Heart Disease
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medium in the stomach to be absorbed, while trace minerals require protein to enable their absorption into the blood stream.
8.13 Although the amount of minerals needed may be small, even the lack of the required trace of the mineral is bound to lead to a dysfunction at some level in the body. Less obvious deficiencies may surface as fatigue, irritability, loss of memory, nervousness, depression and weakness. The body can tolerate a deficiency of vitamins for a relatively long period, but even slight changes in the concentration of the important minerals may endanger life.
8.14 Minerals are as essential to the body as oxygen. These are daily used and excreted from the body and must be replenished with foods rich in minerals and vitamins. On the other hand, the over-consumption of highly refined and processed foods like white sugar and white flour (maida) from which most of the minerals and vitamins have been lost during milling can create mineral shortages. For example, the refining of whole wheat to white flour depletes 80% of its magnesium, 87% of its chromium and 88% of its manganese. Therefore eating unrefined whole foods like wholegrains/legumes, brown rice, fruits and vegetables, leafy greens, nuts and seeds and cutting down on refined and processed foods, are the first steps towards meeting basic mineral and vitamin needs for good health.
8.15 Water – Water is rightly termed as nectar or fountain and elixir of life and is an essential compound in your diet. About two-thirds of your body weight is water (65-70% in males, 55-65% in females). The percentage of water in the body depends on the amount of body fat a person has. People with high percentage of body fat have lower percentage of body water than normal. Much of this water is found inside your cells. The remaining water is found in the spaces surrounding cells, and in your blood stream and digestive juices. It is the medium in which most of our bodily functions take place. It is essential for our digestion, absorption and elimination systems. If you don’t drink enough water you can’t get the full benefit of the nutrients in the food you eat. Metabolic processes such as energy production, muscle building and fat burning require water. Water lubricates joints too. Hence taking an insufficient amount of water would deter such biological functions. Drinking adequate amount of water maintains consistency, quality and thinness of blood. Your blood is about 90% water and this is your body’s transport system for transporting nutrients around the body. Adequate amount of water lessens the burden on the kidneys and liver by helping to flush out harmful toxins and waste products. Water rinses cell wastes, blood poisons and environmental pollution. Water helps maintain acidity at proper levels.
8.16 Water regulates body temperature. If you don’t drink enough water, you compromise the evaporation process your skin uses to keep you cool. Water will do wonders for your skin too. It flushes out impurities in your skin through sweating, leaving you with a young clear and glowing complexion. About 16% of the body’s water is stored in the muscles, which will become soft and flabby if you become dehydrated. Drinking less water can lead to hyper acidity, gas formation and chronic constipation. In
