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Image: Amandabhslater
According to www.foodmatters.tv, the top ten reasons to grow your own organic food are:
1. Get the nutrition you need and enjoy tastier food
2. Save money
3. Protect future generations
4. Prevent soil erosion
5. Protect water quality
6. Save energy
7. Keep chemicals off your plate
8. Protect farm workers and help small farmers
9. Promote biodiversity
10. Help beautify your community
I'd like to focus on #1. Did you know humans share 99.4% of their genes with chimpanzees? However, our diets couldn't be more different.
According to Jane Goodall, the average chimp's diet is about 50% fruit, and depending on the season, 25-50% green leafy vegetables. In March and April 10% of their diet consists of blossoms. They naturally eat what's in season. In November they consume a small amount of insects and animals, but rarely more than 1% of their diet. They eat a few seeds and root vegetables as well, but not a lot of nuts because they usually require tools to open them. Primarily, chimps prefer fruit.
Source: Flickr
Image: Ucumari
The Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) is approximately 50% carbohydrate, 15% protein and 35% fat. Unfortunately, Americans tend to favor processed, simple starches and fast food, because it tastes good and is literally designed to be addictive. Let's not jump the gun and place primates upon a virtuous health food pedestal. I've long believed if chimps were given free access to all the processed foods humans have and subjected to the same constant barrage of advertising, they'd become just as addicted in no time. In fact, I've noticed in studies involving primates being taught sign language they're sometimes rewarded with m&ms, which immediately become their favorite treat.
Source: Flickr
Image: Awrose
So what's the antidote to a junk food addiction and the Standard American Diet? Victoria Boutenko has also studied chimps and in doing so probably discovered the most effective ally in the war against food addiction. She's a raw food educator and author of many excellent books, including Green for Life, in which she shares the findings of her famous Roseburg Study.
Source: Google Images
Image: Victoria Boutenko
In 2005, Boutenko, a former nurse, and Dr. Paul Fieber, who had been prescribing 27 patients age 16-80, hydrochloric acid pills, had them simply add one daily quart of green smoothies to their regular diet. Hydrochloric acid breaks down your food so your body can utilize the nutrients. Not producing enough results in ailments such as acid reflux, indigestion and a number of seemingly unrelated low health issues. Blending the greens and fruit provides the most efficient means of absorption of nutrients and the most delicious means of getting them down. The study was conducted with mainstream North Americans from various walks of life, and with a variety of health issues. The study proved a healthy stomach acid for breaking down food and aiding in nutrient absorption is crucial for every aspect of our health. In Boutenko's words, "Chlorophyll differs from hemoglobin in its central atom, but a molecule of chlorophyll very closely resembles a molecule of human blood." According to Dr. Ann Wigmore, "Consuming chlorophyll is like receiving a healthy blood transfusion."
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Image: floridecires
After just one month, participants' hydrochloric acid recovered 68.6%, which allowed them to absorb more nutrients. They also reported numerous exciting health improvements, including: a disappearance of unhealthy cravings, craving more greens, feeling light and happy, weight loss, more restful sleep, needing less sleep, improved sexual performance, fewer headaches, more stable emotions, more energy, disappearance of suicidal thoughts and a noticeable decrease in hair loss. In addition, long time skin issues cleared up and chronic dandruff disappeared. Vision also improved, as well as visual hyper-sensitivity to sunlight and women reported menstruation cycles improved in regularity.
Source: Flickr
Image: Caffinara
In all reality, instead of driving to our local pharmacy, we could be strolling out to our own greenhouse, and taking Hippocrates advice, "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food."
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