How to Reconnect with Real Food and Eat as Nature Intended
February 20, 2025
The Deep Connection Between Our Food, The Earth, And Our Health
In today’s world, understanding how to eat healthy and BE healthy has become more complicated than ever. There is a constant flow of information with new diets, trends, and conflicting advice which often feels overwhelming. Meanwhile, much of the food readily available to us has been heavily processed, stripped of nutrients, and filled with harmful additives that are toxic to our bodies. As a result, many of us are disconnected from the origins of our food and the nourishment our bodies were designed to thrive on.
I hope to encourage others to lean into a slower, more intuitive way of eating—one that reconnects us to the earth, and the deep wisdom held within our bodies. Our own bodies are our greatest healers. Through returning to traditional, time-honored ways of eating, we can support our bodies in restoring balance and health. Real, seasonal foods and healthy animals have nourished and sustained humans for thousands of years, we are designed to thrive off this way of eating.
While we all need real food, it’s important to note that there is no one-size-fits-all way of eating. Each of us has a unique body, a distinct genetic makeup, and individual needs that influence how we should eat. Moreover, the climate and geography of where we live influence not only the foods available to us, but also what our bodies are naturally inclined to thrive on. Thus, it is essential to tune into your own body and reconnect with the natural world around you.
Healthy eating is not about deprivation or complexity—it’s about eating the way nature intended us to. This means seeking out local foods grown in healthy soil, animals raised on organic pastures, and food free from environmental toxins and extreme processing. It also means reconnecting with the earth, the seasons, and the rhythms of nature. All humans can greatly benefit and heal from this approach to eating and living. When we eat this way, we are naturally more satiated, eat less, have less cravings, are able to reduce excess fat and inflammation, and most importantly, we allow our bodies to heal. (1)
For generations, the human species has evolved with Mother Nature; we are a part of her ecosystem. Our ancestors were hunters and gatherers, attuned to the rhythms of the earth, the seasons, and the life around them. Our bodies are deeply connected to the earth and rely heavily on microbes found in the soil, air, and water to function and thrive. The natural hormone cycle in women matches the monthly patterns of the moon, the male hormone cycle reflects the daily patterns of the sun, and the electric energy of the heart is connected to the earth’s magnetic fields. (2) We are a part of an intricate, balanced, and beautifully organized system.
@connealymd
Over the last two centuries, the rapid industrialization of the Western world has drastically changed our environment, food, and way of life. Said perfectly by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, MD: “People have removed themselves from Mother Nature, thinking that they can destroy and exploit her and, somehow, remain undamaged themselves. Yet, the human body is part of Nature; it cannot thrive without clean water, clean air, natural unprocessed food, and a natural unpolluted environment.” We can see the effects of this in the growing epidemic of mental and physical health problems in children and adults. (3) The more we remove ourselves from nature, the more dysfunctional and unhealthy we become. Our bodies are designed to grow in sync with Mother Nature, not without her.
Three Ways to Nourish Our Bodies The Way Nature Intended
1. Eat Real Food
The best thing you can do for your health is to eat real, unprocessed food. Choose foods that are as close to their natural form as possible—fresh fruit from a tree in your yard, your neighbors yard, or the farmers market, raw honey, eggs, grass-fed beef, raw nuts, raw milk, and seasonal vegetables. A good rule of thumb is to avoid packaged foods with more than three ingredients—especially if you don’t recognize or can’t pronounce them. Cook meals at home, using simple, real ingredients.
Processed snack foods are a major contributor to unhealthy weight gain, chronic disease, skin problems, and low energy. There are many delicious and nourishing snacks you can make at home with just a few simple ingredients. Please visit my recipe page for some ideas!
2. Shop at Local Farms
The quality (and taste) of your food significantly improves when you source it from local farms. Small-scale farmers tend to use more mindful and sustainable farming practices, which makes their food more nutrient-rich and health promoting. Small farms are often free from harmful pesticides that end up in your food. Look for regenerative farms that prioritize animal and soil health. We are only as healthy as what we eat eats—nourished humans begins with healthy soil.
Seek out high-quality raw milk, grass-fed meats, and pasture-raised eggs. The difference in taste, nutrition, and overall health benefits is substantial. For example, I won’t eat conventional store-bought butter due to its high levels of omega-6 and conversely low levels of CLA and omega-3s; the hormones, antibiotics, and pesticide/herbicide residues from GMO grain feed that accumulate in the butterfat; and its low vitamin and nutrient density. (4) But the homemade butter I make from raw, grass-fed cream from my local dairy is a completely different food. Deep yellow in color and rich in anti-inflammatory fatty acids and nutrients, it’s so nourishing that my toddler and I can easily go through one stick a day!
In addition to getting the best quality animal products, shopping at local farmers markets helps you eat seasonally and enjoy foods that are natural to YOUR environment. Consuming locally grown produce not only offers us the freshest more nutritious food, but it also connects our bodies to the natural rhythms of our surrounding land, climate, and seasons. And since it hasn’t traveled thousands of miles to reach our plate, and was likely picked at peak ripeness, it is full of more flavor, phytonutrients, and essential nutrients.
3. Reconnect with Nature
Our health is deeply intertwined with nature. The closer we are to nature, the healthier our bodies will be. Research shows that spending just 20 minutes in nature daily can significantly improve one’s mental and physical well-being. Simple activities like swimming in natural bodies of water, gardening, walking barefoot on the earth, caring for animals, and sunbathing all help to restore balance in our bodies by exposing us to beneficial microbes and the earth’s natural energy rhythms. Growing your own food, caring for backyard hens, and even having some goats are amazing ways to connect with the environment and your food—which will profoundly improve your overall health.
Conclusion
Eating and living in alignment with nature is key to optimal health and happiness. Through connecting with real food and nature, we can nourish our bodies the way they were designed to thrive.
Follow along on my blog for more tips, recipes, and insights on how to eat, cook, and live the way nature intended.
Sources
- Hyman, M. (2015, May 15). Want to burn fat? Then eat more (not less) food. Dr. Hyman. https://drhyman.com/blogs/content/want-to-burn-fat-then-eat-more-not-less-food
- Timofejeva, I., McCraty, R., Atkinson, M., Alabdulgader, A. A., Vainoras, A., Landauskas, M., Šiaučiūnaitė, V., & Ragulskis, M. (2021). Global study of human heart rhythm synchronization with the Earth’s time varying magnetic field. Applied Sciences, 11(7), 2935. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11072935
- Gujral, H. S., & Singh, G. (2022). Industrialization and its impact on human health – a critical appraisal. Journal of Student Research, 11(4). https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v11i4.3037
- Price, A. (2024, October 28). Grass-fed butter: 7 benefits that may surprise you. Dr. Axe. https://draxe.com/nutrition/grass-fed-butter-nutrition/