So, I've been reading this nutrition book lately. It has some different ideas in it. Some might classify it as an "alternative health" book. It is called "Fit for Life". Apparently it was a huge seller in the 1980s. I just thought I would throw out some ideas that it talks about and see what everyone thinks. I would be particularly interested in any medical backup or disproving of these ideas. I have really liked some of the ideas, and I feel like all in all it is very similar to the Word of Wisdom, which is the best measure for a way of eating. Also, it just makes me believe that I can be healthier, which is encouraging. I can do it!! type attitude. (Is that PMA Todd?)
One of the main premises of the book is that there are not four food groups. There are only two. High water content food, which are fruits and veggies, and concentrated foods which are everything else, grains, dairy, protein, etc. They believe that because our bodies are 70% water that we need to eat a diet that is 70% high water content food. In other words eat lots of fruits and veggies. Hey that sounds like a good idea.
Of course it is not quite this simple. They also say there is a specific way to combine food so that it will digest better and free up more energy in your body for you to use, instead of your digestive system to use. This will also free your body from the buildup of toxins from eating food improperly. For example you are only supposed to eat one concentrated food at a time, only to be combined with vegetables. So that means only bread, or only meat, or only cheese. You couldn't have the full sandwich. Since they are different types of concentrated food it is very difficult on your body. The proteins require an acid type digestive juice to be digested and the starch require an alkaline type juice to be digested (or is it the other way around), so when you eat these things together it neutralizes the stomach juices, and then your body just keeps pumping out more and more juices and nothing is getting fully digested, and the food usually ends up leaving the stomach putrified or fermented because it has had to sit in the stomach so long. But wait ... there's more!
Apparently we have all been eating fruit the wrong way. They say fruit is the very most beneficial food to eat for your body. But, it must be consumed properly. You should only eat fruit on an empty stomach. If you don't, it ferments in your stomach while it's waiting to digest with the other food, becoming very acidic and toxic. If you eat it on an empty stomach, it gets through the stomach in about a half hour - shorter than any other food! Then it brings all it's life giving water through the intestines (isn't this entertaining?).
Well, there's much more to this program, but I'm afraid I've bored you already. I just want to know what you people think. I think there's a lot of good in this program, but it would definitely take some getting used to and you'd have to give up some of your favorite foods. Some folks think the Diamonds (the authors of this book) are quacks, but those who've tried the program (as testified to on Amazon.com!) have felt their health significantly improve and have lost weight as well. One other little tidbit if you want to look into it some more; this way of living is part of a movement called Natural Hygiene. So, let me know what you think, or if you know of something that has worked for you!
9 comments:
Tammy, let me just start by saying that food is NOT digested in the stomach. That is a common misconception. The stomach is basically a holding facility. The acid kills bacteria and it actually ACTIVATES all of the enzymes that digest your food, carbs, protein or what have you. And if all the book cares about is density, why not just drink water with high density foods to even it out?
Anyway, if you want to chat about it sometime, call me.
PS. Anytime an entire system of health is based on testimonials and not research, I would be skeptical. Not to say there is not some good in there, but it's like reading they apocrypha.
I think we would all do better (esp. my own family) if we ate more fruits and vegetables. I am willing to bet that you would lose more weight if you only ate one "concentrated" (or whatever that was) food at a time just because you would naturally eat less and/or slower. It sounds a little crazy to me. In the 80's we were into How to lower your fat thermostat. I still believe that is a good program but, as you can tell, I don't follow it. My family didn't love the whole grains.
It sounds a bit similar to a program that my sister has done called "heal your body". I know with that program you have carb days and protein days. My sister was successful in losing weight and feeling great while she did it. However, the program was not something that she could do permanently and all the time. What I have learned in my research in this area (and I have done quite a lot in efforts to improve my health and lose weight), is that I can only make changes that I will be able to keep permanently for the rest of my life.
For example - I can definitely eat more fruits and vegetables and eat healthier foods. But I could definitely NOT cut out entire categories of foods, go the rest of my life without ice cream, and go the rest of my life without eating a sandwich. I feel that there has to be a happy medium that will allow me to achieve my oprimal health and at the same time allow me to enjoy food and enjoy life.
I find that I am most successful in losing weight and feeling better when I focus more on trying to control my portions and when I make efforts to get the exercise that my body needs and trying to focus on getting enough water and eating as many fruits and vegetables as I can.
Well, I don't know much about nutrition, but I have been learning a lot about exercise because Cameron is obsessed with exercising! I am an advocate of weight training along with cardio. Weight training will build up the muscle in your body, and the more muscle you have the better your metabolism works. I have actually been working out lately, but it's only been for about two weeks, so I haven't seen a whole lot of results yet.
Tammy,
I had never heard the water content theory (except in terms of drinking lots of it). That is really interesting! I know that the Healing America people talk a lot about enzymes as a help for digesting food more efficiently, since so many of us do not eat the types of foods (fresh fruits and veggies) that provide these enzymes to our bodies. They have an enzyme supplement that I take sometimes.
However, I haven't heard about the combination of foods assisting in the digestion process -- but it does make sense that it would, especially if you look at it from an enzyme perspective -- that if fruits and veggies provide enzymes to help break down cooked meat which wouldn't have any (or few) enzymes. . . I don't really know, that's just my speculation!!!!
THAT having been said, I do have friends who have tried this program and stuck to it faithfully for awhile, and it did work for them in terms of health and weight loss. However, they didn't stick with it longterm. It is so hard to do anything long term.
My feeling is MODERATION, MODERATION, MODERATION, which for me is also easier said than done!
Anyway, it's a very interesting topic! I'll be watching to see if you try it and how it works for you.
Hi Tam Won't be long and we'll be there. Can't believe how fast this year has gone. In terms of diets-I just got a Mayo Clinic Health letter that states absolutely that none of the combination diets are valid. Partially because it is so hard to stick to them long term. As everyone else has said adding fruits and veggies seems to be the most important-and of course only eating what you need not what you want.
the only well proven formula is calories in/ calories out. Any high veggie diet will have less calories. I think avoiding simple carbs to decrease insulin production may have some merit though it is far from proven. I kind of like the South Beach diet. So eat like April, exercise like Cameron.
Just another comment on water and food. I read the other day about a study that was done with water and people feeling full. They found that water had to be IN the food in order to make you feel more satiated with a meal - you couldn't just drink more water with a meal to feel full faster. So many times I've heard people say to drink water and it will make you less hungry, etc. Anyway, I just thought it was interesting that the water had to be baked into the meal or part of the food like in fruit in order to satisfy the hunger and help you stop eating (so Todd's comment on adding water to create density wouldn't really work).
Hey Tammy, I just wanted to join in on this topic of nutrition. I have read many books about what we should eat and what we shouldn't. They all seem to have some truth to them but most I have found seem to go to an extreme in one area or another. I have been able to take a little good from all of them and have tried and tested a little of each. I have found that I cannot totally commit to anyones complete regimen but certainly those suggestions that seem to fit well with the word of wisdom have always been to my advantage. I know if I could omit some of the sugary foods I ingest I would do better in many ways, but there are moments when emotionally....I want that chocolate now!!! What I have done is increase my intake of what I call the rainbow foods...fruits and vegetables. Get the execise I need and just like in the gospel, as you begin to increase the good foods you crave the candies and cookies less. As we fill our lives with good choices in the gospel we find that we crowd out those habits and routines that are not good for us.
I have also found that the spirit is a very good guide for me. I cannot possibly understand the body well enough to do it all right but I do know to drink a good amount of water each day, which is hard to do, follow the word of wisdom with exercise and you will be doing well.
Thanks for letting me gab here on your blog. I love nutrition topics and anything else that has to do with the body. I continue to be amazed at how complicated, how amazing our bodies are. I can never learn enough.
I know I have a long ways to go in my practice to eat well or else I wouldn't be constantly fighting my own weight issues. I have been able to enjoy good health though...except these headaches...maybe Todd could help me figure out the answer to that. I know there are many factors to the whys of headaches and one could be the food that I do eat!!
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