Superhealing: Engaging Your Mind, Body, and Spirit to Create Optimal Health and Well-Being (ARC) (22 page)

researchers sought to determine whether taking probiotics could

actual y reduce emotional distress. For a month, the study participants were assessed on a daily basis for stress, anxiety, depression, anger, and hostility. The levels of stress hormones in their urine were monitored, and at the end of the study they were found to be much

lower.13

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Reestablishing normal intestinal flora in a gut that has become

unbalanced may be challenging, but introducing healthy intestinal

bacteria has resulted in very promising results in studies like this one. Taking probiotics every day has been shown to alleviate distress, pain, depression, anger, hostility, and anxiety in studies demonstrat-ing beneficial psychological effects in healthy human volunteers.14

We know that inflammation in your intestinal tract affects your

entire body, especial y the brain. Chronic gastrointestinal inflammation creates anxious behavior because of the damaging chemical

changes it triggers in the central nervous system that induce the release of stress hormones.15 The most significant cause of inflammation in the body may occur within the intestinal tract, and the release of the chemicals involved in the process probably affects the brain as well as other organs and blood vessels. Inflammation is believed to play an important role in the development of depression, which

frequently occurs in conjunction with heart disease, cancer, type 2

diabetes, and autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases.

A growing number of clinical trials have demonstrated the posi-

tive effect of probiotics on suppressing the inflammatory process in the intestinal tract and in the brain, when they are taken in conjunction with fatty acids and vitamins D and B. Together these may im-

prove the effectiveness of treating depression.16

Given that you are in good gut health—or working toward it—

and practicing mindful, happy eating, what should be on the menu

to activate superhealing? Let’s take a look.

THE SUPERHEALING POWER

OF FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

One of my earliest nutrition teachers was Dr. Max Gerson, who

learned to treat cancer successful y with an entirely nutritional,

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rather than pharmaceutical, approach, beginning in the late 1920s.

His approach to treating a wide range of diseases was based on his belief that there was healing power in vegetables and fruits. His patients consumed large volumes of fresh vegetable juice and ate plant-based meals to give their bodies high levels of nutrients to regenerate themselves. Remarkable recoveries occurred.17

Although Dr. Gerson could not have known back then what the

most recent scientific evidence shows, he was clearly on the trail of something important. We now know that fruits and vegetables are

packed with essential nutrients, called phytochemicals, and with

biophotonic (from sunlight) energy. All the evidence shows that a

high daily intake of these foods promotes health.

There are many associations between the amount of fruits and

vegetables consumed and the rate of developing chronic disease.

The more fresh produce you eat, the more protection your body has

from the prospect of their development. One of the most interesting studies I’ve recently read found that people who eat at least seven servings of fresh fruits and vegetables a day experience much less psychological distress than those who don’t. Why wouldn’t you eat

seven servings of fruits and vegetables if they improved not only

your physical health but also your emotional well-being?

Diet has been largely ignored by the researchers who are scientifical y investigating the causes of happiness; stil , some research has taken place that proves the foods we consume do play a role in our well-being. In a joint study conducted by researchers from Dart-mouth College in New Hampshire and the University of Warwick

in Britain, the eating habits of more than 80,000 people in England, Scotland, and Ireland were evaluated. The investigators found that happiness and well-being increased with the amount of vegetables

and fruits eaten every day and that well-being peaked among those

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who consumed seven servings a day. A serving was defined as 2.8

ounces. Although most government health departments recom-

mend eating five servings a day of fruits and vegetables to promote physical health and prevent cancer and heart disease, additional

servings are necessary to support emotional well-being.18

Our mothers were right: fruits and vegetables are the key to

good health. The power of fresh fruits and vegetables to sustain and heighten our health and well-being cannot be overstated. Former

President George H. W. Bush publicly acknowledged his dislike of

broccoli and banned it from the menu on Air Force One and at the

White House. Personal y, I don’t care for brussels sprouts, but there are so many other vegetables to choose from that taste doesn’t have to be an issue.

Why are fresh fruits and vegetables so important? Although it

may sound boring to some, it was quite exciting to me to learn that some of the most powerful chemicals known to science exist in produce and were not created in a laboratory to be drugs. The phyto-

chemicals in fruits and vegetables have health benefits, including the prevention of cancer, heart disease, and inflammatory, neurological, and metabolic disorders. Phytochemicals offer great promise in preventing cancer and healing damaged brains, hearts, lungs, kidneys, and other organs. They have remarkable properties, including being anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticarcinogenic; they also affect genes linked to cel ular metabolism, prevent stress, aid in detoxification, and lower total and LDL cholesterol levels.19

Leading cancer research institutions are now exploring the power

of phytochemicals not only to prevent but also to halt the growth of tumors. Studies have found that the positive effect of food on preventing several different types of cancer is caused by phytochemi-

cals. It is a major area of current cancer treatment research, since

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phytochemicals play a major role in altering several steps in the

development of cancer. Because of epigenetic changes, some phyto-

chemicals apparently have the capacity to even cure some cancers.20

Mother Nature’s pharmacy is magnificent; and it’s something a drug company could never have created in a million years!

Consume organic fruits and vegetables if you can afford them.

My personal belief is that organic produce—that is, produce grown without the use of pesticides—provides greater nutritional value

than nonorganic produce. And even if that isn’t the case, as some

farmers, scientists, and policy makers would argue, it is nonethe-

less best to lower your exposure to pesticides. Pesticides have been linked conclusively to the development of cancer and neurological

disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, in humans.21

In addition to eating organic raw fruits and vegetables, I choose

not to buy a lot of processed and packaged foods, even those made

with organic ingredients, for one important reason: some of them

are laced with unhealthy chemicals, with flavor enhancers such as

monosodium glutamate (MSG), and with soy by-products (such as

textured vegetable protein, soy protein isolates, and soy oil). These chemicals trigger detrimental responses in your body that contribute to the development of a variety of diseases.

MSG is an amino acid (glutamate) that stimulates brain cel s. It is known as an excitotoxin because its stimulation is so severe that the cel s in certain areas of the brain die. This chemical has been linked to the development of several neurological disorders, including attention deficit disorder, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease.22 Soy and its by-products are unhealthy because they contain several different types of chemicals that interfere with the functioning of many organs and the absorption of certain nutrients.23

I’m like everyone else—I sometimes find myself picking up a bag

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of chips from a vending machine or a sandwich from a fast-food

joint. However, many years ago, while contemplating food, I came to see the importance of eating food that comes from the earth as much as possible and to eliminate the rest. I’ve done my best to adhere to this notion, because it is clear that fresh fruits and vegetables do a superior job of nourishing my body, mind, and spirit.

Superhealing nutrition is about the energetic quality of food as

much as it’s about the nutrient value. Everything we eat original y draws energy from the sun. Through the process of photosynthesis,

plants capture sunlight and convert some of it into particles known as biophotons. All living organisms—plants and the animals that

consume them—store biophotons in the DNA of their cel s. Biopho-

tons are a coherent form of light that releases energy in the human body. We need this vital energy. Biophotons contain important information that helps to direct and regulate our cel ular functions.24

The amount of biophotons present in a fruit or a vegetable is be-

lieved to indicate its nutritional status: the more biophotons present, the healthier the food. For this important reason, the healthiest way to consume a fruit or a vegetable is in its natural, raw, and freshest state.25

SUPERHEALING RECOMMENDATION:

FOODS TO INCLUDE IN YOUR DIET

To create a balanced, healthy diet, eat a variety of foods and be sure to include those from the following lists. All have proven health benefits, to various degrees, including the prevention of chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and emphysema.

Foods from the Earth

• Leafy green vegetables: kale, spinach, col ard greens, mustard

greens, turnip greens, and chard

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• Cruciferous vegetables: brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli

• Berries: blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries,

and goji berries

• Fruits: cherries, apples, grapes, oranges, lemons,

limes, grapefruit, kiwi, mangoes, and bananas

• Root vegetables: onions, garlic, shallots, beets,

carrots, and turnips, yams,

• Mushrooms: shitaki, reishi, mitake, portebello,

button, and others

• Beans: lentils, kidney beans, pinto beans, navy

beans, red beans, and black beans

• Nuts: walnuts, almonds, pecans, cashews, and macadamia

nuts

• Seeds: sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, chia seeds,

pumpkin seeds, and flaxseed

• Avocados

• Healthy vegetable oils: grape seed, olive, and walnut

• Teas: green, white, black, and rooibos

• Juices: freshly made from spinach, kale, cucumber, col ards,

dandelion, beet leaves, chard, and celery

• Whole grains: brown, black, and wild rice; quinoa

• Hot peppers: cayenne, jalapeños, and habañeros

• Herbs and spices: turmeric, cinnamon, curry, ginger, licorice,

ginseng, cilantro, rhodiola, basil, and ashwagandha

Foods from the Sea

• Plants: spirulina, chlorel a, and kelp

• Cold-water fish: salmon, sardines, tuna, trout, and mackerel

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SUPERHEALING RECOMMENDATION:

FOODS TO EXCLUDE FROM YOUR DIET

Avoid the following foods, because they can wreak havoc in your

body:

•
Trans fat.
Do you find it hard to believe that junk food that contains trans fat contributes to brain shrinkage as we age,

whereas a diet rich in nutrients prevents the brain from aging?

Researchers at three Oregon institutions conducted a brain-

aging study, with participants whose average age was eighty-

seven. The results showed that those with higher blood levels

of vitamins E, D, C, and B and omega-3 fatty acids (primarily

from fish) scored higher on memory and cognitive tests. Brain

scans also showed they had larger brain volume at the end of

the study, which means that they had less tissue shrinkage,

than those who had more trans-fat in their bloodstreams.26

This study was particularly credible, compared to projects that

have relied on participants’ subjective recollections recorded

in food diaries, because the researchers measured the blood

levels of the specific nutrients to get their results.

•
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
. To date, GMOs

have never been properly tested in humans or animals on a

long-term basis, and since they are created through a violently

disruptive process of gene splicing, they are suspect. When

given the option, most animals avoid them. There are many

questions about the effect of genetic modification on human

health and the true need for these foods. For the time being,

I do my best to avoid them. Most processed and fresh corn, if

not labeled organic, is genetical y modified.

•
Soy.
Many times during my childhood, I heard my relatives comment that soy wasn’t good for humans. Now it turns out

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that one of the biggest myths in the health-food industry