Nutrition First

Nutrition. It’s one of those important but vague words that really means very little to the human mind until one begins to break down the various facets of it to understand the body’s needs and what those building blocks of nutrition actually DO for the body. We know we need to have “good nutrition” and “eat better” in order for the body to function properly, but do we actually know what that means?

In the minds of most, “proper nutrition” sounds boring. It translates to “go on a diet.” On the plate of the majority of Americans, it means brown rice instead of white, whole wheat bread, no salt, low fat, and artificial sweeteners; yet still those types of food-pyramid-driven diets miss the mark terribly when aiming for a certain goal of lowering blood pressures, bettering cholesterol levels, or balancing blood sugars. This nation is perishing for lack of knowledge. 

The general populace has no idea the difference between simple and complex carbohydrates, the purpose of protein, why the brain needs healthy fats to function well, or that replenishing critically deficient trace minerals in the body can effectively improve and even save the lives of so many who struggle with chronic diagnoses. Most have never given a single thought toward how we can help even the special needs population to thrive just a little bit better by providing their overly taxed bodies with real, nourishing food.

In the United States we are practically spoon-fed a steady diet of grains. In general, grains break down to glucose (sugar) in the body and are the culprit of much of the insulin resistance (diabetes) epidemic in our country.  On the flip side, the FDA’s food pyramid promotes only a very small portion of raw fruits and vegetables – the very foods that are instrumental in healing a body. And fats? They are vilified if they are spoken of at all, when in fact the human brain is made up of fatty tissue and therefore thrives on a good intake of healthy fats and medium chain triglycerides. We have it all backwards as far as nutrition goes, but it’s up to the individual to be their own food detective and to wade through the misinformation to see the truth.  

What’s it worth to you to feel well?  What is it worth to you to conquer those chronic complaints and leave them in your dust? To keep up with your kids and grandkids and live the life you have always wanted to live?

Maybe it’s worth changing a diet. Maybe it’s worth eliminating food groups and investing in solid nutritional supplements.

It can be considered a personal growth challenge to improve one’s nutritional intake. Many times we are emotionally and mentally attached (read: addicted) to our favorite foods or to drinking our coffee the same way every time and it can be hard to change. But the wonderful thing about changing up the routine – even bit by bit – is that as the body is given the nutritional components – the TOOLS – it needs to thrive; and as the roadblocks to healing (the sugars, the grains, the excessive amounts of dairy) are removed, then the individual will be pleasantly surprised to notice an improvement in their overall well being.

A healthy body is not only one that is free of symptoms of illness, but one that thrives in a state of wellness! 

The information presented is for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the FDA. It is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, cure, prevent, or treat any health condition and should not be used as a substitute for consulting with a professional health care provider. This information applies solely to Young Living products and should not be used in conjunction with other brands of essential oils. The opinions and views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Young Living.