Cell Food– first line of defense in the Healthy Cell Concept™As we get busy on our own personal road to wellness, it may be easy to forget the basic principles that can provide the most important steps toward improving our daily health. The AIM Companies™ call these daily basics the Healthy Cell Concept™. Cell food, cell exercise, cell environment, cell protection, and a healthy mental attitude are all a part of the Healthy Cell Concept™. By taking just a few simple steps toward following these basic concepts, we can develop healthy habits that will be with us for a lifetime. For you, or someone that you know, the results may be improved health—and a more enjoyable lifestyle! In this issue of Partners, AIM will look at our first step in the Healthy Cell Concept™ by discussing Cell Food. (Stay with us as we cover the remaining steps in future issues of Partners!) Cell Food—you are what you eat!Cell food is what we eat. Our bodies take this food, digest it, capture its nutrients, and transport these nutrients to our cells. What we eat becomes the cell structure of our bodies, and the cell structure determines our physical—healthy and unhealthy—nature. This is why we should be aware of what we eat. If we eat unhealthy foods, we generate unhealthy and toxic cells, which means that our bodies become unhealthy and toxic. In other words, our bodies cannot maintain health if we cram junk food into them! What does it take to have healthy cells?Our cells need certain nutrients, such as: protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, water, and enzymes. Proteins, carbohydrates, and fats are known as macronutrients because we need a generous supply (“macro” means “large”) to stay healthy. Enzymes, vitamins, and minerals (as well as amino acids) are called micronutrients because they are needed in smaller quantities. The Healthy Cell Concept™ does not mandate which foods to eat, but rather offers fundamental elements that you should consider when making healthy food choices. ProteinsThese are essential to maintaining the structure and function of all life—and are vital for the growth, repair, and maintenance of muscles, blood, internal organs, skin, hair, and nails. Most people think of only meat when they think of protein. Although meat is an excellent source of protein, its consumption can become problematic. Eating too much meat may result in too many purines, which leads to too much uric acid, which can result in gout and kidney stones. Meat also contains too much fat, which lead to problems associated with fat consumption: obesity, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and possibly even cancer. Alternate (healthier) sources of protein may include chickpeas and other legumes, as well as whole wheat grains, nuts, seeds, and eggs. For meat-lovers, it is generally recommended to eat 2 to 3 serving per week, achieving 10 to 15 percent of the total diet from meat or other animal sources of protein. Studies show that vegetarians easily get enough protein. CarbohydratesThese foods come from plants and are the main source of energy for all body functions. They are best energy source we have; they keep the digestive system fit and clean, and provide nutrients for the brain and nervous systems. Simple carbohydrates are simple sugars and are found in carbonated soft drinks, most desserts, candy, jelly and jam. The refined sugars and white flours that make up fast (processed) foods and white breads are also in this category. Eating too much of these foods weakens the immune system, meaning that we cannot fight off disease as effectively as we should be able to. Complex carbohydrates (think of these as starch and fiber), on the other hand, include such foods as: whole grains, brown rice, barley, oatmeal, beans, raw vegetables and raw fruits with their natural fibers still intact (unprocessed). North Americans typically consume 11 gr of fiber per day, which is far short of the recommended 25 to 40 gr per day for adults. FatsAlthough many North Americans try to eat a no-fat diet, essential fats are important to our cells. Healthy fats, known as essential fatty acids (EFAs), come from such sources as: flaxseed oil, olive oil, sunflower seed oil, sesame seed oil, grains, seeds, and dark greens. These healthy fats help to maintain the structural components of our cells. They restore energy, help us digest our foods, transport nutrients throughout the cells, and contribute toward healthy hormone balance. EFAs are typically polyunsaturated or monounsaturated. Flaxseed oil in particular is a polyunsaturated oil that is rich in omega-3 content, and it appears to decrease the risk of heart disease. Unhealthy fats (saturated and trans fats) remain troublesome in the modern North American diet. Meats contain high amounts of saturated fats, and over consumption can contribute toward heart disease. Many fats are hidden in our modern foods. For example, cakes, cookies, snack items, and fast foods are loaded with saturated fat as well as trans fats. Trans fat, comes from fat that has been hydrogenated (processed). Trans fats can increase the health risk for heart disease and raise blood cholesterol levels. It is best to avoid trans fats and saturated fats, and choose the healthier polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, if you can. EnzymesMost people don’t think about enzymes, but they are critical for proper digestion and metabolic action. Enzymes are the sparks that initiate or speed up the essential chemical reactions required by the body’s organs, tissues, and cells—we need enzymes to live! If we do not replenish our supply of enzymes, we run the risk of ill health. Cooked, processed, and microwaved foods are virtually depleted of enzymes. By contrast, raw whole foods such as fruits and vegetables are loaded with enzymes. The more enzymes you get, the healthier you are, and the more raw foods you eat, the more enzymes you get! This gives good reason to include plenty of raw fruits and vegetables in your daily diet. Vitamins and MineralsVitamins and minerals are noncaloric, organic nutrients that are vital for life. Vitamins are integral helpers in digestion and in virtually all cellular functions. Vitamins also act as coenzymes—that is, they help enzymes do their jobs by activating them. B vitamins in particular play important roles as coenzymes. Minerals are naturally occurring elements that perform structural and catalytic roles in the body. Minerals are not destroyed by cooking, unlike vitamins. There have been volumes written on vitamins and minerals, their importance, what they do, how to get them and in what amounts. Vitamins and minerals obtained from whole food sources are easily absorbed by the body. This is yet another reason to consume plenty of raw foods, such as whole fruits and vegetables. What steps can I take for healthy cells?The AIM whole food concentrates are an easy way to add the power of raw foods to your diet. With the AIM products, you’ll receive a balanced proportion of all nutrients for Cell Food that supports and builds healthy cells. Consider nourishing and replenishing with:
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