water with a good mineral composition. The reason is minerals are key activators
to many anabolic functions in the body. These functions are necessary for optimal
health. Water that has been sanitized through reverse osmosis and water that has
been distilled have been completely stripped of all minerals leaving nothing for
the body to use. There is a simple solution if you cannot get a good source of water
with minerals. Simply add your own by replacing them with a high quality sea salt
like Celtic Sea Salt. For approximately every eight ounces of water add a pinch
of sea salt. Stay away from sport drinks and other faddish “health waters.” Most
are filled with preservatives and sugars robbing your body of nutrients and your
wallet of money.
The fourth essential is controlling your intake of sugar. Especially processed
and refined sugars. This is a big one that many people struggle with. Food manu-
facturers put sugar in foods to mask or add flavor after refining and to addict the
consumer. An excess amount of sugar is a big stress to the body which not only
taxes vitamin and mineral reserves to metabolize, but also creates unwanted body
fat. Read the ingredients on boxed, canned, packaged and bottled foods. If it does
not say the word “sugar” look for words ending in the suffix “-ous” or “-ose” which
are different terminology for sugars. Not only will you be able to better manage
your weight, you will also feel more energetic, less sluggish and have better over-
all immunity. Try other options for sweetening like raw honeys. These have not
been processed and still contain enzymes and vitamins that support the health of
your body. As you start to replace processed sugared foods with fresh vegetables
and fruits, over time junk foods will be less appetizing and less fulfilling.
Finally, the fifth essential to successfully maintain your hard-earned gains
in the gym and your lifetime of health and activeness is to STAY AWAY FROM
FAD DIETS! You may claim momentary success from trying one, but statistics
show it will most likely be short-lived. Your body is a superb creation and its num-
ber one job is to keep you alive at all costs. If you eat too much it reacts, if you
eat too little it also reacts. When you attempt to over-restrict or completely cut
out food groups for weight loss or healthfulness your body goes into panic mode.
Your brain knows that you are not going to die, but your body feels otherwise. This
sets off negative chemical responses in the body and the end result is the never
ending yo-yo effect of weight loss and weight gain, poor health and degenerative
disease. Keep it simple, and listen to your body. Eat right for your metabolic type,
consume quality foods and water and eliminate unnecessary stressors. Follow the
80/20 rule. 80% of the time, eat right and 20% indulge yourself. There are many
challenges in life and eating should not be one of them!
vitaMins
The complexity of vitamin and mineral supplementation is beyond my scope of
practice. Advice on this subject should be left to a well trained RD or ND who can
perform various tests needed to pinpoint exact deficiencies in the body. Also this
should never be the starting point to any person’s diet plan. You must first address
eating habits, correct any imbalances with a whole foods diet approach then ad-
dress any deficiency in vitamins and minerals. Taking supplementation without
testing is potentially dangerous and could lead to further health imbalances.
I do however recommend consuming some source of Omega 3s whether it be
from flaxseed oil or fish oils. Omega 6s are far over-used in American diets. Overuse
of Omega 6s and underuse of Omega 3s leads to a pro-inflammatory state. Chronic
inflammation is a root cause of musculo-skeletal dysfunction and degenerative
diseases, and these supplements should be taken under a nutritionist’s direction
and as prescribed.
Please keep in mind I have not taken into account imbalances of the musculo-
skeletal system, autonomic nervous system, central nervous system or digestion
and metabolism. These issues are beyond the scope of this article and can be
addressed by a professional trained in correcting these issues.
FEBRUARY 2009 | RAGE monthly 77
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