Diet And Holistic Care

Holistic health care addresses the body as a whole, including the internal and external envi-ronment, and included in that is the role diet plays in our health. Food, ideally, nourishes the body, giving it energy and necessary building blocks.

There are many approaches to how and what kind of food should be ingested. Some approaches are based primarily on the nutrients and components of food. These types of diets are based on certain proportions of different foods which are consid-ered ideal. These categories are usually fat, protein and carbohydrates. Other approaches such as Ayurvedic or Chinese Medicine look at the person and determine, based on the properties displayed by that individual, what foods are most appropriate and what foods will cause further imbalance. Although there are many approaches, most agree that the least refined, most pure food is preferable. Organic, fresh, and unrefined foods will provide the most vital nutrients and introduce the least amount of toxins.

A closely related subject to diet is cleansing. Approaches to cleansing vary as widely as approaches to diet and nutrition.

Techniques, such as Colon Therapy, focus on the cleansing out of toxins specifically in the colon. In Ayurveda, an extensive cleansing routine called pancha karma, clears out not only toxins from the colon, but also from other organs. Other cleansing techniques consist of diets that provide nourishment and carry toxins out of the body. Often herb and fiber combinations are used. The herbs stimulate the body’s cleansing mechanisms and the fiber helps the body remove the toxins it releases.

As you can see, diet is a varied and complex subject. Differ-ent approaches work better for different individuals. When con-sidering different dietary habits, it is important to consider two factors: how effectively you will follow the diet, and how effectively it will nourish your body. An ideal diet will provide what your body needs to have a resilient immune system, to generate energy, and to maintain emotional balance.

Almut Zieher is an HBA employee at La Montanita Co-op and director of Healing Roots holistic practitioner referral service.