Chocolate Question - LOOKS LIKE IT 'FEEDS' THE FIRE!

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When Our Friendly Fire Becomes Inflammation or Natural Solutions for Chronic

Inflammatory Diseases

BY BLAIR LEWIS, PA-C

We commonly make references to the relationship between food and health.

" You are what you eat. " " Feed a fever, starve a cold. " " Let your food and

your medicine be one and the same. " " Only eat food that will spoil or rot,

and eat it before it does. "

Everyone knows healthy bodies need food. But few of us realize that an

illness or disease needs food, too. And, if you remove the food source for

that disease, it will cease to exist. Most diseases and illnesses begin

with a site of irritation or inflammation; a sore throat, a fever, a sore

back, an inflamed knee or an irritable bowel is just the start.

Disease feeds on waste products trapped in the body. Without the use of

cleansing therapies -- rest, fasting, increasing body fluid levels with

clean water -- the disease will sustain itself on the stockpiles of waste

within our own body. Inflammation begins, disturbing the function of

healthy cells in the area. Soon, like a forest fire, the disease is racing

through all the tissues, damaging or destroying everything in its way.

Many " forest fires " in the body begin as a useful fire or normal body

metabolism that got out of control. According to Ayurveda, the ancient

science of longevity, the origin of inflammatory diseases like arthritis,

colitis and stomach ulcers is very similar to the forest fire. When the

" friendly " fire of normal body metabolism is displaced form its home,

inflammation is the result.

When a fire is starved of proper fuel it desperately searches for anything

it can burn. Kindled by fear of extinction, fire will leave home to find

food. Home is the normal site of the metabolic fire, such as the stomach

containing acid to burn (metabolic) food to nourish the body. In the

personality, the mind's fire is seen as brightness, warmth, courage, vision

and leadership. As long as our metabolic fire stays at home " in the

fireplace " , health and happiness are assured.

If a spark gets out of the fireplace and onto other delicate tissues, a

serious tragedy could occur. This displaced fire can happen in both the

mind and body. When the stomach's digestive fire is out of control, an

ulcer in the stomach or small intestines may develop. Likewise, rage in the

mind, or unchecked fears, can destroy self-confidence which has been built

over many years.

A displaced fire uses waste products of tissues ass the initial fuel, until

is is hot enough to ignite and burn healthy tissue. The close proximity of

alternate sources of fuel (like trapped waste) may serve as an incentive for

the fire to jump out of the fireplace, if the fuel is brought too close to

the fireplace. This how soft tissues, that cannot dispel their waste

products, can become inflamed. Untreated, inflammation can consume the

entire mind and/or body.

Chronic inflammation is also the result of displaced fire. Muscles that are

not stretched and relaxed regularly, will build up a store of toxins that

can become very combustible if the conditions are right. Fibromyalgia could

result.

Chronic inflammatory disease are rapidly increasing in industrialized

nations. The science of ayurveda offers solutions to these painful and

debilitating problems.

Ayurveda uses the analogy of fire to explain how good health is the result

of fire. Our body burns food we eat and the air we breathe. This " fire " of

metabolism is essential for life. To maintain a healthy fire, several

factors are required.

First, a highly flammable fuel source - foods and beverages that are easy to

digest. We have to go past the simplistic level of carbohydrates, fats and

proteins and start to observe how our body reacts to the food. If food is

easy to digest, our tongue will be squeaky clean 30 seconds after swallowing

a well-chewed morsel. Our stomach will not belch back its note of rejection

to an easily useable source of food.

Second, a continuous breathing pattern insures good ventilation. Nasal

breathing that is smooth, quiet, slow, continuous and diaphragmatic is best.

A massage therapist or yoga teacher can provide any needed instruction.

Third, the waste products from digestion must be removed from the tissues,

the lungs and the intestines. Cardiovascular exercise, stretching and good

personal hygiene are an excellent start.

Finally, water is needed for lubrication, for dissipation of excess heat and

as a food source. Our body needs fairly large quantities of water. We have

all been told to drink eight glasses of clean water each day. As we think

about maintaining a healthy metabolic fire in every cell of our body, the

need for water starts to become more obvious and practical.

Most fires, forest or otherwise, start from a match. The " match " of our

metabolic fire is the miracle of life itself. A powerful infusion of life

at the moment of conception is the spark. However, strong emotions can

squeich the flame of life or set ablaze. We meet people every day who seem

to have lost their zest for living, and those who are walking incendiary

devises of rage. A healthy is neither too hot nor too cool.

There lives within the very flame of love A kind of wick or snuff that will

abate it;

- Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act 4m Scene 7.

The old adage is true, " Only you can prevent forest fires. " This is

especially true within our own body. Metabolic fire prevention is simple

and obvious. Anger and fear are as combustible as gasoline. Stiffness of

the joints and irritating foods can feed the wildfire of inflammation.

The good news is, " The villians are few, the helpers are many. "

Fire Prevention

The cure begins with remembering that every fire needs fuel and abnormal

fires need abnormal sources of fuel. Eliminating the residue of food

environmental toxins, and unexhaled gases is the cornerstone of prevention.

The single most important waste product to remove every minute is carbon

dioxide. We inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. You can delay

perspiring and urinating, but never inhalation and exhalation. The of

noxious gases from improper breathing irritates the finer tissues of the

body. Combustion is soon to follow.

The residue of undigested food becomes the main fuel source once the

combustion rips through our cells. Food that is difficult to digest or

expel will only contribute to the stockpile of combustion wastes. Avoiding

certain foods is always helpful - starts with the obvious ones that you

readily notice make you feel poorly. Noticing the effects of food on our

health and happiness makes recovery faster and easier.

The most common problematic foods for people with chronic pain and

inflammatory diseases include;

a. all carbonated beverages - which neutralize stomach acid, thus stopping

healthy digestion.

b. nicotine and tobacco smoking - nicotine is a common irritant to tissues

and cigarette smoke inhibits oxygen intake and increases the buildup of the

two toxic gases, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.

c. oily food, fried food and hydrogenated oils, such as margarine. These

foods are high in trans-fatty acids which have adverse effects on body

metabolism, interfering with cell membrane permeability, promoting nerve

degeneration, and depositing a residue that makes the cells, rigid, sticky,

and prone to inflammation and infection.

d. meats - flesh foods also contain high levels of trans-fatty acids,

further promoting inflammation and suppressing immune functions.

e. sugars and alcoholic beverages - these are common irritants to soft

tissue and can be major challenges to the endocrine and nervous systems.

Painful foods

" Trigger foods " are specific foods that irritate our nervous system when we

are stressed or ill. This does not imply an allergy to these foods, but

rather an increased sensitivity to the foods when we are not in the best of

shape. Headaches, arthritis flare-ups, irritable bowel syndrome and chronic

fatigue can be activated by these trigger foods. The list of foods could be

endless, however, several trigger foods seem to commonly affect many people.

Trigger foods for pain are tomatoes, corn, onions, chocolate, coffee, meat,

citrus fruits and dairy. Avoiding these foods during times of stress or

illness may prevent pain and inflammation.

Pain-Free Foods

Paine-free foods are non-irritating foods. It is best to use these during

times of pain and when challenged with any chronic inflammatory condition.

Grains: Brown rice, Millet, Buckwheat, Rice cakes and cereals, Tapioca flour

Fruit: Cooked or dried fruit; berries (raspberries, blackberries,

blueberries, boysenberries, etc.), cherries, cranberries, grapes, kiwifruit,

mangoes, melon (watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, etc.) nectarines, papayas,

pears, persimmons, pineapples, plums, pomegranates, prunes. Please AVOID

citrus fruits, apples, bananas, peaches or tomatoes.

Vegetables: Cooked green, orange and yellow vegetables: artichokes,

asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, celery,

chard, collards, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, potatoes (sweet and

white), radishes, rutabagas, snow peas, sugar snap, spiach, string beans,

summer or winter squash, sweet potatoes, tapioca, taro (pol), zucchini.

Beans: Split mung dahl, lentils, and refried pinto beans.

Beverages: Water, herbal teas, fresh vegetable juices and juices as

tolerated.

Condiments: turmeric, cumin, coriander, ginger, garlic, (if tolerated),

salt in moderation, maple syrup, honey, vanilla extract.

A Natural Anti-inflammatory

Turmeric and ginger have gained great fame as natural anit-inflammatory

agents. Used as spices in cooking or served as a therapeutic beverage, they

can be very helpful.

In cooking of vegetables or legumes, turmeric is usually combined with

cumin and coriander in the following proportions: one part turmeric, two

parts cumin, and three parts coriander. These three herbs are used in

powdered form, then precooked in clarified butter and then added to the

skillet of vegetables or the sauce pan of legumes. Ginger or garlic can add

some zip to the entree.

Turmeric and ginger are available in capsules in most health food stores as

Compound P - the P is for pain. For those who like to create in the

kitchen, a worm milk beverage can delivery this herbal therapy.

One cup of milk and one cup of water are boiled together. Once at a rolling

boil, turmeric, and ginger can be added. The quantity needed varies with

the illness, however, the proportion is one part turmeric to two parts

ginger. The boiling continues until only one cup of liquid remains. Maple

syrup is added as a carrier for enhancing the absorption of the herbs.

Start with a 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric and one full teaspoon of ginger. An

herbalist trained in ayurveda can help you adjust the quantities that are

best for you.

Mental Indigestion

The mind plays a major role in the quality of our life and our health.

While the mind is the vehicle of higher intelligence and virtue, when

imbalanced, it can be invaded by foreign materials, such as greed, anger and

fear. These toxic emotions will create chaos in the daily functions of both

mind and body. Strong feelings after our metabolism making our body more

susceptible to invasion by bacteria, virus, and other noxious stimuli. This

state is called mental indigestion.

Digestion is the process where we take a substance or an event and extract

that which is nourishing and helpful, leaving behind that which indigestible

or harmful. The useful part is used; the rest is discharged as waste.

Good health requires good digestion of food as well as good digestion of of

thoughts and emotions. Mental indigestion occurs when we cannot separate

the nourishing part of an experience or event from the harmful or useless

part. Good mental digestion requires us to carefully choose our reaction to

life events. Seeing the good in everyone and everything is a learnable

skill. Re-playing anger, insults and upsets has never been found to

contribute to good health.

We Are What We Eat

Foods can heal and foods can kill. We can eat our way out of illness or

turn our mind and body into a landfill of waste. Fast foods and fast living

have taken their toll on us, but if you are still alive, then its not too

late to change.

Someone once said that " attitude isn't everything, rather, it is the only

thing. " Patients succumb to hardening of the attitudes before they ever

develop hardening of the arteries. Before you change your job or your diet,

first try changing your mind.

Healing of the attitudes is first; for cheerfulness is the greatest

physician. Personal hygiene is paramount. Brushing, flossing, tongue

scraping, skin brushing, bathing, and oiling of the skin will help start the

day on a good note. Flexibility, strength and proper relaxation comes next.

A good cardiovascular workout will prevent the buildup of waste products in

the body.

Vigorous exercises for both the body and breath will prevent the

accumulation of waste products (sludge) in our tissues. Anything that would

inhibit normal perspiration, such as an antiperspirant, would definitely be

another contributing factor towards chronic inflammatory diseases. Your

local health food store will offer many alternatives to anti-perspirants.

Wholesome foods and beverages digest completely without leaving any residue

in the form of fat stiffness, or irritation in the body. Since inflammation

requires trapped wastes combustion will never occur in a clean, fireproof

body.

Eating wholesome foods and beverages, doing regular stretching and breathing

exercises is a tremendous start on the road back to good health. The

absence of these activities is a prerequisite towards chronic inflammatory

disease. By understanding the essentials for creating forest fires, we can

much more easily prevent them in our mind and body.

Blair , PA-C is a physician assistant and the co-founder if Blue Sky

Educational Foundation. He and hid wife, , will be offering

professional massage classes and wellness classes in Green Bay starting in

March. Blair has practiced homeopathy and ayurveda for over 17 years. He

can be reached by email at Blair@.... This article is

excerpted from his upcoming book, Alive and Healthy, to be released later

this Spring.