Phytochemicals
Fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, legumes all words you may think to yourself what have these got in common? Well they are the support system of your body. Fruits and vegetables have lots of phytochemicals in them and you can get about 100 different phytochemicals per serving of fruits and vegetables. What are phytochemicals? Well the most commonly known phytochemicals is the antioxidant. Antioxidants help to protect our cells from toxic substances and free radicals. You want to keep your cells strong for the long haul of life ahead.
A lot of research has recently focused on how antioxidant vitamins may reduce cardiovascular disease risk. Antioxidant vitamins — E, C and beta carotene (a form of vitamin A) — have potential health-promoting properties.
Have you ever thought about foods that heal?
December 21st, 2006 at 5:00 pm
I am always looking at foods that heal. I’ve seen too many young people develop diseases that I really believe are related to poor nutrition. There seems to be a pretty big disconnect out there between our state of wellness and our food choices.
I know for certain the raw fruits and vegetables have an amazing ability to heal - even once disease has set in! As a nutrition consultant, I’ve seen it happen frequently with my clientelle. The only word of caution I’d offer though, is that it’s not achieved as easily as popping a vitamin. Because fruits and veggies themselves can contain thousands of different antioxidants/phytochemicals - we can’t just isolate a few, pop them in a pill and hope that they can duplicate the complex interaction of foods found in nature.
For healing purposes or to build a healthy immune system, we should them when their fresh off the vine, and raw to maintain their nutritional integrity. I do this as much as possible. When I can’t I take a whole-food supplement (NEVER vitamins).
December 22nd, 2006 at 2:57 pm
“Let food be thy medicine”
Yes, it is true that food can help us heal and help us build up a stronger immune system. Whole, raw and unprocessed is how nature intended.
Unfortunately, we have begun consuming things that are not even fit for consumption such as hydrogenated oils or trans fats and high fructose corn syrup!
Thanks for your comment!
December 30th, 2006 at 10:11 am
So true, in fact I was once in a coversation in which we were discussing that our pets on any given day, often have a better balanced diet than we do (they consistently get the right balance of fats, proteins, carbs) AND we are more likely to buy them helath food than we are our own families.
My consulting work focuses on two levels of improving nutrition. #1 stop eating the de-natured/highly processed foods. Many people stop here and have the mentality that they eat a “healthy” diet simply because they aren’t eating as much rubbish as the average American. Step #2 is the hard one - now that we’ve stopped eating the rubbish, lets put in real food with live enzymes/antioxidants…That’s where most people lose the comittment - it’s just not convenient enough for them. Our culture has become so accustomed to easy/pre-packaged foods. This is a hard habit to break.
January 13th, 2007 at 8:06 am
Our family pet can also benefit from exercice and a good diet, part of exercise fitness diet program.
Just the simple fact of taking our pet (dog mostly) for a walk or a game of frisbee in the park constitute a good fitness made simple regimen.