A talk given by Prof. Floyd W. Dunn
Everyone desires good health and a feeling of well-being; no one wants to be
"sick." Yet, sometimes poor eating habits allow our bodies to become
sick in ways that could be prevented. Proper nutrition allows our body to be
"well" and helps us avoid sickness and disease. We have only one body,
so we need to protect it throughout a lifetime.
Among the conservative classes of diet, now there is growing recognition that
wellness requires another class of dietary components called "phytochemicals."
found in plants. Though they are not considered essential "nutrients",
but they provide important protection against toxins, cancer and other common
disorders of the body.
Plant products: fresh vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, herbs and nuts
satisfy hunger and supply necessary nutrients, fiber and protective agents;
and, at the same time, allow for an easily accessible low-calorie diet. They
impart unique flavors and aromas, and many can (and should) be eaten raw without
special preparation. Gentle cooking (steaming or stir-frying) allows for preservation
of beneficial components. A plant-based diet can be very simple to prepare and
requires little clean-up in the kitchen.
Society who consumes a diet that is high in calories, low in fiber, low in vitamins
and minerals, and deficient in phytochemicals. Obesity has become a major health
problem. These deleterious, health-limiting dietary characteristics could be
corrected with a simple, inexpensive plant-based diet.
"Phytochemical" refers to a very large group of plant components which
have special benefits for promoting and maintaining good health. A few examples
are:-
Sulforaphane, found in cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage,
etc.) can boost the synthesis of enzymes which detoxify carcinogens. These vegetables
also contain such protective substances as aromatic isothiocyanates, glucosinolates,
indoles, phenols, and dithioethiones.
Carotenes in yellow fruits and vegetables, lycopenes in tomatoes, allicin in
garlic and onion, curcumin in tumeric, phytoestrogens in soy beans, gingerol
in ginger, quercitin and limonene in citrus fruits---these are just a few more
examples of phytochemicals that may protect against allergies, heart disorders,
arthritis and other degenerative diseases.
It is neither necessary nor desirable to wait for definitive evidence of the
individual properties of each phytochemical. By eating generous amounts of a
variety of fruits and vegetables we can obtain the protections needed for optimal
health. Becoming more vegetarian is important for reasons greater than just
"avoiding meat" and refraining from animal products. Plant materials,
being imitated to animal materials might be deficient in phytochemicals even
though entirely of plant origin.
A wholesome diet will include several servings each day of fruits and vegetables,
with a variety of colors: red, yellow, orange, purple, green. Such common foods
as brocolli, carrots, soy beans and soy products, garlic, onions, cauliflower,
lettuce, cabbage, eggplant, peppers, corn, whole grains, citrus fruits, pineapple,
mangos, apples and bananas are examples to look for on a regular basis. Such
a diet, along with a health-promoting life-style, offers the prospect of good
health, protection against toxins and degenerative diseases, and can add years
to one's life span.
Prof. Floyd W. Dunn has been a visiting professor in Thailand in 1958 up to
now. He is a biochemistry professor and his research interest includes synthesis
of unusual amino cids and peptides, cancer and cancer prevention.
|