Tuesday 26 July 2011

UNDERSTANDING THE ELEMENTS OF HEALTH


The body is the complex organism that has the ability to heal itself ­­­­­­­­­-if only you listen to it and respond with proper nourishment and care. The human body is the greatest machine on earth. Think of your body as being composed of millions of tiny little engines.  The fuel we give our bodies’ engines comes directly from the things we consume. The foods we consume contain nutrients.
Individual nutrients differ in form and function, and in the amount needed by the body; however, they are all vital to our health. Research has shown that each part of the body contains high concentrations of certain nutrients. A deficiency of those nutrients will cause the body part to malfunction and eventually break down-and like, dominos, other body parts will follow.
Brain function, memory, skin elasticity, eyesight, energy, the ratio of lean to fat tissue in the body, and overall health are all indications of how well the body is functioning. With the help of the proper nutrition, exercise and a balanced diet, we can slow the process of aging and greatly improve our chances for a healthier and pain-free and possibly, longer-life.
If we do not give our self the proper nutrition, we can impairs the body’s normal function and cause ourselves great harm. Even if we show no signs of illness, we may not necessarily be healthy. It simply may be that we are not yet exhibiting any overt symptoms of illness. One problem most of us have is that we do not get the nutrients we need from our diets because most of the foods we consume our cooked and/ or processed. Cooking at high temperatures and processing destroy vital nutrients the body needs to function properly. The organic raw foods that supply these elements are largely missing from today’s diet.
Your body’s nutritional needs are as unique to you as your appearance is.  The first step toward wellness, therefore, is to be sure you are getting the correct amounts of the proper nutrients. By understanding the principles of the holistic nutrition and knowing what nutrients you need, you can improve the state of your health, ward off diseases, and maintain a harmonious balance in the way nature intended.
Eating a healthful diet and supplementing your diet with appropriate nutrients will help to assure that your organs, cells and tissues get the fuel they need to operate properly. The nutrients promote healing and wellness by allowing the body to heal and reinvigorate itself.  
Good nutrition is the foundation of good health. Everyone needs the four basic nutrients – water, carbohydrates, proteins and fats, - as well as vitamins, minerals, and other micronutrients. To be able to choose the proper foods, and to better understand why those foods should be supported with supplements; you need to have a clear idea of the components of a healthy diet.




Monday 4 July 2011

Anti-oxidants


Antioxidants are nutrients (vitamins and minerals) as well as enzymes (proteins in your body that assist in chemical reactions).

Antioxidants are substances or nutrients in our foods which can prevent or slow the oxidative damage to our body. When our body cells use oxygen, they naturally produce free radicals (by-products) which can cause damage. Antioxidants act as "free radical scavengers" and hence prevent and repair damage done by these free radicals.

The benefits of antioxidants include stopping oxidation process and returning stability to the body. They prevent cell damage and improve the body’s ability to repair itself. Antioxidants fight off the negative effects of oxidative stress on the cells caused by free radicals. Their presence in the body not only stops cell degeneration, but helps healthy cells grow.

Health problems such as heart disease, macular degeneration, diabetes, cancer are all contributed by oxidative damage. Antioxidants may also enhance immune defense and therefore lower the risk of cancer and infection. Stress, pollution and aging can damage the immune system. Antioxidants keep the immune system strong thereby making it easier to fight off diseases.
The presence of antioxidants in the body helps slow the signs of aging by fighting against premature aging of cells. Staying youthful is one of the most sought after benefits of antioxidants. Keeping cells healthy inside the body keeps a person’s outer appearance looking healthy. Those with high numbers of antioxidants in the body tend to have healthier skin, less wrinkles and a more youthful appearance.
Antioxidant substances include
Antioxidants are found in varying amounts in foods such as vegetables, fruits, grain cereals, eggs, meat, legumes and nuts. Some antioxidants such as lycopene and ascorbic acid can be destroyed by long-term storage or prolonged cooking. Other antioxidant compounds are more stable, such as the polyphenolic antioxidants in foods such as whole-wheat cereals and tea. The effects of cooking and food processing are complex, as these processes can also increase the bioavailability of antioxidants, such as some carotenoids in vegetables. In general, processed foods contain fewer antioxidants than fresh and uncooked foods, since the preparation processes may expose the food to oxygen.

Antioxidant compounds
Foods containing high levels of these antioxidants
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
Fresh Fruits and vegetables
Vitamin E (tocopherols, tocotrienols)
Polyphenolic antioxidants (resveratrol, flavonoids)
Carotenoids (lycopene, carotenes, lutein)
Fruit, vegetables and eggs.


Choosing raw fruits and vegetables rather than cooked, provides the highest concentration and best absorption of antioxidants. Dietary supplements are also available for those that do not consume enough antioxidant-producing foods.