It’s a phrase we have all heard since we were kids – “You are what you eat”. It’s a warning, a proverb and sometimes a joke. But it’s also holds a lot of truth. Every day our bodies are working hard to create new cells, a process called Cellular Regeneration. The human body contains trillions of cells and our bodies are constantly repairing and healing them – and they get the building blocks from the nutrients we absorb. From head to toe, the food and drinks we consume affect us hours, days and months after the meal is over. Whether we are creating new cells or repairing existing ones, our bodies are constantly at work.
Different cells in the body have different “shelf life” – a stomach cell lives about a day or two, colon cells live about four days, a skin cell about a month, a red blood cell for about four months, liver cells for about five months and a white blood cell for more than a year and the list goes on. Bones, intestinal cells and certain muscle cells can take ten to fifteen years to completely regenerate. These cells are constantly being repaired or replaced, which is why every meal, snack and drink plays an important role in our physical health. Think of it this way – when building a house, wouldn’t you want to use the best possible materials?
For healthy skin, green tea is a great place to start. The antioxidants found in green tea increase blood flow and oxygen to the skin which helps deliver nutrients to keep it clear and healthy. Kale is a great food for the skin – it contains nutrients that absorb and neutralize free radicals created by UV light, including the wavelengths that can get through some sunscreen. It also has tons of Vitamin C and A which helps keep you skin firm. Walnuts are also a great food for your skin because of their Omega-3 content, which help keeps your skin moisturized and prevents dry skin. Replacing dairy milk with almond milk can help keep your skin clear of acne, wrinkles and rashes. Many of us are sensitive to dairy and it can cause inflammation.
The liver is an extremely important organ that is often overworked when we over eat, over drink and choose unhealthy options. And when the liver is overworked, it can’t process toxins and fat efficiently. Garlic actives liver enzymes that help your body flush out toxins. The antioxidants in green tea are also great for your liver. Greens like spinach and arugula as well as avocado are great for liver cleansing and can flush toxins out of the blood stream. Apples, cauliflower, broccoli, lemon, cabbage and walnuts are also all great for liver health.
Our muscles are constantly in use and being repaired, especially when we are exercising. Protein is always the go-to when it comes to muscle health – most of muscle tissue is made of protein so when we work out and move around in our day to day life we need to make sure that we consume protein to support and replenish our muscles. Some clean and health sources of protein are chicken, egg whites and seafood. These contain amino acids, the building blocks of protein that our bodies can’t make themselves. Healthy carbs like those found in whole wheat bread provide your body with a source of energy and fuel your muscles in any activity. Healthy fats such as those found in fish oil, walnuts and flax seed can help keep your muscle tissue fluid and strong.
Eating clean will not only help you look and feel great, but it will also help you stay healthy and fight disease by keeping your body fueled and working at its best. In general, it is said that most of our cells are completely replaced within seven years. The body you were born with is not the same body you have now. This is an intimidating and exciting concept – you have the power to build the most healthy body. So why not start now?
~ Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick
Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness
8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11797
469 7th Ave Manhattan, NY 10018
