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~ Back to Articles Index Page ~  Ask anyone what their definition of nutrition is and you’ll generally get this sort of answer, “It’s what you have to pay attention to so your body stays healthy…you know…proper nutrition.” Here’s Barron’s Dictionary of Medical Terms definitions: Nutrition – 1. Nourishment. 2. All of the chemical and physical processes involved in the ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation, and excretion of nutrients.Unfortunately, nutrition and balanced diet have become popular catch phrases thrown around these days. This makes it even more important to understand and be aware of what your body does with that “proper nutrition” to maintain (and here’s your word for the day…) homeostasis - a steady state in the internal environment of the body. We all know what happens when homeostasis is disrupted…illness. However, the body is a remarkable machine that will continue to function, for years sometimes, under the most deplorable conditions before it throws up red flags we call symptoms. So, when symptoms do occur, you should view them as a cry for help from your body. Nutrition’s Role in Your Body 
Proper nutrition supplies your body with everything it needs to function at the most basic of levels; the cellular level. That’s where all the action is. For instance, let’s take a look at the minerals calcium and magnesium. Why these two in particular? Well, they’re both members of the same team. They need each other to function properly like a defenceman and a goalie. A deficiency of one will reduce the other’s ability to perform and can produce symptoms of deficiencies of both. A deficiency in calcium can lead to symptoms such as aching joints, brittle nails, and eczema or heart palpitations. A deficiency in magnesium can lead to symptoms of hypertension, chronic fatigue and even irritable bowel syndrome. 
So, where do we find calcium and magnesium in our diet? Both can be found in ample quantities in dairy products, brewer’s yeast and blackstrap molasses, to name just a few. This is where eating a wide variety of foods will ensure your body is ingesting the minerals it needs to function. Another dynamic duo is potassium and sodium. Potassium is essential to a healthy nervous system and works in concert with sodium to regulate the body’s water balance. The B complex of vitamins are important to a healthy nervous system which, in turn, is important to your digestive system; the system responsible for the “ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation, and excretion of nutrients”. In other words, making use of the nutrients we eat. To move the food from your mouth to your stomach, your esophagus employs a series of movements called “peristaltic” movements – a sort of “squeeze and release” rhythm that moves the food downward, churning it as it travels toward the stomach. These movements rely on the good working order of your nervous system, which is responsible for contracting and relaxing the muscles in your esophagus that perform peristalsis. The Cost of Doing Business As the cells in your body make use of the nutrients in your food, they produce byproducts of the work they are doing known as free radicals. You can think of free radicals as being the same as the exhaust from your car – a product of the car’s engine doing its work. Free radicals can effect dramatic changes in the body and cause a lot of damage. Each free radical may exist for only a tiny fraction of a second, but the damage it leaves behind can be irreversible, particularly damage to your heart muscle cells, nerve cells, and certain immune system cells. So what’s a body to do? Well, there’s no way to avoid the production of free radicals but you can minimize the damage free radicals do by ingesting higher levels of antioxidants which neutralize free radicals. Foods containing antioxidants include blueberries, watermelon, garlic, green tea, curcumin, and grapes. For a full explanation of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and amino acids, CLICK HERE. Four Steps in the Right Direction The following four steps should ensure your body is getting the nutrition it needs: Make Certain Your Body Is Healthy See your family physician for an annual physical. The results of your physical will allow you to pinpoint areas of concern and choose supplements and regimens to support specific organs in your body. Eat A Wide Variety Of Foods The easiest way to ensure your body is getting the myriad of building blocks it needs to synthesize good health is to consume the widest possible variety of foods. Organic foods are your best bet, as they have been certified free of chemicals and processes that can harm your body. An easy rule of thumb is to eat a “colorful” meal – have at least three colors of vegetables on your plate at any one meal and snack on fruits and vegetables of many colors in between meals. Add whole grains, nuts, legumes, olive oil, green tea, and plenty of water to the mix and your body will be getting what it needs. Be a “grazer” – instead of eating three meals a day, try to eat five small meals throughout the day. This will keep your insulin and energy levels steady and keep the munchies at bay. As much as possible, steer clear of the following:
Exercising not only tones your muscles, works your lungs, moves your joints and keeps the toxins moving out of your body but it also uses up excess ingested calories you might end up storing as fat. Supplement Your Diet Over the past six decades, world food production has been forced to unimaginable limits to accommodate the growing global population. New production methods and higher yields mean that the soil the crops are grown in is being depleted to the point where it may no longer contain the same amount of minerals it did sixty years ago. Even if you eat a healthy, varied diet, it is prudent to add a daily supplement to your nutritional routine. It just makes sense to offer your body that little extra help it needs to keep you going for the next few decades.  Developed for people who want one product that gives them all of the good fats they need, without any of the bad fats they should avoid. Ingested in adequate amounts and in the optimal ratio, such as is found in Udo’s Oil™ 3•6•9 Blend, EFAs have been shown to improve energy, stamina, performance sleeping patterns, concentration, mood and skin appearance. Udo’s Oil™ 3•6•9 Blend is a special blend of carefully chosen, natural, unrefined, EFA-rich oils that has a pleasant, nutty, buttery taste. It contains oils from fresh, certified organic flax, sesame, sunflower and evening primrose seeds as well as oils from rice and oat germ, providing 'minor' ingredients with major health benefits. This oil blend has added non-GMO soy lecithin, which improves oil digestion and provides the building materials for healthy cell membranes. Udo’s Oil™ 3•6•9 Blend also contains medium chain triglycerides, which are easy to digest and assimilate and can be used directly by our cells as a source of energy without increasing fat deposits.  grapes+ contains all the protective chemicals of red wine that help diminish the signs of premature aging caused by pollution and other toxins. Research conducted by the University of Toronto found Biovin™ full spectrum grape extract to be strong protection against free radicals. With grapes+, you get protection that is reportedly 20 times stronger than Vitamin C and 50 times greater than Vitamin E. By protecting your body against pollutants and free radicals thereby slowing the rate of cellular damage. grapes+ can help improve night vision and prevent age-related visual disturbance. It’s formula also helps to reduce inflammation and restore elasticity to joints, skin and arteries. Through daily consumption, you can capture the positive effects of red wine without the alcohol in this full spectrum grape extract. Like a glass of wine a day, grapes+ protects against the ravages of aging and is the exclusive source of BiovinTM in Canada.  greens+ contains a perfect balance of 23 essential ingredients - encompassing a variety of 18 natural colours, phytonutrients and fibre - which combined, make it the ideal natural whole food supplement. Quite simply, greens+ will make you feel better. And when you feel better you can live a more vibrant, energetic life. We know it works, greens+ has substantial clinical research conducted by a pharmacist from the University of Toronto proving its results, along with tremendous, positive feedback from greens+ users, who consistently report an increase in their energy levels and overall sense of well being. greens+ is research-proven to provide:
**The findings from the University of Toronto suggest that greens+ may be used effectively in the management of osteoporosis. ***Standardized Extract: Why is this important and generally considered the best? The amount of active ingredients in unstandardized herbs can vary as much as 50-90% depending on factors such as climate, soil conditions, genetic potential of the seeds time and conditions of harvest transformation methods and storage. Standardized extracts are the most effective, due to their premium quality and consistent results. greens+ is available in watermelon, tangerine and berry flavors. Carol Roy is a Natural Health Practitioner, registered with Natural Health Practitioners Canada, who received her diploma from the Alternative Medicine College of Canada in Montreal, Quebec. With 9 years experience in her area of expertise, naturopathic medicine, Carol has also trained to become a fully qualified Reiki Master, Quantum Touch ® Practitioner and Reflexologist. are recommendations only and not a substitute for any medical advice or a replacement for any prescriptions. Seek medical advice for any health concerns. Consult your health care provider before using any recommendations herein. |
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