An Ounce of Prevention

Ever heard the saying, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?" 

We’ve begun to apply that principle to our own lives, and once you begin to realize how true this statement is, it follows then, that we need to take an interest in own health.  For if you don’t, who will?  This does involve investigation and research on the food and the medications that you take for granted as “safe.”  It involves learning about how many of the foods and drugs that we put into our bodies contain chemicals and substances that our bodies have no way of knowing how to process. 

There are chemicals that are found in our foods, medications, beauty products, and water.  Of course, there is no way to completely eradicate these things because they are even in the air we breathe.  But, if we begin to understand how little nutrition our body gains from highly processed foods such as frozen pizza, hot dogs, boxed macaroni and cheese, and so on, this is a great place to begin to change your eating habits, which may not be as healthy as you think. 

Have you ever eaten at one of the popular fast-food restaurants and then an hour later felt like you ingested rocks or something?  You might want to do some investigating as to which fast-food restaurants actually serve real food, and which ones serve such highly processed foods that the nutritional value is virtually nonexistent.  I'm not going to mention any names, but you might want to look into how highly processed the foods are at your favorite fast food joint, and whether you are actually eating food or.... ????

I won't mention any names but.... 

Pink Slime

Natural Cut?

So... to get started with being aware of what you are actually eating on an every day basis, here’s a good rule of thumb to begin with…. if a boxed or frozen product has more than three to four ingredients in it, or has ingredients in it that you can’t even pronounce, you are more than likely ingesting a chemically processed food.  

Many products are now boasting that they are organic, natural, and include no preservatives or high-fructose corn syrup.  This is something you should keep your eyes peeled for, and even if you have to pay a little more for these products... your body will thank you!  

For example - you can buy cheaper ketchup with high fructose corn syrup ... or you can buy the variety that advertises no high fructose corn syrup, pay a little more, but you won't be ingesting a chemical that is like a poison. 

Here's just one article on the subject... feel free to educate yourself further, and make your own decisions though... 

High Fructose Corn Syrup

So, in essence, these highly processed foods contain very little nutrition in them, and what is left for your body to process is a strange chemical that it doesn’t know what to do with, and most of the time, the body cannot expel these chemicals, and so they remain in our body, and perhaps later turn into cancer-causing cells.  When you think of how many chemicals your body possibly ingests during one day, the thought is almost overwhelming! 

Have you looked at the food labels of the food you eat on a daily basis?  What about the medications you are taking?  Ever look on the back of your face cream solution or your hairspray bottle to see if there are any phthalates in them?  What about your deodorant? Have you ever considered that the chemical that keeps your body from smelling may actually also be a cancer-causing agent? 

It gets pretty scary when you begin to realize that every day events that you never even stopped twice to consider may actually be doing great harm to your body. 

I began wondering these things myself, and began to do some deeper research into the effects of all these chemicals that I have for years put into my body. 

Simply put...  The less chemicals we ask our bodies to process, the healthier we will be. 

Here are some links to some articles on this subject that give more information from researchers and doctors who have begun to put two and two together about the dangers of all the chemicals that we put into our bodies through food, and medications, and even beauty products.  This is not an exhaustive list by any  means, but something to simply stimulate you to do your own research, and make your own decisions about these things. 

http://www.healthyeatingadvisor.com/9cancer-causingchemicals.html

http://www.breastcancer.org/risk/factors/food_chem 

Foods to eat that actually work to protect your body against bad chemicals and cancer forming cells:

http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20430736,00.html

Chemicals in your cosmetics:

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/04/13/phthalate-cosmetics-diabetes-risk_n_1423067.html

 

I am thankful to say that since I began to be aware of the danger of highly processed chemicals in our food and drug supply, and have begun to be very careful of these things, that we have noted a marked improvement in our overall health, for which we are very thankful for.    

Which brings us back to my original statement, and the title of this post... An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.... If we can cut off the diseases in our bodies with a few preventative measures.... it will save us so much more in the future, both in $$ and with healthier bodies.

So take some time today to begin to investigate the foods and drugs YOU are putting into your body ... find out if they are really nutritious, healthy, and life giving.  It may cost you some time, effort, and more $$, but really.... an ounce of prevention is WORTH a pound of cure!