Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, once said: "Let your diet be your first medicine". This quote is of great importance today, as it underlines the key role of diet in maintaining good health.
In today's fast-food, processed society, it's easy to overlook the importance of our diet. However, a healthy, balanced diet is crucial in preventing many diseases.
Indeed, in addition to the vascular problems that can lead to heart disease, a poor-quality diet can create an imbalance in the intestinal microbiota that normally helps digest food, protects the body from undesirable bacteria and stimulates the immune system.
As a result, this imbalance can lead to numerous conditions such as obesity, diabetes, inflammatory diseases such as Crohn's disease, functional digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, allergies, skin problems and so on.
Links are now also being made with psychological and neurological disorders such as depression and autism, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, chronic fatigue, autoimmune diseases and endometriosis.
Taking care of yourself starts with a high-quality diet.
A healthy diet should include vegetables, fruit, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats, preferably organic to avoid chemicals and GMOs.
Vegetables and fruit are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that boost our immune system and reduce the risk of chronic disease.
Wholegrain cereals are rich in fiber, which improves digestion and reduces the risk of colon cancer.
Lean proteins, such as lean meats, poultry and fish, are essential for muscle development.
Healthy fats, such as olive oil or walnuts, which are high in Omega 3, help reduce cholesterol levels and maintain brain health.
Conversely, to maintain the balance of your intestinal microbiota, you should avoid additives and pesticides, limit red meat, refined industrial sugar and sweeteners, gluten (opt for natural sourdough flours, which contain very little), lactose, alcohol and tobacco, and avoid self-medication.
Healthy eating is not just about what you eat, but also how you eat. It's important to eat slowly and consciously, chewing food well to enable our bodies to digest properly and better absorb nutrients.
Unfortunately, many people find it difficult to adopt a healthy diet due to factors such as lack of time, the high cost of healthy foods and lack of nutritional knowledge. However, it is possible to start adopting a healthy diet by making small changes to your diet: eating more vegetables, replacing processed foods with fresh, raw foods, limiting refined sugar and avoiding sugary drinks...
In conclusion, Hippocrates' quote is more relevant than ever. By adopting a healthy, balanced diet, we can greatly reduce the risk of chronic disease and improve our quality of life. So let's start taking care of ourselves today by choosing healthy foods and eating consciously!
Don't hesitate to consult the recipe cards on the Natflow app for inspiration.