Comprehensive lifestyle changes affect gene expression, “turning on” disease-preventing genes

and “turning off” genes that promote cancer and heart disease, as well as lengthening telomeres, the ends of chromosomes that control how long we live [says] Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2009. Even severe heart disease can often be reversed by making comprehensive lifestyle changes. These include a very low-fat diet of predominantly fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes,—and enhanced love and social support, which may include support groups.

— Dr. Dean, author of best-selling books, Reversing Heart Disease, a clinical professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. The Ornish diet was rated #1 for heart health by U.S. News and World Report in 2011 & 2012.

The Core Plan to Prevent Chronic Diseases

Our main goal is to increase the number of Filipinos who are healthy at every stage of life (from conception to resurrection). The strategy provides evidence-based recommendations that are fundamental to improving the nation’s health through the active engagement of all sectors of society to help achieve these goals. These evidence-based recommendations will reduce the burden of leading causes of preventable death and major illness. Here is the first of the seven priority areas . . .

1. Healthy Eating

Medical science has established that one of the most important factors in supporting a healthy, balanced immune system is good nutrition. Diet plays a central role in optimal immune function. Therefore, eat only whole, natural, and unprocessed foods. “Living foods” provide the freshest, most potent nutrients to improve our immune function and bodily vitality. Let us strive for a diet in which 65-75 percent of our foods consist of fresh vegetables, fruits and vegetable juices. The remainder of our diet should focus on complex carbohydrates: black or brown rice, beans, lentils, and split peas. Have a moderate amount of animal protein- fish and organic chicken, and sparingly organic beef and lamb if these cannot be avoided.

There is no such thing as perfect diet. People of different cultures have thrived on high-protein, high-fat, high carbohydrate diets without the havoc of degenerative diseases that are so epidemic in modern life–heart disease, diabetes, obesity, neurodegenerative diseases, osteoporosis, auto-immune diseases and cancer. What is the one thing these diets have in common? They are based on real food, i.e., whole foods with minimal processing. Whole foods contain a virtual pharmacy of nutrients, phytochemicals, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, anti-inflammatories and healthful fats, and can easily keep us alive and thriving into the 10th decade.

SEVEN TOP SUPER FOODS TO PREVENT CHRONIC DISEASES

(1) VEGETABLES: Vegetables are rich in antioxidants and anti-chronic disease nutrients. They have a preferred lower glycemic index and are rich in cleansing fiber.

Allium Family – Some of the most powerful medicines on the planet are masquerading around as foods and spices. While they do not lend themselves to being patented, nor will multi-billion dollar human clinical trials be funded to prove them efficacious, they have been used since time immemorial to both nourish our bodies and prevent and treat disease. So valued were these in ancient times that they were worth their weight in gold, and entire civilizations either rose to great power or collapsed as a result of their relationship to them. Onions and garlic contain bioflavonoids, like quercetin, that can actually revert a cancer cell back to a healthy cell.

Garlic has been used for 5,000 years in various healing formulas. Louis Pasteur noted that garlic killed all of the bacteria in his petri dishes. More importantly, garlic has been found to stimulate natural protection against tumor cells.

Tarig Abdullah, MD, of Florida found that white blood cells from garlic-fed people were able to kill 139% more tumor cells than white cells from non-garlic eaters. The sulfur-containing substancesthatmakeonionsandgarlic so aromatic are excellent chronic disease fighters. The protective chemicals in garlic and onions appear to block carcinogens from reaching their targets, destroy cancer cells and suppress tumor growth. The most common form of cancer worldwide is stomach cancer. Chinese researchers find that a high intake of garlic and onions cuts the risk of stomach cancer in half. Garlic provides the liver with a certain amount of protection against carcinogenic chemicals. Scientists find that garlic is deadly to invading pathogens or tumor cells, yet harmless to healthy body cells. This offers the hope of a truly selective agent cancer-fighting agent currently sought worldwide.

With the increasing prevalence of multi-drug resistant bacteria and the failure of the conventional, drug-based model to develop effective solutions against them (nor accepting responsibility for creating them), spices have regained their reign as broad spectrum infection-fighters with sometimes life-saving power. Garlic, in fact, has several hundred therapeutic properties, confirmed by a growing body of scientific research. One example of garlic’s power is in killing multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), which the mainstream media has termed the “white plague,” roiling the masses with fear of drug-resistant (but not plant-extract resistant) diseases they are made to believe they are defenseless against. Garlic was shown by a peer-reviewed scientific study as capable of inhibiting a wide range of multiple drug resistant tuberculosis strains. Garlic’s anti-infective properties do not end with MDR-TB, but has been demonstrated to inhibit the following pathogens as well: Amoeba Entamoeba histolytica (parasite) • Cholera Clostridium • Cytomegalovirus Dermatophytoses (a type of topical fungal infection) • Haemophilus Influenzae • Helicobacter Pylori Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 • Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 • Klebsiella Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus A. (MRSA) • Parainfluenza Virus Peridontal Infection • Pneumococcal Infections • Pseudomonas aeruginosa Streptococcus Mutans • Streptococcus Infections: Group A • Streptococcus Infections: Group B • Streptococcus pyrogenes • Thrush (oral fungal infection).

Cooking garlic eliminates some beneficial cancer-fighting compounds, such as allicin. You can reduce this loss by crushing garlic and allowing it to stand for about 10 minutes prior to cooking. Eaten regularly, garlic and onions are associated with as much as a 50 to 60 percent decreased risk of stomach and colorectal cancers. The cancer fighters in these tasty foods work whether they are raw or cooked. Enjoy fresh, chopped onions as a topping for your black bean soup, or oven-roast heads of garlic (naturally sweetened by cooking) to spread on bread or crackers to take advantage of the benefits of these foods.

Meanwhile, here is the Green Secret’s “Healthy Heart Beet” juice to prevent chronic diseases. (Make sure to wash all ingredients well before juicing). It is a MUST to use organic ingredients only.

• 1 green apple (peeled if not organic)
• 1 beet root (medium)
• 2 celery, stalks
• 6 carrots
• 3 stems malunggay
• 2 cups sweet potato leaves

Juice all ingredients in your masticating juicer. Stir and enjoy the shot of long life!

Let us help build fit and healthy communities with effective chronic disease prevention systems that will keep millions of Filipinos from developing deadly and debilitating disease.I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences on “AskDr.Catwww.greensecret.com.ph”

Let us remember that a well-functioning digestive system is the foundation of optimum health, beauty and longevity. The next issue will cover the complete digestive cleanse and healing the inner tube of life. I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences on “Ask Dr. C at www.greensecret.com.ph” Our deepest gratitude to IAJ WELLNESS CORPORATION for making this information public. For more information or questions, email me at [email protected].

Christine E.V. Gonzalez is a doctor of naturopathic medicine and holds PhDs
in holistic nutrition and natural medicine. LLM (MS Environmental Laws & Labor)
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