There is a new era in nutrition nowadays that is reverting to the age-old practice of the use of natural foods and herbs. A raw food diet principally is now replacing cooked foods and the use of animal products for consumption. It is increasingly being accepted that raw fruit and vegetables are the best foods to consume as these contain all the natural antioxidants and enzymes that promote and sustain health and well being. The nutrition facts about cooked and processed foods are that they have substantially lost their phyto-nutrients and as a consequence they promote malnutrition and disease. Healthy foods are only those foods that are naturally available and provided by Nature. They require no alteration or processing to optimize their nutritional value as society in the main seems to think.

The practice of consuming animal products (meats, milk, cheese, etc.) is another main cause of malnutrition and disease and is chiefly responsible for the five fatal diseases that afflict man today - heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and respiratory illnesses. Animal products which include sea-food all contain high levels of cholesterol, steroids, antibiotics, salt, unusable protein and mercury, and all these over time have a deleterious effect on the body. These substances tend to clog the system as they present real difficulties for elimination. They should be avoided as far as possible.

Two items that are consumed and also present real difficulties to the human set-up over time are salt and sugar. These two do not present any nutritional value on the body. In fact all they do is make one addicted, so that when they are mixed with cooked or processed foods, persons become compelled to consume. This indeed is a ploy by the food industry to foster loyalty among consumers. Salt we know hardens the arteries and raises the blood pressure to inordinately high levels and together with cholesterol is the principal agent in the number one disease of the world - heart disease. Sugar on the other hand creates great imbalances in the body. It causes hormone imbalance, promotes anxiety, hyperactivity and depression and is the principal agent in the contraction of the much dreaded disease - diabetes.

Because of the prevalence of sugar and salt in most prepared foods, the body which is naturally alkaline turns acidic and this sets the stage of the number two killer for mankind - cancer. Natural foods are naturally alkaline and do not present acidic conditions for the body. The body’s requirement for sugar and salt are all already available in natural foods and do not need to be supplemented.

Because of the high quantities of sugar and salt in all man made foods, one should always be suspicious of what culinary offerings are placed before us. The more natural the food is, the better. Cooked foods should only comprise those foods that are naturally nutritious but require such cooking preparations to make them edible. These foods for example are the dried peas, ground provisions such as potatoes, yams etc., and brown rice. White rice, white bread and all such refined foods including pastries should be avoided. Cereals such as wheat germ, oats, barley, raw nuts and dried unsweetened organic fruits such as raisins, apricots, cranberries etc., should form part of ones diet.

One may ask if these dietary approaches are adopted whether our nutrition will be compromised. In fact studies should that a natural foods diet have all the nutrition that the body requires even for infants. A diet based on cooked or processed foods leads to shorter lifespan with many health problems including obesity along the way.

An important aspect of an enlightened natural food diet is the consumption of plenty of pure water. Tap water is not suitable for consumption as it inevitably contains lots of chlorine and other impurities. Water should be pure or purified to the extent of only containing 20 parts per million (ppm) of impurities. Any water that is above this level of impurity should be avoided and one should examine when purchasing same or have your filtration system periodically tested so that this level of purity is maintained. The amount of water to be consumed should be in relation to one’s weight. Generally one should consume half of one’s weight in fluid ounces of water per day. If for example a person weighs 160 pounds, then 10 eight ounce glasses of water should be consumed on a daily basis. Water is needed in large quantities to assist in the elimination of waste in the body as well as to maintain its level of body mass of over seventy percent (70%).

Another important element in the pursuit of healthy living is the need for sunlight, fresh air and exercise. Most of us spend most of our day, everyday, in a controlled environment. We are either in air-conditioned or heated facilities. While this may be desirable over the long term, the absence of fresh air and sunlight will have an adverse effect on health. A rigorous program of exercise for 30-60 minutes a day in the outdoors can kill these three birds with one stone. The need for exercise I do not need to go into, but sunlight and oxygen are needed for all body functions.

A natural food diet will significantly lower one’s health costs if adopted. A diet rich in fruits and cereals in the morning and fresh vegetables, pulses, brown rice or ground roots for lunch and dinner with no animal products or sea-foods will ensure a long life and well being. Finally it should be mentioned here that there are certain natural foods high in antioxidants which provide additional defenses to the body’s immune system. These natural supplements can adequately replace the manufactured vitamins and minerals available on the shelf. These include a wide range of berries and fruits which have assisted man in this way for thousands of years.

Health care is proving to be a very expensive undertaking in these economic times. The best health care is preventive health care as the remedies and solutions provided by the modern health care system cannot be relied upon. We will do well to practice preventive health care which is certainly within our budget if it is based on natural foods.

Nigel Gittens is an internet marketer and writer on health issues for the past five years. His website is http://www.mangosteenpowerteam.net