TransformedBody

The state of health in America is getting worse than ever before in its national history. Most Americans consume 51% refined and processed foods; 42% dairy and animal foods; and 7% fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. This eating regimen is what is called, “The Standard American Diet,” aka S.A.D. A direct ramification of following this kind of eating lifestyle, is leading America down a path that will create more degenerative diseases, autoimmune diseases, cancers, heart disease, diabetes, mental illness’, etc. Unless Americans change their lifestyles regarding nutrition, incidences of the general diseases just listed will only get worse. Americans must begin to “Eat to Live,” rather than, “Live to Eat.” In other words, eating foods that prevent disease, rather than, increase the chances of disease!

You may be asking: “What is one thing I can do to change my lifestyle that will help me prevent disease in my body?” Eating a broad variety of raw fruits and raw or lightly steamed vegetables daily. The FDA recommends that you must consume 9 to 13 servings of fruits and veggies per day, to get the nutrition your body needs, in order to, nourish it at the cellular level. Fruits and vegetables are being overlooked by so many people today, and it should be the foundational food you eat at every meal.

Fruits and vegetables contain many nutritional characteristics that will not only nourish your body, but will prevent disease in the process. Unlike animal based foods, fruits and vegetables contain phytochemicals, minerals, vitamins, enzymes, fiber, alkaline salts, and antioxidants. Let’s explore a few of these in some detail, so that, you can see and understand why they are vital for optimal health and in the prevention of disease.

What are phytochemicals? The Greek word, “phyto” means plant, therefore, the term itself can be defined as: plant derived chemicals that occur naturally in plants through the process of photosynthesis. There are thousands upon thousands of them found in plant-based whole foods, too numerous to count, but here are some of the benefits from consuming them: they inhibit cellular aging, induce detoxification enzymes, bind carcinogens in the digestive tract, protect DNA, and fuel cellular repair mechanisms. What all this means is that they assist in cellular detoxification, cellular repair and regeneration, produce cellular energy, and prevent cancer and other numerous diseases.

The vitamin and mineral content of whole plant-based foods are numerous as well. You or someone you know may be taking a multi-vitamin that are isolated/fractionated in chemical nature and are not from whole food sources. In order to get all the benefits of vitamins and minerals, you must consume them from real whole food; not from laboratory based synthetic formulations found in multi-vitamins. Remember, you were not created to consume anything artificial, therefore, consume the real thing. If you want to take a product to help you get more fruits and veggies in your body daily, then, go with a whole food plant-based product like Juice Plus. It has the third party NSF certification and has numerous clinical studies showing its effectiveness from third party peer reviewed medical journals.

Raw or lightly steamed veggies and raw fruits contain an abundance of enzymes. These foods when eaten in these two states are digested 50 to 75% in the stomach and then sent into the small intestines to be absorbed into the bloodstream. These exogenous enzyme rich plant foods will help your body repair and regenerate your tissues, organs, and even cleanse the blood. If you want to slow the aging process, then consume raw plant-based foods that are full of exogenous enzymes that can help in preventing your endogenous enzyme potential to become low or depleted. Low enzyme potential in the body leads to disease and early death. Read Dr. Hiromi Shinya’s book, “The Enzyme Factor,” to learn more about preserving your enzyme potential for health and longevity.

You must consume foods with high fiber content in them on a daily basis to help prevent intestinal disorders. Fruits and veggies contain plenty of fiber that will help you stay regular and assist in eliminating harmful toxins out of the digestive tract. This also reduces the risk of intestinal fermentation from undigested fecal matter that comes from not eating enough nutrient dense and high fiber foods, like fruits and vegetables.

Fruits and Vegetables contain plenty of alkaline salts that will help the body neutralize acid waste from regular cellular metabolism and acid producing foods and drinks. If you do not nourish the body with alkaline minerals, like magnesium, calcium, potassium, and sodium found in plant foods, your body will slowly become deficient in them, leading to disease.

Fruits and vegetables also contain an abundance of electrons to combat free radical damage produced by exogenous and endogenous sources. The mitochondria found in your cells combine oxygen with the food you eat to create ATP and burn it as fuel. This natural endogenous process leads to free radical damage and needs exogenous anti-oxidants found in fruits and vegetables to neutralize them. With the abundance of free radicals produced in the body naturally and those you get from toxins in food, drinks, and the environment; it’s no wonder the FDA recommends 9-13 servings daily, and for active people, like athletes, you need many more!!

As you can see, making fruits and vegetables the foundation for your health is clear. By eating more fruits and vegetables daily, you will begin to take control of your health and begin or continue to prevent disease! Consuming large amounts of plant-based foods that contain phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, fiber, and antioxidants will give your body the micro-nutrients it needs to repair, rebuild, and regenerate your blood, tissues, and organs! Giving you the best chance of living a long and healthy life! Check out the link below to learn more about how you can bridge the gap to ensure you are getting enough fruits and veggies in your daily life.

To Health and Vitality,

Fruits and Vegetables Link