Increase your Whole Foods Index

America is riddled with degenerative type diseases and it is getting worse. As an example, we are seeing more and more of our youth afflicted with diabetes than ever before in history.

The good news is that we can go a long way to decrease America's incidence of degenerative type diseases such as heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, cancer, hypertension and high cholesterol by increasing our intake of whole foods.

What is a "whole food"? Basically it is any food that has not been highly processed, filled with additives, trans fats, sodium, hormones, or pesticides. Fresh fruits and vegetables along with raw nuts and seeds are a few examples of whole foods. Frozen vegetables in their original state is still a whole food, but frozen French fries are not. A potato is a whole food but a potato chip is not. An orange is a whole food but an orange "flavored" drink is not - get the drift?

Foods as close to their original state as possible offer nutrients that processed foods (even if they are so called "enriched) cannot. Your body works hard to maintain a state of homeostasis (a place of balance) if we give it the nutrients it needs.

Eating a diet rich in whole foods does not need be difficult. All you need is a little more awareness. Next time you are in the grocery store, try this - skip the middle isles that are loaded with the cheese crackers, cookies, processed canned goods, boxed mixes, and soda pop and stick to circling the outer perimeters where whole foods abound.

Check the labels. A good rule of thumb is this - if you can't read it, don't eat it!

I have posted a recipe that will get you started called Roasted Pepper and Chickpea salad. Enjoy!

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