Healthy Eating

Once people start the Isagenix body cleansing program, they tend to desire foods that are better for them. Sometimes they ask me what they should eat to adopt a more healthy lifestyle. Here are my recommendations:

1. Read Labels -Avoid MSG (monosodium glutamate, hydrolyzed soy protein, autolyzed yeast extract - just to name a few of its’ names), partially hydrogenated oils and artificial sweeteners. I would go so far as to say that if you see something with one of these items listed in the ingredient list - don’t eat it! MSG causes your body to crave more food and hold onto fat. Some doctors even call these items "fertilizers for cancer".

2. At lunch and dinner, (since you’re having a shake for breakfast :)) fill your plate ½ full with cooked or raw vegetables (potatoes don’t count here). Then fill in the rest of the plate with a fistful of protein and a multigrain carbohydrate if you like. If you eat just a salad for a meal, then you run the risk of being hungry pretty quickly or, worse yet, setting your metabolism too low so that it starts storing fat again. Eat foods closest to their original form as possible. Instead of apple pie, eat an apple.

3.Keep your high temptation foods out of the house. If you have foods or drinks in the house that you know you shouldn’t be eating - KEEP THEM OUT OF THE HOUSE. If you’re concerned that the other people in your house will be upset if these food items aren’t in the house, chances are it is something they shouldn’t be eating either. You might risk some mutiny for a few days, but they will get used to it if you have enough alternative choices available.

For me, I love brownies and cookies. If they are in the house, I eat them. I KNOW that, in large quantities, they are bad for my body, but if they are there I eat them anyways. Can you believe it? You can have 10 different kinds of chips or nuts in my house and I can walk by them 100 times a day and not be tempted by them. I suppose there are a few of you that can have those high temptation foods in the house and not eat them. Good for you! For the rest of us, don’t have them in the house or office!

One thing I have noticed is that if children eat good foods their behavior is much better. Food has a powerful affect on our moods and general well being. You would feel lousy if you ate cookies and chips all day. Do you think your body would respond better to fried bologna or chicken and vegetables? Your body craves nutrients, not calories.

Remember the 80-20 rule. It’s what we do 80% of the time that will lay the foundation for our overall health. There’s room for the occasional treat or nutritional compromise some of the time when we make wise choices the majority of the time.