Documentary films. Um, definitely not a fan.

This past week, for some reason I felt compelled to watch one. Believe it or not, I actually watched two. Almost 2 hours in total. Good thing, it didn’t even feel like a waste of time. Both of these were documentaries on the food industry. American shows but still relevant to the rest of the world to some extent.

It got me thinking. We need food. We can’t survive without food. Food is an essential part of our lives. As simple as it might sound, it’s probably not the easiest thing  nowadays because of all the food-like substances that are so easily and cheaply available. With the constant busyness, we somehow neglect the fact that we need to eat food, REAL FOOD.

One thing that really stood out for me is how much food has been modified.

Take for example bread, the single most consumed item in the whole world. Whole wheat gets  milled into white flour and along the way losing a tremendous amount of nutrients. To rectify this, a new concept came up; enriched flour. Since some nutrients have been lost, they try to restore them hence why you walk down the bread aisle, you see loads of different breads screaming out their nutritional value. Best alternative – you could stick to fiber-rich unrefined, whole-grain breads instead.

So what did I get from these shows?

1. We have the Power – Food doesn’t and shouldn’t have power over us. Our well-being depends on what we ingest, so the choices we make every single day  have the power to provide us with true health and optimal wellness.
2. Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.  This was probably the best thing that I came across. Choosing food that is more in its original natural state.

Regardless of which diet plan you follow, I hope we all get to learn to avoid going for those food-like substances that are usually heavily processed food, or enjoy in moderation because usually they are loaded with added sugars, salt and fats. Ultimately we should  familiarize ourselves with the Nutrition Facts Label and ingredient list.  Do more cooking and food prep at home to maximize control over the food processing.

Our health comes down to our decision making, so I hope on the next shopping trip we are more aware of which particular items we pick.  The more natural it is, the healthier it may be.

PS: The documentaries – In Defense of Food and What The Health, found both on Netflix.

Wise decision making for your health my people