Your nutrition influences your health far more than anything else. What you put in your body should be all about nourishment, health promotion, permanent fat loss and optimal energy. You cannot regain or even claim health by eating processed foods, using artificial sweeteners or practicing unhealthy behaviors.

Eat super foods for superior nutrition. To be in this category, foods must provide antioxidants, phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fiber, and/or healthy fats in their most accessible and natural state.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants are protective compounds found in food that fight free radicals and keep us from aging prematurely. They provide us with natural inflammation protection and combat oxidative stress. Antioxidants are abundant in plant-based foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and beans.

Phytonutrients

Phytonutrients are the pigments that give food it color (the blue in blueberries, the green in spinach, etc). These colorful pigments naturally support the detoxification of our bodies. Foods containing phytonutrients are bursting with health promoting, disease combating and healing properties.

Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamins and minerals are vital for good health. They are responsible for proper functioning of the body at the cellular level. They make chemical reactions work properly and without them, poor health is the result. To prevent deficiencies, it is a good idea to add a high quality multivitamin and mineral supplement.

Amino Acids

Amino acids are the building blocks of protein in your body and their source is protein in your diet. They are restorative and help repair muscle tissue. They too communicate at the cellular level for proper bodily function. For better health, eat less red meat. Choose high quality protein from eggs, whey powder, wild fish, chicken, turkey and legumes.

Fiber

Fiber is necessary for regular bowel function. The roughage it provides keeps the body’s digestive system working properly, encourages he growth of healthy bacterial and supports powerful immune functioning. Regularity restores a feeling of lightness and enhances energy levels. Excellent food sources of fiber are whole grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.

Healthy Fats

Healthy fats are monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and omega-3 fats. These fats are found in olive oil, extra virgin coconut oil, avocados, nuts, seeds, fish and flax oil. Some saturated fat is necessary for fat metabolism. Conjugated linolenic acid (CLA) is a healthy fat and considered by many experts to be a “fat burning fat”. CLA is found in butter and grass-fed beef. Omega-3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory fats. Good dietary food sources are walnuts, wild salmon and flaxseed. Trans fat is inflammatory and I consider it metabolic poison.