Food is one of the main ways in which we interact with the world, with ourselves and with others. It is a necessity, the fuel and nutrients our bodies need to function, part of our identity, our culture, and often our compulsions. Our relationship to food is very complex, but it is important that it is grounded in the fact that diet and health are closely inter-related, and food is a vital part of the way in which we can make ourselves happy, healthy, energised and strong. Feed yourself nutritious, wholesome, delicious natural food that will give you the best health possible whilst asking the minimum from your body. This post is also a specific exploration of food and health. The Whole Food Rainbow is all about food and health and getting the most from life ♥

TREAT YOURSELF WELL

Through a plant-based diet of mainly whole foods consisting of fruit and vegetables, seeds, pulses, pseudo-grains and fermented foods, and using sprouting and soaking, you can improve your health, mental clarity, lose weight if you need to, give your body the nutrients and energy it needs to cope and arm yourself with more emotional strength and fortitude. Many people are eating foods that disagree with them, whether within an unhealthy or a healthy diet, and this has a big impact on their heath and happiness, on their balance.

give yourself the best fighting chance at optimal health now and in the future.

It is possible to reduce and keep at bay the symptoms of many chronic health conditions by following a specialist plant-based diet and avoiding the foods that aggravate your symptoms.

People follow specialist diets in order to improve their health, often as part of coping with different health conditions. I have type 1 diabetes, severe coeliac disease and lactose intolerance, fybromyalgia, osteoarthritis, asthma, a painful hand disability and the stress that coming with these conditions. I follow a plant-based vegan diet where I avoid gluten, dairy and other animal products, grains (apart from pseudo-grains) non-fermented soya, deadly-nightshade family plants, and refined sugar. I have found, often through elimination diets, that I am intolerant to these foods. Some severely, others increase my pain in different areas and digestive problems. I do not advocate people avoiding foods in this way unless they are intolerant to them. But I do recommend having an open mind, researching your health condition and how other people have found it is affected by food, and trying different ways of eating over time, giving yourself a chance to find a diet that really suits you. Making changes to the way you eat is daunting, but you can do it. Often we perceive things as being more difficult, or we are not prepared that something may take time and many tries to get right. It’s a process and this is totally normal. I recommend keeping a health diary to support yourself and document your research and findings, as part of listening to your body and working out the foods that are good for you.

I want everyone to know that it is not only possible to tailor your diet to your health but that it can transform your life and relationship to food, opening up a new world of delicious edibles that suit you better and make you feel stronger, and more energised and positive. Many of us are habitually eating foods that disagree with us, and so living a less full life. Change can be daunting I know, but believe me you are not only more capable than you think, but it is a more positive thing than you may imagine. There’s a plant-based revolution going on out there and so many wonderful resources to get inspiration and support from

go for it!

I have a specialist diets section with pages detailing each specialist diet and further resources, coeliac diet, the anti-inflammatory diet, a low carb diet, elimination diets, avoiding nightshade-family plants and going gluten-free , and also pages with information on fasting, sustainable weight loss and a glossary of terms.

All the info I provide is about the foods I avoid to improve my health and why. An anti-inflammatory diet of whole foods such as I follow is energising, aids optimal health and is a godsend for many health conditions, reducing their symptoms. Many have eliminated their arthritic symptoms this way, and people with various autoimmune conditions have made a recovery and gained their life back. See Ella’s story at Deliciously Ella, which is a wonderful example of the power of simple whole foods and getting in touch with which foods agree with you. Also Kristy of Keepin’ It Kind, and Ella of Pure Ella. The list goes on. Many people have fought off depression with a plant-based diet. Also such a whole food diet often reduces people’s food anxiety, it is food that is easy for the body to process, lighter and leaves you feeling good before, during and after you have eaten. If you have no serious health problems then by following a similar plant-based whole food diet and way of life you are protecting your good health, it benefits you in every way. If you are healthier and can think more clearly, if you are doing everything you can to protect your future health then you are freed up to really live.

knowledge is power! The more we know, the better for everybody.

The Whole Food Rainbow provides information on specialist diets for specific health conditions, and also for general health improvement, and recipes that will help you to follow those diets, and give you ideas and encouragement. The food I share is also for everyone, it’s good nutritious food to enjoy and be nurtured by.

let’s go for it, and be as healthy and well as we can be!

I am not a health professional. I advocate seeking medical support for poor health and stress. Keep your doctor up to date; you need their professional support and expertise. But you also need your own support and expertise, so hone those skills!

I offer my personal experience, research and understanding about life, and the relationship between food and health (a subject about which medical science still has much to understand and collectively recognise, but which I personally have a lot of experience in the context of my health), and of how food affects health, both specifically and generally. It is important to research and have a thorough understanding of your health, as well as to create an environment where you can be in touch with your needs. I aim to offer a stepping-stone, a place where people can learn and find the resources to support them on their journey towards optimal health and wellness.

The Whole Food Rainbow is a plant-based wellness blog centered around food and health. It’s a simple subject in some ways in that the best diet for everyone is anti-inflammatory and includes a high proportion of natural, alkaline-forming whole foods that nurture and heal, but it is also a vast, personal and complex subject. Any comments and experience shared would be most welcome, and I think it is important that we share and pool our knowledge and understanding.