You often hear the expression: Variety is the Spice of Life. We suggest that Variety is the Spice of Health as well.
Are you in a rut?
Lots of families have a limited number of meals that they rotate in their menu. As a result they eat the same foods over and over again, with very little variety. We tend to serve what the kiddos will eat, what the husband likes or what we know how to cook. We lead busy lives and we tend to do the things that make our lives easier not harder.
By reaching for the same foods over and over, especially if those foods are processed foods, we may be getting more than we realize. Unfortunately we are getting more of the things that do not support our health. Processed foods frequently have:
- hidden sugar
- low quality saturated fats
- trans fats
- high fructose corn syrup
- corn oil
- chemicals like MSG
You do not want any of these ingredients.
Let’s just talk about fats for a minutes. Humans are designed to consume diets that consist of marine life, small and large wild game and plants. This type of diet provides abundant amounts of Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids at a ratio of about 1:1. However the typical Western diet today has a highly disproportionate ratio of 16:1 to 20:1 and has consequences. This ratio is very out of balance for the integrity and health of our cells. By eating processed foods we consume large amounts of corn oil, and safflower oil. Feedlot animals consume large amounts of corn, and you know what they say, you are what you eat. Omega 6 fatty acids are in safflower oil, corn oil and the animals that are fattened on corn.
How do we get our ratio back in balance?
First of all eat less of omega 6 rich vegetable oils and consume more omega 3 rich foods like flax, walnuts and fish oils.
You do not have to know it all
If you do not understand all of the ins and outs of nutrition, remember these few things.
- Eat less processed food.
- Eat more home cooked meals.
- Increase your daily servings of fresh, whole fruits and vegetables and eats lots of variety.
Eating a variety of foods gives your body what it needs to take care of you.