both severe malnutrition and over nutrition significantly lower resistance to
disease. Longevity studies on humans excluding smokers, drinkers, and the
chronically ill illustrate that the leanest live the longest.
Though thinness is not the only criteria for health, it is undeniable that a person in good health, on
a nutritious diet, who is below the average weight, has by far the best chance
for a long life. The National Institute of Health also reports the same
conclusion: when smokers and those with a disease that causes thinness are
excluded, the greatest longevity is found in those whose weight is below
average.
When the diet is without deficiencies, minimum caloric intake greatly
increases resistance to infectious diseases. There are a host of mechanisms
that strengthen our immune system and make the ―soil‖ unwelcome for
microbes when the body is not overfed. After studying various population
groups, including underfed wartime prisoners, researchers have concluded that
resistance to disease is highest on what would generally be considered an
inadequate diet.It has been noted that when epidemics struck wartime prison
camps, the underfed prisoners had a much lower morbidity than their overfed
captors.
When we contract a viral infection and lose our appetites, nature is telling us
to fast. It is a means the body has of powerfully exciting white blood cell
activity and releasing more immune system modulators, such as interferon,
thus enabling the body to more quickly and effectively recover.
The best way to guard against nutritional excesses, while still maintaining
optimal assimilation of all essential nutrients, is to consume an abundance of
natural plant products that are rich in vitamins and minerals. At the same time
one must avoid empty-calorie, processed foods, fats, refined carbohydrates,
and animal products, which are high in fat and protein and deficient in the
nutrients that are most protective to our system.
In the last thousand years, poor societies with constant low caloric intake
have had a monotonous, sometimes nutrient-deficient diet, while prosperous,
well-nourished societies have blatantly over consumed calories, fat, and
protein. Fortunately, today's modern transportation and refrigeration methods
allow us to have an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables year round,
affording us an opportunity to practice a nutrient-rich diet low in fat and empty
calories. This has been difficult to achieve in the past. We should take
advantage of this opportunity.
No comments:
Post a Comment