|
From the desk of Richard
Penfounde, your Naturally Healthy Lifestyle specialist. Every now and again I harp on about the value of organically
grown food versus non-organically grown food and now, an interesting
report from Rutgers University has landed on my desk. The report
tabulates in milligrams per 100 grams of dry weight mineral count
comparing the two forms of growing.
Now you can see that any extra cost at time of purchase converts
very soon into better value, and in the end actually costs less in
health costs. Here are the figures using a cabbage and lettuce as
examples so that you can see more graphically what people mean when
they talk about the difference between organic and "balanced diet"
(i.e. not necessarily organic.
| Cabbage |
Organically Grown |
Not Organically Grown |
Calcium
Magnesium
Potassium
Boron
Manganese
Iron
Copper
Cobalt |
60
44
148
42
13
94
48
15 |
17
16
54
7
2
20
nil
nil |
| Lettuce |
|
|
Calcium
Manganese
Potassium
Boron
Manganese
Iron
Copper
Cobalt |
71
49
176
36
169
516
60
19 |
16
13
54
6
1
9
3
nil |
Back in 1973 Drs R F Keefer and R N Singh, researchers in
agriculture and nutrition at the West Virginia University, USA
reported:
“We are finding that the amounts of trace elements in sweetcorn are
dropping dramatically due to the kinds and amounts of fertilisers
employed. This will have far reaching consequences on the health of
man and animals for the future."
As early as 1949 Sir Lionel Picton, in New York reported that the
answer to diseases, such as heart trouble, cancer,
diabetes,
arthritis, high blood pressure, lay in natural, chemical free food
grown in fertile soil.
We can't say we haven't been warned
The role of trace elements in immunity and infections was discussed
in 1982 at the National Institute of Health in the US. Some of the
findings are to be taken to heart:
Most of these deficiencies had even more marked effects on immune
responses in children and the elderly.
More than anything the report concluded that deficiencies had a
significant effect on our body's ability to properly digest and
convert protein into energy. When this goes wrong, you can see it in
yourself as bloatedness, an over-extended stomach and a general lack
of energy throughout stressful periods.
The complex interaction between diet and health is paramount, and
yet we take it for granted. Seems we will have to re-learn how to
eat and grow food again?
In the meantime here's a checklist to aid maximum absorption and
utilisation of nutrients from your daily food intake:
- Take time out to eat slowly Stress shuts down digestion.
- Keep intestines functioning well by eating plenty of high fibre
food.
- If a smoker, do not smoke for at least 45 minutes on either side
of a meal.
- If a drinker, keep supplements and alcohol separate with the
exception of Vitamins B and C of which take as a matter of
replacement every time you drink. 1 000 mg of C and 25 mg B complex
(with niacin) for natural stimulation of blood circulation.
(Richard suggests looking at the
Alcohol Package for help with alcohol dependency.)
- Avoid drinking any liquids at mealtimes or whenever eating food –
digestion is adversely affected by drinking during meals.
|
