Let Food Be Your Medicine

“Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food.”

Hippocrates, 400 B.C.

Think of it, around 2,400 years ago, it was well known that not only was food meant for sustenance, but as nutrition to prevent disease and encourage health! Unfortunately, there was a time not to long ago, in modern society, that people who taught nutrition were called nuts – health nuts, to be exact.

Today science and medicine is once again catching up to the old ways of thinking by now calling these foods “functional foods.” This is a term given to healthy foods and supplements meaning the food actually contributes more to our health than it contributes to wearing the body down. We still call it health food:)

In our culture, many think of eating healthy as being a burden or a detriment. Some people who are chronically ill feel they want to eat “fun foods.” Some may feel that they don’t have much longer on this earth anyway, so they might as well eat junk food equivalating it with fun. Perhaps now that science is actually recognizing the importance of nutrition, more people will recognize that healthy foods are a blessing.

Incorporating healthy food into your daily regimen doesn’t have to mean that you should completely change your lifestyle. (Although many do change when they feel the positive effects of a good diet.) For example, in our home, I make sure my children eat more than enough fresh, organic fruits and vegetables every day. If we decide to eat out or go to a get together and eat “party foods,” we make sure they get their fill of their fresh veggies before we go. This way the body has more nutrition and energy to digest the processed foods and perhaps even counteract the negative effects.

Knowing the importance of healthy foods, we can better appreciate what they do for us. Here are some examples.

One of the important foods that are easy to incorporate are carrots, known for beta carotene. This substance has been shown to cut chances of stroke, heart attack, and may even prevent lung cancer! Carrots have long been known to be rich in the nutrition that our bodies’ need to manufacture healthy, fresh skin cells and hair.

Garlic is well known for it’s antibacterial and antiviral qualities. This could be due to the fact that it increases the function of our immune system.

Apples have natural fiber in them, which is excellent for digestive health and reduces cholesterol. In addition, fiber makes you feel full so it could be a good appetite suppressant. Apple skins contain quercetin, a powerful antioxidant that has been shown to lower the risk of heart disease, inhibiting the growth of tumors and can inhibit the spread of cancer cells.

I could go on and on about the many foods with many different health benefits. If we can learn about the many foods and benefits, perhaps we could be spared the suffering of disease, chronic and degenerative. We just have to make sure to consume enough of it on a daily basis. In addition, moderation is a key – don’t overdo the harmful foods with chemicals that are actually shown to cause problems such as cancer and illness. Remember, it’s what you do most of the time, not some of the time. And this brings up another point.

We should eat the whole, mostly raw and organic fruits and vegetables when possible. Studies have shown that organic foods contain 40% more nutrition than non-organic. Also, when the food has become adulterated with over cooking, processing or adding harmful chemicals and pesticides, it will not have the same effect.

Increase your health by adding healthy (and functional) foods into your daily regimen. Have at least a daily salad or invest in a juicer and drink your vegetables. And continue your quest to a healthier, happier lifestyle!