Saturday, April 25, 2009

WHY ITAL IS VITAL





RASTA ICHANT TERM TO FOR THEIR DIET. ITAL.(VEGAN/SALTLESS DIET)
A way of eating that promote's life not death



Vegan, saltless nutrition


Why Ital is Vital

In all my studies about nutrition I found many theories of what one should eat. Many diets, some leaving out something, others focusing on there thing are out in this world, all of them claiming to promote health.


What helped me on my quest for health is to search for the most natural alternative to replace the one I was socially conditioned to partake off. For me that meant I had to replace milk, cheese, butter, meat, over processed flower products, unhealthy seasonings as well as unhealthy cooking practices to access nutrients more suitable for my needs. Off course I found myself swimming against the current most off the time. Sometimes it was a challenging, but overall satisfying journey from cultural conditioning to natural reality.




So when you feel that sitting around a table and eating off all kinds of exotic creatures could not be the heights of human development, welcome to real life.


So beautiful is the institution of creation, that many versions of the same game called life can be played at the same time, each one bringing its own rewards.


I found that changing the way I eat helped I find out a lot about myself and the environment of which I came from.


Now it seems completely logical to nourish myself the way I choose, but when I look back I can see why my ways turned around completely. What I find fascinating is how people defend there ways of life, even when they intellectually agree with me that ital levity, meaning the absence of animal products, processed foods, salt, and artificial anything, is really the way to go. Some get almost fanatical in defending there right to nyam of every living thing on earth, even quoting the bible to let me know God gave them permission to do so. (That is the same book that teaches you that you shall not kill. I will never figure out that one!)


Not even there doctor's advice to cut back on that fat crap that clogs up there inside helps.


I found very few individuals willing to stop sacrificing there lives in order to save others. And in a way I find that puzzling, especially so in a world full of god-fearing people claiming to be on a path of righteousness.




I found it much easier to change from my old ways then to go on and suffer the consequences of not doing so.


Next to replacing animal products, creating your own salt seems to be the most challenging part of this transition. It is again a point that Rasta's helped me most in realizing the problems of society's ways and to find alternatives of supplying the essential nutrients naturally.


I've learned that sodium chloride is a preservative. In that capacity it is likely to interfere with digestion, which in my observation is just a controlled breakdown of substances. People crave salt because of (bad) habit. What the body needs are mineral salts and they can be obtained from plants. Sodium chloride, (common salt, sea salt and its artificial cousins like MSG provide a cheap, deadly alternative to satisfy the tastes of a semiconscious consumer.




Our task then is to create our own salts, or more correctly, utilizing the various salts nature has for us. Common herbs and spices like pimento, cinnamon, thyme, rosemary, garlic, onion, scallion, tomatoes, peppers, cucumber, parsley, celery, purslane, turmeric, lemongrass, lemon, lime, ruccola, cilantro, fennel, basil or chives are just some of the many plants that supply us with all we need. Use them plentiful instead of ready made artificial powders that promise magic and deliver problems and appreciate the amounts it takes to create that desire taste of yours, as all the above mentioned plants have proven medicinal ingredients. And since prevention is better then cure, the intelligent reader will take up the challenge and partake of this live giving palette provide by creation.


It might prove to be the most important step on your journey to a more natural life, after giving up animal products. And it is also the most challenging. It might take years to reach a level where you can go through life without any of the harmful products in your daily not recommended intake you consciously are trying to avoid.


My recommendation is you make it a challenge and not a problem, with determination, much is possible, and so you can succeed.



Everybody loves to sprinkle a dash of salt on their meals. But, at the end of the day, when you're feeling a little bloated, you can blame salt as the culprit.

According to a recent report, experts found that Americans have too much salt in their diet, exceeding the daily recommended amount. And you may be surprised to find that what you think are healthy food products may be high in sodium. Did you know that a bowl of Cheerios has more sodium than a serving of Ruffles potato chips?
Also, reducing salt intake doesn't necessarily reduce the risk of high blood pressure or a family history or hypertension.

To lessen the grief of salt lovers, we've asked an expert to break down the basics about salt -- what to look for and what we should know.
Is salt bad for you?
No. If used appropriately, salt is not bad for you. We're not required to eat [table] salt because we can find salt naturally occurring in a variety of different foods that we eat. But most cultures around the world use salt and have a hypertension epidemic.

What is salt?
Salt is basically sodium chloride -- two essential minerals required by the body that helps communication between cells and many of the required processes. It is very much responsible for fluid balance in our bodies. Salt is naturally occurring -- kosher or Epsom, it can come from the sea and from minerals.

How much salt is too much?
The dietary guidelines for Americans clearly show lower amounts of sodium in the diet. Currently, 2300 milligrams is the recommended amount. However, a typical American diet ranges from 3000 to 5000 milligrams of sodium. For our bodies to survive, we need about 500 milligrams. A teaspoon of salt is close to the 2400 milligrams.

The salt shaker at the dinner table is the smoking gun. The stealth danger is under the radar in convenience and frozen packages and fast foods. Those prepackaged foods and meals have the highest sodium intake.

Does salt make you fat?
It doesn't. I have not seen any research that suggests sodium affects fat deposition in the body. People are complaining about fat due to fluid retention and that’s what they are seeing on the scale.

Why does salt make you bloated?
Some people can be more sodium sensitive than others. Too much sodium can cause fluid retention –- that is, fluid being caught in between the cells. You would notice your ankles swollen or find your ring a bit snug. In the short term, it may be a discomfort but in the long term, too much sodium quite often leads to high blood pressure, which is not a good thing. Quite often blood pressure medicines are diuretics.

Who should be concerned?
I think everybody should be concerned, not just those with a family history of hypertension. Before, blood pressure of 120/80 was thought to be normal but now might be at a pre-hypertensive range. More Americans are suffering from hypertension.

Beyond high blood pressure and hypertension, recent research suggests that too much sodium can be attributed to bone loss. And bone loss is escalating among men, not just in women.

I think it's a really good idea to monitor what you are eating and look for physical clues. Again, if you’re having swelling of the lower extremities or hands, that’s a good indication to see the doctor. Have your blood pressure checked regularly.

Which foods have high amounts of sodium?
Generally, there is no high sodium in fruit, vegetable or grains. And there’s a safe bet that meat isn’t high in sodium unless it is smoked or preserved.

Beans are a good nutritional source except canned beans contain various levels of sodium.

And convenience packaging and mixed meals contain high amounts. It would be hard to say that their is no sodium content in a prepackaged meal.