Do You Think That Food Can Create Healing and/or Illness in the Body?
AS ALWAYS, THIS IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE, THESE ARE JUST PAPERS I HAVE WRITTEN IN MY GRATUATE PROGRAM. PLEASE MAKE SURE TO SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP IF NEEDED.
Can food help heal or create illness?
“Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food”, Hippocrates (460-377 BC).
Over the years, there have been tremendous leaps in nutrition since the 1970’s. We have learned how eating a healthy diet with nutrient rich foods can ward off certain illnesses. Processed foods and additives unfortunately became more popular since then and we have found that an unhealthy diet can cause or aid in illnesses.
In 1976, it was founded by doctors that adding folic acid supplement to one’s diet while pregnant significantly reduced the rate of common birth defects (Katan et. al.). It is recommended that a woman take 400 mcg of folic acid daily while pregnant (or while in child bearing years). We tend to not get enough through foods alone, so this supplement is strongly urged for women.
We have learned that unprocessed oils can help reduce myocardial infractions, whereas trans fatty acids can raise your risk of it (Katan et al). Heart disease is a leading cause of death among adults.
As I mentioned, it really wasn’t until the 1970’s that people started to add more and more processed foods into their diets. Also happening during this time was a reduction in physical activity combined with a more sedentary lifestyle (Popkin, B). Since then, we are starting to learn that dieting and exercise may not be enough to fight against obesity (Katan, et. al). Perhaps one other place to look at is the mentality of those who are obese. The individuals could also be suffering from depression, which for many can be debilitating enough of a reason to cause one to not care about what they eat and add to a sedentary life. I believe we need to look at the person as a whole and not just their weight or illness. It’s important to know what’s going on inside their head as well. What is their lifestyle like, their home life, their work, are they in a constant state of stress? People seem to walk less now, and taking transportation seems to be favored over walking a few blocks. These can play a very important role in their weight.
Other great medical advances since the 1970’s in nutrition include obesity and diabetes. One of today’s greatest challenge is still obesity. In the past, obesity was looked upon as having little or no willpower and perhaps being lazy. Today, we understand that exercise and diet may not be enough. Obesity can cause type 2 diabetes. Losing just 6-13 pounds can reduce the prevalence of type 2 diabetes according to a study (Katan, M, et. al.). Foods that are low on nutrients, but high in sugar and trans-fat can lead to weight gain which can lead to type 2 diabetes. This alone tells you how important eating a healthy diet and keeping an active lifestyle is so important to staying healthy.
It can be so hard to know where to start to eat a healthy dietwith so many fad diets going around. It is important to learn from an early age and before the onset of an illness how to eat right. Sadly, many people rather turn to diet drugs to lose weight then to change their eating habits. These diet drugs are not natural to the body, there are often side effects. Pharmaceutical drugs can often seem to be cheaper than eating healthy (especially in today’s economy), and with a faster weight loss which is a problem (Werbach, M). People want a quick fix with little work it or knowledge. Often while diet pills may be cheaper at first, in the long run, eating healthy will outweigh the cost. There could be fewer medical issues, which in turn would be fewer medical bills.
Taking nutritional supplements alone does not equal a healthy life. Nothing can take the place of eating healthy. However, adding them along with eating a balanced meal can help to avoid certain illness’ as well as encourage healing. A problem with supplements is that they are not regulated here in the United States. Therefore, the dosage of the label may not be what’s inside the bottle (Werbach, M). Why is it that the U.S. doesn’t regulate our vitamins and supplements like other countries do? Foods naturally bring nutrients to the body, and are more natural for the body to digest them.
I think part of the problem with so many people with unhealthy diets is lack of knowledge. I think better resources need to be put in place for people. They need to see that eating healthy in the long run will be more cost effective then medicine.
Works Cited
Katan, M. B., Boekschoten, M. V., Connor, W. E., Mensink, R. P., Seidell, J., Vessby, B., & Willet, W. (2009). Which are the greatest recent discoveries and the greatest future challenges in nutrition? European of Clinical Nutrition, 62, 2–10.
Werbach, M. R. (2004 July/August Vol. 10 No. 4). Nutritional Therapy: An Important Component of Integrative Medicine.