“Health” is, among other things, the byproduct of being involved in these sorts of relationships in a food chain — involved in a great many of them, in the case of an omnivorous creature like us. Further, when the health of one link of the food chain is disturbed, it can affect all the creatures in it. When the soil is sick or in some way deficient, so will be the grasses that grow in that soil and the cattle that eat the grasses and the people who drink the milk. Or, as the English agronomist Sir Albert Howard put it in 1945 in “The Soil and Health” (a founding text of organic agriculture), we would do well to regard “the whole problem of health in soil, plant, animal and man as one great subject.” Our personal health is inextricably bound up with the health of the entire food web. So if your prize cows eat steroids from the feed lot. Guess What?
The astounding variety of foods on offer in the modern supermarket obscures the fact that the actual number of species in the modern diet is shrinking. For reasons of economics, the food industry prefers to tease its myriad processed offerings from a tiny group of plant species, corn and soybeans chief among them. Today, a mere four crops account for two-thirds of the calories humans eat. When you consider that humankind has historically consumed some 80,000 edible species, and that 3,000 of these have been in widespread use, this represents a radical simplification of the food web. Why should this matter? Because humans are omnivores, requiring somewhere between 50 and 100 different chemical compounds and elements to be healthy. It’s hard to believe that we can get everything we need from a diet consisting largely of processed corn, soybeans, wheat and rice.
“Eat less” is in fact the scientific case for eating a lot less than we currently do is compelling. “Calorie restriction” has repeatedly been shown to slow aging in animals, and many researchers (including Walter Willett, the Harvard epidemiologist) believe it offers the single strongest link between diet and cancer prevention. Food abundance is a problem, but culture has helped here, too, by promoting the idea of moderation. Once one of the longest-lived people on earth, The Okinawans practiced a principle they called “Hara Hachi Bu”: eat until you are 80 percent full. To make the “eat less” message a bit more palatable, consider that quality may have a bearing on quantity: the better the quality of the food you eat, the less of it you need to feel satisfied.
Let’s dive into it then… how do us mere mortals with the millions of temptations offered in the supermarkets learn to eat healthy foods and extend their life-span? In todays fast food technological age we need to pay attention to what’s really happening around us. Some say we are being poisoned by the very foods that look good in the super-market. I dare you pick out a healthy looking frozen whole chicken and read the ingredients. Steroids, chemicals you cant pronounce and you are going to eat this?
To start with use the GRANDMOTHER TEST would your Grandmother eat this hopped up drugged chicken? Basically you need to stay away from all commercial supermarkets and choose your food from local farm markets. Your next test is to stay away from any foods that claim healthy, no sugar, no calories, low fat, energy booster. These foods are guaranteed loaded with sugars, high fructose, and chemicals that even a trained linguist could not pronounce.
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This is not rocket science to learn to eat healthy whole foods, but if you continue to feed the big corporations billions of dollars for supplying us with dead nutrient foods you will be propelled faster than a rocket to your grave…picking up cancers, heart problems , obesity, diabetes to name a few.
To start we need to choose the healthiest superfoods out there. On a recent survey kale comes in on top but start piling your plate high with leafy greens… Particularly the cruciferous group (cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, cabbage, bok choy,), as this group leads the way when it comes to healthiest superfoods.
Another good tip is to always look for bright and strong colors when choosing your vegetables called the Rainbow Diet…this is almost always an indicator that they are full of healthful antioxidants, vitamins and plant compounds that will contribute to overall good health.
So, if before this you had a dull view of leafy greens and root vegetables, we hope this has changed your mind. Healthy foods can be truly versatile, delicious and exciting whilst providing all the essential nutrients and vitamins we need for good health.
Since variety is the spice of life why not choose a range of proven foods for longevity including the MEDITTEREAN DIET…lots of olive oil, fresh fish and local veggies plus plant-based foods, such as whole grains, vegetables, legumes, fruits, nuts, seeds, herbs and spices, are the foundation of the diet. Olive oil is the main source of added fat. HIGH MOUNTAIN ITALIAN DIET…lots of olive oil, local grapes, and veggies. Many people with similar DNA live beyond one hundred years old. THE OKINAWA DIET…lots of olive oil, fresh ocean fish, crabs, lobsters whole plant foods, many local veggies including cucumbers and sweet potatoes.
THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW: How many vegetables are in the world? A recent study by Bioversity International scientists in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations revealed that a total 1,097 vegetable species, with a great variety of uses and growth forms, are cultivated worldwide.
THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO SAVE: Save your own seeds! Develop your own seed bank for future use and keep away from GMO’s which are now illegal in many countries. A genetically modified organism GMO is any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. Large corporations who sell the seeds have it set that you have to buy the seeds from them every year. In addition to GMO’s causing possible long term health problems…they can spread to the nearby farmer’s fields and destroy their crop
Purists and Horticulturists bring together thousands of people who share a common belief - that organic growing is essential for a healthy and sustainable world.
ZENTRAVELER SAYS: You don’t need to be a VEGAN to enjoy some of the best veggies in the world. Drink a veggie smoothie often. Here’s to your good health!
From here to Infinity is a relatively short ride! The next leg takes eons and eons as you fly through the Barycentric Dynamical Time Zone! …and on and on and on. Follow the Zentraveler Newsletter often for Travel, Health and Zen-like stories and such. Where else can you get a three in one Newsletter FOR THE PRICE OF FREE?
It's been raining a lot in Thailand and I was just at the Fresh Market, Masked up, Double Vaccinated, Gelled and Temperature checked with wet feet, but I did get some nice color Vegies. As I was reading this Fresh Article and trying to comment and stay dry, I had to log on again to reconfirm my Log in here Zen, with a link on my email. Now my Vegetables are not as fresh, my car was almost floating, and I had to take a big reroute to get home. Holy Tamoli Zenman! At least I should be be more healthy from the Vegies. I like to Juice them. Thanks for the (Asparagus) Tips that I am not suppose to eat according to Doctor Jazz.