My Nutrition Exploration
by Ashleigh Pennington
Working at Chagrin Valley Wellness Center, I cannot help but be intrigued by how the body works. Our bodies are fascinating inside and out. The human body uses any possible defense to protect us from harm and it never wants us to be in pain. This includes nutrition and the foods we allow into our bodies.
My most recent exploration of health and wellness led me to Health Workshops entitled, “A Way of Eating to Totally Change your Life.” These classes concentrate on how our bodies naturally digest food and the long-term effects that arise; good and bad. The information has become life-changing for me and I feel compelled to share it with you. Here are a few things I have learned:
1. Juicing fruits, vegetables and other foods allow the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients to skip the intensive digestive process, and be delivered straight to the bloodstream, from the stomach where it can be utilized quickly and efficiently.
2. Combining food properly allows you to get the most out of the food you are eating. For example, eating animal protein and starches together is poor food combining. Two different conditions of our stomach are needed to break down these types of foods;starches and complex carbohydrates will not digest in the presence of the proteins. We end up burning valuable energy attempting to digest the food.
3. The food we eat either produces acid or alkaline residues in our system. The more acid that is produced, the more likely we are to suffer from physical and mental ailments and disease. Acid is created from animal proteins, through poor food combining and consuming an excess of sugars, starches and other yeast and mold-producing organisms. If we raise the alkaline level in our bodies, we can avoid disease and begin to repair years of digestive mistreatment. Eating more leafy green vegetables such as spinach, kale and watercress will help raise alkaline levels. These foods also provide calcium and protein.
4. Food heated above 118 degrees loses most of its enzymes, the catalytic substances that help the body break down foods. Raw or lightly steamed food is digested naturally and most efficiently.
Tom Frazier, Health Counselor and raw food enthusiast is a source of this information. He is the leader of the classes and discussions about acid/alkaline balance, food combining and countless nutritional topics. The other source is a book titled “The pH Miracle” by Robert O. Young Ph.D. The book includes facts about foods we eat, personal testimonials, recipes and the plan tailored for you.
Please let me know if you are interested in learning more on this and other health topics! It is possible for everyone to have lasting, radiant health.
Some of the things we can control in our lives include:
· Our attitude
· How we react
· What we say
· What we do with our time
· What we put into our bodies
· What we put on our bodies