Start Living Younger by Nourshing Your Body Correctly...

Your body is a well oiled machine that has a delicate balance between the food we put in our bodies and the amount of water we drink to the proper function of our body systems. Our bodies were designed to eat a specific diet and to move constantly, however due to a diet filled with many sugars, additives and preservatives, and a sedentary lifestyle we are moving farther and farther away from our ideal functions. While we move away from our ideal function and design we are noticing increasing amounts of children and young adults experiencing obesity and learning disabilities, our older are adults are so feeble they avoid walking or running so they don't break a hip, and our whole population is noticing symptoms such as headaches, acid reflux, and arthritis on a daily basis!


Our bodies were designed to eat a diet high in carbohydrates and low in fat. When I say carbohydrates. I don't mean bread but instead fruits and vegetables! Fruits and vegetables have an alkaline effect on your body pH which helps to decrease inflammation and ensure the proper pH for optimum function of your body systems. In addition, these carbohydrates are essential for proper digestive function since the "good" bacteria in your colon depend on carbohydrates in order to produce enough fermentation products to maintain an acidic environment in the intestine. However many people rely on a diet full of wheat and gluten which instead cause an acidic pH in the body, increase inflammation in our joints, and effect the hormones that direct the function of every system in our body.

Our bodies were designed to be 70% water for hydration and for daily body functions and processes. However about 85% of Americans are dehydrated! This is in part due to our dependence on sugary drinks and caffeine filled sodas and coffee, while the other part is due to a misunderstanding of the damage that can be done if we aren't drinking enough water. Water is responsible for regulating body temperature, moistening tissue in the mouth, eyes, and nose, lubricating joints to reduce pain and inflammation, protecting body organs and tissues from damage while being jarred, helps protect from constipation, assists kidneys in flushing out waste products, carries nutrients and oxygen to body cells, and it helps dissolve minerals and nutrients so they are readily available when the body needs them. It should make sense that your body which is made up of 70% water needs water on a daily basis in high quantities due to urination, sweating, and evaporation that occurs on a daily basis.

Our bodies were designed to eat a diet rich in nutrients and minerals. In a study by the US government, 100% of the people in their study were not getting the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of any nutrients or mineral. This is scary! Your body depends on getting enough in order to function properly, maintain strong bones, and maintain muscle tone and hormone balance. The American Medical Association now recommends that everyone take a multivitamin to ensure we have enough of the essential nutrients our bodies need. Are you getting enough calcium, chromium, iodine, magnesium, or phosphorus? If you're not taking a multivitamin then I can almost guarantee you are not! Most of the food on our shelves at the grocery store or in our homes today is grown in nutrient depleted soil and is picked before ripening which can further ensure less than optimal levels of nutrients.

How can you nourish your body correctly?

1) Eat a diet of lean meat and FULL of fruits and vegetables.Children 2-6 years of age, less active women, and older adults should be getting about 1200 calories/day and should be advised to have 2 servings of fruit and 3 servings of vegetables everyday. In contrast, most men, active women, teen girls, and older children should be consuming about 2200 calories/day and should be getting 3 servings of fruit and 4 servings of vegetables. Active men and teen boys should aim for 2800 calories/day and should be consuming 4 servings of fruit and 5 servings of vegetables every day.

2) Drink plenty of water. If you take your body weight and divide it in half, that is how many ounces of water you should be drinking daily. For example, if you weight 100 lbs, then you should be drinking 50 oz of water daily.

3) Take a high quality multi-vitamin. You need to make sure your body is getting the nutrients it needs to function properly and stay strong while you age. Don't buy a cheap supplement from a local grocery store. Visit a health food store and read the labels to make sure they have quality processing and high quality ingredients. Need a recommendation on a good product? Check out Daily Balance for adults or Pedia Balance for kids. Need tips on other nutritional information? Call 309-689-6200 and setup a nutritional consultation in our office or on the phone.