Vitamins, Minerals and Fiber

Are you supplying your body with an adequate source of vitamins, minerals and fiber? Vegetables and whole grains are our primary source for the essential nutrients that we need. It is very important for us to ensure that we eat an abundant supply of these foods in order to prevent disease and to help with vitamin deficiencies. By eating these foods,we can provide our body with fiber which will aid in regular bowel movements and can prevent cancer in our colons.

As a whole, African Americans do not eat enough foods rich in fiber and essential nutrients, that would explain why we have such a high rate of disease and premature aging. This type of nutrient deficiency will limit our bodies natural ability to ward of illness and disease. The right amount of minerals are needed in order for us to maintain health there must be a balance, too much or too little may not be noticed immediately but later in life it may put us at risk for certain diseases. Because of our adapting to western culture, many have been accustomed to soul food rich with seasons and sauces that do plenty for your taste buds but almost nothing in terms of adding wellness to your life, historically we have not always cooked like this. 
 
I remember fondly the days at my grand mom Mama's house and yes we did call her Big Mama! Mama would cook up some delicious food and you could smell it coming up the street.  All of our family and social gatherings centered around food, it was a sin not to have some great dishes waiting when guest arrived. As I think back to these times, I do not remember many balanced meals.  I remember a lot of fried foods, collards that had the life cooked out of them rich gravies made with bleached flour and a host of other items that were high in saturated fat and calories, rarely did we have a fresh salad or whole grain bread or snacks that included fruits and raw vegetables. Today we have an abundance of nutrition information at our disposal, and if we would only take the time to educate ourselves on the value of whole foods and our true history, we can possibly save our next generation from the many lifestyle diseases that are prevalent right now such as diabetes, high blood pressure, strokes, and certain cancers.
 
Make the choice today to choose whole foods, foods rich in essential nutrients such as fresh fruits and raw vegetables, these types of foods act as roughage for our intestines and will cleanse and detoxify. These foods will give you added protection against disease.  These were truly the foods of our ancestors, foods rich in whole grain, fresh fruit and vegetables.  Here is a little something extra for your research and study!
 
   http://www.york.cuny.edu/academics/writing-program/the-york-scholar-1/volume-5.2-spring-2009/can-the-african-american-diet-be-made-healthier-without-giving-up-culture

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/