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Food Miracles and Medicine
According to Ornish, the human body can heal naturally if one stops processes causing the problem. It is also the human nature to be happy, peaceful, and healthy. Such aspects are innate, and there is no point of pursuing them. If there is a health problem, one can identify its cause and allow the natural healing to occur. For example, if someone gets a heart attack, people can think that it will get worse with time. However, the condition can improve provided one adheres to the optimal lifestyle program that revolves around diet, stress management, exercise, smoking cessation, psychological support, and supplements.
Foods can enhance or detract stress depending on how they are consumed. Normally, when people take food rich in bad fats such as omega-3 fatty acids, they can develop health-related problems leading to stress. One of possible solutions that may be offered to treat such health issues is to reduce the quantity of food taken, but the negative side of this advice triggers the loss of weight in an undesired way escalating the already-existing stress. A better solution is to take food that has low fat and high fiber which lead to fewer health issues and less stress.
Food can enhance the wellbeing and comfort of an individual depending on how they are selected. There are certain foods that can harm the human body if they are consumed in large quantities. They include sugary foods, white rice, and white flour. Such foods trigger excess production of insulin in the body. Too much insulin heightens the conversion of calories into fat which eventually causes obesity or heart-related problems. However, if one takes less-sugary foods, there will be lower risks of heart-related diseases. Thus, food can enhance our wellbeing depending on how we eat.
Although every individual needs food to survive, there are certain types that can cause addiction, particularly the hyper-palatable ones. They can potentially make one dependent on them just like the drugs do. Drugs cause addiction by altering brain functions and reinforcing drug-seeking habits leading to repeated overconsumption of the substance. Similarly, hyper-palatable food can shift individual’s attention from the normal diet leading to the overdependence and consumption of certain foods (Gearhardt et al. 1-2).
People’s cravings can be educational for their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Although it is normal to desire certain things, learning about their effects on our lives can educate individuals and possibly change their attitudes towards their desires. For instance, the wellbeing of a person depends on a number of issues, including intimacy, friendship, compassion, meditation, and support groups. If people are aware of such issues, they can learn to manipulate and free themselves from suffering and diseases.
Some of the possible implications of food, medicine, beliefs, and stress are reflected on the human health. They are the main factors that determine the health of individuals. Medicine can be used to reverse the adverse effects of food in our lives. Similarly, our beliefs can determine the level of self-induced stress in our lives.
It is the responsibility of the fortunate members of the society to provide food for needy people. In an attempt to provide food for themselves, the needy people have encroached on forests causing deforestation. However, if the rich were to reconsider what they eat, there could be plenty food for everyone.
The issue of reconsidering what one eats should be explored in three ways. First, it should be something that can stop one from feeling hungry once eaten. Second, it should be something that has fewer side effects on the body. Lastly, it should be something that can be produced cheaply without harming the environment.
Works Cited
Gearhardt, N. Ashley, Grilo, M. Carlos, DiLeone, J. Ralph, Brownell, D. Kelly, and Potenza, N. Marc. “Can Food be Addictive? Public Health and Policy Implications.” Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity. N.p., 2011. Web. 25 September, 2014. <http://www.yaleruddcenter.org/resources/upload/docs/what/addiction/AddictionPublicHealthandPolicyImplications_Addiction_6.11.pdf>.
Ornish, Dean. “Healing Through Diet.” TED. N.p., 2004. Web. 25 September 2014. <http://www.ted.com/talks/dean_ornish_on_healing#t-741846>.
