In May I had the opportunity to attend the public forum “Where is Nutrition in Health Care of the Future?” in Atlanta, where Dr. Andrew Weil, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and Dr. David Kessler discussed the most pressing issues in nutrition and integrative medicine.
I am happy (although not surprised) to report that Dr. Weil first said “I purify my water” when asked how he protects his family against environment toxins and carcinogens. That’s how important it is to filter your water and remove dangerous contaminants! Dr. Weil also said that he grows much of his own food at home, buys organic produce when possible, uses the “Dirty Dozen” list from the Environmental Working Group when shopping, has phased plastic products out of his life as much as possible, and doesn’t keep poisons like pesticides around his home.
Much of the discussion revolved around the modern food industry. A lot of what we call “food” simply is not real food! It’s an industrial product designed to be addictive. How do they make it addictive? Dr. Kessler, former Commissioner of the FDA and author of The End of Overeating, points out that sugar is an addictive substance, especially when combined with fat and salt. And that’s just what the global food companies are doing. Plus, via billion-dollar marketing campaigns, they’re making it socially acceptable to eat these industrial products. Dr. Kessler compared processed food to adult baby food and said that many people overeat for self-stimulation and self-medication to relieve stress. It’s hard eat too much natural food – because you eventually feel full and satisfied – but processed foods are designed to make us eat fast and never feel satisfied. You just keep eating more and more.
Dr. Weil summarized the key message of the forum: “Stop eating refined, processed, manufactured food.”
Eat real food! That’s the best thing you can do for your health. Unfortunately, eating real food in our society can be challenging.
Many people, for example, are addicted to eating low-nutrient, high-carb junk foods (especially at night). That’s how they relieve stress and calm down at the end of the day. If you’re addicted to junk food, you can break the cycle! One way to break the cycle is to go on a “real food only fast.” Stop eating all processed food (for at least a week). Eat only natural foods – fruits, vegetables, lean, meats, beans, nuts, etc. Yes, you’ll have to prepare most of your food at home, but it’s worth it. You’ll feel great after eliminating processed foods from your diet! During your “real food only fast,” you’ll need to drink plenty of purified water to help clear all the toxic junk food leftovers out of your system. Heed Dr. Weil’s advice and invest in a quality home water purifier. Also eat plenty of vegetables; they should be the foundation of your diet. When you eat real, nutritious foods, you don’t have to overeat. But next time you see a television commercial that shows happy, beautiful people stuffing their faces with fast-food burgers, remind yourself that it’s not reality.
