Instead of...

When it comes to good health, "choices made" are extremely important. One of the things that make each of us human is the ability to make choices. Many times daily we are making choices. In health these choices can determine if we are healthy or unhealthy. For example everyone "knows" smoking cigarettes is deleterious to good health, yet every day people make the choice to smoke cigarettes. Everyone "knows" that eating vegetables is healthy, but many people choose not to do so. So, today let's look at choices and how a little shift in what you choose can result in better health.

(Instead of) (Choose)

(Margarine) (Butter)

(Canola Oil) (Olive oil)

(Beef) (Wild Salmon)

(Coca cola) (Fresh fruit juice)

(White rice) (Brown rice)

(Peanuts) (Walnuts/pecans)

(Tap water) (Reverse Osmosis water)

(Prune juice) (Prunes)

(Bourbon) (Red wine)

(Green olives) (Ripe olives)

(Velveeta cheese) (Fresh cheese)

(Mouthwash) (Salt water rinse)

(White sugar) (Dark sugar or Stevia)

(Commercial eye drops) (Distilled water eye drops)

(Fast Food) (Fresh green salad)

(Commercial salad dressing) (Balsamic vinegar/olive oil or, lime juice over salad)

(Cake or pie) (Bowl of blueberries, or raspberries)

(Fried fish) (Baked or broiled fish)

(White rice) (Cous cous, quinoa, barley)

(White bread) (Whole wheat/rye/multi-grain)

(Boxed cereals) (Oatmeal, granola with fresh fruit)

(Canned vegetables) (Fresh or frozen vegetables)

(Baking Potato) (Sweet potato or yam)

(Table salt) (Sun dried Sea Salt (Celtic)

(Iceberg lettuce) (Arugula, mixed baby greens)


So basically, I am advocating a slight shift in food perceptions. There is not much distance between healthy and unhealthy foods. Stay away from processed foods and eat whole foods (foods that you actually prepare). There is a type of Zen in actually purchasing and preparing your own meals instead of opening a box of processed food that your open and pop in the microwave.

I read somewhere, someone stated, "read the food labels...if it has ingredients listed that you cannot pronounce...don't buy it or consume it". Easy enough, I suppose.

I have always told my patients to stay away from white foods (rice, sugar, potatoes, pasta, white bread) as these are simple carbohydrates, and will cause insulin spikes and will quickly be converted into fat and stored. Instead choose "colored" foods (reds, blues, green, yellow and orange). Make your plate "look like a rainbow" and the food choices will be much healthier. So the goal of today is to look at food choices a little differently. Choose healthy instead of
non-healthy.