Food for Thought.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eKYyD14d_0

We are far too informed about the consequences resulting in not eating whole foods to allow a relatively intelligent society of people to consume the junk that large corporations shovel down our throats and promote as healthy food alternatives for people living in a fast-paced society. Such societies exist so that food corportations can profit from it rather than to actually nourish a society of people properly. Such is the case in a free-market where terms like economics and profit out weigh and over-power ideas of health and wellness, when as a people, it is the latter terms that truly perpetuate a society. The time is now to act upon this knowledge and become accountable for what we are putting into our bodies as so called "food" and to stop ignoring the fact that taking 10 minutes to prepare something real, far out weighs the anxst of only allowing yourself to wait 2 minutes for something zapped in a microwave. Processed and refined foods, such a those quick fix, so-called healthy meals, extract the essence of what we require from these vegetal whole foods for proper nourishment. Minerals and vitamins, known as micronutrients, are in our diets, but in very small amounts. Micronutrients, just like water, do not provide energy, however they are still needed in adequate amounts to ensure that all our body cells function properly. Even though their presence is in minute amounts it should by no way diminish their importance to nutrition. In today's world, the macronutrients get all the attention. We are suffocated with new-age diets. Diets that only focus on carbohydrates, proteins, or fat. We have become obsessed with either eliminating or adding the latter three to our diets. We do this and mistakenly forget that there are other elements to our diet that cannot be over-looked. The fourth macronutrient is water, and although all four of these are hugely important and make up the bulk of our diets, the micronutrients cannot be ignored. This brings us back to refined and processed foods and how the quintessential aspect of whole vegetal foods is being removed and we are left with a less than adequate substitute. In North America, a land of plenty, many people are highly deficient in minerals as a result of our food production and processing methods. As such, these deficiencies can lead to degenerative diseases.

Consider grain before it is milled into flour - "wheat berries". These whole-wheat seeds can comprise dozens of minerals and micro-minerals if grown in rich soil. They also contain immuno-protective phyto-nutrients as well as vitamins and precious oils. In the refining process, as in done in the milling of wheat berries, we obtain “white” flour used in common pastries, donuts, pastas and breads. However, in this process, the majority, if not all, of these nutrients are lost. As co-habitants of earth with all things living, it would only make sense for us to grow strong and remain healthy, by ingesting the wonders of what Mother Nature provides us.
The following is a very brief list of vitamins and minerals that we require in our diets, if only in trace amounts.

Selenium - If deficient, sluggish metabolism results and weight gain more likely because selenium influences the transformation of thyroxin (T4) into triiodothyronine (T3), which makes possible the metabolism of nutrients. Whole wheat is a great source for selenium.

Magnesium - Most common deficiency in people eating mass amounts of refined foods. Up to 70% of North Americans suffer from magnesium deficiency and is considered one of the most under-diagnosed deficiencies, but very easily solved. Food sources include legumes (beans, soy products, peas) and vegetables of the green variety (broccoli, spinach)

Vitamin B Complex: The B complexes are important membrane stabilizers. They are natural tranquilizers or anti-stress vitamins because of this property. They are important vitamins to help nerve function. Commonly deficient and if taken in supplement form should be taken with food in the stomach already or pain and nausea may be evident. Food sources include milk, yeast, liver, whole-grain cereals, nuts, eggs, yogurt, fruits, meats and leafy vegetables.