| p>"Given the history of Western medicine to date, | | | | Because certain emotions and fear of creativity and |
| many people seek empowerment in the health care | | | | change also promote unhealthy (over)eating habits, |
| of themselves and their families; nutrition is really | | | | we need to choose personal growth (over |
| basic component of preventive medicine and also an | | | | addictions), decide what we want and stay focused |
| area that can be effective in corrective medicine for | | | | on our goals. |
| many common health problems." * | | | | Dietary habits and eating patterns from our family's |
| Nutrition is a basic element of health and should not | | | | traditions affect us all in our young age. As adults, |
| be overlooked during disease. Some well renowned | | | | however, we are making our own choices and |
| practitioners state that every disease is a result of | | | | decisions and we should keep asking ourselves why |
| improper dietary habits. | | | | we're doing the things we do - and keep the |
| Because of the rapid increase in cost of medical care | | | | answers in our sight. |
| and desire to live longer and healthier, higher and | | | | When body is in a detoxification stage (like during |
| higher percentage of the population is becoming | | | | cold or flu when bowels, secreting cells and mucous |
| concerned about nutrition and maintaining their health. | | | | membranes become more active), it is simply trying |
| Without a doubt, nutrition plays a big role here. | | | | to eliminate the buildup of toxins we consumed |
| Proper nutrition and regular physical activity can help | | | | throughout the longer period of time. Eating lightly |
| us avoid taking drugs or even have surgeries to | | | | (especially fruits and vegetables) and drinking more |
| correct the results of fast-paced, fast-food | | | | liquids (clean, fresh water and herbal teas), supports |
| consuming, multitasking life with no exercising. | | | | the cleansing process. |
| Healthy dietary habits (the way we eat) are the | | | | Our dietary needs are changing with the seasons of |
| foundation of healthy nutrition. Choosing nourishing | | | | the year as well as with our age. Growing children |
| (whole, unprocessed, without chemical additives) | | | | need richer diet to construct and expand tissues. |
| foods alone is not enough. | | | | When we stop growing physically, we only need to |
| Simpler meals (with specific combination of foods for | | | | maintain our body, which calls for lighter, fiber and |
| better digestion and absorption) are becoming the | | | | nutrient rich natural foods. As we age even more and |
| top-choice of many, who are oriented toward | | | | our metabolism slows down, our food requirements |
| optimum health. | | | | decrease further. |
| However, the factors that are often overlooked, but | | | | Just like fitness activity is equally important at any |
| just as important in healthy nutrition are: | | | | age, so is the low level of stress. While under stress, |
| - the way our food is prepared and served, | | | | our body may not digest and absorb the necessary |
| - the time of the day when we eat, | | | | nutrients so well and sometimes the additional |
| - the setting in which we eat and | | | | supplements are needed. |
| - how we feel when we eat. | | | | When we lose our appetite in response to the |
| The way of the Western world is that poor nutrition | | | | stressful situation, that is a very helpful reaction. As |
| is readily available everywhere, any time and cheap. | | | | mentioned before, in stressful times our body does |
| Farmers' markets and health-food stores, on the | | | | not process foods so well. Not eating will allow us to |
| other hand, are harder to find in some areas. In the | | | | "hear" better what the only body we have for this |
| end, all comes down to common sense. Our body is | | | | life, is signaling us, and explore our feelings. |
| sending us messages all the time and if we would | | | | Human body needs food as a source of energy and |
| only learn to listen to these messages again, there | | | | as a fuel to maintain life. It is quite obvious that |
| would be no need whatsoever for trying out all the | | | | nutrition plays a major role in health as well as |
| countless diets which don't work. So, even though | | | | sickness. Fortunately, there are more and more |
| our biofeedback is a perfect messenger, we tend to | | | | practitioners available who are nutritionists. There are |
| override the signals and follow heavily advertised | | | | also more and more choices of wholesome, nutritious |
| addictions. This kind of behavior affects the way we | | | | foods offered online and in the brick-and-mortar |
| feel now, as well as over the long term. Being | | | | stores. Information is plentiful. But it's up to us to |
| overweight is mostly the result of poor nutrition and | | | | decide to do and choose what's best. |
| low activity level. The only way to lose extra pounds | | | | *Haas, M.D., Elson M.. Staying Healthy with Nutrition. 1. |
| permanently is to change the lifestyle. Choosing less | | | | Berkeley, CA: Celestial Arts Publishing, 1992. |
| fattening foods is a good choice, but not sufficient. | | | | |