Eat Your Greens: They Do Your Body Good
That memorable statement from David Wolfe says it best: “You are what you eat.” To the degree that we are eating whole foods that Nature has provided for us in the state they were intended to be eaten, the greater will be our health.
Every particle, every cell, every tissue and organ in the body is made from and fueled by what we eat. If we provide them with proper building blocks and fuel, tissues, organs and cells will function normally throughout our lifetimes, as they were designed to do. What we consume determines the quality of the body we ultimately have.
The biggest advantage to eating whole foods in their original state is that they come in complete packages, with all the necessary components that allow us to utilize the portions we need and eliminate the rest. Whenever a food is removed from its original state, it loses some of the components that allow it to be used effortlessly and effectively, and the body must compensate for those losses.
Just think of the perfection of an apple. The smell and taste of it stimulates your saliva to start flowing. Saliva mixes with the apple as you chew and begins breaking down starches in the apple into the simple sugars your body can use for energy. Swallowing takes it to your stomach where enzymes present in the apple’s cells begin to break it down into smaller, more useable combinations of components. The fresh apple contains plenty of water, pure and clean, which is bound to the nutrients it contains. This perfect combination of water and nutrients is readily absorbed in the small intestine and carried through the bloodstream to cells waiting to use it in their function and repair.
These functions leave natural metabolic wastes that are suspended in the water until they can be dumped into the bloodstream. These wastes, along with their water which keeps the bloodstream fluid and running freely, are carried to the elimination organs and then they reach the bowel. Lo and behold, the fiber from the apple is present, giving the bowel wall something to grab onto and push through as it exits the body, carrying its wastes with it. Because of its supreme design, as it is in its original state, the apple is perfectly suited in every way for the human body.
When the enzymes contained in a whole plant food break it down, they don’t just break it down into one nutrient. They break it down into small, synergistic groups of nutrients that work together to provide complete nourishment. When scientists discovered the importance of calcium, calcium supplements became quite popular. These supplements were refined down to where they contained just calcium. Later, scientists discovered that calcium alone could not be well used in the body without magnesium being present. Now science has discovered that calcium combined with magnesium and Vitamin C means the body can use more of it effectively. What will science “discover” next that the wisdom of Nature has known throughout all time!
Those who trust nature do not have to be on the cutting edge of nutritional discoveries because they know that eating whole plant foods provides all they need without the scrutinizing of science. In a beautiful creation such as an orange, there is calcium (4 small oranges have the same amount of calcium as a cup of milk), and there is magnesium and lots of Vitamin C, plus bioflavonoids that assist in the uptake of calcium, and enzymes to break apart these components into just the right combinations that our cells need.
In addition, an orange is high in water content to carry its nutrient combination to cells and flush them of wastes that will be produced. This water will keep the blood stream free-flowing to ensure wastes can make it to the bowel where fibers from the orange will assist to move it out. An orange is a perfect synergistic package!
When our food is processed to remove any of these elements, be it fiber, water or enzymes, our health will reflect that loss. Trust in what Nature provides for optimal health. To help you in this effort, here is a recipe that combines several ingredients, all in the complete and perfect forms in which Nature intended they be consumed.
Mexican Coleslaw
This is an authentic accompaniment to any Mexican style entree, or it can be made into an entree dish by topping it with grilled onions, peppers, mushrooms and avocado slices. Sprinkle with pumpkin seeds (pepitas) for a touch of crunch and even more nutritional value.
3 tbsp raw apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 tbsp honey
3 tbsp olive oil
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp fresh ground black pepper
4 cups finely shredded green cabbage
1 cup sliced grape tomatoes
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
Combine the first 6 ingredients in a large bowl and whisk briskly. Stir in remaining ingredients and let stand at room temperature for 10-30 minutes to let flavors combine. This dish should be prepared and stored in a glass bowl.
This recipe is from http://www.tracistransformationalkitchen.com/