Linking you to resources and support in the lung cancer community!
Whole Food is Complete Food
Food Synergy is the new buzz word in nutrition and it means either the way we eat more than one food together with another that jointly work to boost the effects (i.e. eating a steamed carrot with a bit of olive oil boosts the body’s absorption of beta carotene) or by eating whole, unprocessed food that naturally contains all of the nutrients within it needed by the body to work “synergistically”, as a group of complete nutrients self contained.
Now I'm not talking about ketchup on fries or hamburgers and hot dogs at a bar-b-q, as good as that sounds, It's the way nature has provided everything we need for complete health within all naturally grown foods that fascinates me.
For example, who would have ever thought that one simple, common red apple that contains only 6 mgs of Vitamin C would also naturally contain other antioxidants such as quercetin, procyanidins, catechins and epicatechins (in addition to the almost 400 other nutrients that are currently known to us – there may be more!) and that by working together (synergistically) would together contain the anti-oxidant activity equivalent to 1500 mgs of vitamin C?
Nature (God, I prefer to say) in infinite wisdom gives us what we need. Every single natural food grown has ALL of the components within it needed for complete absorption and health. Nothing else is required of us except to just eat it.
And not in the processed, dehydrated, preserved, additive, microwaved state that we have gotten so accustomed to. Just plain, good food.
Can supplements take the place of whole food?
In my opinion absolutely not. Not in any form. Not in canned drinks, not in liquid form, powdered form you mix with liquid, capsules or pills.
Scientists and laboratories try to harness the “aha” nutrients or chemicals in foods they believe to be the power behind the whole… such as EGCG, the polyphenol in green tea. But as with all supplements – in my opinion, that is what they are – supplements, supplemental, to whole food.
In trying to tip the balance by extracting and exaggerating certain components, they have upset the balance provided by nature. Does that mean it’s bad to “supplement”? Absolutely not…as long as we remember taking supplements is “supplemental” to whole healthy foods.
When battling disease we are facing other challenges, such as trying to consume large - medicinal quantities - of certain nutrients for specific purposes such as battling oxidants caused by medications or trying to stop angiogenisis from occuring by cancerous cells. In that setting, it is often impossible to get the quantities of a certain nutrient into our systems by simply eating foods alone.
Example being curcumin. If we want to take 3,000 mgs per day of curcumin through food alone, we would have to consume approximately ¼ lb of turmeric root per day. It is ridiculous to imagine anyone could or would attempt that. (Ever tasted real turmeric??)
So we take the extract of curcumin in capsules… but just to be on the safe side, I take mine mixed with whole ground turmeric or dried turmeric spice, because I know the whole food contains natural oils and other components that may make it more biologically available to my body… and mix it with black pepper which also acts “synergistically” increasing absorption.
Another example is selenium. It is suggested that people who supplement with selenium also take extra vitamin E because E is needed to activate selenium. I say eat a brazil nut. It already by nature is one of THE primary sources of plant selenium…and Vitamin E is already there – and in the correct amount of course.
Green tea is yet another shining example. The polyphenol, EGCG, is known to have many anti-cancer properties. I take green tea extract in capsule form to increase my levels of EGCG... but I also consume several cups per day of freshly steeped green tea.
Just some "food for thought".
God bless us all,
Ellen
Views: 68
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by drawing3d/MOD on -
Amy, thank you also for the tip on the book and the author.
When I looked it up, I saw he wrote another one also named the Omnivores Dilemma. Both books have gotten very high reader reviews.
Like Holly said, they are both going to my wish list! Looks fascinating and very informative. I can't wait to be able to order!
God bless,
Ellen
-
Permalink Reply by AmyLCA on -
I've read Omnivore's Dilemma too. Really interesting look at where our food comes from. My book club read it and it prompted my boyfriend and I to join a CSA and try to shop more at the local farmer's market when we can. Someday I hope I will have th space and sun to plant my own garden - Not as many community gardens as I would like in DC, and in the past few years they have grown so much in popularity that every one of them has a long waiting list. :-(
-
Permalink Reply by drawing3d/MOD on
-
I know exactly what you mean by too much shade. I am in the exact same predicament.
I was hoping to use a telephone/powerline easement to plant a garden on my property but the county came in and just sprayed it with herbicides. Killed everything!
Like you, I would like to find some local organic farmers or an organic co-op.
Amy have you seen the movie "Food, Inc"?
Did your author have a hand in it's creation? It was a movie directed right at uncovering the truth behind the food industry and production farming, etc. What an eye opener!
Since the battle against cancer is also a quest for health and strengthening our defenses, maybe we could start a list of books that others might find interesting reading.
There is so much information available, and with no "one" authority, and so many diverse needs, hopefully we can all benefit from the exchange of information.
What do you think?
-
Permalink Reply by HollyJo/MOD on
-
Ellen,
I think exchanging books that we have read with each other would be a great idea! It would also generate some great conversations too.....
God Bless,
-
Permalink Reply by AmyLCA on
-
Hey Ellen,
I have indeed seen Food Inc. And yes, Michael Pollan was involved.
I think a list of books and other resources related to food and nutrition would be great. Do you want to start one in this forum area?
Amy
-
Permalink Reply by John H MOD on -
But where's the chocolate! I know where the sweets are with you three sweethearts! Oh I am good. LOL
-
-
John,
Your so sweet....you don't need chocolate ;-)
-
Permalink Reply by drawing3d/MOD on
-
Amy, yes I think an area that could be easily accessed for book suggestions would be great, maybe even divided by topics (i.e., nutrition, meditation, exercise, recovery, etc....) When you begin your drop-down menu, that might be a good link page that people can add to (*suggest a book*) maybe in menu form when they submit their book suggestions, for category, title, author, brief synopsis, etc. Then another link page for display. Just a thought. (As if you don't have enough to keep you busy already, right?? :)
Ellen
-
Permalink Reply by AndiB on -
I like the idea of exchanging book titles etc.And John,I see you are going vegetarian.You are full of beans,lol
-
Permalink Reply by drawing3d/MOD on
-
Hi there AndiB;
I added a few books I have read on another discussion here in the CAM category entitled "Searching for the Right Diet". It's buried at the bottom of the discussion...
Feel free to add some of your own book suggestions if you would like to!
God bless,
Ellen
-
Permalink Reply by AndiB on
-
Ellen,don't have yet.I am sure I will TY and take care.I have enjoyed Pattypan and yellow squash,also new potatoes with green beans.Planning eggplant tonight.Yellow squash is ours.The rest is local farmer's mart.Enjoy the seasonal stuff Hap[py gathering,AndiB
-
Permalink Reply by Andy Milner on
-
This new computer was supposed to be a fun toy - however, I've lost a number of posts halfway through when they disappear, and the cursor wants to keep jumping all over the page. Although this is off topic, I share it in case some of those half finished posts actually made it on line and I don't know it. Ayuvedic cooking has been the most exciting thing I've found so far. Ayuveda is a whole group with practitioners and some practices I don't personally subscribe to. But I took a cooking class last week and found several basic and easy to cook dishes, sauces, and cookies. Speaking as a former junk food junkie, I worried that I would never find comfort foods again, and this has changed my whole outlook. With 6 basic spices, you can make a plethora of really tasty foods and you don't have to be in the kitchen all day.
- ‹ Previous
- 1
- 2
- Next ›
© 2012 Created by AmyLCA.
