Tag Archive | shopping

Listening to Your Body: What Foods to Eat and Which to Avoid

Aug7

It is easy to become inundated with statements like

“Don’t consume dairy products,” or “Don’t consume gluten,” or “Buy organic,” or “This is bad for you,” or “Avoid this,” or “Drink this much water a day,” or “Eat your vegetables.”

I would imagine that a lot of people hear these things and wonder “Is that good for me?” or “Is that bad for me?” or “Is it that big of a deal to buy organic?”

So many questions. All of these health conscious individuals seeking answers might get wrapped up in information that they “google,” or have heard from this website, or that TV show and never come to a conclusion on what to consume and what to avoid.

What feels right to me, in nearly every facet of health and fitness, is to

listen to your body.

For example, I played soccer for several years (kindergarten thru high school) and was constantly running as is demanded by the sport. I was curious as to what foods are good/bad for a soccer player to consume. A club soccer coach of mine mentioned one day during practice that dairy products give you “cotton mouth.” Hearing this, I decided to find other alternatives to milk in hopes of avoiding dairy and trying out my coach’s theory. After several weeks without consuming dairy products, I noticed my “cotton mouth” (a noticeably dry mouth while exercising) was nonexistent.

The best judge of whether I should consume dairy or not is my body. If I can feel a positive change in functioning from eliminating dairy, then it makes sense for me to do that.

There are many more similar situations like this that I’ve experienced. For instance:
-I know that my body feels better when I do not eat foods that commonly contain gluten (bakery items, bread, etc). Bread itself makes me tired, have uncomfortable digestion, and in need of a nap.
-I know that my hair and skin have felt exponentially smoother, healthier, more nourished, and stronger since using organic shampoos, conditioners, soaps, moisturizers, and lotions. This, and the fact that I can actually identify and pronounce the ingredients has made me an exclusively organic beauty products user–I travel with all of my organic cosmetics and beauty products so that I am never forced to use products I don’t want to.

This post serves as a reminder to myself (and hopefully a helpful hint for others) that we should not undermine our body and how it reacts to food and cosmetics. If you feel sluggish after you eat certain foods, or if your skin has a reaction to your current beauty regimen, or even of you’re just not happy with the current state of your body, then I’d say its worth reevaluating.

From my experience, switching to

plant based foods and/or going organic

often solves the problem.

Navitas Naturals Organic Product Review

Jul13

 

 

Navitas Naturals Organic Food

Let me start out by saying that all three of these products were completely new to me. A lot of the ingredients in these foods were new to me as well–what a great way to experience and taste new things.

Sun-dried White Mulberries

Navitas Naturals’ Description:

Turkish mulberries have been considered a precious fruit for thousands of years due to their incredible taste. A bit like a dried fig in flavor and chewy crunch, these sweet treats are an amazing snack on their own, and are also a special substitute for raisins in granola, pancakes, smoothies, and baked goods. Apart from their great taste, Navitas Naturals Mulberries offer an incredible display of nutrition as well: including high levels of iron, calcium, vitamin C, protein, and fiber. Plus, as one of the few natural foods containing Resveratrol (the “anti-aging” component in red wine grapes), mulberries serve as a true power food.

My Description and Thoughts:

I had no idea to expect when trying these. My best guess was that they would have a similar texture as other dried fruits I have tried. Just the look of these little berries is interesting–to me they look like tiny little pine cones. I popped a few into my mouth to give them a try and was pleased. The texture is crunchy and little bit chewy–very satisfying for those who like a little crunch to what they eat. My flavor is nice and mild fruitiness; not too pungent or overwhelming. These would be good to consume by the handful, or perhaps in a bowl of yogurt (or a soy/rice/coconut/almond alternative).

Blueberry Hemp Superfood

Navitas Naturals’ Description:

Grab a bite of energy and celebrate, because while your taste buds are singing, your body’s feeling even healthier. These delicious snacks are made from the most nutrient-dense plants found in nature, packed with functional food stars like cacao, maca, chia, and camu-camu. At Navitas, our tradition is to globally source the most nutritious, wholesome, and sustainably-cultivated ingredients we can find. Now, we’ve combined these premium organic superfoods into flavorful grab-and-go snacks, making it easier than ever to enjoy their vibrant benefits.

My Description and Thoughts:

These little nibbles come in a cubed form and are bite size. They taste like you might imagine–the main flavor is the blueberry and the hemp provides a hearty background. I imagine these being perfect to keep in your backpack to snack on during a hike, bike, or run. They are satisfying and filling; only a handful and you can fulfill a spike in hunger.

3 Berry, Cacao Nib, & Cashew Trail Mix

Navitas Naturals’ Description:

Ancient nomads were the first to discover the benefits of trail mix: potent wild foods that are portable, full of energy, and do not require cooking. Today, Navitas Naturals extends this tradition by using only the most powerful superfoods available to create the ultimate organic raw trail mix. This special trail mix contains high-energy cacao, healthy really-raw cashews, antioxidant-rich goji berries, sweet well-rounded mulberries, and vitamin-packed goldenberries. Excellent by the handful, or tossed into recipes for an easy gourmet boost, Navitas Naturals Trail Power is a delicious way to fuel your lifestyle.

My Description and Thoughts:

Before becoming a bit more conscious about my eating, I indulged in trail mix (the kind with m&m’s, peanuts, raisins, etc) thinking they were “good” for me. I have since cut that out of my daily intake, but I was happy to find a nutrient-packed and healthy alternative. Similarly to the dried mulberries, this trail mix is good by the handful or in yogurt (or a non-daily alternative). My favorite ingredients are the naturally sweet and salty raw cashews, cacao bits, and goji berries. The mulberries and goldenberries compliment the other ingredients well. I imagine putting a bag of these in my purse for when I need a hearty snack.

All in all, I’m extremely pleased with these healthy snacks because you can feel good about what you’re putting into your body while also satisfying your hunger or “munchies.”