Non-communicable diseases are largely preventable, but we tend to think health is out of our control – simply a twist of fate that is determined by our genetic makeup. On the contrary, we have a large amount of responsibility over the state of our body. It is the most valuable resource on the planet – a temple of the Living God! When it comes to lifestyle-related diseases, we are in an age where science has proven, through progress in areas like epigenetics and cellular nutrition, that we can have confidence that the human body has the power to overcome certain genetic predispositions and reverse disease from the inside [zotpressInText item=”{KZ3IVHVT}”].
Health is defined as “freedom from physical disease or pain” [zotpressInText item=”{IZC8395V}”]. Poor health directly impacts our ability not only to live our lives normally, but to be energized and productive stewards. How our body functions directly correlates to the degree to which we are caring for and nourishing it. The universal need of every living creature, the most complex being humans, is nutrition. Nutrition is defined as the process by which organisms take in and utilize food material [zotpressInText item=”{F6SPVBCK}”]. Genes can be “turned on” or “turned off” by different causes in the body.
For example, cancer is caused by a malfunction that begins at the cellular level with DNA. It causes overgrowth of the cells due to the DNA chain being exposed and damaged. These cells are made “susceptible” by exposure to carcinogens, which come in contact with our cells via chemicals, air pollution, tobacco smoke, pesticides, overcooked or charred meat, rancid oils, radiation and other things that have been shown to produce free radicals that damage cellular components. Countless pesticides (herbicides, fungicides, rodent-killers etc.) have been shown by numerous studies to be carcinogenic, usually with a long-term effect on humans through dietary intake. However, the magnitude of impact both long-term and immediate is widely unknown as new varieties of these toxins are constantly released into our food and water supply without public knowledge. Because no long-term clinical trials are conducted before these chemicals are approved for use on crops, such as corn, soy and wheat, we have no consistent way to measure the degree of their detrimental impact. It is certain that there is a link, but until there are some regulations and a new approach to defining “safe” we must take active responsibility to safeguard our own families. In other words, we really do pick our poison [zotpressInText item=”{FND7HXQU}”].
How do we avoid putting toxic and carcinogenic pesticides into our body, you might ask? Genetically modified organisms (GMOs), in addition to pesticides and herbicides, have many known and unknown detrimental effects on the human body. A great way to begin avoiding these is to know which crops are most commonly GMO and to buy the Certified Organic or heirloom foods. It is important that something labeled “organic” is certified by an independent, authoritative organization, keeping that company accountable to ensure accurate labeling. The most common GMO crops are canola, corn, soy, sugar beets, papaya and cotton [zotpressInText item=”{45J6M8CA}”]. Don’t be fooled – you may think cotton is only grown for making fabrics, but cottonseed oil is more than likely in your coffee creamer! And let’s not forget all the products that come from animals fattened with GMO feed: beef, poultry, pork, dairy, eggs, etc. Being more conscious about the food we put in our bodies can play a huge role in disease prevention and therefore increased vitality for years to come.
Additionally, the choices you make when choosing a vitamin or other supplement have similarly impactful consequences. Try to select only whole food based, organically-sourced supplements over isolates (single extracted nutrient) or even worse – synthetic lab-produced supplements. Look for future articles on supplementation for more information about why this is important and how to read supplement labels.
Are you living with a preventable disease?
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