Food
is the primary way to obtain the necessary building blocks for:
cells, DNA, enzymes, membranes, and most importantly the brain
and central nervous system. For example the brain is made primarily
of fat; if you eat fatty, fried, fast food those fats will incorporate
into your brain, making a fatty, oxidized, fried brain, which
does not function well. Where as if you eat good fats like from
fish and vegetable oils your body will be able to make a brain
that is healthy and can function optimally. In addition water
is required to function, and most do not get enough. A good reference
is to get 40-50% of your body weight (lbs) in ounces of water
a day. For example a 150 lb person needs roughly 75 oz a day.
All
of the nutrients we need to build our body we must first get into
our digestive tract. That begins with the smelling of food being
prepared, stimulating our stomachs. With chewing and stomach acid
we further break down our food. In the small intestine digestive
enzymes and bile are added to help further break down the food.
Lastly in our small and large intestine nutrients, fats, and other
factors are absorbed into the blood stream, subsequently getting
incorporated into our cells. Beneficial bacteria, present in the
small and large intestine, aid in the digestion of foods and make
many nutrients that we also require.
Our
body requires a combination of: proteins, complex carbohydrates,
fats, and nutrients. In general an organic "rainbow"
diet is best. This means at each there should be a combination
of different colored foods. A good example is a tossed green salad
with different lettuces, tomatoes, carrots, cabbage, spinach,
and sliced chicken or tofu on top, vs. a pork chop, with a side
of mashed potatoes and gravy.
Food
allergies, a largely misunderstood problem. There are two types
of allergic reactions determined by the type of antibody involved:
1. Those that occur relatively quickly (IgE), like hives and anaphylaxis
- these reactions can be life threatening, and 2. Those that are
delayed reactions (IgG) - these usually result in inflammation
or diarrhea. Unfortunately many physicians only test the IgE mediated
reactions. IgG mediated reactions can take up to three days to
develop, and are the most common type of reactions. Symptoms of
IgG mediated food reactions include: diarrhea, constipation, rashes,
gas, bloating, and black and blue coloring under the eyes (shiners).
One of the most devastating examples of a food allergy is Celiac
disease, where an individual mounts an immune response to gliadin
a component of gluten, causing damage to the intestinal tract.
There are a number of foods that commonly cause reactions, however,
testing needs to be performed to rule out each individual's specific
allergies.
Food
intolerances are a different type of problem. In this case an
individual has no ability to digest a certain food because of
a genetic factor. The most commonly known is lactose intolerant.
This means that an individual lacks the necessary enzymes to properly
breakdown lactose, and either must avoid lactose or take a supplemental
enzyme.
Food
additives can also wreck havoc on an individual's biochemistry.
Many of the artificial sweeteners present in foods are capable
of acting directly on the brain as neurotransmitters. These reactions
can manifest as the inability to concentrate or to the extreme
of causing seizures.
We'll
finish with a quick discussion of sugar. Sugar is present in many
different forms throughout our food supply. It alone can cause
a host of problems ranging from constipation and hyperactivity,
to immune suppression. Roughly 1 teaspoon of sugar (5 grams) is
all it takes to suppress white blood cell (WBC) function by 85%
for up to 6 hours. This means an individual who has a pastry for
breakfast, cookies at lunch and a soda at dinner; has suppressed
their immune system all day.
There
are many problems associated with other foods, each case needs
to be evaluated. Testing can help determine which foods need to
be avoided and eliminated altogether, while a challenge elimination
diet can shed even more light on which foods are the culprits.
To find out more information contact the office at 503-639-6454
and schedule a free 15-minute consult.
Rob
Dramov, ND, PC
9735 SW Shady Lane, Suite 302
Tigard, OR 97223
503-639-6454
www.DramovMedical.com
