Real food is whole, single-ingredient food. It is mostly unprocessed, free of chemical additives, and rich in nutrients. In essence, it’s the type of food human beings ate exclusively for thousands of years.Unprocessed animal and plant foods provide the vitamins and minerals you need for optimal health. Eggs and liver are especially high in choline, a nutrient essential for proper brain function. And a single Brazil nut provides all the selenium you need for an entire day.Some research suggests that eating sugary foods can increase your risk of obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, and heart disease. Even though fruit contains sugar, it’s also high in water and fiber, making it much healthier than soda and processed foods.
Real food is packed with antioxidants and nutrients that support heart health, including magnesium and healthy fats. Developing sustainable agriculture based on real food may help improve the health of the planet by reducing energy needs and decreasing the amount of non-biodegradable waste that humans produce. Fiber provides many health benefits, including boosting digestive function, metabolic health, and feelings of fullness. Foods like avocados, chia seeds, flaxseeds, and blackberries are particularly high in healthy fiber, alongside beans and legumes.
Studies suggest that eating more vegetables, fish, beans, and olive oil may help reduce wrinkling, loss of elasticity, and other age-related skin changes. What’s more, switching from a Western diet high in processed foods to one based on real food may help prevent or reduce acne. Blood triglyceride levels are strongly influenced by food intake. Because triglycerides tend to go up when you eat sugar and refined carbs, it’s best to minimize these foods or cut them out of your diet altogether. Focusing on real food instead of dieting can be a much more sustainable and enjoyable way to live. Instead of forcing weight loss, let weight loss come as a natural side effect of a better diet and improved metabolic health.
This post is a small sample of the information covered each week in the StayConnected™ Mini-CE Coaching Calls. All coaching calls are recorded and StayConnected™ members have access to the entire archive through their StayConnected™ dashboard. It’s just one of the many benefits of staying connected to HLS.