Food as Energy
Ann Wigmore stated it simply, “The food you eat can be a powerful medicine or a slow poison.” Whole, living, foods, untouched and natural, are like health potions. They offer pure nourishment. When we eat them, our physical health, mental clarity, and energy all benefit.
Our health is priceless. Even tiny dietary decisions can shape our wellbeing. Choosing whole, unprocessed foods paves the way for a healthier life. This lifestyle choice not only feeds our bodies but also boosts our vitality. It lets us live life to the fullest.
We often hear the phrase “you are what you eat” in discussions about health, underscoring the link between our food choices and our bodies.
The relationship we share with food is complex. Whole, unprocessed foods have always been a health staple. But as our global population surged, supply couldn’t keep up. So, a new phase of production was born: the age of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
GMOs were designed to boost crop yields and create resilient, disease-resistant plants. These genetically engineered crops endure harsh conditions, repel pests, and grow quicker. But do these ‘improvements’ and progress actually support our nutritional needs, or do they disturb the natural nutrient balance?
Developers created the first genetically modified plant, a type of tobacco, in 1983. However, in1994 a genetically engineered tomato boasted a longer shelf life than its conventional counterparts. From there, the use of GMOs took off. Today, we often see genetically modified versions of crops like corn, soybeans, and cotton in food and clothing.
Navigating Our Choices in the Era of GMOs
Although ultra-processed foods often offer convenience and cost-effectiveness, they are inflammatory and can lead to numerous health problems over time. These foods irritate our tissues, our heart, our arteries, our brains, our pancreas, our liver, and our lungs, causing diseases.
We make the choices that fill our plates and shape our lives. We decide if we treat our bodies as sacred. What we consume, whether it’s food, relationships, or situations, often mirrors our relationship with our bodies. When we choose whole, unprocessed options, we align our diet with nutrients that complement our body’s natural rhythm.
Importantly, it’s not just about what we eat but where our food comes from. The soil that nourishes our food impacts its nutritional value. Nutrient-rich soil free from harmful pesticides yields is healthier. On the other hand, farming and chemical fertilizers can strip soil of nutrients, leading to lower quality crops.
We need to know the source of everything we bring into our bodies. And when it comes to what we digest, can we ask, Is it from nutrient-rich soil? Are harmful chemicals absent? Is the farm sustainable? By making informed choices, we ensure our food benefits both us and the Earth.
This is why more of us want to grow our own food and why community gardens are also becoming an important element in our lives. Imagine if we planted vegetables, fruit trees and medicinal plants on our lands in rich, healthy soil and had equal access.
Mindful Consumption
Food can be a slow poison if we’re not conscious. Our bodies struggle to process artificial additives, preservatives, and genetically modified substances found in processed foods. Consuming these introduces toxins into our system, potentially causing long-term health problems.
Our choices hold great power. By selecting unprocessed foods and knowing their source, we dodge the risk of self-poisoning and contribute to a healthier food system.
What food energizes you, and what depletes you? Knowing what is healthy and unhealthy for our bodies—physical, emotional, mental and spiritual—is becoming more significant than living in a divided world of good and bad. Our health is our greatest treasure, and being mindful of what we eat is a powerful way to preserve it.