letterfrompublisher Joanna DeHart Photography
Food for Thought
W
hile there are many variables in our daily lives we cannot control, we can determine what we eat. One of the core principles of alternative health states that making lifestyle choices which support the body’s immune system is the single most effective thing we can do for our health.
When our food is viewed as nourishment, the focus of daily meals quickly becomes our health. “View each meal as a chance to heal,” says Mark Hyman, MD, New York Times bestselling author and nutrition advocate. “If you eat the right foods, the body knows what to do so you can regain your health by eliminating problems such as fatigue, bloating and brain fog.” Supporting a healthy lifestyle can be that simple, but with today’s convoluted food industry, it can also be that challenging to navigate through multiple locations in search of fresh, natural ingredients to create healthy meals.
Fortunately, people are stepping forward in droves to challenge the current system as they link the modern obesity epidemic to our current industrialized food chain. Individuals are placing greater awareness on the food they purchase and the effect these food products have on our health. Not just the caloric, fat, salt and sugar content are being considered, but where our food comes from and the impact the distribution chain and big business has on the final product. Savvy consumers are connecting the dots between the politics of the food lobbies and products made with net profits as a priority versus quality. Parents are equally disgusted with junk food companies who literally spend billions of dollars specifically marketing unhealthy ‘foods’ to kids. All of this awareness and interest is creating better educated consumers who consciously research, read labels and seek out the best and healthiest products available. Evidence of this trend can be found in the record number of popular and passionate food documentaries made in the last several years, shedding much light on how food in America is produced and exposing many of the shortcomings associated with this multi-trillion dollar industry. Healthy living enthusiasts are demanding answers and voting with their dollars by choosing healthier food options and supporting local sources when possible. This month in Natural Awakenings, we bring you an array of local and national resources on food related health topics to help you sort through the latest resesarch and information. We hope you enjoy this issue. Join the conversation with us on facebook at Natural Awakenings Charlotte and tell us what you do to stay healthy! Remember, great health starts with your fork ... Health & Happiness,
4
Charlotte Edition
AwakeningCharlotte.com