For those of us who are religious, we believe that we (humans) were created by an Almighty creator. This Almighty creator created the human body as a self-healing, self-renewing, self-cleansing organism. Under the right conditions, vibrant well-being is its natural state. Think about the place where the first man and woman in the bible lived – The Garden of Eden, surrounded by nature in its purest form, it’s definitely a far cry from our reality now, living in bustling cities, with barely any contact with nature and inhaling toxic fumes from generators and vehicles. The air we breathe, the water we drink and shower with, the foods we eat, the cosmetics we use and the buildings we live and work in, are loaded with toxic chemicals that alone or in combination cause disease, suffering and even death.
Think about it, if you live in the city and have ever had cause to visit more rural areas, or our “villages” as we like to refer to them, you find that even with minimal access to healthcare, many of the indigenous people are in good health and get to live well into old age. It’s really not magic, it’ just natural, common sense medicine. When you remove the harmful elements and only take in healthy nutritious foods, the body is able to heal, regenerate and even rejuvenate itself.
Bearing this in mind, if you live in a modern city and want to stay healty, one fundamental practice to adhere to is eating real foods, just as nature intended food to be.
In the beginning we were hunters and gatherers. We used to pick our food from trees and the earth, and hunt or fish for the rest. Now we buy it in modern supermarkets. Ninety percent of the products in supermarkets come in some kind of container. In order to prolong their shelf life, these food-like products are packed with chemicals, preservatives, and conservatives that kill bacteria. Most products also contain additives to give them the color, smell, taste, and texture that will make them more attractive to consumers. The remaining 10% of what is edible—the produce, the fish, the meats and the dairy products—are loaded with chemicals as well. All of these chemicals cause havoc inside our bodies, being the most intimate source of toxins for us since we throw this mixture in our stomachs and soon enough it passes into our blood.
Returning to a more natural way of eating is the best way to avoid disease and premature aging. It also keeps the weight off. Buy organic foods, shop in your local markets. Increase the consumption of vegetables, fruits, seeds, grains, and legumes. More raw foods are better for health (enzymes remain intact), the environment (smaller carbon footprint), and the pocket (lower utility bills).
I know that this might seem like quite a task, but considering the benefits it’s definitely worth. For those who have the space a good place to start would be a small back yard garden or planting a few trees around the compound. Many vegetables do not even need any special care to grow and many herbs need little or no space and can grow in flower pots.
In addition, one should educate oneself as to how to keep our environment toxin-free. Water and air filters, eco-cleaning utensils, chemical free cosmetics, green architecture, solar power, and so on.
So there you have it, going green (literally) will definitely lead to a healthier, longer life.
