The best way to ensure you are eating healthy foods is to consume mostly foods that are directly from the earth and do not contain any artificial ingredients. The human body is too often a dumping ground for vast amounts of toxins from our foods. Nutritionists thus often say that the safest way to eat is to shop only from the "perimeter areas" of a grocery store, such as the fruit and vegetable area and avoid the aisle with processed foods.

Foods that are typically assumed to be healthy may indeed be very unhealthy if they are full of chemicals and fats. For example, I am fond of oatmeal with fruit in it. I used to buy the boxes of packets of oatmeal with several different kinds of fruit added. They tasted delicious and were a filling breakfast. Then I read an article that said that type of oatmeal is full of chemical additives and unhealthy fats. So now I just use traditional oatmeal and add my own fresh fruit and perhaps a little cinnamon too.

Diet soda is also very unhealthy. While it may save some calories from regular soda it is also packed full of unhealthy chemicals and additives. The best drinks for nutrition are water and or some fruit juice lightly diluted with some water. Drink from the earth; don't flood your body with unhealthy chemicals in diet sodas, instead nourish it with vitamins found in fruit or vegetable juice.

Canned soups are also quite unhealthy. Despite their labels of "less salt" or "reduced calorie" canned soups are typically full of salt and have unhealthy chemicals too. Cook soup from scratch at home. You will have a far healthier meal than canned soup and it will save you money too.

If you look at the label for a food you are considering purchasing and there are all kinds of chemicals listed and you do not have the slightest idea what they are just put that product back on the shelf and do not buy it. Stick with natural foods and your health will improve.

I am currently trying to eat "raw vegan" several days a week to give my body a chance to let toxins leave my system. I eat only raw vegetables or fruit a few days a week. I have wonderful salads and I enjoy delicious fresh fruit. It is a challenge; sometimes I long for a warm and cozy meal but too often those meals contain ingredients that are unhealthy so I am weaning myself from them.

Of course this routine is easy in the summer when local fruits and vegetables are available. I love just looking at a bowl of blueberries or a plate of peach slices. Fruit is so colorful and energizing looking. In the winter it is more of a struggle to eat well but some frozen fruits are available.

Taking the time to avoid foods that seem to be healthy but are not seems to becoming a habit quickly for me. I feel that my skin looks better and my energy level is up this year since trying to add some raw vegan days to my routine. Eat from the earth. Let nature nurture you.

Learn more about this author, Julia Bodeeb White.
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