Food can be medicine for your brain and your body. There are so many ways we can enhance our health and well being by enhancing our diet. As long as those foods align with our digestive system, meaning do we have the enzymes to break down the food and absorb the nutrients. If you don’t know or haven’t been tested, try getting a gutChek food sensitivity test. Knowledge is power and knowing what foods nurture your body and what foods cause digestive system irritation is key. Healthy food is only healthy, if you can actually absorb the nutrients and get the goodness out of it!
We all know fresh fruits and vegetables can provide more nutrients, but when you start focusing on colour you can really boost the goodness content. Fruits and vegetables get their colour from phytochemical and natural biochemicals. So, the more colour the better, and the better off you’ll be from the variety of the vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants from these beautiful fruits and vegetables. Vibrant colours not only look pretty, but can have some big benefits, beta-carotene can give your skin a youthful glow, as well as providing amazing health benefits! Add in some healthy fats like olive oil, walnuts, hemp seeds and maybe some quality protein like salmon, grass fed beef, lentils or chickpeas.
Let’s also be mindful of eating whole foods, like whole grains, nuts and seeds, legumes, and protein alongside your favourite fruits and vegetables. Gut friendly real foods with plenty of fiber can add a “whole” new dimension to your health, your mood and add anti-inflammatory benefits!
How green are you? Greens are packed with phytonutrients, high in fiber, yet low in calories and are rich with vitamins and minerals. Food like broccoli, cauliflower, radishes, cabbage, cucumbers and asparagus are full of phytonutrients promoting gut health and supporting the immune system.
Brain function and dark leafy greens have been studied for years and the results speak for themselves!
Want stronger bones? Well dark leafy greens, contain calcium and kale and broccoli contain vitamin K, all great at supporting bone health.
Organic vegetables are actually not only healthier from a toxin load perspective, but because they are grown without being protected by pesticides and herbicides, they have to be stronger! Which means studies have shown that the nutrient content is significantly higher in levels of iron, magnesium, phosphorus and vitamin C. Vitamin B folate found in leafy green vegetables like spinach, broccoli and lettuce is linked to the production of neurotransmitters that are responsible for sending messages from the brain to the rest of the body supporting cognitive function.
More benefits of dark leafy greens…detoxification! Chlorophyll is responsible for making veggies green and has amazing cleansing properties. Chlorophyll is known for helping to cleanse your liver and foods like parsley and alfalfa are natural detoxifiers and actually bind to heavy metals, helping to flush them out of your body.
We love the benefits of raw vegetables, but steaming or lightly cooking veg can make them easier to digest, absorb and assimilate all of those awesome nutrients. So let’s review, leafy greens can support optimal brain function, aid with bone health, help to eliminate toxins, contribute to looking and feeling great and numerous other beneficial health aspects!
So remember…the greener the better, as long as they align with your digestive system!