Alternative Medicine

There’s been a “Raw” Revolution over the past few years. We have a number of “Raw gurus,” here in the States and in the UK: David “Avocado” Wolfe and Shazzie in the UK. They collaborated on a book called “Naked Chocolate.” David has several degrees, engineering and juris law and is the CEO of Sunfood Nutrition. Shazzie is a raw food chef in the UK. I would be amiss in not mentioning Victoria Boutenko, who also discovered “Green” and actually reversed the negative medical condition of herself and her family.

Now, one of the things that they have been recommending is the addition of unsweetened and preferably Amazonian chocolate, Cacao, to your smoothie. Why? Well, you see, chocolate is a terrific anti-oxidant and can remove those nasty free radicals in your system.

Now, in addition to chocolate, of course, you will need your fruits for the smoothie. Any variety will do, but avocados and bananas are great. Of course, you will want a variety, so you can get all the different minerals and vitamins from each type.

Now, the last, and probably the most important part of the smoothie is the addition of leafy green vegetables. I have tried a variety, but my favorite is spinach. Green leafy vegetables, of course, are a good source of chlorophyll, which is actually a precursor for hemoglobin (blood). You can find quite a few recipes on my website, veggiebliss.us.

Just add spring water, coconut milk (it’s great!) or even coffee. Of course, you are welcome to try your own recipes. Sometimes, I add flax seeds, sunflower seeds, or walnuts as they can provide those omega 3 & 6 fatty acid oils that are so important for brain power.

You can add vanilla, anise, other flavorings, as long as they are not artificial. David even uses cayenne powder. The only thing that you will never want to add to a smoothie is sugar. That is a no-no. Use honey, if you want it sweet.

Smoothies are definitely part of a very active lifestyle and weight loss program as well, although it does seem paradoxical. However, a friend of mine, Philip McCluskey, who has been featured on CBS used Raw smoothies to lose 200 pounds.

I remember early this year, when I was studying the “Raw” diet, meeting Philip McCluskey. Now this gentleman was almost 400 pounds and considering having a surgical procedure done. fortunately he came across the “raw food” diet.

I believe he lost at least 200 pounds and revolutionized his life as well. He was involved in marketing and went on to become a successful nutritional counselor, who is very much involved with the other Raw pioneers, like David “Avocado” Wolfe, etc. He’s also been on CBS. Now in essence, his diet is strictly vegan and very green.

Let me give you an example of one of his smoothies, and I have several on my raw section in veggiebliss.us:
2 tbsps unsweetened chocolate;
3 handfuls of spinach;
one sliced frozen banana;
one bottle spring water.
Put this in a blender and you will have a great nutritious smoothie and you can watch the pounds and inches fall off.

Now contrast this with the following story that is not as infrequent as you might assume.
In a very unusual Russian malpractice trial, two doctors have been charged with killing a former Russian beauty queen, Ekaterina Sumina, according to Alina Kalinina. Apparently, Laser Inc. did not perform any tolerance testing for the young woman in terms of the type of anesthesia used. However, I find that hard to believe, because usually all patients fill out a questionnaire before any surgical operation.

However, what actually did happen is that she stopped breathing. Now, when that happened, of course, they should have taken some immediate steps. However, they seem to have waited. Again, another unusual practice is that she was not apparently connected to a breathing apparatus the whole time. This I find rather odd, as I believe that when a patient is “under anesthesia” he/she needs to be under artificial respiration. However, medical examiners say that she may not have

I have written about this before, at other times, but noticed this ad Tuna Meltdown ad, and the total misrepresentation that fish is the only source of omega 3 fatty acid oils. the ad and link go on to berate parents who deprive their children of tuna-fish, because of fear of Mercury contamination.
What they don’t tell you is that fish are not the only source for omega 3 fatty acid oil, which is very important for sustaining cranial growth and activity, not only in children, but also in adults. In fact, the lack of nutritional omega fatty acid oils has been implicated in the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
Now there are vegetarian sources for these omega 3 fatty acid oils: sunflower seeds, walnuts, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds and soy beans, according to PCRM.org.
While it may be true that not all fish are contaminated with Mercury, it is still not true that it is the only source for these nutrients. Plus, very often they don’t tell you what else is in the tuna fish, like dolphins.
Deficiency in these omega 3 and 6 fatty acid oils can not only lead to Alzheimer’s, but also to depression.

In one of my email subscriptions, a Raw foods expert, Frederic Patenaude debunked the whole anti-oxidant juice scams. These are usually the MLM juice products, like, Noni, Xango, Mangosteen, and Goji Berry that are on the market nowadays. They sell for anywhere from $35 to $50/bottle and, in order to qualify as a distributor and make any commissions, you will have to sign up for what is called an “auto-ship” every month. this might run you $100 or more a month.
Frederic suggests that most likely you can simply buy the Mangosteen fruit inexpensively at an Asian market. also you might want to eat other types of fruit, like berries, pomegranate juice, prunes and leafy green vegetables.
Another suggestion is cacao powder (unsweetened chocolate) which is one of the best anti-oxidants out there. For these products you can go here Sunfood Nutrition.
I have a number of smoothie recipes on my website VeggieBliss

                                                                      In the NY Yimes today is a story about a  schizophrenic patient, William Bigley in Alaska who does not want to take his medication, Zyprexa. Now in Alaska, the court does not force the patient to take his/her medication. Additionally, it has been discovered that the pharmaceutical industry, Lilly, which manufactures this drug, has kept its side effects secretive: it actually causes weight gain and diabetes. Now. many in the Alternative Health field many researchers believe that diet actually is the major cause of schizophrenia. According to Mental Help, indigenous cultures do not display this disease amongst their population. However, when they assume a Western diet, the population studies show an increase in therates of schizophrenia. It has been suggested that wheat and dairy products are the mainculprit in causing an allergic response. so possibly a vegan, gluten  free diet is the answer. Noted author, Abram Hoffer, MD,PhD, a psychiatrist with a PhD in biochemistry, wrote much about  orthomolecular medicine. In fact, on one occasion, he joined with Nobel prize winner, Linus Pauling, in citing that there are certain Vitamin deficiencies that may be responsible: Vitamin C, B-6, B-3, B-12, tryptophan, niacin are amongst the list. Additionally omega 3 fatty acid oils, and as I have mentioned many times, this is available in walnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds, and avocados. Also mineral deficiency has been cited as well, namely, zinc,copper, manganese. Gingko biloba, which has a special extract called EGb 761, is also being used. by the way, Dr. Hoffer is 100 yrs old.

                                                                    I just received another nice video tutorial from Dr.Vince Bellonzi discussing skin care. He makes the case that rather than spending a lot of money on expensive cream and other external treatments, it is better to concentrate on your nutrition. One of the major culprits is sugar, which changes your internal structure. You need nutrients that will give you collagen, omega 3 fatty acids (flax seeds, walnuts, avocados, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds. Additionally, some medications may have adverse effects on your skin. Too much sugar can also cause blemishes. Vitamin B’s are also very important. Hydration is another important factor, and if you drink coffee and tea, you will have to drink even more. Selenium has also been cited in protecting against sun damage, and it can be obtained from Brazil nuts and whole grains. Zinc is another important factor and can be found in peanuts, peanut butter, legumes and lentils. obviously, you will want to avoid alcohol and smoking. Olive, almond and coconut oil are extremely helpful in maintaining healthy skin. I usually add some coconut milk to my smoothies, which usually consists of some kind of leafy green vegetable, bananas and coconut milk. Flavanoids are extremely important because of their role as anti-oxidants. They can be found in Citrus fruits, like lemons, limes and grapefruits. Also, as is common knowledge, the peels of vegetables and fruits contain valuable nutrients. Hope this helps.

Many looking for the answers to perfect health overlook what we know as “superfoods. In fact chocolate is one of those superfoods. Here are some of its properties:
1) Loaded With Antioxidants That Fight Free Radicals
2) Nutrient Rich Source of Flavonoids and Phytonutrients
3) Is Natures Perfect Anti-Aging Food
4) Helps Support Cardiovascular Health
5) Improves Sleep and Sense of Well-Being
6) Promotes Proper Inflammation Response
7) Helps Control Appetite and Can Aid in Weight loss
Helps Protect Cellular Function and Communication
9) Helps Provide Natural Energy
10) Nutrition Never Tasted So Great!
Of course, we’re talking about unprocessed chocolate with no additives, like sugar. For a complete line of great superfoods, go to My Dragonfly shop In the video is David Wolfe, World renown authority on Chocolate and raw foods and author of Naked Chocolate.

                                                                              According to MSN Health Dr.Sandhya Pruthi MD of the Mayo clinic has found in a clinical study that lignans found in flaxseeds may reduce the incidence of “hot flashes.” In addition to flaxseeds, Other sources of lignans include cereals (rye, wheat, oat, barley), pumpkin seeds, soybeans, broccoli, beans, and some berries Wikipedia. As I mentioned in a previous article, flaxseed is also a source omega3 fatty acid oils. Additionally, according to power-surge soy isoflavones are extremely critical, as well as 1250 mg of calcium/day. Soy products, like tofu and tempeh, are preferred over soy “pills.” They also recommend Evening Primrose oil to reduce these symptoms. Also, Tracy Cornforth states that there are dietary triggers for “hot flashes, like, caffeine, alcohol and cayenne. Moreover, over-heating exacerbates the symptoms. So, she recommends cotton clothing. Finally, all the experts recommend exercise and meditation.

                                                                                     K. Steven Whiting Ph.D., Director of the Institute of Nutritional Science points out that one of the main causes of “silent” inflammation is the use of vegetable oils in the diet. Now, although this seems counter-intuitive, he explains that these oils are poly-unsaturated and, when exposed to air, become rancid quickly. So, when used, they produce prostaglandins in the body which again stimulate “silent” inflammation. If you already have an inflammatory condition, such as bursitis or arthritis, this may actually increase the inflammatory process. At the Institute they have developed a formula which is high in ]anti-oxidants and omega 3 fatty acid oils. According to new patent inventors, Mahabaleshwar Hedge, Ulhas Wagh, Shahida Khan omega 3 fatty acid oils and anti-oxidants are “endangered” nutrients due to shifts in the usage of omega 6 fatty acid oils which increase the shelf life of products and fatten livestock. The inventors are promoting an organic honey and omega 3 fatty acid oil combination. Apparently, this increases the shelf life of omega 3 fatty acid oil to 6 months.

                                                                                   In a recent study in Brooklyn, Wall St. Journal Blog reported that by adding the component of human touch in the therapeutic regime of Alzheimer’s the Nursing Home at cobble Hill were able to reduce the reliance on anti-psychotic drugs for these patients. However, as Lisa Sneddon, of Senior Living wrote, according to Federal guidelines, it is more difficult for Nursing Homes to be reimbursed for hiring additonal staff, whereas they are reimbursed for the pills. In a previous article, My Name is Lisa I mentioned that researchers have found that omega 3 fatty acid oil can also be helpful in treating Alzheimer’s, reported Ben Kage of News Target. Omega 3 fatty acid oils, although commonly associated with fish, can be found abundantly in walnuts, avocados, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds. Since fish can often contain high levels of toxic Mercury, it would seem that this natural source of the omega 3 fatty acid oil is preferred. In the video is the “blindguru” making an avocado pit smoothie. Advice: don’t do this with an ordinary blender.

                                                                             After I wrote a brief article the other day about nutrition and ADHD, I stopped by Dr. Scott Saunders site and opted to receive some information about his methods of curing ADHD naturally. Today’s email spoke about the great benefits of exercise, even brief 45 minute exercise programs. he says that these will increase circulation to the brain and increase production of sensitive neurotransmitters that are often at low levels in these children. Similarly,Peter Schworn, Boston Globe also reported that there was a scientific study, called the Dore study in England that was created by Wynford Dore who was “looking to find a cure for his daughter’s dyslexia.” So with some success in England, it has now expanded to the U.S and there are now 5 centers in the States, including one in Needham in the suburbs of Boston. The Dore center is tuition-based and is geared towards helping children with ADHD, dyslexia and other neurological disabilities. So far, they’ve had some remarkable results. However, the “mainstream” medical community has not yet endorsed it. To me, it would seem like the Dore Center has some very good advice. The Dore Program was started to help dyslexia, but is being used also to help others with ADHD and dyspraxia according to Wynford Dore’s Blog. As you can see from the video, the Dore Center is quite different from what Dr. Saunders has suggested, and, truthfully, although there are some valid points in the Dore program, I would tend to KISS (keep it simple silly), and just have some good old-fashioned fun outdoors, and save the $4,500 tuition.

                                                                                             This afternoon, I listened to a lecture given by Dr. Michael Lyons, director of Functional Medicine. He is both a traditional, as well as an allopathic doctor. One of his primary interests is ADHD and the video I listened to is called “Is the Child’s Brain Starving?” It’s quite a long video, 79 minutes, so I’ll summarize a few points. First he points out that the brain requires a great deal of calories and , and minerals to function properly generate neuro-transmitters. In children with suspected ADHD disorder, their brains appear to be suffering from inadequate nutrition, as well as neurotoxins from pesticides contaminating the food supply. The reasons for this “starvation” may be due to the wrong type of diet, “leaky gut” (the child’s intestine is not absorbing nutrients) secondly Dr. Lyon’s group found that ADHD children had a higher percentage of intestinal parasites, and lastly, the child may be suffering from some type of food allergy. As far as the diet is concerned, the American Junk food, high sugar diet are the most likely culprits. The video I have attached here is a short interview by Arnold, who owns a Raw food store with one of his customers. Dr. Lyons describes the lateral prefrontal cortex as being the executive center of the brain and this has also been corroborated by Hajime Mushiake of Tohoku University School of Medicine. If this portion of the brain is underfed, then the child may act chaotically. Additionally, Dr.Kiki Chang, of Stanford Univ., an advocate of preventative bipolar medication, cites the amygdala as being the area of the brain that is underdeveloped in so-called bipolar children. There’s even a new group, BrainMatters, Inc. that will do an MRI and advise you if your child is bipolar or has ADHD. Even if that is the case, I might ask, what is the treatment? Dr Lyons and Arnold seem to feel that the cure is in the diet. Remember, with any of these medications, there are significant side-effects. I have also posted Dr. Lyons lecture (remember it’s 79 minutes.) I also wanted to mention another authority

Dr. Joel Fuhrman is quite a noted medical authority on nutritional research. In this Lifecrafting blog the author quotes Dr. Fuhrman as recommending a vegan diet and avoiding certain kinds of food that may be triggering headaches. Dr. Fuhrman even recommends getting off medications. He is well known for advocating vegetarianism as a cure for many illnesses.