Ep 083: How to EAT REAL FOOD for Your Health

The newest dietary guidelines have officially been released, and for the first time in a long time, the language is shifting toward what is real and truly health-promoting — what the Nutritional Therapy Association has been teaching since 1997. In this episode of The Nutritional Therapy and Wellness Podcast, Jamie Belz breaks down what it means to "eat real food" and shares the NTA's longstanding, scientifically backed, ancestrally aligned, tried-and-true nutrition teachings. Jamie walks through how nutrition messaging became complicated, commercialized, and disconnected from human physiology, and how ultra-processed, hyper-palatable, food-like substances and industrial chemicals found in today's Standard American Diet have been engineered for profit, shelf stability, and addiction rather than nourishment. This episode brings clarity to what "eat real food" actually means in real life. You'll learn: What the new dietary guidelines say and what they still don't define clearly Why "permitted" or "regulated" does not mean safe or health-promoting How the GRAS system allows industrial chemicals into the food supply Why calories are fuel, while nutrients are information The NTA's clear definition of whole foods and nutrient-dense eating How bio-individuality explains why one diet never works for everyone The difference between macronutrients and micronutrients Why traditional fats support health and industrial seed oils undermine it How digestion, hydration, stress, and food preparation determine nourishment Why alcohol is never neutral when healing is the goal How to read ingredient labels without fear or obsession Jamie also connects the dots between modern food processing, chronic disease, metabolic dysfunction, mental health struggles, and the rising dependence on medications, while offering a grounded, hopeful path forward rooted in education and foundational health principles. This episode isn't about chasing trends or waiting for policy to catch up. It's about understanding nutrition TRUTH. If you're overwhelmed by nutrition advice, confused by labels, or tired of swinging between trends, this episode will help you simplify and reset. Listen now and return to the foundations that have supported real healing long before the guidelines caught up. Topics Covered: New dietary guidelines explained Whole foods vs ultra-processed foods Nutrient-dense eating Bio-individual nutrition Macronutrients and micronutrients Traditional fats and seed oils Food additives and GRAS Digestion and nutrient absorption Hydration and mineral balance Alcohol and metabolic health Foundations of Health Other Episodes and Resources Mentioned: "Dehydration Nation" episode Ep 82 - Total Load Theory Ep 81 - Wellness 101 Ep 80 - Digestive Hell Ep 79 - Optimal Digestion Ep 70 - Getting Started with Meal Planning and Eating Healthier Overall Ep 69 - Who Was Dr. Weston A Price? Ep 17 - Big Food Buzzwords BOOK: Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon Morell (MANY AVAILABLE NOW!) SUPERFOODS EXAMPLES Foods rich in vitamins: liver (beef or chicken), sweet potatoes, salmon, avocados, cooked spinach. Foods rich in minerals: nuts and seeds, shellfish, legumes, dark leafy greens, whole grains, mineral-rich spring water. Foods rich in polyphenols: herbs and spices (cloves are especially high), cocoa powder, black olives, blueberries, hazelnuts. Probiotic foods: yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, miso. Omega-3 sources: cod liver oil, flax seeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, walnuts, salmon, sardines. _______________ Attend a Nutritional Therapy Association Webinar! Please hit SUBSCRIBE, leave a 5-Star review, and connect with us in Spotify comments!