Food impacts the body and can have a medicinal or toxic impact (McKay & Mathers, 2011). Studies show that the kinds of foods consumed affect reproductive health. Women have a unique set of health challenges all of which are affected by nutrition. The nutritional implications upon health therefore, are powerful (McKay, & Mathers, 2011) and yet they are under researched and rarely promoted.
Our society is loaded with stimulants that have become commonplace. Things like soda, candy, teas and coffees are part of routine consumption in children and adults alike. These stimulates are negatively affecting our health. Sugar containing food items affect hormonal levels (Schliep, et al., 2013), which in turn affects gynecological health. Plus, there is an even greater risk of ovulatory disorder with caffeinated beverage intake (Schliep, et al., 2013).
The liquid forms of sugar appear to have major risk factors for further hormonal distruption. Metabolism of fructose induces hyperlipdemia, insulinemia, uric acid production, and raises levels in estrodiol (Schliep et al. 2013).
Another common and problematic dietary item for womens health is dairy. Dairy is promoted as a healthy and needed part of the diet. Yet, all research does not conclude dairy as beneficial. For example, countries with the highest dairy consumption are also those with the highest rates of osteoporosis (Lanou, 2009; Tsukahara, & Ezawa, 2001). Higher diary intake has also been associated with varies types of reproductive cancers (Song, et al., 2013) in both men and women. In a cohort study 21,660 physicians were surveyed about their diary consumption. Skim and low fat milk showed a low-grade risk with early stage cancers whereas whole milk consumption was associated with fatal cancer (Song, et al., 2013).
Our Standard American Diets (SAD) are leading to disease. Our society as a whole is overweight and adipose tissue is recognized as a major endocrine organ (cheng, et al., 2012) affecting reproductive organs. The grocery store is filled with money making processed products that exasperate this condition (Moral, Escrich, Solanas, & Vela, 2011). These products support big business and high medical bills but does not appear to support our health.
There is an alternative to a SAD (Standard American Diet) kind of life. Radical change to womens’ health may be achieved through trading nutrient-deficient, “dead” foods for a diet rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and plant-based proteins. This does go against the norm. Healthy life giving foods are not packaged and cannot be purchased at a drive through. Eating a mostly raw and plant rich diet asks people to get to know their food, eat something that perhaps they even grew themselves. However, food with life still in it assists in the process of bringing life back, healing and reducing pain.
Restorative Source 