My 3 week trip to Europe and the UK was absolutely amazing and although I enjoyed the shopping and the sites, what I enjoyed most was the food. Germany had the freshest produce I’ve ever tasted. And I was intrigued by the fruit stands found in bus terminals and on major London streets such as Regent Street. I’m not a huge tomato fan for example, but I just couldn’t get enough of them while I was there. I found great restaurants in Paris and was taken to great restaurants in London, but it seemed that no matter where I went in Germany – Berlin, Frankfurt, Braunfels or Giessen the food was simply fresh and fantastic!
My taste buds were always partying. As time went on during my escapades, I realized that I was truly discovering each city by the food!
Ok so food, food, food. Why was I so intrigued? Well good food has always been a huge part of my life. I grew up with a Chef dad who emphasized nutrition then, studied Nutritional Sciences in University and then became a Naturopathic Doctor. In my profession I spend a great portion my consultation time educating my patients about good food preparation (in order to minimize nutrient leeching and maximize nutrient absorption), and good food sources (local farmer’s markets, organic butchers etc.)
I see many patients with food sensitivities, allergies, indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel diseases, and over the last couple of years I’ve had some of these patients mention that when they travel to Europe and throw my nutritional recommendations out of the window and basically eat as the Europeans eat, they experience a huge reduction in and often times, a total elimination of their digestive problems.
What is the possible explanation for this?
Firstly, meal time is…Well, there actually is a meal time! Europeans tend to make time and take time for eating meals. There is less eating meals around the television and more eating around a table with family and friends; a practice that is almost extinct in North America. This practice, without even examining the food itself, is healthier for digestion. Digestion involves smelling the food as it’s cooking as well as chewing thoroughly. Smelling the food gets the gastric juices in the stomach flowing in preparation for the food to come.
Secondly in Europe and the UK, more food is produced by local farmers who use traditional methods (ie organic farming practices). There is minimal genetic modification of foods, and a strong refusal to accept genetically modified foods from North America (a strict labeling law is enforced).
While is Giessen Germany, I went to a beer brewery and I was surprised to find out that there are strict rules surrounding the processing of beer. I was told that the oldest food law in the world is the beer purity law which states that beer should only be produced from barley, hops and water. Yeast is now added to beer, but there are no other preservatives or additives.
What are your thoughts on food processing? Do you believe that an increase in genetically modified foods in the market place as well as the use of pesticides and herbicides are affecting our health and the health of our ecosystem?
Leave your thoughts and comments below!
Gute appetite!
Here is an interesting article that I came across. http://www.euractiv.com/en/trade/eu-gmo-ban-illegal-wto-rules/article-155197
