Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
A Flourishing Gut -- and Certain Behaviors -- Promote Good HealthGuidelines to Building a Strong Immune System
Prepared for You by
Linda Royer, PhD, RN, MPH
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3 ................... Introduction
4, 5 ............... How Foods You Eat Affect How You Feel
6, 7 ............... My Plate
8-10 ............. God Planned Foods for Specific Body Needs
11 ................ Vital Nutrients
12,13............ Resources for Nutrition Management
14 ................ Assessing Your Current Nutrition Status
15-17 .......... Diets, Food, Nutrition -- and What is Sustainable in Our Environment
18, 19 ......... Safe and Sustaining Methods of Storing Food
20-25 .......... Vegetable Partners Recipes
26 ............... Final Message
4, 5 ............... How Foods You Eat Affect How You Feel
6, 7 ............... My Plate
8-10 ............. God Planned Foods for Specific Body Needs
11 ................ Vital Nutrients
12,13............ Resources for Nutrition Management
14 ................ Assessing Your Current Nutrition Status
15-17 .......... Diets, Food, Nutrition -- and What is Sustainable in Our Environment
18, 19 ......... Safe and Sustaining Methods of Storing Food
20-25 .......... Vegetable Partners Recipes
26 ............... Final Message
INTRODUCTION
The Gut-Immune Connection
To build greater immunity against disease, particularly viral infections, we need to understand the gut-immune relationship. During health, the human gut bacterial community is diverse. Each person harbors over 100 trillion bacteria comprised of over 2000 different known species. According to biologic scientists, the gut microbiome plays an essential role in the development, instruction, and priming of the immune system. The proper balance, composition, and healthful diversity of gut bacteria is necessary for favorable immune responses and the enjoyment of optimal health. Imbalance that favors unfriendly bacteria over friendly germs triggers strong immune and inflammatory processes that promote chronic disease. Friendly gut bacteria have the opposite effect!
Belkaid, Y. and Hand, T. Cell. (2014) Mar 27; 157(1): 121–141.
doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2014.03.011
Other Sources:
Wildwood Lifestyle Center
Harvard Medical School on "The Sensitive Gut" and "the Gut-Brain Connection"
To build greater immunity against disease, particularly viral infections, we need to understand the gut-immune relationship. During health, the human gut bacterial community is diverse. Each person harbors over 100 trillion bacteria comprised of over 2000 different known species. According to biologic scientists, the gut microbiome plays an essential role in the development, instruction, and priming of the immune system. The proper balance, composition, and healthful diversity of gut bacteria is necessary for favorable immune responses and the enjoyment of optimal health. Imbalance that favors unfriendly bacteria over friendly germs triggers strong immune and inflammatory processes that promote chronic disease. Friendly gut bacteria have the opposite effect!
Belkaid, Y. and Hand, T. Cell. (2014) Mar 27; 157(1): 121–141.
doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2014.03.011
Other Sources:
Wildwood Lifestyle Center
Harvard Medical School on "The Sensitive Gut" and "the Gut-Brain Connection"
How the Foods you Eat Affect How You Feel
From Nutritional Psychiatry: Your brain on food
From Nutritional Psychiatry: Your brain on food
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate sleep and appetite, mediate moods, and inhibit pain. Since about 95% of your serotonin is produced in your gastrointestinal tract, and your gastrointestinal tract is lined with a hundred million nerve cells, or neurons, it makes sense that the inner workings of your digestive system don’t just help you digest food, but also guide your emotions. What’s more, the function of these neurons — and the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin — is highly influenced by the billions of “good” bacteria that make up your intestinal microbiome. These bacteria play an essential role in your health. They protect the lining of your intestines and ensure they provide a strong barrier against toxins and “bad” bacteria; they limit inflammation; they improve how well you absorb nutrients from your food; and they activate neural pathways that travel directly between the gut and the brain.
Studies have compared “traditional” diets, like the Mediterranean diet and the traditional Japanese diet, to a typical “Western” diet and have shown that the risk of depression is 25% to 35% lower in those who eat a traditional diet. Scientists account for this difference because these traditional diets tend to be high in vegetables, fruits, unprocessed grains, and fish and seafood, and to contain only modest amounts of lean meats and dairy. They are also void of processed and refined foods and sugars, which are staples of the “Western” dietary pattern. In addition, many of these unprocessed foods are fermented, and therefore act as natural probiotics.
Studies have compared “traditional” diets, like the Mediterranean diet and the traditional Japanese diet, to a typical “Western” diet and have shown that the risk of depression is 25% to 35% lower in those who eat a traditional diet. Scientists account for this difference because these traditional diets tend to be high in vegetables, fruits, unprocessed grains, and fish and seafood, and to contain only modest amounts of lean meats and dairy. They are also void of processed and refined foods and sugars, which are staples of the “Western” dietary pattern. In addition, many of these unprocessed foods are fermented, and therefore act as natural probiotics.
So, to express a general message of advice,
Diets that are high in whole plant foods (fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, but low in added sugar, saturated and trans fats) stimulate the proliferation of beneficial bacteria such as those that have beneficial anti-inflammatory properties. In other words, liberal amounts of raw fruits and vegetables are particularly useful in building healthy gut microflora. . . and add to that the improvement of your blood circulation for transport of those plant food nutrients.
In contrast, a poor-quality or Western diet (rich in sugar, animal products, salt, processed foods, and refined carbohydrates) is linked to more disease-causing bacteria. Eating meals at regular times, exercise, and sufficient sleep help to populate the gut with disease-fighting bacteria.
............................
In this short ebook, I will describe some major strategies for the improvement of your nutritional intake.
Diets that are high in whole plant foods (fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, but low in added sugar, saturated and trans fats) stimulate the proliferation of beneficial bacteria such as those that have beneficial anti-inflammatory properties. In other words, liberal amounts of raw fruits and vegetables are particularly useful in building healthy gut microflora. . . and add to that the improvement of your blood circulation for transport of those plant food nutrients.
In contrast, a poor-quality or Western diet (rich in sugar, animal products, salt, processed foods, and refined carbohydrates) is linked to more disease-causing bacteria. Eating meals at regular times, exercise, and sufficient sleep help to populate the gut with disease-fighting bacteria.
............................
In this short ebook, I will describe some major strategies for the improvement of your nutritional intake.
So, let's get started!
My Plate: Optimal Nutrition Facts from Scientists Who Know
The U.S. Dietary Guidelines evolve from the concept of My Plate, where one can estimate proportions of food groups on the meal plate.
The Guidelines are a published manual with extensive information on food values and recommended portions of value-rich foods that should be consumed on a daily basis to maintain optimum weight and nutrition status.
The Guidelines are a published manual with extensive information on food values and recommended portions of value-rich foods that should be consumed on a daily basis to maintain optimum weight and nutrition status.
To start out on your Meal Plan for a day, with this example in mind, you will need to determine these factors:
· Your present weight and what your desired/optimal weight should be
· How many calories/day you should consume
· Your food allergies
· Any special diet restrictions (from your health professional)
· Whether or not you will eat/drink snacks
· What type of diet you need/desire (vegetarian, vegetarian with fish, vegan, etc.)
· Your present weight and what your desired/optimal weight should be
· How many calories/day you should consume
· Your food allergies
· Any special diet restrictions (from your health professional)
· Whether or not you will eat/drink snacks
· What type of diet you need/desire (vegetarian, vegetarian with fish, vegan, etc.)
Tools you will need: Portion cups, measuring spoons