Contentment Magazine January 2017 | Page 33

HEALTH to the toxicity it faces and cannot filter through its own detox processes is to accumulate visceral fat so that it can protect the internal organs. This, along with environmental and self-placed stress, causes the body to be highly inflammatory and in turn, highly acidic. The results of this are weight gain, terrible sleep, body aches and pains, often times disease or illness, mental fog, and so many other ailments that our population often times doesn’t equate to diet and nutrition. To combat this, we started eating very differently. We decided to buy more organic food. I checked where our food was being sourced, and about all of the different ways our food can be delivered to us, and how it’s im- portant because of its chain of delivery. For example, the more you can buy food that is local to your area, the better. It’s important to understand a farm’s policies on chemicals used on their crops and your grocery store’s intention to bring you the most fresh options. We also use online grocery shopping for certain foods that are actually sourced in other countries (like New Zealand) as their standards are much higher than the United States. I also learned about nutritional completeness and how to nourish the body, rather than deprive it. We started to see the impacts that high quality protein along with a balance of fats, carbs, and sugars— which by the way, the body needs— had on our day-to-day life. I learned that not all calories are created equal and that the calories in, calories out mentality is not what drives health and wellness. The bottom line is this: We learned, and we started making changes. We made a decision that our family was worth changing for. And, because of these changes, our present and future changed. We came out of a fog. We came home from work with energy that we poured into our babies. We turned the TV off. Then, we lost fat. Not weight, but fat. Our clothes started to fall off our bodies—literally. We became excited to exercise again. We became excited about each other again. Our skin changed. Our eyes glowed. Our medicine cabinet emptied. Our smiles shined