I've mentioned the book Eat to Live several times. It is one of the very best books I've found that speaks to the mainstream in a clearly understandable way, and it's right on the nutritional mark. It isn't extreme like some raw foods books can be (although I'm not knocking a raw foods diet. For some, I think it's the best thing, but I don't believe it is for everyone either healthwise or lifestyle-wise), but Dr. Fuhrman is very direct and clear about the connection between diet and health vs. diet and disease. Although he focuses a lot on weight loss, the information is valuable whether or not weight is an issue.
Dr. Fuhrman coined the term "Nutratarian" because he believes a diet should be focused on nutrient dense foods, not just the absence of other foods. As he says, many who are vegetarians are not necessarily eating healthy because their diet may be full of cheese and other foods that aren't particularly nutritious and are most definitely not nutrient dense. Nutratarian means that the foods you eat are packed with nutrients without being heavily calorie-laden. For example, kale happens to be one of the most nutrient-dense foods available. Here's a partial rundown:
High content of calcium, vitamin C, vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene), vitamin K, potassium, manganese, copper, and even the plant form of omega-3 fatty acids (alpha-linolenic acid). In addition to the carotenoid beta-carotene, kale contains other very important carotenoid molecules called lutein and zeaxanthin (both necessary for eye health) and numerous others.
And in one cup of raw kale, there are only 34 calories. Your body will love you for this!
We are not perfect eaters at our house, but we're headed in the right direction. We will be flexible when necessary, but for the most part, we will consume vegetables, vegetables, vegetables. We've learned that veggies really do rock the house!
