| Whole Foods for Optimal Nutrition | | | | side effects ranging from skin itching and flushing |
| Whole foods are our best source of nutrition and | | | | (niacin, for example) to liver impairment (vitamin A |
| provide the most complete sources of vitamins and | | | | palmitate, for example). |
| minerals. We are nourished by eating whole foods | | | | The ingredients within foods operate on a system of |
| because they contain the necessary proteins, fats, | | | | synergism; in other words they work as ‘teams’ |
| carbohydrates, fiber, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, | | | | to feed cells. The interwoven, interrelated and |
| antioxidants, and other micronutrients that our body | | | | complementary functions of food particles represent |
| needs for proper nourishment and optimal health. | | | | some of Nature’s most wonderful properties of |
| Unfortunately, most of us do not eat enough variety of | | | | synergistic power and function. |
| whole, nutrient-dense foods for proper nutrition levels. | | | | Synergism is defined as the interaction of two or more |
| Instead, our modern diets include too many processed | | | | agents or forces so that their combined effect is |
| foods that provide sub-standard levels of nutrients. | | | | greater than the sum of their individual effects: working |
| These days, dietary supplementation is often needed | | | | together. |
| to provide our nutritional requirements for optimum | | | | The Power of Fermentation and Probiotic Cultures |
| health and energy. | | | | We understand that dietary supplements created from |
| The Complexity of Whole Food Vitamins and Dietary | | | | whole foods provide a more complex source of |
| Supplements | | | | nutrition than isolated supplements created in a lab. So, |
| Dietary supplements and vitamins made from whole | | | | what happens when we incorporate a probiotic |
| foods contain not only recognized vitamins and | | | | fermentation process to whole food nutritional |
| minerals, but a whole symphony of other micronutrients | | | | ingredients? |
| (phytonutrients or phytochemicals) that work in concert | | | | I am sure we have all heard of Captain Cook’s |
| with vitamins and minerals to orchestrate a natural | | | | remedy for scurvy on his ships. Due to the lack of |
| harmony in our bodies. More than 25,000 different | | | | fresh produce on long voyages, he would require all his |
| micronutrients, also known as cofactors, have been | | | | sailors to eat sauerkraut, which is fermented cabbage. |
| discovered in whole fruits and vegetables alone. These | | | | Scurvy is caused by a vitamin C deficiency; by |
| micronutrients are still being studied, but what we do | | | | fermenting cabbage, the Vitamin C levels of the |
| know is that they not only provide additional nutritional | | | | cabbage are increased. |
| support, they also enhance the effectiveness and | | | | The power of the fermentation and culturing process |
| absorption of other nutrients contained in whole foods. | | | | is due to the additional nutrients that are created by |
| An interesting study was conducted by researchers at | | | | the activated bacteria. By culturing live, whole foods in |
| the USDA’s Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research | | | | probiotics (healthy, beneficial, naturally occurring |
| Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston. Two | | | | bacteria), a synergy of health promoting compounds is |
| different age groups of men and women were fed a | | | | created. Those compounds produce much greater |
| diet containing ten servings of fruits and vegetables a | | | | results than the sum of the individual whole food |
| day. Then they measured the ‘antioxidant | | | | nutritional ingredients. According to Dr. Richard Sarnat, |
| capacity’ of the participants’ blood samples by | | | | M.D., co-author of “The Life Bridge: The Way to |
| seeing how well the blood deactivated damaging | | | | Longevity with Probiotic Nutrients,” "These (cultured) |
| oxidized free radicals in a test tube. After two weeks, | | | | nutrients promote the health of the entire digestive |
| the antioxidant capacity of the participants’ blood | | | | system. It's the process of fermentation that unlocks all |
| rose in both groups, though more consistently in the | | | | these wonderful nutrients." |
| older people. Based on this and other studies, it | | | | In her book, “Nourishing Traditions,” author Sally |
| appears that compounds other than vitamins C and E | | | | Fallon, further explains the benefits of the |
| and carotenoids contribute a major portion of the | | | | lacto-fermentation process: "Like the fermentation of |
| increase in antioxidant capacity. | | | | dairy products, preservation of vegetables and fruits |
| Food researcher Vic Shayne, Ph.D. clearly describes | | | | by the process of lacto-fermentation has numerous |
| the complexity of whole food nutrition and how this | | | | advantages beyond those of simple preservation. The |
| cannot be duplicated in the lab with vitamin isolates, in | | | | proliferation of lactobacilli (probiotics) in fermented |
| the following quotation: | | | | vegetables enhances their digestibility and increases |
| Since whole food ingredients are natural, they contain | | | | vitamin levels. These beneficial organisms produce |
| a host of nutrients that exist within a complex. | | | | numerous helpful enzymes as well as antibiotic and |
| A food complex includes not only vitamins and | | | | anticarcinogenic substances. Their main by-product, |
| minerals, but also many cofactors (helper nutrients) that | | | | lactic acid, not only keeps vegetables and fruits in a |
| are found in nature’s foods as a result of the | | | | state of perfect preservation but also promotes the |
| evolutionary process. | | | | growth of healthy flora throughout the intestine.” |
| Cofactors and food complexes therefore cannot be | | | | Summary |
| made in a laboratory nor can they be duplicated by | | | | By supplementing our diets with cultured, whole food |
| scientists. | | | | vitamins and supplements, we are able to provide our |
| Many nutritional doctors and researchers conclude that | | | | bodies with the complexity of nutrients missing from |
| cofactors are often more valuable than vitamins and | | | | our modern diets, delivered in a cultured, whole food |
| minerals, and that food cannot be duplicated due to its | | | | form that our bodies recognize and utilize efficiently. |
| complexity, dynamism and energy. | | | | Nutrients from isolated vitamins and supplements are |
| Cofactors within nature’s foods (which are found | | | | not adequate for our dietary requirements because |
| also in whole food supplements) include, but are not | | | | they lack the cofactors and micronutrients needed and |
| limited to: vitamins, minerals, terpenes, trace mineral | | | | are not recognized by our bodies as food. |
| activators, enzymes, co-enzymes, chlorophyll, lipids, | | | | As a Clinical Nutritionist, I recommend my clients and |
| essential fatty acids, fiber, carotenoids, antioxidants, | | | | customers eat a whole food, natural diet and use |
| flavonoids, pigments, amino acids, whole proteins and | | | | cultured, whole food vitamins and dietary supplements |
| more. | | | | for optimal health. I am impressed with nutrition |
| The human organism is biologically suited to ingest and | | | | companies such as Garden of Life, Mt. Capra, and |
| utilize nature’s whole foods for its sustenance, | | | | New Chapter, because they follow these health |
| including the optimal functioning of cells, and for the | | | | promoting principles of using only whole food |
| processes of healing and prevention. | | | | ingredients and a culturing probiotic process in their |
| Because (isolated) vitamin and mineral pills are merely | | | | vitamin and supplement formulas. |
| comprised of isolated chemicals, the body often | | | | © Copyright 2008 by Christine’s Cleanse Corner, |
| regards these as foreign invaders. | | | | Inc. |
| Many vitamins, minerals and amino acids produce toxic | | | | |