FOOD RELIGION.

Everything that God put on this planet he put so we could enjoy. It says so even in the Bible...

Genisis 1:11 - And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so...

As time goes by we are creating more rules to govern our food. I believe that we the citizens of this planet have done immense damage by putting a lot of toxins in basically almost everything that we ingest orally and or even physically for our bodies. Let's look at something as simple as water, or our once beautiful free clean air, then the food. I believe that food should always be fresh. And there is a lack of understanding when it comes to that word fresh. When we package our foods and add preservatives or simply replace a sensible meal with unnecessary calories, we are already making a poor choice. Let us learn to listen to our bodies and in turn answer it wisely.

 Let's look at how you start your day for instance. I have observed that many people make the wrong choices for breakfast which is the most important meal of the day. You should make an effort to make the time for this meal. A lot of people love that carton of cereal and too much coffee as well as sweet  pastries in the morning? It doesn't matter how organic it is the fact of the matter is that most store bought cereals are preserved so obviously not fresh. Packaged Foods always have a  "Shelf Life" which means the length of time that a commodity may be stored without becoming unfit for use or consumption. That energy will conduct you through out the day. Avoid too much sugar in the morning. Parents also who encourage children to eat store bought cereal in the morning, perhaps because it is faster and convenient, make a poor choice as most of these cereals have a  high sugar content which will trigger off hyper active behavior and affect the child's focus and attention span.
There are actually better and healthier breakfast options such as Oatmeal, fresh squeezed orange juice, fruit, bread, eggs...Listen to your body it is talking to you.
I have to feel privileged because as a child my Mama was very particular in fact strict about how and what we ate. Everything we ate was always 100%fresh and we had to learn to make it as we grew older. This habit or pattern also encourages stronger bond ties within family members as well as friends. Food brings people together.
When I moved to the United States I could not believe the food culture and the grocery stores. The endless aisles of deception. The high sugar content in food, the preservatives...it made me cringe as well as realize and appreciate the teachings of Mama. Eating out always results in poorer eating choices. Restaurant foods tend to be saltier, fattier and high in calories as opposed to food prepared at home. I pride myself in preparing all my meals at home, I am careful with energy and my food, I do not indulge in random food.

Making healthy adjustments towards your life is a great thing. Listening to your body is even greater because it is only you who knows and truly understands your body and you live in it. Food is our medicine it sustains us. My goal everyday is to encourage more people to strive for ultimate health and well being because it is attainable and we are all worth it. By taking the time to learn our food and our bodies we are growing, healing and allowing ourselves to live more bountiful healthier lives, and that is mandatory.
Cleansing your body by drinking and or eating pure as well as exercising is a remedy that most of us can benefit from. Many herbs, fruits and vegetables can also help us cleanse our systems of excess salts and metals that we are ingesting into our bodies everyday.

 PARSLEY:  This herb is rich in anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber, which help control blood-cholesterol, prevents constipation, protects the human body from free radicals mediated injury and from cancer. The essential oil, Eugenol present in this herb has been in therapeutic use in dentistry as a local anesthetic and anti-septic agent for teeth and gum diseases. It is perhaps the richest of the entire herb source for vitamin K.
CILANTRO: The herb is a good source of minerals like potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, and magnesium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure.
CANTALOUPE: Intake of cantaloupe has recently been found to lower risk of metabolic syndrome. It also contains more beta-carotene than alpha-carotene. Researchers have shown that intake of cantaloupe phytonutrients can improve insulin and blood sugar metabolism. In a study that included more than 50,000 women whose ages ranged from 45 to 67, it was found that those who consumed high amounts of vitamin A on a daily basis reduced their risk of developing cataracts by as much as 40%. Aside from being a significant source of vitamin A, cantaloupe is also a great source of vitamin C, which strengthens your immune system by stimulating the white blood cells which are responsible for killing viruses, bacteria and other foreign elements that seek to enter your body.

Children always need encouragement when it comes to eating healthier. So, playing with the food and making it look appealing always helps. Making healthy drinks at home also is a good choice as you can regulate the sugar content and get creative.

Say No! to GMO and demand the right to know what is in your food. Frequenting your local farmers market is a great way to have healthy options of fresh, organic produce and indulge in food culture as well as supporting local farmers.

We have to take our relationship with food seriously. Give thanks! to the planet and your health. Food is Religion and medicine for our body, mind and soul. Remember that you are what you eat!