As we turn the chapter into the New Year of 2019, the majority can now agree that more than medication, surgery, and therapy; food and water have the biggest influence on health. Only you have the power to decide the type and quantities of nutrients your body receives on a daily basis. The choices you make can, and will, affect how well your body functions.
You might be familiar with the phrase “you are what you eat”. This statement speaks volumes about the importance of a good diet. Food and water can either be medicinal or poisonous. Healthy dietary choices sustain life by providing essential nutrients. Unhealthy options, on the other hand, work to disrupt bodily functions.
Choosing right is much more than deciding between fresh produce and junk food. Nowadays, plants and animals are injected with salts, steroids and other harmful substances. Tap water in most countries is treated with more than 700 chemicals. What seems healthy today might not be and so aside from making better whole food choices to prepare and consume, we know supplements are a growing industry and CBD Oil is one of the most exciting new products to hit the world in recent memory.
- 1 Healing Foods
- 2 Nutritional Medicine
- 3 Orthomolecular Medicine
- 4 How Can Hemp CBD Benefit Your Body, Diet And Overall Health?
Keeping an overall healthy diet is beneficial for general wellness.
Yes, we’ve heard it a million times. An apple a day … you know the rest. This is because apples are filled with antioxidants, and contain a sugar called sorbitol that has a mild laxative effect. These are just two of the many reasons why apples are a great addition to any diet.
Adding beets to the dinner plate can increase intake of magnesium, potassium, and beta-carotene naturally. They also boast decent quantities of vitamin C and E.
Blueberries and grapes house large quantities of antioxidants. They are great as a snack or smoothie ingredient.
Whether juiced, cooked or eaten raw, cabbage may increase levels of beta-carotene, lutein, and antioxidants.
Cantaloupe juice and carrots are rich in beta-carotene and are good sources of vitamin C and potassium.
Cherries feature melatonin, which may help with a restful night's sleep.
Famous for its antibiotic action, garlic is a natural medicinal powerhouse.
Ginger and pineapple have anti-inflammatory properties.
Lemon is a good source of vitamin C and it can aid digestion.
Mushrooms are rich in antioxidants.
Adulterated food, the modern lifestyle and a polluted environment make it difficult for people to receive the nutrients needed for good health. Bearing similar goals to diet, nutritional medicine aims to provide the body with missing nutrients through supplements.
How Nutritional Medicine Works
Eating a healthy, organic diet is important. Unfortunately, food cannot provide all the nutrients the body needs for optimal functioning. In addition to nutrient deficiency, the stress and toxins in the environment put the system under pressure. Supplements offer a way to increase intake to prevent, manage and treat health conditions.
Individuals should always consult with a license healthcare practitioner concerning their health.
Types Of Nutrients
Some nutrients are called “essential” because the body needs them to function normally. Accessory nutrients, on the other hand, play an assisting role. They help digest food and facilitate nutrient absorption.
Vitamin A to K and folic acid are essential nutrients. Many patients need to take calcium, copper, chromium, iodine, iron, potassium, phosphorus, manganese; magnesium, sodium and zinc supplements. These are minerals the body cannot manufacture on its own. Other essentials include amino and fatty acids.
Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA)
The Recommended Daily Allowance is a standard featured on many supplement and food labels. It offers guidance on how much of a nutrient you should consume daily or the quantity that a food or supplement provides.
The RDA is updated every four years by research institutes, scientific organizations and government institutions. Although widely accepted, alternative practitioners do not believe that a generalized nutrient allowance is appropriate as it does not address individual needs.
Consult A Professional
Supplements are, in many ways, medicines and should be selected in the same way – by consultation with a licensed medical practitioner first. A practitioner only prescribes medication after a diagnosis. In the same way, patients should find out what they need before stocking the medicine cabinet.
Herbalists, naturopathic specialists, and orthomolecular experts can assess a patient’s health in its entirety and recommend supplements according to specific needs. They can also customize dosage to achieve the desired results.
Avoid Targeting Nutrients
A common mistake people make when choosing supplements is choosing nutrients according to their specific benefits. Although the information is useful, it is not always accurate. Vitamin C, for example, is an immune booster. However, increasing vitamin C intake when you suffer from a chromium deficiency might not be much help.
This is why it is highly advisable for patients to consult a professional before choosing supplements. With the right nutrients, one can expect to see improvements in symptoms and support the body’s natural healing process.
Orthomolecular Medicine is often considered to be a branch of nutritional medicine because both use nutritional supplements to heal. The difference lies in the method of diagnosis and the principles that govern the disciplines. Founded by Linus Pauling in 1968, orthomolecular medicine has evolved into a healing system on its own.
How Orthomolecular Medicine Works
The goal of orthomolecular medicine is to correct imbalances and malfunctions in the body. Patients are diagnosed using a range of tests and treated according to specific nutrient deficiencies that cause illness.
The discipline has several principles practitioners need to follow to administer effective and safe treatment.
Nutrition Comes First
“Nutrition comes first” is a mantra for orthomolecular practitioners. Nutrients are considered more important than medications and surgery because they are the body’s first line of defense against sickness.
According to this principle, every patient has a unique biochemical structure. This is why general standards like the Recommended Daily Allowance are insufficient.
Blood Tests Are Insufficient
Although blood tests are a more personalized way of determining a patient’s nutrient needs, they are not enough to reflect true nutrient levels and requirements. A useful diagnosis is one that considers multiple health factors.
Food And Environment Must Be Considered
Food is not what it used to be and there are more pollutants in the environment than ever before. Treatment should, therefore, factor in the effects of adulterated food and toxic surroundings on the health of patients.
How Can Hemp CBD Benefit Your Body, Diet And Overall Health?
There are some who consider hemp-derived cannabidiol to be a helpful addition to their routine. However, at this point, there are not enough research studies and clinical trials to support claims concerning CBD.
All information is for general informational and educational purposes only. Nothing should be interpreted as legal or wellness advice.