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Happy Thanksgiving!
I've recently been asked to write an article regarding the state of our current produce supply and foods that detoxify. Funny thing is, they are the same foods but...with a big difference as you'll shortly see.
With our being in the middle of "The Big Three" (Holloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas), overeating and especially overeating of the wrong foods contributes to the growing number of food-related illnesses. I'm not just talking about food poisoning as we're all familiar with, but how these foods actually lend to numerous health problems.
For your convenience, I've inserted the majority of the article in this newsletter. It's a bit longer than usual, but hopefully you'll find some benefit within. Thank you. |
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Detoxification;
it's a word that is being used with more frequency and urgency in today's toxic
environment. With the advent of air and water pollution awareness several
decades ago, most people are already aware of the toxins present in our
atmosphere, lakes, rivers, and even our own homes. However, what some may not
realize is that toxins can be found in abundance in our present-day food
supply, yet these same foods have detoxification properties as well.
Less
than 150 years ago, chemical use was quite limited. Yet technology continues to
grow unabated, and today's generation is exposed to a limitless supply of natural
and unnatural toxins which can and are accumulating in our tissues and organs.
These toxins, many of which are winding up in our foods, include: unnatural fats
(trans-fats), cholesterols, xenobiotics (organic toxins), inorganic chemicals, and
heavy elemental metals, to name but a few. This buildup can severely affect the
operation of the body's organ systems over time and cause significant health
problems.
How do
these toxins wind up in our foods? In addition to the contaminants which
fall down onto our food sources from rainwater, our soils are loaded with fertilizers,
pesticides, and herbicides. These toxic chemicals seep down into the soil or
land directly on the plants themselves and are absorbed through the leaves
and/or roots which then logically wind up in the fruits, vegetables, nuts and
seeds they produce and that we consume every day. These same foods are also
being heated or irradiated to help increase their shelf live and keep them from
spoiling. And while these "treated" foods may provide calories, heat
and radiation destroy and alter the chemical structure of their vitamins and
enzymes into something that the body cannot utilize as originally
intended.
In
addition to the toxicity of fruits and vegetables, meats are also subject to
alteration. Livestock, fowl and farmed fish
are given color-enhancers, steroids, antibiotics, hormones, and are fed
genetically-altered food in addition to the same contaminated plant matter that
we consume.
All this
has taken its toll on our health. In the last 30 or 40 years, we've seen an
alarming rise in autoimmune-related diseases. Many health experts believe this increase
is directly related to the chemical poisons we are breathing, eating and
drinking every day.
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Continued exposure to these chemicals cause an accumulation
in the body which overwhelms our natural detoxification abilities. Eventually, the
body can no longer keep up with eliminating these substances. The cumulative
load, called the "body burden", is thought to lead to chronic and
even life-threatening illnesses. Examples of toxin-related health maladies
include: hormonal imbalance, impaired immune function, auto-immune syndromes, digestive
impairment leading to nutritional deficiency, and an inefficient metabolism. In
addition, the digestive
tract can develop microscopic ulcerations, pH imbalances, imbalance in bacteria
and fungus, granulomas, and many other problems. Heavy metals such as lead,
cadmium and mercury may also be found in our foods. Over time, these metals
affect health, and have the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and
cause various central nervous system disorders.
The good news is that many of
these accumulations can be halted and even reversed. An overall healing plan
must be engaged which includes the removal of stored-up toxins. A colon cleanse
is simply not enough since nearly every cell can be affected. In order to
detoxify our bodies and prevent or reverse illness, a proactive, multi-pronged
attack must be mounted which includes exercise, fresh air, limited sun, and...detoxification
- through diet! The same types of foods that are the cause of our toxification
can also be the source of our detoxification. The difference is the KIND of
food, their purity and combination which we will see a little further on.
Numerous studies
have already shown benefits of the detoxification properties of natural foods. In one such study,
rats were fed seaweed and the results showed its detoxifying potential by
increasing the effectiveness of the liver in use as a chemo-preventative medicine. Additional studies have shown the benefits of
nutrition in clearing the body of the toxic buildup of lead
and mercury using citrus peels.
As mentioned, the
type of food is very important. Many fruits, vegetables and certain herbs do
have cleansing and detoxification properties, but they must be clean - free of
pesticides, or any harmful ingredients and must not have been altered by
exposure to radiation or other methods of extending shelf life.
Fruits and
vegetables that fit this description are called "certified organic". This
term essentially means they were grown
using absolutely no chemicals at all. Several years ago, unless you grew your
own, it was very difficult to find certified organic food. But with the growing
health concerns and demand of consumers, more supermarkets are beginning to
carry an organic line. Simply look for the organic produce section of your
favorite grocery store or ask your grocer. Many are willing to begin storing
organic fruits and vegetables as long as you ask. Additionally, certified
organic goods can be identified by the 5 digit code on the label. If a food is
certified organic, the code will begin with the number 9 and may also contain
the phrase "Certified Organic". Most non-organic produce begins with the
number 4. |
So what kinds of
foods help our bodies to detoxify? Examples of cleansing foods are (organic)
green teas which serve to induce detoxifying enzymes for chemoprotection
(chemical protection) or cytoprotection (cell protection). Cruciferous
vegetables such as kale, collard greens, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage,
brussels sprouts and turnips are all excellent for energizing and cleansing
enzymes in the liver, your body's built-in detox center. Lemons, watercress,
garlic, oregano, sesame seeds, and fruits also are powerful detoxifying foods, which not
only aid in colon-cleansing, but also contain anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-parasitic
properties.
The benefits of
these foods are well documented. In fact, broccoli has been shown to detoxify
carcinogens in liver cells. Another
example is spinach. This green leafy vegetable is high in fiber and B vitamins.
It has also been shown to help soothe the nervous system, protect against and
may even reverse macular degeneration. Additionally, legumes, such as Lentils
and Kidney Beans, are one of the best sources of folate, which helps fight
heart disease. Capsaicin, the 'hot stuff' in chili peppers, has been found to
soothe the stomach lining, detoxify the body and fight colds. Sweet potatoes have
double the vitamin C, more fiber and fewer calories than white potatoes. They
also contain antioxidants that may reduce inflammation in bones and muscles,
and beta-carotene that protects against respiratory infections. They also
protect against sunburn and help wounds heal and scars fade.
We now know that many organic fruits and
vegetables help to detoxify our bodies and maintain or improve health. However,
as wonderful as these organic foods are, they are not enough. A problem exists
in that the majority of even these carefully grown foods are lacking in
essential nutrients and complete detoxification properties. The reason for this
is due to decades of over-farming.
The primary growing regions of this country
continue to use the same soil repeatedly to grow crops. This causes the earth
to eventually become depleted of essential organisms, nutrients and minerals.
The fewer essentials in the soil, the less are taken up by the plants and the
weaker the nutrient benefit of the individual fruit, vegetable or herb. This is
so prevalent in today's farming practices, that we would have to eat at least 10
cups of broccoli to get the same amount of nutrients that 1 cup of broccoli
contained just 50 or 60 years ago.
The way to combat this deficiency from even
organic diets and ensure complete nutrition is to supplement. Just like our
foods, the type of supplement is also very important. Try to avoid
over-the-counter pills, capsules, and powders which are loaded with synthetic
ingredients, fillers and binders. Ideally, one should look for
organically complexed (carbon-bound) supplements derived from whole foods,
minimally processed and made from the highest quality ingredients. It's best to
avoid preservatives, synthetic ingredients and binders as much as possible
to acquire the best possible nutrition.
Good health is ultimately worth the investment.
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