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We all know someone in our life that could eat banana splits all day, every day, and not gain an ounce. Yet, the mere thought of ice cream puts five pounds directly onto our hips. What’s up with that?! Well, that’s body chemistry for you, and unfortunately, we’re forced to play the hand that genetics deals us. However, educating yourself and employing nutritional therapy can give you an edge on genetics. Another word for body chemistry is metabolism. Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that occur in living organisms in order to maintain life, grow and reproduce, maintain their structures and respond to their environments.1 Since our metabolism is determined by our genes, we are largely at the mercy of how our body processes what we put into it. It follows, then, that our diet has dramatic influences on our health. Each person’s body chemistry is different therefore the need for different diets is obvious. The speed of your metabolism, or your “metabolic rate”, influences the amount and type of food you require. BUT REMEMBER: there is a large distance between “require” and “desire” and this is where people can experience problems with weight. Diet needn’t be a dirty, four-letter word. It simply refers to your eating habits. If you know, for example, that you have a slower metabolism, then your eating habits should reflect this. Moving forward from simply watching your calories, you should be aware of which foods “feed” your body. This leads directly to the science of nutritional therapy, and a science it is. For example, if you know your family has a history of knee problems, then you may want to increase your dietary intake of oranges, broccoli, cheese and eggs. Why? Oranges and broccoli contain high amounts of vitamin C; cheese and eggs contain high amounts of lysine. Together, vitamin C and lysine rely on each other in the development of cartilage. Feeling a little low and sluggish? Increase the amount of foods you eat of animal origin such as calf’s liver. Why? Foods of animal origin are sources of carnitine. Together with vitamin C, carnitine is an element necessary for the transport of fatty acids (again, from the food you eat) into the mitochondria, or your “cellular power plant”. The mitochondria generate most of the cell’s supply of ATP, a source of chemical energy. ATP transports chemical energy within cells for metabolism. See how neatly that all works together? To a certain extent, you can monitor and regulate this process yourself. But be careful now because there are exceptions to every rule. Tomatoes may be a great source of vitamin C, but people with arthritis, especially in their knees, should avoid tomatoes. Because nutritional therapy is an exact science, you may wish to consider consulting a professional who can guide you through the process and steer you past the pitfalls. If all this sounds like you’re reducing your love of food to chemical reactions, you’re right. But once you understand the science of eating, you’ll also understand why nutritional therapy is beneficial for a host of common ailments. 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. contents of this article, are for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, nor a replacement for prescriptions, nor an endorsement of any specific type of treatment. Always seek medical advice for any health concerns from a qualified medical health care professional before using any recommendations and/or information contained in Nutter's articles. References 1. wikipedia.org – search string “metabolism” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metabolism |
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