The truth behind the phrase ” You are what you eat” is the simple notion that in order to be healthier, you need to eat healthier food, but is it as simple as that?

All the nutrients from all the foods we eat help to support the foundation of our structure, and the function and wholeness of every living cell in our body, from our skin and hair to our muscles, bones, digestive, and immune systems.

We may not feel it, but our bodies are in a constant state of repairing, healing, and rebuilding.

Each of the cells in our body has a “shelf life”; a stomach cell lives about a day or two, a skin cell about a month, and a red blood cell about four months.

So, every day, our body is busy making new cells to replace those that have “expired.” And how healthy those new cells are and how well they function are directly determined by the food choices we make.

A daily diet filled with highly processed food that’s low on nutrients doesn’t give our body much to work with; however, a nutrient-rich, whole food diet can help our bodies build cells that work better and are less susceptible to premature aging and disease.

Whole foods are not processed, are as close to nature as possible, and they’re free of additives, colorings, flavorings, sweeteners, and hormones. And as a rule, the closer to nature you eat, the fewer calories it will take for you to feel satisfied.

The reason for this is processed foods often have low amounts of fiber and water, a high ratio of calories to nutrients and a mix of tastes from added sugar, salt, and artificial flavorings that overly stimulates the appetite center in the hypothalamus -(an important area located deep in your brain between the pituitary gland and the thalamus that acts as your body’s smart control coordinating center)

Whole foods are the exact opposite, with lots of natural fiber and fluid, a high ratio of nutrients to calories, and free of added sugars, salts, and artificial flavors, which send signals of satisfaction to our brain quicker, which means we also consume fewer calories.

As an example, think of how many raw almonds you can eat before feeling full, then compare that to eating chips that have added salt and artificial flavoring, which keeps triggering us to eat more.

So by eating more whole foods, we tend to eat less without feeling deprived or hungry and have little to no cravings.

Some of the whole foods you can start including in your daily diet are:

And for you carnivores, choose leaner sources of protein like fish, chicken, and turkey.

The key is not to change everything at once, but start incorporating more vegetables into one of your meals each day and then build from there.

For a snack, try eating a handful of nuts instead of potato chips, or try choosing a snack that is more protein-dense.

For your meals, try preparing your breakfast, lunch, or dinner at home with fresh ingredients instead of prepackaged or eating out, and build from there.

Remember, YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT, and this will reflect negatively or positively on the outside, so fuel your body with healthier foods and snacks, and it will reward you for making better choices by reducing excess body fat, improving skin conditions, digestive issues, and helping to build a healthier gut and immune system. Healthier food leads to a healthier body, which, in turn, prevents illness and disease and increases your odds of a longer, happier life… and who doesn’t want that? ☤