Healing Foods__________________________________________________
"Everyone
has a doctor in him or her; we just have to
help it in its work.
The natural healing force within each one
of us is the greatest force in getting well.
Our food should be our medicine. Our medicine
should be our food.
But to eat when you are sick, is to feed your
sickness."
Hippocrates,
Father of Medicine
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Hippocrates is credited as
the first physician to reject the divine origin
and superstition of sicknesses. He separated the
discipline of medicine from philosophy and religion,
believing and proffering that disease was not punishment
of the gods but due to environmental factors, diet
and living habits. Another important precept of
Hippocratic doctrine was based on "the healing
power of nature". According to this doctrine,
the body contains within itself the power to re-balance
and heal itself. Click
here for the Hippocratic Oath
Only
a body that is fueled with the best ingredients
can deliver ultimate performance. And, our
consciousness is directly linked to the degree
of health that we allow our body to be in. |
Nutrition:
Food contains proteins,
fats, carbohydrates,
water, vitamins,
and minerals. Nutrition is the way our bodies
take in and use food to maintain proper functioning,
and is the foundation of good health. Eating right
is critical for the proper growth and functioning
of our bodies, and there is strong evidence that
eating right can prevent several chronic illnesses
or diseases, as well. The first principle to good
nutrition is to eat a wide variety of foods, because
different foods make different nutritional contributions
to our diets. Keep a balance between calorie intake
and calorie usage; in other words, do not eat more
food than your body can use or you will gain weight.
The more active you are, the more you can eat and
still maintain the balance. Also, foods high in
complex carbohydrates and fiber, low in fat, and
cholesterol-free (fruits, vegetables, grains and
legumes) should make up more than 50 percent of
the calories you eat. The rest should come from
lean meats and poultry, fish, and low-fat dairy
products. This will ensure that you get the proper
amounts of vitamins and minerals and help keep your
fat and cholesterol intake relatively low.
Most fruits and
vegetables contain valuable nutrients for anti-aging.
Especially noteworthy are the cruciferous vegetables--broccoli,
brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, radishes, and watercress--for
their anti-cancer properties.
Melatonin,
for immunity-boosting and better sleep, is found
in bananas, corn, and tomatoes.
Chromium
helps regulate insulin and can be found in apples,
broccoli, grapes, raisins, mushrooms, and potatoes.
Magnesium
defends against asthma and heart disease, and it
is also a memory booster. Good fruit and vegetable
sources include avocados, bananas, and dark green
vegetables.
Vitamin E’s
helper selenium is found in onions, shallots, mushrooms,
and garlic. These foods help the heart and keep
the skin elastic.
Intense color and flavor indicate health-giving
properties. Dark green and orange vegetables, for
example, are high in carotene, which protects against
cancer. And bitter greens help the liver. Citrus
fruits, such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruits,
help rid the body of free radicals, keep the skin
young-looking, and accelerate healing.
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