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“We give ourselves altogether too much credit in our dealings with other species.” –Michael Pollan

Nature does miraculous things. Have you ever considered that certain fruits only come about at certain times of the year–and that those times happen to be the time they’re needed (by humans) most?

There are other things too, like, the shape of fruit or nuts often correlates to the part of the body they’re beneficial for. Walnuts look like brains, avocados are shaped like the womb, kidney beans…etc. You get the idea.

Nature does fascinating things. I think most people lose sight of the huge biological picture. That fruits and vegetables, along with other creatures, have developed over the millions of years just like we have, along with us. We are not separate from it, and I think most people forget that.

On that note, I wanted to introduce you to the book The Botany of Desire, by Michael Pollan. Most people have heard of Pollan from his other works, The Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food. But Botany takes a surprisingly erotic approach to food, and teaches us how intermittently dependent we are on species we assume we control, when in reality they control us.

The basic premise of the book is asking us to look at our own integral desires, and relates them to how we have adapted to cultivating plants over time. For instance–the goal of any and every species is to reproduce–to keep on living. This is true of all biological functions, and is no different in plants, fungus, and us–animals.

So nature has made itself allies to us, by becoming what we need. It uses us to reproduce, just as we use it to live.

In certain Native American cultures, the concept of communion to nature has been a way of life. It is said in some legends that nature stopped speaking to humankind when we broke our vows to nature, but that all things spoke before that time.

It’s a chilling concept, and certainly not ridiculous–what humans seem to be best at is breaking promises, and destroying everything sacred.

Most people believe that if they switch to a vegetarian diet, they will lose weight. A vegetarian diet is not a weight-loss program but more of a lifestyle. Many people follow this kind of diet for cultural, religious, or ethical reasons. Some choose to eliminate or reduce meat, poultry, seafood, and other animal products to become healthier.

There are different types of vegetarian diets. It can range from veganism where  any animal products are strictly prohibited to eating some kinds of animal products, such as eggs and dairy. Research shows that people who are vegetarians generally are slimmer than non-vegetarians. This may be because they consume less saturated fats and focus more on fruit and vegetables.

Although a vegetarian diet does not mean you will consume less calories. You can gain weight on this kind of diet if your portion sizes are too big or you eat too many sugary drinks, snacks, or desserts. Even foods advertised as vegetarian can be high in calories and fat. Foods such as soy cheeses, refried beans, and snack bars make it possible to be overweight while following a vegetarian diet.

Here are some tips to eating a healthy vegetarian diet:

• Eat a variety of fruits, veggies, and whole grains
• Choose low-fat protein foods, such as low-fat dairy and beans
• Limit foods and drinks that are high in sugar
• Ssteaming, boiling, grilling, or roasting instead of frying foods
• Get regular exercise

When you are trying to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle, it is going to be the same whether you are vegetarian or not. Eat a healthy diet and balance calories eaten with calories burned.

Have you always wondered what’s the difference between white bread and whole grain bread? Or, the difference between French fries and side salad with spinach, tomatoes, and carrots? All these foods are carbohydrates, but how do you know which ones are the good ones?

Carbohydrates have had a reputation of being bad and being the cause of weight gain while they have been promoted as a healthful nutrient. So how do you tell the difference? Fortunately it’s not as hard as it seems.

Your “good” carbs are going to be full of fiber. These are carbs that are absorbed slowly into your body and do not spike your blood sugar levels. Some examples are: whole grains, vegetables, fruits and beans. You can’t judge a carb as ”good” without considering its fiber content.

Now the bad carbs are refined and processed carbs that strip away any beneficial fiber. Examples being: white bread and white rice. Avoid excess sugars such as high fructose corn syrup. Many adults don’t realize how much sugar they actually consume in a day.

In many fad diets that are going around, they are cutting out all carbohydrates all together. But in reality you need these to meet the body’s daily nutritional needs while minimizing risk for chronic disease. You also need your fiber, which you can only get through plant foods. You can increase your risk for heart disease with low-fiber diets.

So before you cut out all carbs from your diet, remember that there are good ones out there that you actually need to help you stay healthy.

Most people do not consider how much sugar they are consuming each day. Sugar hides in the oddest places. It can be found in your ketchup and your spice mix. It is also in your bread and your peanut butter. Sugar tastes good and can work as a preservative so it is added to a lot of foods. Sugar is also the cause of weight gain. Several Americans drink high amounts of sugared coffee, energy drinks, alcohol, and soda pop each day. For some this consumption is minimal, while for others it can be as much as one hundred ounces a day. One can of soda pop has one hundred calories. Now multiply that nine or ten. That can add up to nearly one thousand extra calories a day. By cutting back on your soda pop intake you can cut your calories by as much as a third.

Sugar is a cretin of foods. Of course sugar can be found in cakes and cookies, but it is also found in white bread products. White breads contain extremely high amounts of processed sugars and carbohydrates. The body breaks down these kinds of simple carbohydrates into sugars. This is why dieticians recommended consuming whole wheat products as much as possible. Not only do they have less white flour and sugar, they also have more nutrients than white breads. Luckily most crackers, pastas, and breads come in whole wheat options. Just be sure to look at the package before you buy it. Some packages say wheat on them but do not contain whole wheat.

Canned foods also contain sugars. Canned fruits often are packed in sugar syrup. To combat this, simply rinse the fruit under water prior to eating. Luckily most meats are not packaged with sugar preservatives, though they are packed in oils. Unfortunately nearly all processed and frozen foods are packed with sugars.

More and more we are hearing about those who are gluten intolerant. Unfortunately many of these people are self-diagnosed. The hype about carbohydrates has spurned a new diet string that can lead to more expensive foods. Often times people diagnose themselves for attention and to be different. But those who are gluten intolerant do not want to be special or different. Most would prefer to hide this ailment. True gluten intolerant people cannot process gluten, which is the result of celiac disease and Crohn’s disease. This is different from wheat allergies. Less than one percent of the population actually has these diseases.

Wheat allergies are negative reactions to wheat such as rashes, nasal congestion, and headache. People also often diagnose themselves with irritable bowel syndrome. Irritable bowel syndrome is only found in less than fifteen percent of the population. Some have gluten sensitivities that are different than gluten allergies. In these cases gluten can affect more than just the gastrointestinal tract and can affect the brain and skin. However there are professionals who are skeptical of whether or not gluten is truly to blame for certain ailments.

Eliminating all forms of carbohydrates when there is not a physician’s diagnosis of allergy or reaction can be ill effects. The body depends on carbohydrates for energy. When a vital source and nutrient is eliminated, the body can go into shock. When gluten is removed from the diet, its nutrients need to be replaced in some other form. Proteins, vitamins, and minerals need to also be increased. Luckily there are several different gluten-free products, including crackers and breads.

One of the newest fads is the body cleanse. Different kinds of body cleanses are available from the Cleanse itself to colon cleansers. The question is whether or not the body really needs these cleanses to actually function properly. Dieticians often do not recommend colon cleanses specifically for certain reasons. Colon cleansing can be dangerous if done in excess and if done too long. Certain colon cleansing material can be harsh on the digestive tract and can eliminate the needed nutrients, vitamins, and minerals already in the body.

The body is not prepared to have these elements eliminated and adverse effects can result. Bowel movements can become problematic and extremely softened. Many people have experienced health problems as the result of using colon cleansers. Most cleansers come in one form, so when the nutrients are eliminated they are not rebuilt. Some cleansers do provide other supplements to “rebuild” these elements.

Most of the time these supplements can provide other benefits to overall health. The nutrients included can promote the health of the heart, the kidneys, the urinary tract, and the digestive system. Just keep in mind that most colon cleansers do not do this.

So why else do dieticians not recommended colon cleansing? They say that it is unnecessary. If a person is eating a proper diet of fruits and vegetables and minimizing preserved food intake, colon cleansing is not needed. Fruits and vegetables are high in fiber, and the basis of colon cleansing is fiber. In the end when working on better health, colon cleansing is not needed. Those who are attempting to use colon cleansing as a weight loss aid will not get the benefits they are looking for. The fiber in colon cleanser can only increase the rate at which food is eliminated and not increase the metabolism.