The logic of the "good foods/bad foods" list is simple: in one way or another, the "bad foods" harm our bodies, either through causing inflammation and carcinogenic changes or through damaging our ability to absorb nutrients. The "good foods" are those our bodies have greatest ease with, that support our health and digestion, and that provide antioxidants.
Because of my own health challenges with obesity and dry skin, I've experienced "diets" and paid attention to developments in nutrition for over four decades, and have seen very few references to trace minerals and their importance in our bodies. Most often I've read of studies of calcium and magnesium and why we should not have salt (sodium chloride). I have taken supplements for nearly 40 years, and rarely have the "multi-mineral" combinations included more than 15-20 minerals.
I earned a certification as a Sports Nutrition Specialist (SNS) in which I studied the importance of proteins, fats and carbohydrates to the human body. I also learned of the amino acids and which were not manufactured by the body, and thus were essential. There was limited information about minerals, about how some were essential and the impact of their absence.
Then I heard Dr. Glidden's presentation (http://spectrumradionetwork.com/Archive/dr-peter-glidden-the-myth-of-md-directed-medicine.html) on "alternative" medicine and its recognition of the body's innate ability to heal.
And yesterday I met the man who has made it his life's mission to share the importance of 91 essential nutrients. And he says, "One sentence has killed more people than all the wars in American history: you get all the nutrition you need from the four food groups."
Dr. Joel Wallach pulled out a massive binder of documents that he used in his presentation. These were newspaper and magazine headlines -- mainstream, in the news, information! - that he used to make his points.
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| Dr. Joel Wallach |
- we are living in the richest countries in the world (United States and Canada) and there are more people living to be 100 years of age in Third World countries which do not have our wealth or medical care.
- the United States is 60th in the world in terms of life expectancy. Since the US has the greatest per capita expenditure on health care, one would expect life expectancy to be among the highest in the world!
- in the United States according to census information published in 2010, the life expectancy of men who are black is ~60 years, of men who are white is ~75 years, of men who are hispanic is 80.6 years -- the difference, Dr. Wallach says is attributable to their use of the medical system. Those who see the doctor more frequently are taking more medications and shortening their lives.
- Purina, a dog food manufacturer, spent $120-Billion over the last hundred years and has effectively tripled the life expectation of pet dogs. During the same period the human life expectancy has not changed significantly.
But I've been thinking about his lecture, and having some scary thoughts. Why are we not living longer?
And why are we putting up with lives in which the quality of our health and ability to physically participate in life is less than excellent? I have friends who are older than I am who say that they're OK with living only a few more years (early 70s), or that they are ready to die (early 80s). I am shocked and horrified that they are willing to "give up" the opportunity to experience the richness of their lives with their families, children and grandchildren. It saddens me to think that they have so little quality of life that they are willing to die.
I have started an experiment with my own food and supplements. I'm eliminating the "bad foods" and sticking to eating only the "good foods" and then I'll test the results. Then, I will add the 91 essential nutrients, "The Mighty 90" and see what happens then.
More to come...
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