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If It's Not Food, Don't
Eat It
Building an eating lifestyle based on solid ground.
By Kelly Hayford, M.A., C.N.CWhen Betty first came to me she was taking seven
medications, had severe osteoarthritis, could barely walk, was in constant pain
and had to catheterize herself daily—among other things. She had heard
that making certain dietary changes could be beneficial to her health, and that
there were natural herbs and supplements that might be helpful as well. But
she didn’t know much about it and because her condition was so severe,
she really doubted that such an approach could actually do anything for her.
In addition, her health care plan did not cover such expenses. Betty came to
me only because the price of her medications was increasing to a level she could
no longer afford, and her persistent friend had insisted.
Upon reviewing her food diary, a requirement for all incoming clients, I asked
Betty if any of her doctors had ever inquired about her diet or given her any
dietary guidelines. She told me that none had ever asked. Her food diary revealed
a Standard American Diet. It looked like something an average American might
be eating—and that was the problem.
Betty was skeptical about my recommendations at first, but I kept encouraging
her to give them a try. “Trust me,” I would say, “the results
are what will convince you.” Out of desperation she reluctantly followed
my advice; but was delighted when, in just a few short weeks she was able to
go off four of her medications, was virtually pain-free, could walk without
using her walker, had lost a few pounds, and was generally beginning to feel
much better. In addition, Betty’s latest cholesterol test showed scores
below what they had been when she was taking cholesterol-lowering medication.
| The
Standard American Diet In America between 1980-1997, the average per capita consumption of major food commodities per person, per year included: 111 lbs. red meat 580 lbs. dairy products 29 lbs. ice cream 53 gallons soft drinks 66 lbs. fats and oils 39 gallons alcohol 150 lbs. wheat 24 gallons coffee 154 lbs. sugar U.S. Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract 1999 |
What did Betty do to achieve such dramatic improvements in her health in such
a short period of time? It may surprise you to know that Betty didn’t
cut or count calories or carbohydrates or fat, go on a special diet, deprive
herself of favorite foods, take a special pill or herbal formula, undergo hypnosis,
or start an intensive workout program. She simply began to make the switch from
the low-quality, chemical-laden processed food brands she had been eating for
years, to higher quality, additive-free natural food brands of the same foods.
She also began to include a small amount of whole, fresh, natural foods, primarily
a couple of fresh fruits or vegetables, into her diet each day.
How can this be so? This is so because the most popular brands of processed,
packaged chemical-laden foods (pseudo-foods) so widely consumed today, are injurious
to the body. In fact, poor eating habits characterized by the regular consumption
of these fake-foods, saturated with refined sugar, sodium, unhealthy fats, and
toxic chemicals, are the greatest weapon of mass destruction the world has ever
known.
Not a weapon in the usual sense, but a weapon nonetheless, as a result of the
devastation it is causing. Betty isn’t the only one suffering. As a result
of the regular consumption of low-quality nutrient-deficient food, our nation
has recently entered into the beginning stages of a major health crisis; a health
crisis of such magnitude that it has the potential to change life in America
as we know it. Aside from the obvious diet-related conditions such as heart
disease, diabetes, or obesity, few people realize poor nutrition and eating
habits are the root causes of all chronic disease.
Betty is just one of millions who are unaware of the chronic disease her standard
American diet was causing. Fortunately, by making a few small changes she was
able to begin to turn her health around. The accepted way of eating in our modern
post-industrialized society is so far out of balance from what nature intended,
that when people like Betty begin to restore that balance by even marginally
eating in a way that Nature did intend, dramatic results occur. Many, if not
all, of the symptoms—which are merely warning signals from the body that
we’re doing something wrong—diminish significantly or completely
go away. Although Betty may never be able to completely reverse some of her
diseases as they may have progressed too far, she has been able to get relief
from many, beyond what any drugs or medical procedures had been able to do in
the past.
Food Matters
Inspired by the success stories of others, new health-related information being
released, and the failure of medical and similar approaches aimed at treating
the symptoms rather than eliminating the causes, an increasing number of people
are becoming aware of this relationship between diet and disease and taking
measures to revamp their diets.
| Scary
Health Statistics
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As chiropractors, you know that symptoms are the last thing to show up and the
first thing to disappear. Just because someone is not currently experiencing
any adverse symptoms or diseases, doesn’t mean that there may not be some
in the works—no matter what their age. Many people knowingly continue
unhealthy eating habits because they feel OK, not realizing that many diseases
can be simmering in the body long before any symptoms appear. In addition to
missing out on the vital nutrients that quality foods provide, habitual poor
eaters are running toxic disease-causing foods through their bodies every day,
often multiple times a day. Although they may not currently have heart disease,
diabetes, cancer, etc. (or at least have not yet been diagnosed with anything)
they are still consistently causing a great deal of damage to their bodies.
This will eventually catch up to them in one form or another; if not in the
form of a catastrophic disease, most probably in the form of a compromised quality
of life.
Which leads us to another set of people who may believe that they are eating
healthfully, and who may be surprised to learn that, in fact, they are not.
One of the biggest challenges facing America today is that many, many people
do not realize that they are eating poorly. After all, they’re eating
what everyone else is eating—and there’s a big clue right there.
If someone is eating what has come to be known as the standard American diet—basically,
what everyone else is eating these days—they are most likely headed for
trouble.
Eating For Health
At its very core, “Eating for Health” is about putting your health
at the forefront of your mind when making food choices. It is not a fad or a
special diet. It is a return to the natural way of eating that existed before
our food culture was dominated by the profit-minded mega pseudo-food industry—with
a little refinement, a little personalization, and a little allowance for modern
living.
When applied consistently over time, “Eating for Health” brings
about what many have deemed “amazing” results. It is miraculous
what the body can do when it is provided with the right fuel—energy is
restored, excess weight is shed, body systems are regenerated, disease is reversed,
and nagging symptoms disappear. Of course everyone is different and will therefore
experience different results depending on a variety of factors, such as present
and past health conditions, age, weight, current diet and levels of exercise.
However, given time, those who consistently follow the “Eating for Health”
concepts will reap beneficial results — no matter what condition they
were in when they began.
The “Eating for Health” guidelines are designed to inform, guide
and alleviate nutritional confusion. They act as steering mechanisms for making
food choices that are nourishing and supportive to your body at this particular
time in your life. Rather than rigid rules to be followed, they help guide you
in the direction that you want to go, providing enough flexibility so that you
remain the captain of your ship. In brief, here are the five guidelines:
Building a New Foundation
“It’s really amazing the results I’m getting and how easy
it’s been,” Betty expressed during a phone consultation we had a
few weeks later. “I can’t believe how much better I feel. I never
would have imagined this was possible.” Her voice became somber, as she
further reflected, “Why didn’t anyone tell me? If only I had known
that such simple changes in my diet could make such a big difference, I wouldn’t
have had to suffer so much, for so long.”
Her words sounded all too familiar. They were almost the exact words that I
had muttered to myself many times years ago, as I began to discover the relationship
between the food I ate and my declining health. Why have poor eating habits
become the norm rather than the exception for the overwhelming majority of people
in this country? Why have we as a society increasingly lost sight of the value
of eating nutritious foods for the preservation of our health and well-being?
In answer to these questions, the popular food culture that has developed over
the last few decades and the devastating affect it is having on our nation’s
health, is a complex issue; an issue destined to be perpetuated unless awareness,
understanding and viable solutions are brought to it.
Like anything, what you put into it will determine what you get out of it. And
therein lies the challenge. “Eating for Health” is easier said than
done for many. After a lifetime of eating in a habitual manner that is the norm
for our society at large, it is difficult to break free and begin anew. They
may not seem easy at first, but the five “Eating for Health” guidelines
are guaranteed to help you feel better, have more energy, lose weight and create
a brighter future for not only yourself, but for the world at large.
Excerpted from If It’s Not Food Don’t Eat It! by Kelly Hayford.
Kelly Hayford is a nutrition and health coach, author, speaker and healthy lifestyle
educator. She has over 16 years experience in the holistic health care field
and is certified as a nutritional consultant, herbalist and coach. You may contact
her at kh@foodfitnessbyphone.com.
About The Book:
“Eating for Health” is designed to make it easy for you to choose
foods that are supportive and nourishing for the human body in general, and
for your individual body in specific. Subsequent sections in the book offer
an abundance of practical tools, recipes and, most importantly, strategies for
dealing with the social and mental gymnastics that so greatly influence our
food choices and behavior. For more information on how to purchase a copy of
If It’s Not Food, Don’t Eat It!, visit www.FoodFitnessByPhone.com.
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