"Our great industrial cornucopia has not only been polluting the earth with wastes and poisons; 
it has also been spewing forth increasingly shoddy, costly and defective goods and services."
                                                            -Marvin Harris, Cannibals and King

                       The Diet for Natural Health
                          Index to Related topics

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Index of Topics:
Select a topic below and click the button.

Acne Foods that may relieve acne.
Allergies Food with chemistry that may relieve allergies.
Alzheimer's syndrome  How to protect yourself.
Anxiety/depression Anxiety and depression what can you do about it.
Anti-inflammatory Anti-inflammatory foods. Foods that may relieve inflammation.
Antioxidants Foods that contain concentrations of antioxidants.
Antispasmodic Plant foods with antispasmodic activity.
Arthritis Natural Health and diet considerations for treating arthritis.
Asthma Natural health consideration for living with asthma.
Barriers to dieting Barriers to starting and maintaining a healthy diet.
Bloodtype diet Review of Dr. D'Adamo's book: Eat Right for Your Blood Type
Blood pressure lowering diet  Six day diet for losing weight and blood pressure.
Blood pressure How to lower blood pressure.
Bioflavonoids/cancer Introduction to bioflavonoids and effects on human health.
Breast cancer Information on breast cancer, predispositions, treatment, bioflavonoids.
Caffeine Everything you did and did not want to know about caffeine.
Calcium What it does and how to get it. Also, preventing osteoporosis.
Carbohydrates Carbohydrate types and health implications.
Cancer Recent cancer research and diet/supplement recommendations.
Cancer: anti-tumor foods Food that have tumor fighting chemistry.
Cancer causing foods. Foods that have been linked to cancer.
Cholesterol Cholesterol: use in body, dietary controls, atherosclerosis and heart disease
Colorectal cancer Prevention and diagnosis colon cancer.
Collagen Amino acid sources from plants for building collagen.
Core diet Anthropological evidence for Natural Health diet.
Cravings Food cravings.
Creativity Quiz to improve creativity.
Cultural flavor principles and cooking Flavor principles from world cultures.
Culture and gender roles How culture effects self-concept and gender roles.
Culture and diet Best diets from world cultures and their flavor principles.
Cultural Dietary Enigmas Genetic and cultural differences, food preparation practices and its effects on disease.
Curry powder health benefits Curry powder ingredients and health benefits.
Dangerous Dangerous human practices.
DASH Dietary approaches to stop hypertension.
Diabetes Good food and herb choices for diabetics.
Diets, famous Synopsis of famous diets and their web pages.
Dieting Facts and tips on dieting. The Diet for Natural Health.
Diet for Natural Health Diet for Natural Health workshop agenda, key points.
Exercise Exercise and its importance to health.  Amazing facts.
Exercise prescription Defines personal exercise prescription.
Fats Role of fats in good diet and bad diet.
Fiber Health benefits of eating fiber.
High fiber foods Food groups and their fiber content.
Fibromyalgia Foods that may help relieve symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Flavonoids Flavonoids and indications for health. Food sources of bioflavonoids.
Folate May lower risk of numerous diseases.
Gout Nutritional considerations for preventing gout.
Health How to take charge of your personal health. Very important.
Heart Heart protecting, cholesterol lowering, blood pressure reducing foods.
HRT Hormone replacement therapy.
Hypertension Foods that may raise blood pressure.
Hypoglycemia Natural Health help for hypoglycemia.
Hypotensive foods Foods, vitamins, minerals that may lower blood pressure.
Lifestyle and longevity Lifestyle backlash...But a healthy lifestyle does prevent premature death.
Love Self concept quiz...Are you loved, can you love.
Memory Memory and cognitive enhancing foods, drugs, phytochemicals.
Minerals Selenium.
Olive oil Benefits of eating olive oil.
Osteoporosis Osteoporosis and dietary considerations.
Paleolithic Diet Paleolithic human diet percentages as compared to modern humans.
Parkinson's Disease and Aluminum Guam study aluminum absorption and disease, including ALS.
Play The importance of play in health, work, creativity.
PMS Mineral and vitamin supplements to treat Pre Menstrual Syndrome.
Psoriasis Foods that may benefit psoriasis and anti-inflammatory foods.
Processing food The beneficial effects of appropriate food processing. Must read.
Prostate Natural health ideas for improved prostate health.
Protein Protein facts and figures. Guide to what you need.
Rest    How to reduce stress with rest and relaxation.
Satiety index List of foods that are most filling and bulking. Help cut cravings. List of foods that are most filling and bulking. Help cut cravings. List of foods that are most filling and bulking. Help cut cravings.
Spirituality How to find your spiritual self. 
Stress Health benefits and techniques for reducing stress.
Stroke Natural Health alternatives for preventing stroke.
Taste Taste! What is it? Where is it? How to use it.
Vitamins Vitamins what you need and where to get them.
Water  How much is necessary?
Wildness The cost of human domestication and the demise of humanity.
Wizard Essay on the state of the health food industry....I'm worried.
Work Why work has lost much of its meaning and value.

                 

                                Foods That May Relieve Acne
These foods may benefit acne sufferers. Source: USDA, ARS, NGRL Phytochemical Database.
Plants are listed from highest to lower (concentration) of reported anti-acne chemicals in the food.
Butternut
Sunflower seed
Brazil nut
Pumpkin seed
Groundnut seed
Soybean
Lemon
Cashew
Pistachio
Avocado
Breadfruit seed
Black currant seed
Evening primrose seed
Asparagus pea
Chickpea seed
Anasazi bean sprout
Lettuce leaf
Asparagus
Thyme leaf
Fish oil and Omega 3 fatty acids

*as per Phytochemeco Database USDA ARS NGRL Beckstrom-Sternberg, Duke. (See web pages for direct link to this web site)Some people get good results using skin care supplements from Phyto Pharmica. Ask your pharmacist about Phyto Derm. Often milk products will give some people problems.Dove (sensitive brand) soap is good to use. Treat the skin gently. Some facial lotions or creams with active ingredient sulfur are helpful debriding skin.

Natural Health Diet:

Carb 60-65% of calories from vegetables, whole grain high fiber seeds, nuts, grains, flowers, sprouts, fruit, beans...

Fats 20-25% calories approx: 40 grams

Protein 12-15% calories 40-70grams (endurance and power athletes (+- 70 gm)

Vitamin/mineral supplement: Take good multiple vitamin with little iron in it for men, less than 18 mg for women unless blood test or existing condition necessitates more...See physician or nutritionist for answers.

I take a multiple vitamin with chelated minerals and trace complex with bioflavonoids in winter and eat from my organic garden six or seven months of the years apparently without need for vitamin/minerals. Much of this diet is herbs, live plants, wild plants and flowers.

FACT: all ethnic groups worldwide build a meal around a protein and carbohydrate.

Refined carbohydrate flours not made with the whole grain are too high on the Glycemic Index, they flood you with glucose creating metabolic problems caused by too much glucose.  High Glycemic Index foods spike serum blood sugar.   High Glycemic foods are too quickly turned to glucose.

Simple refined sugar is a major problem, too quickly assimilated, keep to high fiber, unrefined carbohydrate sources.

Focus meal around carb and protein dishes: i.e. brown whole grain rice and fish; beans, corn and yams; tofu and brown rice rice; meat and potato; millet and lamb; manioc and grubs, pasta and fish. Then add fiber, vitamins, minerals with cooked and raw vegetables. Fruits provide flavonoids, energy, cleansing, fiber, low fat in many cases. Good substitutes for rice and pasta are whole grain pasta, quinoa, amaranth and millet, bulgar wheat.

Snack on whole, high fiber foods: vegetables, fruit, cereals, whole grain breads

Exercise daily: equivalent of 30minutes minimum, low impact, doesn't have to be aerobic.

Exercise upper body and extremities for strength building and maintenance..i.e. lift weights.

At least three days per week.

Build on the 10 components of Natural Health (see that section on this floppy disk)

Avoid trans fatty acids: chips, pretzels, crackers, doughnuts etc., hydrogenated fats, margarine...

These fats pose a risk for numerous degenerative diseases.

 Reject processed starches such as bleached white flour products: donuts, cookies, cake, pie, white bread, bagels, pastries...Instead eat whole grain products with seeds and whole fruit in them.

Eat small meals and snacks throughout the day to keep insulin levels low.

Review Diet for Natural Health

-Raise daily fiber intake to about 60 grams per day.

-Increase amount essential fatty acids and improve ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6.

-Cut salt and animal fat in diet (includes ice cream).

-Cut bleached white flour & processed starch foods: chips donuts, cake, pastries, white bread, bagels, muffins.....

-Replace above with sprouted wheat, whole grain products with seeds on or in them.

-Cut refined sugar products: soda pop, candy, cookies, sweetened yogurt, orange juice from concentrate (drink orange juice with pulp)....

-Eat more fruit, vegetables, beans, seeds, sprouts, nuts.

-Drink plenty of quality water to bulk fiber for full feeling.

-Grow sprouts, garlic shoots, dandelions and other greens in your home in the Winter if possible.

-Grow herbs, salad greens, edible flowers, wild edibles of many colors.

-Buy organically grown foods as much as possible.

-Get thirty to sixty minutes of exercise every day & perform light weight lifting or do weight bearing workouts at least three times per week. You may do dynamic tension exercises daily.

Plant Foods that May be Anti-allergic*

Anti-allergic plant foods are listed from highest concentration of reportedly anti-allergic chemistry toward descending concentration of physiologically active chemistry against allergies.

sunflower essential oil

grape leaf essential oil

evening primrose leaf

lemon leaf essential oil

cardamon fruit

broccoli leaf

pigweed leaf

onion

Da Zao shoot (jujuba)

thyme leaves

lambs quarters leaves

European nettle, stinging nettle (also found in US almost everywhere)

marjoram plant

fig leaf

groundnut

Some flavonoids are anti-allergic: eating tofu, alfalfa and other grain, bean sprouts, edible flowers, tea (green and black) may help.

*These plant foods have one or more physiologically active anti-allergic compounds.  For more details see Phytochemeco Database USDA ARS NGRL Beckstrom-Sternberg, Duke. See web pages for direct link.

Anti-inflammatory foods

Anti-inflammatory foods are listed from highest concentration of anti-inflammatory chemistry to lower concentration, all are relatively high in anti-inflammatory chemicals.

cantaloupe cotyledon (cotyledons are the part of the seed under the seed coat that form the bulk of the seed surrounding the embryo, there are single cotyledon seeds called monocotyledons and double cotyledon type seeds).

English walnut seed wraps and nourishes the embryo. So eat the seed.

avocado fruit

cucumber cotyledon* (Seed "meat" under shell)

sunflower seed

parsnip root

Brazil nut

sesame seed

camu camu fruit

cantaloupe seed

Evening primrose seed

pumpkin seed

flax seed

watermelon seed

groundnut seed

- source Agriculture Research:ARS data base on WWW.

Foods High in Antioxidants

Foods listed from highest concentration, all foods relatively highly concentrated.

parsnip root

pawpaw fruit

camu-camu fruit

date palm

pomegranate

emblic fruit

vanilla

carrot root

coffee seed

Da-Zao jujube fruit

pea seed

sunflower seed

fenugreek (try sprouts)

beet roots

sugar apple fruit

rice plant

*as per Phytochemeco Database USDA ARS NGRL Beckstrom-Sternberg, Duke.

Antispasmodic Foods*

Plant foods that have relatively high concentrations of antispasmodic chemistry.

Evening primrose leaves

lemon oil

licorice

onion

nude mountain mint

orange pericarp

horse mint plant

thyme whole plant

wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

basil leaf

pear fruit

thyme leaf

tarragon shoot

celery leaf oil

winter savory plant

celery pericarp essential oil (seed)

*as per Phytochemeco Database USDA ARS NGRL Beckstrom-Sternberg, Duke.

Alzheimer's Disease

Ibuprofen or aspirin may provide protection from the in-brain buildup of protein fragments known as beta amyloid that have been linked to Alzheimer's disease.  Increased beta-amyloid deposits are seen in Alzheimer's patients as the disease progresses.  NSAIDs' like aspirin and ibuprofen appear to lessen the accumulation of beta-amyloid.in the brain.  NSAIDs may interrupt the the process prompted by amyloid deposits that kills nerve cells.  See your physician to ascertain whether aspirin therapy will assist you.  Many people take a 1/4 grain of aspirin as prevention against strokes.  Will this also provide protection against Alzheimers?  It is unknown.

The amount of aspirin necessary to duplicate these animal studies was not available.  A child's dose of aspirin is indicated for preventing heart attack and strokes (85 grains per day aspirin).  This appears to be an optimal and tolerated dose.

HOMOCYSTEINE  Elevated blood concentrations of this amino acid have been linked to dementia and Alzheimer's disease.  Prevention may include the use of a B complex multiple vitamin, the complex should include ample amounts of B6, B12 and folic acid.   Homocysteine is a constituent of animal protein, too much can damage blood vessels and nerves effecting circulation and potentially accelerating degenerative disease processes.  Watermelon and avocado with glutathione may also lower homocysteine levels.   Chronic alcoholism and caffeine consumption appears to raise homocysteine levels,  moderate drinking of wine and beer, one or two servings, may reduce homocysteine levels.

A drug called CPHPC can reduce the amount of serum amyloid P in the blood and in amyloid deposits in the brain.   A palindromic molecule (has identical ends) that binds from either end, grabbing two amyloid P molecules and escorting them to the liver to be destroyed.  By depleting the serum concentration of amyloid P this drug draws the protein out of organs susceptible to the plaque formation, such as the brain, heart, kidneys, liver.   See Science News  vol. 61. No. 20 5/16/02.

Personal Note: Both my parents have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and to prevent it I take a daily child's aspirin.  Eat numerous live fruits and vegetables daily.  I take Ginkgo biloba supplement (120mg standardized extraction).  Also, I take a daily vitamin supplement that has folate and an additional vitamin E supplement 400mg.  I exercise daily, read and write daily digging up and providing the public useful information in a easily accessible format.

Anxiety and Depression

What follows are a few of the integrative approaches being used to treat non-bipolar depression.

Orphanin a brain chemical that has been synthesized reduces anxiety. (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1997). Animal studies are promising.

Saint John's Wort standardized extraction of hypericin is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor keeping neural transmitter levels high, relieving mild depression in many.

GABA, Gamma Amino Butyric Acid, an amino acid, is antidepressive. High in tomatoes and evening primrose seeds.

Traditional medications like Prosac inhibit uptake of neural transmitters improving their abundance and affecting mood.

It is often helpful to seek help from a psychiatrist, counselor and an endocrinologist. Often there is a link with a life changing event and the onset of depression. A multi discipline approach of counseling, drugs, diet and exercise is helpful.

My parents have Alzheimer's disease and Kava lactones have been beneficial for my father, who is anxious and aggressive. It took about two weeks before we saw the full effect. This is highly anecdotal and your personal physician will help you make the right choice for you.

CAUTION: ALL OF THE INFORMATION IN THIS DATABASE IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE SOURCE. MUCH IS ANECDOTAL.

BE CERTAIN TO CONSULT WITH A LICENSED HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER BEFORE CONSIDERING ANY DRUGS, HERBAL PHARMACEUTICALS OR LIFE STYLE CHANGES.

Arthritis (Degenerative Joint Disease: DJD)

Glossary: Primal in this topic may be defined as pre-Columbian in the Americas or prior to agriculture (circa 10,000 years ago).

Arthritis and arthritis like diseases in primal human populations were caused by: heavy work loads, overuse, trauma and stress. Prevalence of arthritis is found throughout the anthropological record. It is not a modern phenomenon. There does appear to be a connection with overweight (extra load on joints) and the onset of arthritis.

Most osteo arthritis (DJD) in primal humans was from overuse and trauma.

Primal Eskimos (most strenuous hunter-gatherers) had fairly high shoulder arthritis (spearing, paddling, upper body and arm activity) and had slightly more arthritis overall (climate, shelter, arduous lifestyle).

Primal continental Native Americans show elbow arthritis (atlatl throwing)

There was little hip arthritis in primal people. It is a modern phenomenon of the 20^th century and is linked by some experts to obesity.

Primal women had earlier onset, men had more severity. These First people perhaps had well defined work roles where women did much food preparation and gathering from their knees. Men's roles required more stress on upper body: lifting, throwing, hauling. Thus, in men the arthritis was in the shoulder, hip, lumbar...Women mid-thoracic, knee...

Except for Eskimos most Native American women had more arthritis, men had more severe.

Generally, worldwide arthritis declines with agriculture (reduction of workload). Exceptions are some New World tribes whose agriculture, food gathering and preparation was more rigorous, with less technologically advanced tools.

Agriculturalists less arthritis of the lumbar, cervical, knee, elbow, ankle, hip in women...Less lumbar, shoulder and wrist with men.

Intensive Agriculturalists generally have more wrist, hand, knee, lumbar arthritis (metate corn grinding, bent over use of tools for agriculture).

Pueblo had less than sample of other tribes (better shelter, better climate, better tools?)

The introduction of the horse led to more pelvic and lumbar arthritis in the Americas.

Worldwide, higher status individuals showed less arthritis generally.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is rare in primal people. Most rheumatoid arthritis was found in conjunction with Erysipelothrix bacterium in North America. Evidence was found in the Southeastern United States from handling swine, deer that caused infections that mimic RA type arthritis. Many infective arthritides mimic rheumatoid arthritis. RA may have spread from New World to Europe..*

TODAY

MODERNS SHOW ARTHRITIS IN WOMEN EXCEEDS THAT IN MEN AFTER 55 YEARS OF AGE PERHAPS DUE TO HORMONES, CALCIUM LOSS, OVERWEIGHT, LESS ACTIVE.

For more see:

Patricia Bridges; Prehistoric arthritis in the Americas; Annual Review Anthropology; 92.21:67-91.

Diet for Natural Health Considerations for Arthritis

A few forms of arthritis have been relieved by dietary changes.

There are anecdotal cases of remission of Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis after giving up dairy product (Israel, Arthritis Today P 23. Sept/October).

A woman with rheumatoid arthritis was remarkably improved after eliminating corn from her diet (Ibid..above Arthritis Today).

A few patients improve when they eliminate additives, preservatives, fruit, red meat and dairy products (Journal: Arthritis and Rheumatism).

A few patients in a trial reported in Journal of Rheumatology developed arthritis symptoms when feed capsule of milk; shrimp; nitrates.

Nutritional balance of essential fatty acids may alter inflammation: get more Omega 3 (flax, fish oil, almonds, walnuts, perilla seeds) in your diet, less Omega 6(corn oil and soybean oil).

There is scant evidence that copper, zinc, B vitamins, vitamin C and fish oil have relieved arthritis symptoms (Parnish; American College of Rheumatology).

Topical application of capsaicin cremes blocks pain and may relieves inflammation.

Counterirritant beating and scarifying, like thrashing with nettles, helps a few (treatment worse than disease). Nettle has been used to treat arthritis this way for thousands of years. Stinging organs have anti-inflammatory chemistry.

Weight reduction and moderate exercise are beneficial, including mild weight bearing exercise (lifting weight).

Gout (a form of arthritis) is definitely connected to diet. Avoid foods high in purines: anchovies, organ meat, mushrooms, asparagus, alcohol...).

Raisins and grapes have many anti-inflammatory chemicals: rseveratrol, aspirin like compound, quercitin (and other flavonoids) ferulic acid, gentisic acid, kaempferal glucosides, ascorbic acid, cinnamic acid, myricetin, coumarin. Eating raisins may help some.

75% of Rheumatoid Arthritis is in women, 2.1 million males and females nationwide. Moderate activity and anti-inflammatory drugs help.

Foods to consider for their anti-arthritic characteristics are: ginger (gingerol), turmeric (curcumin inhibits prostaglandin production), red peppers (capsaicin), pineapple (bromelain), stinging nettles, oregano, rosemary, broccoli, advocado (glutathione), sunflower seeds and Brazil nuts have anti-inflammatory pain reliever: S-adenosyl-methionine. (for more see: Duke; The Green Pharmacy, Rodale, 1997).

Also see anti-inflammatory foods in this database...

FOOD SOURCES OF ANTI-ARTHRITIC CHEMICALS*

The following food are listed from most concentrated to less concentrated, given all have ample concentrations of antiarthritic chemicals.

cantaloupe cotyledon

English walnut

avocado

camu-camu fruit

cucumber cotyledon

safflower seed

great scarlet poppy seed

sunflower seed

butternut seed

calabash gourd seed

Brazilnut seed

sesame seed

evening primrose seed

pine nut

mariana seed

cantaloupe seed

black cumin seed

Chilgoza pine seed

Asthma

Here's where your cup of caffeinated coffee may be helpful...Coffee, tea, chocolate, cocoa contain bronchialdilators. Anecdotal information suggests that three cups of coffee is therapeutic. Xanthines (theobromine, theophylline, caffeine) work both in stopping bronchial spasms and opening constricted bronchial passages.

Nettle tea from the leaves and roots is a traditional Australian treatment for bronchial congestion and other asthma symptoms. Steep the roots and leaves in water just off the boil. Sip and see what happens. Hot water destroys the sting. Wear gloves and chop a handful of leaves and about a fingers thickness of roots, pour over hot water. Let cool, then drink. This tea is mineral rich.

Ephedra (Ephedra sinica) ma haung, contains ephedrine and pseudoephedrine decongestants and bronchioldilators. this medication should only be used under the direction of a professional health care provider. There are many side effects: insomnia, increases blood pressure, anxiety, restlessness, stimulant.

Licorice root, anise and fennel seed tea may also be helpful. Steep about 10 grams of licorice with a 1/4 teaspoon of fennel and anise seeds. Or chew on the seeds and wash it down with licorice tea.

If I had asthma I would try this tea before any activity that exacerbated my condition. Licorice has many side effects, one of which is to raise blood pressure. Consider deglycyrrhizinated licorice extracts (DGLE). This process reduces the side effects of licorice.

Cockroaches (catnip placed around the house repels cockroaches)have been indicated as causing asthma levels to be twice as high in cities as compared to rural areas. Proteins (antigens) from cockroach droppings and saliva may trigger allergic reactions. Kids in poor urban areas are most effected. Cockroach antigen is highest in kitchens, in rugs and in bedrooms.

Estrogen: There may be a link with estrogen replacement therapy and onset of asthma (American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Oct. 1995). A spin off from the Nurses' health Study (93,000 women participants) showed menopausal women on estrogen HRT had a 49% greater risk of developing asthma. Cause may be that estrogen restricts airflow in lungs. Risk is increased with the length of time women used the hormone replacement therapy. Since the incidence of asthma increases at puberty in women this estrogen/asthma connection has been suspected...More research needed.

Asthma Relieving Foods

Foods with Relatively High Concentrations of Anti-asthmatic Chemicals

Listed from highest concentration to lower concentration.

camu camu fruit

evening primrose leaf

tea leaf

mango flower

emblic fruit

guarana seed

almond

onion cacao

bitter melon fruit

pomegranate

coffee seed

purslane

cola seed

asparagus shoot

mate leaf

genipap seed

bell pepper fruit

ginger (antispasmodic, antimicrobial)

*as per Phytochemeco Database USDA ARS NGRL Beckstrom-Sternberg, Duke.

Caffeine

Caffeine, a stimulant, is found in coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate and numerous other products including Anacin, Excedrin, Vivarin and No Doz. The liver converts caffeine to metabolite, 95% of which is excreted through the kidneys in urine.

Metabolic Activity

Caffeine increases:

-locomotor activity

-anxiety

-blood pressure

-respiration rate

-diuresis

-production and release of epinephrine

-potential for panic attacks

Caffeine decreases:

-blood flow to the brain

-fatigue

-need for sleep

Sensitivity and Dependence

A few people are less sensitive to caffeine and may not be as severely effected by it as others.

A few have weak tolerance and are severely effected.

Caffeine dependence may develop where when a person attempts to stop drinking coffee may experience headaches, fatigue, poor concentration, fatigue and compromised motor activity

Craving for coffee may be so severe as to leave the abstainer dysfunctional. Anxiety and depression may be manifested. Chronic and large volume consumption of caffeinated beverages and lead to "caffeinism". symptoms include insomnia, restlessness and anxiety with increased heart rate, at the extreme a person may suffer from severe psychological disturbance (when consuming over 10 cups of coffee per day or 1000mg of caffeine)

Therapeutic Uses

Caffeine acts synergistically with aspirin for treating non-migraine headaches. Cafergot is a combination of caffeine and ergotamine and is used for treating migraines.

Newborn infants who have periodic cessation of breathing (apneic episodes) are treated with caffeine.

As a stimulant there is the intriguing possibility that caffeine may actually calm hyperactive (ADD) child who had been taking Ritalin or Prozac.

MYTHS

MYTH 1: Caffeine and Alcohol: Coffee does not speed alcohol metabolism...You just have a drunk who can't sleep.

MYTH 2: Caffeine and improved athletic performance: As a stimulant caffeine may help sprinters. But it may be detrimental for endurance or distance athletes, and athletes who participate in events that go beyond a few minutes. Caffeine increases energy expenditure by stimulating the adrenal glands to release epinephrine. Naturopathic Physicians suggest that long term, frequent use of caffeine may exhaust the adrenal glands.

CAUTION: Caffeine products are not a good substitute for water because it is a diuretic actually increasing excretion of liquids and salts (electrolytes) from the body. Caffeine also raises blood pressure and kicks up metabolism

Effects on Women and Children

A caffeine imbibing child who drinks two cokes per day and weighs approximately 60 pounds receives the metabolic equivalent of 8 cups of coffee, making the youngster sleepless, restless and prone to all the physiological stressors of caffeine consumption.

Pregnant mothers should curtail their caffeine consumption for there is evidence that heavy coffee drinkers may have children with lower birth rate.

Nursing Mothers: Caffeinated coffee drinking during lactation may make the breast fed youngster irritable and restless, perhaps unable to sleep. Even one cup per day may interfere with the ability of the child to absorb and use iron.

Fibrocystic breast disease is sometimes associated with caffeine consumption. Vitamin E therapy and abstinence from caffeine has been a helpful therapy.

Decaf Coffee

Methyl Chloride decaffeination process may increase the incidence of cancer by one in one million in coffee drinkers who imbibe 2-3 cups of coffee per day.

Water process decaffeination is considered by most consumers as safer.

Warning: decaffeination does not remove all xanthine chemistry from coffee. Acids and alkaloids are little effected.

Osteoporosis and Caffeine Consumption

Osteoporosis may be accelerated by caffeine consumption because of the drugs ability to increase calcium excretion. Diuretic effect of caffeine increases excretion of calcium, potassium, magnesium and zinc.

Heart Disease

One 1990 study reviewed evidence linking caffeine consumption with an increased incidence of coronary heart disease. Increased blood pressure is indicative of the stress that caffeine can put on the heart. (Benowitz, 1990, Clinical Pharmacology of Caffeine, Annual Reviews of Medicine; pp 227-28.)

Tyramine Interaction with Caffeine

If you are on a tyramine controlled diet avoid all consumption of caffeine. Caffeine increases the availability of Monoamine Oxidase inhibitors, with less MAO available tyramine is not inactivated and may lead to headaches, hypertension and possibly death.

Pharmacology

Caffeine is completely absorbed in the digestive tract within approximately 45 minutes. Absorption occurs in the stomach and small intestine, with the small intestine being the main site of absorption. The half life of persistence of caffeine in a person is from 2.5 to 4.5 hours. People who drink throughout the day may experience rising plasma concentrations of caffeine. Most clearing occurs during sleep. Caffeine is metabolized in the liver and most of the metabolites are excreted through the urine, about 5% or less through the feces. Less than 2% of caffeine is excreted unchanged. Caffeine metabolites are: 1-methyluric acid; 1,7-dimethyluric acid, 1-methylxanthine, paraxanthine, and 5k-acetylamino-6-formylamino-3-methyluracil. (Source Principles of Neuropsychopharmacology, Feldman, Meyer, Quenzer; Sinauer Associates, Inc. 1997.)

Behavioral Effects

In addition to what has been mentioned previously, caffeine may improve performance in several measurable tasks. A survey in Great Britain of 7000 men and women caffeine drinkers were tested for their performance of several tasks. The four tasks: simple reaction time, choice reaction time, incidental verbal memory, visuospatial reasoning. Results showed an improvement in task performance significant to caffeine consumption. There was improved performance in each task with caffeine drinkers. Optimum improved performance for all four tasks appeared to require 4 cups of coffee equivalent per day. Thus, one might obtain increased performance with the cost of several physiological deficits such as increased arousal, fatigue, anxiety, increased respiration and elevated blood pressure

Caffeinism

Caffeinism describes chronic consumption of high doses of caffeine. Symptoms include nervousness, insomnia, restlessness, tachycardia. At doses over 1000mg/day (over 12 five ounce cups of coffee)severe psychiatric stress may result.

Resources: Feldman, Meyer, Quenzer, Principles of Neuropsychopharmacology pp. 611-12. Sinauer Associates 1997.

Chin. Adenosine receptors in brain: Neuromodulation and role in epilepsy, Ann Neurol 26, 695-698.

Arnaud. 1993 Metabolism of caffeine and other components of coffee, Caffeine , Coffee and Health pp 43-95 Raven Press NY.

Battig and Welz. 1993 Psychopharmocological profile of caffeine. Psychopharmacological profile of caffeine. Caffeine Coffee and Health pp 213-253. Raven Press.

Griffiths 1986 Human Coffee Drinking: Reinforcing and Physical dependence producing effect

of caffeine. J. Pharma cology Exp. Ther. 239: 416-425.

BARRIERS TO A HEALTHY DIET

Diet for Natural Health Theme

Four steps to weight reduction and disease prevention.

1. Reduce your craving and consumption of refined sugar, animal fat and highly processed white flour products.

2. Increase the amount of fiber in your diet by eating whole foods particularly fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans.

3. If you must eat meat use it as a condiment or a flavoring agent, not the main course.

4. Increase your exercise routine to a two mile walk or equivalent, 5-7 days per week. Don't exercise when tired, sick or in pain.

BARRIERS

To adopt the Diet for Natural Health it is necessary to break down the following barriers to a healthy diet:

-motivation

-lack of knowledge (solution: hit the books and use this database)

-time constraints on the cook (Discover how to make healthful meals in 10 mingood taste)

-confusing dietary recommendations (change fat from animal to vegetable fats and carbohydrates from refined sugars to complex, fiber rich carbohydrates)

-some new research contradicts old research (be conservative, eat whole foods not processed foods)

-a healthy diet appears difficult to find and prepare (quick and simple)

-healthy foods are expensive (Most foods are highly processed and expensive, whole, natural foods are less expensive because you get more for your money)

-keeping family members on the same page (be patient, be gradual, share this information with them and explain what you are trying to accomplish).

Book Review and Opinion

Blood Type and Diet

Eat Right for Your Type by Peter J. D'Adamo

and Catherine Whitney

GP Putnam Sons 1996

Peter's Web Page:  www.dadamo.com 

RECOMMENDATION: READ THE BOOK AND SEE YOUR PERSONAL PHYSICIAN BEFORE ATTEMPTING THIS DIET.

Does your blood type effect what you should and should not eat?

Genes play an important role in how we breakdown, assimilate and metabolize nutrients. One in seven Irish women and one in every three French Canadians are unable to efficiently utilize folic acid. This is a genetic defect.

Mediterranean women who eat fava beans and are heterozygous for the G6PD gene (homozygous trait that causes deficiency of enzyme glucose-6-phosphatedehydrogenase) may be protected from malaria death. The fava beans contain anti-malaria phytochemistry. Males without the G6PD allele may suffer fatal hemolytic response to eating fava beans.  As a side note Fava beans are considered an aphrodisiac.

Many Africans, Asians and others have a genetic inability to digest the milk sugar lactose.

Women and Asians do not produce as much alcohol dehydrogenase and therefore assimilate more alcohol and get drunker on less alcohol than most men.

Our genetic fingerprint does effect our nutrition and health. We see this over and over again when studying primal populations. Isolated populations with long periods of inbreeding have different genetic frequencies from the world population as a whole. These groups have deficiencies and strengths. Human genetically inherited blood types are one of four. They are genetically fixed. Do they effect our nutrition? Are they a deficiency or strength? You be the judge.

The four basic type O, A, B and AB are not unique to humans. Chimpanzee's have O and A blood groups. Group O is common in humans but rare in other primates. Gorillas for example are all blood group B.

According to D'Adamo blood type B folks should be eating primarily a heavy dairy diet. Tell that to a gorilla.

Human Type O's should be primarily meat eaters and type A's are vegetarians. Chimps who are either A or O are omnivorous like their human cousins. And rarely eat meat. D'Adamo suggests that type A evolved in humans primarily in the Middle East and Europe and Type B's on the Asian subcontinent. Explain to me then how both A and B are found in African non-human primates. Were chimps European vegetarians that migrated to Africa?

South American Natives have a gene frequency for type O that reaches 95%. Yet, they are reportedly descendants of Asians who have (reportedly by D'Adamo) a high B blood type pool. The only accounting for this discrepancy is that the First People to inhabit the New World were mostly type O. Perhaps type A and B fell by the wayside because they afforded no survival advantage, maybe a disadvantage in the New World. Most likely this was a genetic bottleneck especially in South America where most type O's are found. The originating population may have been small and mostly type O. From available data, except for South America and Australia, the frequency of blood types is about the same on the other continents. With type O averaging between 50-80% on all continents. And A and B types averaging between 15 and 25% each on all continents. The spread between the percentages is probably due to regional variation attributable to evolutionary bottlenecks and genetic drift. That is, isolated populations may be heavily weighted in a particular blood type because the progenitors of the group were of a specific blood type.

This Diet Works for Many

Given all this, there is an emerging school of thought that suggests blood types have an evolutionary advantage. Perhaps evolving to provide us with disease protection. So let's bring in Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo ND and his book and theory: Eat Right for Your Type; Putnam's and Sons, 1996.

Many participants at my workshops want to know if their blood type determines what they should eat. Peter D'Adamo's research suggests that your blood type dictates what foods are beneficial and safe to consume and what foods you should avoid.

FACT: You are either type O, A, B, or AB. (There are many other blood factors beyond the scope of this essay).

PREMISE: Certain foods cause allergic reactions, others contain protein lectins that are agglutinating (clinging and clumping) for your blood type. This factors may be detrimental to your health leading to strokes, other degenerative diseases and immune disorders. Example: tomatoes for types A and B are agglutinating. Chicken for types B, AB causes allergic responses and agglutination.

ADDITIONAL ASSUMPTION: Stay away from smoked, salt cured and pickled foods regardless of your diet choice.

Author's caveat: There is an unintentional emphasis on nuts and seeds below. Remember they must be consumed in judicious proportions in a mixed and varied diet. Nuts are high in essential fats, but that fat counts against the total calories you consume...be prudent.

Foods to avoid are in bold type.

-Type O, the oldest blood type (hunter/gatherers), are high protein consumers and according to D'Adamo should eat more meat, fish, fowl and ample amounts of vegetables and fruit....To a lessor extent: pumpkin seeds, walnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds.

They should limit grains, beans and legumes...And avoid vegetables in the cabbage and mustard family: Brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, mustard greens.

-Type A, the agrarian blood type (cultivators), are vegetarians and the mainstays of their diet are vegetables, tofu, seafood*, grains, beans, legumes, fruit...Also, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, almonds, walnuts and sunflower seeds.

They should avoid: meat, dairy, kidney beans, lima beans, tomatoes and wheat.

-Type B, the nomadic omnivores, should pursue a balanced diet: eat most meats* but exclude chicken. Consume adequate dairy, vegetables, fruit, beans and grain. Nuts are not advised for type B, a few exceptions are: almonds, Brazil nuts, chestnuts, walnuts.

You should avoid: lentils, peanuts, sesame seeds, tomatoes, buckwheat, wheat and corn.

-Type AB, modern mix of blood types, should eat a mixed diet, with emphasis on moderation, not excess of any one food. They may eat white meat*, seafood, tofu, legumes, pulses, vegetables, fruit and dairy products. Beneficial nuts are chestnuts, peanuts and walnuts. Neutral nuts are almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews.

They should avoid red meat, kidney beans, tomatoes, seeds, corn, buckwheat sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds.

EDIBLE FOODS COMMON TO ALL BLOOD TYPES

There are foods that are common, beneficial or neutral, to all blood types.

THEY INCLUDE: olive oil, most vegetables, most seafood and most fruit.

-Tomatoes: nightshade family plants including tomatoes are most deleterious to type A and type B individuals, type O and type AB can eat moderate amounts of tomatoes.

Diet for Natural Health is a Good Fit

A diet of fruit, vegetables, seafood, some nuts, seeds and grains--with a few exceptions--is a good fit for those who are following D'Adamo's Blood type diets. Coincidently, this is the Diet for Natural Health.

OPINION

Like all new diets (ours included) it will take time before the Blood Type diet becomes fact, before the theory is law. In time, one of two things will occur. Less vested investigators will ferret out the same truths that Dr. D'Adamo has uncovered and the diet will garner more scientific support. On the other hand, researchers may, in time, after sufficient investigation dismiss many of the conclusions that form the cornerstone of the Blood Type diets.

It is not a difficult diet to follow because fully 2/3 of the foods are common to all diets. If you follow the list of foods to avoid for your blood type you will have taken a prudent path.

The Diet for Natural Health is a broad based diet of moderation. It is a close fit with the Blood Type diet with fewer restrictions. If Dr. D'Adamo's theory proves correct we will have ALREADY set you on a safe path with the suggestions in this database. If they prove off the mark, the course we have designed remains straight and true. On one hand you win, on the other hand you win.

*CAUTION: Meats and seafood should be selected carefully. Seek organic, free range meat and fowl. Marine animals are dearly pressed, populations are down. These wild creatures cannot feed the growing population of humans worldwide. Use meat and seafood as a condiment, a flavoring agent in your cooking...Preserve our will food resources and their habitats for future generations.

Sources: Cohen. Health and the rise of civilization, pp 113-114. Yale University Press.

D'Adamo. Eat Right For Your Type, 1996 GO Putnam and Sons.

Jones, Martin Pilbean, The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Human Evolution. Pp. 265, 282, 292, 459.

Meuninck, Corson, Behnke-Strasser, Diet for Natural Health, 1999. Meuninck's Media Methods.

Blood Pressure

Foods, Vitamins and Minerals that are Hypotensive

Cayenne, Onions, Valerian, CoQ10

Garlic, Basil, Tarragon, Calcium

Hawthorn, Oregano, Vitamin C

Kudzu, Black pepper, Potassium

Saffron, Fennel, Magnesium

-source Nature's Impact. Feb/Mar 1998; P 38.

Food Sources of Potassium, Magnesium and Calcium for Controlling Blood Pressure

Potassium rich foods: bananas, oranges, beans, dried peas, potatoes, tangerines.

Magnesium rich foods: almonds, cashews, pecans, rice, bananas, potatoes, kidney and lima beans, wheat germ, peas, soy products, molasses bran, oats, fish.

Calcium rich foods: nuts, salmon, sardines, low-fat dairy foods, watercress, kale, broccoli, turnip greens, collard greens, mustard greens.

Blood Pressure Reduction: Major Considerations

Exercise daily.

Reduce alcohol and caffeine consumption.

Reduce refined sugar intake.

Reduce use of white flour.

Cut fat consumption.

Reduce salt intake.

Increase magnesium, calcium, potassium.

Lowering Blood Pressure

If you have a blood pressure cuff try the following experiment.

This is anecdotal evidence see your physician for consultation.

It appears--from experiments and trials performed by Claude Gunter Ph.D. and myself-- that blood pressure, at least for us, is near its high after we get up in the morning. If we delay breakfast blood pressure remains high. Should we drink caffeinated coffee blood pressure may even get higher.

After eating a bagel lathered with hummus and topped with Italian tomato salad: including peppers, onion, garlic, oregano and olive oil, my blood pressure dropped steeply from a high of 143/90 to 117/71 within a hour after eating. On the important systolic side this is more than a 20% drop.

According to a physician friend of mine, high morning blood pressure may be in response to low blood sugar, this causes the adrenal glands to release adrenaline which begins a cascade of metabolic events, one sidelight of which is elevated blood pressure. Adding caffeine to the picture may further stimulate the adrenals perhaps exacerbating the problem.

Blood Pressure May be Atherosclerosis Contributor

Initial research suggests that hemodynamic activity (flow, eddies and flow pressure of blood in arteries and veins) may be the cause of atherosclerosis. Thus, high blood pressure may be a cause as well as a symptom of atherosclerosis. Exercise (see file) may provide a margin of protection against the degenerative of hemodynamics.

Resources:

-Stehbens, William; LIPIDS AND ATHEROSCLEROSIS, AN IMPOSSIBLE CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP, Clinical Notes, Wellington Medical Research Foundation, Wellington New Zealand 1997.

Caffeine Antagonizes Dopamine and Adenosine

Another perspective suggests that caffeine may raise blood pressure by other mechanisms. Research suggests that caffeine competes with adenosine by blocking receptor sites in the brain. Adenosine modulates (controls, reduces activity) the activity of neural transmitters in the brain. By blocking adenosine's modulating effect a cascade of physiological events occur a couple of which are increased blood pressure and increased respiration rates. Caffeine also competes with dopamine and this avenue of antagonism may also be responsible for numerous problems. See caffeine file on this disk for more information on the effects of caffeine.

Back to the Experiment:

Anyway, in the breakfast experiment, the bagel was my primary glucose source, and the tomatoes, onions and garlic in the salad have chemistry that is hypotensive. Onion oil and gamma-amino-butyric-acid (GABA from the tomatoes) lowers blood pressure. Garlic is a proven and potent hypotensive (blood pressure lowering). Other plant foods that lower blood pressure are celery, broccoli, carrots, purslane, tarragon, black pepper, basil, oregano, fennel and saffron to name a few

Herbs and Wild Plants

Herbal preparations of valerian (Valeriana officinalis); Kudzu (Pueraria lobata); Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) and elderberry (Sambucus nigra, canadensis) (see Meuninck's videos for identification and recipes) have been shown to lower blood pressure in various studies.

Exercise

Regular exercise is also helpful for strengthening your heart and elasticizing your blood vessels leading to lower blood pressure from a bigger, stronger, slower beating heart.

Spiritual Self

Yoga, prayer and other forms of meditation have proven to lower blood pressure. Get in touch with body, your mind and your God.

Reduce Stress

Stress is an important contributor to high blood pressure. For example, one morning after swilling some coffee and raising my blood pressure, I lowered my systolic pressure 18% by eating cereal, a banana and some walnuts. Then, "Ring!, ring!" comes this business call. After ten stressful minutes on the phone I re-checked my systolic blood pressure. It was elevated 15% almost back up to the empty stomach caffeine state because of stress.

Dietary Considerations for Lowering Blood Pressure

Less Fat, Less Sodium, Less Refined Sugar, More Fiber, More Exercise

The Diet for Natural Health suggests...

-eat less animal fat and animal protein

-less salt, more potassium

-less refined sugar, more fiber

-less TV, more exercise

DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension)

This Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension suggests eating fruits and vegetables with low fat dairy products. In the study, it was discovered that those who ate low fat dairy products (skim milk, low fat cheese, and low fat yogurt) significantly lowered their blood pressure (3 to 5 points) as compared to those who ate fruit and vegetables without dairy, and those who participated in a traditional meat and moderate fat diet. The dairy component is believe to have contributed ample calcium to the diet. Calcium from the dairy and potassium and magnesium from the fruits and vegetables may be the blood pressure lowering components in this diet (fat from all sources was 25% of Kcalories).

COUNT FAT NOT CALORIES: One Gram of Fat for Every Kilogram of Weight

DNH (Diet for Natural Health) suggests eat one gram of fat or less for each kilogram of weight (2.4 pounds per kilogram). For example, a 150 pound person weighs 62 Kg (150 divided by 2.4=62). This person may eat 62 grams of fat or less per day. For best results get this fat from plant sources: flax seeds, perilla seeds, almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds, olive oil, Brazil nuts, pumpkin seeds, unsalted peanuts, cereal grains, filberts, avocados, pulses, soy, lentils...These are excellent sources of essential fatty acids, protein and fiber. Reduce the amount of saturated fats and cholesterol by avoiding animal protein and high fat dairy products...Eat low fat dairy judiciously.

Supplements

Take a quality multivitamin/mineral supplement with ample calcium, potassium and magnesium. sources. Consider a separate calcium supplement and get plenty of sunlight for vitamin D production.

Carbohydrates

It is very difficult to eat too much complex carbohydrates. Fruits and vegetables are full of water...They are bulking, filling, fiber rich.

Greatly curtail simple carbs, such as refined sugar, bleached white flour and products made with the same. Eat whole grain sources of carbohydrates.

Before your body turns excess carbohydrate into fat, your muscles will store more glycogen and your rate of oxidation will increase. You will have more energy on a high complex carb/low fat

diet.

Bottom line: get rid of the animal fat, kick up the complex carbohydrates, eat more fruits and vegetables.

 For more on blood pressure see My Garden plants file and search under blood pressure and hypertension, hypotensive. More.....

BIOFLAVONOIDS

Focus Cancer

Also be certain to see cancer on this disk! CANCER

Bioflavonoids comprise 10000 plus unique plant chemicals.

They play a vital role in most metabolic activities in vascular plants for 1 billion years...Part of our diet since our existence. In plants they provide the color of Fall and the colors of flowers to attract pollinators; they block UV light-- reflecting and absorbing radiation, protecting plants; aid in light selectivity for plant based metabolism; important in germination, growth and reproductive processes of plants; found in all parts of the plant, flowers, roots, seeds, fruits and nuts.

NUMEROUS FOOD SOURCES: Found in black and green tea, fruit, wine, grape juice, citrus, edible flowers, vegetables, seeds (beans), stems, bark...all parts of plants and plant foods.

-We ingest on average about 1 gm per day of mixed flavonoids.

-Non-toxic, no reported cases of dermatitis or anaphylaxis

-Several mutagenic in high amounts (Ames test).

Flavonoids: anti-tumor, anti-proliferative, differentiating, antioxidants, hormone mimickers, inhibitors and initiators, capillary protectants, anti atherosclerosis, anti-allergenic, antihistamine, reduce gastric acid secretions (antiulcer), protective against cataracts (especially in diabetics Quercitin), antiviral (Hyssop blue giant Spurge Euphorbia spp.), ascorbic acid initiator, hepatoprotective, protective to anaphylactic smooth muscle contractions, mutagenic in micro organisms, may be mutagenic in mammals in high doses (extrapolated for Quercitin from Ames Test).

Other: Flavonoids provide protection from environmental carcinogens: drugs, pollutants, insecticides anti-allergic, antihistaminic, anti-proliferative, cholinergic, fungicide, fungistat.

Quercitin: inhibits biochemical events associated with tumor promotion. It's a "blocking agent" of metabolic activation, also induces enzymes involved in detoxification of carcinogen, rats had 48% lower incidence of breast cancer, lab studies show it inhibits colon cancer, topical application inhibited skin cancer in mice. Antiproliferative activity in breast cancer in human breast cells. Protective against gastric and colon cancer. At 18 grams quercitin not mutagenic to mice. Antioxidant. Capillary protectant.

Source: rinds of fruit, clover blossoms, ragweed pollen, apricots, wild eggplant, Herbs: artemisia, southernwood, glechoma. Analog:  isoquercitin from nasturtiums.

Fisetin: anti-cancer, antioxidant

Source: Bark

Luteolin: Anti-cancer, antioxidant

Source: yarrow, dill, celery, tarragon, oats, peppers, cayenne, shepherd's purse, chamomile, lemon,

Genistein: genistein with mitomycin C induced cancer cell differentiation, genistein in high concentrations can cause differentiation of cancer cells, i.e. returning to normal cell from cancerous cell. Genistein also promotes production of good estrogen 2-hydroxlyestrone.

Source: legumes, soy products, prunus spp., rose, Podocarpus spicata

Daidzen: anti-cancer

Source: soy beans, red clover.

Myricetin: possible protection from skin cancer

Source: bayberry bark

Tangeretin maybe preferential over quercitin more active in lower concentrations....anti invasive action, inhibits cancer cell growth.

Sources: bitter orange, orange

Apigenin antioxidant, anticancer

Food source: parsley, celery, glechoma (gill over the ground), oats, peppers

Nobiletin inhibits cancer cell growth.

Source: mints, mountain mint leaves, fruit of bitter orange.

Silymarin (silybin) liver protection, antioxidant

Foods source: Milk thistle seeds.

 OTHER BIOFLAVONOIDS

PLANTAGOSIDE (pansies, buckwheat eucalyptus leaves); CATECHIN (berries, tea, parsley carrots); COUMARINS (cabbage family, citrus); KAEMPFEROL (grapefruit, soybeans Cuscuta reflexa, leave of Trichosanthus cucumeroides) GINKGOLIDES, BILOBALIDE periferal circulatory problems (Ginkgo trees)

Indications for human consumption: BIOFLAVONOIDS appear in our urine, bile and other locations of the body. They are probably prepared for absorption by gut flora. They are potent antioxidants in the gut. Appear to strengthen heart thrust, strengthen capillaries, build heart tissue, improve peripheral circulation, anti cancer in many ways, cleanse and rebuild liver tissue, antihistamine effect in elevating allergic response, inhibit metabolic reactions and initiate other metabolic processes.

Bioflavonoids Isoflavonoids

-Bioflavonoids comprise over 10,000 plus unique plant chemicals

We ingest on average about 1 gm per day of mixed flavonoids.

Non-toxic, no reported cases of dermatitis or anaphylaxis

Mutagenic in high amounts Ames test.

Vital role in vascular plants for 1 billion years...Part of our diet since our existence.

In plants they provide the color of Fall and the colors of flowers, found in all parts of the plant, flowers, roots, seeds, fruits and nuts.

Flavonoids are anti-allergic, anti-anaphylactic, anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic, cardiotonic, hypotensive, anti-rhythmic effects, capillary strengthening, improve peripheral circulation, anti bacterial, anti viral, anti cancer (anti proliferative, differentiate, anti-carcinogenic, anti oxidant, free radical scavengers, receptor site competitors to hormones), anti-zenotoxicants, antihistamine, inhibitors and initiators of numerous other metabolic processes.

GENISTEIN (Prunus, Rosaceae, Podocarpus spicata); SILYMARIN (Milk thistle); QUERCITIN, FISETIN(Rhus continus and rhodanthema): APIGENIN (parsley, celery, Anthemis nobilis flowers) TANGERETIN (citrus); PLANTAGOSIDE; RUTIN (pansies, buckwheat eucalyptus leaves); CATECHIN (berries, tea, parsley carrots); COUMARINS (cabbage family, citrus); KAEMPFEROL (grapefruit, soybeans Cuscuta reflexa, leave of Trichosanthus cucumeroides)GINKGOLIDES, BILOBALIDE periferal circulatory problems.

Indications for human consumption: Bioflavonoids appear in our urine, bile and other locations of the body. They are probably prepared for absorption by gut flora. They are potent antioxidants in the gut. Appear to strengthen heart thrust, strengthen capillaries, build heart tissue, improve peripheral circulation, anti cancer in many ways, cleanse and rebuild liver tissue, antihistamine effect in elevating allergic response, inhibit metabolic reactions and initiate other metabolic processes. Go to Prostate

What Comes from Edible Flowers (including flavonoids)

NUTRITION: ESSENTIAL FATS; ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS; VITAMINS;

MINERALS; TRACE ELEMENTS; POLYSACHARIDES.

TYPICAL ESSENTIAL OIL CONTAINS 100 UNIQUE CHEMICALS.

THESE CHEMICALS ARE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME AS OUR OWN. MANY ARE PHENYLPROPANE THE PRECURSORS OF AMINO ACID SYNTHESIS. EASILY UTILIZED AND ELIMINATED.

HRT AND THE RISK OF BREAST CANCER

RISKS:

-One out of every eight women develops breast cancer in their lifetime.

-One in every one hundred Ashkenazi Jews may carry the BRCA1 gene. Carriers have an 85% rate of developing breast cancer.

-In the female population at large only 1 in 800 carry the mutated BRCA genes.

-HRT may increase risk of breast cancer by a factor of 1.3 to 1.7 times.

CONVENTIONAL WISDOM:

-HRT estrogen only therapy may increase protection from heart disease and osteoporosis, but may increase potential for endometrial cancer and may slightly increase chance of breast cancer.

-Estrogen plus progestin (estrogen plus synthetic progesterone) provides protection from endometrial cancer. But may increases (slight) increase in breast cancer. This combination does provide protection from osteoporosis and heart disease.

-Other reasons for hormone replacement therapy: birth control, prevent hot flashes, less cramping, and night sweats and helps regulate menstrual cycle.

HRT AND BREAST CANCER RECENT STUDIES:

-Harvard: Long term use of HRT regardless of formulation increases risk of breast cancer: 3% chance with HRT and 2% without. Risk diminishes rapidly when women cease HRT. Use for over five years increased incidence of breast cancer to 1.3X-1.7X over non-HRT population. These risks are minimal compared to BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetics (see below).

-Hutchinson(Cancer Research Center Seattle) Suggests estrogen plus progestin did not increase risk of breast cancer.

GENETICS:

-Thus no one risk factor proclaims dire consequences except women carrying rare BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes (85 out of 100 carriers get breast cancer).

PREGNANCY: Teen and early twenties pregnancy has increased risk for breast cancer initially that becomes less of a risk post menopause. Late pregnancy (30 years or older) has increased post menopausal risk of breast cancer.

DIET:

High fat diet appears to contribute to high incidence of breast cancer in United States especially in obese post menopausal women whose fatty tissue produce a form of estrogen.

Educated , middle class, health conscious who have put off child birth slightly more at risk.

ENVIRONMENT: Xenoestrogens mimic estrogen in the body and are prevalent in environmental pollutants, pesticides, plastics and pharmaceuticals. To name a few: atrazine, chlordane, DDT, endosulfan (insecticide), kepone (ant and roach bait), methoxychlor (insecticide), PCBs, break down products of polycarbonate (vegetable and meat tins, plastic coated juice boxes); cimetidine (ulcer treatment) and synthetic estrogens for birth control and HIT. Xenoestrogens are carried in animal fats and oils and to a lessor extent in vegetable oils.

 Biochemistry: Estrogen and progesterone stimulate breast cells to grow and divide. There are active sites on the breast cells where these hormones initiate this activity. Two metabolites of estrodial activate the breast receptor sites. One is called 16-alpha-hydroxyestrone (bad estrogen) and 2-hydroxyestrone (good estrogen). These products stimulate breast cells to grow and divide.

Good estrogen (2-hydroxyestrone) is a weak cell growth initiator and higher amount of this metabolite may be desirable. Overstimulation of breast cells may lead to breast cancer.

HYPOTHESIS: There are competitive estrogen like bioflavonoids in plants that raise serum levels of the less active (good estrogen) 2 hydroxyestrone--2 hydroxyestrone weakly activates estrogen receptors in breast. Whereas (bad estrogen) 16-alpha-hydroxyestrone strongly activates the receptor with growth promoting genes, which enhances breast cell proliferation and perhaps damages DNA. Genistein in legumes and particularly in soy bean products compete with estrogen and are inactive. This may be the reason why a large longitudinal study of Japanese Hawaiians who ate tofu as a regular part of their diet showed reduced rates of breast cancer. Tofu is an excellent source of calcium, low in fat, full of soluble fiber that bulks cholesterol. It appears to be hypotensive. It may, as a regular part of the diet, provide cheap insurance against breast cancer, osteoporosis, and heart disease.

What May Help:

Exercising, staying lean and eating a healthful diet including estrogen mimickers that compete for estrogen sites (legumes, edible flowers, cabbage, broccoli and fruit, especially berries at least 5 times a 100 gram serving, ie five servings per day, may provide protection from osteoporosis, heart disease and breast cancer. But use HRT if the benefits outweigh the risk (unwanted pregnancy, hot flashes, sedentary lifestyle, etc.) Remember that if you have BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes risk are high, HRT may make things worse (no hard evidence of this yet and no inexpensive screening technique for finding the BRCA1 gene).

Purpose of Hormone Replacement Therapy

To prevent heart disease, osteoporosis, pregnancy, menstrual cycle regulation, reduce hot flashes, cramps, night sweats.

Estrogen plus progestin appears to be best choice.

Increased incidence of breast cancer with HRT may be 1.3 to 1.7 times...The higher rate (1.7X) is for women 60 and over who have had more than 5 years of HRT and continue to take it.

HRCA1 and HRCA2 genetics are rare (1 in 800; Ashkenazi Jews 1 in 100) but assure a 85% risk of breast cancer.

 Obesity appears to be a contributor factor in many cancers, including post menopausal breast cancer. However, overweight may provide some protection pre-menopause.

Early pregnancy teens and early twenties, show early propensity for breast cancer and late (post menopause) protection from breast cancer. Pregnancies after 30 years of age appear to increase potential for breast cancer.

Plant flavonoids from fruit, flowers, broccoli, cabbage, leaves and particularly legumes my be cancer protecting. They are free radical scavengers (antioxidants), and may induce de-carcinogenesis (in laboratory models and animals studies). Bioflavonoids like genistein aid in the production of good estrogen 2-hydroxyestrone that is a weak cell growth initiator.

Advice: See a Physician you are comfortable with and respect before beginning any program, especially from self diagnosis.

If you exercise, eat a good diet high in bioflavonoids you may be providing protection against osteoporosis, heart disease, breast cancer and ovarian cancer. But if you believe HRT makes your life more comfortable and provides needed protection then consult with your physician and consider taking or staying with the therapy. Until we have a diagnostic test to screen for HRCA1 and HRCA2 it's a wild card but odds are long unless you are of the Ashkenazi lineage.

LAST WORDS: Women most likely to get breast cancer are educated, health conscious, middle-class women who have put off childbirth are the least likely to need lifelong HRT to prevent heart disease and osteoporosis

Replace saturated fat calories in diet with high fiber, complex carbohydrates, 12% protein (40 to 70 grams depending on your lean body weight and activity level) in your diet should be adequate.

Colorectal cancer

Caffeine may Antagonize Adenosine

(may raise blood pressure)

It animal studies, it appears caffeine blocks receptors for the neurotransmitter/neuromodulator adenosine. Adenosine effects the relaxation of gastrointestinal smooth muscle; facilitates coronary vasodilation; inhibits blood platelet aggregation and stimulates triglyceride (fat) formation in adipose cells (fat cells). Adenosine also has neuro-regulatory functions in the central nervous system. It inhibits the firing of neurons. It controls the release of many neurotransmitters, including serotonin, GABA and others. Adenosine may act as a tonic control, dampening nerve firings in the brain. In effect, it may be anti-convulsive, suppressing activity and arousal. Also, Adenosine from nerve and other cellular tissues is increased during metabolic stress and oxygen deprivation. This mechanism assures there is enough adenosine available to dilate blood vessels restoring blood flow and oxygen to tissues in deficit. Caffeine appears to be antagonistic to adenosine, blocking or attenuating its functions. In this way, caffeine may gain its stimulating effect and short term performance enhancements by blocking Adenosine receptors, attenuating the nerve dampening activity of Adenosine.

Class Outline for Natural Health

This material is copyrighted. Please do not share this disk. You may use material for your personal use, or professional use, but do not hand out topics from this disk.

Copyright Jim Meuninck 2000 Protected by Federal Copyright Laws.

Replace saturated fat calories in diet with high fiber, complex carbohydrates, 12% protein (40 to 70 grams depending on your lean body weight and activity level) in your diet should be adequate.

Numbers below are plus or minus 5%:

Calcium

Calcium functions in body:

-structural support (bone formation)

-formation of teeth

-calcium ions assist muscle response, contraction and relaxation.

-nerve function and response

-blood pressure control and blood clotting

-immune system integrity and response

-acid/base balance in blood

-may protect absorption of too much aluminum*

-anti PMS when used with magnesium adequate Vitamin D (ratio calcium 2-1 with magnesium)

Calcium should be consumed with a meal or as part of a meal. Adequate stomach acidity is necessary to improve solubility of calcium for absorption. Thus, bitters prior to a meal in the form of beer or bitter salad greens may improve calcium availability. Interestingly, some of the most abundant plant sources of calcium and most absorbable are cruciferous and mustard family plants including: bok choy, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, kale, mustard greens, rutabaga, turnip greens and watercress. The sharp and somewhat bitter taste of these greens may improve release and absorption of their high calcium content by increasing stomach acidity by reflex response.

Vitamin D

It is necessary to adequate sun exposure to assure sufficient manufacture of vitamin D a factor necessary for the absorption of calcium. Vitamin D acts on all three organ systems that control calcium in the body: the bones, intestines and kidneys. Vitamin D can raise blood calcium by accelerating absorption in the intestines.. Working with parathormone Vitamin D promotes reabsorption in the kidneys rasing blood calcium levels. Vitamin D and parathormone also stimulate osteoclast cells to dissolve bone, releasing calcium into the blood

Bone Supply

Bones provide a continuous and substantial bank of calcium the body can draw from in times of deficiency. In times of surplus the bone supply is replenished. Calcitonin, a thyroid hormone, lowers calcium in the blood by stimulating bone osteoblasts to build bone. Conversely, if blood calcium is too low, parathyroid glands secrete parathormone that with the assistance of vitamin D raises blood calcium levels by acting on the bones and kidneys.

Bones contain 99% of the body's calcium and serve as a calcium bank and a framework for the body.

Plant sources

Wild Plants: watercress, dandelion, purslane, lamb's quarters, pigweed, stinging nettles, red clover shoots, Herbs: marjoram, licorice, celery seed, basil, thyme, savory. Other foods: cruciferous plants, mustard family, tofu, soy milk.

Absorption Complexities

Too much phosphorous or too little is not good.

Too much vitamin D or too little is not good.

Absorption is diminished with aging (personal advice: Don't age!).

Lack of stomach acid is not good but too much is not good.

High fiber diet diminishes calcium absorption but protects you from heart disease and cancer.

High protein intake diminishes calcium, although meat has good calcium content.

Lactose in milk improves absorption but Seven Day Adventists believe high protein content in milk diminishes availability.

Phytates in beans and soy products diminish absorption by binding and removing calcium, but soy beans have a very high content of calcium.

Oxalates from sorrels and spinach and many other plant foods reduce calcium availability.

Good ideas:

-Exercise outdoors provides exposure to sun and vitamin D formation in skin. Exercise puts load on bones and strengthens them improving calcium absorption and bone density.

-Eat a broad variety of plant foods, with an emphasis on cabbage and mustard families.

-Add tofu (calcium chloride set tofu) and other soy products to your diet.

-Drink skim milk judiciously.

-Improve stomach acid by adding bitters to your salad greens, typically these bitter greens are also high in calcium... Or sip a beer before a meal.

-Eat root crops, nuts and seeds, flowers all fair calcium sources with phytosterols and essential fatty acids that provide starter material for production of your own hormones.

-Phytoestrogens from plants may also be beneficial. A few studies show phytoestrogens like genistein improve calcium absorption and bone formation.

-Spinach although fairly high in calcium is also high in oxalates that block absorption. Eat no more than once or twice a week.

Class Outline for Natural Health

This material is copyrighted. Please do not share this disk. You may use material for your personal use, or professional use, but do not hand out topics from this disk.

Copyright Jim Meuninck 1999 Protected by Federal Copyright Laws.

Osteoporosis and Menopause

Women are six times more susceptible to bone loss with aging than men. Over 25 million people are effected in the United States. Remember over the years your body has been using the bone bank of calcium to keep serum levels adequate to meet metabolic needs for muscle contraction, nerve response, pH buffering in blood, immune system integrity and performance, blood pressure control and blood clotting. If your stores were great in old age you will have adequate reserves.

But loss of both cortical bone (white outer structure) and trabecular (lacy inner structure) can lead to bone breaks and spinal compression may be the result of osteoporosis.

It appears that post menopausal HRT Hormone Replacement Therapy may prevent accelerated bone loss due to loss of estrogen during and after menopause. Bone loss in women is accelerated for 6 to 8 years following menopause. This sudden bone loss tapers off in women about 8 years after menopause.

Women who have higher peak bone mass prior to menopause appear to fair better because they have sufficient bone reserves to avoid fractures in their 60's and 70's. Thus building bone mass early in life appears important. This can be done by eating a calcium rich diet combined with moderate exercise. Anorexia like weight loss and too much indoor activity without outdoor load exercise may put your calcium reserves in debt sooner than you want.

Phytoestrogens from tofu may be helpful prior to, during and after menopause.

A few Women athletes are susceptible to bone loss due to amenorrhea induced by weight loss and over exercising, called athletic amenorrhea.

Long term consumption of carbonated soda (pop) may effect bone density leading to the onset of osteoporosis.

Also see caffeine. 

Parkinson's & Lou Gehrig's (ALS) Disease and Aluminum Absorption

Ralph Garruto, Medical Researcher and Anthropologists at NIH is investigating the link with shortage of dietary calcium and increased absorption of aluminum in Chamorro people on Guam.

Chamorro have high rates (50-100 times) of Parkinson's Disease and ALS (Gehrig's Disease).

Increased aluminum absorption in the absence of sufficient dietary calcium is detrimental to the body and the brain. Aluminum poisoning in the brain destroys neurons and eventually leads to death. Calcium supplements may ease this problem. Aluminum is found in many plant foods, calcium protects us from getting too much. Alzheimer's disease has been linked to excess aluminum in the brain. Once again interesting evidence that we should make certain we are getting ample calcium.

(for more on osteoporosis see My Garden Plants file database.)

Class Outline for Natural Health

This material is copyrighted. Please do not share this disk. You may use material for your personal use, or professional use, but do not hand out topics from this disk.

Copyright Jim Meuninck 1999 Protected by Federal Copyright Laws.

Replace saturated fat calories in diet with high fiber, complex carbohydrates, 12% protein (40 to 70 grams depending on your lean body weight and activity level) in your diet should be adequate.

Numbers below are plus or minus 5%:

Pesticides/Herbicides

Alex Lu of the University of Washington in Seattle reported at the 1999 American Chemical Society's convention (August 24, 1999) that children of people who work in the fruit orchards of central Washing State are exposed to four times as much pesticide as other children in the same community. In studies performed in 1992 and 1995, researchers discovered that dust in the home of agricultural workers contained far more pesticides than dust in other homes in the area. The closer children lived to the orchards the higher the levels of organophosphate pesticides. Children tested during the fruit spraying season had higher metabolites of organophosphate pesticides in their urine than other children located away from orchards.

Current research expanded on the early research. The latest research shows that rural children, including those whose parents do not work in the orchards, have significantly higher concentrations of metabolites in their urine than either urban or suburban kids.

Even suburban kids whose parents garden and/or use lawn pesticides and herbicides had higher concentrations of pesticides metabolites in their urine than did urban children.

Carbohydrates

Simple Carbohydrates

Monosaccharides

glucose(end product sugar for metabolic needs)

fructose (sweetest sugar from honey, fruit, corn)

galactose (milk)

Disaccharides

sucrose (fructose+glucose)

lactose (galactose+glucose)

maltose (glucose+glucose)

Complex Carbohydrates (Polysaccharides) Long chains of mostly glucose and monosaccharides)

 Starch (digestible plant polysaccharide <giant molecules> from grains, seeds, nuts)

 inulin (slowly digested polysaccharide (hydrolized to fructose from root vegetables)

 Glycogen (animal storage form of glucose)

  Fiber

soluble fiber:

pectin (beans, citrus fruits, apples)

some hemicelluloses (cereal fibers)

gums (plant secretions)

mucilage (plant secretions, many flowers)

 insoluble fiber:

cellulose (cell walls)

most hemicellulose

lignins (nonpolysaccharide fiber woody parts of carrots, vegetables, trees, small seeds of blueberries, strawberries)

How to Eat Fiber

Avoid foods containing refined simple carbohydrates and precessed starches. These are especially dangerous in high calorie diets combined with fat: white bread, donuts, bagels, ice cream, cookies, chips, soda pop...These high calory foods lead to accelerated fat storage and related consequences: hypoglycemia, diabetes, hyperinsulemia, degenerative diseases including prostate cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer and other cancers...arthritis.

Eat high fiber, whole foods: vegetables, beans, fruit (fruit may be high in simple sugars but is also high in complex fiber and water, slowing assimilation of glucose, fats and cholesterol. Fruit also contain nutrients, minerals, trace elements and health protecting phytochemistry.).

Glucose is stored as Glycogen. There is limited storage capacity in the body for glycogen .

When the body meets its energy needs and fills its energy stores with glycogen the body breaks glucose into fat and is stored in the fat cells in the fatty tissues of the body.

This problem is rare unless the person is eating high energy foods that are also high in fat, or combined with other high fat servings in the meal (beef, pork, bacon, eggs, etc.)

 The excess glucose is stored as fat, the fat is stored as fat, and as I write I am getting fatter and fatter. Better get out and get some exercise.

When glucose levels in the blood fall below normal a person may feel weak and dizzy. You may experience during exercise this phenomenon. A carbohydrate drink may help. On the other hand, you can get a similar effect by eating before an event. This may occur while doing exercise after a big meal, or high glucose treat of refined simple sugars. What happens is that my glucose levels go up, insulin is secreted, perhaps over secreted, my glucose levels go down as quickly as they spiked. And I am in a hypoglycemic state, with low blood sugar, dizzy, weak.

Whole foods, whole grains and fruit are carbohydrate rich but bulky and fibrous. They are low in fat, slow glucose assimilation, slow fat digestion and bind cholesterol. This contributes to weight maintenance at a healthy level and prevents diseases of obesity.

Sugar rich foods are potentially dangerous because they provide lots of calories without other essential nutrients.

More active people can eat more refined starch (pasta, etc.) than sedentery people because they will use the extra energy in their workouts.

Remember, plant fiber slows down the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, so glucose enters the blood slowly.

Protein in the diet promotes the secretion of glucagon, opposing the secretion of insulin, keeping blood glucose in the normal range.

Asides: Fiber is digested by lower bowel bacteria, forming short chain fatty asides that can be assimilated and used for energy purposes. This gut flora metabolic process also manufactures gas.

Stress increases blood glucose levels. Coffee stimulates the adrenal glands and may also raise blood glucose levels while at the same time raising blood pressure.

Recommendations: eat small, frequent meals of whole foods. Eat crunchy, chewy, bulking, fibrous plants foods. Cut back on fat rich animal proteins. Stop eating so much prepared and fast foods, especially foods made with processed starch, refined sugar and fat.

For weight maintenance: I need about 60% of your calories from carbohydrates (on average about 300grams). Of this amount 25 grams or more should come from fiber.

For weight loss: I need 60% of calories from carbohydrates, but about 40 grams are from fiber. To lose weight I kick up my fiber in the diet and take a mineral supplement. (Talk with your holistic health care provider to design a diet best for you.

For diabetics: Eat a low fat, high complex carbohydrate and fiber diet greatly restricting refined sugar and refined and processed starches.

-Two cups of broccoli has less glucose from 2 teaspoons of sugar.

-Six apricots has the glucose equivalent of 2 teaspoons of sugar.

Cancer and Diet

To avoid Cancer consider these dietary changes:

-Lower intake of animal protein, get protein from seeds, nuts and legumes. Too much protein may favor tumor development.

-Eat less saturated fat, largest source is from animal protein.

-Eliminate trans-fatty-acids (hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils used in cookies, pastries, donuts, candy....).

-Lower your overall calory intake to what is considered ideal for your body size and height.

-Eat live fruit and vegetables.

-Improve your ratio of Omega 3 fatty acids to Omega 6 fatty acids.

-Greatly reduce your consumption of refined sugar and refined starch.

-Eat more fiber, about 60 grams per day.

-Use olive oil instead of corn oil. Cook with water and oil to reduce heat on oils.

-Eat organically grown foods, have a garden.

-Avoid additives: flavorings, dyes, artificial sweeteners.

-Include a vitamin/mineral supplement rich in antioxoidants.

-Limit alcohol to one drink or less per day.

-quit smoking.

-avoid too much exposure to the sun.

-take a vitamin supplement that includes ample amounts of B6, B12 and folic acid, these B vitamins reduce homoscysteine levels and may help prevent cancer, premature dementia and may be linked to Alzheimer's disease.

Some Recent Cancer Research

Italian women with breast cancer consumed diets high in refined white flour products: white bread, bagels, rolls, spaghetti, macaroni, white rice, biscuits, cookies, pastries, cakes, pies and pretzels. Women who consumed more fruit and olive oil and less starch had lower incidents of breast cancer. -Francheschi, et. al. Intake of macronutrients and risk of breast cancer. Lancet 1996, May 18 1351-1356.

Women who progressively gain weight from puberty to adulthood, and specifically in the third decade of life, should be considered at a higher risk for developing breast cancer. -Kumar, et. al. Cancer 76; Jul 1995; 340-353.

Authors Note: There is disagreement between researchers on whether the above conclusions are related to over consumption of high Glycemic Index, refined starch leading to a high calorie diet and obesity...Or does the under consumption of fiber also have a contributing role. Also, most refined starch and simple sugar products like donuts, rolls, biscuits cookies and pastries are also high in fat, typically hydrogenated oils, trans-fatty-acids which are high in calories and carcinogenic (cancer causing).

The Diet for Natural Health suggests eat lower on the Glycemic Index; raise the amount of fiber you consume; and stop eating animal fat. Get your fat from plants. Improve your ration of Omega 3 to Omega 6....That is use less margarine, corn oil.

Moderate your calory intake until you reach your ideal weight. then add enough calories to keep your weight under control.

Conclusions: Eating whole grain foods, fruits, vegetables and beans may prevent breast cancer and other cancers. Fiber in these foods:

 -Improves intestinal tract function.

-Prevents xenoestrogen absorption.

-Slows assimilation of glucose and fat (fat cells make estrogen).

-Binds with cholesterol and bile moving them from the body.

-Optimizes bowel elimination preventing colon cancer, diverticulitis.

irritable bowel syndrome...

-Freudenheim, et. al.; Premenopausal breast cancer risk and intake of vegetables, fruits and related nutrients. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 88: 9; Mar 20, 1996: 340-348.

-Hornross, Phytoestrogens, body composition, and breast cancer. Cancer Causes & Control 6: 6 Nov, 1995: 567-573.

-Lavecchia, et. al.: Olive oil, other dietary fats and the risk of breast cancer (Italy). Cancer Causes and Control 6: 6: Nov 1995z: 545-550.

Daily exercise improves mental function, burns excess calories, strengthens immunity, improves waste removal functions and much more...(see exercise on this disk).

-Mittendorf, et. al. Strenuous physical activity in young adulthood and risk of breast cancer (United States). Cancer Causes & Control 6: 4 Jul, 1995: 347-353.

Fruits, vegetables, whole grains and pulses (beans) contain phytoestrogens that are weakly active and compete for breast tissue receptor sites with a woman's endogenous estrogen, thereby lowering overall response to the hormone: thereby preventing the stimulation of uncontrolled tissue growth. -Hornross. Phytoestrogens, body composition and breast cancer. Cancer Causes & Control 6: 6 Nov 1995: 567-573 (see above).

Prostate cancer is 120 times higher in the United States than in China. Prostate cancer, the second leading cause of death in U.S. men, has a dietary component and that may be the excess consumption of fat (Authors note: Chinese consumption of phytoestrogen rich tofu, and flavonoid (antioxidants) rich mung, soy and other bean sprouts may also be a protecting factor.)

-Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: animal studies, mice with induced human prostate cancer tumors had slower disease progression when fed a low-fat diet. Journal of the National Cancer Institute; October 4, 1995.

Women with a dietary deficiency of beta carotene and Vitamin A have a higher incidence of breast cancer than women who have normal diets. A loss of vitamin A may signal developing breast cancer, as breast cancer cells may not be able to receive a vitamin A signal. Vitamins C and E may be protective against breast cancer but the evidence is not complete.

-Costa, et al. Prospects of Chemoprevention of human cancers with the synthetic retinoid fenretinide; Cancer Research; 54:20325-20375, 1994..

-Hunter, et al. A prospective study of the intake of vitamins C, E and A and the risk of breast cancer. New England Journal of Medicine: 329: 234-240 1993.

-Seewaldt, VJ et al. Expression of retinoic acid receptro-b mediated retinoid-induced growth arrest and apoptosis in breast cancer cells. Cell Growth & Differentiation, 6:1077-1088, 1995.

-Swisshelm, K et al. Down regulation of a retinoic acid receptor-b in mammary epithelial cells. Cell Growth and Differentiation., 5:1133-141. 1994.

According to several studies the combined use of estrogen and progesterone in HRT may increase the risk of getting breast cancer. A more recent study in Canada refuted this evidence.

-Harlab S. The benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1992: 166: 1986

-Seeley, T. Do women taking hormone replacement therapy have a higher uptake of screening mammogram? Maturitas 1994 (Aug); 19(2) 93-96.

-Risch, et al. Menopausal Hormone usage and breast cancer in Saskatchewan...American Journal of Epidemiology 1398: 7 April 1, 1994: 670-683

CANCER PREVENTING DIET: Eat more fiber, both soluble and insoluble. Eat whole foods, avoid processed foods, especially processed starch and refined sugar. Cut animal fat consumption, use olive oil, peanut oil or canola oil judiciously. Reduce your overall intake of calories. Eat fruit, vegetables, whole grains and beans containing phytoestrogens and dietary fiber. Restrict meat, chicken, eggs, white flour bakery products, refined sugar products and diary foods. Eat foods high in beta carotene and other carotenoids (anti-cancer, anti-heart disease lycopene in tomatoes) and vitamin E. Exercise daily.

TIP: REFRIGERATE ALL OILS, FREEZE ALL NUTS, SEEDS AND WHOLE GRAINS.

Fruits and Vegetables with Cancer Fighting Chemistry

Eat 8-9 servings of Fruits, Vegetables and beans per day. Below are vegetables, fruit, herbs with have anti-cancer activity.

Fruit, Vegetables, Pulses and Nuts  

apples

apricots

asparagus

beans

beets

berries

brown rice

broccoli

bok choy

Brazil Nuts

brussels sprouts

burdock root

cabbage

cantaloupe

carrots

cauliflower

celery

Chinese cabbage

citrus fruits

collard greens

cucumbers

Daikon radish

eggplant

garlic

kale

kiwi fruit

mango

whole oats, oat bran

onions

parsley

parsnips

papaya

peaches

peas

peppers

potatoes

pumpkin, pumpkin seeds

lettuce with deep colors

shiitake mushrooms

soy beans

soy products

spinach

sprouts

squash

sweet potatoes

tomatoes

turnip greens

walnuts

watercress

watermelon

wheat bran

yams

Wild Plants

alfalfa sprouts

burdock root

dandelions

daylillies

nettles

plantain

purslane

red clover blossoms

sea weeds

violets, leaves & flowers

watercress

mustard

wild leeks

Herbs

basil

chives

ginger

horseradish

lemon/lime

licorice

mints

oregano

parsley

rosemary

sage

star anise

tarragon

tea

turmeric

thyme

Meat

Cold water fatty fish

Dairy

yogurt, unsweetened Lactobacillus

rich yogurt

Dietary Guidelines

Studies show 40% of cancer in men and 60% of cancer in women have a dietary cause.

Eat 20% of your calories from fat.

Use essential fatty acids, preferably olive oil, peanut oil or canola oil for your fat content. Avoid animal fat and cholesterol. Eat a Brazil nut (essential fats, selenium) and a few walnuts (essential fatty acids). Consume up to 40 grams of fiber. Eat up to 8 servings of fruit, vegetables, pulses(beans) per day. Eat 5 servings of whole grain products per day. Eat 1 or 2 servings of animal protein (you will have already eaten ample protein in vegetables, beans and whole grains).  Limit calories you eat to calories you expend.

Avoid animal fat, smoked, salt cured and pickled foods. Open flame barbecued meats may be carcinogenic. Moderate alcohol consumption to one or less drinks per day. Eat more beans, more deep colored salad greens, sprouts and leafy vegetables. Drink decaf coffee. Watch less TV, one hour per day on average...Exercise every day. STOP SMOKING! WHEN ON A HIGH FIBER DIET TAKE VITAMIN, CALCIUM AND MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS.

Calculating Daily Calorie Needs:

-Multiply body weight by 13.

(ex: 150 lbs. X 13=1950 calories)

-Add calories burned during daily exercise (ex: during 2 mile walk you burn 200 calories, thus add 200 calories to 1950 calories=2150 calories).

-Subtract 2% of total for each decade of age after 30 years.

(ex: if 55 years old subtract 6% from total 2150x.06=129 Then:

2150-129=2021calories/day allowed).

DAILY FAT NEEDS

A person on a 2000 calorie diet eating only 20% of their calories

from fat is allowed 400 calories from fat (2000X.20=400).

Since one gram of fat contains 9 calories you may consume 44.5 grams of fat (400 cal. X 9=44.5 grams).

PROTEIN & CARBOHYDRATES

THE REMAINING 1600 CALORIES COME FROM PROTEIN & CARBOHYDRATES. PROTEIN & CARBOHYDRATES HAVE FOUR (4) CALORIES PER GRAM CONSUMED. EAT approximately 100 GRAMS OF PROTEIN/DAY ( 20% OF DAILY CALORIES). EAT 300 GRAMS CARBOHYDRATES (55% to 60% OF DAILY CALORIES). Avoid carbohydrate calories from refined and processed foods such as white flour and refined sugar.  

Foods with High Concentrations of Chemicals with Anti-tumor Activity*

Many cancer fighting foods contain one or more of the following families of phytochemicals:  flavonoids, phenolic compounds, indoles and thioallyl derivatives.   Indoles include foods such as cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage.  Garlic, leeks, onions, chives and the like contain thioallyl derivatives.   Phenolic compounds are food in fruit, vegetables and tea, green, herbal and black tea.  Flavonoids found in soy, apples and thousands of other plant foods are powerful antioxidants.  Here is an alphabetical list of cancer-preventing and cancer fighting phytochemicals in common foods: Chemical first, then some food sources.

allyl sulfide: chives, garlic, leeks, onions

carotenoids: red fruits, yellow/orange vegetables and fruits, green leafy vegetables

coumarins: celery, figs, parsley, parsnips

curcumins: ginger, turmeric

dithiolthinones: cruciferous vegetables

ellagic acid: raspberries, grapes, strawberries, nuts

flavonoids: fruits and vegetables of all kinds

indoles/isothiocyanates: broccoli sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, radishes

isoflavonoids: soybean products, tofu, most legumes, turtle beans very good

glucarates: bell peppers, grains, tomatoes, citrus

lignans: flax seeds, soybeans

liminoids: citrus fruit, citrus peel