Herb Corner Issue 2

Why is nutrition important? How do we nourish? Well as I mentioned briefly in the last newsletter nutrition help provide the body with building blocks and as we have come to understand some diseases are caused by a deficiency in a specific compound. We nourish our bodies by: eating correctly, drinking enough water, exercising, getting fresh air, sunshine, and deep breathing. Also, using herbal supplements to help get the other nutrients the food may be missing.

Okay, eating correctly is one of the most important things one can do to keep the body healthy. In the bible as well as in the Doctrine and Covenants there is specific mention of what and how we should eat. As an herbalist these food are reinforced. They are: fresh, organic if possible, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds. For those that have a hard time with proteins or nuts, some of the time the allergies to these has come because of the mucous build up in the body. Starting with just fruits and vegetables then slowly adding the protein back in is a way to try to get the body to accept the foods again. It is preferable that at least 50% of the diet is raw. The reasoning for this are the live enzymes in the food that aid our body in digestion.

Water is also very important. Most of us are dehydrated and that can increase the risk of diseases like kidney stones and other urinary tract disorders. For women, we should be drinking at least 3 quarts or water a day. For men, it should be at least 1 gallon of water a day. If this seems like too much the other way to figure it out is 1 ounce for every two pounds of body weight. Of course, if exercise is a part of your lifestyle (and it should be) then more water needs to be taken in to replace what is used to help the body cool down.

Now, with exercise. Aerobic activity should be done for at least 30 minutes, three times a week. Weight lifting should be done at least twice a week. One of the hardest things with exercise is getting tired of doing the same things over and over again. Select several activities you enjoy doing and alternate them every once in a while so you get into the habit and stick with it. Another things to help you keep going are doing with a friend, keeping a log or journal, and setting goals to accomplish along the way.

Fresh air, sunshine, and deep breathing are kind of interconnected. Fresh air is beneficial because it rejuvenates the body more than constantly breathing stale air. Sunshine is important in getting you vitamin D (isn't it great to have a good quality vitamin D without having to spend any money?), also, for cancer treatment the sun will ripen and bring the cancer to the surface. Because it does that many doctors recommend not being out in the sun because of increased skin cancer. However, skin cancer only shows up with the sun if there is already cancer in the body. The sun allows the body to eliminate the cancer so it can heal. Some advice to follow though is to not be out in the sun between the hours of 11am-4pm, if you can help it, because this is the hottest part of the day and can damage the skin. Now, deep breathing is necessary for life. Deep breathing, especially the fresh air, aids in circulation and movement of lymph(which is a very important part of the immune system). It also, increases lung capacity and can decrease the chance of sleep apnea.

Finally, with herbal supplements. It is important to add herbs into the diet because the nutrients found therein also help keep the body healthy and the immune system working properly. Some of these herbs may include: Alfalfa or green drinks- which have the needed trace minerals; Cayenne- which helps increase circulation and decrease blood pressure if it is to high and bring it up if it is too low; Hawthorn berry to strengthen the heart(in addition to exercise); and other herbs and spices that can be added to food for flavoring.