This is my first blog ever.  Let me know how I did.  ; )

As I'm sitting here trying to brainstorm something to write about "Jaime Oliver's Food Revolution" is on tv in the background.  This show is so exciting because it's bringing something mainstream that naturopaths have been trying to change one person at a time.  Food can be the best medicine or cause the most damage if we are not careful about what we chose.

Our goal here at the clinic is to create a connection with the food you eat and how it impacts health.  There are a variety of botanicals, homeopathics, nutraceuticals, and intravenous therapies used in our office to help with a all sorts of chronic conditions, however there is no better medicine than a clean diet in moderation. 

What is a clean diet? Here are some tips to start the process: 

Drink 1/2 your body weight in ounces per day of filtered water.  This can also be in the form of herbal teas.  If you need to add flavor add a dash of colorful fruit juice (organic and dark) or a sqeeze of a lemon.

No sodas.  These are dehydrating as well as wreak havoc on your gastrointestinal system and endocrine system. Coke is commonly used to remove battery acid off of cars...yuck.

Eat a rainbow.  If your food is predominately beige you are headed for trouble.  You need the minerals and antioxidants found in the colors of food (blues, greens, yellows, orange and red).

Eat organic whenever possible especially when that food is derived from an animal source or does not have a peel such as a strawberry.  How that animalor fruit/vegatable is treated has a direct impact on the quality of you.

Eat lean healthy proteins such as fish from (Alaskan or Norwegian sources), beans, turkey, eggs, and chicken.  

Stay in the perimeter of the grocery store.  If bacteria won't eat it, you don't want it.  Top ramen will be here longer than the human race. 

Try to cook from scratch even if it is as simple as a sandwich.  Microwaves can make life easier time wise, but can have a degrading effect on the food.  Try to minimize the amount of time you eat meals requiring a microwave to complete. 

Get rid of the plastic.  Under no circumstances should you nuke anything in plastic!  There are compounds mimicking estrogens that can have a very negative impact on your health over time, increasing your risk of certain cancers.  Use glass, stoneware, and stainless steel to cook and store your food. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this and feel free to add your own healthy pearls of wisdom. 

Cheers,

Dr. Julia