Last month I introduced the subject of how a bad attitude can affect our health through the creation of vagas nerve malfunction. To compound the problem, that same bad attitude can move over to one’s eating habits. Many of us understand the inflammatory effects that sugar, transfats, grain fed meats and junk foods can have in our immune system, but few are aware of a relatively new arrival: The exitotoxin.
Excitotoxins are nasty little additions to processed foods that can result in damage to one’s brain when it becomes excited and over produces glutamate. Excessive glutamate breaks down the ability of our neurons to interconnect; which can cause diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and other neurological disorders.
The two most common Exitotoxin products are MSG and aspartame (as in Equal and NutraSweet). How can we avoid consumption of these poisons? It is very simple: Don’t buy them. “But I always read the labels.” That doesn’t always work. The FDA not only allows foods that are banned in many countries to be sold in the USA, but also allows the processed food companies to hide ingredients. Unless the MSG is 99% pure, it can be called other names such as “hydrolyzed vegetable protein,” “spices,” “natural flavorings,” and many more.
At all of the speaking engagements I have given, people come up to me and ask me what I do. When I tell them I eat only fresh foods, never processed, that I no longer like the taste of chips, processed crackers or processed dips, I usually get back an answer “awe, you are taking away all the fun.” Well, here we go, score another one up for bad attitude causing bad health. Why do you think we are now about to enter the “Flu Season?”
It is not by coincidence that we are also about to begin the season of self destructive eating and drinking binges. Now include diet soft drinks. Bad attitude dominates when one would rather not make the effort to buy fresh and healthy and cook it yourself. I have the good fortune of loving to cook. Anyone can change their attitude and learn to enjoy cooking. This might just turn out to not only add joy to your life, but bring your family closer and make it healthier, especially if you have them take part in the meal prep.
Now that we understand that simply going to the doctor and following their recommendations, in most cases, won’t give us the best health and a long, happy life, it is time to direct our attention to the total picture—one that requires each of us to be responsible, not just to ourselves, but to those around us, for the many gifts we have been given.
Attitude is the answer! To experience true happiness we must bring everything we have to the table.
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