I got this directly from my workplace – how nice to know that they care about our health. I’ll provide it in several posts – the sources will be listed at the end.
The Language of Food
“The wise man should consider that health is the greatest of human blessings. Let food be your medicine.” – – Hippocrates
There is a concept called nutrigenomics and it is the power of food and its impact on wellness. Food gives instructions to genes to provide health or prevent health. This month we will explore how specific food and nutrition interact with genes turning on messages of health or disease. You may already know what to eat to be healthy: a variety of foods – especially whole grains, fruits, and vegetables; and minimize candy, soda and other empty calories. However, you might be surprised to learn the information your food is communicating to your genes.
Food Talks to Your Genes
Do you sometimes wish life came with an instruction book that contained all the directions for what to eat and how much to eat to live a healthy life? As the science of nutrigenomics advances, strides are being made to prescribe a lifestyle that will help maximize your wellness and minimize your risk for disease. Each person has his/her own set of DNA, which is one reason why one diet does not work for everyone. Some people require more protein or fats or carbohydrates than others. Regardless of the genes, everyone will benefit from eating “whole foods” every day. These are unprocessed, fresh and simple foods that are as close to nature as you can get – fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, organic dairy and unprocessed meats. A whole food diet speaks to your genes in a language it understands so that your metabolism will rev up and use these foods efficiently to promote health. Your body has difficulty “digesting” information from the foods that come out of a box or from the middle aisles of the grocery store.
