Navigating Healthy Eating in ‘The Information Age’
“What should I be eating?” I’m sure this is a question that you have thought about many times. And you have probably also thought that in modern times dietary information is prolific but confusing.
I believe that you can eat a healthy diet no matter what dietary style you choose – vegan, vegetarian, meat-eater, paleolithic, etc. An essential healthy diet for humans is comprised of carbohydrates which should predominantly come from lots of vegetables & fruit; protein from animal, fish, nuts, seeds, beans or legumes; fats from fruit (olive, avocado, sesame) or fish. These 3 nutrients are the basic nutritional building blocks of every diet.
Looking at Dr. Lori’s Food Pyramid
Vegetables & fruits – Veggies & fruit are on the top of my Food Pyramid as these ‘nature’ foods are where you get the bulk of your phytonutrients, fiber, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates which are fuel for our cells. Whatever your dietary style, your diet should be rich in vegetables & fruit. “Eat the Rainbow” & “An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away”!
Protein – When it comes to protein, this is where dietary preference varies dramatically from person to person. And that is ok, as-long-as you are healthy. If you do not eat meat or fish, it is important to eat plant sources of protein which are found in nuts, seeds, beans, legumes and grains.
Beans & legumes – If you eat beans & legumes – it is important to soak them for 12 hours, thoroughly cook them until tender (preferably in a pressure cooker), chew them well and ensure that you have adequate digestive enzyme levels for digesting them.
Grains – Grains are a significant part of the diet for many […]
My Vegetarian Baby is a Carnivore Now; Fundamentals on Feeding Your Baby
My baby is 10 months old and over the past few weeks, I have introduced fish, chicken & beef into her diet (free range, no hormones or antibiotics). And just like that my little vegetarian is a carnivore now. As a Naturopathic Doctor I often advise my patients on appropriate feeding schedules for their babes. However, when it came to feeding my baby, especially with all of this recent peanut allergy research, I just didn’t know what exactly I was going to do. So, I did what felt right – it’s always good to follow your intuition. On her 6 month birthday, for her first solid food, I gave her kale, which she seemed to like. She really didn’t know what to do with the beautiful green puree, since it was her first time eating solid food, but she eventually figured it out. I gradually introduced a variety of fruit & veggies over the next 3 months, always looking for allergic type reactions. The reason that I waited until 6 months of age to introduce solid food is because she is exclusively breast-fed and gaining more than an adequate amount of weight. I am a firm believer that as long as your baby is satisfied and gaining weight – it is best to wait until 6 months to introduce solids. A new born’s digestive tract is immature and introducing food too early can potentially cause problems like food allergies & eczema. People were constantly telling me to give her ‘baby cereal’ – even when she was a couple of months old and I was struggling with my milk production. I never did give her store-bought ‘baby cereal’ as she didn’t need food before […]
5 Easy Things you can do to Keep Your Children Healthy This Winter
Here are 5 easy things you can do to keep your children healthy this winter:
Put a hat & scarf on your child when they go outside in winter. This is not an old wives tale; having your neck & head exposed in cold weather or wind, lets too much of your body heat escape and leaves your immune system weakened & vulnerable to pathogens such as colds & flus.
Ensure that your child gets enough sleep each night. Have a set bed time and stick to it whenever possible. Sleep is a time of healing and regeneration and it is crucial for the immune system to be able to function properly.
Avoid giving your child sugar or foods containing sugar. Sugar may taste good and kids may love it, but refined sugar is not good for your health! Sugar decreases your immune system’s ability to mount a defence against invading pathogens & is just empty calories with no nutritional value. Read food labels!
Encourage your kids to play outside in the fresh air. Fresh air (oxygen) & exercise is crucial for our cells to function & regenerate and for our bodies to heal. In addition, it also increases our body’s production of endorphins (happy sparks), which in turn improves our immune function as well as our sleep. Turn off those electronic devises and go play in the snow! It’s also a good idea to supplement kids in winter months with 400 IU’s of sunny Vitamin D.
Make hand washing a part of your child’s daily routine. Hands touching hands, hands touching toys, doorknobs, etc, can easily pass around viruses and bacteria. So make sure you & your kids wash your hands after eating, nose blowing or using the […]