This is probably in Food Rules, a book I mentioned a couple days ago–it is hard to remember that many rules. But I happened to be aware of this long before I read that book.
Basically, the color of the food we eat determines the nutrients in the food. So, the greater variety of color in your diet, the greater variety of food, and thus, a more balanced diet with a variety of nutrients. Some people hate green vegetables. But they are important, so learn to like them.
It is recommended that you eat at least one serving of each of these colors each day. That could be tough. Some of the foods simply aren’t in season all year round. But there are ways to modify your diet to include them.
For example, one year I planted purple carrots in my garden rather than orange ones. They tasted different, but they were SO yummy. Beans also come in purple. Potatoes can be white, yellow or even blue. When I haven’t included a red vegetable, I will cook with red onions. In fact, I usually do use red onions for that reason–more nutrients. Red cabbage versus green cabbage is another example. And what about the different colors of bell peppers? Is there a better orange vegetable than yams, which also come in a red color, called Garnet yams.
In addition to having different nutrients, the darker the color, the more nutrient dense a food. For example, iceberg lettuce has almost no nutritional value, except for fiber, which is also pretty low. It is mostly water. Romaine lettuce, however, is darker green and is loaded with Vitamin A. They are both lettuce, but each has a vastly different effect on the body.
When you plan your menus for the week, think about what they will look like. What will be most appetizing? Will chicken, potatoes and cauliflower look better? Or would you be better off substituting sweet potatoes and broccoli with a side salad? Which would appeal to the eye?
Have you noticed that some bold colored vegetables, like purple cabbage or red onions turn to a dull color if they are cooked too much? That is not only visually unappealing, it is a sign that many of the nutrients have been cooked out.
Finally, I have also saved the water remaining from steaming vegetables. I let it cool and put it on my plants. Some of the nutrients do get removed from boiling or steaming and they can be added to your plants. Just don’t use the cruciferous vegetables like cabbage or broccoli. Your plants will stink.
After you are done shopping in the produce section, your cart should be a gleaming basket of multi-colored jewels.
Meet Kathryn Berg the Classical Homeopath at Lotus Homeopathy, Inc.
Some of you know me, others of you may have heard of me. And for most, you probably have no clue about me or my business. So I wanted to take a few minutes to introduce myself, my family, my business, why I am a homeopath and how I became a homeopath—not necessarily in that order.
Like many people, I found out about homeopathy accidentally. I fell down while walking my Akita pup on an icy sidewalk on a typical Minnesota winter day. I was scheduled to go to a friend’s house later that day, so when I did, I asked her for some ice. You need some Arnica, she told me. Arnica? What’s that? She explained that Arnica is a homeopathic remedy for trauma.
At the time, the only place to get homeopathic remedies was a book and herb store in South Minneapolis. So I went there to get some. When I got there, I decided I should read some books so I actually knew what I was doing. I left with the Arnica 30c and three books. By the time I got done reading them, I knew I wanted to be a homeopath.
It was only several years later that I realized that I was attracted to homeopathy as a profession because I am a problem solver. It is what drives me. There is nothing like a well chosen homeopathic remedy to solve problems.
At the time I decided to become a homeopath, there wasn’t even a school here in in Minnesota. But eventually, my homeopath and his business partner started the Northwestern Academy of Homeopathy. I was a graduate of the third class. At the time I went there, it was a part time program taking three and a half years! Since then I have studied with numerous other well known and respected homeopaths in continuing education studies.
While I do work with all sorts of folks with a variety of conditions, I really have studied how to treat people suffering from PTSD, health issues related to aging women, and children’s health issues of all sorts, including autism. I have also been successful in removing blockages to healing due to suppression of symptoms by western medicine. I chose those specialties because people really suffer who have those forms of dis-ease, and Western Medicine doesn’t seem to have much of a solution for them.
After over twenty years of practice, I still get excited for clients when a remedy has helped them heal.
So that is about my business. Now, a little bit about me.
I have two adult sons in their early twenties, so I have shed the title of “Soccer mom”. My husband and I are empty nesters living in Woodbury, MN. For fun, I like to play piano, sing, sew, garden, hike, and travel. I am in a community choir. I also enjoy cooking healthy meals and, out of necessity, am an expert at cooking for special diets.
If you have any questions about homeopathy or my approach to homeopathic case taking, please feel free to put some questions in the comments below.
If you have a health issue you need help with, please click the Book Now button on my Facebook page or Main page of my website and schedule a complementary consult to see if homeopathy can help you!