The Sick State of our Food...and Ourselves

I was fortunate enough to attend a training put on by Dr. Elia Vechhione, the director and guru of the Francis Foundation, for whom I audit medical and program records. I was moved enough by the information that I wanted to share it with all of you. The presentation lasted for 3 hours, and was very in-depth, so please know that this is only a highlight.

Every year in this country, 200 billion dollars is spent on medication. That cost goes up 15-19% per year. Now, before we blame the Health Care industry, or the government, or the inflated cost of medications, let's consider what our first line of defense is : our food. Here's a radical (and not new) idea: our food and lifestyle can combat many of the illnesses, both physical and psychological, that currently plague our Westernized society.

Now, before I step fully onto my soap-box, let it be known that I love my potato chips and soda and fast food and barbeque just as much as anyone else.

I don't want to put you readers off because I fully beleive that the message that I'm trying to send is important. Living a healthy lifestyle is important for us as individuals, for us as a society, and for the planet as a whole.


Allow me to give you some interesting information:

• Numerous studies show that the effectiveness of replacing fatty, salty foods with healthier options and food supplements improve the attention and self-control in children with ADD and ADHD just as much as Ritalin.*
• Eating well and getting a reasonable amount of exercise can help alleviate the symptoms of many illnesses, including depression.
• One half of the people in this country will have a psychiatric disorder at some point in their life. They usually will be treated with medicine as a first course of action...and their lifestyle is never taken into consideration.
• RDA's (Recommended Daily Allowances) set by the FDA are set to prevent physical illness, not mental illness. We need higher levels of these nutrients to prevent most mental illnesses.
• High Fructose Corn Syrup is the first ingredient listed on many baby formulas.
• If you lower your triclicerides (by lowering your fat intake) you can lower your depression levels.
• Meat and dairy consumption have been connected with many of the "Diseases of Western Society."
• Children who eat at home just four times a week in a sit-down, family-style meal, (read: not in front of the T.V.!) have higher attendance at school, better grades, and lower rates of asthma attacks.*
  

Here's a basic plan to make sure that we don't fall into the trap of empty calories and non-foods:

1. Eat healthy, whole foods.
2. Eat at home.
3. Eat with family and friends.
4. Don't eat anything from a box, bag or can.
5. Make all foods from scratch.
6. Eat lots of colors (different vitamins and minerals hide in different colored foods).
7. Eat local and organic foods.
8. Balance carbs with protein and veggies.
9. Read all labels.
10. NO fast food.
11. Drink water, not soda. Drink 8 cups of water a day.
12. Consider this: You are only as good as your last meal.
    
13. Don't go hungry!!
14. Exercise at least 5 times a week.
15. Practice good sleep hygiene.
    

Some books for your reading list:

1. Overdosed America by John Abramson, MD
2. The Omnivore's Diet by Michael Polan
3. Crazy Makers by Carol S
4. Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy by Walter Willard
5. In Defense of Food by Michael Plan
6. Your Miracle Brain
7. Diet for a New America

I feel very strongly that we are able to take into our own hands our own damaged health. I feel that we can take back from the pharmaceutical industry our bodies and minds; and that we can learn on our own what our doctor's don't know enough to tell us. Read, experiment, and learn. It's your life, your body--own it.


*Alternative Medicine Review.
*NPR.