The banana is the most commonly consumed fruit in the US and even then we don’t eat all that many. By and large, Americans don’t eat that much fruit all. When I taught nutrition at the University of Colorado, I would meet students each semester who confided in me that they NEVER ate any fruits or veggies. Without casting judgement, I felt sorry for their current and future health status. Fruits and veggies not only contain loads of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, they also contain fiber. Fiber acts like a broom that cleans out the GI tract. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that a lack of fiber in one’s diet can lead to many health problems (e.g., colon cancer is the third leading cause of death by cancer.) Having just returned from two weeks in Tahiti (Moorea, Huahine and Bora Bora) fresh fruit not only compliments each meal, sometimes it was the entire meal. Not a bad idea, particularly when it tasted so good.
• Stress Tip For The Day:
How many servings of fruits have you had today? Ideally, fruits should be included in each meal. Make it a point to include some type of fruit serving in each meal (and snacks). Nutritionists and health experts suggest to each locally grown produce whenever possible, and organic whenever possible as well. They also suggest to eat a healthy variety of fruit (not just bananas). One suggestion is to consume every color of the rainbow each day. Not only does this provide a variety of bioflavinoids (which help prevent cancer), a rainbow diet adds to the health and vitality to each chakra and its associated color, from the root chakra (red) to the crown chakra (purple). Consider making a list of the seven colors of the rainbow and next to each color, list five fruits and veggies of that color. Use this as your next grocery list.
• Links/Books Worth Noting:
This website calculates the amount of fruits and veggies you should have per day when you enter in your age, gender and physical activity level. The next web link provides more info that we should all know about fruits and veggies.
http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/
http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/benefits/index.html
• Quote for the Day:
“A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy?” — Albert Einstein
Photo of the Day:
As part of a morning boat ride around the Bora Bora lagoon, Will, our captain pulled up anchor at a small island, smiled and said it was time to eat. He then proceeded to prepare an array of freshly picked fruit that would (and should) make any mouth water. Tahiti never tasted so good. This is what the spread looked like before it disappeared. Enjoy!
Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D. is an internationally renowned expert in the fields of stress management, mind-body-spirit healing and stress and human spirituality. He is the author of over 10 books including the bestsellers, Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water, Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward, The Art of Calm, Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart and Managing Stress (6E). He can be reached through his website:www.brianlukeseaward.net
© Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.
