Nutrition: Next-Level Basics

| Nutrition: Next-Level Basics 🍽🥦🥑🍇🍒   By Courtney Paige, Editor-in-Chief |

Get to know the difference between nutrition and supplements. It’s more important now than ever before.

Are they different? Are they the same? What’s the difference? In this article, we get to the root of these questions.

Did you know your body can get most of the nutrients it needs from the food you eat? 

The reality is, vitamin and mineral supplements primarily benefit people who have nutrient deficiencies. Know your deficiencies, don’t guess. Before starting any new health regime, check in with your doctor first.

Would you believe an overwhelming reason people develop nutritional deficiencies is that they aren’t eating enough nutrient-dense foods?

Yes, we’re all in a hurry these days without a moment to spare, and packaged food is convenient, but still, this doesn’t change the fact that fast food isn’t the answer to a stress-free life. In fact, eating packaged and process foods may save time in the short-term but isn’t likely to extend your longevity in the end.

A growing world population, massive manufacturing, and our country’s insatiable desire to devour processed foods have pushed our nation past the tipping point and into a health crisis epidemic.

So how can you start making mindful changes?

Nutritional balance is about getting back to the basics. No one says it’s easy. It’s simply a mental shift.

Would you be surprised to know vitamin supplements or packaged food won’t give your body the ample nutrition it needs? Supplements are only valuable if they have support from the body’s fruit and veggie intake. Using supplements in place of food does not benefit the body. Don’t confuse replacement with supplement.

The most efficient and enjoyable way to obtain nutrient-dense food is to treat nutrition as a lifestyle, not a diet.

“Don’t confuse replacement with supplement. The most efficient and enjoyable way to obtain nutrient-dense food is to treat nutrition as a lifestyle.” 

Brittle hair and dry skin can be the first signs of deficiency. Depending on age, health, stress level and environment, taking supplements in addition to nutritious whole foods is optimal.

Vitamin C, for instance, is a water-soluble nutrient that creates connective tissue within the body.

Every cell in our body depends on this connective tissue. Every single cell.

Think twice next time you open a package of mass-produced food and ask yourself, “Where did this come from? What’s in it? And how long has it been on a shelf?” If these three talking points don’t give you cause for pause, I’m not sure what will.

Instead, focus on the joy of eating fresh fruits like cantaloupe, blueberries, papaya, and kiwi which actually have more vitamin C than an orange. Though having access to fresh fruit close to home isn’t always as easy as it sounds.

In Sonoma County, many locals use a farm-to-door service called ‘Farm Fresh to You’. Our household has used the service off and on over the years, and we’ve been pleased with the quality and customer service. The fruits and vegetables are 100% organic, seasonal, abundant, diverse, and the service is easy to start, pause or stop. Best of all, no packaging! Leave the box on the front door and FFTY picks up the used box and either reuses or recycles it. Brilliant!

To find a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) near you Local Harvest is a fantastic nationwide resource.

Fresh fruit can be a challenge to get during the off-season. Consider keeping dried fruit on hand. Dried apricots, dried blueberries, dried cherries and dried mangos are nutritious, filling, keep well in winter and are perfect for lunch-snacks. If you are lucky enough to have a Trader Joe’s in your town, they are a great source for affordable dried fruits and nuts. Otherwise, most cities have a community market where you can buy dried fruit in bulk.

One of our jobs at Good to Know Magazine is to quarry for good to know things. So we thought we’d try Daily Harvest. I’m sure you’ve seen it all over social media. If you’ve been following the magazine for some time now, you may remember ‘Technology chomps at the bit’, an article about the dinner delivery craze. It’s a good read with useable information.

In the end, the dinner delivery services rendered too much waste. Way more packaging than we bargained for, and we ended up with a lot of frozen meat…hence the hankering to give the fruit and veggie cup craze a try at Daily Harvest. We’ll keep you posted.

Now back to vitamins and minerals.

“Vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient that creates connective tissue within the body. Every cell in our body depends on this connective tissue. Every single cell.”

Be mindful, know which vitamins are in what foods and how your body benefits from each vitamin and mineral. To help with this overwhelming task we added a vitamin and mineral chart for easy reference. This chart covers a lot of info and is useful as an ongoing resource.

Who knew nutrition could be this simple? Fresh food gives your body a head-start, mentally and physically. Nutrition is not a discretionary expense. Next level nutrition. Go local.

Daily Harvest is offering 3 free cups in your first box. Use code REALFOOD, while the promotion lasts. Article about our experience coming up in a couple of months.

Also, Farm Fresh to You is offering $15 off your first box. Use code HEALTHY.

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Here’s to living your best life. Do what you love!