“Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” Michael Pollan The Omnivore’s Dilemma
Eating food has never been so complicated and confusing as it is now. I recall my daughter sharing what she learned in Gr 1 health class, she told me with full authority a granola bar was healthier than a banana.

You see, even the teachers are confused. My conversation with this teacher uncovered one “fact” based on one truth, bananas have a higher glycemic index and less fibre; conclusion granola bars are healthier. After discussing with the health teacher her position, I realized she was convinced based on her truth that she felt she was teaching the children proper science.

But seriously, no wonder we are afraid to eat whole foods, the food production world has a big lie going on and we buy in because honestly I have never had a craving for a banana the way kids scream for high sugar, high fibre granola bars!!

What are whole foods?

Whole food doesn’t have a long ingredient list. A whole food isn’t advertised on TV or on a subway billboard. Whole foods do not contain stuff you can not pronounce or recognize. Whole food is things that your great-grandmother (or someone’s great-grandmother) would recognize. The whole foods rule of thumb is the food we purchase on the perimeter of the grocery store or at the local farmers market. Micheal Pollen states in his new book, Food Rules- Rule No. 19: “If it’s a plant, eat it. If it was made in a plant, don’t.” That banana is a whole food, the sugary granola bar not so much.

Why are whole foods better than processed foods?

Susan Pierce Thompson at Bright Line Eating has done the research. She points out that modern-day Americans — eat lots of highly processed foods and meat, lots of added fat and sugar, lots of refined grains — we also suffer high rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Sally Fallon of the Weston A. Price Foundation emphasizes the importance of eating a nutrient-dense whole foods diet as traditional cultures have done for millennia. It’s a way of eating that nourishes, satisfies, and maximizes your health and brings a closer connection to ourselves through nourishing our body with foods of the earth. The populations that eat more traditional whole foods based diets don’t experience illness, desease and cancers the same as our North American cultures. Our sweet ol’grannies obviously knew what they were doing.

Top Reasons Whole Foods Help You Lose Weight

We were already in the middle of a tidal wave of misinformation.

So what’s the deal, right?

Not only are people sick and obese from the refined processed foods being served through a drive thru window but the most shocking news is that overweight people are also the most malnourished.

Refined foods work against the biological mechanisms that let us know when we’ve eaten enough so we overeat bad food, over and over again. Somebody has got to speak out. When you eat whole foods, like a banana (or broccoli or… )your body has work to do! All the fiber must be broken down into vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients which takes time.

So eating whole foods means the energy is released slowly and steadily. That’s why whole natural food keeps you satiated longer (and thus, eating less) than when your meals and snacks are made of processed refined foods.

The similarities between food and drug addictions are astonishing. Highly refined flours, and sugar overload the pleasure centers in the brain, much like cocaine and heroin. The more we eat these types of foods, the more we crave them to trigger these pleasure centers.

Studies also reveal that refined sugar can increase production of the hunger hormone ghrelin and dim the brain’s ability to make you feel full.

Whole foods typically have more soluble fiber that helps sustain you. Excellent sources of soluble fiber include beans, flax seeds, sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts and raspberries. Eating enough fiber daily from whole foods provides many valuable nutrients.
Whole natural foods take some serious effort to chew!! Chewing our food sends lovely messages to our brain that we are being fed well, our brain is calmed by the mechanics of chewing (like a nice gentle massage!!) Take the time to chew and eat slowly. Eating slowly gives your brain more time to process your food intake and recognize when it’s time to stop eating. Whole foods slow down your eating since they typically have a firmer, more fibrous texture that needs to be chewed more. This simple tip can help you lose weight by making you feel full.

Chew, Chew, Chew!!

Fruits of the Earth

Whole foods are natural from the Earth. You might say we humans are natural from the Earth. It may be obvious to you now that it was pointed out but for the most part we humans “forget” that. And what might not be as clear is that it is naturally inclusive to be healthfully sustained by the foods brought forth from the earth. Incorporating these ten super star whole foods can help boost your energy levels, keep you satiated longer, sustain health and make for a more enjoyable (and lasting) weight loss results.

• Avocado – super healthy fat is loaded with essential amino acids, stress-fighting B vitamins and minerals.
• Eggs -the perfect combination of protein and fat, eggs are especially helpful in weight loss.
• Blueberries – antioxidant-rich and loaded with vitamin C and boosts the immune system but also help w/ stress.
• Leafy Greens -kale, spinach, collards and Swiss chard are all loaded with vitamins, rich calcium and potassium.
• Oats – the perfect comfort food with a high fiber.
• Beans – high in fiber, which helps fill you up!
• Broccoli – great fiber, rich in vitamins great source of magnesium and folic acid
• Yogurt – high in protein and loaded with live healthy bacteria.

The final verdict?

A diet rich in whole foods is great for your health and can also help you lose weight. Infuse your shopping cart with the Earth. Buy whole, unrefined, sugar free, healthy-fat, good protein, sustainably-produced soul-boosting foods. Taste the rainbow—healthy foods are delicious – eat fruit and vegetables and your taste buds will become acquainted with nutritious whole foods, your cravings will likely become a faint memory. The super-straightforward rules at Bright Line Eating and the brain science concures eating a variety of whole foods, you’ll likely meet your nutritional and weight loss goals with beauty and grace .

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As you likely know, I participate in Bright Line Eating because I wholeheartedly believe this training will help you achieve a successful body you love. However, if her program does not feel right for you, I completely understand!