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Sheila Morrow, Nutritionist and natural food cooking teacher, gave a talk at the May 2003 meeting of the Foreign Service Alumni Group. Her speech was such a success that she was asked by many for a transcript. Here, Sheila provides some guidance on how to eat healthily.

To Be, or not To Be - Healthy, That is the Question

By Sheila Morrow

You might think that after two million years on this earth, humans would have figured out what to eat. This appears not to be the case, at least in affluent societies. There has never been a civilization in all of humanity that has eaten from this man-made concocted synthetic "food" chain and in such great quantities as we do today. Unfortunately, many of us give little thought to what we eat until something goes wrong with our bodies, and yet we still find it hard to believe that food could be a source of our health problems. The law of cause and effect is always working both over and in us like the law of gravity. The law of cause and effect can take two minutes, two days, two weeks, ..... or 20 years; but its effects will be felt. Our unwholesome food habits act very similar to a slow, gentle, but steady drip of water on a rock, where in time, the rock becomes pitted, notched, hollowed out and eventually breaks. The body also with time will go through the same process, if not cared for on a daily basis.

It is very easy to be overfed yet under nourished. What do I mean by under nourished? The nutrients in foods you eat are not getting to the cellular level where life and death take place. Many unrecognized bad eating habits actually prohibit these life-giving nutrients from reaching their full potential. If we followed some easy council, the nutrients would fulfill their destiny, thus allowing you time to fulfill yours. Sounds easy? It is! Without going into the "whys" and "wherefores", there are a few things we can practice. Stay away from, as much as possible:

  • food products made with white sugar, white rice, white flour, shortening, hydrogenated oil, white salt and powdered milks
  • fried foods
  • foods containing preservatives, pesticides and those that have been subjected to high temperatures
  • burned foods, barbequed and smoked foods
  • carbonated, sugary, chemical filled, artificially sweetened and caffeinated drinks.

Now that I have completely ruined your eating pleasure, let me suggest some nourishing foods. Liberally incorporate the following into your diet:

  • brown rice and whole grain flours
  • beans, peas and lentils
  • olive, flax, sunflower, sesame and walnut oils
  • celtic sea salt and whole milk or no milk at all
  • stir fried foods
  • foods as close to nature as possible: "organic" is best
  • drug-free meats, little to no deli meats
  • foods intake: about 75% raw and/or lightly steamed food
  • purified water: reverse osmosis or distilled
  • Pure water flavoured with pure organic fruit juices
  • herbal teas and grain beverages

As the population has been well taught about oral hygiene, I believe it is high time that we become interested in "gut hygiene". The better your digestive system functions; the better the other ten systems [reproductive, immune, endocrine, etc.] function. Your digestion system needs to be pampered if ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation and elimination are to take place optimally. Your body's organs could literally be struggling to fulfill their job description with substandard materials. With some wise guidance in the right direction, we could experience a healthy and active life. Try practicing the following:

  1. Think about your choice of food. Be a conscious eater.
  2. Once in the mouth, CHEW, CHEW, CHEW until it is like apple sauce.
  3. Determine to be in a peaceful mind set when you eat.
  4. Do not eat when angry, stressed and/or in a hurry.
  5. Eat only a few foods at one meal.
  6. Do not over eat. Practice eating smaller portions.
  7. Don't drink more than 4-6 ounces of liquid during the meal.
  8. Have a good variety of colours and parts of the plant [roots, stems or leaves] in a meal.

That doesn't sound too complicated! Try one change per week and watch your body respond favourably.
Remember these three hopeful ideas:

  • little changes in your food habits can make a big difference
  • sickness and old age do not have to go hand in hand
  • always be thankful and share your bounty with others,

mixed with love and laughter.

For a greater appreciation about Forever Healthy Nutrition and Whole Food Cooking School visit Sheila at www.foreverhealthy.ca. or email her for booking at forever.healthy@magma.ca.