Healing With Whole Food

As I was doing some research this week about healing foods and I came across fiber, and the importance of fiber in our diet.  Many people today are suffering from ailments that can truly be corrected with the proper nutritional balancing.  The term fiber refers to carbohydrates that can not be digested and fiber acts as an intestinal broom in your system. There are two types of fiber, insoluble and soluble. Our body requires 35 grams or more of fiber a day in order to function properly. 

According to the Linus Pauling Institute,  viscous fiber such as those found in oat products and legumes can lower serum LDL levels and and normalize blood glucose and insulin response. The same study reports that numerous people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes that increased their fiber intake improved blood serum lipid profiles.  As we can see, fiber is a very important element that should be included in our diet on a daily basis.  There are numerous studies that show a link between high fiber intake and the reduction of disease.  When we eat high fiber food, the fiber absorbs the toxins in our body and drives them out with it as it is eliminated.  Since fiber is not digested or absorbed it very beneficial for this purpose.  Cancer, diabetes, diverticulitis, breast cancer, IBS, colon cancer, all of these diseases are positively affected by a high intake of fiber.
Food Serving Fiber.  Studies report that African American Women are likely to die from breast cancer and this same study believes that diet and exercise (or lack thereof) is a contributing factor. Read more about the study on the following link.
http://main.uab.edu/Sites/reporter/articles/81083/

It is truly time to heal our self with whole food.  Processed food is destroying our communities at an alarming rate.  We are truly paying the price for it in the form of these lifestyle diseases that even the experts are realizing the truth about what the underlying causes are.  Disease does not just happen by chance, it is a process that happens as we provide the conditions in our body that welcome these offenders.  Healing will begin with going back to the basics of a whole food diet.  That will provide us with the dietary fiber we need for maximum wellness.



Legumes
                                                        Serving  and amount of dietary fiber in grams(g)
Navy beans, cooked from dried      1 cup            19.1

Split peas, cooked from dried          1 cup           16.3

Lentils, cooked from dried               1 cup           15.6



Kidney beans, canned                    1 cup 13.6

Refried beans, canned                    1 cup 12.1

Cereals and grains

100% (wheat) Bran Cereal             1/2 cup 12.5

Bulgur, cooked                              1 cup 8.2

Pearled barley, cooked                 1 cup 6.0

Oat bran, cooked                         1 cup 5.7

Quinoa, cooked                           1 cup 5.2

Instant oatmeal, cooked                1 cup 4.0

Rice, long-grained brown, cooked 1 cup 3.5

Vegetables

Artichoke hearts, cooked          1 cup 14.4

Spinach, frozen, cooked              1 cup 7.0

Brussel sprouts, frozen, cooked    1 cup 6.4

Winter squash, cooked              1 cup 5.7

Mushrooms, cooked from fresh   1 cup 3.4

Fruits

Prunes, uncooked                   1 cup, pitted 12.4

Asian pear                              1 pear 9.9

Guava, fresh                           1 cup 8.9

Raspberries, fresh                  1 cup 8.0

Blackberries, fresh                 1 cup 7.6

Nuts and Seeds

Almonds                             1 ounce (23 kernels) 3.5

Pistachio nuts                     1 ounce (49 kernels) 2.9

Pecans                                1 ounce (19 halves) 2.7

Peanuts                               1 ounce (33 kernels)


Fateria Johnson M.A. Holistic Wellness Educator

http://www.its4yourwellness.com/

Taking The Wholistic Path To Wellness

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I am sitting here thinking about wellness and our communities. I often get concerned at how people would rather be fixed, instead of just taking preventive measures to maintaining wellness. If we are going to be truly well as a community of people, we must become educated in the Wholistic Path To Wellness. The Barnhart Concise dictionary of etymology defines holistic as the theory that nature produces whole organisms from small units, the term holism and holistic were coined from the Greek word holos meaning whole.

Taking the Wholistic path to our wellness involves looking at our whole self, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. It is important to understand how our thoughts influence our actions and the way that we feel in general. When we began to understand the journey to Wholistic wellness we will experience the freedom that comes from making wellness choices that impact our life and the lives of those around us. As we become educated about proper food choices, the benefits of fresh clean air, the effects of spiritual practice and physical exercise, we will become empowered and through this empowerment we enact change. The day has come for us to take charge and to not stand by helpless as diseases like diabetes, hypertension, cancer and other lifestyle diseases plague our communities.

I remember when my mother was dying, I was not fully educated in ways to help her overcome her illness. I have made a promise to myself and to God that I will share the education that I have gained with others so that they can be prepared in the many battles that we face in life and at least have a fighting chance. One thing that I have learned is that regular herbal detoxification is very important, because it helps to clean out our liver and kidneys and these organs help to filter out the toxins in our body. Toxins are a major cause of disease, as the toxins in our body accumulate in our body we become sluggish and are prone to sickness and disease. In order for us to function properly, we must have clean blood, and detoxifying helps to ensure that this happens.

Medical science tells us that disease can be cured by drugs, when in actuality in most cases what is happening is that you are suppressing the symptoms. Unless you get to the root of a condition (cause and effect) You will most likely suffer from that condition again or a similar condition like it, to truly be healed means not having to rely on an outside substance to maintain homeostasis. To be well is to be free . It is important to take the Wholistic path to wellness and to understand why you are sick in the first place and to trace the cause of the problem and work to eliminate that cause so that the effect will be complete wellness. Always remember these important points (Naturopathy For The 21st Century;Thiel)

1. The body under the normal natural conditions, is a self sustaining organism

2. The theory of health and disease is based on nature itself.

3. The body is governed by definite natural laws with regard to the physical, chemical, biological and physiological basis

4. Ill health, is therefore, as a result of a departure, from healthful living out of harmony with Natures laws.

5. To the degree that man adheres to and applies Natures beneficial laws, to that degree will the body, through its natural inherent powers restore itself to normal.

I hope that something mentioned here will encourage you to take the path to Wholistic Wellness, and to living a life full of vigor and joy that was intended for you from the beginning.

Fateria Johnson M.A. CSMC, CMBFS

http://www.its4yourwellness.com/

The hidden health dangers

Normally, I am a person who only eats fresh whole food and I must know what ingredients are being used in the preparation of my meal. The reason for this is because I am fully aware of the awful effects that some chemical additives in our food can have on our health. In the past I use to suffer with chronic fatigue, thyroid issues, acne and a host of other unexplainable illnesses that left me immobile most of the time. As I look around I can see many people unknowingly poisoning their systems with artificial colors and dyes and chemicals, yet they suffer from ailments that they nor their doctor can explain. In an effort to rid themselves of the symptoms associated with these illnesses they run to the doctor and are prescribed a remedy (drug) to alleviate the symptom without ever dealing with the cause of the problem.

As an individual who has eliminated all of my health problems by simply changed my diet and adopting effective stress management techniques, I am honored to share it with others. Just the other day, I was speaking at a function where lunch was provided, normally I would resist the temptation to indulge, but I thought to myself, what could possibly be wrong with the cheese pizza that was ordered; I was extremely hungry! I ate the pizza, went home and decided I would take a nap. I could feel my body chemistry changing as I became a bit ill and more tired, I recognized it because these were the same symptoms I experienced for years before changing my diet. When I woke up from my nap, I noticed that I was not feeling well in general, but I needed to complete the rest of my days agenda.

When I arrived home that evening, I was feeling worse, so bad in fact that I went straight to bed (these are the same symptoms I experienced in the past) I decided that I would look up the ingredients that this particular company uses to make its pizza and sauce, now remember, I buy only whole food products, that means they contain absolutely no artificial ingredients or preservatives. I eliminated soy from my diet and I make my own sauces when possible, so I knew that my body was probably reacting to an ingredient in the pizza. I decided to look up the ingredients and found that there were a few chemical additives and emulsifying agents and of course soy, which I can not have. The point is each and everyone of us are different and there are certain foods that you can tolerate, that may pose a health threat to someone else. The key is in knowing your hidden health dangers as it relates to food. In my opinion, all chemical additives and food dyes are not good for your long term health, but being an educated consumer will help you to understand what it is you are truly eating and to make healthy choices.

www.its4yourwellness.com

It is 4 your wellness!



www.cspinet.org/reports/chemcuisine.htm







Fateria Johnson is a Holistic Wellness Educator and Wellness Coach