We hear it all the time…our body functions are interconnected. No one system is working independently. So why is it so hard for us to see that what we eat is directly connected to how we feel, how we look, how we think and how we function throughout the day? 
“You are what you eat”, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”, “everything in moderation”, “one man’s meat is another man’s poison”. The old adages around food are endless.
It’s not just food that impacts how we function. Underlying illness affects our energy, mood and appetite. Being nervous triggers the urge to urinate, stimulates our bowels, increases our heart rate and can physically make us shake. Our bodies respond and can be “controlled” by so many factors that are out of our reach.
But we can control what we eat. We can make choices to nourish our bodies, not add more stress to them. We can feed our brain, our muscles, our bones, our eyes; not only by what we add to our diet, but by what we leave out.
I may sound like a broken record, but that’s ok with me! Choose foods that resemble their natural form as opposed to overly processed, sweetened, salted, or fried foods. Once in awhile is ok, but stack your day with vegetables, fruit, lean protein, nuts and seeds. Keep the preparation simple so you don’t spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Use fresh herbs and citrus for flavour so you can reduce the amount of salt. Dried fruits, fresh fruits and nuts are good substitutes for dessert when you are looking for something sweet to eat. The control is in your hands.
Be Well!
By: Lisa Darchiville
Lisa is a Holistic Nutritionist and Caterer. Through consultation, cooking workshops and catering, she demonstrates that healthy food can be healing and delicious!