The components of traditional foods consist of good fats, protein, unrefined carbohydrates, and lots of fermented foods and beverages. Herbs also play a role in maintaining health and supporting healing. 

 

Forget the food pyramid and everything you’ve been told about what constitutes a healthy diet. Look to the foods that contributed to health and vitality at the turn of the 20th century when heart disease was a medical rarity. Surprisingly, these are the very foods that we are discouraged from eating today.

 

PROTEIN:

Examples of good protein sources are fish, poultry, red meat, and dairy—all of which are NOT produced in a factory. Eat fish from oceans—not fish farms. Meat, poultry, and dairy must come from organic farms that leave their animals out to pasture rather than enclose them in tight quarters. For plant protein, nuts and beans must be soaked overnight to release the phytates to aid in digestion and assimilation. Soy is not a healthy source of protein. Ninety percent of all soy grown in the U.S. is genetically modified. It is extremely difficult to digest and it mimics estrogen in the body. Feeding soy milk to babies, particularly baby boys, is potentially disastrous for that reason. Read The Whole Soy Story by Dr. Kaayla T. Daniel.

 

GOOD FATS:

For good fats, look to what we've consumed for thousands of years: butter, lard, fish oils, whole milk dairy products, (preferably raw), chicken, goose and duck fat, beef and lamb tallow, coconut oil, nuts, avocados, and cold pressed oils like olive oil, grape seed, borage, and evening primrose oil. You will not gain weight eating good fats. You will gain weight eating refined carbohydrates and processed food. Good fat enhances the immune system, aids the hormones in running properly, and assists every cell in the body by giving it the necessary stiffness and integrity. Good fats help the body utilize essential fatty acids and aid in the assimilation of the fat-soluble vitamins, A, D, E, and K, which are only found in animal fats. Good fats also feed the brain. Low-fat diets lead to poor immunity, depression, spaciness, irritability, and impaired hormonal function.

 

CARBS:

Eat healthy carbohydrates such as whole grains, prepared by soaking overnight to release the phytates. Include in your diet organically grown vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds. Throw away anything made with white flour and sugar, which are unhealthy carbohydrates and are deleterious to our health and mid-section.

 

FERMENTED/CULTURED FOODS:

Cultured foods have been a part of a healthy diet for thousands of years. Don't forget that refrigerators have only been around for less than one hundred years. Before that, foods had to be fermented in order to keep well. Examples are yoghurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchee, beet kvaas, and a host of other delights. Cultured foods maintain colon health, which keeps a healthy balance of good bacteria and bad bacteria. Eighty percent of the immune system is in the stomach and colon. Cultured/fermented foods are vital for proper maintenance and health of the body.

 

BONE BROTH:

Broth from fish, poultry, and meat should be a daily part of everyone's diet. Broth contains minerals in a form everyone can absorb easily. When cooled, it turns to gelatin, which we don’t get in our diets anymore. Gelatin facilitates digestion, tonifies the blood, and assists the body in healing a variety of illness such as irritable bowel, leaky gut, ulcers, diabetes, and cancer. 

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CLIENT TESTIMONIALS:

 

"I was seeking a natural and holistic way to nourish, revitalize and heal my body – a way to help me find balance and energy, intelligently, without pills, diets or guilt.  I needed clear, concise information, references and resources.  Finding Shonagh was like seeing the light at the end of a long, dark, frustrating tunnel.  Pure joy of discovery!  Shonagh is a wealth of knowledge and wisdom, shared with generosity of spirit and a boundless heart.  I am truly grateful for her, her support of my goals and her insights and inspiration."

~ Nancy Z., Issaquah, WA

 

For as long as I can remember I have been sickly. My physical ailments have stopped me from participating in physical activities, caused depression, affected my love life, and even made it hard to get out of bed. When I finally found Shonagh I was at my wits end. I had no idea what she would suggest and what she would think of me and my eating habits. I thought for sure she would judge me and make me feel worse rather than better. I couldn't have been more wrong! Shonagh is amazing! She has the most positive spirit and her love of food and healing the body is invigorating. After meeting with Shonagh for just 4 months I have changed everything about the way I look at my own health. I am honored that such a talented woman has included me in her practice. I would recommend Shonagh to anyone seeking healing whether it is physical, mental or emotional. 

~ Cynthia P. Seattle, WA