Food Is Our Most Important Medicine Most people don't consider their diet as an important part of their overall health care. But in many parts of the world, people cannot afford expensive medicines and must rely largely on their food and dietary habits in order to stay healthy. Considering that we consume between 2 and 4 pounds of food every day, it only makes sense that food should be our first and most important medicine, as Hippocrates pointed out some 2,500 years ago. Many Americans eat without much concern for their health. And then, when they feel sick, they try to correct the problem by taking herbs or medicine. But another approach, and one that makes more sense, is to select our foods and eat them in a way that will support our health and well being in the first place. According to the ancient medical systems of India and China, the key to health lies in maintaining a strong digestion and moderation in our daily habits. The dietary guidelines outlined below incorporate the wisdom of the Eastern traditions along with the current knowledge of Western science. Even though they may seem simple, or even obvious, these guidelines can make a profound difference in our overall health and are appropriate for all body types. A strong and complete digestion is the foundation of good health. So, it is important to eat when our digestive fire is strong and can easily digest and assimilate the nutrients. To maximize digestion, eat only when you are genuinely hungry and try to eat your largest meal in the middle of the day. If you feel you need a large meal in the evening, try to eat at least 3 to 4 hours before bedtime. Don't eat when you are emotionally upset. Negative emotions reduce the body's digestive ability. Better to wait until you are calm and relaxed. Eat slowly and chew your food well. Because of strong digestive enzymes in our saliva, the process of digestion begins in the mouth. Likewise, chewing greatly increases the surface area of the food, making it easier for the body to digest and assimilate the nutrients. This simple rule will greatly enhance your digestion and your overall health. Stop eating before you are completely full. There is a 15-20 minute lag between the time we eat something and the time the brain registers the sensation of fullness. During meals, limit fluids to 3 to 4 ounces of lukewarm or room temperature liquid. Avoid iced drinks. Drinking too much fluid during the meal, and cold fluid in particular, will impair the body's digestive ability. As a general rule, favor warm, cooked vegetables over cold or raw vegetables. Some people have a particularly strong digestion and can do well with raw foods. But for most of us, and particularly after the age 40, it is difficult for the body to completely digest raw vegetables. The result is that undigested food passes into the colon where it creates toxins and further impairs the digestion. If you have a desire for raw foods, try juicing your fresh vegetables and drink the juice at room temperature. It's useful to learn some of the basic principles of food combining. As a general rule, try to keep your meals simple. Vegetables and starches combine well and a little meat or soy protein at the same time is fine for most people. But too many varieties of proteins, starches and carbohydrates, all at the same time, will impair the digestion. Between meals, drink plenty of pure water on an empty stomach. Water is the common medium required for almost every chemical reaction in the body. As a general guideline, divide your weight in pounds by 2.5. The result of this equation is the minimum number of ounces of pure water you need to drink every day. The best times to drink are upon rising in the morning and between 3:00 and 5:00 in the afternoon. Always wait at least 2 hours after a meal before drinking a large glass of water. Certain foods are very concentrated and must be used with caution in order to avoid creating an imbalance in the body. Meat, cream, cheese, eggs, sugar, honey and molasses, are all extremely concentrated and should be taken in small quantities as a compliment to the meal, and not as a main course. Certain foods are so extreme in their very nature that eating even a small amount can aggravate an imbalance for many people. Candy, sodas, rich desserts, ice cream and frozen yogurt are examples of foods that are extremely damp and cold in nature. Alcohol, coffee, fried foods, or foods that are greasy, hot or spicy are examples of foods that are extremely hot in nature. If you have a health problem, try to eliminate these foods from your diet completely until you are feeling well again. Otherwise, try to limit these foods to small portions once or twice a week. Some foods are toxic due to over cooking, over processing, age or chemical contamination. For example, burned meats or oils are toxic due to the chemical changes that occur when fats are exposed to high temperature. Likewise, fast foods, highly processed foods (such as margarine or processed meats) or spoiled foods should be avoided for the same reason. Many nutritional experts believe that Aspartame, a chemical ingredient in some artificial sweeteners, should be avoided due to the toxic nature of the chemical. If you choose to be a vegetarian or vegan, it is necessary to carefully monitor your diet in order to prevent serious nutritional deficiencies. For all vegetarians and vegans, it is a good idea to take dietary supplements which will provide additional protein (including all 8 essential amino acids), vitamin B complex, calcium, iron, and zinc, all in moderate amounts. Because these recommendations are simple, many people don't take them seriously. But if followed, they can have a profound effect in restoring balance to the body and mind. If these recommendations seem overwhelming or if they conflict with your normal routine, you don't have to incorporate all of them at once. Start with the easiest ones and add more as you feel inclined. After you try a few of the suggestions, you may soon want to try more. If you are interested in the idea of food as medicine, and want to learn more, here are some excellent books to hang out with:
• Healing with Whole Foods, Paul Pitchford; North Atlantic Books |
