INTRODUCTION
Our lives have drastically changed since the Covid-19 pandemic. Millions of people around the globe suffered and struggled during these hard times. And the reason was the bad lifestyle they had been pursuing for years. As a result, their immunity system became so weak and vulnerable, and was easily compromised when the virus struck.
The only group of people that survived this ordeal with less damage were the vegan community. They led a healthy way of life, controlled their food and eventually boosted their body defense mechanisms. Time is up. People need to pursue a healthy lifestyle and control everything they eat or drink. In this article, we will explore the connections between the body's systems and the food we eat.
Normally, we are not supposed to get sick at
all. It may seem unbelievable, but it is the truth. Why? Because everything our
body could ever need is out there in our mother nature. All the beneficial
nutrients from vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, antioxidants, proteins… can
be found in natural foods. Our body is just like a car with a special engine.
And this engine needs to be taken care of by choosing the best lubricants. To
achieve this goal that has become mandatory in our modern times, we need to
follow two major steps:
* Knowing the systems inside the human body.
* Knowing the categories of food needed to maintain these systems
Our body is a unique
and complex machine. It is made of several systems that are all
interconnected. Their job is based on the nutrients we consume. Ultimately, the
food we eat defines our entire health and affects the work of these systems in
a good or bad way. So, let’s get introduced to our body’s systems:
THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
It is simply all the organs from the mouth to the anus. It consists of various organs like the stomach, the mouth, intestines, pancreas, liver, colon. This system plays a crucial role in breaking down the food we eat into tiny molecules. When we eat, our digestive system releases enzymes and acids to turn our food into smaller components like vitamins, carbohydrates, protein, minerals, fats…After that, these nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream and taken to the cells and used to produce energy, help with growth and cell repair. The digestive system also has an important mission. That is the disposing of solid waste and stool.
THE CARDIOVASULAR SYSTEM
It is also called the circulatory system. This system includes such organs as the heart, blood vessels and blood. Its primary function is to transport nutrients and oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. Also, it carries deoxygenated blood back to the lungs. This transport system is vital to our health. The nutrients obtained during this operation are needed for energy and repair.
THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
Our nervous system is literally the command center of
everything within your body. It controls almost everything you do, feel, think,
say. It commands your movements, thoughts, memories and automatic responses to
the environment around you. This system consists of the brain, spinal
cord, and a complex network of nerves. The main master of the system is the
brain. It is responsible for processing sensory information and sending signals
to different parts of the body. In order to maintain a healthy nervous system,
proper nutrition is required, like vitamins and minerals.
THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
It is also called the immune system. It is made up of millions of little vessels that branch all around our body. They carry out a colorless fluid called lymph. Our lymphatic system has three main duties: First, it fights infections using its lymphocytes (white blood cells). Secondly, it acts as a one-way drainage system, transporting fluid from body tissues into the blood stream circulation. And thirdly, it gets rid of waste products produced by cells.
It is responsible for reproduction and sexual functioning. In females, there is ovaries, which are small glands that contain eggs and produce female hormones. This egg is fertilized by the male sperm in the vagina during sexual intercourse. This egg develops into a fetus and is delivered during childbirth. In males, we find testes that produce sperm.
It includes several organs and glands that produce and secrete hormones. These hormones are released into the blood stream and go to different organs and tissues. They are responsible for regulating certain processes in the body as growth, metabolism and reproduction. The key organs in this system are the pineal gland, the pituitary gland, the adrenal gland, the pancreas, testes, and ovaries.
It is basically a physical shield that protects the body against exterior threats like bacteria, infection, injury and sunlight. It includes different structures in our body like the skin, hair, nails, the glands and nerves.
Now, we have been introduced to our body systems, let’s meet the varieties of food categories needed to keep this body healthy and strong. There are many different categories of food, each with its own unique benefits. Here are the five important food groups:
· Fruits are rich in simple sugar, mainly fructose. Unlike the various refined sugars, fruit sugar is slowly digested thanks to high fiber content in most fruits. As a result, blood sugar is maintained in a balanced level.
Grain products include foods from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley. There exists two subcategories: whole and refined grains. Whole grains are the best option for our health because they have the entire grain kernel (the bran, the germ and the endosperm). In this category, we find whole-wheat flour, oatmeal, brown rice, bulgur (cracked wheat). Grains provide us with fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and can help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Seeds are also as important as all the other food categories. They are high in fiber, healthy fats and protein. Seeds are loaded with minerals like magnesium, potassium, calcium and iron and zinc. They are a good source for vitamin B1, B2, B3 and vitamin E. All these nutrients help reduce the risk of heart diseases, maintain weight and reduce the risk of diabetes. The best seeds are sesame, pumpkin, sha, sunflower, flaxseeds and caraway.
Not all fats are bad for our health. Our body needs some fats like omega 3. These “good fats” help lower the risk of heart disease and stroke. They also lower bad cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure and can also help with weight loss. We find these fats in a variety of foods such as olive oil, olives, avocado, sesame or sesame oil and also in fish. These fats can also be found in nuts like almonds, peanuts, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans…
Now, you know how your systems work and their reliability on food nutrients. I believe that we are meant to be 100 % vegan. And this vegan lifestyle must be composed of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seeds, healthy fats, spices and herbs. This diet should exclude all canned, frozen, dried, dehydrated, pasteurized products. The obvious explanation is very simple: our body is made to process natural food easily and takes most advantage of its nutrients. On the other hand, all processed foods with additives and coloring supplements create a state of chaos inside our body. And with time, things could get worse, provoking multiple diseases. It is important to follow a balanced diet that includes a variety of natural foods to ensure that all the body's systems receive the nutrients they need to function properly.
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