Food as Medicine for the Family
Food as Medicine for the Family
The present health care system and developing health care trends:
Hippocrates once said: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” There are two primary forms of medicine: Intervention and Prevention. Our present health care budget in America is $2.1 trillion per year. Only 1% is allocated for prevention. The World Health Organization’s publication of World Health Report 2000 judged the performance of 
health care and health care systems of all the world’s industrial nations. America’s present system of intervention finished 72nd in level of health in the world and 37th in overall health system’s performance. By comparison, the tiny nation of San Marino finished 5th and 3rd accordingly. One of the chief reasons for our poor standing is that we have not yet adopted a national program to educate the public on the art of disease prevention.
However, a growing number of Americans are beginning to take part in a culture shift toward accepting greater personal responsibility for better health through disease prevention. According to the CCAM (National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine) National Health Interview Survey 1997 CAM (Complimentary and Alternative Medicine) therapies (acupuncture, chiropractic, vitamins, herbs, mind-body etc.) are used by 62% of American adults. In addition, they found that out of pocket expenses relating to CAM in 1997 reached an estimated $27 billion. This figure is equal to the total spent for all U.S. physician services combined. They also found that total CAM visits between 1990-1997 rose from 427 million to 629 million far exceeding visits to all U.S. primary care physicians. Even with our evolving CAM interests there is still a tendency for reliance on the practitioner. Nutrition remains the single most powerful means of improving our health care system through greater self-reliance. As long as the nation refuses to adopt a national disease prevention program (including nutrition education) the onus remains first on the family system and ultimately on each and every individual.
The current health and nutritional status of the American family:
The McGovern Senate Sub-committee of 1972 was the first to look at the health and nutritional status of America. They heard 6 years of testimony from 1,100 of the world’s foremost scientific experts from 8 different countries and learned that 6 of the leading 10 causes of preventable death in America were directly related to diet. They estimated that 25% of death from virtually all disease was preventable through better nutrition alone. One of the primary reasons given for these disheartening estimates was, that 60% of the American diet was comprised of fat and sugar. The status of American nutrition has been de-evolving now for some time. Author of the landmark Bogaloosa Heart Study in the 1980’s, Dr. Gerald Baronson was quoted as saying: “If the present diet of our children doesn’t radically change, they will come to be known as the first generation of Americans not expected to live as long as their parents.” Today we know that Dr. Baronson’s prognostication is sadly coming true right before our eyes. In the 6-11 age group obesity has more than doubled in the last 20 years in the 11-19 age group obesity has more than tripled in that time.
The Key Problems:
High fat and sugar consumption continue to plague the health of the American family. A recent survey showed that 56% of Americans eat at least 1 meal per day away from home. This one meal accounts for 25% of the total fat and sugar consumed in the present American diet. Among those aged 11-19, fast food consumption has increased by 166% over the past 20 years. Of the $940 million spent by the USDA on food for the nation’s school lunch program only ¼ is spent on fruits and vegetables, mostly canned and frozen. Meanwhile, nearly 75% of all schools in America fail to meet the USDA’s dietary fat limit of 30%.
Simple sugars (sucrose, fructose, and glucose), and processed white flour starches convert to artery clogging fats increasing the risks of heart disease. In addition, they increase the overall rate of inflammation produced in the body, inflammation that triggers a number of diseases.
There are a number of very dangerous, bad fats still finding their way into the American diet. Saturated, hydrogenated and trans fats commonly found in children’s candy, crackers, cookies and snacks continue to pose the greatest cardiovascular and cancer risks, and also contribute to the chronic inflammation that lies at the root of many diseases.
Self-induced inflammatory disease represents more than 80% of all the disease Americans suffer from. Beyond the obvious Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus, Heart disease and Cancer are also inflammatory diseases. All inflammatory disease is caused by eicosanoids (super hormones), produced by a fatty acid called arachadonic acid, obtained from: egg yolks, red meat, peanuts, dairy and processed sugars. Anti-inflammatory hormones are produced by a fatty acid called alpha linolenic acid obtained from: fatty fish, flax seeds, non-fermented soy products, walnuts and pumpkin seeds.
High consumption of fermented foods such as: yeasted foods, vinegars and marinades along with mold and fungal foods such as: peanuts, pistachio nuts and bleu cheese, increase the risks of single cell bacterial proliferation and infection. Moreover, according to two-time Nobel Prize Winner Dr. Otto Warburg, the primary cause of cancer is the fermentation of sugar.
Empty calories fail to provide nutrient support, and antioxidant protection from preventable sickness and disease. According to noted author and National Institute of Health consultant Dr. Patrick Quillin, the average American consumes: 756 doughnuts, 60 lbs. of cakes and cookies, 23 gallons of ice cream, 7 lbs. of potato chips, 22 lbs. of candy, 200 sticks of gum, 356 servings of soda pop, 90 lbs. of fat and 134 lbs. of sugar per year. Data recently collected by the United States Department of Agriculture showed that on any given day: 41% of Americans did not eat any fruit, 82% did not eat green vegetables, 72% did not obtain an adequate supply of dietary vitamin C, 80% did not obtain an adequate supply of dietary vitamin A, 84% did not obtain an adequate supply of dietary fiber. Human genome research has revealed that the average human body is assaulted by 30,000 disease triggering DNA attacks every day. Thus, the USDA recommends that each of us obtain at least 3,000 cell protecting ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) units per day (obtainable from whole foods only). Sadly, they report that the average American fails to reach 1,000. Keep in mind that 1 serving of berries, or beans contains approximately 13,000, and ¼ tsp of herbal spice such as clove contains 260,000. The American calorie intake has never been so empty.
The Key Solutions:
Dietary recommendations: Decrease the consumption of: processed sugar, red meat, dairy, peanuts, egg yolks, fried foods, prepackaged foods, canned foods, frozen foods, vinegars, yeasts, and high fructose corn sweeteners (HFCS’s). Read labels and avoid: sugars higher than 9 grams per serving, hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated fats, trans fats, saturated fats higher than 5 grams per serving, white processed grain products, sugar added and artificially sweetened foods and beverages.
Increase the consumption of: fruits, vegetables, lean proteins (fatty fish, poultry, soy, beans and legumes), unprocessed, high fiber, whole grain products, organic spices, soy and rice dairy replacement beverages, herbal teas, pure water (distilled and low TDS spring water) in the diet.
Nutritional food supplement recommendations:
Antioxidants:
C with bioflavinoids 3,000 mgs. adults/250 mgs. kids (over 6)
Alpha Lipoic Acid 100 mgs. adults only
Anti-inflammatories:
Omega 3 fish oils 1,000 mgs. X3 adults/DHA 250 mgs. kids (over 6)
Anti-bacterial's:
Oreganol drops 10X3 adults/Sambucal 3 tsp's. infants and up
Beta 3 D Glucan's 500 mgs. X2 adults
Anti-viral's:
Monolaurin 600 mgs. X4 adults/300 mgs. X2 kids (over 6)
Homeopathic Oscillo Coccinum as directed for all ages infant and up
Mind (memory/mood) and Body Energizers:
DMAE 150 mgs. X3 adults/X2 kids (over 6)
Holy Basil 800 mgs. adults 2 per day
Tulsi Tea (Holy Basil) adults 3 cups per day/kids 2 cups per day
