Confused About What To Eat?

Photo by Natalie Maynor
The summer is over, the fall is here. The change of seasons is a good time to think about what can be done differently, especially when it comes to your food choices. Food is our medicine and what you put inside your body will greatly impact your sense of balance and your energy levels. Aundrea Tucker, a certified Holistic Coach from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, is back to help you get started on the right track. Learn more about what Aundrea does by going to her website.

You are not alone! Today, more than ever before, you really need to understand more about food and nutrition. The first rule of good nutrition is to pay attention to your own body and how you feel when you eat certain foods. Just as each of us have a different face and body type, each of us also have unique biochemical needs which are represented by the foods and supplements which make us feel best. This concept is called “bio-individuality”.

For the most part, Americans eat poorly. By government statistics we eat 18% of our calories each day as sugar, 18% as saturated fats, and 17% in processed foods, and adults consume 3-10% of our calories each day in alcoholic beverages. When you add these up, we eat over half of our foods each day as high calorie, low nutrient density foods. So is it any wonder that over time we feel fatigued and become sick?

All the major changes in our food supply have occurred since World War II. We transport foods differently. We grow foods from hybrid seeds. We use more pesticides and fungicides. We have microwave ovens and irradiated foods. We have frozen foods and more and more processed foods. Our food is different, but our bodies are the same, and collectively, they are giving us BIG CLUES that we’re on the wrong track. So, what can we do to eat better?

• First, clear out all the foods you should not eat from your home. Clean out your cabinets, refrigerator and freezer. Toss out any foods that contain hydrogenated vegetable oil, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, or vegetable shortening. These re-structured “trans” fats are #1 on the NO! list. Industry uses them because they are cheap, have a long shelf life and give a buttery texture to foods. While this enables manufacturers to produce products, which meet their needs, they don’t meet yours. They’ve also been associated with atherosclerosis, some types of cancer and all inflammatory illnesses, like arthritis, eczema, irritable bowel syndrome and more. These fats play at least as large a role in heart disease as do saturated fats. You’ll find them in most crackers, cookies, and packaged foods.


• Next, get rid of the high sugar foods, highly processed foods including white flour products, and food that contain a lot of food additives including artificial colors and flavors, and preservatives. The average American consumes 135 pounds of sugar each and 14 pounds of food additives each year. Sugar tastes good, but is considered an empty calorie because it depletes us of nutrients like chromium and B complex vitamins, which are necessary for its metabolism but missing from sugar itself. It also displaces more nutritious food. White flour has lost about 70% of the nutrients of whole wheat flour. And while food additives have been tested in isolation, food scientists do not know what effects they have on us long term in combination. Think of Mentos in Pepsi.


• Take control of your health. Significantly decrease the junk, and increase your intake of whole foods. You’ll be amazed at the difference it makes in your energy level and your immune system.

What insight, tips, or tricks have helped you make better food choices?

For more information contact Aundrea Tucker with Pure Potential Wellness, LLC