Guest guest Posted October 26, 2003 Report Share Posted October 26, 2003 The Fast Track JoAnn Guest Jun 25, 2003 15:19 PDT By: Susan Booth Fast food. Quick dissolve. Rapid rise. One-hour photo. 24-hour pharmacy. Instant relief. Sudden... Accelerated... Immediate... In today's society we're always on the fast track - rushing to work, hurrying home, squeezing in all the appointments and activities into a day. There's little time for sleep or a sit-down meal with the family. Eating healthfully is difficult enough, much less finding the time to actually discover what is good to eat. But, if you don't take the time, your body will force you to take time later... being sick. It's rush hour on the highway to health, and being sick is something no one has time for. We run ourselves ragged, worry a lot, eat badly... then, when we get sick, we wonder, " Why me? " The modern way of treating illness is to find the afflicted body system or organ, and send powerful drugs to it to make it feel better. Often the relief is quick, the results remarkable. (Other body systems suffer in the short-term or long-term, but what does that matter? We need relief NOW.) This expectation of a " quick fix " is then what becomes " normal. " You take a pill, you should feel better. If you don't feel better, it must not be working. It's a well-known fact that most natural remedies take longer to work than pharmaceutical drugs. In emergencies, quick-acting drugs can save lives. Ideally, however, the body should have enough support to heal itself on an on-going basis so that strong drugs are not necessary. Herbal remedies can be highly effective. But, recently, in the rush to health, people are demanding quicker natural remedies. Thus, highly processed, concentrated, yet plant- derived " Nutraceuticals " now dominate the nutritional supplement market. Quick fixes are not the backbone of good health. Quick fixes (even herbal remedies) should be used on an as-needed basis... not just to make up for a deficient diet. Many of the phyto-nutrients available in capsule form are well-supplied in a truly balanced diet. If you're already eating right, you may not notice much difference when you add these things to your daily pill-taking regimen. The soil in the United States has been depleted of many nutrients due to irresponsible farming practices. Magnesium is an excellent example. It appears that the body needs more magnesium than is readily available in most foods. Supplementation should be considered. (See references 1, 2, & 3) Yet, beyond specific nutrients and individual needs, getting your nutrients from real food - whole food - nutritious food - is really the only way to go for long-term good health and quality of life. Yogurt and Kefir Acidophilus is highly recommended to restore the intestinal flora destroyed by antibiotic use. Of course encapsulated acidophilus is available, but many more beneficial bacterium and co-factors are available for the body to use when you eat yogurt or drink kefir. Often sugars and natural sweeteners are added to yogurt (making it less healthful). But, consider kefir -- a pleasant yogurt-like beverage that benefits the intestinal tract in different ways than yogurt. (Beneficial yeasts are present in kefir, working symbiotically with the " friendly " bacteria to give superior health benefits. (4) " Kefir culture is hardier, more potent and can self- generate more easily than a yogurt culture.... The kefir culture (unlike any yogurt culture) never dies. " (5) Kefir could prove to be highly beneficial for proper digestion and intestinal function. And, of course, the benefits of cultured/soured milk over sweet milk are well documented. What's the catch? Time. Kefir is made with a kefir starter (small granules of friendly bacteria and yeasts, which grow larger as they're used) that ferments the milk over a period of 12-18 hours (or longer depending on how sour you like it, and/or if you plan to make farmer's cheese from it). When pasteurized milk (which has had any detrimental AND beneficial bacteria and vitamins destroyed from it) is cultured into a kefir beverage, it regains it's vitality, and is once again a " living food. " Kombucha The beverage of choice in this country appears to be soda-pop. It's a catch-22. If you drink soda you're either inundating your system with sugar (something that can lead to obesity, high blood pressure, cholesterol, heart troubles, and diabetes II [6]) or popping brain cells and destroying nerve function with aspartame. (7) But, there is an alternative (besides good ol' water)... one that tastes good, and shows remarkable health benefits. Kombucha is made using a colony of beneficial yeast and bacteria as a " starter " of sorts. Although made with sugar and tea (instead of milk as kefir is made) the sugar content is minimal in the final product because the Kombucha ferments and uses up the sugar in this " vinegar-culture " process. The Kombucha turns tea (green tea or black tea) into a healthful beverage which is excellent in helping liver function because it contains glucuronic acid - something the liver makes and needs in order to perform it's many functions. " Additional glucuronic acid taken in the form of kombucha is said to be a powerful aid to the body's natural cleansing process, a boost to the immune system, and a proven prophylactic against cancer and other degenerative diseases. " (8) " According to researchers and to anecdotal evidence, kombucha tea is a potent immune system booster " and can be an important part of treatment for many illnesses. (9) " Kombucha is rich in B vitamins and a substance called glucuronic acid.... glucuronic acid is also the building block of a group of important polysaccharides that include hyaluronic acid (a basic component of connective tissue, chondroitin sulfate (a basic component of cartilage) and mucoitinsulfuric acid (a building block of the stomach lining and the vitreous humor of the eye. " (10) What's the catch? Time. Every time you took Tylenol to get over that headache quick, and get back to your fast-paced life, your liver may have been damaged. Kombucha could be beneficial in repairing the liver, but it takes time. Beet Kvass The benefits of raw fruit and vegetable juices have been well publicized recently. Although these are whole-foods, using a lacto- fermentation process can not only enhance the nutritional quality, but provide extra nutrients which can improve the function of the body. Kvass is a traditional Russian beverage which was used as a powerful immune enhancer. " Folk medicine values beets and beet kvass for their liver cleansing properties and beet kvass is widely used in cancer therapy in Europe. (10) What's the catch? Time. It takes time to make and ferment beet kvass. But, the long-term benefits could far out-weigh the fix-it- quick pills you may have been taking. Weight Lifting It's been known for some time that weight bearing exercise is more beneficial for warding off osteoporosis than taking calcium supplements alone (whole food supplements or otherwise). By putting a little stress (good stress) on the muscles and bones, the body quickly goes to shore up the area that's being worked. A pill can't do what weight-bearing exercise can. We were created to be active and industrious... not sedentary and non-productive. What's the catch? Time. Not a lot of time, but some. All the pills in the world can't make up for a grossly negligent diet, and complete lack of activity. Making time to do things correctly now, will ensure less time out-sick later, and a better quality of life in general. So, go quick! Start now! Don't wait! Make the time to do what will benefit your health in the long run. References 1) What Your Doctor May NOT Tell You About Menopause, by John Lee, Warner Books, copyright 1996, p. 173 2) Protein Power Lifeplan, by Michale R. Eades and Mary Dan Eades, Warner Books, copyright 2000, p. 214-215 3) Nutrition Almanac, 3rd Edition, by Lavon J. Dunne, McGraw-Hill, copyright 1990, p. 78 4) " What's Kefir? " www.kefir.net/kefir2.htm and " Kefir vs. Yogurt " www.kefir.net/kefir3.htm 5) Kefir Rediscovered, by Klaus Kaufmann, Alive Books, copyright 1997, p. 5-6 6) Protein Power Lifeplan, by Michale R. Eades and Mary Dan Eades, Warner Books, copyright 2000 7) Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills, by Russell L. Blaylock, Health Press, copyright 1997 8) Nourishing Traditions, by Sally Fallon, New Trends Publishing, copyright 2001, p. 596 9) Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Second Edition, by James A. Balch and Phyllis A. Balch, Avery Publishing Group, copyright 1997 p. 557 http://www.azurefarm.com/Articles/Featured/TheFastTrack.cfm About the Author: Susan Booth is the publishing director here at Azure - coordinating the content of the website, catalogs, sale flyers, and informative publications. With a deep interest in good health, she's an avid reader who seeks out the truth and is eager to share it. The complete " Whole Body " Health line consists of the " AIM GARDEN TRIO " Ask About Health Professional Support Series: AIM Barleygreen " Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future " http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/AIM.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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