Dear Yoga Student,
When I first got into healthy living, one of
my old friends asked me:
“Why does everyone in the health food
store look so sick?”
I didn’t want to admit it, but he was right. Sick
people hang out in health food stores, obsess
over foods choices, and study labels like scientists.
The world is full of paradoxes like this, and here’s
what REALLY gets me:
At least 1/2 the “health food” on the market isn’t
actually healthy at all. I’m serious. Sugar-free
cookies, bran-filled muffins, fat-free ice cream…
this stuff is all processed garbage.
I know this because I put it to the test in 1999.
For 3 months straight, I ate nothing but Balance
Bars (these little energy bars sold at GNC, grocery
stores, and gas stations).
They used to have a flavor called Strawberry-Yogurt,
and I ate those damn things like they were going
out of style.
Let me whet your palate: each bar had a white cream
coating that covered a brown turd nugget with the
consistency of a 3-week old brownie. And inside, it
contained the following:
* 15 grams of protein
* 15 grams of carbs
* 6 grams of fat
* 23 essential vitamins & minerals
* 100% daily allowance of Vitamin C & E
* Full B vitamin spectrum
Back then, I used to smoke and drink, so the above
nutrients sounded like a jackpot. I was in pathetic
shape with a weak and floppy body; but I figured I
just needed some better nutrients.
So I gave up all food and just munched on these
perfect little “balanced” bars instead.
Surprise, surprise, I felt like crap. My eyes turned
grey, I stank like garbage, and I used the toilet
about once every 3 days… nightmare!
In the morning, I’d wake up with a coppery taste
in my mouth, and my pee was as bright as orange
juice (there goes those “23 essential vitamins”).
Back then, I couldn’t figure it out. Technically,
I had everything an exceptionally healthy person
needs: the protein, the nutrients, the right amount
of fat.
But with food, “technically” doesn’t mean squat.
Naturally is what matters.
Case and point: do you know anyone who eats
meat and potatoes every day and is super healthy?
I do. Know anyone who eats “health foods” all day
and yet looks and feels like crap? I do.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying give up your
healthy meals for 2 all-beef patties on a sesame
seed bun… but what I am saying is that WHOLE
food trumps so-called HEALTH food 7 days a week.
No packaging. No processing. No additives.
No nothing.
Food comes from the earth, and the really healthy stuff
arrives on your plate shortly thereafter. If you’re into
yoga, if you want to be more flexible, if you’re trying
to connect with your physical body… then I gotta tell
you, food is where it’s at!
Stay bendy,
Lucas
YOGABODY Naturals LLC
p.s. The only thing that might trump whole foods for
nutrition are Superfoods. Have you seen our Micro
Mineral Green formula? It’s the quickest way to “green
up” a blah meal… YOGABODY Store
at 1:09 pm - 10th January 2010 Permalink
I agree completely! I have worked in the natural/organic foods industry for about 10 years and have really seen a shift from what the movement was originally about to pre-packaged snacks and meals being placed in large supermarket chains. I left the industry last year to pursue my own agenda and am seeing the “new” movement swing around back to locally grown, locally produced foods centering around local communities. I find that really exciting! Add to that all the information coming out like Food Inc and Michael Pollan’s “Omnivore’s Dilemma” and “Food Rules”… It’s an exciting time to see real change happening.
at 11:47 pm - 8th August 2010 Permalink
We aren’t really sure of the food that we eat if they are healthy or not, even veges can still have toxic on it because of the fertilizer and pesticides that are applied to it. We eat to live and to survive and yet the number one cause of illness in our world today is because of the food that we ate. Too bad =(
at 9:23 am - 13th August 2010 Permalink
It’s a whole different thing, eating “health food” and eating “food comes from the earth’ (i like the way you call it). If we want to be sure if what we are eating are natural and organic we could plant/grow it in our own backyard. I’ve been keeping my little organic garden in my backyard for a year now. We should distinguish they real health foods.