Our Daily Diet By Dr. Aimee Sheppard, N.D., M.O.M,
L.AC
ritual of breaking bread together into stop and grab ready-made, eat on the way to work or school. Many foods offer “100% nutrition” in a box. The public is inundated with specific dietary plans and supplements. So how does one achieve good nutrition? Good food makes a healthy body,
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that is, the quality of the diet determines the substrates for the repair and renewal of body tissues. In addition, many nu- trients are not made in your body yet are required in the diet. Severe nutrient deficiencies can be obvious like scurvy (Vitamin C) or rickets (Vitamin D). Minor nutrient deficiencies can manifest in vague symptoms, keeping in mind that everyday life stresses increase nutritional requirements. Ideal nutrition must not only fortify the necessary nutrients for the entire body, but also supplement the stressed systems.
Triad
he busy hours of modern life have condensed the once tedious farming and hunt- ing for food, extensive food preparation, and daily family
Good digestion requires quality food
along with a pleasant and calm dining atmosphere. Digestion requires a lot of work and blood supply from your body, so when your body is stressed or focused on more important matters—like driving in traffic or fighting an infection—diges- tion is limited in enzymes, blood supply and available energy. The stressful meal is not properly digested nor absorbed, which can manifest as various digestive complaints and over time can lead to defi- ciencies in nutrients and in an imbalance of the gastrointestinal system. Response to foods is individual. A
negative reaction to food may be from stress, a food (or additive) allergy or in- tolerance, a food combining accident, or a digestive system imbalance. A true food allergy can be a life-threatening event, as the allergic response includes swelling around the breathing pathways. This is often seen in shellfish allergies. Food in- tolerance is a milder reaction to ingested foods or chemicals and can manifest as symptoms in any body system, depend- ing upon individual susceptibilities. Food
intolerances almost always include a gastrointestinal imbalance. Chemical additives to plants, animals, foods and packaging materials, as well as food pro- cessing techniques can make food more reactive and less digestible.
So what is good nutrition? Diet plans based upon fresh whole
foods are recommended. Reading food labels is essential. And daily calorie in- take should equal calories spent. Listed below are a few guiding principles for a healthy diet. Water is one of the main constituents
of the body. At least 6-8 glasses of puri- fied water a day is necessary for optimal functioning. Vegetables, fruits, soups, and non-caffeinated herbal teas are also a source for dietary fluids. Increased intake of fluids is needed if you work or sweat in the sun, or if your diet includes caffeine, soda, or alcohol. Foods that are whole, unprocessed,
and organic are higher in nutrients and vitality. Plants capture the sun’s energy, as well as the earth’s minerals, each of
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