Face
it- we are a tired nation. We go, go, go- with too much to do and not
enough time to do it. We have become human doings, instead of human
beings. Cooking has fallen by the wayside in our very busy lives, is
relegated to the last thing we have time for, and we are suffering
because of it.
Because
we are so tired we grab anything that is fast, and face it, there are a
lot of “fast “foods out there. The sad fact is most of these are not
food at all. They are highly processed, sugar laden, loaded with bad
fats and chemicals to make them taste good, and low in nutrition. Fast
foods may give us some momentary energy due to a spike in our blood
sugars, but the sugar levels quickly fall and we feel worse again.
There
is a computer saying: garbage in equals garbage out. That is what the
standard American diet is: S.A.D. garbage. There is no way it will ever
lead to vibrant health.
When
our adrenals respond to stress, the metabolism of your cells speed up,
burning many times the amount of nutrients needed. By the time you are
in an adrenal fatigue state, your cells have used up much of their
stored nutrition, and are in desperate need of new supplies of nutrition
just to function. There is nothing left to heal the body.
Our
bodies need real food- good quality protein for rebuilding and
maintenance of cells, healthy fats for energy and cell wall integrity,
and small amounts of high quality complex carbohydrates for energy.
These foods need to come from healthy planetary sources.
We
also need vitamins, minerals, trace minerals and water- these abound
from good sources and healthy earth - anything from a bush, a tree, or
in the ground, and also animals that have also eaten these foods, is
superior to engineered food made in a factory. Good food should be
certified organic: grown free of pesticides, herbicides, and not
genetically modified.
We
need a diet of nutrient dense foods. This includes adequate protein at
every meal and snacks as well- organic meats and fowl, (grass fed best),
eggs, nuts and seeds, nut butters and organic cheeses, and plain full
fat Greek yoghurt (if dairy is tolerated).
We
need healthy fats like organic butter, extra virgin olive oil, and
coconut oil, avocado, and nuts and seeds (nuts and seeds are both
healthy protein and healthy fats - this is what I mean by nutrient
dense).
Of
course, a healthy diet always includes a lot of vegetables and a few
fruits daily. Vegetables should be served with a pat of butter!
Vegetables provide numerous vitamins and minerals that our bodies crave
in our nutrient deficient diets, along with healthy carbohydrate and
fiber. Beans and other legumes are also healthy sources of fiber and
complex carbohydrate.
Grains
can be a problem, especially since so many of them are genetically
modified. Hybrid wheat, although not technically a GMO, is also a
problem. The wheat of today is not the wheat of our ancestors, and it
can be an irritant to our gut lining. The book “Wheat Belly” by Dr.
William Davis MD explains this in great detail and it is an easy read
and well worth the effort. Try small amounts of brown rice, wild rice
and quinoa instead.
Last
but not least, we need hydration. Water is very important to every one
of our cells. It helps get the nutrients into the cell, and help get the
toxins out. The rule of thumb is drinking one half your body weight in
ounces of water. (if you weigh 120 pounds- drink 60 ounces of water.)
Green tea is also beneficial. Soda pop and fruit juice are not.
If
you are fatigued please consider making some of the changes above. If
you make one small change every 3 weeks, in 6 months you have done a lot
with minimal effort. You will feel better. That is a winning situation
in my book.
My wish for you is good health.
- Kathi Bratberg RN, MS Holistic Nutrition
Alternatives, A Center for Conscious Health
Rockbrook Village Shopping Center
11036 Oak St.
Omaha, NE 68144
402-827-9450
