You've probably heard me say it before: "Read your labels. If you can't pronounce something on there, or the list is daunting just to look at, pass on the purchase."

Reading labels aloud is a simple trick to minimize your exposure to highly processed foods. In fact, label-less foods like fresh produce, grass-fed meats, free-range poultry, and wild-caught fish are our best sources of the varied, high-quality nutrients your body needs to build good qi, or energy. People have all sorts of opinions on processed foods and their effects (or lack thereof) on our health. Without diving into that debate, let's start at building block # 1. If you are purchasing food with a label - do you really know how to read it?