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Articles | Raw Food - Worth the Effort |
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| Written by Susan McCreadie, MD |
The average American diet is responsible for the development of chronic degenerative diseases such as heart disease, atherosclerosis, cancer, diabetes, stroke, etc. [1] Why is diet so important for our health? Because the food (and supplements) we consume provide our cells the nutrients to survive and function. That’s why in holistic medicine we focus on the health of the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract, where the food is digested and assimilated into the body.
Throughout the GI tract, from the mouth through the intestines, enzymes are secreted from glands to help digest the fat, carbohydrates and proteins we eat. We also consume enzymes through RAW food. Enzymes are denatured (inactivated) by heat. So the enzymes in cooked food lose their ability to increase the rates of chemical reactions within the body. "Although the body can manufacture enzymes, the more you use your enzyme potential, the faster it is going to run out..." ~ Dr. Edward Howell (Noted Pioneer in the field of Enzyme Research) Supporting our body with RAW food, supports our enzyme supply. Raw foods contain all the enzymes necessary for their own digestion. Eating too much processed and cooked food and too little live, raw food can result in enzyme deficiencies.[2] Incorporating more raw foods into your family is worth it! Research supports the health benefits of enzymes. Bromelain (an enzyme found in fresh pineapple) has been found to have anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory properties.[3] Anti-inflammatory properties are huge since chronic inflammation has been linked to many diseases including allergies, asthma, heart disease, diabetes and cancer.[4] Enzymes rely on vitamins and minerals to function properly. “Enzymes are complex proteins that act as catalysts in almost every biochemical process that takes place in the body. Their activity depends on the presence of adequate vitamins and minerals. Many enzymes incorporate a single molecule of a trace mineral —such as copper, iron or zinc —without which the enzyme cannot function.” ~ Sally Fallon and Mary G. Enig, PhD Due to today's mineral depleted soils, even if we ate REAL local organic food, and included lots of raw foods in our diet...we would still fall short on supplying our body's mineral needs. Learn why we recommend supplementing your child’s REAL food diet with a must-have supplements, including a multi-vitamin/mineral to support your child's vitamin and mineral needs. Since enzymes rely on these vitamins and minerals, it's another way to support your child's enzyme function in addition to providing him with lots of raw food. Susan McCreadie, MD is a Holistic Pediatrician and co-founder of nourishMD. She shows parents how to find REAL health for their child, so they can stop treating their child's symptoms and instead find solutions that help their child heal from the inside out.
Sources: 1. Report by the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs. (1977). Diet Related to Killer Diseases. Open Library. Retrieved January 2, 2012 from http://openlibrary.org/books/OL14184564M/Diet_related_to_killer_diseases 2. Hofmekler, O. (2001, November) Metabolic Mystery Tour. Experience Life. Retrieved January 2, 2012 from http://experiencelife.com/article/metabolic-mystery-tour/?ht 3. Bromelain. (2005, December). American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. Retrieved January 2, 2012 from http://www.worldhealth.net/news/bromelain_pineapple_enzyme/ 4. Chronic Inflammation & Chronic Disease. Achoo Allergy. Retrieved January 2, 2012 from http://www.achooallergy.com/chronic-inflammation-disease.asp |