Life-Giving Foods With Eating-for-Longevity Guide

                           

                  Healthy organic fruits and vegetables

Simple "Food Rules"

The "Food Rules" below are based on the conclusions from my paper "Life on Earth - flow of Energy and Entropy". Food is a vehicle to deliver Energy and Negative Entropy (organization) to living organisms. Any kind of food processing increases food's Entropy, making it less valuable for the sustaining of Life, thus promoting disease and the aging process. Below are some specific rules based on this model:

Foods to Avoid

Non-organic, genetically-altered, irradiated and highly processed foods - in particular: all sorts of fast, processed foods, hamburgers and other red meats (animals are too high on the food chain), vegetables, fruits, eggs and seafood produced on non-organic farms, margarines & shortenings (hydrogenated oils - very dangerous ! Hydrogenation is a chemical process which damages the molecular structure of oils and fats, forming many toxic molecules not found in nature.), deep-fried foods, ice cream, homogenized and skim milk, non-organic and non cold-pressed oils, sweets, chocolates and pastry which are made from refined sugars, hydrogenated oils (margarines & shortenings - if margarine was better for health than butter, cows would evolve to make margarine) and non-organic and highly-processed ingredients, soft drinks which are not based on natural juices and are highly- processed, artificial sweeteners, colours etc., all should be avoided. Avoid soy and soy-derived food products. They contain food absorption inhibitors, hormone disruptors, neurotoxins, denatured proteins, solvents and aluminum. For more information look under "Soy Alert !".

By Pamela Rae Schuffert

1. Eat organic food which has not been genetically altered.
2. Eat food which is local and as fresh as possible. Eat foods which were familiar to your ancestors, rather than exotic foods not known in your region. Test these foods for your tolerance first if you wish to eat them. Test them item by item and then in combinations.
   
   
3. Eat food which is as close to the Sun as possible (i.e. low on the food chain). This usually results in much reduced levels of contaminants and fewer "broken" molecules which promote the aging process. Also, more food can be produced this way, therefore it is an environmentally-friendly way of eating.
   
   
4. Plant sources of organic substances are better than animal sources, since they are lower on the food chain. Again, one will find fewer contaminants in plants and fewer "broken" molecules which promote the aging process.
   
   
5. Avoid the processing of foods. The most valuable benefit of food is when it is raw. If processing is required, (due to viruses, bacteria, parasites or to improve digestion) - short cooking in boiling water, (at 100 degree Celsius) is the safest with the least damage. Frying, BBQ, Micro-waving, baking, etc., all damage the structures of foods due to high temperatures, making them less valuable. It also produces "broken" molecules which are then incorporated into one's body, speeding up the aging process. If one's body cannot synthesize certain molecules, it most likely cannot check them atom-by-atom for lack of structural damage. Damaged structures will be therefore incorporated into the body, speeding-up the aging process. Simple experiments on lab animals could easily prove this.
   These ways of handling food could be called "Low Entropy Cooking" or "Low Entropy Diet". The benefits of this kind of food preparation are; money-saving, since food contains more valuable ingredients; time saving, since it takes much less time to prepare food this way; health improvement and maintenance, since this food will deliver all the required components for the body and its immune system; extension of the life span, since this kind of food will slow the aging process (by about 20% to 40% in my estimation).
   
   
6. Eat moderate amounts of food and divide it into 5 small meals a day. In this way, your body will digest and absorb food more thoroughly.
   
   
7. Do not mix too many foods at once. Certain foods go well together and promote better digestion.
   
   
8. Each meal should be well-balanced and should contain vitamins, minerals, fiber, proteins, oils, enzymes, water, etc.
9. Avoid foods which use cheap, non-organic ingredients and are overprocessed. These foods will have a lot of contaminants and many molecules in these foods will be damaged due to heavy processing. This will result in health problems and promote aging (as much as 20% to 40% in my estimation).
   
   
10. Avoid foods containing preservatives or those that have been irradiated with X-rays, gamma and other rays. If bacteria are not eating the food, it is probably not good for you.
    
    
11. Your diet should include: plant protein (whole grains and beans are the best source), various plant oils (whole grains, seeds, nuts and beans are the best source), various nuts (fresh almonds and hazel nuts are best), various types of fish which are from the ocean and are low on the food chain, vitamins and minerals, eggs, yogourt, milk and white cheese (goat's milk is the best, if you can tolerate this).
    
    
12. A good diet should include 8 to 16 glasses of pure, body-temperature, well pH-balanced water per day. Contaminants such as chlorine, lead, pesticides, herbicides etc., should be removed with a good-quality water filter from reputable companies.

Organic foods, supplements and books can be found in your local organic food stores. Always check ingredients and the source of your food as well as what kind of processing it underwent.

Why Sugar Is Dangerous To Depression

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to appreciate the link between sugar and depression.
Anyone who doubts the relationship need only to spend a night in our house and see what type of behavior happens when two kids consume 12-ounce cans of Coke or Sprite — and the demonic demonstrations that happen after a 7-11 slurpee, especially if it’s red or blue, or God forbid, a mix.
People who suffer from depression are especially vulnerable to sugar’s evil power. I am so sensitive to white-flour, processed foods that I can practically set an alarm to for three hours after consumption, at which time I will be cursing myself for inhaling the large piece of birthday cake at the party because I am feeling so miserable. That doesn’t stop me from eating dessert at the next gathering, of course, but the awareness between sugar and mood does help me better understand some of my crashes.
What, exactly, is going on inside our brain when we take a bite of that fudge cheesecake?

I found a cool site called “Food for the Brain” that offers this simple explanation:

Eating lots of sugar is going to give you sudden peaks and troughs in the amount of glucose in your blood; symptoms that this is going on include fatigue, irritability, dizziness, insomnia, excessive sweating (especially at night), poor concentration and forgetfulness, excessive thirst, depression and crying spells, digestive disturbances and blurred vision. Since the brain depends on an even supply of glucose it is no surprise to find that sugar has been implicated in aggressive behavior, anxiety, and depression, and fatigue.
Lots of refined sugar and refined carbohydrates (meaning white bread, pasta, rice and most processed foods,) is also linked with depression because these foods not only supply very little in the way of nutrients but they also use up the mood enhancing B vitamins; turning each teaspoon of sugar into energy needs B vitamins. In fact, a study of 3,456 middle-aged civil servants, published in British Journal of Psychiatry found that those who had a diet which contained a lot of processed foods had a 58% increased risk for depression, whereas those whose diet could be described as containing more whole foods had a 26% reduced risk for depression.
Sugar also diverts the supply of another nutrient involved in mood – chromium. This mineral is vital for keeping your blood sugar level stable because insulin, which clears glucose from the blood, can’t work properly without it.

So what do you do if you want to level out your blood sugar so that it’s behaving more like the Dalai Lama than Michael Jackson inside your brain? In her national bestseller “Potatoes Not Prozac,” Kathleen DesMaisons offers a seven-step dietary plan for sugar-sensitive people like me. I’ve tried to implement her suggestions into my diet because, as a recovering drunk and depressive, too much sugar can get downright ugly.
Here’s what DesMaisons proposes:

• Keep a food journal. The journal keeps you in relationship to your body. It reminds you of the connection between what you eat and how you feel.
• Maintain your blood sugar level. Stay steady and clear. Always have breakfast. Eat three meals a day at regular intervals. Eat brown things (whole grains, beans, potatoes, and roots), green things (broccoli and other green vegetables), and yellow things (squash and other yellow vegetables). Choose foods with the least sugars and the most fiber.
• Enhance your serotonin level. Eat protein at each meal. Make sure that enough tryptophan is swimming around in your blood. Have a complex carbohydrate (without any protein) three hours after your protein meal to boost tryptophan into your brain. The baked potato as a nightcap is a powerful tool.
• Enhance your beta-endorphin level. Reduce or eliminate sugars and white things to minimize the beta-endorphin priming that comes with a hit of sugars. Make life changes to enhance behaviors and activities (meditation, exercise, music, orgasm, yoga, prayer, dancing) that evoke or support the production of your own beta-endorphin in a steady and consistent way.

Reference - Therese J Borchard

Diet and Exercise Tips

Excessive body weight contributes to snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, in addition to being a major influence on general health and well-being. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs in about 50-60 percent of those who are obese.

A recent report from the National Center for Health Statistics concludes that  35 percent of adults exercise regularly (more than 6 of 10 don’t), and nearly four in 10 aren’t physically active. Lack of exercise can increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. The CDC estimates that “about 112,000 deaths are associated with obesity each year in the United States.” However, this estimate is likely to change in the future as more data become available.

Proper diet and exercise are the mainstays for a healthy lifestyle, although many Americans turn to costly fad diets and exercise programs that fail to provide weight loss and a healthy lifestyle. The basic tenets to gradual weight loss and good health include developing healthy eating habits and increasing daily physical activity.
Self-Help Guidelines for Healthy Activity:

• Consult a physician – men over age 40; women over 50; people with (or at risk for) chronic health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, or obesity.

• Start out slowly and build up activity gradually over a period of months. This will help avoid soreness and injury.

• Try to accumulate 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity cardiovascular activity each day. You can do all 30 minutes together or through short bouts of intermittent activity (e.g., 10 minutes at a time).

• Add strength-developing exercises at least twice per week.

• Incorporate physical activity into your day (walk to the office or store, take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk or jog at lunch time, etc.)

• Make leisure time active – garden, walk, ride a bike with family and friends, participate in an exercise class, join in a sports activity.

• Select activities you enjoy, find satisfying, and that give you a feeling of accomplishment. Success leads to increased motivation to be physically active.

• Be sure your activities are compatible with your age and physical condition.

• Make it convenient to be active. Choose activities that are readily accessible (right outside your door) like gardening, walking, or jogging.

• Try “active commuting.” Cycle, walk, or in-line skate to work or to the store.

• Make your activity enjoyable – listen to music, include family and friends, etc.

For those who are already moderately active, increase the duration and intensity for additional benefits.

Weight Loss Tips:
Take in fewer calories than you expend. Few people understand this basic, simple concept.

• Eat smaller meals 3-5 times per day.

• Eat nutrient dense foods such as whole grains, lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables.

• Eat slowly, and wait 10-15 minutes before taking second helpings.

• Don’t eliminate everything you like from your diet. Eat those things in small amounts (pizza, candy, cookies, etc.).

• Prepare healthy snacks that are easily available (cut carrots, apples, etc.).

• Avoid buffets.

• Drink plenty of water, especially immediately before meals.

The Healthy Weight Approach to Dieting:

• Enjoy a variety of foods that will provide essential nutrients.

• Three-quarters of your lunch and dinner should be vegetables, fruits, cereals, breads, and other grain products. Snack on fruits and vegetables. Eat lots of dark green and orange vegetables. Choose whole-grain and enriched products more often.

• Choose lower-fat dairy products, leaner meats and alternatives, and foods prepared with little or no fat. Shop for low fat (2% or less) or fat-free products such as milk, yogurt, and cottage cheese. Eat smaller portions of leaner meats, poultry, and fish; remove visible fat from meat and the skin from poultry. Limit the use of extra fat like butter, margarine, and oil. Choose more peas, beans, and lentils

• Limit salt, caffeine, and alcohol. Minimize the consumption of salt. Cut down on added sugar such as jams, etc. Limit beverages with a high caffeine content (tea, sodas, chocolate drinks) and caffeinated coffee to two cups per day. Minimize alcohol to one to two drinks per day.

• Limit consumption of snack foods such as cookies, donuts, pies, cakes, potato chips, etc. They are high in salt, sugar, fat, and calories, and low in nutritional value.

• Eat in moderation. If you are not hungry, don’t eat.

Refference - American Academy of Otolaryngology