5 easy steps to a healthier diet.

Changeing ones diet might be a real tough challenge. Habits, emotions and sometimes addictions might be things we have to face and put some work into changing. Here are a few tips that can be helpful. And don't forget to celebrate your successes!

1) YOUR FIRST MEAL
Change breakfast - might be the deepest routine, thou for most people it's also the one meal that's always the same, so then there is really only one thing to change.

Tips on what to eat!!!
What is there to eat if you want to make a better choice for breakfast? Well of course it depends on what you are eating today. Here are some suggestions.

a) make a smoothie (bananas, strawberries and some water makes a delicious morning starter, or mango and orange)
b) make a smoothie and pour it in a bowl, add nuts, shredded coconut, diced fruit and maybe some raisins
c) make a nut porridge in a food processor. Add (soaked) nuts and/or soaked buckwheat, some soaked raisins, water, apple and cinnamon and blend. Top with a spoon of honey.


2) RAW VEGGIES
Add 50% raw veggies and leafy greens to EVERY plate/meal.

Tips on good veggies!!!
Any veggie is great; leafy greens, cucumber, tomato, paprika, celery, fennel, cabbage, savoy cabbage, zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, sprouts, onion, avocado (of course), lime etc. Make a salad and add fresh spices to it like parsley, basil, oregano and thyme. Add ginger, cayenne, chili and garlic for "heat".

3) DON'T CUT AWAY - CUT DOWN
Don't cut away the things you really love, even if they are really "bad". Cut down and have them as nice treats from time to time instead - or change to a healthier alternative.

Here you can find the recipe for the raw cheesecake!

4) CONNECTION
Connect with your food and find fiends who share your interest in healthy foods and share as many meals as you feel comfortable about (and that is doable) with them.


5) MAKE IT REASONABLE
100% is not the goal! It's more important that you feel comfortable and that you feel good about what you eat. Rather than huge leaps that makes you step back later, take small steps forward and celebrate your successes. Remember

"Every journey start with one step."

with love and gratitude

Raw Food Pyramid

http://vegan-raw-diet.com/

An unscientific alkaline contribution

"I lost weight without even trying, I felt brighter, had far more energy, my skin was brighter. Plus, you stop craving sugar because your blood-sugar levels are more balanced. Even the ridges in my nails have gone; it really did change the way I looked at food." says Natasha Corrett (chef and co-founder of Honestly Healthy)


Make your own study
There are no or very few large scientific studies made so far (that I know of). My suggestion is that you conduct your own very small and very striking study. Take 30 days of your life (if you live until your 80 that will be 0,1% of your lifetime) and go at least 70% alkaline. Be sure to note (on paper or not) how your feel before, during and after every meal. Also note how you feel two hours after your meals. Is that hard? Can you do that? Will you start today, without changing your diet, and answer the same question: How do I feel right now? 


Then when you feel ready, do the diet change for 30 days (0,1% of your expected lifespan). Keep asking the same question (How do I feel right now?) before, during and after every meal, plus two hours after your meals. You will note a stunning difference! Will you give 0,1% of your life to feel the difference? To get you started, here are a few suggestions on what to eat and what to avoid.


GO CRAZY: ALKALINE FOODS
Avocado; leafy green vegetables; sprouted beans, lentils and seeds; qinoua; green and white tea; fatty fish (thou might contain high levels of heavy metals and pesticides and is not very eco-friendly); most nuts; berries; lemons; tomatoes; watermelons; broccoli; spinach; kale; asparagus; beetroot; cauliflower; cucumber; peppers and paprika.


DANGER ALERT: ACIDICFOODS
Red meat; wheat; cheese; cream and milk; coffee; alcohol; peanuts; cashew and pistachio nuts; seafood (excluding oily fish); biscuits; refined sugar; eggs, most refined and industry processed foods. 


Here you can find more extensive charts:
http://www.snyderhealth.com/foodash.htm


It is okay to have food from the acidic section. Just be moderate and counteract with more foods from the alkaline section. Give it a try! What do you have to loose, except some extra weight maybe?


What I have learnt from people all over the world, and that is also now being rooted within the medical society, is that inflammation is the mother of disease. A lot of that inflammation is caused by high acidity.


One of the pioneers on pH is Robert Young, who says: "I was doing research into the effect of diet and lifestyle on blood, and realized there was a correlation between what we were eating and how we were living, and how it impacted on the chemistry of the fluids of the body. The human body is alkaline by design, but all its functions produce acid. So our need for alkaline is constant and what we eat and drink helps to buffer the acids that we produce."


When will you start? 
Remeber it's only 0,1% of your expected life and you are free to abort at any time within the 30 days of after. Start with the question (How do I feel right now?), then go with the diet. Don't worry about having it right. Just add more of the alkaline foods and aim to reach 70%. One really easy way is to add salads to every meal and making the meal a side dish, then you don't even have to learn any new cooking. Also exchange you rice, potatoes and pasta for qinoua, lentils and sprouts.


So,
WHEN IS NOW A GOOD TIME TO START?