Why Are We All So Sick?
The principal causes of unbalance in today’s human being has to do with the ever increasing toxicity of modern life, high levels of stress and the large amount of poor, or just plain false nutritional information published by commercial interests which is fed through the media.
Problem No. 1: We Eat Contrary to our Design. The original nutritional design of the human body is based on a fresh, 75% vegetarian diet, which did not include any concentrated carbohydrates such as grains or sugars. If we study the physiology texts we discover that the body has 5 mechanisms at its disposal to make or raise blood sugar, since the brain and cell mitochondria require a regular sugar supply for optimal function, and only one mechanism to decrease the amount of sugars in the blood: Insulin, which is produced by the pancreas. Given today’s high carb diets, we should have been made the other way around, 5 mechanisms to lower sugar levels, and 1 to elevate them.
With today’s eating habits, average blood sugar levels are consistently on the high side, requiring constant down-regulation. When sugar levels reach a certain point, the pancreas responds immediately by excreting insulin into the bloodstream. The liver responds to this insulin surge by extracting sugar from the blood and storing it in the tissues for later use. As tissues have a limited storage capacity, once it is reached, other mechanisms go into action to bring sugar levels down to balance. There is a lot of controversy in the texts about the exact method used by the body for this alternate regulation, but for simplicity’s sake, let’s just say that once tissue sugar storage capacity has been reached, the liver switches to a second function called de novo lipogenesis, which is basically the conversion of sugars to fats.
With the incredibly high levels of carbohydrates in today’s diet it’s no surprise that the average body weight of the population is escalating exponentially. Besides obesity, this constant conversion of sugars to fats also throws cholesterols out of balance, by raising LDL and triglycerides and lowering HDL. The results are the so called high cholesterol, fatty livers, reduced detoxification capacity and cardiovascular problems.
Additionally, with consistently high insulin levels (Hyperinsulimia), receptor site sensitivity is greatly reduced, causing the pancreas to excrete ever increasing quantities of this hormone trying to down-regulate sugar levels. The results are capillary fragility, atherosclerosis, mineral deficiencies (particularly magnesium), anxiety, inflammatory states and type II diabetes due to pancreatic fatigue.
Problem No. 2: Excessive tissue acidity caused by an over-acidic diet. In the process of normal metabolism, the body produces a variety of acids; for example, carbonic acid during respiration, lactic acid in the muscles when exercising and several others in the process of digestion, detoxification, etc. This creates an acidic load that must be neutralized somehow before it reaches the elimination system, to avoid burning the large intestine and urinary tract. In order to do this, the body uses sodium bicarbonate which is produced mainly by the pancreas.
Sodium bicarbonate is composed of carbon and organic sodium. Carbon is abundant in organic chemistry, but organic sodium is obtained almost exclusively from vegetables and in smaller proportion from certain fruits. Inorganic sodium, as in salt, has a very poor absorption rate and is therefore not a good source of sodium for acid neutralization purposes. If the body lacks an abundant supply of organic sodium, it starts by robbing sodium from the bile, setting up the perfect environment for gallstones and from the stomach lining increasing the probability of ulcers. If the acidity levels are excessive, the only plausible solution is to start robbing other alkaline minerals from the body’s reserves, in particular calcium from the bone mass. It is no surprise that osteoporosis, along with arthritic conditions are so rampant today with our highly acidic lifestyles. The most acidic foods are sodas, sugar (including alcohol), coffee, pasteurized dairy, meats and grains.
Again, to insure an adequate supply of organic sodium, the 75% vegetarian diet mentioned earlier starts to make all kinds of sense.
Problem No. 3: Candida Albicans. Candida Albicans is a part of a healthy, normal bowel flora. There are over 500 species of bacteria and other pathogens that form an integral part of our intestines, which serve a variety of purposes, among others, to form part of our immunity, extraction of vitamins from foods at different stages, waste deodorizing, etc. In a healthy intestine, candida is kept under control and maintained at no more that 30% of its potential growth. This control is enforced by several beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus Acidophilus, popularly known for its use in the preparation of yogurt. As powerful as these beneficial bacteria can be, they are also somewhat delicate and can easily be thrown out of balance with the onslaughts of modern day life and the host of chemicals we ingest. Antibiotics are by far the biggest offenders. It’s not enough that we are prescribed increasingly powerful antibiotics for today’s infections; but also, the indiscriminate and hidden use of antibiotics in the food industry is a common occurrence.
We hear almost daily in the news about the massive use of antibiotics for livestock, pork and chicken raised for human consumption, which is a necessity to avoid disease in these factory farms. These antibiotics remain in the meat of these animals and eventually end up in some proportion in our intestines, destroying beneficial bacteria. What is not common knowledge is that almost 100% of the canned goods and a good portion of packaged meats and other products are processed with sodium erithrosorbate (an antibiotic), as a preservative.
If the above wasn’t enough, the intestinal flora is also sensitive to chlorine, birth control pills, coffee, other chemicals, sugars, refined carbohydrates and high stress levels, integral components of modern day life. Without the protection of the beneficial bacteria, fungus, such as candida is free to grow without impediment. Antibiotics, being candida’s cousin, don’t harm it at all, but sugar, refined flours, beer and other alcohol are its favorite food which promotes their growth. Sugar=fermentation=fungus, end of story.
As this fungus takes hold and grows, it eventually throws roots which perforate the bowel, being now free to populate the entire body, which is commonly known as systemic candidiasis. If you search the internet for candida or candidiasis, you will find an unending list of symptomology these critters can produce. Chronic fatigue, dandruff, vaginal infections, all kinds of skin conditions and ulcerations, etc.., are some of the more common ones and probably most symptoms of the majority of today’s maladies will appear on this list as well. The fact that fungus, like any good parasite, eats our food is only a fraction of the problem. The worst part is that it also must eliminate wastes, called mycotoxins which are extremely toxic and the source of the long list of problems it can cause.
As we can see, a balanced nutrition, low in concentrated carbs/sugars and high in vegetation not only maintains our youthful figures, but is also an essential step if you want to live a healthy, vibrant life and avoid the plague of modern day disease.
Problem No. 1: We Eat Contrary to our Design. The original nutritional design of the human body is based on a fresh, 75% vegetarian diet, which did not include any concentrated carbohydrates such as grains or sugars. If we study the physiology texts we discover that the body has 5 mechanisms at its disposal to make or raise blood sugar, since the brain and cell mitochondria require a regular sugar supply for optimal function, and only one mechanism to decrease the amount of sugars in the blood: Insulin, which is produced by the pancreas. Given today’s high carb diets, we should have been made the other way around, 5 mechanisms to lower sugar levels, and 1 to elevate them.
With today’s eating habits, average blood sugar levels are consistently on the high side, requiring constant down-regulation. When sugar levels reach a certain point, the pancreas responds immediately by excreting insulin into the bloodstream. The liver responds to this insulin surge by extracting sugar from the blood and storing it in the tissues for later use. As tissues have a limited storage capacity, once it is reached, other mechanisms go into action to bring sugar levels down to balance. There is a lot of controversy in the texts about the exact method used by the body for this alternate regulation, but for simplicity’s sake, let’s just say that once tissue sugar storage capacity has been reached, the liver switches to a second function called de novo lipogenesis, which is basically the conversion of sugars to fats.
With the incredibly high levels of carbohydrates in today’s diet it’s no surprise that the average body weight of the population is escalating exponentially. Besides obesity, this constant conversion of sugars to fats also throws cholesterols out of balance, by raising LDL and triglycerides and lowering HDL. The results are the so called high cholesterol, fatty livers, reduced detoxification capacity and cardiovascular problems.
Additionally, with consistently high insulin levels (Hyperinsulimia), receptor site sensitivity is greatly reduced, causing the pancreas to excrete ever increasing quantities of this hormone trying to down-regulate sugar levels. The results are capillary fragility, atherosclerosis, mineral deficiencies (particularly magnesium), anxiety, inflammatory states and type II diabetes due to pancreatic fatigue.
Problem No. 2: Excessive tissue acidity caused by an over-acidic diet. In the process of normal metabolism, the body produces a variety of acids; for example, carbonic acid during respiration, lactic acid in the muscles when exercising and several others in the process of digestion, detoxification, etc. This creates an acidic load that must be neutralized somehow before it reaches the elimination system, to avoid burning the large intestine and urinary tract. In order to do this, the body uses sodium bicarbonate which is produced mainly by the pancreas.
Sodium bicarbonate is composed of carbon and organic sodium. Carbon is abundant in organic chemistry, but organic sodium is obtained almost exclusively from vegetables and in smaller proportion from certain fruits. Inorganic sodium, as in salt, has a very poor absorption rate and is therefore not a good source of sodium for acid neutralization purposes. If the body lacks an abundant supply of organic sodium, it starts by robbing sodium from the bile, setting up the perfect environment for gallstones and from the stomach lining increasing the probability of ulcers. If the acidity levels are excessive, the only plausible solution is to start robbing other alkaline minerals from the body’s reserves, in particular calcium from the bone mass. It is no surprise that osteoporosis, along with arthritic conditions are so rampant today with our highly acidic lifestyles. The most acidic foods are sodas, sugar (including alcohol), coffee, pasteurized dairy, meats and grains.
Again, to insure an adequate supply of organic sodium, the 75% vegetarian diet mentioned earlier starts to make all kinds of sense.
Problem No. 3: Candida Albicans. Candida Albicans is a part of a healthy, normal bowel flora. There are over 500 species of bacteria and other pathogens that form an integral part of our intestines, which serve a variety of purposes, among others, to form part of our immunity, extraction of vitamins from foods at different stages, waste deodorizing, etc. In a healthy intestine, candida is kept under control and maintained at no more that 30% of its potential growth. This control is enforced by several beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus Acidophilus, popularly known for its use in the preparation of yogurt. As powerful as these beneficial bacteria can be, they are also somewhat delicate and can easily be thrown out of balance with the onslaughts of modern day life and the host of chemicals we ingest. Antibiotics are by far the biggest offenders. It’s not enough that we are prescribed increasingly powerful antibiotics for today’s infections; but also, the indiscriminate and hidden use of antibiotics in the food industry is a common occurrence.
We hear almost daily in the news about the massive use of antibiotics for livestock, pork and chicken raised for human consumption, which is a necessity to avoid disease in these factory farms. These antibiotics remain in the meat of these animals and eventually end up in some proportion in our intestines, destroying beneficial bacteria. What is not common knowledge is that almost 100% of the canned goods and a good portion of packaged meats and other products are processed with sodium erithrosorbate (an antibiotic), as a preservative.
If the above wasn’t enough, the intestinal flora is also sensitive to chlorine, birth control pills, coffee, other chemicals, sugars, refined carbohydrates and high stress levels, integral components of modern day life. Without the protection of the beneficial bacteria, fungus, such as candida is free to grow without impediment. Antibiotics, being candida’s cousin, don’t harm it at all, but sugar, refined flours, beer and other alcohol are its favorite food which promotes their growth. Sugar=fermentation=fungus, end of story.
As this fungus takes hold and grows, it eventually throws roots which perforate the bowel, being now free to populate the entire body, which is commonly known as systemic candidiasis. If you search the internet for candida or candidiasis, you will find an unending list of symptomology these critters can produce. Chronic fatigue, dandruff, vaginal infections, all kinds of skin conditions and ulcerations, etc.., are some of the more common ones and probably most symptoms of the majority of today’s maladies will appear on this list as well. The fact that fungus, like any good parasite, eats our food is only a fraction of the problem. The worst part is that it also must eliminate wastes, called mycotoxins which are extremely toxic and the source of the long list of problems it can cause.
As we can see, a balanced nutrition, low in concentrated carbs/sugars and high in vegetation not only maintains our youthful figures, but is also an essential step if you want to live a healthy, vibrant life and avoid the plague of modern day disease.
