YOUR FOOD FOR HEALTHY LIVING

"There is beauty in simplicity" we are told. Being natural is simple. It is said that people who live in the rural areas are simple in their eating habits. We know that most of them are healthier than those in the urban areas. These rural dwellers also live longer than the people in the cities who worry about calories. Researchers in advanced countries have also noted that the naturalness of the less advanced communities contributes to the fewer occurrences of some dreaded diseases common among developed countries.
Whatever we eat should enhance cell renewal. This means that diet should be balanced. Even in poor health or where there is a disease, such balanced diet can serve as medicine which confirms the saying: food must be medicine and medicine must be food.  Whatever we eat must be easily digested for easy absorption, for without proper absorption, the food eaten serves no good purpose. It becomes harmful and leaves the system without energy, which is the reason for eating. Food is always the source or the fuel from which the body derives its energy. But do we always eat what we derive energy from?
Everyone  knows the sources of carbohydrates and proteins. It is necessary to include carbohydrates and proteins in our diets because the body needs them for proper functioning. But we should realise that the body needs more than that. It needs vitamins, minerals and trace elements. These are derived from fruits, vegetables and nuts.
We should always bear in mind that organically grown fruits and vegetables are healthier for the body. They enhance the well being of the body . This is no longer difficult to appreciate because we are now being told that abnormally grown crops and animals, when eaten can lead to abnormal growth of cells in the human body.
In the same way one should also take care in deciding on what to drink. In the need to have more fibre to aid digestion, which is one very good way of preventing ailments, many people are likely to buy and drink high fibre drinks. Fibre occurs naturally in fresh foods and vegetables. Recent researches have shown that fibre found in natural quantities in fruits and vegetables may help lower the risk of cancer. The city dweller is faced with many health problems arising from his choice of food, the growth, processing and packaging of which he has no control over, but he do have control over his choice. He can choose to go for natural fruits and vegetables as against denatured foods.
Fruits and vegetables can be eaten raw, that means they do not lose any of their nutritional values due to heat or any form of preparation. Fruit and vegetable juices can therefore be used for both preventive and curative purposes. Using food as medicine calls for an understanding of what is to be derived from each food item. It also calls for moderation and self-discipline. Age and activity should determine what one eats. One big problem with many people is that they eat what they like irrespective of its health implications.
We should start thinking of how to utilize our foods for healthy living. This is more permanent and natural. Through healthy eating, many ailments can be prevented. Let your food be your medicine.