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Choosing Healthy
Foods for a Healthier
Life
Tom Ansell is a member
of Toronto, ON Local
3888. His testimonial
below is about how he
changed his lifestyle
and improved his health
by eating the right
foods every day.
As members of the IAFF,
we lead a unique
lifestyle faced with
many challenges, not the
least of which is
finding a way to manage
our diet and health.
I personally have dealt
with my own health
issues over time,
including chronic
arthritis pain that
could have been
debilitating and forced
me off the job. Rather
than accept declining
health and constant
pain, I found the road
to a much healthier
lifestyle – and now live
pain free and feel
great.
Understanding what part
of our diet is causing
us harm makes it easier
to protect ourselves and
our loved ones. By using
simple rules to modify
your diet you can eat
healthier with
noticeable results, in a
long-term and
sustainable way.
I did this with a system
I call SWOP that
identifies foods I
should MINIMIZE as much
as possible in my diet –
and is a quick reference
when at the grocery
store.
S
Sweet - Reports indicate
that 40 percent of sugar
in processed foods comes
from high fructose corn
syrup, which your body
stores in the liver and
as fat. Avoid foods that
are sweetened by sugar
and artificial
sweeteners. A good
alternative is Stevia,
an herb that works great
as a coffee sweetener,
comes in packets and is
extremely potent.
W
White - Nutrient and
fiber depleted
carbohydrates, such as
processed flour, rice,
pasta and potatoes fill
you up, but lack the
antioxidants and
nutrients your immune
system needs to stay
healthy. Your body
converts the starch to
sugar, which puts your
body in a state of
hyperglycemia,
processing sugar with
your liver and storing
it as fat.
O
Oils - Most oils we use
to cook with and that
are used in processed
foods are altered in the
manufacturing process.
These oils are
pro-inflammatory and
cause damage to our body
at the cellular level.
Cold pressed extra
virgin olive oil, extra
virgin organic coconut
oil and high quality
butter are not altered
and provide the body
with omega 6 oils and
fats the body is looking
for.
P
Processed - Processed
foods, in many cases,
contain MSG, artificial
color and flavor,
preservatives,
sweeteners and other
ingredients that make
food last longer on the
shelf and enhance the
flavor and aesthetics.
Also Consider: Cooking
foods on high heat
damages even good oils,
making them unhealthy.
Use medium to low heat
when cooking (too much
heat can deplete food of
vitamins and nutrients
and alter its chemistry,
making it unhealthy!).
Keeping a sensible diet
has helped give me a
fantastic quality of
life. I have also had
the pleasure of watching
others follow this same
approach and achieve a
better quality of life
for themselves, one
without unnecessary
medications and
surgeries.
I recommend keeping even
a rough journal of your
health issues and
improvements. You will
be surprised when you
look back at the things
you thought where
normal. Some of the
things I noticed
include:
-
Food cravings
disappeared (I
always caved to a
Lindor chocolate)
-
Energy levels
improved
-
I sleep better and
wake up feeling
rested
-
Arthritis pain
became very
manageable. My
knee and toe used to
be unbearably
painful all day
long. Now the
pain only flares up
when I do heavy work
or sports
-
My large toe - some
people said suffered
gout or arthritis
and was in pain and
getting larger every
day. Today it
is getting smaller
and hurts only once
in awhile
-
I think clearer and
have a sense of
well-being
-
Empowerment - I feel
in control of my
health again instead
of the other way
around
The ability your body
has to heal itself and
fight disease when it
has the right tools is
quite remarkable. I’ve
seen people either rid
their body of disease or
heal their body to the
point that they don’t
suffer symptoms. Members
of the IAFF and their
families can experience
health benefits like
these with a few simple
dietary changes.
Choosing foods that fall
under SWOP puts your
body in a state of
inflammation, causing
cellular damage that
promotes disease. Worse,
it teaches bad food
decisions to our
children. Choosing real,
whole foods provides
your body with vitamins
and nutrients it
desperately needs to
stay healthy and fight
disease.
You are what you eat. By
putting only good things
in your mouth – you give
your body the best
chance it has to stay
healthy despite an
environmentally
hazardous profession.
All the best of health,
Tom Ansell
If you would like to
contact Tom Ansell about
his experience or ask
him questions please
email him at
tojakani@hotmail.com
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