Healthy Summer Eating Focuses the Ancient Ideas That Lead to Heart Health

Much of the philosophy of traditional Chinese medicine focuses on the belief that the life and activity of individual human beings have an intimate relationship with the environment on all levels. Our bodies change like the seasons and rely on specific nutrients to thrive in each cycle of our lives. 

Summertime is the season of heart health when consumers have more access to fresh-grown fruits and vegetables. “To keep our hearts healthy we should enjoy nature’s bounty,” said Kathi Bratberg, RN, B.S. Holistic Nutrition at Alternatives. “Fruits and vegetables feature valuable anti-oxidants that can reduce inflammation, which is one important way to maintain healthy cholesterol and heart. Add whole grains, which have the fiber to help clear out toxins in the gut, and good fats, which help suppress appetite, and you have the start to a great recipe for heart health.”

An understanding of fat is an important part of any healthy nutrition season. Much of this knowledge focuses on the differences between trans fat and saturated fat. According to the Weston A. Price Foundation http://www.westonaprice.org/images/pdfs/Trifold-TransFats2009.pdf trans fats are used in most processed foods such as commercial cakes, pies, cookies, crackers, bread, chips, pretzels, snack foods and salad dressings. The only way to avoid these is to prepare your own food with fresh ingredients. Use traditional fats that include saturated fats such as butter, lard, palm oil and coconut oil for cooking and baking, and olive oil for salad dressings, advises Bratberg. Trans fats interfere with immune function while saturate fats enhance immune function, the Weston A. Price Foundation notes. Trans fats contribute to weight gain, while some types of saturated fats boost metabolism and help with weight loss. Trans fats are associated with increased cancer and decreased fertility. Sources of saturated fat such as butter and meat fats contain many nutrients that fight against cancer and promote fertility, the Weston A. Price Foundation advises.

A healthy diet is all about balance and the foods of summertime can help you strive for that perfect mix. Combined with an understanding of healthy fat, nutritious eating has never been an easier goal to achieve.