Issue link: https://cp.revolio.com/i/1462604
www.AbbysHealthFood.com | # 50| Page 7 Q: Is it true that food alone is sufficient to nourish the body? For instance, for heart health? A: Let's start with the simple answer. Nutri ous, healthy food has sustained our ancestors for thousands of years. One of their biggest challenges was not having enough food before humans became farmers (agrarian), and even then, hunger was a reality. Most but not all of the westernized world's dietary challenges come down to the quality and quan ty of the food we eat. We became a fast food na on with quick, convenient meals that are o en void of vital nutrients, taking center stage. Indeed, we are an overfed and undernourished society. I share with my pa ents this simple illustra on: A health- promo ng diet is like the les on a kitchen counter. They are the center of wellness. Taking supplements is like the grout, filling in the spaces and comple ng the counter. Medicinal herbs add phytonutrients that are difficult to get from our everyday diet. The more complicated answer is that even the most health aware and mo vated pa ents do not either have access or the me to prepare perfect "wellness meals". We may not be ge ng op mal garlic or turmeric levels, for instance, to glean all of the benefits that regular intake may garner. We can also compare our ea ng habits to cultures that have demonstrated daily turmeric intake for health-suppor ve proper es. A medical site such as Memorial Sloan Ke ering Cancer Center's website, can provide you with some proposed and researched considera ons for turmeric and other herbals.* Spicing up our meals with botanicals like Garlic, Cayenne and Turmeric and supplemen ng when we fall short of our health-suppor ve aspira ons with high quality, organic supplements is vital in gleaning essen al phytonutrients and phytochemical ac vity.* Heart-healthy medicinal herbs such as Ginkgo and Hawthorn are not typically found in one's diet, thus supplemen ng with the input of a trained and skilled healthcare provider can allow for the strategic and individualized applica on to support one's goals. I encourage my pa ents to become educated on their bodies and research what and why they may consider incorpora ng into their health-suppor ve diet and lifestyle. Looking at both conserva ve medical resources such as WebMD. com and also other resources, for the sake of an example sel acked.com, can offer broader apprecia on on a given health considera on. Peace and abundant blessings, Dr. Chris Mele s, N.D. Nourishing the H E A R T Ask Dr. Mele s, N.D.