Often when I’m preparing meals in my kitchen I find myself thinking… Food is your Medicine!
This whole idea comes from Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine, and he believed that eating whole food was the basis for good health. He said:
Let food be thy medicine and medicine thy food.
Hippocrates
I believe this is how food was intended to be as well – that God created foods to heal and nourish our bodies. But in today’s fast-food culture and in our actual farm-to-table products, this is not really happening any longer.
Food As Medicine In The Past
Years ago before doctors and modern medicine were common, many cultures would seek out healing herbs and plants and use these foods regularly to bring healing and vitality to the body. There was a lot of preventative care being implemented and maybe even without recognizing this. Unfortunately though, over time our culture has moved away from the healing power of nature and moved towards prescribing more and more packaged synthetic drugs and artificial remedies to deal with illness. It has become more about crisis care rather than preventative care.
You can learn how to incorporate more into your life through Dr. Seun Sowemimo, a bariatric surgeon from the United States. He says:
today in some countries and communities in the world where just unprocessed food is consumed, there is very little chronic disease and lifespan is increased by as much as 20 years.
Dr. Seun Sowemimo
Because we have shifted away from natural foods and remedies, and many of us eat processed, fast, fatty and sugar-laden food, rates of chronic illness and disease have increased significantly.
Food Plays A Major Role In Our Health
Many 20th-century illnesses can be linked to inadequate nutrition and bad eating habits.
I find it very interesting that based on the most recent research it is clearly evident that food still plays a major role in our health and how we feel every day.
In the field of Nutrigenomics, the scientific study of the interaction of nutrition and genes, Google says health practitioners and scientists are now learning about and uncovering the benefits of using genetic testing to determine the link between genes, nutrition, and health.
There are many things that cause disease or are factors attributing to disease. A few examples are stress, poor nutrition, hormone imbalance, the health of our gut, side effects of medications, lack of mobility, and whether or not your body is able to excrete waste and detoxify.
Our mindset or our mental association to food is another whole topic we could discuss when it comes to food being our medicine.
Thinking about the phrase “what is at the end of your fork?” can help you make healthier choices and help you become aware of what you are putting into your body. Is Food really your Medicine?
Being healthy means putting the right fuel into our bodies so our internal engines run smoothly. Every meal that we consume influences the way that we feel, so the more nutritious foods we choose, the healthier we will be. Whole foods act as medicine to heal and protect our bodies and give our immune systems a break from dealing with toxins, preservatives, additives and chemicals that are in so many of today’s processed foods.
If you are only eating junk and processed foods every day, which have very little or no nutrition, your body will not be receiving all of the nutrients it needs to function properly and health issues will certainly begin to arise over time. Here’s the thing: healthy nutrient-rich and bio-alive foods help to heal the body at the cellular level and build strong immune defenses enabling you to combat illness and environmental toxins.
Are You Aware Of How Your Body Feels?
Are you aware of how your body really feels? Or are you tuned in with what your body is saying to you? Do you even notice when you overeat or eat the wrong foods?
Read about God’s Blueprint For Living A Healthy Christian Lifestyle.
Your stomach may be upset and trying to tell you something. Maybe you experience acid reflux, heartburn, bloating, or flatulence, but you are ignoring it and just popping some more Tums! These are indicators that should not be dismissed! Something is not right.
Mathieu Millette, Ph. D., Mcb. A. tells us about a condition called Gut Dysbiosis. This is a condition that occurs when there is an imbalance between good bacteria and bad bacteria in the gut. A healthy digestive system is vital and essential to guarantee that you’re efficiently utilizing your food and effectively extracting the nutrients from it. Digestive problems and diseases are often associated with processed food, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and overeating caused by poor or no nutrition in our food. Having healthy digestion and knowing what foods work for you is really important. Remember…Food is Your Medicine!
Choosing the Right Food For Your Medicine
Choosing foods that reduce inflammation and ones that help lower cholesterol are always the best way to get the nutritional benefits from your food. It is important to not rely on synthetic supplements as the first line of nutritional defense. Fuelling up on superfoods is a great way to provide your body with nutrients.
If you happen to live where you have a Farmer’s Market, this is always a great way to shop. You will not only be supporting local businesses, but you can talk directly to the sellers about their products and find out what’s in season. When it comes to buying healthy, the best way to get the most nutrients from the food is to know where your food came from. Fresh is always best!
When shopping at your local supermarket, be sure to read the labels and know what’s actually in the foods you are buying. If you can’t pronounce some of the ingredients on the list then it may not be that good for you.
Blessings,
Ruth Verbree
P.S. – I’d like to leave you with this thought today…
To be healthy, what we don’t eat is equally as important as what we do eat! Kayce and I actually have a full meal plan that will help you to implement this idea of food is your medicine. If you’re interested in finding out how women are getting healthier and losing weight without being on a diet, check out our 10 Day Weigh Down Plan here.