Building Blocks

A Chapter excerpt from "Health and Happiness: an owner's manual for the mind and body" - now available in new, unique, custom personalized print.

I like analogies because they allow us to think things through logically when they are approached from a different view point. That is why I am going to compare eating food to building a house.

Imagine you are a building contractor and I have just hired you to build a house. Better yet, let’s say the house is already built and it just needs maintenance and renovation. There are no complicated plans to read or foundations to dig. The hard part is done… Everything is already built. The house just has some squeaks and creaks and a few leaks. Much like your body could have some strains, sprains, bruises, cancers, arthritis or poor vision. Let’s say you have to repair a leaking roof. What materials would you need? It depends on the type of roof, but overall you may need some flashing, caulk, shingles, tar paper, coatings etc… Now let’s imagine that the only material available to you is concrete. Besides being extremely heavy, concrete is also porous and absorbs water – making it a poor choice for a roofing material. You could keep pouring concrete on the roof until the weight collapses the structure – or find a new material to properly fix the problem.

Your body is much more complex than any building on earth and needs a wide variety of materials to keep it operating properly. The problem is that most of us are not operating properly, but don’t realize it until damage has been done. If your body needs roofing materials (salad) and all you give it to work with is concrete (fast food), then repairs and maintenance cannot be carried out. Your body just stockpiles the concrete (maybe around the waist or hips). Not only does your body not get what it needs, but it gets an excess of what it doesn’t need. When materials are obviously stockpiling in the body and other problems still persist, take it as your body warning you that you need to put something else in it!

My second analogy is a termite infested wall (or cancer ridden cells that must be repaired). The wall is made out of wood and is badly deteriorated. We need new wood and nails to rebuild it. Let’s compare the new wood to fresh, raw fruits and vegetables and the nails to fresh spring water. Then let’s burn the new wood (much like what cooking does to the nutrients in fruits and veggies) and then rust the nails (much like carbonating the water and adding sugar). How strong will our new wall be when made of burnt wood and rusted nails? How many nutrients are we cooking out of our food? How polluted, carbonated, colored and artificially flavored is your water?

Your kidneys and liver are like an air filter in you homes’ heating and A/C system. If you don’t regularly change the filter, it becomes clogged and the system has to work harder to force air through the dirt, thus increasing your electric bill. If the filter becomes too clogged, it may not let any air pass and may burn up the motor and system. You can’t naturally change your body parts, but you can keep them clean and hydrated and assist them in the detoxification process with sweat, activity and stretching. Think about this: your body is your permanent home that you live in every day of your life - 24/7. Keep it clean and well maintained and it will provide you many years of comfortable, trouble free living.

Let’s be clear on something – food doesn’t heal the body or cure disease. The body heals the body and defeats disease. Eating the right foods and eliminating the wrong foods gives the body the necessary ingredients to carry out its inherent functions. Give your body the materials it needs and it can rebuild itself and keep itself well maintained.  Keep it cleansed and detoxified and it will operate more efficiently and stress-free for years to come.

Jamie Oliver talks about his food revolution on The Daily Show

The Daily Show - Jamie Oliver
Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

Fast Food - Tomatoes

You say tomato – I say – who cares how it’s pronounced! It’s fast food that is delicious and nutritious. Tomatoes are the heart's best friend – in fact, they look like a heart – they are red inside and out, they have blood-like juice and 4 chambers inside. They are packed full of Lycopene and Carotenoids - which have been linked to the prevention of heart disease as well as DNA protection from cancers such as: breast, lung, pancreatic, and colorectal. This “fast” food comes in different shapes and sizes (cherry, grape, roma, and beefsteak to name a few) – all of which can be eaten raw and “fast”. I’m health advocate SeanDon and I endorse this fast food for a healthy heart.

Holy Shiitake - Why would a health advocate promote fast food?

The mushroom is a “fast” food that is a great source of Lentinan - which studies suggest activates tumor-fighting T cells in our bodies. Mushrooms also contain lean protein, and they are rich in calcium, iron, potassium, copper and selenium (which is very good for bones, teeth, nails, and hair). Mushrooms are the best choice for vegetarians to obtain selenium and the mushroom is also the only veggie that contains an edible form of vitamin D (a natural antidepressant). A mushroom is shaped like a shield or umbrella and, ironically, it shields our bodies from bacteria, cancer, aging and other illness. What an interesting fast food.





Mission Nutrition was more like Missin’ Nutrition

I was delighted to discover that an event called “Mission Nutrition” was taking place at the Orlando Science Center last weekend. Since I’m an author, life coach and health advocate, my girlfriend and I decided to visit the event in hopes of learning something new and meeting some other health conscious people.

Having never been to the science center, I had no idea what to expect, but I was instantly impressed with the ease of parking and the realistic cypress swamp complete with turtles and alligators that welcomed guests into the lobby. Furthermore, we were delighted that admission was only $10 per couple rather than the usual $17 per adult thanks to sponsorship from WalMart. Many families took advantage of the deal and attended this event which we quickly discovered was geared primarily towards children.

The science center was buzzing with activity and boasted a plethora of interactive scientific displays illustrating different phenomena. For the “mission nutrition” event, there were additional displays of the human body, biology trivia, literature and displays expressing the importance of a good diet, exercise and healthy lifestyle. However, the most surprising display was on the fourth floor. The title of the theme for the fourth floor was “eating right!”, but ironically the only food vendor on this floor was serving none other than hot dogs, potato chips and Coke products. That’s right – they were serving the absolute worst food choices for “nutrition” at a “mission nutrition” event on the floor where the specific theme was “eating right!”

I was so awestruck by this oxymoron that I felt compelled to walk directly to the front of the long line of children and their parents who were waiting to partake in the “food” and ask the vendor point blank why he was serving such unhealthy fare at a healthy event. He looked at me with disdain, shook his head and literally laughed at me – as if I was the one in the wrong!

I was so bothered by this callous display and disregard for the entire meaning of “mission nutrition” that we immediately left the event, but not before vocalizing our opinion to two museum staff members. The staff members, who shall remain nameless, were kind enough to listen to my complaint and then share their own interesting commentary on the debacle.  

“Clearly we didn’t think things through thoroughly before selecting vendors for the event” was the initial response to my question of why the museum would allow such food to be served at a health event. The same employee later recanted and defended the situation by stating “well, it really boils down to what is going to sell at an event.”

Well, his statement sums up my sentiments entirely on the American attitude about health and nutrition. Most of us are more concerned about what is cheap, convenient and “tastes good” rather than what is truly good, healthy and “convenient” for our bodies. Moreover, we often ignore our bodies and our health entirely – throwing caution and prevention to the wind – until we have a problem. Then we seek out cures and quick fixes and complain about the rising cost of health care. This sick cycle must cease.

The other museum employee defended the vendor’s selection by stating that “it’s up to people to use their own judgment and common sense.” I agree; however, if you are going to host an educational event which boasts “mission nutrition” and targets children – then for goodness sake – live up to the title of the event and at least give them some healthy options! I equate your vendor’s food selection at the event to serving alcohol at an Alcoholics’ Anonymous meeting!

I implore such reputable entities as the Orlando Science Center to make better choices when educating the public about nutrition. Put the almighty dollar aside for once and think about what is truly good for the public and not what is good for sales. In my professional opinion, you really missed the boat on this event and the event was truly “missin’ nutrition”.

Fast Food - Beans

Beans, beans good for your heart - the more you eat…... the more you lower your cholesterol and add energy boosting protein and iron to your body (why what did you think I was going to say?) I’m SeanDon and I love healthy “fast” foods.

"Fast Food" - Blueberry

 I’m SeanDon and I’m a health advocate who loves fast food. My favorite color is blue and my favorite berry is blue too - not only are blueberries fast and delicious, but they contain anthocyanins which are powerful phytonutrients that are capable of neutralizing cancer-causing free radicals. Blueberries enhance the health of all body tissues and protect the cardiovascular system. This berry is also known for improving brain function and memory. “What was I just talking about?” (eats a blueberry) “Oh, yeah – I remember now – I was singing the praises of this wonderful “fast” food.

Fast Food - Oranges

Hey everybody, I’m SeanDon and I’m a health advocate who loves “fast” food. I’m here to demonstrate that you can turn a beautiful orange into fast food. Watch this (cuts and then peels the orange). There’s nothing like the smell of fresh, fast food! Not only does it smell great, but just one orange can supply 100% of your daily intake of vitamin C. You “see”- this wonder vitamin can stop the hardening of arteries and protect cells from free-radical damage. It can even prevent birth defects by protecting sperm cells. Vitamin C stimulates white blood cells and strengthens the immune system. Eating oranges is believed to reduce cholesterol and high blood pressure, thus cutting your risk of heart disease in half! The orange is shaped like a breast, and coincidentally prevents breast cancer as well as cancer in the mouth, skin, lung, stomach and colon. It can also relieve constipation, prevent kidney stones, viral infections and aging of the skin. An orange is an interesting anomaly – although it is acidic in nature, it turns alkaline when ingested into the body and can actually reduce stomach ulcers. The orange is loaded with so many other good things that this particular “fast” food is one of the best promoters of health. It’s beautiful, fragrant, healthy and “fast” food.

When life gives you lemons...

Lemons

Of all the citrus fruits, lemon is the most potent de-toxifier. It kills intestinal parasites such as roundworms and dissolves gallstones.

Limonene, the volatile oil responsible for the distinctive lemon aroma, even helps treat some forms of cancer especially breast cancer.

If taken in the morning, lemon juice is known to improve liver function and has been used to help eliminate kidney stones.

The organic acids in all citrus fruits stimulates digestive juices and relieves constipation – especially lemons.

Although a lemon is acidic in nature, it alkalizes when ingested into the human body.

So when life gives you lemons – eat them, juice them, make lemonade and enjoy the detoxifying effects of this wonderful fruit.