Raw Plant Intake is by Far the Most Important Aspect of Diet for Human Health

Let's face it... in our society it seems to pretty much be agreed upon that making yourself a fresh salad in your own kitchen is viewed as a task that just "takes up too much time" or, "doesn't fit within the daily routine."

There is also the factor of taste and texture of vegetables and fruits. I cannot believe the amount of people I have heard throughout my life tell me they don't want to eat that carrot, or that cauliflower or whatever plant it may be because of how it felt in their mouth.

What color are the majority of your plates? That is a GREAT question to ask for anyone who is ready to start having a health conscious food intake. If the answer to that question for you is tan, brown, yellow, white etc. well then I hate to say it, but you have been eating plates filled with nutritionally depleted calories and carbohydrates.

The number one color food that should be entering your body is a resounding GREEN. One truth about all states of disease is that the body is too acidic. Green vegetables are alkaline and can help restore the body to its natural pH. The amount of green options that I have here in Milwaukee is quite vast. A few of my personal favorites are:

• Brussel sprouts
• Avocado
• Asparagus
• Zucchini

If I had to say the second best color food to incorporate into your diet, it would be PURPLE. The deep color provides great antioxidants. Many of our green vegetables also come in a purple variety as well. My favorite purple vegetables are:

• Cabbage
• Onions
• Cauliflower
• Carrots

Above all, a vast variety of vegetable and fruit intake is of the utmost importance! We can only utilize the nutrition of a plant so much in one day, and chances are buying and consuming a whole head of broccoli throughout the day is simply going to leave you wasting out it's perfectly usable vitamins and minerals. Think you only like just a few different kinds of vegetables and fruits? Do some digging! Pinterest holds a vast variety of recipe options, and hacks to making our source of sustainment absolutely delicious!

Go check out Functional Medicine Practitioner, and 10 time NY Times #1 best selling author, Dr. Mark Hyman's article on why to incorporate vegetables as the main bulk of our food consumption, here! ---> https://www.instagram.com/p/Bg6cOwLjaXX/?hl=en&taken-by=markhymanmd

It can most certainly be challenging to want to eat a fibrous salad first thing in the morning. Good thing that is not the only way to get those raw plants into your daily meals! I personally live off of green smoothies to start my mornings. I am currently saving up for a juicer of my own! Let me know your favorite juicer suggestions!

The main difference between the two is that juicing eliminates the fiber of the plant, leaving a concentrated drink, while a smoothie will blend the whole plant which will keep the fiber and make them usually higher in calories.

It has been up for debate as to which drink is more beneficial for optimal health. I believe this question does not have a direct answer, and should be based off of specific nutritional needs of an individual.

If you choose to juice your plants over blending, I recommend being mindful of how much sugar is going into the drink. When the fiber is eliminated, it is easier for the blood to absorb the sugar. Fruit juices is an easy way to spike your blood sugar.

Check out this article by Ted Begnoche, owner of Holistic Health Path, on juicing vs. blending, here! ---> https://holistichealthpath.com/nutrition/juicing/juicing-vs-blending-which-is-healthier/

It is no secret how good we can feel even after eating just one plate full of raw vegetables. Now imagine how well you could feel after incorporating this kind of diet regularly into your lifestyle? It truly is amazing how we can heal through the foods we decide to eat.

Xoxo Paleo Healing Angela