An unhealthy diet contributes to approximately 678,000 deaths each year in the U.S., due to nutrition- and obesity-related diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes.
Here are basic steps to optimize your eating so that it fuels your body in the best way possible, helps you ward of disease, improves your immune function, leads to better performance and more energy:
- Eat real food, not processed “frankenfood”
- Opt for organic, at least for vegetables (especially the”dirty dozen”), dairy, eggs, and meat
- Avoid added sugars, in particular, High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Limit meat consumption (also good for the planet), if you eat meat go for organic, grass-fed and finished is best
- Opt for whole grains (whole wheat, brown rice, wild rice, caput, quinoa, barley)
- Omit trans fats and hydrogenated oils, go for healthy fats (avocados, nuts, extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil)
- Fill your plate with plant-based food mainly (lots of vegetables, moderate amounts of fruit, small amounts of nuts and seeds)
- Don’t be afraid of spices (many of them have therapeutic properties like turmeric, garlic, cloves, and ginger)