TOTAL HEALTH PLAN

Step Two: Eat the right foods

The second step in my total health plan is to eat the right foods. On this page I'll share some food for thought. It is based on my own experience, and on the advice of Dr. Omar Moreno ND and Dr. Joseph Mercola, and on Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda and Tuleina, the natural medicine of the Kuna Tribe of Panama as taught by Nele and Laurencio Lopez.

Almost anything can be considered medicinal at some dose and toxic at another. I therefore prefer not to create green lists and red lists, white lists and black lists. Conveniently, human beings are so evolved that we can digest just about anything, even toxins. Our organism constantly eliminates toxins through respiration, perspiration, urination and defacation. It should be common sense to reduce toxic intake and increase toxic elimination.

When you raise your body's alkalinity, you allow your body to detoxify properly. Most vegetables, especially dark green vegetables, will provide a high number of nutrients and will produce the desired alkaline reaction.

Water Drink plenty of pure water. The best option is mountain spring water, which provides a tri-fold benefit: 1. The pure water molecules themselves are used by every cell in the body, and are especially useful in eliminating toxins from the body; 2. Trace minerals from the earth can help your body in other ways. Tap water typically contains dangerous toxins such as chlorine and fluoride, which pose multiple risks to your health. 3. Mountain spring water is alive. That is to say, it is charged with the natural vibration of the Earth, which revitalizes us. Bottled water is dead by comparison.

Aloe Vera Aloe is a miracle plant that has an infinite number of medicinal and culinary uses. It is among the most perfect foods available, although it is rarely offered as food. The yellow oil called Aloin is present near the skin, and tastes bitter. But there are two ways to get Aloe's healing benefits running through your system without the bitter taste: 1. Baby aloe plants may be eaten whole (without the roots). 2. You can remove the skin of a very large aloe plant. The clear "meat" of the leaves has a very mild tast and can be prepared with other ingredients, as sort of a vegetarian sushi.

Asparagus Asparagus has anti-inflammatory properties and contains antioxidants. Can reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease and other chronic conditions. (Source: World's Healthiest Foods)

Apples Among the alkalizing fruits. Unfortunately, apples are high in sugar, and are often covered in pesticides. If you cannot get organic apples, you may have to cut off the skin, sacrificing some of the nutrients.

Avocados A fatty fruit that is excellent for your health. I use it instead of butter.

Apricots A source of iron. Contains the antioxidant Lycopene. Also high in sugar.

Basil According to Tuleina, the kuna medicine, basil is everyday medicine for everybody. Basil has the highest level of iron of any food item. Some of its amazing health benefits may be obtained simply by smelling its wonderful fragrance.

Bell Peppers Bell peppers contain a very broad range of antioxidants including vitamin E and manganese, as well as twice the amount of vitamin C of a typical orange. Bell peppers also include these phytonutrients: Flavonoids: luteolin, quercetin, hesperidin; Carotenoids: alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin; Hydroxycinnamic Acids: ferulic acid, cinnamic acid. (Source: World's Healthiest Foods)

Bananas High in sugar and potassium.

Brocoli Brocoli is anti-inflamatory, contains anti-oxidants, and aids detoxification. These three properties make it an ideal nutrient for fighting and preventing cancer. It is also loaded with vitamin C and potassium (vitamin K). (Source: World's Healthiest Foods). Choose organic whenever possible.

Cabbage

Cacao, and natural chocolate Cacao has long been considered "food of the gods" and was used as currency by the Kunas. Modern scientists are re-discovering the many medicinal uses of antioxidant-rich cacao, including its ability to fight cancer and heart disease.

Carrots

Chives

Cherries

Chayote

Coconut Water One of nature's most perfect beverages for humans. Coconut water is highly alkalizing.

Dates

Figs

Garlic Garlic has amazing curative properties. Garlic's sulfur-containing compounds helps protect us against oxidative stress and inflammation. Garlic may also be used as an organic pest-control method... instead of spraying your crops with chemical pesticides, garlic juice will obtain similar results without harming your health.

Grapefruits Grapefruit is rich in vitamins C and A, and contains the antioxidant Lycopene. Vitamin C supports the immune system, promotes cardiovascular health and reduces inflammatory conditions such as asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Lycopene appears to have anti-tumor properties and helps fight oxygen free radicals, which can damage cells. Lycopene-rich foods may reduce a man's risk of developing prostate cancer by 82%. (Source: Jian L, Lee AH, et al., Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition)

Grapes

Green Tea In a study involving 130 prostate cancer patients and 274 hospital controls, men drinking the most green tea were found to have an 86% reduced risk of prostate cancer compared to those drinking the least. (Source: Jian L, Lee AH, et al., Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition)

Honey A natural preservative. Wild honey has a wide range of curative properties that are difficult to list, since honey is made from a large number of different species of flowers. Honey is even better topically.

Kiwis

Leeks

Laurel

Lettuce

Lemons Despite the acidic taste, lemons will help eliminate acidity from your system.

Mandarins

Onions Similar to garlic in its healing properties, onions can help fight viruses and bacterial infections. It seems that onions may be able to absorb harmful airborn bacteria and viruses, meaning that the benefit extends even to those that choose not to eat the onions. Throw away any onion that has been sitting for several days.

Melons An alkalizing fruit.

Oregano A flavourful healing herb. The oil of oregano is quite powerful against colds, the flu, and a large number of other bacterial and viral infections.

Papayas An alkalizing fruit, particularly good for the heart and lungs. Contains the antioxidant Lycopene

Parsley A flavourful healing herb and a great source of chloryphyl.

Peaches

Plums

Raisins

Raspberries High in antioxidants.

Red Radishes

Sprouted Beans

Tamarind

Tomatoes * This fruit is a favorite of many and for some good reasons: it tastes great when combined with almost any vegetable, and it contains some excellent nutrients when eaten raw or cooked. (When cooked, it releases Lycopene, which is known to fight cancer, especially prostate cancer.

Thyme This herb adds an excellent flavour to your meals, and is extremely high in iron.

Turnips

Watercress

Wheat Bran

Almonds Nuts should be enjoyed in moderation since their dryness will necessarily leach water from the body.

Cashews Nuts should be enjoyed in moderation since their dryness will necessarily leach water from the body.

Corn A grain that is often confused with a vegetable.

Potatos

Some foods that are considered healthy due to their vitamin and mineral content can in fact cause an acidic reaction in the body, and therefore should be enjoyed in moderation.

Oranges This fruit should be enjoyed in moderation because of its high sugar content and its tendency to acidify the body.

Pineapples This fruit should be enjoyed in moderation because of its high sugar content and its tendency to acidify the body.

Strawberries This fruit should be enjoyed in moderation because of its high sugar content and its tendency to acidify the body.

Unripe bananas or plantains Ripe bananas and plaintains are much healthier.

Mangos This fruit should be enjoyed in moderation because of its high sugar content.

Nuts Nuts should be enjoyed in moderation since their dryness will necessarily leach water from the body.

Bread (even whole wheat)

Rice

Celery

Coliflower

Beans Beans are very high in protein, and are therefore hard of the liver and kidneys. Enjoy in moderation.

Borojo

Cucumber

Mushrooms Some mushrooms promote health while others are potentially harmful.

Spinach

Walnuts

Avoid these whenever possible

Sugar Sugar is a highly addictive sustance that causes a great deal of illness, including cancer, diabetes and the condition we know as "aging".

Alcoholic beverages

Animal products

Baked goods and sweets The sugar itself is the main culprit here, but other ingredients are also bad: grains (which act as sugars, and offer almost no benefit), nuts (which dehydrate the body)

Brewers yeast, liquid or powder

Carbonated soft drinks

Coffee or products containing caffeine

Dressing with vinegar

Energy drinks (Red Bull, Cyclone, Gatorade, Koolaid or similar)

Fried food of any kind with any kind of oil except coconut oil

Gelatin, flans and puddings

Grains flakes (corn flakes, all bran, or other komplete)

Grains, legumes or beans of any kind (lentils, peas, chickpeas, broad beans, black eye beans, others)

Green Bananas

Green Mango

Guarana

Hot Sauce

Ice Cream

Ketchup

Lecithin

Mate

Mayonnaise

Junk Food (gum, candy, potato chips, cheese meneitos, etc.)

Panela or Brown Sugar

Peanuts in any form

Pickled olives

Popcorn

Refined flour or cereal products made with it

Smoking (cigar or cigarette)

Soy milk

Tea (black, English, grass mate or guarana)

Vinegar of any kind

Wheat Gluten