This book and her other book Real Food basically encompass my food philosophy. I've read Bittman, Pollan, several Paleo authors and for me it all comes down to Real Food. I also believe what Michael Pollan said, "Eat real food, not too much, mostly plants".
So, now you know where I'm coming from. I subscribe to Whole Living, Eating Well & Real Food and Health. I love reading these magazines and maybe finding a new food to incorporate into my and my family's meals. I do yoga, because I enjoy it. I love how I can feel my body getting stronger and can see myself sinking deeper into moves that I was too stiff to even get into a few weeks ago. I love the overall healthy and light feeling I get from drinking green juice and tons of green tea...almost a buzz.
In my daydreams, I wish I could be a real yogi, someone who only puts wholesome, nutritious foodstuffs into my body, wears hemp, and uses vinegar for shampoo (and as a cleaning product), but I'm just not there yet (and probably will never be). I tried chewing Chia seeds (as recommended by a blog) and almost threw up as the seeds tasted like fish (due to their high omega 3 properties). I have read over and over how popping a full clove of garlic (or 3) in your mouth daily will keep all different cancers at bay. Not gonna happen. Ever. I'll cook with it (yes, I know it diminishes it's healthy properties), and I'll put it raw in dressings and hummus...but nope.not.ever gonna down a couple as a crudite. I also, with lots of determination, can manage to go a month without doing any yoga or cardio at all. :)
I should also mention that in the same month that I bought my new juicer I bought a deep fryer. The explanation is an abfat (another blog for another time)...but I do love me some chicken wings and fried calamari. Have you ever tried deep frying a whole fish? I'm telling you, it's genius. It flash fries and you peel the skin off and have perfectly cooked, moist fish (not greasy at all). Like I said, an abfat. So, while I say that I love green juice and doing yoga, I also love some things that are not super good for me and anyone that knows me, knows that I drink way too much coffee and wine. :) So, I am not some self-righteous yogi-- I'm really bad at recycling (Costa Mesa does not have a pick up for it--so you have to bring it all yourself, separated---and since most days I can barely get the kitchen cleaned up and all the laundry done, there's not a chance I'm going to hang out in the garage separating my recyclables) and I forget my cloth grocery bags about every other time.
What I'm really hoping is that by adding some of these superfoods to my diet it will offset the bad choices I make/made (parliaments anyone?). ha ha.
So, back to the point of this post. The goal of eating real food (which I'm sure most of you know the definition of) is to keep your body at a healthy pH. Going too far to either side is bad (acidic or basic), but most people need to be primarily concerned with being too acidic. Processed food and meats are acid-forming, as is alcohol and coffee. Fruits and vegetables are alkaline (mostly). This is a very basic explanation. I read a book on it and it is still kind of confusing to me...I recommend googling a table of different foods and then you can glance at what you eat and know whether it's acid or alkaline- forming. Here's the tricky thing...it's not whether the food itself is acidic or not, it's whether it is acid-forming or alkaline forming. For example, you might think that lemons would be acid-forming....no, no, they are alkaline forming, even though they are an acidic food. And of your vinegars, only apple cider vinegar is alkaline forming, the others are acid-forming. Now, an acid forming food isn't necessarily bad (unless it's a potato chip), you just want to make sure that you are balancing your diet with other alkaline-forming foods. Still with me?
http://ezinearticles.com/?Your-Ideal-pH-Balance-For-Your-Body-and-How-To-Adjust-It&id=457540
http://www.livestrong.com/article/263774-how-to-restore-the-ph-balance-in-your-body/
Here is a list of the "superfoods" that I try to incorporate into my diet to keep my body alkaline and healthy. Also, if you are pregnant, nursing, planning to get pregnant, or post-partum, it's important to bolster your body up with all the health it can hold. Did you know that if your diet doesn't contain enough of certain vitamins/minerals/amino acids that your baby (whether inside you or through nursing) will rob your own body of these? He/she literally depletes your sources...that's why I LOVE this book, Nina Planck tells you what/how to eat to get the most nutrition. It's an old wive's tale/superstition that having too many babies would lead to osteoporosis..and it's true...unless you keep your own calcium intake up. (Side note: Please do your research and figure out how to get calcium into your body. And no, drinking a bunch of milk won't do much. I'll do another blog on getting enough calcium that can actually be absorbed by your body.)
This book is also amazing because it details what to eat during the fertility period, during each trimester to compliment the growth of the baby, and afterward while nursing (if you choose to).
Sorry...I keep getting side-tracked...here's the list:
I will try to blog about why I take each one/specific health benefits...but for now I can just say that this is a culmination of all of my reading/researching. I will also mention that there are probably many more things I should/could be taking. However many times I read to top my yogurt with ground flaxseed, I just never remember to do it. You have to know what will work for you, what you will be willing to do. Maybe try it once or twice, if it doesn't stick, it doesn't stick.
Cod Liver Oil- for the vitamins A and D
Fish Oil - cold pressed
1 Tbsp of Chia seeds & 1 Tbsp of ground Flaxseed- I mix it w/ green juice and down it (it's thick and hard to swallow, so this one may not be for you)
Folic acid-
Vitamin B - cannot be stored in the body, so it must be replenished daily...or eat vitamin B-rich foods
Multi- I honestly take a multi about once a week...I've read so many conflicting reports on whether they make a difference or not....I'll have to do more research
A note on the Chia and ground flaxseed- each of these tablespoons has over 150% of your daily need of Omega 3's and 4 grams of fiber. That's 8 grams of fiber in one big shot of health...that's a 1/3 of your fiber needs (of which most people don't even get 1/2). There's also about 5 grams of protein. That's why I make the effort to do it. Also, once you take it and follow it with either more green juice or water, you will be full! The fiber fills you up, the protein satiates and the Chia gives you energy. SO much better for you than that energy chemical drink. ;)
Kombucha tea- again, not for everyone...I like the taste..
Bone Broth- I cannot say enough about this...and I have to do a whole blog on it
K, the babes are waking up....I'll try and do my cold/flu blogpost soon....
Bottoms up...
