Dr. Andrew Weil, one of my favorite author's and trusted health expert's in the field of health and nutrition. I actually read his book "8 Weeks to Optimal Health" as a graduate student and really tuned into his mind-body approach to healing. One thing I commonly see everyday in most of the patients I visit with is that they all suffer from some form of inflammation. Inflammation is the root cause of most illnesses such as heart disease, cancers and Alzheimer's. Inflammation also exists in our oral health, and just had a 30 minute conversation today with my dental hygienist regarding this and how important brushing and flossing can be to prevent inflammation. This is not a "diet" in particular but a lifestyle change to improve our overall health and road map to feeling good. The key is to aim for variety, try to include carbohydrates, fats and proteins at all meals. (40-50 percent of your calories should come from carbohydrates, 30 percent from fat, and 20-30 percent from protein).
- Avoid products made with high fructose corn syrup
- Cook pasta al dente and eat in moderation
- Strive to eat fish 2-3x a week, take a supplement of fish oil (in capsule form)
- Try to incorporate fiber into your diet >30 grams a day
- Choose fruits and vegetables from all parts of the color spectrum
- Choose organic produce whenever possible (see more on this in blogs to come)
- Consider eating ginger and turmeric (both have anti-inflammatory) effects on the body.
- If you need to drink alcohol, use red wine instead.
Dr. Weil has put together a great Anti-Inflammatory Food Pyramid and I urge you to visit his website or read any of his books to get a jump start on this anti-inflammatory road to healing.
