An Eating Philosophy for Whole-Body Wellness
Why Food Is More Than Fuel—It’s Medicine
Did you know that one in every five deaths around the world can be attributed to a “sub optimal” diet, and that up to 50% of cancers have been attributed to diet?
We see the headlines and we know the risk, but in a world flooded with food trends, it’s no wonder so many of us feel overwhelmed by what to eat. Keto. Paleo. Mediterranean. Whole30. Raw. Vegan. Carnivore. Every plan has its advocates and its skeptics. But there’s one idea most functional medicine experts agree on:
Food is medicine. We now know that what, how, and when we eat has the potential to prevent, manage, treat, and even in some cases reverse disease.
At Fasting in Paradise, we believe in honoring your bio-individuality—because no one diet fits all. But one principle holds true: your body thrives when nourished with, regeneratively farmed and beyond organic nutrient-dense whole foods that support cellular health and reduce toxic burden.
Let’s explore a simple, grounded approach to eating that supports long-term wellness—no fads, no restriction, just nourishment with clean whole foods.
Eat the Rainbow: Nature’s Blueprint for Balance
This isn’t a new idea, but it’s one of the best I’ve come across. It’s simple, and effective. Why?
Fruits and vegetables aren’t just colorful—they’re powerful. Each hue represents a unique set of phytonutrients that support the body’s systems in different ways, from immune support to hormone balance to detoxification.
Here’s a high level overview of some of the phytonutrients in each color of produce as well as some of their benefits:
Reds (like tomatoes and strawberries): packed with lycopene—a powerful antioxidant that helps neutralize harmful free radicals—this nutrient may offer protection against prostate cancer, as well as heart and lung disease.
Oranges (like carrots and squash): rich in beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin, important in reproductive health and heart health
Yellows: (like squash, yellow peppers, and bananas): packed with bioflavonoids that benefit the gastrointestinal tract and digestion
Greens (like kale and broccoli): full of vitamin K (phylloquinone), magnesium, potassium, nitrates, and folates; beneficial for heart health and cancer prevention
Blues/Purples (like blueberries and eggplant): powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins believed to be brain-supportive and anti-aging
Whites (like garlic and cauliflower): contains allicin, which has anti-tumor properties, as well as quercetin and kaempferol, thought to be immune-boosting and antimicrobial
Why Organic Matters: Protecting Your Body from Hidden Toxins
The quality of your food is just as important as the type.
Conventionally grown produce and factory-farmed meat often carry chemical residues—like pesticides, antibiotics, and hormone disruptors—that accumulate in your body over time. These hidden toxins aren’t just surface-level; they can impact your health over time. Problems related to the ingestion of these residues include:
Brain and nerve issues (neurological diseases), such as memory problems or mood changes,
Hormone imbalance (endocrine disruption), which can affect energy, mood, weight, and menstrual cycles,
Cancer risk (carcinogenicity), by damaging cells or DNA,
Liver strain (hepatotoxicity), which can interfere with your body’s natural detox system,
Fertility issues (reproductive dysfunction), making it harder to conceive or carry a pregnancy,
Kidney damage (renal toxicity), which affects how your body filters waste.
But here’s what many health-conscious women don’t know: Not all toxins can be scrubbed away with a rinse at the sink.
Some pesticides are what’s known as systemic pesticides—meaning they are absorbed through the plant’s roots into the plant’s tissues as it grows. These chemicals aren’t just sitting on the skin of your apple or stem of your kale leaf. They’re woven into the fiber of the food itself. You can’t wash these pesticides off, peel them away, or soak them out.
What Are Systemic Pesticides?
Systemic pesticides are chemical compounds (whether insecticides, fungicides, herbicides or other pesticides) designed to make some or all of the plant tissue toxic to insects that would feed on that plant tissue. As mentioned above, these chemicals are designed to be taken up by a plant’s roots or leaves and distributed throughout its entire system— from pollen, nectar, leaves and stems to its flowers and its fruit.
Common examples of systemic pesticides include:
Neonicotinoids (linked to hormone disruption and harmful to pollinators like bees)
Glyphosate (connected to gut dysbiosis, endocrine disruption, and possible carcinogenic effects)
While this might sound like an efficient way to keep pests away, it also means that every bite you take may carry trace amounts of these chemicals into your own system. As mentioned above, pesticides have been associated with short- and long-term effects on human health, including elevated cancer risks and potential disruption to the body’s nervous, reproductive, and immune system.
But many more are being created that are so new we don’t know a lot about them.
The unsettling truth? These toxins aren’t just an environmental issue—they’re a you issue.
How to Reduce Your Exposure (Without the Overwhelm)
You don’t have to grow your own food to make better choices. Here’s how to minimize systemic pesticide exposure and protect your body’s natural detox systems:
Choose Organic—But Go Beyond the Label:
It’s important to note that while organic standards prohibit most synthetic (lab made) pesticides, they don’t prohibit pesticide use altogether. Organic farmers can still use pesticides that are made naturally. Organic also isn’t a guarantee of nutrient density. Look for regeneratively grown foods when possible—these go beyond organic by focusing on soil health, biodiversity, and toxin-free growing practices.
Prioritize the “Dirty Dozen”:
When budget or access is limited, start by buying organic for the most heavily sprayed crops (like strawberries, spinach, and apples). The Environmental Working Group (EWG) updates this list annually.
Know Your Farmer, Ask Better Questions:
Support local growers and farmers’ markets where you can actually ask: “Do you spray? Do you use systemic pesticides? What do you do to support soil health?” I’ve got an incredible list of farmers I know and trust, reach out to me at christy@fastinginparadise.com to get it!
Eat Closer to the Source:
Shorter food journeys often mean fewer chemicals. Foods grown nearby are less likely to need chemical preservatives or pest control for long-distance transport (read more about this in this blog post!). Google your local farmer’s markets and support local as much as you can.
Bottom line: It’s not about perfection. It’s about reducing what you can, where you can—so your body has less to fight against and more space to heal.
Food as an Investment in Your Future
Eating this way may cost more up front—but the long-term payoff is priceless. Energy. Clarity. Resilience. Disease prevention. That’s not a trend—it’s a lifestyle shift.
Ready to take the next step in your wellness journey?
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Join the waitlist below for our upcoming retreats and be the first to know when new dates open in the Fall 2026!