On a daily basis I find myself wondering about the American diet and the ties between American health and dietary intake. One thing I have always found very interesting is that Americans are taking in fast-food and boxed foods and suffering from the preservatives and chemical additives. I also know that other countries use some of these chemical preservatives and fillers, such as MSG, and are not experiencing the same dietary health issues. That makes me step back and wonder if the bigger issue isn’t what’s in the food – but what isn’t in the food! Sure, we have leached the soil of nutrients and the rain water is less that pure, but what about the basis building blocks of our immune system that would compensate for those losses? We don’t eat fermented foods in America, at least not consistently or by will. Some people are familiar with the Miso soup they order with their Sushi, or sauerkraut that comes on a Reuben, but what about the rest of the probiotic spectrum? Yogurts, fermented veggies, kombucha, kefir, etc… there are so many wonderful probiotic options out there and we seem to look at these foods like they are foreign and strange. I have had experiences with clients who were “afraid” to take probiotics to clear up fungal infections, when we know scientifically that our immune system is actually composed of an intricate system of probiotics! Taking probiotics is one of the healthiest pillars of strength for the body.
Another extremely important pillar of health missing from the American diet is enzymatic properties. We actually cook out the enzymes from our food, have poor food combining skills, and lack enzymes in our soil to begin. Our beautiful fruits and vegetables have enzymatic wisdom and just enough enzymes to break themselves down. But when we cook them or mix them with rice, things gets wonky during the digestion process. Food sits in the small intestines until there are enough enzymes to properly digest the food, or the food moves through our delicate systems partially digested! Food actually ferments along the way, so if one is eating flesh foods, there is risk of serious toxicity from this process. Poor digestion is probably the number one complaint I hear at Plum Blossom and the root of so many symptoms.
As a supporter of healthy diet and proper nutrition, I have a sensitivity to people taking too many supplements. There are detriments to this behavior and of course we try to find alternatives. Fermented foods can be made at home, or bought in health food stores. Digestive enzymes are the number one supplement that I recommend to most of my clients because they are crucial to health and hard to get any other way than eating a Raw Food diet. Full spectrum digestive enzymes can alleviate SO many digestive health issues.
So as we take a look at what is in our food that we want to avoid, sometimes it helps to look at what isn’t in our food as well. We have learned a lot of important things from other cultures, and this is another lesson! We need these vital pillars to feel good and work at our optimal levels!
