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| Photo credit: Maarten Wouters/Getty |
Eating well isn’t just about keeping the
tank full. It can also be about treating and preventing disease.
We all know that we should stay away from
fatty foods or too much sugar, and that we should add more fruits and
vegetables to our diets. But other than fiber and “nutrients”, how many of us
really understand the chemistry of our food or how it might affect us?
Most cultures have traditionally used plants
for therapeutic purposes, and even today, most modern medicines are still
derived from plants. However, our society has become so far removed from both food
and medicine that few people realize the value of fresh, whole foods or how
they affect our bodies. The widespread use of processed ingredients, artificial
colors and flavors, and other unpronounceable additives also means that most of
us aren’t even ingesting the good stuff without knowing about it.
Starting today, I’ll be making periodic
posts about a variety of beneficial foods. I’ll discuss the important compounds
they contain and how they could influence your health. My first post will look
at the effects of coffee and caffeine. Keep an eye out for it later today...
“Let food be your medicine, and your
medicine be your food.” – Hippocrates
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