This post may seem a bit out of place on the blog and I guess that’s because it is. In a nutshell: I got sick, I learned how to eat and I got better. These are my current thoughts on food and nutrition. We’re all different, as always do what’s best for your snowflake of a body.
There’s always talk of low carb or high protein or zero fat or … but they’re missing the point. It’s not one versus the other it’s which of each.
We’ll start with fats. Coconut oil for high heat cooking and olive oil for low heat cooking. We’re starting to accept the myth that saturated fats are bad was just wrong. They’re stable and hold up well to high heat, if your oil is smoking throw it out.
As a questionable runner up I’ll mention Canola oil. It’s low in Omega-6 fats but it’s heavily processed. You get olive oil by squeezing the olives, the process for canola oil is a bit more complicated.
For protein, meat’s important but most of us eat too much of it. Organic makes a lot more sense here as you’re higher up the food chain but it can get expensive.
We’ve been ingrained with the belief that processed foods are bad, but the positive approach is to aim for high nutritional density. Kale gets it’s great reputation because it’s at the top when compared this way.
Eggs got a bad wrap, they truly are a super food. Most of the cholesterol in our blood is made by our body. A far more important indicator is the ratio between the types and densities of cholesterol.
I can always judge how well I’m eating when I’m standing at the checkout lane at the supermarket. The basic idea with shopping is to mostly buy from the perimeter of the store.
What we don’t see when we buy our food is all of the bugs in it. We’ve become a germ phobic society but only 10 percent of the cells in the body are human. I like the quote that antibiotics were the science of the 20th century while probiotics will be the science of the 21st century.
It’s good to eat your vegetables with meals raw, cooked and fermented. Raw sauerkraut and pickles are a great source of natural probiotics.
With fiber it’s important to note the difference between soluble and insoluble fiber, the former slowing you down while the latter speeds you up. Psyllium seed powder is a great natural form of soluble fiber.
Two common food triggers to watch out for are gluten and dairy. The best way to check for a sensitivity is to eliminate it for 30 days and then add it back for a few days in a row.
The trouble with gluten is more accurately an issue with Zonulin (sounds like a bad guy from a Superman comic) which can loosen the gut lining.
Most people can digest dairy when younger but many lose the ability as they get older. It’s akin to losing our hearing as we get older but digestive health and genetics plays a role.
Bone broth soup is one of the single best foods you can eat. Some frozen veg (brocoli, colifower, carrots, etc) boiled in broth and then pureed with a hand mixer makes a great soup. Maybe add a bit of coconut milk and some salt & pepper.
Hillel Coren 