Getting
enough food is not a problem for most people in America. In fact, if you
look at the statistics on obesity, it would appear that more and more people are getting
too much food. Yet the more I learned about food and nutrition, the more I realized that
most of us, even the chronically obese, are actually nutrient starved. We may not always
feel the hunger but our cells are crying out for the nourishment that our depleted foods
can’t give us.
One hundred years ago, science was just beginning to unravel the
mystery of what it takes to make our bodies work. We now know that there are hundreds of
different enzyme processes that depend on micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals.
We’re learning that nature in her wisdom, put all the vitamins and minerals in the
plants humans and animals eat, until we in our ignorance, started artificially fertilizing
the soil and loading it with chemicals and pesticides.
Our food industry has convinced us, through multi million-dollar
advertising programs, that the processed foods found on our supermarket shelves make our
lives better. They certainly are convenient and with our fast paced modern life styles,
convenience is a great selling point. Have you ever noticed though, that the most
convenient, most highly advertised supermarket foods are also the highest in
carbohydrates? Did you know that these high carbohydrate foods are also the ones least
likely to contain the nutrients your cells need?
Our species evolved on a low carbohydrate diet, filled with proteins,
good fats, vitamins and minerals. Most people today eat a high carbohydrate diet, low in
protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. They are literally starving themselves into a state
of disease and untimely death.
We need to make some changes, folks. Billions of dollars are spent on
health care in this country and it still isn’t enough to alleviate the suffering of
millions of unhealthy people. Instead of asking the government to provide universal health
care, we need to stop starving ourselves. We need to choose foods that will build our
bodies and nourish our cells, even when it isn’t exactly "convenient" to do
so.
As consumers, we have the power to make choices. Aware companies are
providing us with alternatives to the high carbohydrate, low nutrient foods, as well as
with vitamin and mineral supplements to feed our cells the raw materials necessary for
optimal health and a long lifespan. We can choose to educate ourselves on what is best for
our bodies. We can invest in our future health by spending a little more time and money on
our meals and supplements today.
