Our Vision and Mission is to unite all food-based, functional food, and other natural health retailers in Canada into one organization. This is being done:

[a] in order to pursue collectively the necessary legal, political, marketing, self-regulating quality control, and scientific research initiatives to remove all unnecessary barriers to the free flow of truthful information and quality products, and

[b] to pool our buying power to maximize our sales, and profits.

OPTIMUM HEALTH - THE NATURAL WAY
What is Optimum Health?

Optimum Health is defined as the maximum level of health an individual can achieve and sustain with their genetic constitution, past influences and present lifestyle.

The key to Optimum Health is for each individual to take responsibility for their own health and to learn to listen to their body. Our body is a miracle of creation and is in most cases, if given some help, capable of healing itself.

In North America over 60% of all deaths occur because of degenerative diseases related to diet and lifestyle. There are three principal causes of degenerative diseases:

   [1] Malnutrition
   [2] Incomplete Digestion
   [3] Toxicity

What stops us from achieving Optimum Health?

1) Malnutrition: North Americans consume in quantity more food and other substances then anywhere else in the world yet suffer seriously from malnutrition.

The reasons for this are:

• Mass food production techniques. Processing = Denatured foods = low nutrient values.

• Depleted soils from modern farming practices = products without full range of essential nutrients = food not containing nutrients essential for our good health.

• Fast foods high in toxic fats, sugar, caffeine, food additives and containing very little nutrient value = recipe for degenerative disease.

• Cooking methods = nutrients destroyed and potential harmful substances added.

2) Improper Digestion - Do you suffer from halitosis, indigestion , gas, abdominal pain, rumbling noises, bloating, belching, nausea, burning sensations after eating and / or constipation,? Even if you eat a healthy diet, ] if you suffer from indigestion the absorption and metabolism of all nutrients is compromised. Eventually, food sensitivities, allergies, fatigue, poor concentration and memory loss, candida, infections, parasites. leaky gut syndrome, irritable bowel and other gastro-intestinal disorders can result. Causes include:

• Stress, anxiety, worry and anger.

• Poor diet high in processed foods, food additives, sugar, and fat; greasy, spicy and highly refined foods, vinegar, caffeine, and alcohol

• Chewing with mouth open, talking while chewing, gulping down food quickly in a stressful environment.

• Drinking liquids with meal.

• A lack of digestive enzymes , healthy intestinal flora, or hydrochloric acid which can be genetically related or decrease with age, stress and ill health, and medication side-effects.

• Liver, pancreas, gallbladder weakness or disorders.

• Antibiotics and other over-the-counter and pharmaceutical drugs.

• Food allergies and sensitivities.

• Improper food combining.

3) Toxicity - The environment we live in is very different from the environment our ancestors lived and evolved in. We endure massive chemical, air, water, soil pollutants, higher and higher levels of microwaves and toxic medical treatments. Most of our diets, though plentiful in quantity of foods, are high in toxins from pesticides, food additives, etc. This overload of daily toxins increases our free radical production and poisons our body. This results in a greater risk of ill health and disease. This toxic assault on our body is the result of:

• Commercial fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides.

• Animal farming with hormones, antibiotics and other drugs

• Processed foods with nitrates, preservatives, artificial flavours and colouring and other chemicals.

• Increasing exposure to microwaves from televisions, microwave ovens, computers, cellular phones, etc.

• Dangerous cooking methods like deep frying and barbequing

• Genetically engineered foods

• Irradiated foods

• Industrial and automobile pollution

• Commercial household and outdoors cleaners and chemicals.

  What are the key elements to achieving Optimum Health?

The key elements to achieving Optimum Health are

1. pure water
   
2. a wide assortment of fresh, organic (as often as possible) fruits, and vegetables and whole foods.
   
3. optimum daily nutrient intake levels through supplementation,
   
4. a healthy lifestyle with proper sleep, exercise, stress management,
   
5. environmentally safe household products and practices.

1) Pure Water - is essential to life. For optimal health we should drink a minimum of 8 - 8 oz. glasses (approximately 2 litres) of pure, filtered or spring water daily. If you are overweight this should be increased by 1 - 8 oz. glass per 25 lbs. over your healthy weight. The basic amount should also be increased with exercise or manual labour, with extreme hot or cold temperature, with fevers, or with high protein intake (high levels of meat, dairy, protein supplements in diet).

Why is pure water a key to optimum health? Each cell. contains and uses water in its many functions. Our brains can’t function without water. Water is:

• the primary transported of nutrients throughout the body.
  

• helps maintain normal body temperature.
  

• essential for carrying waste and toxic material out of the body via the kidneys and liver
  

• essential for fat metabolism. Optimal levels reduce fat deposits and allows liver to metabolise stored fat into energy.
  

• essential to prevent fluid retention which occurs when too low levels of intercellular water triggers storage and swelling while decreasing waste excretion through sweat and urination.
  

• needed to prevent constipation. Optimal levels ensure proper bowel regularity and prevents water being reabsorbed to tissues from colon causing hardening of waste
  

• important for maintaining proper muscle tone and skin health.

2) Eating a wide variety of colorful fresh fruits and vegetables and whole, unprocessed foods ensures that you are providing your body with the optimum amount of nutrients, enzymes, fibre, essential fatty acids and healthy sources of lean protein, complex carbohydrates and “good” fats. Eating for Optimum Health should include:

• high amounts of raw foods for enzymes and optimal nutrient availability.
  

• Colourful fruits and vegetables which contain high amounts of bioflavonoids, carotenoids, antioxidants. and other phyto-nutrients
  

• a wide variety of green, leafy vegetables like kale, swiss chard, turnip, beet, and collard greens, Chinese cabbage and greens, seaweeds which are rich in nutrients, especially chlorophyll and alkalize the system..
  

• Cultured foods like plain yoghurt and kefir which are partially pre-digested for those with lactose intolerance. They provide healthy bacterial flora needed for proper digestion, absorption of nutrients as well as defending the gastro-intestinal tract against yeast, fungus, molds and keeping unhealthy bacteria levels in check.
  

• Whole grains and legumes are good sources of minerals, B vitamins, fibre, protein. Whole grains and legumes are low on the glycemic index which means their starches are metabolized to sugars more slowly than processed grains and flours resulting in more balanced blood sugar levels.
  

• protective foods like garlic, onions, ginger and herbs and spices

3) Supplementation - With all the nutrient-depleting conditions existing today you cannot obtain all of the essential nutrients required by your body to achieve and sustain Optimum Health without supplementing your diet. Other things that affect our need for higher levels of nutrients include living in large cities or working in polluted environments with toxic materials, smokers and those exposed to cigarette smoke, older adults and the elderly, anyone who is ill, compromised immune systems, medications, and chronic health conditions or disabilities that compromise the quality of life. Daily supplementation is essential for Optimum Health.
Guidelines have been developed based on scientific research and studies that provide us with Optimum Daily Intakes (see Tuck‘s Health Choice brochure “Nutrients for Optimum Health”). Daily supplementation should include:

• Green Food drink or capsules, like Greens Plus or Flora’s Beyond Greens, taken in the morning in a glass of juice or pure water
  

• Udo’s Ultimate Oil Blend provides the essential fatty acids with a balanced ratio of Omega 3- Omega 6 fatty acids
  

• Probiotics with Acidophilus and other beneficial bacterial flora
  

• Vitamin E from natural source d’alpha Tocopherols
  

• Vitamin C with bioflavonoids for synergy and bio-availability
  

• Beta carotene/Antioxidant combination
  

• natural source Multivitamin with optimum levels of B vitamins.

4) A healthy lifestyle is another essential component to Optimum Health. Twenty to thirty minutes a day of regular aerobic activity, like power walking, swimming, bicycling, tai chi, yoga, aerobic or strengthening exercise classes improves digestion and elimination of wastes and toxins, increases endurance and energy levels, lowers overall cholesterol while increasing the good HDL levels. Exercise also reduces stress and anxiety which contribute to many causes of ill health. Regular exercise acts as an anti-depressant by elevating mood and increasing feelings of well being. Deep breathing and meditation are also excellent de-stressors and bring balance to a hectic lifestyle.

5) Healthy environment - Decreasing ways we are exposed to toxins and pollutants in our everyday life is key to our individual, as well as environmental, good health. Some simple ways to do this include:

• using non-toxic household cleaners or making your own from baking soda, vinegar, borax, etc.

• using non-aerosol natural body care products and natural medicines and remedies
  - carpooling, bicycling and walking

• limiting use of microwave-emitting appliances and computers. Stand as far as possible from microwave ovens when on, don’t touch computer screens, and stop every 20-30 minutes for water breaks. Invest in microwave-grounding products. Keep cellular phones at a distance from your body.

• the 3 R’s - recycle, reuse and reduce. Two more-repair, RETHINK

• using natural materials for clothing, home decoration and building, etc.

• greening your home and yard with plants and trees that neutralize and detoxify the environment

• reading all labels and choose products with natural ingredients

• living in a healthy community and environment
  

• become active in a local grassroots political organization to make sure your view of a healthier world around you becomes reality. It has been said that those who chose not to participate in the politic process are destined to be ruled by those who do participate. It is your society - make sure that governments and large companies know how you feel and how you want them to behave.

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