Breaking Out of Old Ways... and Embracing the New :: Holistic Healing

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Breaking Out of Old Ways... and Embracing the New
by author Siegfried Gursche, MH

Many people attending my lectures take notes, sometimes using a small tape recorder. I understand this. They have made a decision to live healthy according to the laws of nature and want to make sure they have the information at hand. Often, I pass out taste samples or give practical demonstrations to substantiate the talk. The attendees love it and are enthused.

However, no sooner the lecture ends and they go home into their old environment and the desire to start on a new healthier way of life slowly and unknowingly fades away. The power of habit is too strong and takes over. It not only takes knowledge but a tremendous amount of willpower to overcome the traditional way of life. We all know that the media and food giants in their advertising have deluded us by impressing on our mind a false picture of health. The shopping carts at the supermarket checkouts provide proof enough. They are loaded with advertised manufactured food products. Boxed cereals for breakfast with white toast and coffee, anything fast, pre-prepared and microwaved for lunch, or processed cheese and macaroni for dinner. All this in the long run will have a devastating effect on our health with disastrous consequences.

Usually, the “average, healthy” person does not associate the odd headache, some allergies, constipation, tooth decay, high blood pressure, asthma, or rheumatism with food intake; and they want to take a pill-a quick fix-possibly a natural remedy, a vitamin, mineral, enzyme, or herbal product. People coming to my lectures are more concerned. They realize that humankind is suffering from modern advances in agriculture: the overuse of artificial fertilizers destroying the soil, monoculture, food production devoid of essential nutrients, and many other negative influences. They may have had a bout of a serious illness and they want to introduce lasting changes to their lifestyle. In most cases they find it difficult to break old habits, as they are at odds with circumstances. Sometimes it’s their family that holds them back because family members don’t want to break with tradition and revolt when new dishes appear on the table.

What is there to do? What’s the answer? Usually I recommend taking small steps, making one change at a time. The first week start with fats and oils. I recommend removing all refined oils, shortening, and margarine from the fridge and replacing them with cold-pressed, unrefined seed oils from flax, sunflower, hemp seed, or nuts for salads, as well as butter, extra-virgin olive oil, and coconut butter for frying.

The next important step is to upgrade drinks. Avoid any soft drinks with added sugar and citric acid and replace them with fruit drinks and real fruit juices of which ‘fresh pressed’ is your best choice. Then increase the fibre in your diet. Look for whole grain breads and pasta made from spelt or kamut. Cut back gradually on any sweets or baked goods made with white flour or refined sugar.

On a daily basis, buy more fresh vegetables and fruits in season. Have them ready to nibble on at all times. You will be surprised how quickly these treats go, and this takes care of introducing complex carbohydrates.

Finally, upgrade to life protein. The body needs it and you won’t find it in any in protein drinks, nor in cooked vegetables or meat. Soft-boiled or poached eggs with runny yellow yolks are good and sprouted grains and beans are full of life protein. There is hardly a raw vegetable that does not provide this valuable protein.

Little healthy steps, one at a time, will have a profound impact on your taste buds and will make you wonder why you hadn’t changed to whole foods much sooner.

Siegfried Gursche is the founder of Alive Publishing Group Inc. Respected as a pioneer of the Canadian health food industry since 1954, he continues to educate and inspire people through book and magazine publishing.

Source: alive #254, December 2003

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