CONSCIOUS CUISINE

The first thing to do, to become conscious of your cuisine, is to check ingredient lists. Conscious cuisine is free of synthetic sweeteners, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, bleached sugars, trans fats [i.e., hydrogenated & partially hydrogenated oils], refined, enriched and bleached flours, hormones, anti-biotics, MSG, synthetic colors and preservatives. It is simple to find "conscious" Oreo-style cookies. The thing to keep in mind, is the ingredients may not be absolutely perfect. That is, too much natural sugar, refined oils, lack of fibers, but the conscious cookie will be dramatically more nutrient-dense than its mainstream version. The conscious version may not be therapeutic, but will have a greater spectrum of available vitamins, minerals and will often contain more plant fibers. Plus, you will usually feel better after having ingested them, in the appropriate dose.

WATCH THE CARBS!

The word "conscious" in the context of cuisine, indicates ingredients are not in of themselves, toxic. However, in large doses, even conscious cuisine can become toxic. As previously mentioned, conscious cuisine may, at times, contain high amounts of glycemic natural sugars [e.g., dehydrated cane juice, honey, maple syrup, fruit syrups, etc.]. These more nutrient-dense sweetening agents rapidly raise blood sugars just as fast as their refined counterparts. That's naughty news for diabetics, heart patients, cancer patients, or anyone suffering from an inflammatory condition aggravated by lifestyle. REMEMBER: Sugars and starches are both stored as triglycerides (blood fats), so overdosing on them aggravates heart disease as well as a variety of other genetically pre-dispositioned disorders. Over-dosing on sugars and starches compromises immunity and triggers generalized inflammation, switching on an array of symptoms.

THAT SUGAR BUZZ

Munching wildly on sugars and starches in response to stress or boredom also numbs your senses and keeps you from focusing. To stay alert throughout the day, watch your dose of carbohydrates, which trigger the release of serotonin into the mix for a mind-numbing experience. The more sugar and starch, the more serotonin released. However, because conscious sugars and starches have been spared the bleaching process, you may feel as if you have contributed a few vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants to your body's bank account, instead of robbing it! Nevertheless, watch the dose, if you want to stay conscious.

THE BALANCING ACT

As a dietitian, I must remind you to balance carbohydrates with enough protein to control the speed at which sugars and starches enter your bloodstream. Balancing the right dose of protein with carbohydrate-rich cuisine will manage blood sugars for roughly 3-5 hours. For instance, soy milk or organic cow's milk both provide enough protein to balance a carbohydrate-loaded bowl of fiber-rich, nutrient-dense breakfast cereal, granola mix or breakfast bar.