Guest Blogger Thursday: Chef Frank Giglio

After years of working with people in and out of the health industry, I have come to learn that the best way to create a healthier lifestyle is to simply ADD in better food choices.  Adding in healthier choices to your current diet will help lead to a healthier body.  Without making major changes, which for some people, can often lead to binges and even more less than excellent food choices, just simply add in the goods!  

No matter what you are eating, try to step up to the best sources of those foods.  For example, if you are eating conventional produce, start purchasing organic.  If you are a meat eater, look for grass-fed and chemical free sources.  Wild fish is a healthier choice than farm raised seafood.  Instead of buying boxed grain dishes which usually contain high salt seasoning packets, begin to create these dishes from scratch using whole foods and organic ground spices and seasonings.  

The ADD Program - 10 ways to add to your lifestyle and see results!

1-Water: Many of us are not drinking enough water.  There is no magic number of exactly how much to drink, because it really depends on your activity level throughout the day.  A good idea is to try and start your day by drinking a quart of water.  Do your best to seek out natural springs of acquire a high quality filter system for your home.  

2-Organic: By switching foods that you and/or your family eat to those that are grown organically, we can ensure the elimination of harmful chemicals like herbicides, pesticides, and more from entering our bodies thru the food system.

3-A Salad A Day: Consuming one good sized salad a day can be a excellent addition to your lifestyle.  Eating a wide variety of fresh greens delivers of host of vitamins and minerals.  Enjoy your greens with your favorite veggies, nuts and seeds. Make this the main dish of that meal and add to it, as opposed to it being a side dish.

4-Fermented Foods: So many people suffer from the inability to properly digest what we eat.  Eating ferments like sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt, and kefir will aid in mineral absorption as well as provide a host of beneficial bacteria called probiotics.  These friendly bacteria help to build gut flora which will ease the digestion of food.  Many vitamins like B and K are found in fermented foods that would normally only be found in animal products.  So it is important, especially for those on a more plant based diet to regularly consume fermented foods.

5-Seaweeds and Algaes: Seaweeds like nori(sushi), dulse, and kelp are very easy to add into your diet and offer up a high mineral rich food source.  Seaweeds are so easy to add in to your diet.  Dulse flakes, for example are often sold in bottles and can easily be sprinkled onto any meal.  Kelp is a fantastic assistant in proper thyroid function.  Algaes like spirulina and chlorella provide a high level of protein and boost the levels of chlorophyll in the body.

6-Herbal Teas: Simple and easy. Drink 1 cup of herbal tea daily. This doesn’t mean you have to give up your morning coffee routine. There are many tea herbs that are delicious and would make great bedtime teas. Pau D’arco is one that is found in many stores in the boxed tea section, and it is a great anti-fungal, anti-viral herb. Dandelion Leaf is another easy one found in most stores that is a great liver tonic and cleanser. 

7-Whole Grains: Add in whole grains. Instead of refined flour, refined carbohydrates, refined pastas, and refined breads (i.e. “white”), stick to Whole Grains. If you eat bread, try a sprouted whole grain style such as Ezekiel. If you love pastries, try making your own from scratch and use spelt, almond, or coconut flour. Look for “Gluten Free” options at the store. Instead of white rice, try brown or wild rice, quinoa, amaranth, millet, or buckwheat.

8-Alternative Sweeteners: There are many alternatives to using sugar or sugar-like substances as a sweetener. Next time at the store look for - raw honey, stevia, xylitol, maple, molasses, or brown rice syrup. All of these are better options than sugar or any heavily processed sweeteners, like aspartame, Sucralose, or high fructose corn syrup. 

9-High Quality Animal Foods:  For those of you consuming animal foods, I feel it is absolutely essential to source out the highest quality products possible.  Factory farmed animal foods pose a threat not only to the environment, but also to our well-being.  Animals are meant to feed on grass and when given an unnatural diet(soy, corn and grains), the nutritional profile is completely threatened.  Choosing pasture or free-ranged animal foods included meats, eggs, and poultry, will allow to receive the try healing properties of the food you consume.

10-Easy on the Soy: As an alternative to flesh foods, people are told that soy is a fantastic vegetarian source for protein.  Continuous studies now show that excess consumption of soy can lead to overly high levels of estrogen in the male and female body.  These means, that boys raised on soy formulas may actually develop breasts when they get to their teen years.  Woman's hormonal systems are being thrown out of whack due to the excess estrogens.  Fermented soy like MISO, Tempeh, and small portions of soy sauce are you best bet for soy usage because of the fermentation process.  

For more information on Frank and Frank's Finest Foods, please click here! 

Frank is also the Executive Chef and Contributing Editor at www.TheBestDayEver.com 

XO