| Acids and Alkalis |
Some foods form Acids
as
an end result of digestion, others form Alkalis. An
acid diet is a held by many as a main cause of the rheumatic diseases.
It's important to
balance these two properly. By eating a healthy diet you will do
this
automatically.
|
Calorie
|
Amount of energy
required to raise temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree centigrade.
Not of too much concern to people on a good diet. Just eat sensibly.
|
| Carbohydrates. |
Carbohydrates are
complex sugars. They are contained in cereals, starchy vegetables like
potatoes etc. Always choose whole grain foods.
|
Fats
|
Fats
are fatty acids. The most important are the omega 3 and omega 6 acids.
Fats are
essential to life and it's only our excessive consumption of the wrong
types (crisps etc.) that
causes trouble. Make a point of eating two meals a week based on oily
fish (mackerel etc.). Oily fish is a good source of omega 3 which we
need more of.
|
Free radicals
|
Electrically charged
atoms that can damage your cells. They occur naturally - even breathing
creates them - so they are not totally avoidable. Anti-oxidants counter
their effects. Anti-oxidants are found in raw, fresh fruit and
vegetables. Try to eat plenty of them.,
|
Fibre
|
The indigestible
parts of the food we eat. Important to a healthy digestive system.
Contained in whole grain cereals and vegetables and fruit.
(particularly raw foods). Make these foods an important part of your
diet.
|
Proteins
|
The building bricks
of life. In turn they are composed of smaller molecules called amino
acids. Excess consumption of protein causes acidity which leads to the
arthritic diseases, one reason that high protein diets should not be
used for any length of time.
|
Sugar
|
Sugar comes in a
number of types.
The type to avoid is the refined white sugar (sucrose). Other forms of
sugar include fructose - found naturally in fruit - lactose found in
milk, and maltose found in grains. These are less of a concern than
refined white sugar and taken in their natural state (by eating fruit
and grains) are no problem at all. Eat whole, unrefined foods as much
as possible.
|
Water
|
Chemical name
Hydrogen oxide. Not a nutrient as such but the medium in which all of
life's chemistry takes place. Guards against false hunger and helps
avoid constipation. Drink plenty of it.
|
Vitamins & Minerals
|
Traces of these
essential parts of our diet are found in all the foods we eat. Some
vitamins are water soluble and some are fat soluble. Vitamins are
organic, minerals are just what they say they are - mineral,
(calcium, potassium, sodium, and sulphur iron,
iodine, zinc, copper) and many more. You will get you need from a
healthy diet.
You don't need to buy them in pill form. |
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