17/02/2014
Do you know that as much as 85% of our immune system is housed in the lining of our gut??? For many years I just imagined it was some internal 'army' that had a way of marching up and down the internal avenues of my body, claiming victory over enemy invasions! It never occurred to me that there could be a 'head office', a main control center. And that I was driving this submarine!
The primary role of our immune system is to keep us healthy by fixing problems in the body. Therefore it is a system that requires good constant attention. When our immune system is not working well, we are vulnerable to ALL illnesses and diseases. Hence, by natural deduction, our way back to health is to fix our immune system, and to avoid illness is to look after our immune system really well.
Our immune system is primarily housed in the gut because it is an ideal place for problems to thrive. Why is this so? This is the area where food backs up, clogs up and putrefies, becoming toxic, throwing poisons into our organs and blood stream, and even our brains. Food gets stuck here because? Here are some reasons : chemicals (eating what is not food!), processed (vital nutrients all removed from the original food), too much cooked foods (vital nutrients removed and others altered leaving the food incomplete for metabolism), too much carbs (dehydrating and clogging), too much sugar and or table salt (interferes with metabolism), too much animal foods (dehydrating, too much animal fats, not the right stomach acid in our system to digest quickly & well, no fibre), too little water (needed for elimination), too little fibre, (found in all raw foods and needed for elimination), and more!
Alarm bells should be ringing loudly because we don't get that much information on our Gut, when we learn about health. And the whole field of Health Education is like a bottomless pit - the more we learn and know the more the field opens up with more questions and problems and confusion.
Simply put, when food gets stuck in our gut, our immune system gets compromised, our gut lining perforates, undigested food particles can break through and enter the blood stream. With no immune system super active to fix this problem we get 99% of ALL our problems.
I know that sounds ridiculously simplistic and it IS MUCH more complex, but I make the point that this is a major area of concern and the first port of call when something goes wrong with our health. AND fixing this problem, or keeping it healthy, will eliminate and or fix most health problems, whether digestive, inflammation, mental, auto-immune, viral or disease.
So HOW do we concentrate our energy on improving our gut area and immune system?
Regularly eat foods with active good bacteria in them eg fermented vegetables, raw unpasteurized grassfed cows milk, olives, pickles (home cultured would ensure they have active good bacteria), kombucha, kimchi, unsweetened unflavored yogurt, etc.
Minimize our animal product intake - including cheese, milk, butter (no margarine - even if it has the heart tick!)
Steer clear of all chemical substances
Stop purchasing processed goods - anything in a box, packet, tin, bottle.
Avoid Soda Drinks!
Minimize fast foods majorly.
Change from table salt to good salt - himalayan, celtic, rock sea salt
Home cook your food from good grass fed organic animals, local sun ripened fruit and vegetables (organic where possible).
Drink plenty of fresh clean water
Eat at least 75% of your daily food intake raw. All raw food is very efficient at assisting in elimination. It seems to be one of it's primary roles.
Chew well - aim for 20 chews per mouthful.
Not eating well balanced natural and real fresh foods will compromise our immune system leading to illnesses such as digestive malfunction, MS, constipation, IBS, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's, Lyme's, Celiac, heart disease, arthritis, asthma, chronic infection, allergies, acne, eczema, psoriasis, chronic fatique, PMS, hypothyroidism, hormonal conditions, high and low blood pressure, cancer, leaky gut, epilepsy, all auto immune problems, even mental diseases such as autism, depression, ADHD, ADD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, schizophrenia, bipolar, eating disorders, OCD.
So the illness originates in the gut - and so does the answer!! Added to that is the fact that keeping your immune system healthy fixing all probelms
If anything here resonates with you and you want more information by all means get in touch with me and do your research on the internet. I personally like Dr Natasha's book on her GAPS program.
Orange Coconut Drink - refreshing summer drink
1 Cup thick coconut milk (I use 1/2 coconut milk and 1/2 coconut cream)
2 Cups freshly squeezed orange juice
1 t vanilla
Blend well, cool in the fridge and serve over ice.
Raw Curried Cabbage Salad
Ingredients
~2 lbs head of green cabbage, chopped into small pieces -a loosely packed cabbage is best
1/2 bunch green onions, thinly sliced
1/2 C shredded coconut flakes or chips (unsweetened, and raw)
juice of 2 lemons
2 T cold-pressed olive oil
3 T coconut aminos ( or 2 1/2 T tamari)
2 T black sesame seeds
1/4 t turmeric
1 t curry powder
1/2 t cumin
1/4 t ground ginger
A little sweetener of choice - I used 1/8 - 1/4t stevia powder
Directions
In a large bowl (or pot), toss together first 3 ingredients. Whisk the remaining ingredients in a small
bowl. Pour dressing over cabbage mixture and toss, making sure the cabbage is evenly coated. If
possible, chill for at least an hour or overnight to let the flavors blend and the cabbage break down.
C=cup, T=tablespoon, D=desertspoon, t=teaspoon
