Probiotics
Probiotics, such as lactobacilli, are the friendly flora (i.e., bacteria) that live in your intestines. They assist with digestion and, at the same time, inhibit all sorts of dangerous, unfriendly organisms that would otherwise take over your digestive tract.
Probiotics help digest proteins. They also neutralize toxins in the colon. When protein isn’t fully digested, it may reach the colon and bloodstream in a toxic form. When that happens, metabolism is compromised. Allergic reactions, irritable bowel symptoms and other pathological complications can result.
Naturally fermented foods (such as yogurts with acidophilus) are a good source of friendly bacteria. Probiotic supplements are another option.
Enzymes Enzymes are involved in all metabolic processes. These protein compounds work as catalysts to break down foods into nutrients that can then be assimilated or converted into energy. They also work systematically as mediators and catalysts to other hormonal, glandular and sexual functions.
In the presence of adequate and balanced nutrition, the body produces its own enzymes. However, enzyme deficiencies often occur, most often as a result of too much processed and cooked food and too little live, raw food present in the diet.
Some enzyme deficiencies are also related to aging. The older you get, the fewer enzymes your body produces. Conversely, there is some evidence that supporting your body with enzymes may actually help slow the aging process.
In the blood, enzymes work as antioxidants and also as anti-inflammatory agents. Some believe that protease enzymes (enzymes that digest protein) have anti-cancerous properties. Studies show that lipase (an enzyme that breaks down fat) may help accelerate fat burning.
There is a rule of nature that raw foods contain all enzymes necessary for their own digestion. Therefore, natural sources of the fat-burning enzyme lipase can be found in high-fat raw foods such as avocados, nuts and seeds. Those who want to maximize their enzyme intake can also take plant-enzyme supplements.
Vitamins
“Vita,” in Latin, means life. Vitamins, as the root word implies, are life carriers. They are involved in all metabolic processes, including energy production and assimilation of nutrients for the regeneration of tissues. One of the main functions of vitamins is to protect the body from harmful free radicals and toxins that are the natural byproducts of metabolism.
Vitamins and minerals work together synergistically in a precise biological balance. Vitamin deficiencies or imbalances may force the body to compromise all metabolic processes. Vitamin deficiencies also leave the body vulnerable to the damage of free radicals, which can in turn lead to tissue breakdown, disease and aging.
In spite of all the information and all the prescriptions offered by modern diets, American people just keep getting fatter. In my mind, this suggests that our knowledge about metabolism is missing something – perhaps some of the old wisdom that kept hundreds of generations of people slender and strong. Of course, having access to modern scientific knowledge is enormously helpful too. The key lies in integrating these two bodies of wisdom, and then applying them to get a better understanding of our entire physiological landscape.
Diet and Nutrition
Food supplies us with nutrients that are critical for healthy metabolism, and for health in general. Vitamins, minerals, essential amino acids, essential fatty acids and probiotics are all essential nutrients, many of which cannot be produced by the body and must therefore be ingested from an outside source. Missing even one essential nutrient from your diet could have a devastating effect on your metabolism and overall health, so it’s important to understand how they work.
Minerals Minerals (such as calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc) are critical for all tissue structures, including bones, skin and hair. They also play vital roles as electrolytes, which regulate the body’s electrical charge. That electrical charge is necessary for all cellular metabolic functions, but especially for the assimilation of nutrients and the elimination of toxins.
Proper mineral balance helps moderate our body’s sodium levels, preventing water-retention, inflammations and bloating. It also maintains our body’s proper acid/alkaline balance (overacidity leads to sluggish metabolism and makes the body more vulnerable to infection and disease). Minerals even help protect the body from radioactive toxins.
Because mineral deficiencies are related to serious metabolic problems (with symptoms such as indigestion, headaches, nervousness, depression, exhaustion and impotence), it is wise to eat plenty of mineral-rich foods, including fruits and vegetables grown in mineral-rich soil, as well as seafood and especially sea vegetables.
Proteins
Proteins – and the essential amino acids they contain – are the body’s chief building material. Adequate protein is absolutely necessary for healthy metabolism. However, to be useful, it must be properly digested and assimilated by the body (we’ll address this point in more detail later).
Good sources of complete protein (protein that includes all nine essential amino acids) are animal foods such as chicken, beef, eggs, cheese, fish and seafood. Soy is an alternative for those who wish to minimize their meat and dairy intake, but carefully combining foods is an equally good alternative. In times of short meat supply, ancient people traditionally used the combination of grain and legumes (such as rice and beans) to produce a complete-protein meal. All through the Roman Empire, in fact, beans were considered to be the “poor man’s meat” and were also the gladiators’ main food.
Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s)
Essential fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6)Â are vital for all bodily functions, and particularly important as building blocks for prostaglandins (hormones that regulate blood pressure, control inflammation and pain and support energy production, including fat burning).
EFA deficiency may cause insulin insensitivity, which negatively affects the conversion of carbohydrates into energy. Many nutritionists recommend eating fatty fish (such as salmon, tuna and mackerel) as a natural source of EFAs. However, that recommendation tends to ignore the fact that most cooking methods (including frying, poaching and baking) destroy most or all of the fish’s sensitive oils.
Taking supplemental EFA oils (such as flaxseed and primrose) is therefore highly recommended.
Fitness Tip: Any ACTion is better than NO ACTion ~ DO SOMEthing Physical today…..however light, little, or fleeting it may BE 🙂
Nutrition Tip: Variety is the Spice of Life ~ Combine HEALTHY Protein, Carbohydrate & Fats in yOUR meals for Complete Nutrients & Balance
Healthy Lifestyle Tip: 10 minutes BEfore rising from bed each day, LOVE SELF with Positive statements of “I AM”:
I AM LOVE, Peace, Harmony, Patient, Understanding, BEauty…
Fitness Tip: Variety is the Spice of Life ~ Alternate days between Cardiovascular & Weight Conditioning Training.
~ Try some Interval Training Combining Both ~
Nutrition Tip: Instead of 3 huge meals through out yOUR day, split them up into 6 smaller meals at intervals of approximately 2-3 hours, starting when you wake, ensuring a minimum of 3 hours of no food BEfore Dream Time.
Healthy Lifestyle Tip: LOVE YOUr SELF ~ MAKE the time to honour, embrace, comfort, care, uplift, & empower SELF ‘cuz YOU Deserve IT!
Our physical vessels are wholly dependent upon our non~physical vessels.
What we think and feel has great affect upon our physical state of well BEing.
BOTH require our LOVing attention and awareness. LOVE yOUR SELF, we are ALL better when YOU DO!
It IS that we ARE 70%++ Water.
Hydration is KEY to our homeostatis.
More over, as has BEen scientfically and conclusively shown, water molecules {70%++ of US} IS affected by emotions and thoughts.
Thus not only is hydration in and of itSELF VITAL to our well BEing, so too is our Positively Hydrated Minds 🙂
Our Founding Angel of LOVE’s Light, Roni with a Wisdom & Wellness Tip for WHOLEistic Lifestyles of Healthly Nutritious Living, honouring the physical vessel housing the “I” that is WE 🙂
