Mind, Body, and Soul Food

A holistic approach to nutrition recognizes that the foods we eat on a daily basis affect our mind, body and soul. Simply put, food has the power to bring clarity to our mind, provide the body with energy, and even comfort our soul. Food is energy, it is highly emotional, and it connects us to our past. The foods we eat can have powerful affects on our overall health and wellness. What we choose daily to eat matters to our Mind, Body, and Soul.

The mind (your brain) needs healthy fats to function and think clearly, the body needs antioxidants for health and healing, and our soul needs to feel connection. The nutrients our mind, body, and soul need are really quite basic and simple. Unfortunately, very few people today are feeding their mind, body and soul with foods that benefit them.

Eating a diet of convenient and ultra-processed foods makes it nearly impossible to give your body, mind, and soul the nutrition it needs to stay healthy. Food additives and chemicals used to manufacturer food today have created very low nutrient foods that don’t offer our body, mind, or soul any nutritional benefits. In fact, some would argue that there is little or no nutritional value at all in a lot of foods found in grocery stores today.

How did we get so far away from eating foods that benefit us?

This is an especially interesting question when you consider how simple it is to feed your mind, body, and soul. It starts with a good variety of organic fruits and vegetables coupled with healthy fats. Healthy high-quality fats benefit our mind, antioxidants from plant-based foods benefit our body, and soul food provides comfort and connection. Here is a breakdown of each and even some foods you can add to your diet to benefit your mind, body, and soul.

Healthy Fats – For Your Mind

Your brain needs good healthy fats. After all, it’s 60% fat itself. Brain cells are our hungriest cells – consuming 20% of all the energy we eat. Eating healthy fats helps to improve cognitive function and boost our mood. Omega 3 fats fight inflammation and help with brain growth and overall brain cell function. Here are some great healthy fat options for your mind.

• Salmon, Sardines, Mackerel
• Shrimp, Seaweed, Oysters
• Walnuts, Flax, Hemp, and Chia Seeds
• Olive Oil
• Coconut Oil
• Beans & Soy Beans
• Grass-Fed Dairy Products
• Pasture-Raised Eggs

Fatty fish is the best source of Omega 3’s for your brain, however, it is possible to them from a plant-based diet. Some plant-based options are: nuts, seeds, beans, and greens like spinach, kale, avocados, and brussel sprouts.

Antioxidants – For Your Body

Antioxidants balance free radicals in the body and can reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. Your skin will also be thankful, as antioxidants help create healthy skin. These are found in a variety of foods from green tea to coffee and fruits and vegetables. They are mostly found in plant-based foods. Eating a variety is key here. Below you will find a list to help you get started adding more antioxidants to your diet.

• Bananas (vitamin c)
• Blueberries (vitamin c)
• Carrots (beta carotene)
• Coffee (polyphenols)
• Cranberries (vitamin c, e, k)
• Dark Chocolate (polyphenols, flavanols)
• Eggs (vitamin a)
• Grapes (polyphenols)
• Green Tea (polyphenols)
• Kale (quercetin)
• Nuts (vitamin e)
• Tomatoes & Watermelon (lycopene)
• Whole Grains (selenium)

This list is a good start, however, there are many more options. So thankful that green tea, coffee and dark chocolate made the list! The important thing to remember here is to eat a variety of these these foods on a daily basis.

Just like the “Eat the Rainbow” concept. The more variety the better! Remember antioxidants help your body balance free radicals. Diets high in antioxidants have been known to promote healthy skin, reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and even certain cancers.

Soul Food

Soul food represents comfort and tradition. These foods have connections to our culture, heritage, and include passed down family recipes. These are foods that remind us of our childhood, family, and times with friends. They are the recipes you made with family, the ones you ate during the holidays, and the meals your children remember the most. You experience a connection to these foods when you eat them and they represent good memories from your past. Examples of soul food are:

• Holiday Dishes
• Foods that remind you of childhood
• Flavors from spices & herbs that bring back positive memories
• Culturally significant foods
• Foods that use local ingredients
• Recipes passed down from generation to generation

Soul food brings comfort and connection. Connection to your family, heritage, culture, and the past. These are the meals you remember eating at special occasions, the ones your grandmother cooked for you, or your mom made just for you in celebration.

Even science agrees that the foods we eat matter. Eating a variety of organic fruits and vegetables daily along with consuming good quality fats is very beneficial to our health and wellness. Connecting to the foods we eat that are steeped in traditions and memories is important as well.

I love that we can choose to nourish our bodies with foods that help our bodies heal, our minds function, and our souls to feel connected. That is pretty powerful! What foods are you choosing to eat today?

About the Author