Diet is a huge concern for many people today who are either trying to control a preventable disease or those people who are trying to lose the excess weight that they are carrying around with them. Not only has our diet as Americans been steadily getting worse but as our population has risen there have been very few attempts to counter the negative effects that over processing our food has done. Every Single American, who has eaten the hot lunches at school remembers and has a first hand knowledge of the taste of preservatives and manufactured flavor of the food they ate during their formative years attending Elementary through High School.
To get an understanding of our diet we need to see the what has been in front of our faces for generations. In fact at least 2 generations. The only generation in its entirety to to not see food that was processed and packaged for "shelf-life" was that of our greatest generation... those people who fought and won World War II. Many of them were exposed to it during their time in the Military but up until then had probably grown most of their food themselves or, at the very least, had access to fresh, food sans preservatives. What was it about that time frame that has now caused the greatest lack of basic constituents that food has ever known? I will cover that in another article.
You, like me have gone to the store and bought a box of cereal, or a bag of flour,rice, or other grain or canned vegetable to see the words "enriched" or "fortified" on the side or label. What do those words mean? Why does food need enrichment or fortification? The answer is very simple, so simple in fact that that the next time you go grocery shopping, you will begin to see it everywhere! It will be on at least one thing you bring home from the store and depending on how you shop, you might be lucky to get home with one thing that isn't fortified or enriched. They need to be enriched and fortified because they have been stripped and altered prior to getting shelved at your local grocery store.
Because of this process of stripping our food of vital nutrients, minerals, and essential compounds, all Americans are told that we need to be taking a "good vitamin supplement." There are so many out there that it is confusing to determine which ones are going to be useful in our attempt to bolster our own diets. It is a meager attempt as most of the multi-vitamins that we consume are passed through our digestive tract with minimal absorption by our intestines. I guess you could hypothesize that the solid tablet form are going out the same way they went in... as crap.
The worst is yet to come as far as our health and wellness if we can't or don't change the way our food is distributed and prepared. What other vital constituents are being removed aside from the vitamins and minerals that we are not replacing on a day to day routine? Is there anyway to counter the negative effects of our over-processed, fast on the go, canned, fortified and enriched food source? The answer is a resounding YES!
Unfortunately, the stripping of our foods is usually irreversible once it is done. we can't take the same constituents that made up our fruits and vegetables or herbs and reconstitute them so that the same foods have the same chemical make-up and benefits to us as we consume them. There are substances that are now being reintroduced as one of several of the most beneficial substances that is stripped during the processing of our dietary foods is that being essential oils.
Essential Oils are the essence of the plant and are never derived from an animal source. This doesn't mean that I advocate vegetarianism or veganism as that is a specific choice with it's own dietary needs and choices. However essential oils are a good way for vegetarians and vegans to supplement what they are lacking in their diets unless they grow all their food themselves, but I digress. Essential oils are part of the Alternative Medicine category but are becoming more and more relevant in Conventional Medicine as scientists are realizing the importance of these very basic substances because of their wide variety of constituents.
Essential oils are natural aromatic compounds found in the various parts of the plant, from the bark to the roots to the leaves to the flowers. They can be both beautifully and powerfully fragrant. To test this, take the leaf of any fresh herb, like thyme or cilantro, and rub the leaves in your hands. Take a deep breath and you can smell the essential oils. If you have ever enjoyed the gift of a rose, walked by a field of lavender or the fresh smell of cut mint then you have experienced the aromatic qualities of essential oils. Essential oils are ten times more powerful and healthy than their dried herbal counterparts that are often bottled and sprinkled to give food specific flavors and aromas. These basic oils give the plants they are found in a distinctive smell but also provide protection against predators and assist in pollination.
Essential oils are non water-based phytochemicals made up of volatile organic compounds. Although they are fat soluble, they do not include fatty lipids or acids found in vegetable and animal oils. Essential oils are very clean, almost crisp, to the touch and are immediately absorbed by the skin. If they are in their pure form, they will never leave an oily residue or feeling on the skin. Pure, unadulterated essential oils are translucent and range in color from crystal clear to deep blue.
In addition to their intrinsic benefits to plants and being beautifully fragrant to people,essential oils have been used throughout history in many cultures for their medicinal and therapeutic benefits. Modern scientific study and trends towards more holistic approaches to wellness are driving a revival and new discovery of essential oil health applications. The Egyptians were some of the first people to use aromatic essential oils extensively in medical practice, beauty treatment, food preparation, and in religious ceremony. Frankincense, Sandalwood, Myrrh and Cinnamon were considered very valuable cargo along caravan trade routes and were sometimes exchanged for gold and other precious commodities.
Aside from the origins, these same oils mentioned above are still used in Middle Eastern Cultures as a way to prevent common infant and child maladies that, we in the western world, get inocculated from or some form of prescription medicine when we or our children get sick. Is it any wonder that two of these items whose essential oils are now being explored scientifically, were placed at the feet of Jesus Christ as he lay in a manger?
In modern times, the powerful healing properties of essential oils were rediscovered in 1937 by a French chemist, Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, who healed a badly burnt hand with pure lavender oil. A French contemporary, Dr. Jean Valnet, used therapeutic-grade essential oils to successfully treat injured soldiers during World War II. Dr. Valnet went on to become a world leader in the development of aromatherapy practices. Since World War II, the modern use of essential oils has continued to grow rapidly as health scientists, medical practitioners of both alternative and conventional disciplines continue to research and validate the numerous health and wellness benefits of therapeutic-grade essential oils.
Dr. David Hill is a medical expert who has been studying the effects and uses of essential oils and states "Essential oils are used for a very wide range of emotional and physical wellness applications. They can be used as a single oil at a time or in complex blends depending on user experience and desired benefit. Essential oils are usually administered by one of three methods: diffused aromatically, applied topically, or taken internally as dietary supplements." When any of these methods are chosen, it is still important to remember that unless it is a pure essential oil, you are only taking a compound of chemicals into your body. It is vital that you consult an expert in the discipline of essential oils before beginning an active regimen.
Our sense of smell influences many physiological pathways including the stimulation of hormones and other metabolic processes. Aromatherapy is founded on the body's predictable response to specific olfactory stimuli. Essential oils are widely used in aromatherapy applications. Certain essential oils, when diffused in the air, can be very stimulating while others can be calming and soothing. Beyond emotional benefits, diffusing essential oils can purify air of unwanted odors created by pets or derived from tobacco use as well as some airborne pathogens. Low or no-heat essential oil diffusers are recommended, as they do not change the chemical structure of the oil being diffused. Essential oils can also be used as cleansing and purifying additives to laundry and surface cleaners throughout the home.
Because our senses can directly effect our hormone balance and other bodily functions, it is important and necessary to find the stimuli that can help to maintain the balance within our bodies. It is no wonder that many of us today feel the after effects of so many man-made chemicals that have been stored and built up in our bodies be it through inhalation, or ingestion, we still have them with us.
We have all eaten processed foods that are only good as empty calories, if we are lucky. Then, when we are lacking energy, we supplement the lack of energy from these fat-laden puffs of nothing-ness with energy drinks that are so crammed full of artificial stimulants that you are hoping to have a proverbial "Popeye moment" with a can of spinach and spring into action with nothing but the villainy you are personally facing destroyed with a quick one-two combo. The reality is this, the outcome is usually the shakes or jitters that precedes a crash leaving you lacking the rest of the day. Like all stimulants, eventually you will need to increase the dosing in order to acquire the same results. All of these habits and behaviors are caused because we as Americans have decided that we want "bigger, better, faster, more!" and we want it yesterday! We need to start "deciding" and choosing to regain control over every aspect of our health.
To rebalance your body and regain the natural energy that you should be getting from a food source, you need only explore the world of certified pure therapeutic grade essential oils.
Spencer Wells invites you to regain control over your health and wellness by balancing your body and alleviating your pain or discomfort. For more information regarding this simple and effective approach to alternative medicine, visit http://www.vibrantnaturalliving.com for your free information and guidebook.
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