EATING NATURALLY

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EATING NATURALLY
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What does it mean to eat naturally? In the strictest interpretation, it would mean to eat only fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, berries, sprouts, honey and, possibly, unprocessed milk. These are foods that nature has provided, uncooked, unaltered in any way. This is most likely the way that Early Man ate, before he taught himself how to cultivate some of the wild plants, domesticate certain animals and how to cook his food. And according to the scientists who study our ancient ancestors, those who managed to live to old age had strong bones, good circulatory systems and healthy organs. But we are not Cro-Magnon. Our lifestyles, our preferences and, to some degree, even our bodies have changed significantly over the last two million years since man started walking on two feet. And so has what we put on our dinner plate. Can we be expected to eat as Early Man did? Although a handful of people have adopted such a diet, it’s probably not practical for most of us and, unless we want to nurse our babies until they’re three or four years old, it wouldn’t be healthy for our children. In addition, we have learned so much about food, how to cultivate it, how to prepare it, what it does in our bodies; and to toss that all away would be to waste a vast body of information, one that happens to bring us great pleasure.
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Between the cave dwellings of Early Man and our modern office buildings with windows that don’t open and toxic ventilation systems, there has been millennia of beautiful and ingenious architectural developments. Between the skins of animals worn by our ancient ancestors and the development of polyester, there are fine silks, beautiful linens, wools and cotton. Between nuts and berries and Hamburger Helper, a great wealth of culinary knowledge and skill has evolved. From that wealth of information we need to draw and use what is advantageous to our physical, mental and spiritual well-being. To take what nature has provided and use it to our best advantage, best for our bodies, our spirits, this earth and the other creatures we share it with.
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During the century that is now drawing to a close, our society has gone from being plagued with deficiency diseases to being equally besieged by diseases of excess. Vitamins were not identified until the early 20th century when a Polish chemist and two American researchers were just about simultaneously discovering the connection between certain physical conditions and the lack of substances originally called "vitamines." Although various components of foods, such as proteins, fats, some minerals and carbohydrates had been identified during the 19th century, it was not until the early 20th that the amino acids in protein were isolated and their specific roles in the body began to be identified. All of this led to a new way of looking at nutrition with the understanding that a diet lacking in certain substances could lead to poor health and even death. Since these discoveries, with a comprehensive "education" program on the part of the government and the development of fortified foods, deficiency diseases have been virtually eliminated . However, the foods that have been promoted as being the richest in vitamins and other vital nutrients, have provided us with a diet that is abundant in fat , cholesterol and protein and low in fiber. As time goes on, it becomes more and more evident that our fat, cholesterol and protein diet is playing a major role in the increased incidence of heart disease, obesity, certain types of cancer, osteoporosis and other degenerative diseases. The consumption of highly processed "convenience" foods, loaded with salt and sugar, have also taken their toll in terms of high blood pressure, kidney diseases and diabetes. For these reasons, we need to re-evaluate our eating habits and move back to a more natural way.
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Fortunately, the scientific community has, for the most part, recognized the connection between our over abundant diets and the diseases that now plague us. New information is constantly surfacing and, while there is always some degree of controversy within the field of nutrition, there seems to be a general consensus on several key points. We need to decrease our consumption of soluble fat and cholesterol; eat more complex carbohydrates (fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains) and increase the amount of fiber in our diets. In other words, our diets need to become much less meat and dairy-based and far more plant-based. The Pritikin Diet, the Ornish Diet, Andrew Weil, Neal Barnard, the McDougal Plan, The Whitaker Wellness Institute, and a host of others all advocate these dietary guidelines. Rex Russell, MD in his book What the Bible Says About Healthy Living, tells us that this is even the way that God wants us to eat. Dr. Russell makes an effective case but whether his viewpoint inspires you or not, it probably is the more natural way to eat. Until the 20th century, throughout most of the world, the practice of eating meat on a daily basis was largely limited to the wealthy. Now, most people in our society can afford to eat plenty of meat, along with fried foods and rich deserts.
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Another way in which the food we eat has been drastically changed during this century is by what has been added to it; herbicides, pesticides, chemical fertilizers, antibiotics and hormones by the farming industry and preservatives, coloring agents, moisture control agents, flavorings, bleaching and maturing agents and irradiation by the food processing industry to name but a few items. While science and the medical community struggle to learn what all these added ingredients are doing to us and how to fix it, there are alternatives. We can simply choose to reject this adulterated food and eat more naturally.
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Through this publication, Cornucopia News, we would like to invite you to join us on a journey towards a healthier, more natural diet. Each month our lead article will discuss one topic directly related to Eating Naturally. Our goal is to introduce you to a body of information that will help all of us to look and feel better, and to live in harmony with the rest of the planet, now and for the rest of our lives.
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This article is intended for informational purposes only. Nothing in this publication is intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis and advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or health-care provider before starting any new diet or procedure involving your health. Prompt professional medical guidance is recommended for any health problem.