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Eating principles

Note from Carolyn:
This article provides an excellent method to follow after a season of over-indulgence. It's a good reminder as to how we should eat all year long.
 
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There are several basic principles of health that your body is dying to follow. Here is a brief discussion of 5 of these, as they pertain to eating, below. If we follow these principles we can be assured of great benefits because indeed an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Regularity In Meals

First let's look at regularity in meals. It is ideal to maintain a regular schedule not eating too late or eating at irregular times. By eating at the same time daily, the stomach will get used to eating at a certain time each day. This will encourage rhythm within the stomach. This will facilitate the entire gastrointestinal tract. Many people set the stage for gastrointestinal problems by eating and drinking at irregular times.

Moderation In Eating

Moderation in eating is extremely important. Overeating is a serious issue. You should never overeat, but rather eat only enough to satisfy your hunger. There have been numerous studies that show the negative health effects of overeating. A Harvard University study for instance found that overeating in mice triggers a molecule that had previously been considered effective at locating and destroying viruses, but apparently overeating causes this molecule to also destroy normal metabolism. Hereby, this causes insulin resistance and sets the body up for diabetes.

The study, published in the February 5, 2010 issue of Cell, was very insightful. "When mice eat a normal diet, this molecule called PKR is silent," explained the senior author of the study, who is the chair of the HSPH Department of Genetics and Complex Diseases. "However, if a cell containing PKR is bombarded with too many nutrients, PKR grabs other immune system molecules that respond to this food attack and organizes a firing squad to shoot down normal processes, leading to insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction." In this study, the lead researchers from the Harvard school of Public health even made a link between the immune system and metabolism.

Take Small Bites

Take small bites. Only put a small amount in your mouth at a time. This will facilitate sufficient chewing and salivate the food better. Therefore, you will tend to eat less.

Relax

Relax and eat slowly. If you are too rushed to eat a meal without being anxious, worried, fatigued, or angry, then wait until you are calm, or until you have sufficient time to sit down and eat in a relaxed atmosphere.

Too Many Foods

Do not eat too many foods at a meal. Three or four items are all that you need at one meal. Once you begin to add more items than this, you begin to encounter food crowding and possibly even some food combination problems. When this occurs you will inevitably run into gastrointestinal problems.

Finally, when possible always take a walk after eating. A brisk walk of about 20 to 30 min. after a meal helps to encourage proper digestion. However, vigorous exercise immediately after eating is harmful.

There are many more principles that encourage wellness and health, but these are a few simple principles that if invested in will pay off great dividends.

Sources:

Natural Remedies Encyclopedia 4th Edition; V.Ferrell, Edgar E. Archbold, M.D., Harold M. Cherne, M.D.
Understanding The Body Organs And The Eight Laws Of Health; Celeste Lee, M.D.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/release...

Keith M. Henry N.D. - NaturalNews.com
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