What I've Learened about what we call "Food"

Anyone reading this blog will know of my interest in healthy eating, and in particular Raw and Natural foods. Since March of 2009 I have been doing an "experiment" on myself, which has primarily focused on eating mostly (80-100%) Raw Foods only. I did this successfully until mid-August 2009, when I again started eating refined sugar in the form candy, namely, chocolate bars. I don't buy these things, but they were available in the candy dish at work for free. So I figured what the harm. Those candies lead to more candies, and other cooked and processed foods. Two weeks later I felt HORRIBLE. I had a migraine for a solid that I couldn't get red of felt like I was coming down with a cold. I gained weight and started retaining water and bloated out in every direction. I thought this was a really interesting to reaction, and I can only attribute it to the one thing that has changed....all that cooked, processed and refined foods. My body is acting like it has been poisoned, which, I guess it has. After living off of Raw and Natural food for so long...ingesting processed and refined "food" has really done a number on my body.

I have come to following conclusion: much of we eat in the SAD (Standard American Diet) is not actually food at all....just processed crap the we call food. Our bodies work harder to try and extract what little (if any) nutrients are in this "food" and this makes us tired and sick. Why would I do this to myself? Because it tastes good. That is not a good enough reason for me. I miss the days of feeling awesome and making it through the barometric pressure changes without any headaches. I have been poisoning my body for 3 weeks now, and it stops today.

My experiment has lead me back to where I started in March 2009...back to eating the Natural way. Heading into Fall and Winter in Colorado, I think it is unrealistic to expect to eat only Raw foods....it just gets too cold here. But...I think including some home-made soups and steamed foods as well as some cooked meats into my diet might be just the trick I need to make it through the cold winter. Instead of eating completely Raw (although I still plan to hover around 60-80% Raw), I plan on eating all Natural foods....the Natural Foods Diet - which is a good deal of Raw food. =) I can't wait to feel great again!!!! Veggies and Fruits...watch out, here I come!!! =D