A Well-Oiled Machine?

For too long we in our wonderfully advanced western society have treated the body much like our cars instead of the incredibly advanced organism it is. And yet, sometimes we treat our cars even better than our poor bodies! Imagine how long our cars would last if we only washed the outside, used gasoline full of unnecessary additives, and acted like the on-board computer was the only thing worth tweaking. I would dare say our cars wouldn't last very long. Obviously, our bodies are much more complex and yet we have lost so much knowledge as to how to properly care for and manage them. Moreover, the sources from which we obtain food are usually questionable and so far removed from anything "healthy" it's ridiculous. Lastly, we are in such a "hurry" (myself included) that we simply don't feel justified in the taking the time to care for our inside as much as our outside. And then we're surprised when our bodies have problems.

I'm just in the beginning stages of my research into the following areas, but I wanted to share some of the things I'm learning. I have sources for all the info and will be happy to share them if wanted.

1. We are using whole wheat improperly. In our rush to become "healthy" everything is now "whole wheat" and "whole grain." What we don't understand is the body has a very difficult time breaking down the outside of wheat in order to get to the good nutrients inside. Most of the "whole wheat" we are eating never gets absorbed properly. Wheat either needs to be soaked, in liquid, overnight, before using, in order to start breaking it down, or it needs to already have started sprouting in order to receive the proper benefits.

2. Our gut has more neurotransmitters than our brain and yet we medicate our brain and continue to fill our gut destructive food. Neurotransmitters are the "feel good" chemicals. When our bodies are in a state of poor digestion we cannot absorb and produce the neurotransmitters needed for proper health. Moreover, when we cannot properly assimilate our food, what makes us think we can properly assimilate our medications? People are constantly having to "adjust" their medication because it's not working right. The reasons could be associated more with the digestive enzyme levels in your gut then the level of medicine. Having proper digestion is a must.

3. Proper digestion comes from producing enough hydrochloric acid and having the right digestive enzymes. Unfortunately most of us eat way too fast or huge amounts or way too spread out. All of this effects our hydrochloric acid production. Most digestion begins in the mouth. The simple act of chewing our food slower will aid in the digestive process greatly. Also, chewing our food slower allows our body to "catch up" with what we are doing and send signals of feeling full to our brain (thus the all important and incredibly neglected mind-body connection).

Because we live in a "pasteurized" world, most of our food lacks essential digestive enzymes. Digestive enzymes our found in "raw" food such as milk, honey, butter, yogurt, and others. When we lack digestive enzymes our food cannot be properly broken down and used. In fact there is cutting-edge research on autism and adhd which suggests that these children have suffered from a lack of digestive enzymes from the beginning and then antibiotics and vaccines have almost "traumatized" their little systems. Adding enzymes into their diet is helping tremendously.

Obviously we have pasteurized food for a reason and it's not practical for us to have our own cows on our .10 acres of property. Lacto-fermented foods such as kefir, sauerkraut, and natural yogurt, are good sources of food with the enzymes put back in. In fact, I am just beginning to discover how great kefir really is! It has all the digestive enzymes. It's a complete protein. It has all the B vitamins AND is has TRYPTOPHAN! Tryptophan is found in breast milk and turkey (it's what makes babies relax and people feel sleepy after thanksgiving). Scientists are just beginning to understand the huge benefits of tryptophan on the digestive and nervous systems. I would highly suggest incorporating some kefir into your diet. It tastes a lot like yogurt and comes in a few flavors. My kids will drink it and prefer it over their "vitamin" which probably isn't being absorbed right anyway.

There is a lot more I'm learning and I'll share as I gain more knowledge. Just wait until I talk about coconut oil and what it can do!