Column #123

The festive holiday season with its almost daily over indulgences will soon be behind us. It’s also when we ring in the New Year and for many of us, it’s a focused time for self reflection.

As the new year dawns many of us will review the paths we’ve taken regarding our occupations, leisure time, health, lifestyle, family relations, location, finances, and other decisions and events. After some contemplation, many will wish for some changes here and there. Most will just shrug and go on. Some will actually take steps to initiate some changes yet most of them will give up in a few months if not a few weeks. Change is not easy.

Some folks will definitely change one or two aspects of their lives. And as they experience improvements in their conditions, their enthusiasm keeps them on the new path. In the process, they learn they are capable and they can avoid the old paths that led to considerable discomfort, disillusionment, depression, and stress. Some people say that God actually puts us in difficult situations for a greater purpose.

Willie Nelson was thought to be finished when in 1990 the IRS seized all his assets for $32 million in back taxes. But instead of giving up, this Texas hillbilly got resourceful and eventually climbed back to the top. Of course his story is only one of many about people of all ages who have overcome uncomfortable situations and soared to greater heights. If they can, you can.

In this brief health and nutrition column I’ll limit the discussion to diet rather than occupations, leisure time, lifestyles, finances, and such. And when it comes to change, changing the conventional America diet to an autoimmune or ketogenic diet is probably the hardest thing people can do next to kicking opioids.

To those of us who changed our diets years ago, the holidays are also often derailing times. The many social events mess with our routines as we try to be as gracious as possible under the circumstances. But being polite by having small helpings of this or that do add up. As we all soon discover, the small helpings can be a slippery slope especially if the deviations do not have immediate consequences while bringing back pleasant memories of bygone eras.

So there is no better time than right now for us to refocus our dietary regimen back to the fundamentals of food chemistry that best serves our bodies’ needs.

On the food side of the ledger we want to strengthen our immunity, improve and maintain good brain function, and keep our nervous system in tiptop shape. Thousands of nutritional studies indicate this requires a one-to-one balance of Omega-6 and Omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) in our diet. Essential nutrients are not synthesized by the body, so this means the totality of the foods we consume must have a 1:1 balance.

We also want to reduce inflammation and keep our weight at a healthy level. This calls for significantly reducing the consumption of sugar, carbohydrates, and inflammatory Omega-6 EFAs. In addition we must provide our bodies with a dense and diverse spectrum of nutrients.

The best foods for meeting these goals are grass-fed and Omega-3 meats, wild-caught seafood, plus green leafy and other selected vegetables. Fruits, nuts, whole grains, and most oils are not included in this most favorable listing.

This certainly changes the path for those who don’t already eat this way. For those of us who do, it’s the path we continue on.

To your health.

Ted Slanker

Ted Slanker has been reporting on the fundamentals of nutritional research in publications, television and radio appearances, and at conferences since 1999. He condenses complex studies into the basics required for health and well-being. His eBook, The Real Diet of Man, is available online.

For additional reading:

Willie Nelson, Who Saved His Career And His House With The IRS Tapes, Turns 80 by Forbes Magazine

Landmark EFA Research Reports by Artemis P. Simopoulos, M.D.

Ted Slanker’s Omega-3 Blood Test

Omega-3 Blood Test and use slanker as a code for a discount

Food Analysis: GI, GL, Fat Ratio, Nutrient Load, and Inflammation