4 Roots to Optimum Wellness

root n. 1 Part of a plant that provides support, draws water and nourishment, and stores food. 

2 Source of action. 3 An essential part.

Let's review what I've addressed in separate blog posts about how to achieve optimum wellness. I believe there are four essential parts to being healthy. I call them roots. If you make healthy choices in each root area, you will achieve optimum wellness—feeling supported, watered, nourished and full of energy.

The four roots of optimum wellness are diet, exercise, sleep and attitude.

Root One: Diet
It is not a coincidence that disease is on the increase at the same time our diets consist of more artificial and sugar-ladden ingredients, meats and dairy laced with antibiotics and hormones. Cancer has now become the number one killer. And, its a big money maker for the health and pharmaceutical industries.

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Wisdom Wednesday

Tip:
I always make a large amount of brown rice when I make it because it takes so long to cook (55 minutes) compared to my other whole grains of choice—quinoa, millet, steel-cut oatmeal and faro (15 minutes). Then I have leftover rice to use in another recipe. Like this Brown Rice & Roasted Vegetable Salad.

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Brown Rice & Roasted Vegetable Salad

Recently I attended the regional Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI) conference. When registering for the conference, I was able to choose vegan as my choice for lunch. Yippy! I appreciate that the conference organizers always think of the growing number of vegetarians and vegans in our community of children's writers. Usually the only choice available for me is vegetarian, which means there is cheese I remove before eating.

The vegan lunch I received was a mixture of brown rice and various roasted veggies with a yummy light dressing. Delicious! I kept thinking, I must try to duplicate this and pass it on to you—my faithful readers. And so here it is...

The salad I had at the conference contained green beans, zucchini, yellow squash and bell peppers. I added asparagus and carrots to my salad (shown in the pictures). You can add (and subtract) any veggies you want. Make it sing with what you love.

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The EWG Shopping Guide to Pesticides in Produce

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is the nation's most effective environmental health research and advocacy organization. They conduct original, game-changing research that inspires people to take action to protect their health and the environment.

I've been getting their newsletter in my email inbox for some time now. You may have heard of their work when someone mentions the Dirty Dozen—the 12 dirtiest fruits and vegetables as far as pesticide residue. They test produce every year and deliver a report of the top 12 dirtiest and the 15 cleanest fruits and vegetables.

What Should You Do with this Report?
Take the EWG information seriously—the Dirty Dozen are loaded with pesticide residue. Do you want to eat bug and weed killer? I didn't think so. To avoid that poison in your system, use the Dirty Dozen list to decide which fruits and vegetables you should buy organic that you might normally buy conventionally grown.

The EWG's latest report was released in April. It shows apples on the top of the list again followed by strawberries and grapes. With pediatric organizations citing research that shows pesticides are linked to more childhood cancers, lower cognitive function and behavioral issues, parents should take note and either avoid the fruits and vegetables considered dirty. Instead buy organic.

Dirty Dozen(TM):

• Apples
• Strawberries
• Grapes
• Celery
• Peaches
• Spinach
• Sweet Bell Peppers
• Nectarines - imported
• Cucumbers
• Cherry Tomatoes
• Snap Peas - imported
• Potatoes
• Hot Peppers
• Kale/Collard Greens

The Good News in the Report
If you don't want to eat all organic produce due to the higher cost, the Clean Fifteen on the EWG's list are the cleanest fruits and vegetables found to have the least amount of pesticide residue.

The complete list, from dirtiest (listed on top) to cleanest, of tested fruits and vegetables will help you make the best choice when purchasing produce for your family.

Clean Fifteen (TM):

• Avocado
• Sweet Corn
• Pineapple
• Cabbage
• Sweet Peas - frozen
• Onions
• Asparagus
• Mangoes
• Papayas
• Kiwi
• Eggplant
• Grapefruit
• Cantaloupe
• Cauliflower
• Sweet Potatoes

What has been your process for choosing produce to eat?

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