Independent
Articles About:
1. Starting a Macrobiotic Diet
2. Diet & Cancer Information
3. Cleansing & Anti-Cancer Diets
How Diet Influences Cancer Risk
By Alex Fir Diet is a double edged sword. Improper diet increases
the risk of cancer but a proper, well balanced diet reduces the cancer risk.
Diet is one of the most important lifestyle factors and has been estimated
to account for up to 80% of cancers of the large bowel, breast, and prostate.
Diet affects the risk of many other cancers, including cancers of the lung,
prostate, stomach, esophagus and pancreas.
Prostate Cancer: High consumption of meat, especially red meat, substantially
increases the risk of prostate cancer.
Vegetables, especially cooked tomatoes, reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
In one clinical trial, the role of Vitamin E as a prostate cancer reducing
factor was established. In this study there was a 32% decrease in prostate
cancer incidence and 41% decrease in prostate cancer mortality in people
receiving Vitamin E supplements when compared to controls.
Breast Cancer: In Japan, people consume Tofu, a soya product. It contains
isoflavones that moderate the estrogen receptors in the body such as breast
tissue. The incidence of breast cancer is low in Japan when compared to
Western women; only 1/4th of the mortality rate of Western women.
Japanese women's low fat diet, high fish consumption and drinking green
tea also decrease their breast cancer risk.
One case control study found that regular consumption of soy foods was
associated with a marked decrease in breast cancer risk in premenopausal
women. No effect in post-menopausal women.
A Japanese case-control study also found that tofu intake (3 times/wk compared
with less than 3 times/wk) was associated with decreased risk of breast
cancer in premenopausal women.
Again, soy intake was not protective against post-menopausal breast cancer.
In one study conducted in America, the relation between soy intake and
breast cancer risk found that tofu consumption was protective in both premenopausal
and post menopausal Asian women.
Lung Cancer: Lung cancer risk is substantially decreased by a variety of
carotenoids. Carotenoids act as antioxidants and thus minimize cell damage.
One study in Boston focused on the effect of different types of carotenoids
on lung cancer risk.
It was observed that lung cancer risk was significantly lower in subjects
who consumed a diet high in a variety of carotenoids. This was especially
true with non-smokers who had 63% less risk.
One study conducted in Hawaii reported further evidence for a protective
effect from certain carotenoids against lung cancer and that greater protection
was afforded by consuming a variety of vegetables compared to only foods
rich in a particular carotenoid.
Stomach Cancer: Nitrates in food and other preservatives added to food
including meat are converted into 'nitrites' in the human stomach. The nitrites
undergo nitrosation to form 'nitrosamines' and 'nitrosamides'. This increases
the risk of stomach cancer in people eating vegetables from nitrate rich
soil.
In one study, Vitamin C appeared to protect against the risk of stomach
cancer by inhibiting formation of nitrates in stomach.
Cancer of the stomach is 5 times more common in Japanese people compared
to Western populations. When Japanese people migrated to the United States,
they progressively acquired the low incidence of the US due to changes in
their diets.
In one study conducted in Hawaii that involved both Japanese and Caucasians,
the stomach cancer risk was associated with consumption of rice, pickled
vegetables, and dried/salted fish, and a negative association with vitamin
C intake.
One ecological study in Belgium showed a relation between the nitrate and
salt consumption and stomach cancer. The analysis of this model showed that
the significance of nitrate as a risk factor for stomach cancer mortality
increased markedly with higher sodium levels.
Dietary habits and stomach cancer risk was studied in Shanghai, China.
According to this study, risks of stomach cancer were inversely associated
with high consumption of several food groups, including fresh vegetables
and fruits, poultry, eggs, plant oil, and some nutrients such as protein,
fat, fiber, tea and antioxidant vitamins.
By contrast, risks increased with increasing consumption of dietary carbohydrates,
frequent consumption of preserved, salty or fried foods and hot soup/porridge,
with irregular meals, speed eating and binge eating. This provides evidence
that diet plays a major role in stomach cancer risk.
No single food can completely prevent cancer but a balanced combination
of different groups can help. Appropriate diet can prevent 3-4 million cancers
each year.
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Cancer is One of the Main Causes of Death Among Humans. Visit Cancer Information, FREE web site for those who want to learn more about taking control of their health.
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Stacking The Deck - Choosing Foods That Fight Cancer
By Jean Fisher The healthiest diet, of course, is to eat a wide
variety of foods including as many whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables
as possible. But, there are some foods that, through their chemical natures,
are better at protecting the body from cancer. This article identifies nine
of these super-foods, the natural components found in them, and a simplified
description of how these phytochemicals work their magic.
Before we do that, however, two very important dietary rules for avoiding
cancer must be mentioned: low fat, high fiber. A diet that is high in animal
fats requires the body to release extra bile acids into the intestines during
digestion. The natural bacteria that live in our intestines react with these
excess bile acids resulting in the creation of carcinogens. Eating plenty
of fiber keeps the intestines moving quickly, not allowing these carcinogens
to cause damage before being eliminated from the body. In addition, fiber
in the intestines actually binds with the bile acids not allowing them to
react with the natural bacteria.
The human body is constantly producing unstable molecules called oxidants.
You may have heard these oxidants referred to as free radicals. Free radicals
steal electrons from other molecules which damages the cell proteins and
DNA of the original molecule. This damage leaves the cell vulnerable to
cancer. The active chemicals in food, called phytochemicals, are anti-oxidants.
They search out the oxidants (free radicals) and prevent them from causing
damage. In some instances, phytochemicals can even repair damage already
done. Here's how it works.
Broccoli
Sulforaphane, found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, boosts
the body's natural cancer fighting properties. It does this by mobilizing
special enzymes in the body called phase II detoxifying enzymes. These enzymes
neutralize cancer-causing agents before they can affect cells. To receive
the maximum benefit of sulforaphane, broccoli should be eaten raw. Scientists
recently discovered that broccoli sprouts contain levels of sulforaphane
that are much, much higher than those found in mature broccoli. You'll be
seeing a lot more broccoli sprouts on my sandwiches and salads!
Carrots
Another recent discovery in the science of plant chemicals is falcarinol
found in carrots. Falcarinol acts as a natural pesticide for the carrot
while it is growing, keeping it protected from fungal diseases. The exact
mechanism that falcarinol uses to fight cancer is still unknown. Chili Peppers
Capsaicin is the chemical in hot peppers that give them their bite. At
a cellular level, capsaicin induces a state called apoptosis in the cancer
cells. Apoptosis can be defined as programmed cell death. You could say
that it causes the cancer cell to commit suicide.
Garlic
Garlic contains a chemical allium, which works to increase activity of
our body's natural immune cells. Allium also causes cells to become more
vulnerable to stress created by the by-products of cell division. Since
cancer cells divide very rapidly, they are affected by allium more than
normal cells, which divide much more slowly.
Nuts
Nuts are one of nature's best sources of selenium. Selenium has been shown
to improve the efficiency with which DNA repairs itself after exposure to
damaging free radicals. Brazil nuts eaten from the shell are especially
high in selenium. In addition, nuts contain omega-3 fatty acid. The omega-3
fatty acids block a protein that has been shown to increase sensitivity
to carcinogens in laboratory studies.
Red grapes
Anthocyanins, found in dark red and purple foods, can reduce the growth
of an enzyme, human DNA topoisomerase II, that triggers the growth of cancer
cells in the human body. Grape juice is an excellent source of anthocyanins.
Good news, read the labels of 100% fruit drinks and you are very likely
to find grape juice.
Soy
The phytochemical in soy, genistein, inhibits the growth of new blood vessels
necessary for tumor survival. Without these blood vessels, the tumor shrinks.
Soy also works to block bile acids.
Tea
Antioxidants in tea, catechins, appear to prevent cancer cells from dividing.
The phytochemical EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) present in green tea,
binds to a protein found on tumor cells and dramatically slows their growth.
Tomatoes
Lycopene, a very powerful antioxidant, isn't found in many other fruits
and vegetables. Lycopene stimulates the production of phase II detoxification
enzymes which neutralize carcinogens and allow them to be excreted out of
the body. Processing tomatoes by turning them into sauce increases the levels
of lycopene.
So remember, choose vegetables fats over animal fats, pack your diet with
a wide variety of fruits, vegetable and whole grains, and include the nine
foods mentioned above often. Live a long, healthy, happy life!
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Jean Fisher is a former elementary school teacher. Her website What's For Dinner? provides a dinner suggestion for each day of the week, a customizable grocery shopping list, table topics and quality time activities.
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Cancer and Alternative Medicine: An Overview
By Melissa Buhmeyer Alternative medicine is the use of means, in
addition to, or instead of conventional, to treat disease or pain. There
is lots of controversy surrounding alternative medicine, especially in the
cancer arena, because most of it is unproven, as far as the medical world
is concerned. To be proven, a treatment must have undergone peer-reviewed,
controlled studies. However, if you know where to look, you can find plenty
of research to support the efficacy of many alternative therapies.
Every day, more and more of us are becoming fed up with conventional medicine's
way of doing things; I mean, let's face it ... Western medicine's focus
is managing a disease once it occurs. Many alternative methods can be used
as preventive instead of management. Once I started thinking about it, I
knew there just had to be a better way. That's when my alternative journey
began.
The many different avenues of alternative medicine, can be overwhelming
and there are many with which I do not have personal experience. But, this
is your starting point ... a broad overview, not all-encompassing, by any
means, of breast cancer alternative medicine. Some of these methods are
palliative (help manage pain and discomfort of cancer and its treatment),
some are complementary (to be used in addition to conventional), some are
intended to be preventive, and others look promising as adjuvant treatments.
Manual Healing and Physical Touch This is a huge category that includes
acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, and Reiki, to name a few. Acupuncture
is derived from Chinese medicine and involves inserting tiny needles through
the skin into specific energy pathways on the body. This method interrupts
the energy that flows through the body and is based on balanced Qi. There
is lots of controversy surrounding whether acupuncture can be used as a
method of treating cancer, itself, but it is thoroughly documented to alleviate
pain and nausea from cancer and its treatments.
Chiropractic is the correction of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal
system. It is achieved by adjustments to the spine and neck. There are traditional
chiropractors who adjust the entire spine and then there are Direct Non-Force
Technique chiropractors who alleviate neurotransmitter interference, throughout
the body, by specific, targeted adjustments. The thinking, here, is that
the body has the means to heal itself and seeks to maintain balance within
itself. Correcting the musculoskeletal disorders helps to regain the balance
that has been lost.
Massage has been found, by recent studies, to provide more alertness and
less depression, stress, anxiety, and pain. There are many different forms
of massage, ranging from deep tissue to a basic relaxation massage. Many
health care providers are proponents of massage therapy in addition to conventional
treatment.
Reiki is a Japanese word that means universal life energy. This is a method
that is typically performed in person but can be performed from a distance.
The thinking behind Reiki is that, when the energy pathways of the body
are blocked, it results in disease and/or pain. A Reiki practitioner can
unblock these pathways, resulting in less pain and muscle tension, and increased
ability for the body to heal itself.
Herbs, Minerals, Vitamins, Diet, and Nutritional Supplements This is one
of the roads I've chosen, for myself, based on careful research and consideration.
There is evidence that shows that what we eat plays a big role in cancer
prevention and it's in the news all the time. In the evolution of our society,
our foods have become more and more processed, and less and less nutritious.
Farmers use pesticides to keep the bugs from getting our produce. They use
hormones to grow our chickens, cattle, and pigs larger faster, so they can
make money off them sooner. Of course, it doesn't occur to them, or maybe
they just don't care, that those substances are then consumed by us. I didn't
even realize those things were used until after I had been diagnosed. You
mean I'm eating estrogen in my meat???? Wow, was that ever a wakeup call.
Most practitioners don't endorse the use of nutritional supplements simply
because they haven't been approved by the FDA ... this premise amazes me
because there have been many drugs, that have been approved by the FDA,
that have caused serious injury and/or death. There are many nutritional
supplements that show serious promise in the prevention, and possibly even
treatment, of breast cancer. The studies are out there, if you know where
to look.
Naturopathy Naturopathy is another technique that uses the body's innate
ability to heal itself. It is based on the concept that everything, within
the body, is related and that if you have pain or illness, that is an alarm
your body sets off to get your attention and let you know something is wrong.
The naturopathic way of thinking is that your body begins to let you know
something is out of balance ... perhaps you aren't digesting your food correctly,
or you have some hormones out of balance ... and it begins a snowball effect,
throughout your organs, until it gets your attention. Everything is related
and, if there is a problem in one area, another area tries to take up the
slack and becomes overworked, and so on. Naturopaths use natural means,
such as homeopathic remedies, natural agents, manipulation, or electrical
treatment to obtain balance so that the body can heal itself.
Homeopathy This is the practice of using minute doses of active ingredients
to produce the body's own defense and healing process. It, like naturopathy,
strives to achieve homeostasis (balance) so the body can heal itself. Homeopathic
remedies work much like a vaccine does to our bodies and is based on the
premise of like fixes like. Homeopaths prescribe substances that would cause
symptoms, in a healthy person, for the purpose of healing those same symptoms
in a sick person. For example, a homeopath would prescribe minute amounts
of thyroid to someone whose thyroid was overactive for the purpose of the
thyroid building a defense to this and slowing itself down.
This is, by no means, an exhaustive overview of alternative therapies,
but is, as stated, an overview. For more in-depth discussions on this as
well as conventional breast cancer treatments please visit our website below.
Colon Cleansing And You
By Michael Jason Your colon is a tube like structure that runs down
to your anus from the stomach. It consists of the large intestine and small
intestine. As you consume food and liquids, these items accumulate in the
bowel as waste products. It is necessary that the bowel should be emptied
of these waste products, otherwise they become toxins and the colon health
begins to suffer. Good colon health implies the proper and adequate functioning
of the colon and toxic-free state of the colon. Toxin build up can cause
allergy symptoms, bad breath, infection and much more. These symptoms can
be avoided through regular colon cleansing.
What is colon cleansing?
Colon cleansing is an ancient practice for rejuvenating the stomach system.
Man has been practicing colon cleansing since 1500 BC. First of all, it
was used in the Egypt about 4,000 years ago. Colon cleansing involves the
healing, rebuilding and restoration of your large intestine to its natural
shape, size and functioning ability. Colon cleansing refers to the removal
of toxins from the large intestine to allow the proper functioning of the
colon. When the colon is clean, your skin becomes vibrant, you become active
and you are freed of stress. It reinvigorates your natural body functions.
Why do I require colon cleansing?
Colon cleansing is sometimes required because over a period of time, toxins
become accumulated on the walls of your colon. This creates problems such
as constipation and inflammation of colon and can lead to several diseases,
even colon cancer.
As toxins keep on accumulating, these toxins are carried into the body
organs through your blood. Then toxins can also affect the organs. Hence
it becomes essential for you to clean your colon. Colon cleansing helps
you to eliminate any colon diseases. It re-balances the body chemistry,
and helps in restoring correct functioning of the organs. Colon cleansing
also improves the muscles of colon and tones them up.
How can I get my colon cleaned?
As the awareness of colon cleansing is reaching more and more people, new
methods of colon cleansing are also available. There are various methods
available:
Colon Hydrotherapy: This process involves fusing warm and filtered water
into the colon through a disposable plastic tube. This method involves delicacy
and the practitioner should be fully qualified. There is no use of drugs
or chemicals during the process. A small disposable speculum is gently inserted
into the rectum from the hydrotherapy equipment. Then the warm water is
passed into the colon. Colon Hydrotherapy involves light stomach massage
and several fills and releases of water to remove the toxic waste accumulated
on the colon walls. The fecal matter is then washed away via the system's
waste disposal hose.
Every session of colon hydrotherapy lasts for about 45 minutes. About 35
gallons of water are transported in and out of the colon during the therapy
sessions.
Enema: The Enema is generally employed to relieve a person of constipation.
This procedure involves insertion of a small amount of water into the bowel
via the anus. The method is effective for dislodging fecal matter from the
lower portion of intestine.
Enemas can be effectively carried out at home and no training is required
to undertake them.
Oxygen Based Colon Cleansing: This process involves consumption of a few
capsules. These capsules are full of oxygen based chemicals. When they are
ingested, the oxygen is released in the body and removes the fecal matter.
This method can be used for long term colon cleansing. These capsules help
in removing the toxins inside the intestines.
Laxatives: Laxatives are taken for the treatment of temporary constipation.
It involves oral consumption of laxatives. These laxatives soften the stool
and cause bowel movements by contracting the intestinal muscles. Laxatives
are, however, not used for removal of impacted fecal matter. They can also
cause dehydration in a person so should be used with care.
Before embarking on any colon cleaning regime you should consult a qualified
practitioner.
How Colon Cleansing Takes Care of your Insides
By Isabelle Boulay Doctors promote cleansing of the colon to promote
good health. If the colon is not working right, toxins must leave the body
through other avenues. Bad halitosis, body odor can be taken care of with
colon cleansing. Doctors say that cleansing the colon cleanses every tissue
and cell in the human body. Toxic matter in the colon can cause colon diseases,
headaches, fatigue, muscle aches, lupus, and cardiovascular disease. Cleansing
the colon can also get rid of unwanted parasites that our bodies might be
harboring. These parasites can come from insect bites, rare meat, vegetables
not cleaned properly, and pets and even through sexual activity. In fact,
it's more common to pass on parasites than it is to pass on a venereal disease.
Our body is designed for the bowels to move after every meal. In our western
civilization, that is hard to do so we have trained our body to once a day.
When our colons become backed up then serious problems can develop. A toxic
colon can lead to food intolerance and becomes a breeding ground for bacteria.
Even though you may have regular bowel movements, the waste can pass through
the colon and still leave accumulated residue on the walls behind it. A
dirty colon can cause the muscles of the colon wall to lose tone, and ballooning
or pouches can form causing diverticulosis. Food is trapped in these pouches
and become breeding grounds for bacteria.
How do you clean out the colon? There are several different ways, some
that will do it quickly and some gradually. There is even colonic irrigation
that is very quick and an efficient way to wash away years of impacted feces
and toxins.
A more gradual process will do the same thing, but you will begin to see
improvements within a short time after starting the process. Skin problems
disappear, chronic fatigue is alleviated, and the whites of the eyes regain
their youthful clearness. The gradual process takes a period of several
weeks, with the patient starting out eating raw food as 50 percent of their
diet. By adding two teaspoonfuls of Metamucil or Citrucel and drinking a
lot of water can get you started on your colon cleansing. Water is an important
part of the cleansing. Some people believe they shouldn't drink a lot of
water because they tend to retain fluids. The opposite is true. The body
retains the fluids because it isn't getting enough fluid and tries to hang
on to what it gets. The recommendation is to drink two quarts of water a
day and start the day with at least a pint of hot water before breakfast.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome can be helped with a colon cleansing. I can personally
attest to that, as I was required to do a bowel cleansing before having
a colonoscopy. I had suffered for years with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, I
was terrified to eat at fairs or street festivals, or eat and then get right
in a car to travel. After going through three days of fasting and laxatives
and foul tasting stuff to drink, I had my test. Nothing was found, but the
result was that I felt wonderful and had no Irritable Bowel Attacks for
over three years after I had my test. I'm not saying it was a pleasant experience
to go through as it wasn't the gradual process described above, but it did
leave me feeling great and totally rejuvenated.
There are supplements available that are designed specifically for colon
cleansing. These come in capsule form and are not too expensive. They can
be found at any drugstore or natural food store.
It's been said that a positive effect of colon cleansing is a positive
feeling and becoming extremely energetic. Reducing the toxins and the breeding
ground for germs also can result in a dramatic increasing in immunity from
any type of infection.
Finding a Diet Plan That Works for You
By Larry Denton There are many reasons for people to be following
a diet. Perhaps it is a special, doctor-advised regimen meant to control
or prevent certain illnesses such as high blood pressure or diabetes. Maybe
a diet is required due to particular food allergies like a gluten-free diet
or for people who are lactose intolerant. The option of a diet such as vegetarian
or macrobiotic might simply be a personal lifestyle choice. However, most
people who are dieting are doing so because they are overweight.
According to the National Institutes of Health(NIH), in 1999, almost 108
million adults in the United States were overweight or obese--55 percent
of the adult population. Being obese or overweight substantially increases
the risk of morbidity from hypertension; type 2 diabetes; coronary heart
disease; stroke; gallbladder disease; osteoarthritis; sleep apnea; and breast,
prostate and colon cancers. In addition to the thousands of lives that are
cut short by obesity, the economic cost is staggering. The total costs attributable
to obesity-related disease approaches $100 billion annually (NIH).
There are lots or reasons to lose weight. To be healthier. To feel better.
To look better. To have more energy. No matter what the reason, successful
weight loss and healthy weight management depend on sensible goals and expectations.
In fact, losing even five to 10 percent of your present weight is the kind
of goal that can help improve your health. Experts suggest aiming for a
loss of 10 to 20 pounds which is very realistic and quite doable. Did you
know that 20 pounds equals 9,072 paper clips, or 1,599 quarters, 480 slices
of uncooked bacon or 2.5 bowling balls?
What you weigh is the result of several factors: how much and what kind
of food you eat; whether your lifestyle includes regular physical activity;
whether you use food to respond to stress or loneliness; your psychological
and genetic make-up; your age and health status.
Successful weight loss and weight management programs should address all
of these factors. That's the reason to ignore products or plans that promise
quick and easy, permanent results without permanent changes in your lifestyle.
When it comes to evaluating claims for weight loss products, the Federal
Trade Commission (FTC) recommends a healthy portion of skepticism. Before
you spend money on programs or products that promise fast and easy results,
weigh the claims carefully. They probably will not work, and the use of
some products may not be safe.
Food specific diets rely on the myth that some foods have special properties
that can cause weight loss or gain. However, no single food can. Many of
the fad diets--like the infamous Cabbage Soup Diet--can undermine your health,
cause physical discomfort (gas) and lead to disappointment when you regain
the weight soon after you lose it. There are no "superfoods."
That's why you should eat moderate amounts from all food groups, not large
amounts of a few special foods.
Doctors, dieticians, and other health experts agree that the best way to
lose weight is to eat fewer calories and increase physical activity so you
burn more energy. A reasonable goal is to lose about a pound a week. For
most people that means cutting about 500 calories a day and exercising regularly.
Taking charge of your eating habits is one of the best ways to stay healthy.
Staying motivated is a large part of your success, because most diets work--if
you stick to them for the long term. Most successful dieters tell researchers
that they lost weight and kept it off by doing their own thing. They devised
a personal plan of eating and exercise which they could stick with. And
you can do it too!
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Larry Denton is a retired history teacher having taught 33 years at Hobson High in Hobson, Montana. He is currently Vice President of Elfin Enterprises of Montana, Inc. a business dedicated to providing information and resources on a variety of topics. For more diet tips visithttp://www.DietDoor.com
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HOLISTIC LIVING FOR PETS AND PEOPLE
By John Burns BVMS MRCVS HOLISTIC LIVING FOR PETS AND PEOPLE
A Holistic lifestyle
The animal kingdom depends entirely for its existence on the plant kingdom.
Animals need to consume plants for sustenance. Even carnivorous animals
depend on plants by eating animals which have eaten plants. The evolution
of the animal kingdom reflects the evolutionary changes in the plant kingdom.
As plants became more complex so the animal kingdom developed. The most
highly developed animal is man. Man has the most sophisticated nervous system
and is the most adaptable species on earth and is capable of surviving in
the widest habitat of any creature.
The macrobiotic view is that this has come about because man evolved through
eating the most complex plants, namely whole cereal grains. Eating cereals
plus the ability to cook have given man the pre-eminent position at the
top of the evolutionary tree. As recently as a few hundred years ago, man
relied on a diet based on whole cereals and vegetables with meat and other
foods forming only a minor part of the human diet.
In the West, the change to a diet based on meat, dairy foods and refined
foods high in sugar has taken place as recently as the Second World War.
Our affluent Western society has largely overcome the problem of infectious
disease. This is due as much to improved public health measures as the role
of medicine in developing vaccines and antibiotics. Similarly, our pets
rarely die of infectious disease (unlike farm animals which suffer epidemics
due to poor hygiene and overcrowding).
But although we have largely seen off infectious disease, our hospitals
and mental health clinics are swamped, veterinary clinics are busier than
ever and our society is fragmented and ill-at-ease. We have replaced the
problem of infectious disease with that of degenerative disease.
Many people believe that a return to a more holistic, inclusive lifestyle
offers a solution to many of the ills of modern society. To begin that process
we have to define and understand what we mean by the word "holistic"
which has become one of the most used (and abused) terms in present day
language.
"Holistic Medicine" is defined as "a system which treats
the whole person physically and psychologically, rather than simply treating
the individual [affected] part."
While this may seem self-evidently desirable, that is not how modern medicine
is structured or practised. We have experts who specialise in the different
organ systems e.g. specialists for skin, kidneys, gastro-intestinal system
and so on. Veterinary Diets extend that process into nutrition tailored
to specific ailments.
My view is that nutrition is fundamental to the practice of Holistic Medicine.
Correct diet underpins all therapies, whether conventional or complementary
and may even make them unnecessary. Some companies market additives or supplements
which they describe as "holistic" but a holistic lifestyle involves
much more than correcting a deficiency or providing a particular stimulus.
It is beyond the scope of this section to set out a comprehensive prescription
for a holistic lifestyle but it does seem sensible that if we try to provide
a holistic life for our pets we would wish to do the same for ourselves.
see http://www.burns-pet-nutrition.co.uk
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Veterinary Surgeon and CEO of www.burns-pet-nutrition.co.uk
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The Zen Macrobiotic Diet - For Health & Happiness
By Sacha Tarkovsky The Zen Macrobiotic diet originated over a century ago
and today enjoys a worldwide following due its principles of harmonious
living with nature through a balanced whole foods diet, and an active lifestyle
and respect for the environment.
Lets look at why the Zen Macrobiotic diet has such a reputation for being
one of the healthiest diets in the world.
Origins of the Zen Macrobiotic diet
Dr. Ishizuka ( the originator of the Zen Macrobiotic diet ) suffered both
kidney and skin disease, so to restore his health conducted extensive research
which was compiled into two books-Chemical Theory of Longevity, published
in 1896, and Diet For Health, published in 1898.
His great successor Yukikazu Sakurazawa integrated the theory with elements
of eastern and western philosophy and gave the diet the name we know it
by today.
Zen Macrobiotic Diet theory
The Macrobiotic philosophy is based on the oriental principles that everything
in creation is made up of two antagonistic but complementary forces--yin
(passive, silent, cold and dark) and yang (active, hot and heavy).
Consequently, they categorized all foodstuffs as 'yin' and 'yang', or combinations
of them both. They believe that the ideal diet is one that can help balance
these two forces in the body.
According to Mr. Ohsawa's yin and yang guidelines for the Zen Macrobiotic
diet:
* Cereals must always be every meal's basis. The most ideal is whole, brown
rice.
* Vegetables can supplement cereals, but in lesser quantities and less
frequently. Eggplant and tomatoes must be avoided, as they are extremely
yin.
* Fresh fish can be used occasionally. Animal and dairy products and fruits
are to be used in minute amounts.
* All fluids should be taken as infrequently as possible, since they are
very yin, especially tea, coffee, colas and sweetened juices. Tea made from
fresh herbs, and spring water are thought to be the most balanced and acceptable
beverages. Mr. Ohsawa gave a special recipe for such a tea.
Ohsawa himself defined macrobiotics as a dietetic medicine-philosophy,
while his successors simply call it "a sensible way of eating".
Actually, then, there is no macrobiotic diet per se, just general principles.
General principles of the Zen Macrobiotic diet
Diets based on cereal grains with minority proportions of vegetables, legumes,
and seaweeds are considered ideal.
The Zen Macrobiotic diet is predominantly, but not absolutely, vegetarian.
The Zen Macrobiotic diet makes general dietary recommendations, particularly
that 40 to 60 percent of caloric intake should come from whole grains, including
rice, millet, barley, wheat, oats, rye, corn and buckwheat.
Additionally to the type of food eaten, the Zen Macrobiotic Diet advises:
* Do not eat processed, sugared, dyed, canned, bottled, or other adulterated
food.
* Eat no foods produced have been treated with pesticides, chemical fertilizers
or preservatives.
* Eat no foods imported from a long distance.
* Eat no vegetables or fruits out of season.
* Refrain from eating extreme yin vegetables, such as potatoes, tomatoes
and eggplant.
* Use no spices, chemical seasonings or processed table salt.
* Drink no coffee or black tea.
* Refrain from flesh and dairy foods except for occasional fish and game
birds.
* No refined flour products, yeasted foods or foods containing baking soda.
* Chew one's food thoroughly (at least 30 times - preferably more).
* Cook all food with a gas fire. Electricity is said to create chaotic
energy patterns, and microwaves.
The Zen Macrobiotic Diet's 5 guiding principles for healthy living are:
1. Foods are the foundation of health and happiness.
2. Sodium and potassium (as in salt) are the primary antagonistic and complementary
elements in food. They most strongly determine its character-or "yin
/ yang" quality of each food.
3. Grain is proper and nature staple food of man.
4. Food should be unrefined, whole, and natural.
5. Food should be grown locally and eaten in season.
The Zen Macrobiotic diet has millions of devotes throughout the world due
to its healthiness and the feeling of well being that followers of the diet
enjoy.
More on the Zen Macrobiotic Diet & other healthy eating tips
For more information on the Zen Macrobiotic diet and other healthy eating
tips, free information, e-zines and newsletters visit:
http://www.net-planet.org/health.html
|
More on the Zen Macrobiotic Diet & other healthy eating tips
For more information on the Zen Macrobiotic diet and other healthy eating tips, free information, e-zines and newsletters visit:
http://www.net-planet.org/health.html
.
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