THE NATURE FRESH ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DIET FOR SENSITIVE CONSTITUTIONS
Sometimes we are unable to get well, no matter how many medicines we take and how many doctors we see. We may also be suffering from obesity or the other extreme: wasting away. Both are symptomatic of malnutrition. You can become well again by giving your body a break, by only eating what is easily digested, so the food converts directly to energy. In this way, the unwanted fats and toxic wastes can be eliminated in a natural way. You can eat foods that will strengthen, soothe, comfort and relax you whilst your body heals itself.
No more starvation, punishment and body bashing. In order to escape from the syndrome of storing and starving, the body has to use the food you eat more efficiently. A lot of energy is expended in digesting foods that are not fit for human consumption. We hear frequent complaints about people feeling tired after their meals. All the energy is drained as the digestive system tries to cope with lashings of fibre, grease, sugar, protein and starch in one huge load. Most of the excess fats are deposited with the sugars after this type of meal in storage areas on your tummy, hips and buttocks. Conversely, if you begin to starve the body, on a mean little crash diet, this storage mechanism becomes even more efficient, for fear that you are trying to starve yourself to death. The metabolism slows down to compensate and you feel tired. Ironically, all the food and energy is already inside your storage areas, but you keep eating because you feel hungry.
There are many slimming systems available to us. Every season new discoveries are made and today slimming technology has become very advanced. The only problem is that the human race is becoming even more obese. Our species is not adapting to the times: it is reacting in a very primitive way, that of holding back, storing and not letting go when faced with threatening situations. We call this group of threats “stress”. We accumulate money so we can cope with financial demands and we even keep a private stash of money for those extra emergencies. We are not aware of how this drive for survival is being interpreted by the cells and tissues of the body. They are picking up a primordial message from you to store and stash for a rainy day and to gather and grab in order to cope with current demands.
Our very tissues get the message to accumulate weight at a level of programming we cannot directly access by merely telling it to stop because we want a slimmer body. It overrides this command, just like a computer does when a read only system is ordered save a new file. For a short while, you can get a bit slimmer, depending on how well you can outwit your preset bodily instincts. But how can we change those setting for good? Firstly we would have to get to the control box. How do we find it’s exact location in the body? Is it in your wobbly gut, your flabby thighs or your spreading buttocks?
No? What is giving them the instruction: the brain, of course. They say that if you can fool the brain, you can fool the whole body. But how do you fool the brain? It is programmed to keep you alive and the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems will maintain your breathing, heartbeat and certain hormonal secretions regardless of what you try to tell it. Including the fat accumulating factor as this is used to keep you warm and cushion your nerves and vital organs against a hard blow. Fat is vital to your survival. But you try to tell it that fat is unwanted and ugly.
Attention deficient children or “hyperactives” will also benefit from this way of eating, especially if they have asthma, eczema, acne or allergies and food intolerances (leaky gut syndrome) with sporadic vomiting or diarrhoea
ALL BLOOD TYPES: AVOID THESE SUBSTANCES FOR A FEW WEEKS
Inflammation is caused by excessive prostaglandin PGE2 formation due to incorrect fatty acid metabolism from the following substances that must be avoided:
No more: peanuts, coconut, coffee creamer, hard margarine, pork, fatty meat, shellfish, dairy fat, sugar, chocolate, alcohol, or stimulants and chillis or black pepper.
You may also be reacting to: honey, mealies, gluten in wheat, rye & oats, kidney beans, chick peas & lentils and raw foods like: cabbage, cauliflower, citrus fruit, bananas, tomatoes and wheat germ.
EAT THESE FOODS DAILY:
Inflammation is reduced by prostaglandins PGE1 and PGE3. They are activated by the following fatty acids that should be consumed daily in adequate amounts.Try to add them to meals, snacks, sandwiches, drinks, etc.
Omega 3 & 6 oils: Omega 3 oils from flax and salmon or oily fish(also rich in Vitamins A and D), Omega 6 oils from olive, canola, evening primrose, starflower, grapeseed, etc.Incorporate them in your daily meals, on cereals, salads, vegetables, even in dips and spreads.
SOOTHING FOODS: EAT EXCLUSIVELY FROM THIS LIST TILL YOU FEEL BETTER:
All forms of rice & barley, soya milk & tofu or toasted soya powder, steamed or stir fried vegetables & fish (refer to specific blood type food list) Eggs cooked in olive oil or butter (ghee) Rice cakes, herb teas, diluted fruit juices with molasses and vitamins added. Goats milk, a little low fat yoghurt with molasses(the high test or without sulphur tastes better). Use rice, barley & soy flour for baking and sweeten cereals, herb teas and juices with molasses. Barley and brown rice are your staple foods. Cook a lot at one time and reheat or stir fry in olive oil. Eat with flaxseed oil, soy sauce, chopped parsley and permitted nuts. Barley water taken from cooked barley is very nutritious and can be mixed with juices or stewed fruit or added to soup. Grind up barley, mix with rice flour and make a cooked porridge. Make soups out of stir fried vegetables, then add stock and rice noodles & soy sauce. Use only health salt and add potassium chloride to it. Add a pinch of cream of tartar to your water with some vitamin C and a dash of molasses and drink at least a litre per day. Avoid sugary “energy” sports drinks if you have low blood sugar.
COOKED FOODS ARE MORE SOOTHING:
Raw fruit and salads contain insoluble cellulose, lignins and fibres that may swirl around your gut without being digested. This makes them ferment, causing gas, bloating and a lot of pain. Eat stewed fruit: apples, apricots & pineapple. Dates make a tasty nibble or can be soaked in herb tea and pureed for sauces and dips. If you do eat a little salad or raw fruit remember: they are best eaten and digested on their own, without starches, fats or proteins. Eat fruit in the morning, it will digest immediately and make you hungry.
COMFORTING EATING HABITS:
Eat little and often, especially if you have low blood sugar. Have your three normal meals and another three light snacks. Rather eat them as a single meal or snack. Go for warm drinks, hot bland foods and NEVER drink with meals.Take digestive enzymes, Swedish bitters and Herbal Drops before all the meals. Have a glass of wine before dinner (you are allowed to enjoy yourself!) Wine has many health benefits but only a glass or two per day. Chew food well so saliva can mix with the starches before it reaches the stomach. Make sure meals are pleasant and relaxed. Pick flowers, play nice music, light candles and keep the conversation light. Don’t talk about your health (or lack or it) at the table. Let them see how well you are doing. Smile, tell jokes and laugh, it’s very good for digestion and will relax and soothe the gut. After the meal, sit and chat or be peaceful whilst you inwardly bless the food to your body. Enjoy your tea or coffee with a little after dinner treat: dates, cheese and biscuits or the occasional chocolate as you begin to improve. Don’t go to bed for at least 2 hours after a meal. Have a stroll or move about.
BEDTIME:
At night, your body has to process and assimilate a lot of food. Toxins are excreted and you lose calcium and other minerals in the process. Take your calcium and magnesium at bedtime, especially if you don’t sleep well as it helps to relax you and prevents muscle spasms. A hot bath at bedtime is a good habit. If you suffer from a colicky tummy, rub the soles of your feet with lavender, sesame or grapeseed oil. Work on the middle section, this relieves tummy ache.
TAKE THESE SUPPLEMENTS DAILY :
Omega 3 and Omega 6 Essential Fatty Acids in adequate daily amounts (above RDA) to control inflammation.
Calcium and magnesium at bedtime; full RDA.to correct acidity and supply adequate calcium to prevent damage to bone.
A multivitamin and mineral supplement with extra Vitamin C: 50mg – 300mg once or twice daily.
Zinc 5 -15 mg daily ( taken with the multivitamin or extra B complex )
Vitamin E (200 – 400 iu) and a Vitamin A+D (cod liver oil ) capsule once a day.
VEGETARIANS : Take Vitamin A derived from beta carotene and Omega 3 from flax oil or ground up linseeds.
EAT THE FOLLOWING FOODS DAILY:
Ground up flax seeds (whole seeds do not release the essential fatty acids) and sesame seeds eaten with a little cereal, sprinkled onto sandwich fillings or mixed with water and swallowed quickly, a few times a day.This helps to break down saturated fats that aggravate inflammation and clog blood vessels. It also relieves constipation, promotes healthy bowel movement & helps for slimming as it aids in controlling low blood sugar and hunger pangs.
Fresh fruit and vegetables, salads, fish or lean meats, low fat dairy products including yoghurt and cottage cheese.
Mix up a bottle of flax, canola, olive or grapeseed oils and use this on salads and vegetables instead of rich dressings.
Eat sunflower & pumpkin seeds as snacks, make your own popcorn using olive oil. Season with herb salt.
Soya products including soya milk, cooked soya protein, cooked beans, etc. Soya is a good source of protein and it contains many anti-inflammatory substances. Substitute salt with : Potassium chloride from the chemist or health shop.
Emergency anti-inflammatory agents:
Aspirin, anti-histamines (there is a new one that does not cause drowsiness).
Natural remedies: Take: Cantharis compound by Weleda, the tissue salt FERRUM PHOS or rescue remedy.
Apply to inflamed skin or genital area: calendula & rooibos tea, plantain or any herbal cream with Vitamin E. Add a few drops of rescue remedy