Our bodies can do amazing things.
They have the ability to defend against invaders, heal cuts on the outside, re-grow bone or cartilage on the inside, and even regenerate every single cell while disposing of old, damaged cells. They have the ability to carry us well into old age.
We know exactly what the body needs to work optimally. (an explanation for each is below)
We know:
Which nutrients are used for the body's systems.
How these nutrients interact.
The source of the nutrients .
How easily the body absorbs the nutrients.
The best times to eat foods.
How to have access to these foods year-round.
We know: Vitamins, minerals, enzymes, antioxidants, amino acids, and fatty acids are the vital nutrients used for our body's functions. Research scientists have mapped which nutrients are used for which of our body's systems down to the intracellular level.
Here are two examples:
First example, the heart uses calcium (Ca), sodium(Na), and potassium(K) for each beat.
Below is a detailed diagram of the actions of each of these minerals during one beat:
Second Example: The eye uses zeaxanthin, an antioxidant found in greens and egg yolks, for sight. Here is a diagram of how zeaxanthin travels from the mouth, through the body, and to the eye.
We know: Which nutrients work with each other to perform their functions. For example: Magnesium is needed to turn vitamin D into a hormone which carries calcium to the bone which then needs vitamin K2 to be converted into bone.
We know: The sources of all the nutrients: green leafy vegetables have magnesium, liver has vitamin A and copper, brazil nuts have selenium, etc...
We know: The ease with which the body is able to absorb the nutrients; this is called bioavailability. The bioavailability of a nutrient changes depending on what food it is in.
Here is an example of the bioavailability of calcium from different sources (look at 3rd column).
There are 300mg of calcium in a glass of milk, but your body will only absorb 96mg of it.
We know: The time of day we eat nutrients matters. For example, vitamin D taken at night can disrupt sleep while magnesium taken at night can aid sleep. Sugars are processed more easily in the morning due to hormone levels. Fasting or time-restricted eating can have long-term effects on health and longevity.
How does this knowledge benefit me?
Unfortunately, many people feel drained or depressed, feel stiff as they get up from bed or have joint pain, have digestive issues or allergies, are overweight or have metabolic syndrome, and myriads of other problems. On top of this, we have a healthcare system that uses medicine as a first path of treatment instead of supporting the body to heal itself. Even when lifestyle changes are recommended, the advice is usually general like 'decrease this', 'increase that', or 'eat in moderation' which leaves a person feeling like it's not really going to help.
Fortunately, the knowledge we have can be applied to many diseases and conditions to help the body repair itself. There are many healthcare practitioners who are using this knowledge and helping people heal. It is not a quick fix and it sometimes needs to be applied along with medications, but it is the option that benefits the whole body and not just the broken part.
Start here always: Add nutrition
Even though each person has a different history and, therefore, a different level of heath., eating foods full of the vital nutrients mentioned above, at every meal, is the first step to getting our bodies to heal and feel great.
Here is a simple guide to which foods are the most nutrient dense that I have been working on:
Further reading:
Next: The other factors
Avoiding anti - nutrients
Sleep
Exercise
Fasting
Meditation/Prayer