Health Tips-3: "Eating for Health"

The stomach is a site of continuous chemical activity. Foodstuffs cannot be directly used by the body and must first undergo a disintegrating, refining and standardizing process in the mouth, stomach and intestines. This process is known as digestion. THE STOMACH IS ALSO THE ORGAN WHERE HEALTH PROBLEMS ARE MOST LIKELY TO STRIKE. THE MEDICINES AND DIETS USUALLY RECOMMENDED IN CASE OF STOMACH PROBLEMS ARE OFTEN OF LITTLE HELP AND MAY EVEN AGGRAVATE THE PROBLEM. What can really help are simple dietary changes and complete avoidance of drugs. Because the digestive system, like all other parts of the body, has great potential for self-healing.

When one eats inappropriate food, putrefying bacteria attack it, converting starches and sugars into vinegar and other unwelcome substances. So instead of nourishment, the blood stream receives alcohol, acetic acid, ptomaines, leucomines and hydrogen sulphide. The food you have eaten becomes a fermenting and putrefying mess, affecting the nerve cells. Bacteria also destroy amino acids and release toxic, non-usable matter. Though some are eliminated by the body, others impose a burden on the liver and kidneys.

For proper, regulated digestion, the body requires enzymes. When we select foods we are biologically adapted to (fruits, vegetables, sprouts, nuts), the process of digestion is carried out smoothly due to presence of enzymes. Enzymatic digestion prepares the food for use by the body as it allows it to retain its LIVING quality. Bacterial digestion, on the other hand, KILLS the food. It is important to recognize that anything that can reduce digestive power, anything that can slow down the process of digestion, anything that can temporarily suspend the digestive process, favours bacterial activity.

OVEREATING, EATING WHILE TIRED, EATING WHILE FEVERISH, IN PAIN, WHEN NOT HUNGRY, WHEN WORRIES, ANXIOUS, FEARFUL OR EVEN ANGRY, favour bacterial decomposition.

We need to provide the body with food that we are biologically adapted to and foods that are EASY TO DIGEST, ABSORB & ASSIMILATE. This would help release energy for growth, repair and maintenance. (Courtesy : The Hindu Supplement - Folio: Cuisine)