Ban the Nutrient Thieves with Nature’s Pantry
Ban the Nutrient Thieves with Nature’s Pantry
In the previous two weeks posts, I’ve shared how prescription meds, over-the-counter-meds and even natural foods can interfere with nutrient absorption. Deficiency symptoms may mimic symptoms of potentially more serious conditions or diseases, causing us to misinterpret what is really happening in our body.
Natural, plant foods have served humankind for thousands of years and may offer a simpler, safer solution for you too. Over two-thousand years ago, Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” He knew the value of plant roots, stems, seeds and leaves to provide healing compounds. With such a wide array of medications for every symptom, dietary remedies are rarely considered today.
Let’s look at some of the conditions that have been improved with natural foods. Always remember to consult with a clinical nutritionist or a knowledgeable pharmacist before modifying your medication intake. You may want to review my previous two Blogs on being robbed of nutrients to refresh which nutrients need replenishing.
Natural alternatives––safe and effective––that you may want to include:
• Eye Health: Most of us do not think of nutrition for our eyes, but it pays to take special care of our vital vision. Include these antioxidant foods to support eye health and prevent free radical activity: carotenoid foods (orange-red colored foods-carrot/red pepper/tomato/apricot/mango/cantaloupe/peach/sweet potato). Lutein and zeaxanthin are a couple of powerhouse antioxidants that reduce free-radical damage. Fresh greens (kale, spinach, basil, parsley) promote healthy eyes. Saffron supplements are showing impressive benefits in clinical trials.
• Heart Health and High Blood Pressure: Diet plays a vital role in heart health and hypertension. Prevention is always the best choice, but these foods from Nature’s Pantry may also allow you to forgo the prescription route. Ask your nutritionist about using these foods for medicine: leafy greens for vitamin K and nitrates; whole grains (the germ, endosperm and bran) which include whole wheat, brown rice, oats, rye, barley and quinoa (organic and non-gmo). Berries, rich in antioxidants, protect against inflammation from oxidative stress; avocados provide good-for-your-heart monounsaturated fats, which lower cholesterol; fatty fish and fish oil from salmon, mackerel, sardines and tuna––all sustainably-wild-caught, non-farmed, to provide necessary Omega-3 fatty acids; beans reduce blood pressure and inflammation; tomatoes, rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant; garlic’s powerful compound, allicin helps lower blood pressure; almonds and walnuts are high in fiber, rich in vitamins and minerals and heart-healthy monounsaturated fats; seeds (hemp, flax and chia) provide heart-healthy nutrients, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids; magnesium rich foods, or supplements, improve blood pressure and prevent stroke; prunes provide several health benefits, but definitely improve vascular health; hawthorn (herb) increases the amount of blood your heart pumps, thereby lowering overall blood pressure. Use with caution if taking other blood thinning medications; CoQ10, an antioxidant naturally produced by your body, is critical to your heart’s rhythm and heart rate and should be considered as a necessary nutrient for your healthy heart. Many natural food choices improve heart and blood pressure health, so explore your options––ASK your health care provider––to see if you may reduce the number of nutrition robber medications you may be currently taking.
• Hormonal Health: It is possible to use Nature’s Pantry of natural foods, essential oils and supplements to improve this natural cycle of life. Following the Mediterranean Diet has shown to reduce the number of hot flashes and night sweats women may experience. This plant based food plan consists mainly of fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts and olive oil. Foods considered to be “phytoestrogenic” are high in isoflavones that give a slight estrogen-like effect. Foods that fall in this category include, flaxseeds, peas, pinto beans lentils and chickpeas. Essential oils that ease hormonal imbalances include Bergamot (reduces blood pressure and slightly elevates estrogen); Geranium (acts as an anti-inflammatory, improves blood flow and hormone imbalances); Peppermint (acts as an anti-inflammatory, relieves pain, has cooling effect-great for hot flashes); Lavender (eases the discomfort of vaginal dryness and improves vaginal health-add to a carrier oil to apply as a vaginal lubricant).
• Thyroid Health: A healthy diet can dramatically improve thyroid conditions. The best plan is prevention using Nature’s Pantry. Eliminate junk-food (processed foods). Inflammation in the body most likely indicates thyroid problems. Strive for selenium rich foods (Brazil nuts, mushrooms, cooked asparagus, cooked spinach, oatmeal, eggs, seafood, meat and poultry). The thyroid needs iodine-rich foods like, wild-caught salmon, sardines, cod, herring; potatoes with the peeling; cranberries; seaweed or kelp; turkey breast and organic milk and yogurt (from grass-fed cows). Sea salt is a much more nutrient dense seasoning than table salt, since it has not been stripped of its natural mineral content. Zinc rich foods (herbs, nuts, sesame, sunflower or pumpkin seeds, oysters, miso soup, lean red meat) provide the robbed mineral naturally. The amino acid tyrosine is vital for thyroid health and is found in avocados, bananas, eggs, fava beans, pumpkin and sesame seeds and cooked leafy greens.
• Overall Health: You may want to try a gluten-free-grain-free diet to see if you feel an overall difference. Gluten may upset your micro-biome. Our health begins in our gut. A healthy gut produces healthy probiotics and that helps prevent depletion of several nutrients.
As we enter the Spring season, fresh plant foods are becoming more available in the market place. Plan your menus wisely to include a variety of nutrients that will defend your health from the robbers.