After a year of dramatically shifting routines and priorities, there is a need to re-prioritize well-being, and the beginning of winter is a great time to reset your meals and renew your mind according to some dietitians. 

Food plays a central role in self-care. Time to think as a chef and rotate your menu with supplements, powders and pantry staples spanning a range of functional benefits, from beauty and detox energy and digestive health. 

Think about it. Your brain is always “on.” It takes care of your thoughts and movements, your breathing and heartbeat, your senses — it works hard 24/7, even while you’re asleep. This means your brain requires a constant supply of fuel. That “fuel” comes from the foods you eat — and what’s in that fuel makes all the difference. Put simply, what you eat directly affects the structure and function of your brain and, ultimately, your mood.

Like an expensive car, your brain functions best when it gets only premium fuel. Eating high-quality foods that contain lots of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants nourishes the brain and protects it from oxidative stress — the “waste” (free radicals) produced when the body uses oxygen, which can damage cells.

Studies have compared “traditional” diets, like the Mediterranean diet and the traditional Japanese diet, to a typical “Western” diet and have shown that the risk of depression is 25% to 35% lower in those who eat a traditional diet. Scientists account for this difference because these traditional diets tend to be high in vegetables, fruits, unprocessed grains, and fish and seafood, and to contain only modest amounts of lean meats and dairy. They are also void of processed and refined foods and sugars, which are staples of the “Western” dietary pattern. In addition, many of these unprocessed foods are fermented, and therefore act as natural probiotics.

You can accomplish everything you want by eating real whole food!

If there is a silver lining to 2020, it would be that it truly illuminated the value of health. We have to take care of our physical, mental and spiritual health and being selfish in the process – when you fill up your cup and prioritizing your health, you can be of better service to everyone in your life, including yourself. Start your journey with an easy and colorful food change in your diet!!! (Sauerkraut organics are best friends for digestive health + natural ingredients + easy flavors)