Quote:
Originally Posted by jblum315
Personally I don't want to be one of those people who subsist on egg whites and yogurt and live to be 105 and then die in perfect health. No thanks.
|
We know plenty of oldsters who slathered cream cheese on their morning bagels and lived to a ripe old age in their mid nineties.....even with all the pastrami, corned beef and other fried foods.......they enjoyed the gatherings with their large family units.
I do believe most of us pass from genetically predisposed conditions........probably hastened along by our polluted environment and all the "stuff" in the modern day pharmaceuticals.
One just has to listen to all of the "side effect warnings" of popular drugs taken by so many today. It's no wonder the body is passed from one specialist to another..........resulting in even more drugs to be taken.
I do not think our human bodies were made for so many chemicals.
The huge increase in breast cancer in much younger women has been hinted to be the result of the modern birth control pills, etc. and in older women, the hormone replacement therapy. Everyone is just afraid to grow old naturally.......or use natural remedies and solutions for their health issues......but, it's like "what came first, the chicken or the egg".
A useless discussion, truly.
Getting back to food, years ago people did enjoy their food without worrying about every little component in it........all of my Italian relatives lived to a ripe old age........but their food was NATURAL for the most part.
Perhaps, even the daily glasses of home made red wine helped in their longevity........along with the olive oil, olives, fresh produce in abundance and NO BUTTER on their Italian breads. None of mine ever put butter on their bread.........
They also ate a lot of legumes (beans, etc., lentils) and garlic which is a natural antibiotic........
Lots of GREENS..........they were into greens (escarole, spinach, broccoli etc., etc., etc.) BEFORE KALE became the fave veggie.
Our son made us some home made "kale chips" when we were all on a two week Maine seacoast family reunion this past summer........not my idea of a veggie. I always loved the Italian greens whether in soups or just on the side.....
LOTS OF FRUIT. Fruit was the daily dessert.
For holidays, they did use the BAKERIES which were abundant in Little Italy, New York City.........it didn't kill them to indulge on holidays........I still remember those pastries , cannoli and pignoli cookies with the almond flavor and pine nuts. They also ate a lot of grapes, pears and oranges. BUT I DO NOT RECALL BOTTLES OF FRUIT JUICE. Just the red wine and dark strong demitasse cups of coffee.
Many grew their own tomatoes, zucchini and other greens.....right in their back yards........and their own mint, basil, etc. as far as herbs....
I guess what I'm trying to say is things were more NATURAL in the old days. Today, everything is processed in the way of food....or chemicals in the way of curative remedies.........except for those who choose a different path and who just choose to live life without worrying about every morsel that passes their lips.