Healing with Whole Foods

Healing with Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford

Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition

Used as a reference by students of acupuncture, this is a hefty, truly comprehensive guide to the theory and healing power of Chinese medicine. It's also a primer on nutrition-including facts about green foods, such as spirulina and blue-green algae, and the "regeneration diets" used by cancer patients and arthritics-along with an inspiring cookbook with more than 300 mostly vegetarian, nutrient-packed recipes.

The information on Chinese medicine is useful for helping to diagnose health imbalances, especially nascent illnesses. It's smartly paired with the whole-foods program because the Chinese have attributed various health-balancing properties to foods, so you can tailor your diet to help alleviate symptoms of illness.

For example, Chinese medicine dictates that someone with low energy and a pale complexion (a yin deficiency) would benefit from avoiding bitter foods and increasing "sweet" foods such as soy, black sesame seeds, parsnips, rice, and oats. (Note that the Chinese definition of sweet foods is much different from the American one!)Pitchford says in his dedication that he hopes the reader finds "healing, awareness, and peace" from following his program. The diet is certainly acetic by American standards (no alcohol, caffeine, white flour, fried foods, or sugar, and a minimum of eggs and dairy) but the reasons he gives for avoiding these "negative energy" foods are compelling.

From the adrenal damage imparted by coffee to immune dysfunction brought on by excess refined sugar, Pitchford spurs you to rethink every dietary choice and its ultimate influence on your health. Without being alarmist, he adds dietary tips for protecting yourself against the dangers of modern life, including neutralizing damage from water fluoridation (thyroid and immune-system problems may result; fluoride is a carcinogen). There's further reading on food combining, female health, heart disease, pregnancy, fasting, and weight loss. Overall, this is a wonderful book for anyone who's serious about strengthening his or her body from the inside out. Review "Healing with Whole Foods contains a wealth of information on health, diet, alternative medicine, natural food presentation, and recipes, researched by an expert in the field. Readers will learn how to apply Chinese medicine and the five-element theory to a contemporary diet; treat illness and nervous disorders through diet; and make the transition to whole vegetable foods.

The most detailed source book yet published on preparing food and eating consciously, Healing with Whole Foods includes complete sections on Ayurvedic principles of food-combining; the treatment of disease conditions through meals; transition from animal products to whole vegetable foods; micro-algae; selection of waters and salts; the extremely complex varieties of oils, sugars, and condiments; vitamins and minerals; fasting and purification; food for children, food presentation and proportions; vibrational cooking; the physiology of nourishment; color diagnosis and therapy; consciousness in diet changes; plus descriptions of the nature and uses of various grains, legumes, miso, tempeh, tofu, seaweeds, nuts and seeds, sprouts, and fruits. Also featured are sections on chutneys, relishes, pickles, different milks, rejuvelac, yogurt, salads, and desserts."--Midwest Book Review

Replacement Value: $60

Table of Contents 1. Origins .4. Access to Healing with Whole Foods 7 Section 1: Whole Foods Section 2: Integrative Nutrition 23 Section 3: Dietary Patterns and Directions 26 PART I: THE ROOTS OF DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT Yin-Yang and Beyond 49 The Principle of Extremes 51 Support and Transformation 52 Transcending. Yin and Yang 52 . Qi Vitality 56 The Six Divisions of Yin and Yang 57 Heat/Cold: The Thermal Nature of Food and People 58 The Physiology of Warming and Cooling Foods 59 Heat Patterns and Their Causes 61 Signs of Heat 61 Suggestions for Chronic Heat Conditions 62 Suggestions for Acute Heat Conditions 63 Deficiency and Heat 63 Deficient Yin Symptoms 63 Building the Foundations of Receptivity: Preserving the Yin 64 Deficient Yin and Blood Sugar Imbalances 65 Specific Foods Which Tonify the Yin 65 Cold Patterns and Their Causes 66 Signs of Coldness 66 Specific Remedies 66 Typical Patterns 67 5. Interior/Exterior: Building Immunity 67 Signs of an Exterior Condition 68 Colds, Flus and Other Exterior Conditions 68 Suggestions for Treating Exterior Conditions 68 Signs of Interior, Deeper Conditions 70 xii HEALING WITH WHOLE FOODS Immunity And the Protective Qi Concept Candida Overgrowth: Immune Inhibitor uses of Candida Problems • .... a ... Controlling Candida with Diet . Other Helpful Products . Variables in the Candida-Controlling Diet ..... . Oxygenation . Further Insights into Immunity .. . .. Free Radicals: Immune Defenders and Destroyers ... Activity and immunity . Protective Qi and Whole Foods Sexual Activity  . 8 8 ...... 88 4 . 556 Immunity: From Ultimate to Devastated. 87 86 Unity and Immunity Undercutting the Desire Cycle 87 Attitude 87 6. Excess and Deficiency . 89 Excess 89 Dietary Recommendations for Excess 90 Deficiency Dietary Recommendations for Deficiency ... 9911 Animal Products ... 92 Deficiency Combined with Heat, Cold, and Other Factors 93 Guidelines for Treating Severe Deficiencies 93 Summary of the Six Divisions of Yin and Yang 94 Applying the Six Divisions 97 Further Diagnostic Foundations: The Six Influences 98 Seeing a Condition as It Is 98 The Art of Healing . 101 PART II: ESSENTIALS OF NUTRITION 7. Dietary Transition .... 105 Wear Only One Hat ......... . ...... . ....... . ...... . 105 Healing Reactions Chlorophyll and Dietary Transition 1°67 • • .. • Foods Which. Counteract Toxins . 108 Recommended Proportions of Food Groups 108 Transition from Meat-based •Diet to Whole Plant-based Diet ....... .10 Standard Herbal Preparations 110 111 Excesses and Toxins 111 Toxic Metals Radiation 112 113 Drugs Parasites 114 Mucus 115 Excess Weight 115 Guidelines for Long-Term Weight Reduction 116 Emotional/Psychological Discharges 119 Summary of Suggestions for Easing Emotional and Mental Discharges 121 Transition Patterns 121 Common Causes of Difficulty During Transition 121 8. Water 122 Mountain Streams and Country Wells 123 Recycled Water in Cities 123 Chlorination 123 Fluoridation 124 Undesirable Properties of Fluoridation 124 Fluorine in Food 125 Other Chemicals 125 Our Personal Waterways 125 Filters and Purifiers 126 Purified Water as Cleansing Agent 127 Filtered Water 127 The Meat and Water Connection 127 Personal Water Consumption 128 Excess or Insufficient Water. Consumption 129 9. Protein and Vitamin B12 The Plant and Animal Kingdoms as Sources Amino Acids Attraction to Meat and Animal Products The Food Chain Vegetarians HEALING WITH WHOLE FOODS Vitamin B12 and the Modern Vegetarian .... Plant Sources of Vitamin 1312 • Fermented Foods. .. Algae: Micro-Algae and Seaweeds • ..... Nutritional Yeast .... • Vitamin B12 During Pregnancy and Lactation ..... A Margin of Safety for Vegetarians ........... . ........... Further Protein Perspectives .. . . .............................. .142 Protein Deficiency ...144 Sources of Animal Protein The Higher Sources of Vegetable Protein Micro-Algae and Meat: A Comparison Protein and Brain Function : Greens, Provitamin A, and Protein Improving Protein Utilization . . ..... . . .............................i . 114455 .. Dairy and Mucous Conditions ... .146 Highest Sources of Protein . Dairy Recommendations ...... ..111484590 Is Milk-Drinking Natural? 150 The Ethical Issue 150 Goat's Milk 151 Pollen and Royal Jelly 151 Eggs, Fish, Fowl, and Mammal Meats 152 Choices—When Animal Foods Are Necessary . . . ..... . . . 154 Properties and Common Uses of Fish and Meats ln Meat Preparation for Deficiencies and Dietary Transition 158 10. Oils and Fats ._4..158 The Nature of Fats.. a . Cleansing the Heart and Arteries . 9 The Saturated Fat/Cholesterol Connection ... .Immune• The Omega-3 Effect in Heart. Disease, Immune Deficiency, ..162 Brain Development, and Malnutrition . ..... .......•. .. .• . • • ..... 163 DHA and Brain/Nerve Renewal . .. . . ... . . .......... • • • • • • • .. ,163 DHA and Other Fatty Acids in Malnutrition. . . . . . . • . • • • • • . . • * 164 Sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acids . .... ... .........• . . . . . • .. • ..... 166 Further Benefits of Omega-3 Oils ... 166 ..... • • Heart and Artery Renewal Polyunsaturated Oils and the Essential Fatty Acids 169 The Prostaglandins: An Insight into the Essential Fatty Acids 170 Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA) and PGE1 171 Actions of PGE1 Against Disease 171 Vegetarian Diet and the Fatty Acids 173 The Original Diet 174 Eating Better-Quality Fatty Acids 176 Saturated Fats 177 Monounsaturated Oils 177 Types of Oils 179 Unrefined Oils 179 Cold-pressed and Expeller-pressed Oils 179 Refined Oils 180 The Danger of Polyunsaturated Vegetable Oils, Margarine. and Shortening 181 Clarified Butter as Cooking Oil 182 Oil Guidelines 183 Storage of Oils 186 Living Without Extracted Oils 187 How to Prepare Baking Pans Without Oil 187 11. Sweeteners 187 Excess Sweet Syndromes 189 Use and Misuse of Sugar 189 Satisfying the Sweet Tooth 190 Honey 191 Comparison of Sweeteners 192 Recommendations 193 The Grain Malts 193 Unrefined Sugar—Unrefined Cane Juice Powder 194 Stevia 194 Lactose and Fruit Extracts 195 Using Sweeteners with Awareness 195 12. Salt 196 The Sodium/Potassium Relationship .. 200 Salt Summary 202 Excess Salt 203 Insufficient Salt 203 HEALING WITH WHOLE FOODS potassium for Sodium Balance ........ . ... . Steps Toward Moderate Salt Use.... Oe0 •••000•000 Use of Salt in Common Remedies , 13. Condiment. Caffeine and Spices. Condiments and Chemical Ingredients Vinegar. Black Pepper ...., Mustard .. • .... . . .. ..... Baking Powder and Baking Soda . . . Monosodium Glutamate ... The Caffeine Products Coffee Tea Spices .Supplemental Vitamin C .. . 211 14. Vitamins and Supplements. .. Supplements as Medicine ....... . III .213 Supplements for Prevention ..... ... . ..213 Vital Alternatives 15. Calcium The Magnesium Connection The Hormonal Activity of Magnesium. The Relaxing Effect 0000. 219 Chlorophyll: Regulator of Calcium . ........... 219 Three Calcium Soups ..... .... .... .....220 The Similar Calcium Needs of the Older Woman and the Female Athlete Recommendations for Increasing Calcium Absorption. 40 Accelerated Calcium Absorption Through Silicon .... • Silicon Foods • Balancing Sweet. Foods and Maintaining Calcium. 16. Green Food Products Highest Sources of Chlorophyll, Beta-Carotene, Protein, and Other Nutrients Micro-Algae Spirulina Chlorella. • **** 232 Wild Blue-Green 234 Slim's Wild Blue-Green Adventure 235 Dunaliella 237 Micro-Algae Dosage * 237 Wheat and Barley Grass .. 239 Wheat Grass Cultivation 241 242 242 Choosing Micro-Algae and Cereal Grass General Guidelines Considerations and Specific Uses . . 243 Greens in the Diet 246 Vitamin A and Beta-Carotene ............. .......... ......... 2A-6 Causes of the Widespread Vitamin. A. Deficit............ .... .. 246 Major Properties of Vitamin A .. 247 Specific Actions Attributed to Beta-Carotene .....• • . • ..... • 247 Signs of Vitamin A Deficiency 248 1'7. Survival Simplified 250 46 18. Enjoyment of Food • .. 251 Overeating and Aging 251 Achieving a Balanced Appetite 252 he Art of Chewing 252 Other Concerns About Eating and Nourishment 253 Meal Schedules: The Nature of One, Two, or Three Daily Meals 254 Two Meals Per Day 255 Three-Meal Schedule . 256 The Morning Elixir 257 The Purifying Morning Meal .258 Local Food_ ... 258 Between-Meal Snacks for Low Blood Sugar For All Meal Plans . • . . . . . . ......... 260 .19. Food Combinations _ ... 260 The Importance of Food Combining .... 260 Plan A: Food Combining for Better Digestion... . ....... ... . . . . . . . . 261 Plan B: Food Combining for Best Digestion . .. .............. . .. . . .. 265 ...Plan B Food Combining: Exceptions 265 Allergies and the Sproutable food The Four Day and Six-Week Plans ..... Physical and Mental Sources of Allergy „ . . .... ....273 ..... 20 Fasting and Purification ... •274 Fasting and the Acid- arid Mucus-Forming Foods ... . ... . ...... .2745 Five Fasts . Food for Spiritual Practices and Retreats 21. Food for Children ....... .283 Teaching Good Eating Habits 28 When Mother's Milk Is Not Available 14 Food for Babies ..285 286 Raw and Pasteurized Milks 286 Homogenized Milk 287 Dairy Quality •287 Animal versus Human Milk Cow's Milk 288 Goat's Milk 288 Mother's Milk 289 Dairy Summary . Fermented Dairy Products Food Groups and Proportions . _290 Preparation of Baby Food During and After Weaning . . • • ....... 291, Animal Product Quality . 29' Food for Preventing and Treating Deficiencies The Vegetarian Child Soy...293 Micro-Algae . .294 Amaranth and • ......... 295•Royal Jelly and Other Animal Products . Foods to Use with Caution Food and Behaviour 299 299 Suggestions for Conception and Pregnancy 300 Taoist Prohibitions at the Time of Conception During Pregnancy The Child Within 301 Healing and Bonding 301 PART III: THE FIVE ELEMENT AND ORGAN SYSTEMS 22. Five Elements: Seasonal Attunement and the Organs in Harmony and Disease 305 Seasonal AtTunement 305 The Organs in Harmony and Disease 306 Creation and Control Cycles 307 Therapeutic Use of the Five Flavors 308 Pungent 310 Salty .. . 311 Sour 312 Bitter 313 Sweet 314 24. Wood Element 316 Spring 316 Spring Foods 317 Renewal and Raw Food 317 Spring Cooking 318 The Liver in Harmony and Disease 318 Symptoms of Liver Imbalance 318 Common Syndromes of the Liver 319 The Effect of Excess on the Family of Organs 321 Wind and the Nature of Liver Disharmony 321 Gall Bladder Renewal 322 The Source of Disharmony 323 Dietary Principles for Healing the Liver 326 An Alcohol- and Drug-Abused Liver 329 25. Fire Element 331 Summer 331 Summer Food and Preparation 331 The Heart in Harmony and Disease 332 Common Syndromes of the Heart-Mind 333 Healing the Heart ...... Calming and Focusing the Mind . 26. Earth Element The Calming Effect of Whole Foods. . .. Late Summer: An Interchange of All Seasons • • • ,.339 The Interchanges of the Seasons • 34) The Spleen-Pancreas in Harmony and Disease -341 Specific Syndromes of the Spleen-Pancreas ..... 27. Metal Element .......................... Waste and the Earth Element . .. Autumn .. Dampness and Degenerative Disease .................... . , 344 45467 Autumn Foods -346 Dryness Dampness, Mucus, and Microbes The Lungs in Harmony and Disease 347 Attachments as an Indicator of Lung Vitality 348 Resolving Grief and Sadness 348 The Physical Indications of Lung Vitality .....348 Causes of Common Lung Disorders Common Syndromes of the Lungs . Protecting the Lungs nd Colon. .352 Protective and Purifying Foods. . 352 28. Water Element • • • ....354 Winter . 354 Salty and Bitter: Flavors for the Cold Season. . . .. i . i ....355 W .354 The Kidneys in Harmony and Disease .355 .356 General Symptoms of Kidney Imbalance .356 Common Syndromes of the Kidneys. .360 ... . • Jing: The Source of Kidney Vitality. ....... . . . . . . . . . . • — . . 361 •.. •.. Nourishing the Jing 36 Finding Personal Jing Nourishment. Choosing the Appropriate Jing Tonic 364 • . . 165 The Aging Process . PART IV: DISEASES AND THEIR DIETARY TREATMENT 29. Blood Sugar imbalances ... 371 Diabetes 371 Beneficial Oils 373 Healing Considerations 374 glycemia 375 The Hypoglycemic Personality 377 30. The Stomach and Intestines 378 "Stomach Fire" and Heat-Caused Ulcers 378 Tongue Coating and Digestion 379 Colitis and Enteritis 379 Diverticulosis and Irritable Bowel Syndrome 380 Celiac Disease 381 Dysentery 382 Diarrhea 383 Constipation 383 416, Blood Disorders 387 Blood Deficiency 387 Hair and Blood Quality 388 The Current "Age of Anxiety" 389 Bleeding 390 Major Causes of Bleeding 390 Stagnant Blood: Gynecological and other Disorders 392 Common Conditions of Stagnant Blood 393 Menstrual Disorders 395 Prevention and Good Habits 395 General Nutrition 396 Specific Menstrual. Disorders 398 32. Cancer and the Regeneration Diets 405 Regeneration Diets for Cancer and Degenerative Diseases 407 Other. Treatments 409 Traditional and Modern Perspectives 410 Recommended Food Groups 416 33. Other Degenerative Disorders 424 Rheumatic and Arthritic Conditions 425 PART V: RECIPES AND PROPERTIES OF VEGETABLE FOODS ;.-4 Vibrational. Cooking Cooking Methods Cookware .. . 454 Glossary with the Recipes 454 Grains 456 Balancing Personal Constitution with Grains Amaranth Barley 1. Buckwheat ... Millet 467 469 Quinoa • 470 Rice _472 Mocha — . Congee. 480 Wheat 481 Spelt 481 . Kamut . Noodles. „ . Seitan. Cereals 36. Breads 489 Different Flours and Combinations 490 Naturally Leavened Bread 491 The Bounty of Rye by Jacques de Langre 501 Black Rye Bread 504 37. Legumes: Beans, Peas, and Lentils 506 Healing Properties of Legumes 507 Improving the Digestibility of Legumes 511 Techniques for Cooking Legumes 513 Miso. 519 Tempeh.. 522 *Tofu ... 526. Nuts and Seeds 530 Healing Properties of Nuts and Seeds 532 39. Vegetables 535 Healing Properties of Vegetables 536 Cooking Vegetables 551 Cutting Vegetables 553 40. Sprouts 568 Alfalfa 568 41. Salads 571 Notes on Parasites and Poisons 572 Spring Salads 573 Summer Salads 574 Fall Salads 575 Winter Salads 576 Dressings 577 42. Seaweeds 580 Agar-Agar 582 Dulse 584 Hijiki and Arame 586 Kombu and Kelp 588 Nori. . .. . .. 591 wakame . Irish Moss and Corsican . Soups .. 598 Fall Soups 599 Summer Winter Soups 44. Sauces • ..... 602 45. Condiments .. , 606 Chutneys and Relishes .607 . Spreads and Pates ...... 608 47. Pickles s 609 48. Grain and Seed Milks 612 49. Rejuvelac and Yogurt ... 613 • • • an 50. Fruit 614 Healing Properties of Fruit 616 51 . Desserts 624 to Recipe Locator , • 636 52. Summary Epilogue . 653 Appendix A: Parasite Purge Program 65 Appendix B: The Effect of Root Canals on Health ...... •• • • • ' • 667 Bibliography. • 670 References and Notes . . . • . Resources Index

About the Author
Paul Pitchford is a teacher and nutrition researcher. In his healing work with individuals, he develops rejuvenate plans based on awareness and dietary practices. His early training, following ancient traditional practice, was primarily through apprenticeships and private instructions with masters of meditation and East Asian medicine. For more than three decades, he has applied the unifying wisdom of Far Eastern thought to the major dietary therapies available in the West to create a new vision of health and nutrition.