Diet

"Let thy food be thy medicine, and thy medicine be thy food"—Hippocrates

"Eating" is an activity that we practice several times a day. Based on the composition of each meal, different hormones are secreted into the bloodstream. These hormones affect the way we feel and how our bodies function. For us to feel good and possess abundant energy, our diets need to be healthful.

There is no shortage of controversy when it comes to the question of what constitutes a healthful diet. In this chapter, I will present to you a diet that will strengthen and balance your immune system. I have tried to make this diet easy to integrate into an average person's lifestyle.

So what constitutes a healthy diet? First, your food must be natural and minimally processed. This allows your body to absorb and process the correct concentration of nutrients. It also prevents the body from being exposed to artificial chemicals that may negatively affect its functioning.

A less concrete reason for eating a healthful, well-balanced diet, is that it can be another way to show your body that you care for it, love it, and are willing to do everything in your power to support it. When your body is convinced that you truly care, when it senses your nurturing and love, your immune system becomes strengthened.

The Immune Enhancement Diet - General Principles

1. Increase your consumption of whole grains (brown rice, oats, cracked wheat, barley, corn, rye, millet, quinoa and buckwheat). Always prepare more than you need. You can keep the leftovers in the refrigerator for a week. Add them to soups and other dishes. Attempt to have a portion of cooked whole grains at least once a day.
2. Increase your consumption of vegetables (fresh, steamed, stir-fried or juiced). Eat as many of them as you can. They provide plentiful amounts of fiber, vitamins and minerals.
3. Increase your consumption of fresh fruit. Use them as snacks and as a natural pick me up instead of processed sugar products.
4. Increase your consumption of natural soups, teas, and warm beverages. Optimal beverages include water, herb teas, fruit juices and substitutes such as Inka, Cafix and Postem. There are nutritious beverages as opposed to sugar-laden soft drinks. Mineral water, such as Calistoga or Perrier is fine. Do not drink anyhing that is ice cold. Your body will have to expend energy to warm it up. This depletes energy that could otherwise be utilized by your immune system. Quick, inexpensive extremely nutritious soups are found in many varieties of Westbrae Ramen and Nile Spice instant soups, which can be found in most health food stores.
5. Eat a nutritious breakfast every day. Hot whole grain cereals are an important part of an optimal breakfast. High fiber breads, toast, and cold cereals made from whole grains are the next best choice. Healthful breads include: Alvarado St. Bakery, Orowheat, and others that are made from whole grains, are high in fiber, and low in additives and sugar. A high quality breakfast provides strength and good nutrition at the very beginning of the day. Include a cup of hot tea or roasted grain beverage with your morning meal tohelp promote efficient digestion.
6. Eat plenty of onions, garlic and ginger.
7. The best oils to use are high quality olive and sesame.
8. Eat locally grown seasonal foods. Organic, if possible.
9. Make sure that your diet provides you with an adequate amount of protein. Recommended protein sources include: fish, poultry, legumes, beans, soy products, whole grains and an occasional portion of red meat.
10. Limit your dairy consumption to approximately 5% of the volume of your total diet. Most people have a limited tolerance for dairy products (milk, butter, cheese, yogurt, etc.) that when exceeded, can cause the production of excess gas, loose bowel movements and even fatigue. This situation is not optimal for the efficient functioning of your digestive system. If dairy products are limited to 5% of your dietary intake, you will usually not experience any of these symptoms.
11. Avoid sugar, alcohol, and caffeine*
12. Avoid raw foods such as: clams, oysters, marinated (uncooked) fish, sushi, very rare meats and undercooked eggs. These can contain infectious bacteria and intestinal parasites.
13. Other important facts to note: Do not eat vegetables and fruits at the same time. When eaten together, they promote inefficient digestion due to the different enzymes and digestive time that each requires. Grains and either vegetables or beans, combined with a small amount of dairy product and herb tea is the optimal combination of foods. Eat more grains and vegeatables than fruits to keep your diet alkaline. Rest for at least ten minutes after each meal to promote healthful digestion.

*Exceptions to this are organic red wine and dark beer. Small amounts of organic red wine (1-2 glasses) provide anti-oxidants and can help digestion. 1-2 glasses of dark beer provide amino acides that can be absorbed by the body.

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