Food: The Heart of the Matter

Food and I have an unhealthy relationship.  The desire for certain culinary delights often wins the battle over my acknowledgement that said delights come with unwanted side effects.  Sugar is like an abusive boyfriend I just can't seem to say goodbye to.  A romantic rendezvous with a bowl of butter pecan ice cream is likely to win out over the fear of extra pounds, lethargy and a racing heart.  

This is slowly changing though, as I have been purposeful in bringing food to my consciousness.  I have started reading "Healing with Whole Foods" by Paul Pitchford and have trouble putting it down.  It is helping me to define and organize the messages I have been hearing about nutrition and health the past few years.  I'm using this book as a tool to help me deal with some of my most pressing health concerns, e.g. weight, anxiety, hormonal imbalance, psoriasis, depression and fatigue.

After reading the first chapter, my first goal is to add foods to my diet that are rich in magnesium.  This is an important mineral for the proper absorption of calcium, which is vital for the prevention and treatment of many ailments.  Vitamins and minerals are best absorbed through food, as opposed to supplements, so my goal is to slowly add more nutrient dense foods to my shopping cart each week.  This week, I am going to focus on eating sprouted whole wheat bread and brown rice in place of regular whole wheat bread and white rice.

One step at a time.

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step."  Lao Tzu