Did you know that drinking sugar added drinks diminishes our health? The World Health Organization (W.H.O.) finally pointed out what many of us knew all along for years now: processed meats such as bacon, hot dogs, etc. causes cancer. Eating excessive meats in general leads to cancer and various types of diseases within humans. How many of you would like to not have to worry about cancer?
There are a few relatively easy dietary adjustments one can make to improve health and reduce some of these known risks. These are stated to give you “action steps” first…then more discussion on the justification for these action steps will follow further below for the interested reader.
Add to daily intake a tablespoon of flaxseed oil (pure organic) OR the equivalent of crushed/finely ground flaxseeds. Benefits: improved digestive health, elimination.
Add to daily intake a handful of Walnuts (preferably organic) with breakfast (or lunch) or mid-afternoon snack.
Add one whole fruit (apple, peach, orange, grapefruit, pear) to daily intake.
As you add these three elements to diet, the walnuts and fruit may substitute for another previously eaten staple item of lower nutritional value (candy, sweet, low-nutrient bread).
Even these marginal changes in diet will have helpful effects over the longer term.
Also, drinking water instead of sugary and/or caffeinated beverages.
Substituting a glass of water (at lunch) instead of a carbonated soda or sweetened beverage (sugary tea or lemonade) etc. will also have a positive impact over time.
For many, making radical, wholesale dietary changes is not easy or practical.
However, many if not most of us can make a few changes here or there to improve our diets and thus improve our health.
The suggestions above are within reach for most of us and not that difficult, although they do take a bit of planning… i.e. you have to remember to buy the fruit at the store and the walnuts and the flaxseed oil or flaxseeds. So it has to become a part of the normal grocery list. And a less healthy alternative might be eliminated from the list as a result.
These changes are achievable. You can do it!!!!
Well Dr. Joel Fuhrman in Eat To Live says as animal-food consumption falls as cancer rates decline. This information comes from a massive China-Cornell-Oxford Project (by Professor T. Colin Campbell division of Nutritional Sciences of Cornell University, New York, Professor Richard Peto of University of Oxford, England and Dr. Li Junyao, China Cancer Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences in China. Dr. Fuhrman notes that smaller studies also reveals some benefits from eating fish with a vegetarian like diet. This increases DHA fat from fish. DHA prevents inflammatory effects in our bodies. Without adequate omega-3 fat, our bodies would not produce sufficient DHA. Low levels of omega-3 results in low levels of DHA, which can cause the following: “heart disease, stroke, autoimmune diseases, skin diseases, depression, and possibly increase cancer incidences.” Low levels of omega-3 and high levels of arachidonic acid actually contributes to these problems.
Arachidonic acid or omega-6 fat produced by our bodies, but also found in “meat, fowl, dairy, and eggs” in excessive amounts may increase high blood pressure, thrombosis (blood clots), vasospasm (sudden constriction of blood vessel), and allergic reactions. Also arachidonic acid or omega-6 is “linked to arthritis, depression and other common illnesses”. Dr. Fuhrman recommends that vegans and non-vegans consume 1-2 grams of omega-3 fats daily to increase DHA to reduce these health problems.
Joel says our high fat diet contributes to DHA fat shortage within our bodies. So to increase DHA, we must decrease animal fat in our diet. Thus decreasing omega-6 or arachidonic acid. We must also increase omega-3 to increase DHA by making better food choices.
So for those of you who do not want to worry about cancer, this information should get you on the right track towards better health. You can skip more frequently meat and eggs for better health outcomes in your future.
As Christians, we must take care of our health. When we take care of our bodies, our bodies will take care of us.
In taking care of our bodies we can fulfill our purpose here on earth with greater success, less stress and basically in a more efficient manner.
The link below lead me to write this short article. I am always looking at ways to improve my health and my families health. When I fall off the wagon, I pick myself up and get right back on. Let’s move together in the right direction towards optimal health.
Experts Say U.S. Gov’t Caves to Meat Industry in New Dietary Guidelines
“And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.”
― Anonymous, Holy Bible: King James Version