sourceLet’s begin by learning what optimal health really is. Optimal health is when you and your body are working together synergistically, providing it with wholesome foods in their natural, God given state! In turn, your body will be better equipped to fight disease, bring you energy, and keep your weight under control. Sounds promising no?
It is SO substantially important to know that the food we consume NOW, can drastically affect how our bodies age and may mean the difference between cancer, kidney failure, heart disease, and diabetes OR living a life in that optimal healthy state. Notice however, that I said FOODS, not supplements, processed “foods,” or diet shakes; just REAL, WHOLE FOODS!
sourceWhat’s the difference if I get my Vitamin C from a pill or an orange?
The complexity of the natural chemicals in REAL, WHOLE foods is so vast that even the most intellectual scientist has trouble understanding how each chemical works together. All they can do is pull out certain nutrients, test the activity in a test tube, realize it does some good, and then add that nutrient to every cereal, bread, cracker, chip, cookie, yogurt, and dressing they can get their hands on. Oh and then YOU buy it.
But they are missing the point, in fact, most people are missing the point. Because the natural chemicals found in foods are so involved, scientists cannot just single out one or two nutrients and then add them to chemically processed foods. Why? Because the nutrients that occur naturally in foods ALL have to work together, they cannot just be supplemented or added to Kellogg’s Fruity Pebbles!! You have to eat REAL FOODS that provide more nutrients than you even know exist and that is when you reach that state of optimal health!
Did you know that there are many plant foods containing considerably more vitamin C than an orange; one cup of peppers, broccoli, peas, strawberries and papaya all have more!! How much of the antioxidant activity of an orange is actually JUST Vitamin C? MAYBE 1-2%. There are actually many more natural chemical compounds working within the orange to make it a healthy plant food to consume! We must think synergistically, not individually, when it comes to nutrients!! It's not just Vitamin C that makes an orange a healthy choice!
Tune in tomorrow for PART II of living in a state of optimal health! I will be discussing more reasons WHY it is so important to take care of your health today!!
Want more? Find out how I eat in my post entitled: Eat and Eat Well.
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Information based on the book The China Study by T. Colin Campbell, PhD and Thomas M. Campbell II
[...] What Does It Mean To Live With Optimal Health? PART I [...]
I love these posts on REAL FOODS! They are so important and extremely underestimated (and not as expensive as people always think!! Way cheaper than buying supplements and processed foods!)
OOOH, good debate! I never really think what happens after my multivitamin dissolves. The orange reference helped me understand.
Great post!!!! People are SO obsessed with singling out individual nutrients…taking a supplement for this, or a drink for that. When what we need to do is eat healthy, whole foods overall to get a vast array of COMPLETE nutrients, that our bodies recognize are food, that actually gets absorbed. Not eat a bunch of garbage and take a million vitamins!!!
I LOVE the China Study…it’s like my bible.
I actually had this discussion today with my boyfiend. He mentioned his appetites been kind of screwy lately and that he wasn’t able to eat his whole meal..so he took a supplement. Sure, they give you the vitamins and stuff..but they offer no energy. That’s not good.
What a beautiful post, and surely one that all us healthy living bloggers can stand behind. I used to be a counter of calories, carbs, weight, etc… now I find it so much easier to stay healthy by simply focusing on eating WHOLE foods in their most natural state… brilliantly easy
Hi love…what an important message. We all need to be eating more whole foods, and we need to stay away from these overly processed, highly advertised fads. Keep on preaching the message of whole grains, real proteins, fruits, vegetables, nuts…the list could go on…there are just so many great things that we should eat! Thank you for sharing with me. Continue to enjoy great, wholesome food and good company! Happy Thanksgiving!
i’m such a believer in true, whole foods in their natural state when possible. it’s hard to go a whole day without processed foods, but i really do feel the difference when i do!
Oooh I like this post Erin! This is one of the many things we talked about at the Nutrition & Wellness Specialist course I was at last weekend and I think defining what exactly ‘health’ is is so important. People shouldn’t have to take drugs to be healthy. If we eat whole foods and treat ourselves well to begin with, there’s no need for the medications – and the millions of $$$ spent on them every year!