NUTRITION AUTHOR
Coach Kati Epps
HEALING THE BODY FROM THE INSIDE n Coach Kati shares how nutrition can lead to a longer, happier and healthier life.
F
ood is medicine. The famous Greek physician Hippocrates said, “Let food be thy medicine, and let medicine be thy food.” This statement has become the motto over the last decade for eating whole, nutrient-dense foods. The less processed, the greater the nutritional value, which equates to a greater ability for the body to process and utilize the food for macro- and micronutrient purposes. This slogan isn’t merely food rhetoric to support farmers or to shop locally. Food as medicine has been proven time and again to aid in healing the body from numerous disease states and to keep the body healthy for a longer life. What are the top five foods for healing the body and what do they heal?
AUGUST 2021
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Fruits and Vegetables to Fight Inflammation
The body creates inflammation from an activation of white blood cells and the things that protect the body from disease or illness. When the body creates inflammation without the presence of sickness, like in autoimmune diseases, the body starts attacking healthy tissue. To help the body fight that inflammation, fruits and vegetables with deep color are the most healing. Kale, spinach and broccoli are some vegetable examples, while raspberries, cherries and blackberries are some fruit options.
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Fatty Fish to Fight Heart Disease
Heart disease is currently the number one cause of death in America, with the most common being coronary artery disease — the leading cause of heart
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attacks. Eating fatty fish three times per week over the course of eight weeks has shown to reduce cholesterol levels, triglycerides in the blood, systemic and diabolic blood pressure. Salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines are all great fatty fish options.
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Coffee to Fight Liver Disease
Liver disease is any disruption in the function of the liver that causes illness. The liver is responsible for vitamin and mineral storage, metabolizing food into nutrients, fighting infection, regulating blood clotting, protein production and bile production to help digest fat and absorb vitamins. Disruption of these functions can cause serious damage to the body. Coffee promotes liver health by preventing the buildup of fat and collagen, two markers of liver disease. It also helps reduce
