In 1948, a person needed to eat just one bowl of fresh, raw spinach to get all the nutrients that are needed for good health. Today, soil erosion, leeching, pollution, and in some areas even the ravages of war or poor policy-making on the part of politicians/corporations ensure our soils are not as rich as they once were. Today, a person would need to eat almost 70 bowls of spinach to get standard daily iron requirements met.
What Can We Do To Nourish Ourselves Better?
Many times we do no eat enough food to get all the nutritional support we need for life. This is particularly true as we face a changing environment and modern stresses each day. Sometimes, it feels like there’s not enough time to eat. The first place you'll feel nutritional deficit most noticeably is in your energy levels. Additionally, you may feel moody. Your brain is the "talk-back organ", which keeps you in-touch with what might be missing, so it is important to listen. Your muscles may be sensitive or achy. You may be slow to heal from illness.
Supplementation can be a good idea to make 100% sure you have everything you need to thrive every day. Many people have allergies, health concerns and digestive issues rooted in wheat consumption, even "organic" or "whole wheat." Try taking it out of your diet and substituting for other complex carbohydrates like short or long grain brown rice, amaranth, quinoa, or spelt instead. Also recommended is a dark rye once in a while for its iron content. See the difference in three to six months.
These items should always be in your kitchen: honey and/or maple syrup, brown rice syrup and/or agave syrup, Tahini, coconut oil, olive oil/grape seed oil, lemon or lime juice, ginger, garlic, Bragg's (concentrated enzymes), cayenne pepper, dulce and other seaweeds, unhulled sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds, walnuts, engevita yeast. These basics can add flavour as well as myriad health benefits. Nuts and seeds have precious oils in them and keep best in the fridge for no longer than three months at a time.
Cayenne pepper works as a stimulant for movement and release through your digestive system. As well, it raises the thermo-nucleic level of your body. Walnuts are neutralizing and alkalizing. They rebalance the body, reduce acidity and are especially useful in women’s health. Coconut oil is a mass brain food and is easily absorbed by even a compromised system; it’s also an antidepressant. It is an immune booster and activator, for example.
In addition to regular, healthful consumption of whole foods, it is encouraged you have these "basics" in your home:
Pro-biotics
They keep intestinal flora alive and in balance, and are crucial if pregnant or in poor health. Pro-biotics support digestive function and full nutrient absorption.
Sources of pro-biotics include:
- organic yogurt
- sour dough bread
- kefir
- harder cheeses
- cottage cheese
- sour kraut
- fermented beets
- Spirulina, soya yogurt and supplemental form are also helpful
Enzymes
They support liver function blood flow in internal organs in the secondary/tertiary levels of digestion. Enzymes ensure food is properly broken down, and normalize PH balance in the body.
Sources of enzymes include:
- locally-produced BC fruits veggies in their raw state
- free range or wild red meat
- some exotic fruits like mango, papaya and pineapple
- fermented beets, kombuchu and reishi mushrooms
In order to feel optimal, our bodies need adequate nutrition. Much of our food chain has been affected by cumulative damage. We cannot thrive if key ingredients are missing from our diets. We can help ourselves pro-actively with the use of kitchen herbs and some simple health changes.
Sources:
John Bastyr College of Naturopathy, Arizona, USA
Wild Rose College of Natural Healing, Calgary, AB, Terry Willard, Ph.D
“Prescription for Nutritional Healing”, 2005 by John Balch, MD and Phyllis Balch, NC
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