Over the years I have developed eating habits that have kept me healthy and whole. I do not have one prescription drug in my medicine cabinet and I can only believe that this is because I eat healthfully. Of course there are times when I eat something that doesn’t necessarily feel healthy to my body, this is going to happen from time to time on the holidays or other special occasions. What I do to get back on track is to eat correctly as quickly as possible so that my body balances out and gets back into the healthy pattern I have made for it.

The first thing I would suggest doing is to get rid of everything “white” or “processed” in your pantry and refrigerator. This may mean more work for you until you get used to feeding your body in a healthy way, but it will become second nature. White foods include bleached flour, rice, granulated sugars anything that has been refined and its natural nutritional components removed in the process. Processed foods include all of the convenience foods we have come to know and love in this country. We are a country that wants instant gratification and in order to eat healthfully, we need to rethink this way of living.

Replace the white products with natural, whole grain products and sweeteners. Brown rice is so much more delicious than white, it has a rich, nutty flavor. I love using Quinoa pasta. I tend to have sensitivities to wheat and this is a great substitute. As far as sweeteners go, you’ll need to experiment. I love stevia, brown rice syrup and raw cane sugar. The only thing I have heard that is concerning about stevia is that it has been thought to be a contributor to male sterility. I don’t know if this has been proven scientifically yet, but it would be something to consider when experimenting with this product. In Japan, stevia is used to sweeten soft drinks and it has none of the dangerous side effects that our sweeteners do.

As far as dairy products go...  I find less is better. Goat cheese is much healthier than cheese made from cow’s milk. When using regular cheese I always look for low fat. We need some fat in our diets, but be careful not to go overboard. Try to choose products with no more than 3 grams of fat per serving and preferably 1 gram or less. Switch your cooking fats to extra virgin olive oil or grapeseed oil and be careful about the amounts you use. I have found that baking “french fries” or my favorite, sweet potato fries, at a temperature of 450 degrees, first spraying them with olive spray is better than any deep fried potato I have had. It may take you a while to get used to it or to break yourself from the flavor of unhealthy fats, but you’ll feel so much better, it will be well worth it!

It is important to eat fruits and vegetables that are in season. I also try to get as much of my produce locally grown if possible. If you can’t drink the water in a third world country, why would you want to eat produce from one or these countries when the undrinkable water was used to feed the plants as they grew???? It just makes sense when you think about it.

I tend to eat seasonally. In the winter I begin craving heavier foods, but I decrease my portions because my activity level tends to slack off during colder months. It takes less of heavier foods to satisfy your hunger than lighter summer foods. In the warmer months, I begin increasing the fresh vegetable meals my family has and use any meat as a side dish, 3 ounces or less. If I consume red meat I am careful about where it comes from and how it is processed. This is what I mean by conscious eating. Think about what you are putting into your body to keep it running at optimal levels of health and wholeness.

You may think three to four servings of fruit a day is a lot, but if you combine several small amounts of fruit in a smoothie each morning you’ll be getting what you need in a delicious and nutritious way. The same goes with vegetables. Four or more servings a day can be easy if you include a large serving of stir fried vegetables or salad or both at lunch and dinner. Better yet, make lunch a delicious raw vegetable sandwich on yummy whole grain bread that is spread with hummus.

I can actually feel the difference when I am eating healthfully. I feel lighter and more energetic,
my mood is better and I have a much better night’s sleep.

The other thing I find to be more and more important is to keep moving. I once read a funny article, whose author has slipped my mind at this time, but part of the article said, “If you stop moving your body, your brain thinks you’re dead”. I got a good laugh from this, but as I thought about the truth of this statement really struck home. We have got to keep moving or our joints begin to stiffen and our muscles lose their elasticity. It has been proven that regular exercise can help ward off osteoporosis in women. A daily walk of twenty to thirty minutes mixed with some light strength training with three to five pound weights may be all you need to stay fit and healthy.

In the summer I find that water aerobics is an excellent way to stay fit. I can see a difference if I get in the pool and run in place for a half hour instead of lying on a float for the same amount of time. My body has gotten to the point that it craves movement and exercise. I know that you will experience this as well as you begin to open up to better physical well being. Yoga, Pilates, and stretching are great. Just get moving!

Did you know that your skin is the largest organ in your body? Yet we seem to take less care of our skin than any other part of our bodies. At least, I have found that to be true with most women. I have worked part time as a holistic skin care practitioner in a local alternative clinic and I am amazed at how women neglect their skin. The necessary component to beautiful skin is a nutritious eating program, as I have described above, and drinking A LOT of water. The skin must be hydrated and water is the best way to achieve this.

The other essential part of beautiful skin is exfoliation. The top layer is composed of skin cells that die off on a regular basis. Without exfoliation, this layer of skin builds up and becomes very thick and muddy looking. I have been amazed over the years at how one deep cleaning facial accompanied with good exfoliation prior to treatment will take years off of a face. I have never seen it fail. The finished product is a face that glows with health and well being. I have also found that exfoliation over the entire body is excellent and keeps an overall appearance of smooth youthful skin, along with a good body moisturizer. I think you know the importance of a great moisturizer for your face without my telling you! You may have a favorite or check into some of the products I have used in my practice and continue to use on a daily basis.

The simple truth is that when we look our best we feel our best. When we are trim and healthy we stand taller and carry ourselves in a more confident, assured way. Even if you feel that you have a weight problem, you can begin to make changes today just by looking at yourself in the mirror and instead of mentally criticizing what you see, realize that this is the vessel that holds your eternal spirit. This is the vehicle that allows you to move through this lifetime and experience everything you need in order to grow and evolve into the spiritual being you have at your very center. Finding balance is so very important.

I once had a friend who said we should only eat small amounts of delicious things. I have incorporated this into my eating routine and it works. In this way you can have a little something that takes care of a craving for sweets, just have a small amount. Everything in moderation is the best way to go in all things.

Spend some time writing down what you want your overall health and appearance to be, then put that plan into action. Take control of your body, your life, your thoughts and your actions. You will be amazed at the rewards that will begin flowing into your experience just by taking these simple steps.

Here are links to some product lines that I have really enjoyed.  Two wonderful, natural lines I have recently been using and enjoying are Kiehl's and Farmaesthetics. Kiehl's is an institution in New York City and a line of products that I used all the time when I lived in the city years ago. They are dedicated to natural products that work wonders on the skin. Farmaesthetics is a great company as well, started by a fellow Texan who now lives in Rhode Island and put the formulas together in her kitchen. I love her story and know you will too. Everything, including the packaging is organic and pure.  They are of varying price ranges so that you choose what you feel comfortable using. DermaE is another excellent line of products available at some health food stores and on-line. I have found what I call a wonder product from healthherbs.com. They make an Emu-MSM cream that is outstanding. I use it at night and the results are amazing.  None of these products contain harmful ingredients and I have seen the difference they make in the appearance of the skin.