By Melanie Stewart
One of the most important facts of positive health is that it is dependent on an alkaline environment, while disease states thrive in an acid environment. To achieve an alkaline system, we need LIVE foods that are nutrient dense, enzymatically active and energizing. LIVE foods include fresh fruits and vegetables, fermented foods like kefir, sauerkraut, or miso, and raw foods. Other alkalizing foods include peas, beans, lentils, spices, herbs, seasonings and healthy fats.
Sadly, many people consume little to no LIVE foods for days and even weeks at a time! Think of our common food choices: cereal, pancakes, waffles, sandwiches, chips, crackers, cookies, pizza, hotdogs, burgers and fries! All are DEAD foods that are not only devoid of nutrients, they are more difficult to digest and are acidifying to our systems.
Beyond our nourishment, food is the form in which our surroundings penetrate into our bodies in rough, big quantities, giving us information about the world around us and influencing genetic learning. In fact, as the foundation for the environment for our cells, food can be more influential than our genes because it influences which genes express and which don’t.
When you consider the quality of your blood, which is responsible for bringing nourishment to every organ, tissue, and cell, imagine the effects of acidic blood – corrosive, erosive, caustic, bubbling and burning its way through your body! What do you imagine is happening to you internally?
CHRONIC INFLAMMATION! Chronic inflammation is at the root of almost all disease states including arthritis, bone and tooth degeneration, gastritis, fatigue, infertility, impotence, lack of immunity to infectious diseases, heart disease, cancer and diabetes. In fact, it’s implicated in eight of the ten leading causes of death! Even worse, it can be as silent as it is dangerous.
In contrast, picture gentle and nourishing alkalizing blood bringing those vital nutrients to every organ, tissue and cell. Visualize your internal world calm, clean, and perfectly functioning. Envision yourself with an abundance of energy, emotionally and mentally stable, and feeling physically ABLE for whatever the day brings. No more nagging aches or pains and no more unattractive symptoms of digestive distress!
As we meet our next organ of digestion, I encourage you to consider your stomach like a washing machine. If you put too many clothes into the washer, the agitation is not as effective and clothes will not come as clean. Similarly, when we over-fill the stomach, gastric juices have a more difficult time reaching all the food and breaking it down properly. Ideally, it is best to stop eating when you feel 70 – 80% full.
However, it is not only what, or how much, we choose to eat that enhances or hinders digestion and nutrient absorption. Of equal importance, in my opinion, is the way we pair or combine our food choices. Just like we could launder clothes that can discolor or damage each other, we can ill-combine our foods which can negatively impact digestion and nutrient absorption. And we risk the creation of unwanted toxins.
Next month I will present two simple food rules that work with our perfectly designed system to both enhance digestion and nutrient absorption. If you choose to follow these two simple rules for 30 days, you might just notice some welcome and positive results!
Melanie Stewart provides personal coaching and corporate seminars and workshops that are relevant and empowering and will leave you with a unique blend of meaningful education and practical tools, tips and techniques. For more information, you can fill out the contact form at: https://www.yumtumnutrition.com/ or email: melanie@yumtumnutrition.com. All content is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech laws in all the civilized world. It’s not meant to give individual medical advice or to make any health claims on the prevention or curing of diseases.
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