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# Introduction: Optimal Wellness Life is filled with choices. There are hundreds of choices made everyday, and many of these choices relate to food and lifestyle habits. Some may feel that these food choices are insignificant, not understanding that when making these choices time after time, the im...

# Introduction: Optimal Wellness Life is filled with choices. There are hundreds of choices made everyday, and many of these choices relate to food and lifestyle habits. Some may feel that these food choices are insignificant, not understanding that when making these choices time after time, the impact they may have on one's health. The journey begins with one question: What does it mean to be healthy or have optimal wellness? This may represent something different to each individual. It may be as simple as not having an illness or disease, or it may mean having the energy to live each day. Optimal wellness is a much wider scope of health, as it entails all aspects of health: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. It is a representation of being the very best version of yourself. The relationship of food towards health of the human body is nutrition. Food not only nourishes the body; it is the foundation of our health plus a source of pleasure and enjoyment. Most people understand that eating healthy and being active reduces the risk of common health issues such as obesity, high blood sugar, digestive disorders, and memory problems. No single food or nutrient will maintain health. It is the balance of all the macronutrients, micronutrients, fiber, and water that is necessary for health. There are a few more factors when it comes to overall wellness, such as age, gender, lifestyle, and genetics that also play a role in being healthy. The next question is regarding diet: What is considered a balanced diet? There is no one diet that is right for every being, and there is no one right way to eat. Healthy eating and diet are as individual and different as each person. We are all biochemically unique, so our dietary needs are individual to each of us. Food is broken down into different groups or categories such as fats, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Water has its own category, which some foods will supply water, but the largest source of water is drinking it. All food will provide a certain amount of each of the above groups of nutrients. The benefit of whole, natural food is that these nutrients work synergistically together. Food also contains much more than these nutrients. There are many other substances in food that promote health and protect the body from illness. These are components such as plant sterols, enzymes, phytonutrients, pre- and probiotics, which give food its color, flavor, and health-promoting properties. These components can be found in spices, fruits, and vegetables such as purple cabbage, beets, sauerkraut, garlic, onion, apples, and sprouts. These other components and phytonutrients provide several health benefits, including supporting immunity and reducing the risk of heart disease and cancer. Even though we each have individual requirements, everyone needs a full range of these same nutrients for general health. Nutrients are the chemical components supplied by food to give the body the ability to grow, maintain, and/or repair bodily tissues. These nutrients can perform the many tasks that are necessary to live each day, and, if we are not getting the nutrients we need, we may experience different symptoms and disease. Many people are unaware of their nutritional needs, or may not be getting the appropriate nutrients to have optimal wellness. It is important to understand that there is no one "magic" food that will solve all of our health problems. A healthy diet should include a variety of foods from all