Thursday, January 20, 2011

The Road to Health Comes Down to Diet

© 2011 JAGster Photo
Bad Food = Sick Bodies
It amazes me how people can get a diagnosis of cancer and NOT look at the diet they have been eating as a problem. The more I learn about the human body, the more I am in awe of my Creator.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14a
It’s clear to me that our bodies were created to withstand a lot of abuse. There is no man-made thing that would survive the analogous ill-treatment some dish-out to their bodies. Artificial ingredients, hydrogenated oils, chemical sugars… and the list of unpronounceable items is endless. How long would you expect your car to work if you put junk in your gas tank?

People put fast-food and sugary, over-processed, refined stuff in their bodies and wonder why they can’t lose weight, have migraines, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, infertility, sexual dysfunction and no energy. Then ten to twenty years down the road, they get a diagnosis of severe allergies, auto-immune disease, heart disease, cancer or... sudden death—no coming back from that one!

Diet Basics
Folks, it all starts with diet. Let's go over the basics.
  • Stop eating all things artificial (artificial colors, artificial sugar, artificial additives, artificial flavors), sodas of any kind, hydrogenated fats (aka trans fats—read the ingredients label, don’t believe the words “0 Trans Fats”), flour and sugar (especially high fructose corn syrup). Read all food labels. (See Grocery Shopping Made Healthy)
  • Drink lots of filtered water (I have a RO—reverse osmosis—filter under my kitchen sink).
  • Cut down or eliminate coffee. Drink green tea.
  • Eat a variety of fresh vegetables and fruit (70% vegetables, 30% fruit) across the color spectrum (red peppers, dark leafy greens, carrots, parsnips).
  • Eat organic and raw as much as possible.
  • Use extra-virgin olive oil and coconut oil.
  • Eat avocados, nuts and nut butters (best to replace peanut butter with almond butter).
  • Eat only wild-caught fish and organic-fed, grass-fed, hormone-free meats and dairy (My diet includes ONLY fish and organic eggs).
  • Eat only organic soy (organic label assures no GMO—genetically modified organism).
  • Eat beans everyday.
  • Eat true whole grains like brown rice, millet, quinoa and steel-cut oatmeal.
I mentioned a few differences from my diet. Since I'm on a mission to fight cancer, I'm motivated and strict about what I eat. Should you be too? I believe the two most important aspects of my diet are lots of raw, fresh vegetables and no sugar.

If you feel this list is too overwhelming, I encourage you to start with one thing. Eliminate all sodas and start drinking water, for example. Do that for one or two weeks then give yourself a pat on the back and tackle another item.

What are your diet concerns? What will you change in your diet? Leave a comment below.

8 comments:

  1. Hey Chris! Great info! Few questions for you... Beans? Why, and is there an alternative? I have tummy trouble with those, or is there a specific kind that would prevent that for me? Also, bought some Hemp milk and I love it, your opinion of it? Soy (and again maybe I'm not getting the correct kind) seems to upset my stomach also. -Sara

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  2. Excellent questions, Sara.

    Beans are a great source of fiber and protein. You may need to add the enzyme Protease to help digest the beans. I will be recommending everyone take a full spectrum enzyme with meals. Try introducing beans a bit at a time until your system adjusts.

    Often when people start to eat "real" food, their system will react with gas and other digestive disruptions :^0 That will pass (sorry) after a time and soon you and your digestive tract will be humming along... never skipping a beat... even when traveling.

    Soy (being a bean) may be the same reaction. Stick with whatever milk substitute has the least additives. Most find almond milk very agreeable and even make it themselves.

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  3. Chris...this is completely overwhelming for me. Would you mind posting what an average menu for a full day for you looks like? Also, where do you shop?

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  4. Start by getting one thing down. Like reading labels and not getting food with additives and artificial ingredients. If you find one thing that's artificial on the label, put it down--no need to read further.

    I shop a lot at Trader Joe's. There is everything you need in that store. Still need to read labels, but their selections are much healthier. Otherwise I'm at the produce section regularly at Nugget Market.

    Thanks for the suggestion. I will post on what my average day of food/meals looks like.

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  5. Hi Chris! So glad I offered to drop off flyers for Sean...LOL! Your blog is amazing...so many great tips and info here. My chiro calls this the "Pain Free" diet! And I can attest to it...it works! For whatever hassle-factor there is in making some of these changes, the benefit is there, ten-fold!

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  6. Thanks for the affirmation, Erin. Great to see you here. I hope to see you often.

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  7. Hi Chris,

    Do you know about any resources regarding ways to fight a new super bacteria called Clostridium Difficile or C Diff? I have a family member who keeps getting prescribed stronger and stronger antibiotics to fight it, but it keeps returning.

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    1. Hi Linda,
      That's a very serious situation. Those strong antibiotics really tear up your gut. Unfortunately her body has little defense because all her healthy bacteria has been killed with the antibiotics. As long as she is taking the antibiotics that won't change. I would change to an alkalizing diet and take a quality pro-biotic such as PBS (available at Nugget Markets health section).

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