So what foods should we eat on a daily?

Health nutritionist, wellness coach and Nurse, Kellie Bowman. The daughter of the late renowned herbalist Dr Sebi (the man who cured diseases by using plant based foods) carries on her father’s legacy by educating people about the importance and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Through her venture, Sebi’s Daughters, based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, she incorporates her father’s decades-long research, study and practice to identify a list of plant based foods which she calls celebrities of the garden. These are the specific foods she claims to be essential for maintaining good health:

Teas: Burdock, Chamomile, Elderberry and Fennel.

Oils: Olive oil, Coconut oil, Grapeseed oil, Sesame oil, Hempseed oil, and Avocado oil.

Grains: Amaranth, Black rice, Kamut, Fonio. Quinoa, Rye, Spelt, Teff, and Wild Rice.
Nuts and seeds: Brazilian nuts, Cashew, Hazel nuts, Hemp seeds, Macadamia, Pecans, raw Sesame seeds and Walnuts.

Herbs: Basil, Bay leaves, Chives, Cloves, Dill, Lemongrass, Lemon balm, Mint, Oregano, Savory, Sage, Sweet basil, Tarragon, and Thyme.

Spices: Achiote, Nutmeg, Agave, Onion powder, Cayenne, Rosemary, Paprika, Pepper, Saffron, Chilly pepper, Pure sea salt, Cocoa, Coriander, Cumin, Turmeric, Ginger, Vanilla, Habanero and Cinnamon.

Fruits: Apples, Melons, Berries, Oranges, Bananas, Papaya, Peaches, Cantaloupe, Pears, Cactus fruit, Plums, Cherries, Currants, Seeded Grapes, Dates, Soursop, Elderberries, Tamarinds, Figs, Key limes, Mangos, Prunes, Coconuts, and seeded raisins.

Vegetables: Onions, Asparagus, Sea vegetables, Avocado, Garbanzo beans, Spinach, Izote, Bell peppers, Jicama, Squash, Chayote, Kale, Lettuce, Cucumber, Tomatillo, Mushrooms, Dandelion, Turnip, Zucchini, Napoles, Watercress, Okra, Purslane, Wild arugula, String beans, Chickpeas, and Cherry tomatoes.

Although there are many more whole foods out there, according to Dr Sebi’s research, these foods are alkaline; with a pH higher than 7. Given that the human body is naturally alkaline with a blood pH of 7.4, these specific foods compliment and work with our bodies well.

Why should we eat highly nutritious foods?

With this diet, we can give our bodies the best chance at good health and longevity.
To equip our bodies with the vitamins and minerals they need to reach their fullest growth potential and maintain optimal health.

Fast foods are delicious, but also they notoriously have nothing tangible (vitamins and minerals) to offer our bodies, besides tickling our taste buds. Healthline wrote in one article that fast foods often contain high calories, fats and sugar but low nutrients and fibre. And frequent consumption can increase the risk of health issues such as obesity, heart attack, cancer and diabetes amongst others.

Having a cheat day here and there to enjoy some of the delicious foods from our favourite franchises isn’t a big deal. As long as our everyday meals are fully stacked with fibre and nutrients.

For those of us who lead a fitness lifestyle, packed with rigorous training and development. Good nutrition is a must if we want to see those losses/gains.

Now where can we get these types of foods?

There are many places where you can find some of these foods. Places like; Food lover’s Market, Woolworths Foods, and Pick n Pay are some of the good retail stores to check out.

There are also online niche stores like, pureandwhole.co.za which is great for finding grains and seeds at a nice price.

Also check out defarmer.co.za which is a great site to find some of these fruits and veggies at affordable prices.

And one of the best sites to find a variety of nuts check out manolismunchies.co.za. there are lots of places to find value for money products, so it might help to look around first.

So, what are your thoughts about a plant-based diet? Would you do it?