Food is the fundamental source of energy for all physiological processes within the human body, allowing it to sustain life, prevent disease, and promote healing. The term “fuel” is not used metaphorically, as our patients and many others have experienced firsthand how the foods we consume impact bodily mechanisms and health in a variety of ways.
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Did you know that targeted diets focused on cellular respiration can significantly alter metabolism? Or that the food substances we consume directly impact our intestinal mucosa, comprising nearly 70% of our immunity, and influencing the brain and mood daily through a vast network of neurons?
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Imagine that harmful substances altering our intestinal mucosa and penetrating our general circulation could lead to depression, obesity, insulin resistance, hormonal disorders, and autoimmune diseases by attacking other organs and activating unfavorable genes.
In my view, the small intestine plays a critical role in protecting the human body’s internal environment from dangerous environmental factors, such as bacteria and harmful foods. Unfortunately, many individuals experience a breakdown in the intestinal barrier, allowing the infiltration of harmful macromolecules. When certain substances accumulate, often with favorable inheritance factors, this can lead to a range of diseases.1
Now that we have established the primary role of a healthy diet as fuel for the human organism and protection from alteration, it is crucial to understand that food substances can also act as effective medication due to the synergy of their components. For instance, while high doses of synthesized antiscorbutic Vitamin C have never been effective in curing scurvy, specific fruits and vegetables, such as cabbage and lemon, have been successful in treating the disease. Research has revealed that these foods contain not only one molecule of vitamin C but also a second vitamin, known as C2, which is necessary to activate the first. Thus, the therapeutic effect of food in the interaction of their biochemicals can sometimes be more effective than extracted or isolated molecules.
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