- 1) Water: We are composed of more than 80% water. A minimum of eight to ten glasses per day of water is required for the human body to function at peak vitality. Water is discussed in length on the second tape of this series.
- 2) Proteins: Basically, we humans are a giant sack made up of proteins and fatty acids filled with water. If we become deficient in protein and fatty acids, then the sack will begin to leak and problems may arise. Protein includes animal flesh, eggs, nuts and seeds, beans and products made from beans such as tofu. For most people, the easiest type of protein to process is lightly cooked, open-water fish. From a purely vegetarian point of view, soaked raw nuts and seeds are easily assimilated, along with nut butters made from them.
- 3) Lipids and oils (fatty acids): Lipids include cold-pressed oils from various nuts, seeds, grains, and other foods, like olives. One also ingests good fatty acid when eating these foods or fish, raw or cooked, at a low temperature. Another source of fats is found in animal products and fried foods, but the quality of these fats are less than ideal. There are two kinds of fatty acids: saturated and unsaturated. The basic rule of thumb is that over consumption of saturated fats can kill you. While ample consumption of unsaturated fatty acids is essential to life. Unsaturated fatty acids are responsible for proper mineral absorption, nerve function, body flexibility, skin elasticity, organ and tissue repair. They are also a natural anti-inflammatory agent. Without unsaturated fatty acids, the body is soon in trouble. Imagine what would happen if your car had no oil or lubricants in it; your body is much the same.
- 4) Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates serve as short-term fuel for the body, whereas fatty acids serve as long-term fuel. One without the other equals exhaustion and fatigue. There are three subcategorizes of carbohydrates: Complex carbohydrates which include grains, all products made from grains, and starchy vegetables like potatoes. It is important to consume these every day. Simple carbohydrates which include fruit and all sweeteners. Simple carbohydrates need to be consumed in very minimal amounts and the focus should be on fruit, grain malts and fruit-juice-sweetened foods. Fibrous carbohydrates which include grain bran and water-rich, non-starchy vegetables like celery, also need to be consumed every day. The key to carbohydrate ingestion is to eat them in an unrefined state. In other words, sugar, the most refined, simple carbohydrate, creates the greatest stress on your carbohydrate-digesting mechanisms. Where as whole grains, oatmeal and brown rice create little or no strain and give you the longest, steadiest energy production.
- 5/6) Vitamins and Minerals: These vital elements are normally contained within the other food groups, but many times our active lifestyles require extra supplementation of these valuable nutrients. Vitamins and minerals modulate the activities of your enzymes. These three actually act as a team.
- 7) Enzymes: Enzymes are probably most important of these three, because they prepare all incoming nutrition for absorption by the body. They are catalysts, which activate millions of chemical reactions within the bloodstream and digestive systems--like the spark that gets the fire going. The main place we find enzymes, outside of our own system, is in raw fruits and vegetables.
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