How to acquire a healthy lifestyle

The systems of the body that are covered in this abbreviated course on nutrition will help you make the mind/body connection that is needed to improve your health and energy levels as well as increase your time on this wonderful planet.

As you may not know, you are a plant-based creature that was designed by God to function on a plant-based nutritional protocol. Fruits and vegetables have no cholesterol and provide all the nutrients the body needs to function. However, some essential nutrients are not produced by the body and must be provided by natural supplementation. The importance of Omega-3 fish oils is an example of a very important essential fatty acid which the body needs to meet many nutritional goals. These particular fatty acids are critical to your health.

In support of this fact of being a plant-based creature, stop, and try to remember the last time you saw a creature like an elephant, moose, gorilla, whale or even a bear in line at a fast food restaurant. I think you get the message. These creatures are some of the biggest and most powerful species on earth and consume a total plant based nutritional protocol. By the way, you won't see them in your friendly neighborhood pharmacy either. What do they know that you don't? Read on and learn more about your "Billion Dollar Machine".

Immune System
In addition to the skin, (the largest organ system in the body) the Immune System acts as a first line of defense to protect the body against infectious disease. When your Immune System is weakened, the door to infectious and degenerative disease is opened. When this system breaks down or is compromised, other systems are directly affected. The Immune system is made up of organs and cells that work 24/7 to protect you against all invading viruses and bacteria. You can keep this critical defense system strong by eating a natural plant-based nutritional protocol consisting of fresh fruits and vegetables. If this is not possible on a regular basis, seek out a good natural/organic Multi-Nutritional, which will help keep you healthy.

Respiratory System
The lungs of the body are the gas exchangers which take in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide. Their function also helps to maintain an alkaline state in the body. By maintaining an alkaline state, we are preventing the possible occurrence of degenerative disease. Impurities taken into the lungs are carried by the blood to all parts of the body. The cleaner our air and our environment is, the greater chance there is for a healthier body. Smoking is a frontal assault of this critical body system, and results in respiratory disease and premature death.

Digestive System
When we eat foods that contain no enzymes, our body becomes confused and proper digestion ceases. Enzymes are critical to proper digestion as they make possible the correct distribution of vital nutrients to the cells of the body. Digestion itself begins in the mouth and continues along our digestive tract until it reaches the small intestine where most nutritional absorption takes place. After this, what remains is eliminated from the body. If we eat dead foods, we will have dead bodies. Foods that are processed have no enzymes which are dead foods and the body is forced to experience the stress of producing enzymes to accomplish what natural foods would have done on their own. Be sure you have enzymes in your foods, and if not consider a natural blend of these precious substances to eliminate stress on your pancreas and increase nutrient uptake in the body.

Circulatory System
Your heart is the pump that keeps life flowing throughout your body. The life of this vital pump is directly related to the quality and kind of food that you eat. Remember, fruits and vegetables do not have cholesterol and your body produces its own cholesterol in the liver. The logical question is, why do we develop heart trouble? The answer is, we eat cholesterol containing foods such as saturated fats every day and most of us do not realize that this is occurring. Cholesterol adheres to the walls of our arteries, not our blood vessels and this build up of cholesterol (Plaque) in our arteries restricts blood flow and our pump begins to fail. A natural, whole food plant-based diet with the introduction of a top quality Omega-3 fish oil and CoQ10 will guarantee a strong and healthy Circulatory System.

Lymphatic System
This system of the body gets very little, if any, attention relative to its function in the body. This system carries waste and body by-products from their source and distributes them into the blood where they are carried to the liver and cleansed from the blood. The heart pumps our blood throughout our bodies. The Lymphatic system does not have a pump to move these by-products around. Exercise or manipulation of our muscular system is the only way to supply flow for the cleansing action of the Lymphatic System.

Endocrine System
This elaborate system of glands produce hormones directly into the blood stream and are distributed throughout the body by the circulatory system. This is one of our body's communication systems regulating and integrating body activities that maintain Homeostasis, (the state of physiological balance in the body). The proper balance of these glands is critical to hundreds of processes that occur in the body everyday. The main regulator of all these metabolic changes is the Thyroid Gland. Health of this gland is critical and can be maintained by daily ingestion of iodine which can be obtained through diet or by the use of a good natural, nutritional containing iodine from sea kelp.

Nervous System
As we age, all of the systems of the body begin to decline in performance. The rate of decline in our body systems is directly related to the impact that our environment and our nutritional habits have on our bodies. A lifestyle that deprives our bodies of proper nutritional ingredients day after day can do nothing but lead to poor health and disability ending in premature death. Our body is designed to function for at least 100 years, yet, we fail to realize our true physical potential because our lifestyle habits rob us of this great experience. The full "magic" of our bodies can be protected by consuming life enhancing nutrients found in whole foods, and natural and organic nutritionals. Our Nervous System assists all systems of the body to perform their tasks each day with ease, if you supply the necessary raw materials.

Skeletal System
Without this system we would collapse in a heap on our living room floor. Without ever realizing what a great and reliable structure we have, the bones of our body carry us about our daily routine. The strength and health of this system is based on a daily supply of calcium hopefully, from fresh vegetables. Women especially need to see that they consume sufficient amounts every day. Reducing your intake of animal protein will increase the alkaline environment in the body and not force the body to take calcium from the bones to offset the acidity created from animal proteins. Degenerative disease does not do well in an alkaline condition in the body. Manipulating the body and eating a natural whole food plant based diet will serve your Skeletal System well.

Muscular System
Attached to the bones of the Skeletal System are the muscles of your body. The muscles allow for locomotion that carries your torso here and there at will. Again, your daily intake of those good old fruits and vegetables will be the key to the integrity and strength of your Muscular System. The biggest and most powerful creatures on our planet do not frequent fast food restaurants as previously mentioned. Your life is not a dress rehearsal and strict attention should be paid to protecting this experience. After all, it only comes once in a lifetime.

Reproductive System
The integrity of these systems (part of the Endocrine System) is crucial to the overall health of both sexes. Remember, these systems together produce this "Billion Dollar Machine" we call a human being. Proper nutrition is a must and can be obtained by a simple protocol of natural nutrients from natural foods. Today an alarming number of newborns are premature and die because of malnourished and toxic wombs. Healthy mothers and healthy fathers bring forth healthy children. Be sure you guarantee your newborn their "nutritional rights".