Food is the Best Medicine
Most chronic conditions, if not all; may get some benefit from making a few dietary changes. From a nutritional, biological and functional medicine perspective; all conditions could benefit from changes in our diet. Frank nutritional deficiencies, like Vitamin D, Magnesium, Iodine and Omega-3 need to be corrected in order to improve health. These deficiencies are very prevalent in our society. At the same time, excessive intake of sugar and refined starches, together with oxidized polyunsaturated Omega-6, trans-fats and gluten (wheat) have become the norm. Poor dietary habits and nutritional deficiencies may be corrected little by little, decreasing inflammation and improving many conditions, from chronic headaches and constipation to impaired digestion and elevated blood sugar levels. It just takes some motivation and understanding to start changing the way someone eats. In the case of chronic health conditions, life style changes are way more powerful (and safer) than the best pill someone can take. It is up to the individual to realize that we either change the way we eat or the way we are eating is going to change us for the worst.
Our philosophy is simple and it based on principles that have been around for years (see below).
1) Let the food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food (Hippocrates 460-377 BC)
2) We are not what we eat; but what we can assimilate (Jordan Rubin)
3) A man's food is to other man bitter poison (Lucretius 99-55 BC)
In addition, we follow a system biology approach; this means that we consider every organ is interconnected with the rest of the body; health is not predetermined by our genes, but it is the result on the interaction among our genes and environment we and our ancestors lived (epigenetics). Environment includes family, memories, beliefs, environmental exposures, previous medical history, relationships, physical activity and of course, the foods we eat.
Start with Your Children
Following healthy eating is of the best ways to educate our children, since parents inadvertent serve as role models. A healthy diet will provide essential nutrients for proper brain and cells development; and a better brain, allows for better behavior and faster learning. In addition, did you know that little girls tend to eat what mothers eat; and little boys will tend to copy their father eating habits? This has tremendous implications; the way we eat, in many instances, is the result of what we learned from our parents and grandparents; thus good or bad habits may run in families for decades without us even realizing. Think about the dessert or mid-night ice-cream? How many children have grown up eating fast foods and drinking sodas? These habits not only decimate the child's health, but may become ingrained the their brain and lead to an adult with poor health and eating habits. Poor eating habits may also decimate an entire society. Does that sound familiar? 70% of USA population is overweight or close to it. It is so sad and unbelievable...so it might time for us to reflect on eating habits as an issue of personal responsibility.