“The food you eat is either the safest and most effective medicine or the slowest poison.” ~ Ann Wigmore
Why don’t we receive optimal nutrition education in schools as teenagers?
I remember briefly learning about the food pyramid, which by the way, didn’t even include water.
Do you want to know what I clearly remember? Growing up during the heyday of diet culture, when the only models and actresses who were unrealistically thin were considered beautiful or good enough.
My father died of a heart attack in his forties, and my single mother was always on the latest diet pills and didn’t cook much. I was under the impression that the only way to be taken seriously in this world was to eat as little as possible and be as skinny as possible.
In seventh grade, I became obsessed with aerobics and eating almost 1,000 calories, but no one thought it was an underlying disease. This continued throughout high school and became so severe that I couldn’t walk because I had so bad stress fractures and shin splints in my legs.
Looking back, I’m almost certain that a lack of proper nutrition played a role in my extreme anxiety and depression. But of course, the root cause was never solved. I just took another medication.
I remember my freshman year sitting in one of the largest lecture halls at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and thinking about how much I hated my body. Concentration is not one of my strong points.
However, I still eat less than 1,000 calories a day – one serving of vegetables a day and some granola every now and then. Of course, most of my calories were consumed through vodka sodas. poison.
I tell you all this to paint a picture of how improper nutrition can spiral out of control over many years and lead to physical and mental illness. It would be great if our education system focused on teaching our children the importance of nutrition for body and mind.
It wasn’t until 2021 that I started truly prioritizing nutrition and health that my life began to flourish.
So how can we be better to our partners, our future children, nieces and nephews, and grandchildren? It starts with paying attention to the food and drink we put into our bodies. It starts with nourishing one of our bodies in this life.
It starts with educating ourselves so that we can create a sustainable nutritional transformation for ourselves and our families. It starts with supporting local farmers and cooking seasonally when you get the chance. Start by getting our kids into the kitchen and showing them the importance of whole foods because their schools won’t do that.
I’m not here to tell you what diet you should follow or what foods you should eat. But I’m here to tell you the facts about how focusing on whole foods can nourish your body and mind from the inside out, leading to ideal physical and mental results.
What exactly are whole foods? Whole foods consist of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes.
Here are eight benefits of changing to a whole-food diet.
1. Natural foods are rich in fiber and phytonutrients.
Fiber can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, help you manage diabetes, and keep you fuller longer. Fiber has also been shown to lower cholesterol levels. Phytonutrients contain vitamins and minerals that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help the body fight free radicals.
2. Natural foods are rich in energy.
Energy-dense foods can satisfy our body’s energy needs without causing discomfort. This supports athletes looking to gain fat-free mass. Additionally, energy-dense foods help provide more energy.
3. Whole foods provide nutritional synergy to the body.
Nutrients from whole foods are more easily absorbed by the body because many foods contain complementary nutrients. For example, vitamin C absorbs iron from plant foods like spinach. Next time you have spinach, try adding some lemon for optimal absorption!
4. Natural food regulates blood sugar levels.
Because whole foods contain no added sugar and contain fiber, the body digests food more slowly, allowing blood sugar levels to rise gradually after a meal. Goodbye sugar crash!
5. Natural foods are not made in a laboratory.
As if you needed another reason to consume more whole foods, it’s obvious that processed foods are not good for us! Lab-produced foods are made with many artificial ingredients and additives, including salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats, which can lead to inflammation and chronic disease in the body.
6. Natural foods can extend your life.
When your diet consists primarily of whole foods, your chances of developing chronic disease are reduced. Did you know that 6 in 10 adults live with one chronic disease, and 4 in 10 adults live with two or more chronic conditions?
7. Natural foods fit any budget.
Frozen and canned whole foods are a great low-cost option that have been proven to be just as nutritious as fresh fruits and vegetables because their nutrients are retained when frozen.
8. Natural foods can improve your mental health.
Nutritional deficiencies have been linked to symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and dementia.
Have you ever heard someone say “I don’t like vegetables” or “Vegetables taste bad?” This is because they are compared to processed foods, which cause dopamine levels in the brain similar to addictive substances like alcohol.
But when we start eating a diet rich in whole foods, our dopamine levels become more stable and regulated, so we feel better without the need for a processed food “fix.”
Let’s start savoring every bite of whole food on our plate, knowing that the nutrients within it are at work in our bodies, protecting us and serving us medicinally. I urge you to see if there are any Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) stocks near you to support local farmers and eat more nutritious food. Or find a farmers market near you!
Even if your diet still includes processed foods, swapping some processed foods for whole foods may change your physical and mental life.
Let’s stop poisoning ourselves and start healing ourselves.
About Kelly Lubis
Kylee is a nutrition/dietary graduate student and owner of Nourish, Vitalize, Thrive, a 1:1 wellness coaching program. She is a Colorado native who enjoys the outdoors. Her mission? Empower individuals through customized coaching services and ongoing education to cultivate lasting, sustainable transformations in nutrition and health. Her life goal is to guide individuals and families into healthier habits that promote vibrant and long lives. Get her free guide to macronutrients here: nutritionvitalizethrive.com/freebie.
