sign up for a FREE copy of: A Guide to Going Plant-Based
from the 2024 Food Revolution Network
THE DIRTY DOZEN AND CLEAN 15 LIST FOR 2024 IS HERE!
Each year the Environmental Working Group (EWG) puts together a guide to pesticides in produce. The list has the highest levels of pesticides and the lowest.
The Dirty Dozen for 2024 list is from the highest levels of pesticides to the lowest: strawberries, spinach, kale and other greens, grapes peaches, pears, nectarines, apples, bell and hot peppers, cherries, blueberries, green beans.
The Clean 15: carrots, sweet potatoes, mangoes, mushrooms, watermelon, cabbage, kiwi, honeydew melon, asparagus, sweet peas (frozen), papaya, onions, pineapple, sweet corn, avocados
Photo Credits:
Bowl of blackberries picked from our yard
by John Jordan-Cascade
Video Clips:
John Jordan-Cascade
Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food. ~ Hippocrates
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