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A lifestyle to help keep your mind and body healthy and in balance.
Great for the prevention and treatment of cancer, heart problems,
diabetes, arthritis, obesity, Attention Deficit Disorder… in other words,
any of the health problems associated with the typical Western diet and lifestyle.
We tend to think of diseases like cancer, heart problems, arthritis and osteoporosis,
as worldwide problems which are more or less unavoidable, unless you are 'lucky'
enough to have inherited good genes.
However the research from around the world doesn't bear this out. It certainly
seems to be the picture for most of the industrialised world; but there are
many cultures around the globe who have evolved to a great extent uninfluenced
by the environmental and lifestyle changes that we have experienced in relatively
recent times.
These tribes and cultures all have certain things in
common:- they all have incredibly low or frequently NO incidence of chronic
diseases such as cancer, heart disease, arthritis etc; and they all have certain
dietary and lifestyle factors in common.
Most of the tribes and cultures have a mainly vegetarian diet:- they drink
mineral-rich, unspoilt pure water (unlike most Westerners, who drink tap water
containing bleach, aluminium, and fluoride; or who drink the 'healthier' choice
of mineral water, often from plastic bottles containing oestrogens and toxic
chemicals.)
They typically have low meat, or dairy content in their diets - apart from
the Esquimaux, who according to Western health wisdom should have many health
problems produced by a restricted diet; but who in fact are extremely healthy,
whilst they stick to their natural organic diet. Ones who move away and adopt
the typical Western life soon start showing the same illness statistics as
Westerners. In the industrialised world, Japan tends to have longer life expectancy
and lower rates of cancer and heart disease than the West. Okinawa in Japan
is particularly famous for this.
The natural diet for most of these cultures is rich in vegetables, fruits
and whole grains; all grown in mineral-rich soil, and watered with pure, mineral-rich
water (unlike most Westerners, where intensive farming has denatured and depleted
the soil; even causing some problems for organic farmers.) There may be fresh
fish, pulses, nuts, seeds, some eggs, or a little white
meat. Also, our typical methods of processing food tend to remove the parts
most beneficial to our health; so then substitutes have to be added, - such
as white bread, where the wheat is processed to remove the nutrient-rich wheatgerm,
and bleached to give us a 'purer' product. Then, because of the noticed increase
in health problems, some vitamins needed to be added back into the mix to
try and correct the balance.
They all also eat a diet rich in nitrosilides - a naturally occurring
chemical sometimes known as vitamin B17 or laetrile, containing minute amounts
of cyanide.
This amazing substance tends to target and destroy unhealthy cancer cells,
whilst also nourishing the rest of the body. it is found in many foods eg.
brown rice, millet, cassava (tapioca), watercress, cashew nuts etc; but is
particularly rich in apricot kernels and some other fruit seeds, eg apple
and watermelon pips.
Tribes like the Hunzas in the mountains of Pakistan eat the apricot fruit,
then split the hard shell of the stone open to get the seed or kernel. They
then eat the kernels, or press them for oil used in cooking and cosmetics.
Cultures like the Esquimaux eat cloudberries, also rich in nitrosilides, when
in season; and throughout the year, eat the flesh of animals who have been
grazing on them.
Whilst all of these healthy cultures share a healthy 'close-to nature' diet,
rich in vitamins, minerals, enzymes, nitrosilides and pure fresh water; there
is one other factor which seems also to be present in all of them: community,
a sense of belonging and purpose.
This may be another reason why the ones who leave their support group
and adopt a Westernised lifestyle tend to be the ones who show increased rates
of these health problems. When we're talking of our sense of belonging to
a tribe, I don't just mean our biological families or our friends and colleagues;
I mean people who share similar ideas, values and beliefs about life, similar
enthusiasms, similar spiritual understandings.
On your journey through life, - particularly through healing - you can benefit
greatly from the support, care and wisdom of your chosen 'tribe'. At these
times, you need to be selective: surround yourself with people who support
you in your choices, who can lift you with their enthusiasm on the days when
you feel low, rather than ones who are critical or pessimistic, or who require
lots of your energy in keeping their spirits up.
At certain times through life, particularly when you are healing, you can't
afford the luxury of a negative friend or relative.For a
dis-ease such as cancer, there are many different and often conflicting theories
of the cause. You know the story of the four men in a dark cave trying to
identify an elephant? The one holding the tail says 'it's like a snake', the
one holding a leg says 'it's like a tree trunk' etc, - and the scientific
views of cancer tend to have the same apparent differences and contradictions.
One researcher will see environmental factors; whilst another will see a fungal
or parasitic link, and another will see pre-existing illness, infection or
injury. One will see it in terms of genes; whilst another will be more concerned
with the emotional trauma or the lifestyle factors which caused that gene
to become switched on.
Often, there will be a history of suppression - either of physical illness or symptoms which apparently 'disappear' under treatment, but which actually are driven underground to fester; or of emotional trauma which on the surface has been dealt with, but which has also been driven underground. Whichever view someone subscribes to, they can still benefit considerably from a nutrient-rich diet designed to boost the body's healing potential.
Medical researchers and journalists such as Phillip Day tend to step back and see a considerably bigger picture:- in my very simplified interpretation, he sees it as a healing process that hasn't stopped when it should, because the body's immune system is weakened by a diet deficient in the appropriate chemical messengers needed to say to the body 'Ok, the healing process is now complete; it's time to switch off producing those cells now'. He will see certain factors common to all patients who have cancer, such as the cancer will typically occur at the site of some previous injury or illness (more evidence for a healing process that hasn't stopped); and they will all typically have some fungal/parasite infection such as candida, oral thrush, athlete's foot etc etc. (which some scientists consider may be a cause of the dis-ease, or others consider it a co-conspirator, weakening the immune system and diverting energy and nutrients needed for healing).
For a much more detailed explanation of this, and the long-term scientific research behind this, I would recommend one of his books, - such as The ABC of disease, Cancer - Why we're still dying to know the truth, B17 Metabolic Therapy; or Steven Ransom's Cancer - Great News on cancer in the 21st century. These are all available from his website Phillip Day
Change your thinking, change your life. From our point of view, if you take a further step back, you will see the mind-body connection. Every thought you have produces a cascade of chemical reactions in the body, which either enhances your feeling of wellbeing and boosts your immune system, or which stresses your body with adrenalin, cortisol, and a whole host of other stress hormones; which make your body more acid, and therefore stress your immune system. This then weakens your defences; so it's no surprise when you 'catch' that cold or tummy bug or whatever it may be.
From this point of view, the site of the problem is the place in your body where you've stored the trauma. If you repeatedly tune into worrying thoughts for example, you repeatedly flood your body with 'worried' chemicals. The good news is that if you change your thinking, and plug into happy, energising, inspiring thoughts, you flood your body with life enhancing, immune boosting, feelgood chemicals. If you're a constant worrier or pessimist, and this seems an impossible change for you, it's ok to do it in baby steps.
You only need to change 1% each day, - but at the end of a hundred days, you're a whole new person! Here are some simple techniques to put in place to help you move from negative to positive:
" Don't bother to read newspapers. They're full of bad news, which usually has NOTHING to do with you anyway.
Don't watch the news on TV; there's always something to watch which is more amusing, entertaining or better still, INSPIRATIONAL.
Watching the news, or depressing films, floods your body with stress hormones, which damp down your immune system. " Get your thoughts housetrained. As we've said, you can't afford to get caught up in a downward spiral of negative thinking. It's no good telling your body that you want it to heal and to feel well, if you then flood it with loads of adrenal acid and other immune-damping chemicals. Every cell in your body is a thinking cell, - it's only your brain that has evolved to have doubt; so you need to get your mind and body lined up on the same side. Otherwise, you are your worst enemy. How much better to be your own best friend.
There are some excellent books to help with this eg. Richard Carlson's
'Stop thinking, start living', or 'Don't sweat the small stuff, it's all small
stuff', or any book in the 'small stuff series that appeals.
They're available in Waterstones, W H Smiths, Amazon etc, or via Cygnus
a mind/body/spirit book club
" Watch comedies or inspiring films These will flood your body with endorphins,
serotonin, and a whole cocktail of other feelgood chemicals that don't just
enhance your mood, they enhance your physical wellbeing, and boost your immune
system. Watch films like 'The Secret', available from Cygnus, or a high street
shop, or to watch direct for a nominal charge at The
Secret . Play games, tell jokes, have FUN! "
Do things that inspire you! Or excite you, or amuse you. A little positive stress can be a healthy thing. If you love art or music, then get painting, or playing, or looking or listening. If you love nature, then get out there - or bring nature into you eg a flower or picture to look at and draw inspiration and energy from. Do puzzles, or crosswords, or competitions. Get involved in life! Surround yourself with friends and/or relatives who uplift you, who support you in your choices, who can help brighten your day.
CANCER: Death rate drops 60 per cent if you have someone to talk to
Yet more evidence of a link between the body and mind comes in a new study of elderly people with severe depression. Those who were assigned a 'depression coach' were far less likely to die during the five years of the study. And, inexplicably, deaths from cancer were 60 per cent lower than the group who were given standard care for depression.
The study looked at the impact of a 'depression coach', or depression care manager, on elderly people with severe depression who were registered with one of 20 practices in the USA that participated in the trial. Overall, the death rate over the five years of the trial fell by 45 per cent among those who had a personal manager, but the most impressive improvement was in the reduction of deaths from cancer, which fell from 20.6 deaths per 1000 person years to just 8.9 deaths.
Researchers are baffled by the sudden improvement. Perhaps it's simply
that the elderly had someone to talk to, and the manager gave them a reason
to live. Just a thought.
(Source: Annals of Internal Medicine, 2007; 146: 689-98).
If you don't seem to have uplifting, enthusiastic, encouraging people like
this in your life, then maybe it's time you did - you can seek out like-minded
people on the internet, in social or spiritual groups, book clubs, self-help
groups … or if that seems to big a challenge at the moment, then: " Get inspired!
Listen to self-help teachers who inspire you, - eg. Wayne
Dyer, Deepak Chopra, Bernie
Siegel, Lyn Grabhorn etc.
There are
hundreds or thousands of inspiring and entertaining CD's and DVD's available
which can help enthuse you and show you the incredible possibilities for changing
your world. " Get chilled! Meditation isn't all sitting cross-legged chanting
'Om'; so if that particular form doesn't appeal, try another form which suits
you better. There are several to choose from on our website Meditation
Page Inspiration
Page or books such as 'The daily Relaxer' which has about 50 different
simple techniques for relaxing or meditating.
There are hundreds of relaxation/visualisation/ meditation/ healing CD's to
listen to, and DVD's to watch. For the technology lovers, there are gadgets
like the Emwave - available from Amazon - to help you train yourself to relax;
or software programmes for your PC. "
Get moving. A few minutes' enjoyable exercise each day can get you or keep you fit, young and flexible, and will flood your body with endorphins, serotonin and other immune-boosting chemicals. Notice I said 'enjoyable', - if going to the gym or to an aerobics class makes you feel panicky or despondent, then that is not the best form of exercise for you.
But those aren't your only choices - you could play around with yoga, Tai Chi, or Pilates; or take up dancing, or tennis, or exercise to a video in the privacy of your own home, or go for a brisk stroll. If you are unable to do conventional exercise, there's even a book of exercises designed for people to get fit after injury or surgery, which can be done lying in bed., and can be tailored to suit your abilities and requirements. You needn't spend hours trying to get results, - a lot of research is showing that a few minutes' exercise performed in an effective way is infinitely better than working out for an hour a day if not doing the exercises to maximum effect.
Look up the PACE system on Google or Amazon or Mercola or try Callanetics or Callisthenics. These are all designed for the maximum results with the minimum effort. One of the biggest reasons for exercising isn't just to get your heart pumping and get your muscles toned, or to keep your weight down; it's to get your lymphatic system working.
Everyone knows that blood circulates through the body, and is pumped round by the heart; but many of us aren't really aware that lymphatic fluid also circulates through our body, clearing away the debris. This system - unfortunately for couch potatoes - is cunningly designed to work with exercise. Instead of the heart pumping the fluid round, the contraction and release of the muscles causes the lymph to be moved through the body for clearing. A lack of exercise can mean that this system isn't working efficiently, making it harder for your body to clear out toxic debris. Even if you do nothing else, then repeated stretching and flexing of the feet and hands can get these muscles pumping. " Be aware of your choices. Anything you do, any thought or action, will either enhance your life or will have a negative impact. You choose.
Are you going to eat foods that boost your immune system, or that have little nutritional value, and may stress your system with toxic overload? Are you going to read books that enrich you, or newspapers that depress you? Are you going to listen to CD's by Wayne Dyer etc to help you change how you feel about yourself and about life, and do relaxation CD's etc, or are you going to spend the time you could have spent getting high on enthusiasm and inspiration on sitting in apathy, lethargy or despair?. Most of the time, we're not aware of the choices we make hundreds of times each day; but once we become aware, then suddenly ANYTHING becomes possible - we realise that we have the power of choice, (we've had it all along, but just not seen it), and we can choose to create our life to go in a direction that excites us. Change your diet, change your life.
The parasite or fungal connection is one or the reasons why the successful diets for the treatment of cancer will often suggest cutting back on grains:- too many carbohydrates, particularly from processed food such as white bread, cakes, biscuits, pasta, white rice etc are going to turn into sugar and alter the delicate chemical balance of the body, feeding any existent yeast problem, or making the soil more fertile for such a condition to develop. Also, methods of grain production, processing and storage can mean that they are contaminated by moulds and fungi long before we even eat them. (Grains such as wheat and corn can be particularly prone to this.) for similar reasons, avoiding most mushrooms and cutting back on dairy produce, particularly 'mouldy' cheeses is often suggested.; though cheese like gouda, which uses a lactobacillus culture rather than moulds, is often tolerated better. Often, if someone didn't have a yeast overgrowth problem to start with, they will have developed one after a course or two of antibiotics; which can also mask the original problem and depress the immune system further.
To avoid this happening again, get building up a homoeopathic first aid kit, or have homoeopathic treatment to help you get your system back in balance. it's also useful to understand the message your body is trying to tell you, so have a look on the self-help page on the website. Many people in exploring nutrition will have also come across terms like 'high glycaemic' and 'low glycaemic', or 'the glycaemic index'. This is basically a reference chart to show which foods tend to convert rapidly into sugars in the body. Since you tend to be better off with a slow steady release to help stabilise your blood sugar, and since sugar is a fuel for candida and fungal infections (and possibly cancer); then it's a good idea to choose mainly low glycaemic foods.
This isn't really another thing to add to your 'to do' list; it tends to just happen automatically as you make the other diet /lifestyle adjustments. Readjusting your body from an acid state back to a healthy alkaline balance also to a great extent occurs naturally as you adopt this nutrient-rich diet, with plenty of vegetables and some fruit.
There is a list of foods that have an Alkalising effect on the body; but once again, don't get too worried. My guess is that every food was created for a purpose, so I wouldn't decide to stick rigidly to purely alkalising foods. For example, walnut has a slightly acidifying effect on the body, but it contains vitamin B17, and has essential nutrients for the brain. So aim for fresh foods and juices, with if possible plenty of them raw and as natural as possible, and with plenty of them on the alkaline list.
At first glance, changing your diet may seem a huge task; but often
you can find that making small adjustments can have a huge impact. Even if
for whatever reason you need to cater for others who don't want to go along
with this diet and lifestyle, you can adapt it to suit your needs; eg. They
eat fish with potatoes and a few vegetables; you eat veg, fish and if necessary
a couple of potatoes.
If you have to have bread, then instead
of ordinary bread, try soda bread - it's yeast free. Better still, make it
brown soda bread. Or try organic oatcakes. If you can't do without desserts
(sugar cravings could be a sign of a candida infection), then maybe switch
to some of the fruits in the alkalising list, or the superfoods list. If you
really can't do without chocolate, then maybe have a square of a good quality
or organic intense dark chocolate, which also contains some very beneficial
chemicals.
When it's that intense, you don't need much to hit the spot. If you must have
sugar, then be aware that the craving may be your candida craving sugar rather
than you craving it! If your craving eases off after doing a colon cleanse
and candida detox, then maybe that was where it was coming from.
If the need for sugar still seems as strong as ever, then maybe you are feeling
a lack of sweetness in life. Don't go for any of the usual sugar substitutes.
Many of these are implicated in a vast range of health problems; so if you
have to have sugar, then go for a natural sweetener like 'Slimsweet', which
won't cause the blood sugar to spike. Stevia is great if you can get it (it's
more readily available in America.) If you have to have chewing gum for example,
you're safer using one containing xylitol as the sweetener in preference to
aspartame.
Instead of using ordinary salt, try a mineral-rich balanced blend of salts such as Himalayan Salt. Salt gets a bad press - many health problems are attributed to it, without it often being clearly spelt out that these problems arise because we are taking one form of salt - sodium chloride - out of all proportion to the other forms of salt already in our body, and needed for balance. Himalayan salt contains - I think - about 85 minerals, and is one way of getting that balance back. Sea salt is a good alternative. Patrick Holford recommends 'Solo' salt. Go for a rainbow of fresh fruit and vegetables, and eat foods as close to nature as possible.
Aim to avoid hydrogenated fats, or foods with lots of additives. These days places like M&S and Sainsbury's are clearing these ingredients out of a lot of their ready meals, so if you don't even feel you've got the energy to cook or juice, then with a bit of careful shopping, and plenty of salads etc, you can still get by, until you're feeling more energised. Some people want to make a clean sweep of their food cupboards, whilst others find it easier implementing changes in stages until feeling comfortable with them rather than having a sudden shock to their system. Do what suits you, and be kind to yourself.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
" Clear out the crap : "
Do a magnesium colon cleanse Phillip Day He recommends this for the first two weeks. " Ditch the junk foods, artificial sweeteners and flavourings, processed foods etc. "
Ditch the artificial air fresheners, toxic toiletries and cleaning products etc. instead, use essential oils as air fresheners, have a look at natural products eg Green People, Weleda, Avalon, Neways, Ren, Dr Hauschka etc. Liz Earle's range is mainly natural good quality ingredients, but with a few artificial preservatives. Or you could have fun making your own! See Resources.
" Ditch the emotional baggage, - it's weighing you down and hindering you from moving forward. Don't hold on to things past their time whether grief, guilt or grudges. This is all part of preparing the soil for healing, - don't let anything be festering inside. There are many gentle and effective ways of doing this, so discuss with your homoeopath. You could also use CD's such as 'Forgiving and letting go', available free from inner talk
. Flower essences can also be very helpful. " Clear the clutter - from your house, from your life, from your mind. It's surprising how much of your energy is tied up in clutter. The more you clear, the more energy you have for healing. " Get rid of spongers: " Ie. clear out parasites, yeast infections etc. at the very least, they could be compromising the body's ability to assimilate nutrients, and stressing the immune system.
According to some scientists, they could also be implicated in the
cancer process. Don't do this by using Canesten etc; this tends to just drive
the problem deeper underground and make it harder to treat.
Also, it's missing the message your body is trying to give you (see Self help
page, under 'Thrush'). Once you've
cleared out the bad guys, you can then get replacing the good guys with probiotics
eg lactobacillus from the health food shop, or a good quality live yoghourt.
(I'm not quite convinced by the sweet probiotic drinks and yoghourts.) " Homoeopathic
remedies are mentioned on the self help page too. " Essiac tea (available
from health food shops and Phillip Day's website, is amongst other things
excellent at dealing with parasites.
Wormwood tablets, or enteric-coated oils of thyme, oregano, rosemary, garlic or peppermint are also excellent for this; or you could go for a ready-made cocktail eg Neway's 'Purge'. Basically, do whichever suits you best: if you hate taking tablets, then go for the Essiac tea option; whilst if you can't stand taking in any more fluids, then go for one of the tablet options.
Taking L-Arginine can help deal with the ammonia by-products produced by this; (also homoeopaths may be using compound remedies like New Vista's Candacurb and Candatoxcurb). " Herxheimer's Reaction. This is named after the German doctor who noticed the process that can take place when we are clearing out yeasts and other parasites, - the body can become clogged with the toxic debris, so we briefly feel worse (just like recovering from flu).
To avoid this, it helps to have your healthy low sugar and carbohydrate diet in place for a couple of weeks before starting the candida/parasite detox. " Cinnamon is a very effective antifungal. Phillip Day suggests grinding up cinnamon sticks and taking a teaspoon of the resulting powder in a glass of warm water two or three times a day. " Colloidal silver drops also have an excellent reputation as an antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial immune boosting supplement.
Even Elastoplast are now available impregnated with colloidal silver to speed up the healing process of cuts and grazes. " Also, you can't afford any spongers of the human variety; anyone or any situation which is a drain on your emotional or physical resources. For healing, YOU need your energy. " Apply fertiliser: " Improve the 'soil quality' of your body with a diet rich in vitamins, minerals, enzymes etc; with fresh-and where possible- vegetables and fruit (not overripe), pulses, some fish, whole grains in preference to processed grains… in other words, food as close to nature as possible. Eat a fair amount of it in its raw form (cooking can destroy the enzymes and some of the vitamins). Juicing is a great way to get lots of fresh fruit and vegetables in there quickly. " Have plenty of good quality water - a good two litres a day. At the least, use a water filter.
If dealing with certain cancers, then don't drink water from plastic bottles because of the extra oestrogen. Stick to glass bottles, or filtered (not distilled) water. If you can, you may want to invest in a reverse osmosis water filter. " ALKALIZE! Dis-eases such as cancer, and fungal and parasite infections, thrive in an acid environment, so if you bring your body back into its natural alkaline balance by eating foods which have an alkalising effect, you are no longer providing the conditions these problems to flourish.
With a diet rich in fresh vegetables and fruit, this will to a great extent be happening automatically; but if you need to speed that process up, then simple tricks like adding lemon juice to your water can help. (This is also beneficial for your liver, and makes a great drink for first thing in the morning.)Also, adding a level teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda to a large glass of water helps to alkalise the body, maybe once or twice a day. Some people find potassium citrate suits them better (this is sometimes used in over-the-counter cystitis powders, since alkalising the system can relieve the pain and change the body's environment.) Adding powdered green vegetables and nutrient-rich grasses eg Great Greens or Nature's Living Superfood to your water will also really help.
Cesium tablets can help to change the body from acid to an alkaline state very rapidly, so if you feel the need to do it that way, then a two-week initial boost could be useful. (Children can turn from acid to alkaline quite quickly; whilst as adults, there is so much inertia in our systems that the process can take much longer.) For more information, see Robert O Young's book 'The pH miracle'. Phillip Day's books also contain much more detail if needed. " Vitamin B17. Many foods contain this vitamin, and laetrile tablets may be available mail-order; but the easiest way to take this is in the form of raw apricot kernels.
Start off gently, and gradually increase the amount you eat, spacing them throughout the day. For general health purposes, taking up to 7 grams is recommended; whilst for treatment of cancer, the doctors and scientists using this kind of protocol suggest taking up to 28 grams (1oz) spaced throughout the day, for the average person. For a child, this would be lower. Start with only a few, and gradually build up over the course of a week or so, spacing them throughout the day.
See also the list of other foods which also contain B17, - if you don't like the marzipan taste of the apricot kernels, and you are doing this purely for general health rather than to turn around cancer, then you may prefer eating a few apples (including pips and peel) a day, or plenty of B17-rich foods. " Vitamin C complex (including bioflavinoids).This is essential for the healing process (for general health, take 1-2 grams; if in-depth healing is needed, then take up to 5-10 grams per day. (Less for children.) One of the easiest and cheapest ways of doing this is via vitamin C complex powder (see Resources) Intravenous vitamin C has achieved some impressive results in treating cancer.
Look it up on Google to see some of the research, or try clinics like the Dove clinic in London and Winchester. Since this isn't always possible for people to access, Phillip Day's protocol recommends taking vitamin C orally. One of the advantages of intravenous vitamin C is that your body can process considerably more of it than taking it orally (our body has a natural self defence against too much vitamin C - if we take more than our body is able to handle then we get diarrhoea.
This can actually make a useful measure for us- if taking 10 grams
a day leads to diarrhoea, then cut back to 5 grams until you find your optimum
level.) " Enzymes. This is a vital part of the protocol. If treating cancer,
enzymes are needed to dissolve the coating on the cancer cells so that the
active ingredient in the apricot kernels can get to work where it's needed.
Some specialists suggest eating half a pineapple or a papaya each day for
their high enzyme content (bromelain and papain respectively); others suggest
taking enzyme tablets., which also contain a broader range of enzymes. Although
at first glance these can seem expensive, it can work out cheaper and easier
than buying tropical fruits, particularly out of season.
Since you want the enzymes to be digesting the coating of cancer cells rather than digesting the meal you have just eaten, the most effective way to take them is an hour or two after eating. This ensures the enzymes get to work where you need them. ( if rather than treating cancer, you were doing this to help improve your digestion and assimilation, then take them with meals or as directed). " Vitamins, minerals, co-factors…
If you're already feeling healthy, and have a good diet rich in organic fruit, veg, nuts, seeds, pulses etc, then you may not feel the need for these. There's a lot to be said for getting your nutrients from your food - it seems like every few months, researchers discover something 'new' in our food which turns out to be a vital part of the jigsaw; so for example, purely taking vitamin C in isolation would miss out the essential bioflavinoids which are present mainly in the pith of citrus fruits, not the juice.
A recent study has just identified 13 components in apple peel which have a protective effect against cancer. This tends to show that we have a fairly primitive understanding of the makeup of our food and the delicate balancing action of the nutrients and micronutrients. However, it isn't quite so clear-cut: many organic farmers would tell you that these days after long-term intensive farming, and minerals being washed or leached from the ground, the soil can be so denatured that we are only getting a fraction of the nutrients in our fresh food that we would have got 50 - 100 years ago.
Also, by the time some of the organic produce hits the supermarket shelf, it may have been harvested before its optimum eating time, and spent days in transit or storage, depleting the nutrition content even further. Therefore, if you need to give yourself a rapid boost, then the most effective way to achieve this will be by combining a healthy diet plus good quality supplements eg a good all-purpose vitamin and mineral formula such as Maximol classic or Solgar V or Quest (don't bother with high-street supplements such as Centrium).
Calcium, magnesium, zinc, selenium and vitamin D are just a few of the other nutrients already shown to have a beneficial effect either in the protection or in the treatment of cancer. The easiest way to take these can often be in a good quality multi vitamin and mineral formula where the appropriate balance has already been worked out for you, and they have been combined with whatever 'co-factors' they need for optimum assimilation.
Mistletoe (Iscador) also has quite a long history of being used to treat cancer - but don't try eating it, since the plant is very toxic. It is given in the form of injections, and is a well-known naturopathic treatment particularly in Europe. Some people respond very well to it; so if it appeals, then it might be worth contacting Weleda, who manufacture Iscador, for details of therapists providing the treatment in the UK.
Vitamin D from sensible levels of sunlight would also be beneficial.
One problem noticed as more people are following advice to use ever-stronger
sunscreens is the rise in vitamin D deficiency. It is produced by the action
of sunlight on our skin; which is prevented by standard sunscreens. You may
decide to 'bathe' in sunshine away from the most intense heat of the sun,
such as early morning, late afternoon or early evening, when maybe you don't
feel in need of sun protection. If that doesn't feel right for you, then I'd
suggest looking at some of the more natural sun protection rather than the
standard ones from chemists and supermarkets. Whilst these are recommended
by the standard health advice, there are certain worrying problems that show
up with them, including studies showing amongst other potential problems possible
increased risks of cancer.
The more natural sunscreens tend to work via a very different mechanism -
look at Weleda, Green People or Liz Earle etc. SEE RESORCES
also worth taking additional antioxidants, particularly if aiming to turn
around cancer.
Everyone has heard of vitamins A, C and E, which are antioxidants; but there are many additional ones which can have a stronger results, such as maritime pine bark and grape seed extract. Look at combinations like Neways 'Revenol' or 'Cascading Revenol', or add vitamin A, ideally in an emulsified form for the sake of the liver. SEE RESOURCES " Essential fatty acids. These days, most people have heard of Omega 3 and 6; maybe even Omega 9. They are absolutely vital for many of the body's functions, and the lack or imbalance of them is implicated in a wide range of health problems.
The headline-hitting ones have been Gamma-linoleic acid, found in Evening Primrose oil, for period problems, or Omega 3's for Behaviour problems in children; but the full range of their impact is enormous. Studies have been done in prisons demonstrating a dramatic reduction in violent behaviour and cases of suicide.
Research has also been done in schools, showing increases in attention span, I.Q. and improvements in behaviour. In the typical Western diet, we have got these seriously out of balance. Once again, if already feeling healthy, then an organic diet rich in nuts, pulses, seeds and maybe the occasional oily fish, may be enough. But for anyone wanting to really boost the healing process, then taking a supplement such as 'Udo's oil' (a vegetarian formulation developed by Dr Udo Erasmus as the ideal ratio of Omega 3,6, and 9) It's available in liquid oil form, which you can take by the tablespoon or use as a salad dressing; or in capsule form, which tends to be much more expensive.
I'd suggest the strategy for taking unpleasant medicine as a child:- hold your nose and swallow it. Neway's also do a version, as do Holland and Barrett. " Some of the foods rich in vitamin B17: Apple seeds, alfalfa sprouts, apricot kernels, bamboo shoots, barley, blackberries, brewer's yeast, brown rice, buckwheat, cashews (raw), cranberries, flax seeds, gooseberries, lentils, lima beans, millet, plum kernels, raspberries, spinach, sprouted seeds eg mung beans, alfalfa, buckwheat, garbanzo, lentil sprouts, strawberries, walnuts, watercress, yams.
In season, you can get fresh apricots and plums, then eat the fruit
and break open the stone to get at the kernel. " Do things that nourish your
mind, body and soul. Whatever makes your heart smile will have a huge impact
on your immune system, and is helping to send your body a message that life
is rich, and that you are worth it.
" Oxygen. Cancer and many other dis-eases thrive in an anaerobic environment;
so to boost your immune system, get oxygenating your body. This happens naturally
with a good intake of fresh fruit and vegetables, and with a healthy level
of exercise. Some people also use 'oxygen drops' available on the Internet
or from the Nutricentre; or add 5 drops of hydrogen peroxide (2% volume),
to a large glass of water. This is probably well worth doing if embarking
on a serious 'get well' programme, or for anyone who does a lot of air travel,
where cabin levels of oxygen can be low enough to sap the immune system, or
cause headaches, depression or anger.
START THE PROCESS
By doing the detox part for 2 weeks, to clear the system of yeast infections and other debris. Throughout this, be eating healthy, high-fibre foods, and drinking plenty of water and fresh juices, to start adjusting the body's alkaline balance. you can either bring in the supplements at this stage, or can delay them until the initial cleanse is over, - but at the very least, start the diet changes straight away.
There's no point in trying to clear out candida and then eating a donut! A typical day would be:
Morning : Start with up to 5 g vitamin C complex, in mild fruit juice
or water. Healthy breakfast. (Phillip Day recommends mainly fruit for breakfast,
since he sees the body as still in its overnight 'elimination' cycle until
noon.
If this suits you, do it; if not, find a healthy alternative which works for
you. Vitamin and mineral supplements get taken throughout the day as directed,
which is usually with food. Apricot kernels get taken throughout the day.
Water gets taken throughout the day… and vegetable juice/fruit juice/ 'green
water' (water to which you've added powdered greens to help alkalize the body).
Also Essiac Tea, if taking that for cancer or other health benefits. Enzymes
- take enzymes supplements or fresh pineapple/papaya. Take away from food
if doing this diet to turn around cancer - you want the enzymes to be digesting
the coating on the cancer cell, not digesting your meal. (If doing this purely
for digestive problems, you would take the enzymes as directed, or with food.
Healthy snack or mini-meal if needed. (small meals taken more often can help balance out blood sugar and can help with cravings.) Lunch. Supplements if applicable. Enzymes or fresh pineapple etc. Healthy snack or mini-meal if needed Dinner. Supplements if applicable Before bed. Up to 5 g of vitamin C complex in water.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Oh, and I nearly forgot:
HEALTH WARNING!!!
Yes, everything tends to have side effects, so be warned,
you may experience all of the following:
" Increased health, youth and vitality "
Renewed zest for life "
Sudden inexplicable feelings of happiness
* * * * * *
There is a lot of conflicting information out there; and in reclaiming your power in your own healing process, you need to make the choices that feel right for you. In comparing any of the confusing research results, it is always worth asking 'Who funds the research?' In an ideal world that would not affect the findings; however it unfortunately often does.
So if your are considering for example looking at intravenous vitamin
C therapy for the treatment of cancer, and then you see newspaper headlines
saying something like 'vitamin C causes cancer'; then it's a safe bet
a) that the research and resulting big story have been funded
by one of the big drugs companies ( health food and vitamin companies often
cannot afford to do clinical studies),
b) when you read beneath the headline the actual results are rather different,
often not comparing like with like. The same drug companies who profess to
be horrified at apricot kernels because they contain small amounts of cyanide
are also hard at work on developing drugs to treat cancer based on cyanide.
Anthocyanins and anthocyanidins are also mentioned as a potential source of future cancer medicines when they can be developed, tested and patented. However if your diet is rich in a rainbow of fruit and vegetables, then you are already taking these highly beneficial compounds, in the best 'delivery mechanism' that nature can devise.
When in doubt, read all sides and then do what feels right for you. For some
people, this will be wholeheartedly embracing natural therapies; whilst for
others their choice may be a 'pick and mix' approach of whichever aspects
from conventional and alternative therapies appeal to them.
For a healthy heart:
Everyone knows -even without realising it- the powerful effect of emotions on the heart.
Just think of sayings like 'I felt my heart sink', 'it felt like I'd been stabbed in the heart', 'my heart turned to stone', 'an icy hand clutched my heart', or 'my heart melted', 'my heart jumped for joy', 'my heart swelled with pride'.
To help your heart, look at anything you've 'taken to heart'. Get loving your self. See the Self Help page on the website for the body's message; and to help you resolve any emotional conflict and dissolve any emotional blocks, have a look at the Bach or Bailey flower essences (available from your homoeopath, or from health food stores) See the heart visualisation on the Meditation page, - this doesn't just help with short-term stress, it improves the health of the heart and bathes the whole body in immune-boosting chemicals.
Suggested strategy: Incorporate this with the healthy lifestyle. If you have no signs of digestive problems or any fungal infections, you probably won't feel in need of doing the colon cleanse; if not focusing the treatment on dealing with cancer, you may not feel in need of taking apricot kernels; but it would still be a good idea to be taking foods rich in vitamin B17 as part of your healthy rainbow-coloured diet. Exercise.This will help keep your heart, lungs as circulatory system healthy. Look up the PACE system of exercise on the internet, or on www.mercola.com - it seems to be particularly effective at improving the health of the heart and lungs. Herbs like Gingko Biloba are useful for improving circulation.
To help your memory
and your cognitive functioning:
" Use it or lose it: Crosswords, puzzles, mystery books are all shown to help retain - or regain - mental functioning. " Living in the now:
Often the diagnosis of age-related memory loss is given when the problem is simply spending all available mental energy on living in the past or worrying about the future, rather than being fully present in the moment.
Just getting your thoughts housetrained on the now can make an incredible difference, not just to your memory but to your whole life. Useful books include Eckhart Tolle's 'The power of Now' and 'Stillness Speaks. " See Self Help page for the body's message, and for suggested remedies. " Brain gym is a branch of kinesiology. It has been shown to be extremely effective in helping with problems such as dyslexia, autism, problems caused by brain injuries; and with improving communication between both hemispheres of the brain. It helps the brain build new neural connections and access information. " Exercise. This helps with a constant fresh flow of blood and oxygen to the brain, which helps prevent problems such as plaque in the arteries. Also, it raises the levels of 'feelgood' messengers such as endorphins and serotonin, bathing your body in immune-boosting chemicals which can lift your mood and enhance your wellbeing. " Essential fats.
As mentioned earlier, these are essential to many of the body's functions, - particularly those of the brain itself, since a high proportion of the brain is fat. They are called essential because our body requires them from an external source; we cannot produce them for ourselves. Mainstream thinking has now accepted this, so you will now see in most supermarkets an array of products designed to boost Omega 3 levels, whether in the form of oils to use as salad dressings (or take by the spoonful), or added to foods eg Omega 3 rich eggs or milk.
Some foods such as oily fish and linseeds are naturally rich in Omega 3. Our diet tends often to be quite high in Omega 6, so the aim is to raise the levels of Omega 3 and 9 into an ideal balance. Oil blends such as Udo's Oil (from health food stores or mail order) have already worked this out for you. " Fresh water. Since the brain is also made up of a high percentage of water, a good supply is needed to supply water-soluble nutrients to the brain, and to help oxygenate it and 'flush' it through.
The brain can quite easily show signs of dehydration. " Anti-candida diet. Interesting research has been done showing that, of patients in care homes being treated with dementia medication, many found their symptoms cleared up when basic underlying problems such as yeast overgrowth or low-grade infections were cleared up. We don't tend to think of a yeast infection affecting our ability to think, so it's quite easy to see why the medical profession's first thought would be of memory decline or dementia, rather than some infective process 'fogging up' our brain. " Gingko biloba is useful for improving circulation to the brain, and improving oxygenation.
It has also done well in studies at improving memory loss. " Blueberries " Patrick Holford's excellent book 'The Alzheimer's Prevention Plan' is essential reading for anyone wanting to do some serious work in this area. He covers in depth the nutritional requirements for healthy mind function, plus if necessary where and how to supplement to balance up the brain chemistry for optimum performance and wellbeing. "
ADHD, AUTISM and DYSLEXIA
have also been shown to respond incredibly well to enhanced nutrition.
A year-long trial done on a whole school who changed their total diets (cut out the junk and additives and increased the healthy foods and Omega 3 oils) and incorporated specific exercises to improve fitness, coordination and balance has just been completed; and every parent agreed that their child's behaviour had improved, the teachers found that their SATS scores were significantly higher, and found that children with problem behaviour were now falling in the range of normal.
Psychology tests taken at the start and end of the project also showed considerable improvements in emotional stability and self esteem. (Brain Gym, a form of kinesiology, has shown very good results in helping with these problems. many schools now offer a basic form of this; or you could get more information on the internet. The instruction manual is also available from Amazon
Various homoeopathic remedies and flower essences can also be very helpful; so ask your homoeopath for advice. Body, mind and soul food The Life-Food approach basically consists of nourishing your body, mind and spirit with your food, lifestyle and choices of thought. In the process of making healthy, life-inspiring choices, people will find that their sense of wellbeing automatically increases, - they may have been focusing on making these changes for the purpose of weight loss, but found the surprising side effect of peace of mind, or contentment, or happiness.
Everything is interconnected - in choosing to nourish yourself on a physical level, you are sending yourself a message on a much deeper level that you deserve to be healthy and happy, and that you choose life and peace, rather than dis-ease and chaos. The Life-Food approach is extremely flexible - built around the basic structure of life-enhancing choices (eg your choices of foods, your choices of thoughts, your choices of exercise, your choices of behaviours) you can also choose to focus on any extra areas of concern. For example, if you are worried about heart problems because of you personal or family history, then take the basic structure and apply any extra advice from the 'Healthy heart' section.
ALKALIZING
VEGETABLES
Alfalfa Barley Grass Beets Beet Greens Broccoli Cabbage Carrot Cauliflower
Celery Chard Greens Chlorella Collard Greens Cucumber Dandelions Dulce Edible
Flowers Eggplant Fermented Veggies Garlic Green Beans Green Peas Kale Kohlrabi
Lettuce Mushrooms Mustard Greens Nightshade Veggies Onions Parsnips (high
glycemic) Peas Peppers Pumpkin Radishes Rutabaga Sea Veggies Spinach, green
Spirulina Sprouts Sweet Potatoes Tomatoes Watercress Wheat Grass Wild Greens
ALKALIZING ORIENTAL VEGETABLES
Maitake Daikon Dandelion Root Shitake Kombu Reishi Nori Umeboshi
Wakame
ALKALIZING FRUITS
Apple Apricot Avocado Banana (high glycemic) Berries
Blackberries Cantaloupe Cherries, sour Coconut, fresh Currants Dates, dried
Figs, dried Grapes Grapefruit Honeydew Melon Lemon Lime Muskmelons Nectarine
Orange Peach Pear Pineapple Raisins Raspberries Rhubarb Strawberries Tangerine
Tomato Tropical Fruits Umeboshi Plums Watermelon
ALKALIZING PROTEIN
Almonds Chestnuts Millet Tempeh (fermented) Tofu (fermented)
Whey Protein Powder
ALKALIZING SWEETENERS
Stevia
ALKALIZING SPICES & SEASONINGS
Cinnamon Curry Ginger Mustard Chili Pepper Sea Salt
Miso Tamari All Herbs
ALKALIZING OTHER
Apple Cider Vinegar Bee Pollen Lecithin Granules Molasses,
blackstrap Probiotic Cultures Soured Dairy Products Green Juices Veggie Juices
Fresh Fruit Juice Mineral Water Alkaline Antioxidant Water
ALKALIZING MINERALS
Cesium: pH 14 Potassium: pH 14 Sodium: pH 14 Calcium: pH 12 Magnesium:
pH 9
ACIDIFYING VEGETABLES
Corn Lentils Olives Winter Squash ACIDIFYING FRUITS Blueberries
Canned or Glazed Fruits Cranberries Currants Plums** Prunes**
ACIDIFYING GRAINS, GRAIN PRODUCTS
Amaranth Barley Bran, wheat Bran, oat Corn Cornstarch Hemp
Seed Flour Kamut Oats (rolled) Oatmeal Quinoa Rice (all) Rice Cakes Rye Spelt
Wheat Wheat Germ Noodles Macaroni Spaghetti Bread Crackers, soda Flour, white
Flour, wheat
ACIDIFYING BEANS & LEGUMES
Black Beans Chick Peas Green Peas Kidney Beans Lentils Pinto Beans Red Beans
Soy Beans Soy Milk White Beans Rice Milk Almond Milk
ACIDIFYING DAIRY
Butter Cheese Cheese, Processed Ice Cream Ice Milk ACIDIFYING NUTS & BUTTERS
Cashews Legumes Peanuts Peanut Butter Pecans Tahini Walnuts
ACIDIFYING ANIMAL PROTEIN
Bacon Beef Carp Clams Cod Corned Beef Fish Haddock Lamb Lobster Mussels Organ
Meats Oyster Pike Pork Rabbit Salmon Sardines Sausage Scallops Shrimp Scallops
Shellfish Tuna Turkey Veal Venison
ACIDIFYING FATS & OILS
Avacado Oil Butter Canola Oil Corn Oil Hemp Seed Oil Flax Oil Lard Olive Oil
Safflower Oil Sesame Oil Sunflower Oil
ACIDIFYING SWEETENERS
Carob Sugar Corn Syrup
ACIDIFYING ALCOHOL
Beer Spirits Hard Liquor Wine
ACIDIFYING OTHER FOODS
Catsup Cocoa Coffee Vinegar Mustard Pepper Soft Drinks
ACIDIFYING DRUGS & CHEMICALS
Aspirin Chemicals Drugs, Medicinal Drugs, Psychedelic Pesticides Herbicides
Tobacco
ACIDIFYING JUNK FOOD
Coca-Cola: pH 2 Beer: pH 2.5 Coffee: pH 4
Phillip Day's Good for his books; also stocks a comprehensive range of foods, supplements and healthy products, including reverse osmosis water filters. Sells all the basic components you need for this diet, such as apricot kernels, vitamin C complex, vitamin A/E emulsion, enzymes, magnesium oxide for the colon cleanse, Essiac tea for cleansing the body of parasites and boosting the immune system…
Neways products are available direct to the customer via www.neways.co.uk - though I'd suggest typing that into your Google search engine,- it will bring up lots of adverts from their agents willing to sell to you at discounted prices, so you can take your pick. As well as an excellent range of supplements, they also do toiletries, cosmetics, and household products.
The Nutricentre,The Nutricentre,
based in the Hale clinic in London, stocks an amazing range of supplements,
toiletries etc, books, CD's and information on pretty much any therapy you
could think of. Their products are available mail order, and they give discount
to therapists and What Doctors Don't Tell You readers. They also have a pharmacist
and nutritionists on hand to give advice if needed.
Homoeopathic remedies available from your homoeopath or mail order via Shop
page (Also flower essences, food intolerance testing, and treatment and advice
to bring you back into balance and boost your immune system. See self
help page, understanding the message your body is giving you, and pages
of inspiration
and meditation
suggestions.
Ask your homoeopath about relaxation/visualisation/meditation CD's, and about useful books. Natural toiletries, cosmetics and household products. This is a small sample of the ever-expanding range available:
Weleda products available from many health food stores, or by mail order from their website www.weleda.co.uk A wide range of products available from Greenscene or from their shop in the Custard Factory in Birmingham. or Natural collection - a wide range of toiletries, cosmetics, household products, cleansers, garden products, organic clothes… Neways - see above.
Ecover cleansing products for washing and dishwashing etc are available from most supermarkets and health stores. Ecowashballs or Ecoballs, available via the internet, make an excellent alternative to washing powder. Clothes come out soft without needing conditioner. My last set lasted for at least 3 years, so are very cost effective. If you're desperate to have your washing come out smelling of perfume, then you could always add a couple of drops of essential oil to the final rinse, or put on a handkerchief in the tumble drier.
Type into Google to see what's on offer, or try www.ecostoreweb.co.uk Natural toothpastes, available from most health food shops or mail order, include Weleda, Tom's of Maine, the Aloe Dent range, Sarakan, Green People… Natural deodorants (don't use anti-perspirants, especially if trying to detox) include Weleda, Green People (both rosemary and unscented), Tom's of Maine (the honeysuckle rose is one of my favourites), and crystals deodorants such as Crystal Spring, Pit Rok, Bionsen (available from Boots and some supermarkets as a crystal-filled bottle which you fill with water and spray on.
Most people find it very effective at dealing with the bacteria which cause body odour.) Suntan products, skincare and haircare: Weleda, Green people, Liz Earle ( an excellent range of products, also range for babies) Aveda - for a natural range of haircare, skincare, perfumes, cosmetics. Available from some department stores and hair salons, also mail order. Ren - natural skincare - available from John Lewis stores, Space NK shops, also via QVC, MOP Modern Organic Products - mostly haircare, available from some hair salons, John Lewis stores, and QVC.