Healthy Food Choices

ByDr. Glen Reed Posted on Updated on

Good morning, everyone! Dr. Glen here, back with another Monday morning motivation. Last week, we started discussing genetic congruence and if you missed it, let me give you a quick recap.

Genetic congruence is the idea that our bodies were designed, created, or evolved to function optimally within a certain environment. Like a Formula One car on a race track, if we keep our bodies in the environment they were designed for, our health will flourish.

The Natural Environment for Our Body

So, how do we know what that environment is? It’s quite simple. When talking to my kids or patients, I usually give this advice: pick foods that nature created and humans haven’t changed.

That sounds pretty straightforward, right? Pizza, Mars bars, chocolate puffs cereal – it’s obvious these aren’t natural foods. But it gets a bit more complicated when we talk about things like fresh-squeezed orange juice.

Fresh-Squeezed Orange Juice: A Case Study

How can fresh-squeezed orange juice possibly be unhealthy? Well, we’ve heavily modified it. If you’re going to eat a whole orange, you’ll probably manage one or two before your stomach tells you it’s had enough. That’s because the fiber in the orange helps you feel full and slows down the absorption of sugar into your bloodstream.

When you squeeze oranges into juice, you’re removing that fiber and concentrating the sugar. You might easily drink the juice of eight oranges, consuming much more sugar than you would by eating the fruit. Your body processes this sugar differently, and not in a good way

The Problem with “Modified” Foods

I’m going to say something controversial now. Even products like Isagenix, which are marketed as all-natural, have been heavily modified by humans. This changes the health benefits of the ingredients. So, while these products aren’t necessarily bad, they’re not as healthy as eating the actual food source

Conclusion

In conclusion, when it comes to genetic congruence, it’s all about aligning our bodies with the environment they were designed for. By choosing natural, unmodified foods, we can help our bodies function at their best.

As always, I’m here for you. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out. Stay safe, stay healthy, and see you next Monday morning!