I read alot of books on nutrition and food as medicine. I once wanted to be a nutritionist. As a nation, we are increasingly eating more processed foods. Our supermarkets are full of convenient packaged foods that appeal to our taste buds, but compromise our nutrition. Because most of these foods' natural nutrients are removed in the refining process. In addition, we are eating less variety of foods. Ironically, while 17,000 new products are introduced each year, two-thirds of our calories come from just four foods: corn, soy, wheat, and rice.
Our food is NOT the same as it was 20 years ago. Nutrients in the soil have been depleted, so food grown in that soil has fewer nutrients. Chemicals are increasingly used in raising both plants and animals, particularly on huge industrial farms that specialize in a few products.
It is easy to fall into the pattern of eating fast, convenient, prepared food, especially in our often frenetic lives. But we are not nurturing ourselves by doing so. Our Standard American Diet lacks nutrients and relies heavily on processed foods that include artificial color, additives, flavorings, and chemically-altered fats and sweeteners.
Our fast foods also remove us from the pleasures of creating and savoring a wonderful meal, and our fast pace often prevents us from connecting over a good, slow meal. We tend to eat for convenience and speed, not health and pleasure.
So there are many reasons why we might want to pay attention to what we eat. We especially need to pay attention when we are sick so we can help our bodies get the nutrients we need to heal. There are many health benefits if we look at food as medicine. Eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; drink water; don't eat candy; and play, or exercise.
Fruits and vegetables processed for freezing tend to be flash-frozen at their peak ripeness and nutrient density. Freezing locks in plant nutrients.
Fresh fruits and vegetables that are shipped to other states are generally picked before they are ripe, which gives them less time to develop optimal levels of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. In addition, fruits and vegetables begin to lose nutrients moments after they are picked. Shipping and storage can also negatively impact nutrient content due to variables such as temperature, distance for shipping, and handling procedures, according to the USDA Agricultural Research Service Center.
The solution is to buy locally grown fruits and vegetables that have traveled the least amount of distance to the table whenever possible and supplement that with frozen products.
******Choose whole grains*******
Whole grains reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease and improve the health of the gastrointestinal tract. Whole grains contain multiple nutrients. But when whole grain is processed, the following amounts of nutrient content, or "information," is lost:
* 60% of calcium
* 85% of magnesium
* 77% of potassium
* 78% of zinc
* 75% of vitamins
* 95% of fatty acids
* 95% of fiber
Because the nutrient content is essentially stripped during processing, manufacturers then fortify the food with nutrients such as B-vitamins. Unfortunately fortification cannot possibly compensate for all of the active components in grain. One extremely important component that is left out is fiber. (There are undoubtedly other important components left out that haven't been identified yet.)
Fiber makes us feel full faster and longer; therefore, it may prevent overeating. Fiber also plays an important role in the digestive system, allowing nutrients to be more fully absorbed and slowing the rise in blood sugar glucose, as well as aiding in the elimination of waste.
Our bodies need a balance of two types of fatty acids: omega 3 and omega 6, but we tend to get too much omega 6.
Omega 6: Animal fats, butter fats, and corn oil contain a predominance of omega 6 fatty acids and tend to produce inflammation in the body.
Omega 3: Plant oils, such as avocado, olive oil, canola oil, flaxseed oil, oils from nuts and seeds, and fats from fish whose diet is made up of algae contain a predominance of omega 3 fatty acids and have an anti-inflammatory effect on the body.
Inflammation is essential to the body's ability to maintain immunity and protection, but too much inflammation can cause injury. It is important that the body maintain a balance of pro-inflammatory messages and anti-inflammatory messages.
I know I spewed alot of facts in this post, and it is a bit of a rant. I see so many people using meds today for issues that can be corrected by proper food intake. PLEASE remember, we are what we eat, and if all you eat is crap, well...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQDA12ZV2nU
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