Disease, is just that…dis-ease. Something that is affecting your wellbeing that is causing some type of stress on your system. We know that most of us do not change our habits, especially when it comes specifically to our health, unless there is a life changing event, such as, the health of a loved one that has deteriorated, or a health drama that specifically affects ourselves. This usually, but not always, kicks us into gear to change the trajectory of poor health that we are on.

Now, my approach to this is that we should never have to wait until the issue of poor health or dis-ease arises before we begin to take steps toward prevention. If you don’t subscribe to this theory, then in essence you are being reactive toward your state of health. Fact is we should never wait until it is to late. Waiting until something appears before we begin to make attempts to prevent whatever dis-ease our bodies are dealing with can place us in a position that we would have never needed to face otherwise. You can begin to work on preemptive measure to establish good health through your diet.

I suggest that if you continuously concentrate on quality starving out disease by incorporating whole-foods regularly in your diet then it will go a long way to warding off any unrest that you may be feeling or may be brewing. Here are a few things that you should keep on the forefront of your mind when grocery shopping or dining out that will assist you in starving out unrest in your system, most of which occurs in our digestive tract. Here are, what I believe, to be two great ways to start this process!

SUGAR:

Sugar comes in various forms, hidden forms. You want to stick close to sugars in the form of fructose. When you consume it in moderation through fruits and vegetables, most of the time your body can break this down fairly easily. You should however, watch your intake of ‘added sugars.’ You want to stray away from sugars that are added to your foods in the form of sweeteners. This is because those sweeteners are chemically altered and heavily processed. You can lower your sugar intake by simply reducing the amount of processed foods you eat. So this means, pre-packaged meals, fast food and boxed meals. And you should consider staying away from soda. Research shows that 33% of the additional sugar we intake is solely from consuming soft drinks. Know that soft drink consumption has been shown to be linked to heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes. Do you need an easy formula to monitor your sugar consumption? You should try to not consume more than 10% of your total calorie intake each day.

CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES:

Cruciferous vegetables are extremely rich in nutrients, vitamins A, C, E, K, folate and beta-carotene. These vegetables are also high in fiber. Cruciferous vegetables include arugula, boo chop, broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, rutabaga, turnips, watercress, Chinese cabbage, brussels sprouts, mustard greens and many more. According to research the consumption of these vegetables can protect cells from DNA damage, assist with helping to inactivate carcinogens and have antiviral and antibacterial effect. Other benefits to these foods is that they have been proven to promote a strengthened immune system, blood purification, improve circulation, aid in cancer prevention and help with improving liver, gall bladder and kidney function. And it does not stop there, they can even help with clearing congestion in the lungs by reducing mucus!

Now, as a tip, you can utilize vegetables to satisfy your sweet tooth, without reverting to processed sugars. Try your hand at incorporating carrots, onions and sweet potatoes that will surely sway aways those cravings. Though, vegetables of the cruciferous type aren't know to have a sweet taste, vegetables like green cabbage can have an effect on the body that will assist it in maintaining your blood sugar levels and reducing the craving for sweets, especially those that are artificial!

Check out this recipe to incorporate the cruciferous veggie, brussels sprouts into your weeknight dinner!

Wellness: Starving dis-ease with your plate