Our food should be our medicine and our medicine should be our food. —Hippocrates
You are what you eat. Literally. Regularly consuming exceedingly processed, fatty foods will make you feel tired and look fatty - “overly processed,” if you will. A diet rich in fresh foods and lean proteins will make you feel fresh and revitalized and look lean. The occasional birthday cupcake won’t hurt you (in fact I encourage the special indulgence as a treat for the soul) but it is all about balance. I believe it is nutritional imbalance that plays the primary role in the cancer and diabetes rates we see today. If we pay closer attention to our consumption of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, we will be well on our way to increased stamina, better sleep, clarity of mind, and far less disease.
To ensure we get the most out of our food, look to the vitamins and minerals. Vitamins and minerals are enablers, or assistants in the nutritive process. For instance, the suite of B vitamins are necessary for our bodies to properly turn carbohydrates to sugar and create energy (without adequate B vitamins, our bodies store those carbs as fat). We can take vitamins in the form of pills, but the absorption rates are unpredictable; the vitamins and minerals most readily usable by our bodies are found in our food. When we eat fresh, brightly colored, unprocessed fruits and vegetables, good quality dairy and meats, and whole grains, the vitamins and minerals within are readily absorbed by our bodies and are then available for all the necessary nutritional chemical reactions.
To ward against disease, I suggest ensuring a good quantity of antioxidants in our diet. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals so our bodies can focus on repairing and protecting us. While free radicals are an essential part of a healthy immune system, they can accumulate in our bodies as a result of environmental toxins (pollution, chemicals, radiation, etc), physical and emotional stress, and unhealthy fats, preservatives, and pesticides in our processed foods. Excessive free radicals then attack our tissues and make us more vulnerable to many degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and many cancers.
It seems to me that our country needs revitalization, and that starts with its individual citizens. A great way to revitalize ourselves is by retraining ourselves to eat healthier. I’d love to see more people cut down on their consumption of fast food, exercise to reduce stress, and eat a diet rich in organically grown fruits, vegetables and proteins. I think it would make a real difference in so many ways.
