Get The Most Out Of Your Foods For The Best Results

Many people live to eat instead of eat to live! Do you know which person you are? If you can’t tell me exactly what you ate today then you might be living to eat. If you can’t pass up a bowl of M&Ms and you don’t recall eating them then you might be living to eat. Almost sounds like a new Jeff Foxworthy skit—“You might be living to eat if…” Most people that live to eat are mindless eaters. These “mindless nibble moments” can negate any of your positive efforts of eating healthy throughout the rest of your day.

Not only is it important to be mindful of what you eat due to caloric intake, but also for health safety. This might gross you out, but have you ever thought of the other people who grabbed those M&Ms out of the bowl before you? Are you certain that they had clean hands? So, not only are you taking in needless calories, but you are taking a risk of getting ill due to possible bacteria contamination.

Bacterial contamination of foods can also become present by the way you prepare and store your foods. Most people overlook the obvious cleanliness rules due to their hurried behavior. If you take the time to eat to live mindfully and prepare your foods properly then you will be on track for living a healthier life.

Did you know that being mindful of preparing foods can even affect the quality of vitamins and minerals in your fruits and vegetables? Fruits and vegetables contain natural enzymes that synthesize and degrade vitamins. Once fruits and vegetables are picked, their vitamins begin to be degraded. Refrigerating most fruits and vegetables can slow down the degradation process, preserving as many valuable nutrients as possible. The presence of oxygen can destroy some vitamins, so store cut fruits and vegetables in airtight containers.  Protect water-soluble vitamins (Vitamins B and C) in most produce by washing them before cutting instead of after. Also, consider using microwaving or steaming during preparation. These are simple ideas but are important to implement for maximizing the nutritional benefits of fruits and vegetables.

Your body can better absorb the valuable nutrients of foods by eating certain combinations of them together. For example, eating vitamin C-rich foods can boost iron absorption when consumed together. A strawberry spinach salad is a great option (as well as one of my favorites) to maximize iron absorption! Consuming vitamin D-rich foods (fortified dairy and cereals) aids calcium absorption from foods when eaten in the same meal. Fortified dairy usually contains both calcium and vitamin D for this purpose. Calcium can be found in small quantities in fruits and vegetables such as spinach, tofu, oranges, broccoli, and bok choy.

So, for the smartest and most beneficial ways to get the most out of your foods, follow my principles. You’ll be healthier along your wellness journey.