What you consume can either Heal you... or kill you

How many times have you heard the old quote from Hippocrates "Let food be thy medicine and thy medicine be food?" Hippocrates was considered the "Father of Medicine." In fact, when people graduate from Med school, upon getting their Doctorate, they recite what is called the Hippocratic Oath, which is another quote from Hippocrates; "First do no harm."

Unfortunately, medical schools stopped teaching about nutrition in the early 1900's when the Rockerfeller & Carnegie Foundations bought out the med schools and all the texts were changed to teach; anatomy, symptoms, surgical procedures and pharmaceutical prescriptions (to which doctors get paid a percentage of every prescription they give to patients.

The food we eat today has been so modified from the foods our ancestors once ate. I challenge you to take some items/foods you may have in your pantry and look at the ingredient labels. If you don't know what any of the ingredients are, then research them. You will likely be shocked as to what you find.

Many ingredients in foods manufactured in the United States, are actually illegal in other countries. A great deal of what is available for consumption in food stores/ fast food/ restaurants and even "some " health food stores are filled with more preservatives or product enhancing ingredients, then actual food ingredients. So, when we consume a barrage of foods filled with synthetic and artificial ingredients over long periods of time, these chemicals become stored in our tissues and build up. Our bodies can naturally remove toxins from our systems, but when there is an overload, our organs can become strained and have trouble functioning properly, which then creates the ripple effect and more and more organs, hormones, systems can begin to shut down, putting even more strain on the others.

When we start having this building and disfunction within us, our cells become inflamed and our bodies begin to attack itself, which is often referred to as "Auto-immune." We just have not had the right nutrients to maintain a healthy functioning body. Most every disease begins with inflammation. The results can be clogged arteries, which lends to heart attacks and strokes. We put on excess weight because the body is constantly hungry saying Feed Me, because it isn't getting the nutrients it needs to take food and oxygen to the cells, nor can it excrete toxins, leading to buildup. This also leads to a host of other illnesses, including cancers.

No, you don't need to get yet ANOTHER prescription to take to suppress symptoms your body is screaming at you to correct and become healthy again. You need to turn to REAL FOOD, herbs, and realize that part of total health includes your thoughts and emotions, and connecting to the frequency of the earth. Did you know that various fruits, veggies and herbs have specific impacts and jobs to help you maintain a healthy body?

Much of the food purchased in stores has very little nutritional value. If it's pre-packed, and pre-made for you, then it's likely filled with mostly preservatives for longer shelf lives and chemicals to make the appearance more attractive. Much of the produce is not ripened on the vines allowing full nutritional value. Instead they have to be picked green so they don't ripen along the transportation route, then have to be thrown away. Once the produce reaches the stores warehouses, they are then artificially ripened with gas to allow the outside to turn the color of a ripened fruit or veggie, yet with little taste or nutrient value on the inside.

So, what are we do to? The very BEST thing you can do is grow a garden in your own space. You'd be surprised how much you can grow in the tiniest of spaces, even on an apartment balcony! If you are unable to do that, check out your local farmer's or farmer's markets. The more freshly picked produce you can get, the more "alive" your food will be and be filled the vital nutrients your body must have for sustainable health. You always want to get as much organic food as you can to lessen the amount of pesticides the foods are saturated with.

The bottom line is to understand better, what you're consuming. If you eat nothing but foods filled with chemicals, you run a very high risk of those foods contributing to diseases and ultimately taking your life. If you choose foods that are nutrient dense, those very foods and reserve and potentially rid your body of any diseases or imbalances, creating homeostasis  (how your body regulates and maintains itself to function at its best.) Nature has created the entire medicine cabinet we could possibly need, and is so intelligent that it's created certain foods specifically to maintain certain parts of the body! Eat LIVING food and your body will become more alive itself!

Below is a list of common additives to many foods we buy that can be very dangerous to your health. READ YOUR INGREDIENT LABELS! Many of these are illegal in other countries and can come with huge fines or even jail time. (From MPH Programs List)

Aspartame: Some research even suggests that regular consumption of artificial sweeteners might paradoxically lead to weight gain and blood sugar issues by disrupting the body’s ability to gauge calorie intake. The commonly used sugar alcohol, erythritol, has actually been linked to an increase in blood clotting, which in turn increases your risk for cardiovascular events like stroke and heart attack and potentially cancer.

BPA (Bisphenol A) BPA is a known endocrine disruptor even in small amounts which is especially concerning for women and developing children.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are synthetic chemicals used in food and packaging materials for their water-resistant and non-stick properties, they don’t break down in the environment or our bodies and can accumulate over time.

These chemicals are linked to cancer, fertility issues, liver damage, and a host of other problems. Nothing you want you or your kids exposed to.

High Fructose Corn Syrup: In most of our foods these days. Sugar, and especially processed forms like this, are one of the most common causes of inflammation in our bodies.

Studies suggest excessive HFCS consumption contributes to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and liver problems.

Sodium nitrate: Added to processed meats to stop bacterial growth. Linked to cancer in humans. (Worst Offender)

Sulfites: Used to keep prepared foods fresh. Can cause breathing difficulties in those sensitive to the ingredient.

Azodicarbonamide: Used in bagels and buns. Same rubber material in yoga mats. Can cause asthma.

Potassium bromate: Added to breads to increase volume. Linked to cancer in humans.

Propyl gallate: Added to fat-containing products. Linked to cancer in humans

BHA/BHT: A fat preservative, used in foods to extend shelf life. Linked to cancerous tumor growth.

Propylene glycol: Better known as antifreeze. Thickens dairy products and salad dressing. Deemed ‘generally’ safe by FDA.

Butane: Put in chicken nuggets to keep them tasting fresh. A known carcinogen.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG): Flavor enhancer that can cause headaches. Linked in animal studies to nerve damage, heart problems and seizures.

Enriched flour: Used in many snack foods. A refined starch that is made from toxic ingredients.

Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH): Genetically-engineered version of natural growth hormone in cows. Boosts milk production in cows. Contains high levels of IGF-1, which is believed to cause various types of cancer.

Refined vegetable oil: Includes soybean oil, corn oil, safflower oil, canola oil, and peanut oil. High in omega-6 fats, which are thought to cause heart disease and cancer.

Sodium benzoate: Used as a preservative in salad dressing and carbonated beverages. A known carcinogen and may cause damage our DNA.

Brominated vegetable oil: Keeps flavor oils in soft drinks suspended. Bromate is a poison and can cause organ damage and birth defects. Not required to be listed on food labels.

Propyl gallate: Found in meats, popcorn, soup mixes and frozen dinners. Shown to cause cancer in rats. Banned in some countries. Deemed safe by FDA.

Olestra: Fat-like substance that is unabsorbed by the body. Used in place of natural fats in some snack foods. Can cause digestive problems, and also not healthy for the heart.

Carrageenan: Stabilizer and thickening agent used in many prepared foods. Can cause ulcers and cancer.

Polysorbate 60: A thickener that is used in baked goods. Can cause cancer in laboratory animals.

Camauba wax: Used in chewing gums and to glaze certain foods. Can cause cancer and tumors.

Magnesium sulphate: Used in tofu, and can cause cancer in laboratory animals.

Chlorine dioxide: Used in bleaching flour. Can cause tumors and hyperactivity in children.

Paraben: Used to stop mold and yeast forming in foods. Can disrupt hormones in the body, and could be linked to breast cancer.

Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose: Used as a thickener in salad dressings. Could cause cancer in high quantities.

Aluminum: A preservative in some packaged foods that can cause cancer.

Corporations are now starting to "rename" these harmful chemicals due to more people learning about them. Same chemical, different name. Our own rule of thumb... if we don't know what an ingredient is, we either avoid it or research it to find out what it really is. If you stick to REAL food and you know where it came from and how it was grown, you're so much better off.