The Path To Optimal Health

Our ancestors knew that a healthy diet could help the body stay healthy. There were no doctors, nurses or hospitals then. The two leading causes of death were (1) being eaten by an animal or (2) dying of childbirth complications. Their diets consisted of fruits, vegetables, roots, legumes, mushrooms, saps and whole grains. They ate little salt and higher amounts of potassium. They ate very little meat because it would spoil if not eaten immediately. If you read the Bible, the Old Testament indicates that the first diet that G-d talks about is our ancestors' diet (minus the meat (which came after Noah). Afterwards, fish were added to their diets. Scientists found two different tribes in South America. One trible basically used the first diet; the second tribe added fish to their nutrition. The only difference in these two tribes was that the tribe with the added protein from fish had cholesterol and triglyceride level approximately 40% lower than the other tribe.

Today, science has proven that the diet we eat affects our health and wellness. David Heber, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Center for Human Nutrition, UCLA, spoke at a press conference for the Council on Responsible Nutrition (March 31, 1998). He said: "We now have a substantial body of data showing that if everyone took a few supplements every day, they could significantly lower their risk of a multitude of serious diseases." This has become the Scientific Rationale For Nutrition Therapies.

So what are the steps we can take for optimal health. They are:

Avoid certain fats - these include the polyunsaturated vegetable oils, margarine, vegetable shortening, all partially hydrogenated oils, and all foods that might contain trans-fatty acids (such as deep-fried foods) They are either high in saturated fats or high in Omega-6 essential fatty acids which are pro-inflammatory.
Increase certain fats - These include increasing the omega-3 fatty acids in our diets. We do this by eating more cold water oily fish, freshly ground flaxseeds, and walnuts. Taking the right fish oil supplement or Krill oil also is beneficial.
Reduce your consumption of animal foods -this will help reduce the amount of fat you ingest. Repalce the protein with vegetable protein such as whole soy products.
Use hormone-free, organically produced products whenever possible - No antibiotics, hormones, grass-fed show the saturated fats are less..
Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables - We know there are over 2000 plant-based chemicals that are important to our nutrition. Solitary nutrients may not be as effective as combined..
Eat mushrooms frequently - especially shiitake, enokitake, maitake, and oyster mushrooms as they are filled with certain biological sugars our bodies need. This includes fucose and others that have been shown to have profound effects in our bodies.
Drink tea - Drink green or black tea daily as they are loaded with antioxidants called catechins which are important for detoxifying our bodies.
Get plenty of vitamin D₃ - This can be either as sunshine, safe tanning beds (UVB lighting) or supplement vitamin D₃.
Whole-food sources for nutrients - this should be your first source of nutrition. If the diet is low in the necessary nutrients, supplement with whole food evidence-based supplements. This will supply the essential biological sugars, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals the body needs.
Exercise regularly - Even walking 3 or more times per week has shown health benefits with reduction of blood pressure and stress.
Stop smoking - There is much evidence that smoking increases your health challenges, including lung cancer, emphysema, heart disease and asthma in second-hand smoke in children.
Limit alcohol consumption - Too much alcohol can cause profound health problems. However, red wines contain an antioxidant called Resveratrol which is heart-healthy. So a little wine every once in a while is good for the heart.
Meditate daily - this can help relieve stress and lower blood pressure.