In spite of all the information and all the prescriptions offered by modern diets, people just keep getting fatter. This suggests that our knowledge about metabolism is missing something — perhaps some of the old wisdom that kept hundreds of generations of people slender and strong.
Of course, having access to modern scientific knowledge is enormously helpful too. The key lies in integrating these two bodies of wisdom, and then applying them to get a better understanding of our entire physiological landscape.
1. Level of Toxicity
If you are like most people, you probably haven’t spent much time thinking about how many toxins you’re absorbing from your car upholstery or your Mountain Dew. But toxicity is a definite danger from some surprising sources, and it can wreak havoc on your health.
Many toxins like bromines are common endocrine disruptors, and are part of the halide family, a group of elements that includes fluorine and chlorine. What makes them so dangerous for our metabolism is that they compete for the same receptors that are used to capture iodine.
In our everday world, these toxins are found in pesticides, plastics, bakery goods (dough conditioners), soft drinks, medications, fire retardants and many other commericial products.
Eat organic as often as possible. Wash all produce thoroughly. This will minimize your pesticide exposure. Avoid eating or drinking from (or storing food and water in) plastic containers. Use glass and safe ceramic vessels. Look for the “no bromine” or “bromine-free” label on commercial baked goods. Avoid sodas. Drink natural, filtered water instead. Look for personal care products that are as chemical-free as possible. Remember — anything going on you, goes in you. When in a car or a building, open windows as often as possible, preferably on opposing sides of the space for cross ventilation.
2. Diet and Nutrition
Food supplies us with nutrients that are critical for healthy metabolism, and for health in general. Vitamins, minerals, essential amino acids, essential fatty acids and probiotics are all essential nutrients, many of which cannot be produced by the body and must therefore be ingested from an outside source. Missing even one essential nutrient from your diet could have an effect on your metabolism and overall health, so it’s important to understand how they work.
