What’s for Dinner?

I frequently am asked – “what diet do you recommend?”  I think about all of the diets so popular right now – South Beach, Paleo, Atkins, Mediterranean, Eat Right For Your Blood Type, Zone diet, etc. It’s dizzying! My answer is always simple – whole foods. Real food, like naturally raised meats, vegetables grown in quality soil, without chemical pesticides and herbicides, fresh fruit. You know the kind that actually nourishes your body, not just fills your belly.  Food has become a social event on one hand, and something to get done quickly and get out of your way so you can attend to “more important things” on the other hand.

We’ve lost what is important about food. We’ve lost the connection to earth and the opportunity to learn things and have fun as a family.  We’ve lost the elements of a family unit that bound them together in past centuries – food.

There is a movement abound that entails preparing foods like in the past. Foods ranging from making yogurt like they did over 2000 years BC, to grandmother’s chicken soup.

Called by ancient cultures “the food of the gods”, homemade yogurt from fresh goat or cow milk is enjoying a comeback in homes everywhere. Scientific studies have shown that real chicken soup (not from a can) supports healthy immune function and bone health – just like our ancestors claimed. It is easy to make, and more homes are enjoying it. With bread machines making homemade breads easier, we are seeing a comeback in that as well.

Unfortunately, quality food preparation, done right, takes time. With the help of the internet, and some modernization, we can actually prepare whole, nutrient-dense foods in a fraction of the time our ancestors did. It is a matter of finding a simple routine, being taught (or reminded) of the basics of food preparation, and some ingenuity to simplify kitchen processes to fit today’s busy schedules.

I have been especially excited over the past couple of years about what I have learned (or re-learned) from our ancestors who valued good foods. Their lives were dependent upon them. They didn’t need science to define what was needed, they knew instinctually. It was wisdom that was in their genes. It was passed down from generation to generation. It wasn’t geared towards just getting it out of the way. Food was life itself. It was necessary for survival. It was sacred. Nourishing their children was one of the most important endeavors to the primitive man. It meant survival of the species.

As we nourish our families with real food, quality food, there is a deeply satisfying feeling that we experience that no diet trend could ever do.

©2011 Holly A. Carling, O.M.D., L.Ac., Ph.D.

Dr. Holly Carling

Dr. Holly Carling

Dr. Holly Carling is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Naturopathy, Clinical Nutritionist and Master Herbologist with nearly four decades of experience. Dr. Carling is a “Health Detective,” she looks beyond your symptom picture and investigates WHY you are experiencing your symptoms in the first place. Dr. Carling considers herself a “professional student” – she has attended more than 600 post-secondary education courses related to health and healing. Dr. Carling gives lectures here in the U.S. and internationally and has been noted as the “Doctor’s Doctor”. When other healthcare practitioners hit a roadblock when treating their patients nutritionally, Dr. Carling is who they call. Dr. Carling is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health care services and whole food nutritional supplements in her Coeur d’ Alene clinic.

Medical/Health Disclaimer:

The information provided in this article or podcast should not be construed as personal medical advice or instruction. No action should be taken based solely on the contents of this article or podcast. Readers/listeners should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being. The information and opinions provided here are believed to be accurate and sound, based on the best judgment available to the author, but readers/listeners who fail to consult appropriate health authorities assume the risk of any injuries.

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