Basic Steps to Eating More Natural

Natural eating isn't as hard as it looks. After all, aside from nutrition, eating is all about flavors. There are six main tastes that we all share. Sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, and astringent. If you can identify the flavors you are craving, it'll make it easier to eat clean since you can simply replace a processed flavor profile with an unprocessed identical flavor profile.

Most people choose combinations such as:

·         Sweet, sour, salty

·         Sweet, bitter, astringent

·         Pungent, bitter, and astringent

These flavor profiles listed in the order you taste the flavors are important. Other arrangements of food can be repulsive or gross. If you keep these flavor profiles in mind as you create your dishes you'll keep the flavors balanced and satisfying. 

The most fabulous part of natural eating is that you can change your eating habits without sacrificing taste. With that in mind, consider the following ways to incorporate more natural eating into your life.

• Substitute Natural Items for Processed Items

Natural food is always better than processed. It doesn't matter how natural the label says it is, fresh is your first choice. Sometimes you're going to be put into situations where you are required to choose a poor choice, but you can combine one poor choice with other better choices to help reduce the harm.

For example, instead of having an apple strudel, choose to make something fresh with apples. Think of the flavors that are in an apple strudel and find substitutions that work. 

Combine chopped apples, chopped dates, raisins, lemon zest, lemon juice and raw pecans, with a touch of cinnamon and honey to get the same flavor profile as apple strudel for less fat, calories and chemicals. You can eat this raw, or cooked without worrying about harming your body.

• Prepare Food in Advance

If you prepare in advance by cutting up veggies and ingredients before hand, you can quickly prepare dishes on work days by just putting it together. For instance, if you are craving a savory soup it doesn't take long to throw some fresh veggies together with broth, and some left over organic roasted turkey, chicken or other cooked meat to make a delightful, almost from scratch soup, that will beat the heck out of canned soup any day. 

Almost anything you can buy already prepared will be better when prepared fresh, in taste and nutrition level.

• Add in Veggies Where You Can

Wherever you can add in veggies, do so. You can add many different types of veggies to various dishes by shredding them. Lasagna is great with added shredded zucchini as is spaghetti sauce. You can also add shredded carrot instead of the sugar recommended in your grandma's tomato sauce recipe. 

In fact for almost all dishes that you make that are casserole based there is a way to make it healthier by choosing the flavors that are as close to nature as possible instead of the already prepared version. There is always something you can add that is natural to get the flavors you want.

• Eat More Raw Plant Based Food

There are tons of recipes out there using only plant based natural foods that you can use to replace your favorite foods including snacks. Avoid raw food recipes that add processed foods like agave nectar, for instance because it's processed.

Like with most things, when the food industry gets involved, you can bet there will be confusion. Agave nectar might possibly be a better choice than high fructose corn syrup, but if it is, it's only because it raises blood sugar levels less than HFCS. It's still not good for you, and it is processed, and it's likely not really raw.

You can make a delicious Red Pepper Hummus that has no oil by blending drained canned chick peas, (or make your own in the Instant Pot, to make it even better) chopped red bell peppers, add a bit of lime, a couple teaspoons tahini, some nutritional yeast and a pinch or two of sea salt with your food processor. Eat with slices of carrots, cucumber, broccoli and cauliflower.

• Ensure You are Eating Enough

You might be shocked to realize how much you can eat when eating naturally. Some people who suffer from cravings and fall off the wagon can trace it directly to not eating enough calories. There is a great online calculator called a CRON-O-Meter. It's a free application that allows you to check your diet to ensure that you are eating enough calories to maintain the weight you wish to be.

• Eat The Nutrition You Need

You need to eat the right levels of nutrition for your desired results.  Each person is individual. Some people who are eating organically eat a Paleo diet, some choose a high-carb diet,  yet others choose a vegetarian or vegan diet. 

But, mostly we all need the same nutrients. It's just how you get, and what levels you need, them that might differ. As long as you're eating an unprocessed diet, void of empty calories, and high in plants in the right caloric level, you won't usually have a problem.

If you want to be sure you're getting the optimal levels of nutrition for your body use the CRON-O-Meter and also ask your healthcare professional for a blood test to determine your current status so that you can optimize your diet for your personal needs. 

Some people are naturally deficient in vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, and even zinc. Getting your levels checked can help you know what to add to your diet, and what to take away.

• Avoid or Drastically Cut Down on Dairy Products

While it may be of some contention to many, eating dairy can be a problem for most adults. If you can't do without it entirely by using plant based milk substitutes, then ensure that you only eat organic, non GMO, hormone and antibiotic free brands. 

For most adults, dairy products cause bloating, indigestion, acne and phlegm. If you have any of these problems try cutting out dairy or drastically limiting it to no more than 5 percent of your calories and you will notice a big difference in your results.

• Watch Your Sodium Additions

A lot of food has a natural amount of sodium. Your body needs sodium, but most people get many times more than their daily requirements of 115 mg. to 500 mg. depending on the climate you live in. If you  live in a hotter climate you'll need more. You don't need to go that low though, as those are minimum daily requirements. 

You can eat up to 2,300 mg per day along with 4,700 mg of potassium to stay balanced. If you are eating more, gradually cut down cooking with salt adding it only at the table. In addition, watch the amount of sodium in many condiments. You're not going to eat that many condiments on a clean diet to start with, but they are often overlooked due to the small amounts. Even in these small amounts the sodium can add up.

• Stay Hydrated

Many people are chronically dehydrated and don't even realize it. Do note, however, that if you are eating a diet high in plants, especially raw veggies and fruit, you will not need to drink as much water as you may be accustomed to. 

But if you are eating a Paleo diet, a high protein diet, or one with more dehydrated foods (cooked) where the water has been removed, be sure to drink more water. How much you need is individual.

The important thing to watch for is changes in your urine output, color and smell. Remember that some foods, like asparagus can affect the urine, change the color and make it smell badly. This is natural and okay. Having said that, you want your pee to normally be light yellow to clear in color and not have a strong unpleasant smell. Drink water when you are thirsty, especially during exercise and when you get up in the morning. Choose water over other beverages.

• Give Your Digestive System a Break

While you can eat all day when incorporating a natural eating plan, due to the high volume of fruits and veggies you can eat, you shouldn't. It's better to give your digestive system a break. If you stop eating three hours before bed, and try not to eat at least three hours between meals you'll find that you suffer less digestive troubles and sleep better at night. Of course, if you are truly hungry, have at it. 

But, if you get used to eating when you are very hungry, meaning your mouth is watering, and your tummy is growling, and then eating until you are satiated, you'll experience more satisfaction and success.

Finally, even though it has nothing to do with eating natural, get moving. Living a natural lifestyle can only be improved by incorporating an exercise plan. You can make it fun by making exercise an activity such as skating, bowling, gardening, tossing a Frisbee, or some other group activity with friends and family.