In ancient times, food was our ancestors' first medicine. In fact, Hippocrates, considered one of the founding fathers of Western medicine, said: "Let thy medicine be thy food, and thy food, thy medicine."
While each of us has unique nutritional needs, the following are general guidelines. How each of us responds to specific foods is unique. While a certain food substance in one individual may be curative, in another it may aggravate symptoms or a condition.
Some of us are more sensitive to certain foods than others, and individual constitutions may be more or less tolerant to some of the suggestions below.
Make changes gradually. Your body has all the wisdom it needs to heal itself, but it also needs gentleness. Cravings for foods and/or substances considered unhealthy are merely signs that on one or more levels (body/mind/spirit) you are not getting what you need.
Our bodies recognize the nutrients in food that are closest to their natural form and that have not been chemically or mechanically altered.
Try to eat fresh cooked food that is in season whenever possible.
Try to avoid frozen food and leftovers. Food that is cooked and then refrigerated or frozen not only has little nutritional value but also can be toxic. When we eat food that is lacking in nutritional value, we may develop cravings, and may overeat to compensate for inadequate nutrition.
If you eat animal protein (beef, poultry), make sure it is organic. Non-organic sources contain HGH (human growth hormone) and antibiotics. HGH can affect endogenous hormone activity and should be avoided especially if you are dealing with male or female reproductive organ issues (breast, uterine or prostate problems). Antibiotics can interfere with the natural flora that live in our intestines, causing digestion and absorption problems. Also, they can interfere with our immune function.
If dairy products are part of your diet, make sure these are organic. Non-organic sources contain HGH and antibiotics.
If you include fish in your diet, make sure it is fresh, not farmed, and local. Farmed fish is often fed growth agents and antibiotics.
The best dairy products are made from raw milk (milk that is not pasteurized). Raw milk products contain all the necessary enzymes and nutrients needed for proper digestion. Pasteurization destroys these natural enzymes. Foods that lack these natural enzymes can contribute to malnutrition and overeating as the body tries to compensate for the lack. See www.realmilk.com for sources of raw milk by state.
Try to eat produce that is organic and in season. Our bodies are sensitive to the change of seasons, and recognize most optimally the nutrition from foods that are local.
Regarding grains, avoid all processed white flour and grains. Eat only whole grains.
If you eat at restaurants and are eating meat or fish, try to choose a source that you are certain of, unless the restaurant is reputable and uses organic sources. Fresh, unfarmed, local fish would be safer than poultry or beef.
Next Week: Preparation and storage of food
Dr. Muehsam is a holistic physician practicing in New York City.