The rates of dreadful diseases go wild in our days. There are most likely very few very blessed people who don’t know somebody who is suffering from diabetes, overweight, heart disease and others, and who did not lose a friend, family member or college through cancer, heart attack or stroke. Why? It didn’t use to be like that. In my grandparent’s time, it wasn’t like that.
There are many theories proving us that the food we eat contributes a lot to these diseases. Just think of all the fat that we eat – in fast food, ready-made meals, cakes and sweets, fried foods. We face an abundance of food in our days, and we happily make use of it. We often eat merely for the sake of eating, because it tastes so nice, because it makes us feel good. We eat more than we need. And we so easily eat the wrong things. Because we don’t worry much about what we eat as long as it tastes great, is convenient and fills us.
Food production methods and economy also make it difficult for us to eat healthy. If you are health conscious and you search for the healthiest food options, you are in for some shocking experiences.
Firstly, healthy foods are much more expensive than refined and processed foods. They easily cost two or three times as much. And whilst the food prices go up and up and up, our salaries somehow don’t, at least not in the same rapid pace.
And secondly, it’s difficult to find foods that are grown naturally – fruit and vegetables grown without chemicals, or animals grown free, being fed natural food. It’s difficult to find foods that are natural and not packed with masses of these additives and chemicals that negatively affect our health, or loaded with fat and sugar. For example, in South Africa I couldn’t find fruit yoghurt that is unsweetened. The only thing I can buy is plain yoghurt. I found that they still use many additives here that have been taken off the market in Germany long time ago, and often I long for these healthier products back home.
In the endeavor to produce more food faster and at lower costs, producers use more and more additives and preservatives. That’s not healthy. These substances are the cause for many allergies we suffer from, and most likely these allergies are still some of the minor problems.
Refined foods like white rice and flour, and sugary foods (e.g. many health foods and cereal mixes) raise your risk of diabetes. Foods high in fat have a negative impact on your cholesterol level and increase your risk of obesity, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, stroke and heart attack.
The further food is from its original natural form, the fewer nutrients it contains. And these nutrients are what kept our ancestors healthy. If we lack them, we are likely to become unhealthy. Lack of vitamins weakens our immune system, making us prone for many illnesses. A lack of fiber gives our digestive system trouble, and it also increases our risk to overeat, since fiber is filling us without containing calories. And a lack of minerals can also cause various problems, like anemia and a lack of energy due to iron deficiency.
Eating is not only about filling your stomach. It is to a great deal also to give your body all it needs to function: to keep up a strong immune system that effectively fights disease, to be energetic and healthy. If you eat healthy, you will be healthy. Sure, even eating healthy cannot prevent all diseases that might befall you. But is has been proven that if you do eat healthy, you can lower your risk of severe illnesses significantly. Just to give you one example: How many people do you know who eat healthy and are overweight?
If you eat healthy, you will be more energetic, you will feel better, and your body will be stronger and healthier. And since healthy food also prevents illnesses (citrus fruit prevents colds and flues, olive oil lowers bad cholesterol, whole grain products stabilize the blood sugar level, preventing diabetes), you will have a much lower risk of falling ill. That includes both small and dreadful diseases. That’s the reason why eating healthy is definitely worth the effort. It’s an investment in your health.
Book tip
Your Plate Your Fate – A Revolutionary Recipe For Lifelong Health & Effortless Weight Loss:
A seven part ebook educating you to make healthy food choices and release the healing power of food to prevent illnesses and lose weight.
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