Four Diseases That Can Be Cured with Dietary Changes
As we age, our cells slough off and die. Some can be regenerated by correct diet, some cannot. Research has proven that making specific dietary changes can help, and in most cases, reverse these degenerative diseases. Let’s take a look at four simple examples where diet is essential.
HIGH CHOLESTEROL
Cholesterol can be broken into two parts: LDL, known as bad cholesterol and HDL, known as good cholesterol. LDL - low-density lipoproteins - are major transporters of cholesterol in the bloodstream and deposit cholesterol in the arteries. HDL – high-density lipoproteins - carry unneeded cholesterol away from the cells and back to the liver, where it is broken down for removal from the body.
When the body is functioning the way it should, all remains in balance. However, if there are not enough HDL’s available or there is too much cholesterol for them to promptly pick up, cholesterol can form plaque that sticks to the artery walls. This build up can, at some point, cause heart disease. Cholesterol levels are influenced mainly by diet, with about 75% being correctable with diet and exercise. The other 25% is controlled by hereditary factors.
As mentioned, diet makes up the majority of influencing factors, so avoid foods high in Saturated and Trans-fats such as red meat and high-fat milk products such as butter, cheese and yogurt. Choose low-fat versions that are skim or 1% milk fat. A diet based closely to vegetarian with more monounsaturated choices balanced correctly throughout the day can greatly help to lower cholesterol levels.
Keep in mind, however, that your diet is all about balance. Therefore, a tsp. of butter or a tsp. of olive oil may not clog your arteries the same, but it will go to your hips the exact same way. You can rely on getting monounsaturated fats with a correctly balanced diet using avocado, skinless chicken breast, fish (wild halibut and salmon), bananas, pears, plums, figs, and whole grain breads, rice and pastas. With these foods, you can receive anywhere from .5 to 12.5 monounsaturated fat per serving. If you eat a low-fat diet, then you may want to add a tsp. of flax seed or virgin olive oil to balance the day out.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
Also known as hypertension, this condition is when blood pressure is abnormally high. Unfortunately, high blood pressure usually causes no initial symptoms - until complications develop. There are two stages of blood pressure: primary and secondary. Primary does not develop due to some other underlying disease; it is mainly brought on by diet – especially too much sodium intake, stress, excessive use of stimulants and obesity.
Secondary is usually due to another underlying health condition such as an inherited narrowing of the aorta or a hormonal abnormality. Our heart is a muscle and if that muscle has to work harder and harder to pump an adequate amount of blood to all the tissues due to high blood pressure, it can often lead to heart and kidney failure as well as a stroke. A high-fiber diet that is rich in fresh fruits and vegetables (vegetarian based) and low in sodium is the best way to attack this disease. Another important factor is regular exercise and drinking 64 oz. of water a day. In my practice, I have seen clients able to eliminate medications in as little as four weeks with a correct and balanced diet and losing 2-4 lbs of fat per week while getting healthy.
DIABETES
According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), 15.7 million people in the United States suffer from diabetes and it is considered to be the sixth leading cause of death in America. If diabetes is not properly controlled, it can lead to many other disorders such as heart and kidney disease, nerve damage, edema and infections with the skin, lungs, feet and mouth.
There are two different types of diabetes: Type 1 – is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This results in the individual being insulin dependent because the body produces no insulin. This type of diabetes usually starts at an early age. Type 2 – which is non-insulin dependent, usually starts a little later in life; but can affect any age. Type 2 is when the pancreas produces a small amount of insulin, yet not enough to fuel the cells. This form of diabetes usually pertains to diet.
Medication is used in both Type 1 and 2 to combat resistance any cells may have to what little or no insulin is in the bloodstream. With Type 1, diet can greatly reduce the amount of medication needed, but patients will always need some medication if the body produces no insulin at all. In most cases of Type 2, medication can be eliminated altogether with proper diet and exercise.
For those suffering from diabetes, it is important to always check your blood sugar levels with meals. When on the correct diet for this disease, you can easily drop to a very low blood sugar level if you do not monitor your medication and may run the risk of falling into a diabetic coma. Diabetics require eating small meals often throughout the day. Each meal should contain protein and correctly balancing your day with complex carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
After over 20 years in business, I have yet to have a Type 2 Diabetic that has come through my practice and not eliminated their medication through correct diet and exercise. I have also had children and one adult male who were diagnosed with Type 1 and the problem was reversed through correct diet and they no longer need medication to control their diabetes. I would suppose their bodies were producing a minuscule amount of insulin.
ARTHRITIS
Arthritis can appear suddenly or come on gradually. Joints are the main source of pain and/or swelling. The swelling and pain associated with moving the joints can result from a thickening of the synovial membrane, which creates an increase in the secretion of synovial fluid and/or enlargement of the bones. When your body incorrectly identifies the synovial membrane as foreign, inflammation results, damaging the cartilage and tissues in the joints. There are many different types of arthritis, some which can be inherited and some which are caused by injury or infection. However, most are caused by lifestyle, diet and aging. The key factor is to return the immune system back to normal, so it will, once again, recognize the synovial membrane as native and stop attacking it.
Foods contain many properties that can either build up or tear down the immune system in these cases. By implementing the correct enzymes in foods and eliminating the bad from your diet, your body has the capability of healing itself. Typically, foods to avoid would be nightshade vegetables such as eggplant, peppers, mushrooms and white potatoes. Other irritants are citrus fruits, dairy products, alcohol, caffeine and red meat. By eliminating the incorrect foods and building up the diet correctly, I have seen people pain free in as little as two weeks.
As you can see from the above examples, diet and exercise play a key roll in wellness and reversing degenerative diseases. Whether you are trying to gain muscle, lose fat, eliminate the need for medications or just feel better, Your Body Code does it all. You can find us on the web at www.yourbodycode.com or visit one of our two locations in the desert: Palm Springs at the Preventative Medicine Clinic (760) 318-8333 or in Palm Desert located inside Healthnutz (760) 341-BODY (2639).
Written By Amanda Beckner, CN, HHP, PhD