– Mike Adams (The Health Ranger)
Last month, our blog centered on New Year’s resolutions, suggestions to help us make more focused resolutions, and tips on how to stick with them. Since almost 70% of these resolutions are diet and fitness related (according to Nielsen), we thought we would follow up with a discussion on Americans’ food choices, and how they relate to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
In TCM, one of the core concepts is that our bodies have an intimate connection with the outside environment, and as such, our bodies are constantly working to maintain an equilibrium with the environment. If our bodies cannot maintain this equilibrium, disease will result. In TCM, dampness – which describes a condition of viscosity, imbalance, and/or stagnation in digestion, metabolism, and/or qi – is considered to be at the root of many common illnesses. There is a saying in TCM, that “The earth element creates damp, and the metal element (lungs and large intestines) stores it.” Given that the stomach is one of the organs associated with the earth element (that which creates the dampness in the first place), it is no wonder that many of our symptoms and illnesses can be linked directly to what we eat. The spleen is the other organ associated with the earth element – which is also makes sense given the integral role that the spleen plays in digestion and metabolism, according to TCM and western medicine alike.
According to data compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average American eats… and you may want to sit down for this… 1,996 pounds of food each and every year. Of this nearly one ton of food, over 600 pounds (almost 12 pounds a week) is dairy – milk, ice cream, and over 30 pounds of cheese alone – all of which is inherently difficult to digest. This digestive disruption then leads to dampness and stagnation in either the lungs or large intestine – the two primary organs associated with the metal element. The resulting symptoms can include phlegm discharge, loose or viscous stools, epigastric distention, a turbidity of fluids, low energy, weight gain, joint pain, dizziness, nausea, tightness in the chest and general fatigue.
What makes up the remaining 1,366 pounds? To start out, almost 200 pounds of meat, 200 pounds of wheat and other grains (most heavily processed), almost 300 pounds of fruit, and over 400 pounds of vegetables. Unfortunately, white-wheat flour, refined and/or heavily processed starch products, and even excess fruits and vegetables, are known to cause dampness and impaired metabolism.
Not to be ignored is a shocking 85 pounds of fat – mostly trans fats and
One pound down, only 84 to go
saturated fats (almost universally-considered to be bad for us in a multitude of ways) – not the healthier fats like monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats, or omega 3 fatty acids. Last, and perhaps most frightening, is a staggering 200 pounds of sweeteners, both natural and highly unnatural – over 60 pounds of which is corn syrup – mostly of the high-fructose variety, all of which Western medicine has linked to diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer, strokes, and dementia. TCM also recognizes the damaging role that excessive sugar and sweets plays vis-à-vis dampness, stagnation, and poor metabolism.
So what can we do to improve our food choices and, ultimately, our health? Note that many of the negative effects discussed above are preceded by the words “excess” or “excessive”. The sheer volume of foods consumed is a testament to our over-indulgent food practices. A big part of Traditional Chinese Medicine is balance – balance in lifestyle, balance in our food intake (both quantity and quality), and the balance between our bodies and the environment. There is no magic formula that everyone can follow and expect equal or immediate results. Much really depends on you – your body, lifestyle, habits, and existing health issues. At Nature’s Balance Acupuncture, our comprehensive, integrative approach may include Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Zyto Technology, Saliva Testing, or other assessment techniques to develop an individualized, targeted plan to improve overall health and help your body heal naturally.
Please call our office at 815.788.8383 to find out how our Nutrition and Diet Support for Health in Crystal Lake, IL can help you feel better today.