Monday Edibles: YOU ARE what you EAT!!

You are what you eat...

This morning I read this post on this girl's blog  about the dirty dozen and clean 15  for fruits and vegetables, and it brought up a subject near and dear to my hippy heart.

You are what you eat.

I don't normally like to be preachy....

But it is something I am passionate about.

 After months and much go around with the doctor's and specialists to deal with my own health symptoms including adult acne, itchy scalp, dry eyes (i know right..... attractive)  I really didn't want to be taking unatural medications and antibiotics  if I could help it (and I don't know if i am are going to need it later.). So I opted to read up and I decided to treat it by way of an elimination diet, nutritional supplements, organic nutrition, and therapy( accupuncture, colonic hydroptherapy...etc. Thank goodness for insurance!).

Even though I've still had some struggles, I can now see a light at the end of my dark tunnel

But I will admit it is very time consuming reading labels and very expensive. Maybe it would be easier to just take a pill everyday; but in my heart, I know im on the right track treating my health holistically.

 I've cut out from my diet all food dyes, wheat (aka gluten), red meats, milk, artificial flavors, preservatives, and pesticides and off course all forms of alcohol. I immediately could tell a difference in my digestion.

It's really kind of convinced me even more that food itself is like medicine.

I have finally made the leap to all grass-fed/ organic chicken and fish. Holy cow literally. It's costing more money. Every time I walk into the doors of  Whole Foods I cringe not because of the DELICIOUS FOOD OPTIONS but more the HIGH COSTS!!!!!!!

so i started finding local farmers markets to shop at, where there prices wont bankrupt you. Isn't it crazy that you have to have a lot of money to consistently eat a healthy diet......it definitely is a conspiracy theory in our country........BLAH!!

But food is like medicine..

  

 I also only eat whole- food snack food, where all of the ingredients are recognizable food. Like nuts, seeds and dried fruits and veggie chips. When I read the book Twinkie deconstructed, not only did it turn my stomach, but it convinced me that things like cellulose and yellow 5 food coloring aren't really food. Chemicals don't belong in our food let alone in our bodies. My health reaction to certain foods has proved that to me.

 I guess the biggest thing about organics is to find what works for you and what you can afford. Baby steps. There are people just struggling to feed their families conventional food or buy a gallon of milk. I am lucky that I am able do what I can....And there is the whole dilemma over organic versus locally grown. Do you buy regular apples from your neighbor who has sprayed the heck out of them, or apples from New Zealand that are organic?  My rule is to try to make sure at least all of my stuff is grown in the US,  Yeah right!!!! ....not if im going to get it cheap!

 I no longer eat at McDonald's, Chick FilA, Taco Bell, Subway or any fast food chain for that matter ( though I do love my Portillo's now and then.). I try to steam and use my new VITAMIX Machine  a lot. 

No more pre-made meals/packaged meals. Sometimes I get so sick of cooking at times but in know my health will thank me in the long run.

I hope I haven't gotten too preachy,  it's just that this is  a passion for me. And I've seen first-hand the effect.

Thanks for hanging in there. I'll get off of my soap box now. :)

RICHARD T.