Nutrition Fridays

Food Combining for Protein: Part 1, Introduction

The author that laid the groundwork for food-combining, was Francis Moore Lappe, in her book: Diet for a Small Planet. She begins by discussion on the production of food, the illogical manner in which Americans use edible plant proteins to grow beef for the American table. For example: the grains fed to beef, and what it produces. “For every 16 pounds of grain and soy fed to beef cattle…we only get 1 pound back in meat (69)”. The grain mentioned here, is edible!

This section of the book continues on to discuss the costs of producing meat, including water consumption, packing plant use of fuels (fossil) and the depletion and erosion of soil for grain production (not for humans, but beef!). Meat is costly to produce!

The production of and consumption of meat has been considered a symbol of wealth and health in the United States.  But, is this an illusion? With a large percentage of the nation below the poverty line, Americans still have hungry and malnourished people. With recent economic problems, the numbers are slated to rise.

The two groups at the highest risk for starvation are the elderly and children.  Lappe states “Most Americans believe that since the late 1960s we’ve made steady progress in eliminating hunger and poverty…(104)” because of the fact that the United States has created programs of assistance for the poor such as the food stamp program, lunch and breakfast programs, and WIC. Yes these programs have helped in feeding America’s poor, but does not completely alleviate the issue of good health.  

First of all, the amount of food assistance available is low, secondly inflation diminishes the value of the assistance given. Then, let’s not forget that most states are cutting assistance to the poor as a means to budget their coffers.

The food purchased by those under the poverty line also may not be a high-quality diet. To stretch food stamp dollars, many will use highly processed/refined foods, meats with high fat quantities, and very few vegetables and fruits. The idea is to make the stomach feel full, and stay full for a longer time-frame.

Another reason may be due to incorrect concepts of costs per serving for better quality foods. I hear people tell me “it costs too much for fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grain rice”. No it does not!! 

Why doesn’t it? Unprocessed, packaging-free foods cost less, especially bulk foods. The processing and packaging can be a large portion of the cost!

Another issue is the preparation of quality foods. Are they able to prepare the food that is healthy for consumption? Many Americans do not know HOW to prepare their food from bulk grains for optimum health!  We are used to packaged items, partially or fully prepared. We buy mac and cheese that all you add is some milk and a bit of butter or margarine.  Pizzas with meat and cheese on them, the cheap brands usually have little to no vegetables! 

What has happened? We have allowed the beef industry, dairy industry and other pre-packaged food companies to brain wash us and lull us into a lazy complacency regarding what actually is good for us to consume. Then, we wonder why we are sick. 

Next week: Combining Foods will continue...

Alternative Healing Wednesdays

WATER

The best source of healing (other than healthy foods) is pure water. Unfortunately, that is becoming harder to obtain. Our food and water supplies have had increasing amounts of contaminates from natural and man made sources. From natural weather catastrophes to corporate greed, the purity of these two basic life sustaining needs are diminishing more each and everyday.

Carcinogens are in the pipes that carry water to our homes, containers that supply us with foods, and inside the very foods we eat at the genetic level. Our bodies can only detoxify a small amount of chemicals that we ingest per day when we are eating optimally.  How can we expect our bodies to do so when we eat junk?

Our body was created to naturally balance itself.  This process is called "homeostasis". We can assist the process with whole grains, fresh vegetables and fruits, nuts, legumes (beans), healthy oils, etc.

But, water is also essential.  Without water, we die.  Our bodies are 97% water. Juices, teas, and coffee are not a substitute for water.


I would say, personally, get a good filtration system for your water. One that filters heavy metals, and chlorine.  The popular brands (Britta and Pur) still allow for and add back fluoride.  You do not need additional fluoride. But, these filters are better than no filtration.  In my research reverse-osmosis is the best filtration system.  But, for the average household it is too expensive.

A person with average to good health should be drinking at least 6-8 glasses of water daily.  When detoxifying it should increase to 8-10 glasses a day!

Nutrition Fridays

Last week, I asked you the question: “Are you ready to try something different?"

The image above is the current Food Pyramid, from the FDA site. It is much more balanced than the former food pyramid.  You will soon begin to see the difference between it, and the one I will be discussing next week!

Now, I’m not going to advocate that you throw in the garbage all the food in your fridge and in your cupboards.  Most of us could not afford to toss-out food and replace it.  Besides, you need more information!

There are two very well-known studies: The Seven Countries Study (which resulted in the well-known Mediterranean Diet) and The China Study...

We will begin with what was gleaned from the Seven Countries Study:

The countries studied were Greece, Italy, Croatia and Serbia (then both were a part of Yugoslavia), Japan, Finland, the Netherlands and the United States. The methodology was not through surveys, but by observation in the homes of those studied; through careful measurement of portions eaten and tests. The countries with the highest saturated fats in the diet were the United States, the Netherlands and Finland. Correlated to this information, they also had the highest rate of heart disease. The lowest rates out of all-causes, age-specific death rates were the lowest in the Mediterranean regions (Cloutier and Adamson, 25)”.

It is not just diet, of course, that stands-out in this study. It is the age of the person, blood pressure, and cigarette smoking. It is these and blood cholesterol that came to be known as “risk factors”. While a high-saturated fat diet was a clearly indicated factor, so did the life-style of the persons studied.

The life-style has to do with state of mind. A person can eat extremely healthy, but without lowering stress, living actively (exercise), having close family and community relationships, connection to nature, slower pace of life, enjoying the preparation of and eating food and the zest for living/loving a person may still have health problems.  

Just sit with this information and ponder it. 

Nutrition

A person can see a change in their health just by eliminating from their diet “empty calories”.  By this, I mean processed and refined foods such as “enriched” flour, white sugar, and pre-packaged meals. But to prevent disease, or slow down the process of a debilitating disease it means re-arranging your thinking about what you eat, and dietary change.

 Artichokes. Watercolor on paper. Copr. Donna Duncan, 2002

But keep in mind, that healing through diet is a slow process, taking a lot of determination and will-power.  It certainly was for me! I had to retrain my taste buds as I learned how to eat better.  

The American public is used to going to the doctor and getting a pill or shot for health issues.  But, what is interesting to me, not always feeling better after starting medication.  They often experience side-affects and are given “remedies” for the side-affects. 

We are a lazy society. Americans want instant gratification without any effort.  Overall, food preparation is left in the hands of food producers, in pre-packaged meals. We get instant packaged foods that you just “add water” to eat.

If you are not having health problems, than consider changing your diet as a preventative. You know the old adage: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”? 

Let’s look at some facts about American health:

Statistics have shown that the rate of increase in cancer cases within the United States has increased 47% for males, 38% for women.  The worst part of this statistic is that the “rates at which we die from cancer are the highest in the world (Campbell and Campbell, 12)”.

Obesity is on the increase in the United States.  According to the National Center for Health Statistics 1/3 of the adults over 20 years old are obese!  A person is considered obese when a person is carrying a third or more weight above what is considered healthy.

Diabetes also has increased.  The increase in the 30-39 year old age range is 70%. What is more alarming is that 34% statistically may not even be aware they have the disease!

According to The China Study “…the most pervasive killer in our culture is not obesity, diabetes or cancer. It is Heart Disease (15)”.  Heart disease can be prevented by eating healthier, it can also be reversed.

-T. Colin Campbell, PhD and Thomas M. Campbell II. The China Study.  BenBella Books, 2005