We all know that fruits and vegetables are good for us, and there really isn't any need to overthink it. As long as you eat a wide variety of fruits and veggies on a daily basis, you're doing good things for your health. There's not one "magic" vegetable that is going to make you healthier, and you don't need to spend tons of time categorizing foods or counting calories.

However, if you really want to make sure you're doing all you can to optimize your health and longevity, you may want to be sure to include some of the high-nutrient foods that have become known as "superfoods" in your daily diet. These foods are especially high in antioxidant vitamins, minerals, and good fats. And no, they're not all weird, exotic, expensive berries from the Amazon!

In fact, most of these foods are common fruits and vegetables - but not all - and you may be surprised to learn what else made the list...

Check it out below to discover which foods you should be eating regularly for optimal health!

It's no secret that modern disease is on the rise. Despite having the largest (and by far the most expensive) healthcare system in the world, it seems we're constantly hearing about increasing incidence of health issues from Alzheimer's disease to auto-immune conditions, to autism, cancer, and more.

So what gives?

Given that many of these diseases and health conditions have a dietary component, or a link to gut health...  Could it be that our behemoth of a food system is failing us?

I have previously written at length about the problems with our food system, so feel free to check out more on this topic here and here.

In the meantime, I wanted to share this month's free resource. It's a truly eye-opening and amazing docuseries on how food can be both more nutritious AND more environmentally friendly! Watch the inspiring trailer here, and sign up to save your spot now...

In recent decades, anxiety has become the most common mental health issue of our time. If you don't suffer from anxiety, you probably know someone who does. Women (most commonly), men, teens, and even children may experience anxiety on a regular basis.

Anxiety is your body's natural response to a threat - either real or perceived. But in today's world, anxiety has become a chronic condition. There can be many causes for anxiety, but chronic anxiety is typically manifested in an imbalance of brain chemicals.

What causes this imbalance is the subject of much debate, but there can be many factors - some of the most significant being related to diet. In fact, substantial amounts of research have found a close connection between gut health and anxiety (as well as other mental disorders). If you've been medicated for your anxiety and have never been told that your gut health may be a root cause, it may be time to take a closer look - and perhaps seek another doctor...

The upcoming Anxiety Summit will focus on the gut-brain connection, and delve into the research-based anxiety nutritional solutions and practical steps that you can use to determine your root causes, ease your anxiety and prevent it from coming back. The event is going on this week, and you can register here for free access. In the meantime, grab your copy of the free e-Guide below to discover 9 nutritional solutions for anxiety and improved gut health.

Over the past couple of decades, carbs have been vilified almost as thoroughly as fat was previously. Where once fat was blamed for America's weight problem, now carbs are the new evil, and low-carb (or even no-carb) diets have become all the rage. Books and articles abound about the different types of carbs and how much of them you should (or shouldn't) consume.

But as is the case with many dietary trends, we often end up throwing the baby out with the bathwater, so to speak. In fact, the body needs both fats AND carbohydrates to function properly. So are carbs really bad for you, or is this just another passing fad - and what will happen to our health when the pendulum swings back the other way?

The truth, as always, lies somewhere in the middle.

When I look at what's going on in health and wellness these days, it seems that the conversation around food in recent years has become more and more polarized - with the extremes of Keto and "Carnivore" dieters on the one side, and veganism on the other.

Unfortunately, this isn't the way that humans were made to eat. We are omnivores, and our true "sweet spot" when it comes to healthy eating lies much more in the middle of these polar opposites.

As our modern world struggles to find our food identity, all of these extreme fad diets are not really doing our health any favors. It's true that different people's bodies respond differently to different eating styles, so perhaps it is up to each of us to find what works best for us.

My mom, for example, has adopted a loosely vegan diet in recent years (after following a number of various diets earlier in life - some of them quite extreme), and she says she has never felt better. That said, she isn't always strictly vegan (which is nice during family dinners), but us kids still worry about her bone health and her lack of muscle mass as she moves into her senior years.

However, while some people may find they do well on a vegan diet, there are many foods that many people would consider "plant-based," which are definitely NOT healthy for us. In fact, if you look at most processed junk foods out there, most of them are mostly if not entirely made of plants (mostly corn and corn and soy byproducts).

French fries are plant-based (since almost all restaurants now use vegetable oils instead of animal fats for frying). So are potato chips, tortilla chips, sugary condiments, and beer! In fact, so are most carb-heavy foods like bread, pasta, and rice. Obviously, just because something is "plant-based" doesn't make it healthy.

And the same definitely goes for fake meats, which are all kinds of sketchy in my book...

Side Note: This is something that I really don't understand personally. If you don't want to eat meat, then don't! Trying to make something that's not meat taste like meat seems so pointless to to me. If you only want to eat plants, then just eat food that tastes like plants! Anyway, that's my really quick rant for today. :-)

This podcast episode is extremely interesting, and it goes into the many problems with fake meats - which are bad for not only your health, but also the environment as well. Listen below to  learn more...

Today's guest post addresses a common "health food" that has become mainstream over the past decade or so.

While billions of dollars in advertising by the soy industry would have you believe that soy products such as soy milk, soy protein, soybean oil, and other processed soy foods are "healthy" for you, in fact the evidence shows something quite different.

The truth is that processed soy has a number of potential negative health effects on the body, and in the form in which soy is sold - at least here in the U.S. - it is typically NOT a health food at all.

This isn't to say that all soy is bad. In fact, in small amounts, certain types of soy foods may be quite beneficial for your health. But as with many other types of food, the manner in which soy is grown and processed has a lot to do with whether it should be considered a health food, or just the opposite.

The guest post below explains the real truth about soy.

While we are still learning new things about the human brain all the time, we are beginning to understand just how connected our gut and brain truly are. In fact, some scientists have even begun to call the gut our "second brain" as it is so intimately connected with our brain and our overall health. But one thing we don't often think about is how much the food that we eat impacts our brain function.

In fact, more and more evidence is revealing that our diet has a HUGE impact on our brain health as well as our thought patterns, mental functions, and more. From "foggy brain," to inability to focus, anxiety, and even depression, how we eat can have a major effect. What's more, some of the foods that you eat on a regular basis may actually be causing damage to your brain over time, and some evidence shows that diet may even be linked to serious brain diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.

The dietary choices you make today can have long-term consequences for your brain health, and it's time to start taking these consequences seriously - before it's too late.

The guest article below explores some of the worst foods for your brain, as well as some foods that may protect and actually improve your brain health.

Welcome to your March freebie! This month, we've got a great recipe book full of delicious recipes that are packed with healthy ingredients that have powerful healing benefits for both your gut microbiome, and your brain. These two areas of the body are intimately connected, and modern medicine is just beginning to realize how important this connection truly is to our overall health.

As we have recognized the connection between oral health and cardiovascular disease in recent years, the medical establishment has begun to prioritize oral health in preventing future cardiovascular problems. In a similar fashion, I believe that in the years ahead, the health of the gut will be emphasized in maintaining good brain health, and even possibly helping to treat existing mental issues such as depression and addiction.

You can get a head start on a healthy brain by downloading this free recipe book and incorporating these nutrient-dense healing recipes into your regular diet!

With the holiday season just around the corner, I thought it would be fun to share a guest post on some tasty herbs and "super-spices" that you can use to spice up your holiday meals - AND stay healthy this winter!

Most of us think of herbs and spices simply as something to flavor our food, but many of these ingredients may actually have powerful health benefits. Not only can they make your food taste great, but they are also great for you!

Herbs and spices actually contain some of the most potent antioxidants of any food - even higher than some of the most touted "superfoods" such as kale, broccoli, or berries. These antioxidants have been shown to help protect against diseases like cancer, heart disease, arthritis, Alzheimer's, and more. What's more, they not only contain their own healthy compounds, but they also can actually enhance the nutritional benefits of other foods when eaten in combination.

But it's not just about antioxidants; these "super-spices" also have properties that may help to stabilize and regulate blood sugar, boost metabolism, reduce inflammation, and help the body ward off pathogens - including viruses, bacteria, and even some fungal diseases. All of this without creating issues like antibiotic resistance or other side-effects created by many conventional medications.

This month's guest post lists 10 amazing herbs and super-spices that you'll want to include in your cooking on a regular basis. Check it out below to learn about the healing properties of these common natural flavoring agents, as well as ideas for including more of them in your meals.

As we move into the winter months and the pandemic rages on, many families are concerned about not only health, but also food security. Based on the shortages of some foods that we experienced back in the spring, it is reasonable to expect that if things shut down again, we may face the same - or perhaps worse - before things improve.

Let's face it: these are some crazy times we are living in, and it is important to be prepared for anything.
Fortunately, those of you who follow the holistic living way - growing your own food, taking responsibility for your own health, etc. are better prepared than most. Whether you're growing your own produce, or buying fresh, healthy foods from local farmers through a farmer's market or CSA program, learning to preserve your favorite fresh vegetables and herbs is one way to stock up so that you can enjoy healthy meals without going to the grocery store all the time - and ensure that you have plenty of food if the grocery stores run short.

There are so many amazing healthy foods out there that boost your immunity - and most of them can be easily grown in your own backyard. Imagine being able to preserve these foods to enjoy whenever you want them...

Today, more than ever, this is a game-changer.

And let’s face it, store-bought pasta sauce is just NEVER as good as fresh and homemade! When you make your own, you know it’s chock full of nutrients without all the crazy weird preservatives, sugars, and other additives.

So are you ready to learn how to start preserving fresh food for yourself… all the basics like pasta sauce, salsa, hot sauce, pickles, dried herbs, sauerkraut and more?

If so, you're in the right place!  My colleague, Stacey Murphy, is a "garden guru" who provides mentorship to thousands of people so they can nourish their loved ones with fresh, organic food. And now she’s released a brand new webinar to help you stock your kitchen with fresh goodies so you can enjoy fresh and healthy foods year-round!

Fall is the perfect time to make sure you are prepared for the winter months with plenty of healthy foods to keep your immune system strong.

Click here to register for the FREE webinar on preserving the harvest, or learn more below...