2010: 10 things for a healthier you (and your family!)

Here’s a list of ten things you can do to be healthier this year food wise. I plan to try some of them! What do you think?

http://nourishedkitchen.com/new-years-resolutions/

Especiallly:

“7. If you eat grain, always sprout, sour or soak it first.

If you choose to eat grain, always sprout, sour or soak it first.  Grain is not an essential or important aspect of a wholesome, nourishing diet.  There’s nothing you can find in grain that you can’t find in greater quantities elsewhere.  While a crusty loaf of sourdough bread dipped in a fragrant olive oil might be a nice treat, it isn’t essential.  Grain should be kept to a minimum, if eaten at all.  If you choose to eat grain, this year make sure to prepare it properly in accordance with traditional, time-honored methods.  You see, whole gain contains an antinutrient called phytic acid which binds up minerals preventing their full absorption.  Which means all those whole grain cereals, crackers and cookies aren’t doing you or your family a lick of good.  The effects of these antinutrients can be mitigated by souring, sprouting or soaking which combines whole grain with warmth and slightly acidic solution.  This process activates phytase, a food enzyme, that effectively neutralizes phytic acid rendering the whole grain more digestible and its nutrients better absorbed.  Make the effort, in the new year, to sour, sprout or soak your grain.

To Do: The next batch of bread you make should be sourdough, and plan meals ahead so you have time to properly prepare your grain for optimal nutrition.  Give sprouting a try.  If you don’t have time to soak or sour your grains, use sprouted grain flour (see sources) instead.”

 

This one I’ve mostly done already but plan to  fully implement. I’m still researching about agave nectar though.

“1. Give up refined foods: sugars, oils and flours.

The single most effective thing you can do for your health in the new year is simple: remove all refined foods from your cupboards.  Give them up.  Just like that.  Yes, you may have paid good money for that bag of sugar, the gallon of vegetable oil or that bag of flour.  Sure, you may think to yourself, “I only use flour (or sugar or canola oil) occasionally.”  But, occasionally is still too often. Refined foods can leach micronutrients from your body, contribute to risk of autoimmune disease, cancers, metabolic disorders and heart disease.

To Do: Take a big garbage bag and throw out any vegetable oil, soybean oil, canola oil, cottonseed oil, hydrogenated fats, white sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, agave nectar, white flour, unbleached all-purpose flour, refined sea salt, iodized salt and any boxed or packaged foods containing these ingredients.

Read More: Modern Sweeteners, When Natural Foods Aren’t Natural: Agave Nectar, A Guide to Natural Sweeteners, Role of Traditional Sweeteners”