Eat Your Fruits and Vegetables. It is almost impossible to get too much of these
foods. They are full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytonutrients, as well
as high in complex carbohydrates. And fruits and vegetables are an important
source of fiber, as well. Even the much maligned potato, eaten baked with the skin
on, is full of vitamins C and B6, potassium, and nearly 5 grams of fiber!
When eaten raw, the enzymes that most vegetables and fruits contain help the body
process foods better. Enzymes are an essential part of our diet, and if it is not found
in food, the body must draw from its store of energy to produce enzymes for
digestion, instead of other important jobs, such as fighting disease.
Phytochemicals are nutritional substances that recently have been in the news
frequently. These are naturally occurring chemicals in plants that are thought to
possess disease-fighting properties and play a potentially important role in fighting
cancer and heart disease. Recent research demonstrates that they stimulate
enzymes that breakdown carcinogens into harmless substances, and appear to be
particularly protective against stomach and intestinal cancers.
Most whole foods contain phytochemicals, including whole grains, beans and herbs.
Garlic and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, are some of the richest sources of
phytonutrients, as well as fruits like blueberries, cherries and apples.
If you have hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid), go easy on the raw cruciferous
vegetables (such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, brussels sprouts and
rutabagas.) They are believed by some to help depress the thyroid function when
eaten raw. But don’t avoid these important vegetables, just be sure to cook them.
On the other hand, if you are suffering from hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid),
you should eat plenty of raw cruciferous vegetables.
Many studies have shown that increasing your vegetable and fruit intake may
dramatically reduce or even prevent other chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular
disease. Some scientists are now recommending up to nine servings a day of fruits
and vegetables.
To get the most from your diet, try to eat a variety of different fruits and vegetables.
Choose leafy greens often, lots of berries, and try to eat as many colors as you can,
since every color of fruit or vegetable will give you different benefits.
The Japanese have a tradition of choosing foods with five different colors and
flavors for their meals. The five colors they include are yellow, black, white, green,
and red. The five flavors included are sweet, spicy, salty, bitter and sour. Take an
example from the Japanese and think variety. Be daring– try out new foods and
food combinations.
This is an excerpt from the ebook The Enzyme Health Diet Plan by Dianne Ronnow. Copyright © 2005 by Mohave Publishing. All rights reserved. The Enzyme Health Diet Plan is a FREE e-book that can be found on the Enzyme Health website at Enzyme-Health.com [http://enzyme-health.com].
