 of maltose. Maltose is a double sugar which can not be absorbed
without being split up into monosugars by the enterocytes. In a person
with abnormal gut flora enterocytes are not able to split double sugars, so
maltose goes undigested, unabsorbed and falls prey to the abnormal
microbes. To allow the enterocytes to recover and to stop feeding abnormal
gut flora, starch has to be out of the diet for GAPS children and adults. It
means no grains and anything made out of them and no starchy vegeta
bles. Clinical practice shows that when the gut has been given a long
enough period without double sugars and starch, it has a good chance to
recover. Once this recovery takes place, the person can start having grains
and starchy vegetables again without any ill effects.
Of course, nothing in Nature is black and white. Most fruit, particularly
unripe, contain some sucrose, which is a double sugar. That is why it is very
important to eat ripe fruit. Most vegetables and some fruit contain a little
bit of starch. However, the amounts of sucrose and starch in fruit and non-
starch vegetables are tiny compared to grains, starchy vegetables and table
sugar. In the majority of people with digestive disorders their gut lining can
cope with these tiny amounts of sugar and starch from fruit and non-
starch vegetables.
Proteins
As a result of digestion in the stomach by an enzyme called Pepsin and in
the duodenum by pancreatic protein digesting enzymes, proteins arrive to
enterocytes in the form of peptides. Peptides are small chains of protein,
made of amino acids and normally should not be absorbed until they are
broken down into single amino acids. This process is accomplished by
enterocytes. On their hairy surface (the brush border) healthy enterocytes
have peptide digesting enzymes, called Peptidases. Each peptidase is
specific for a certain peptide chain and even for a certain chemical bond in
this chain. These enzymes brake the peptides down into single amino
acids, which then get absorbed. In a child or adult with abnormal gut flora
enterocytes are sick. They are unable to produce many different peptidases
and to accomplish this last step in protein break down and absorption of
amino acids. At the same time the pathogenic bacteria, fungi and viruses
damage the gut wall, allowing undigested peptides to leak through. We
already know two proteins which do not get broken down properly and get
absorbed as peptides: gluten from grains and casein from milk. There may
be more proteins, which we have not studied yet and which may not be digested properly and absorbed as peptides. Hopefully, future science will
show.
In the meantime, proteins are essential for us to have, particularly for a
growing child. The best sources of easy to digest and very nourishing pro
teins are eggs, meats and fish. For GAPS children and adults it is important
to have easily digestible proteins to make the work as easy as possible for
their digestive systems. The way we cook meats and fish has an effect on
their digestibility: boiled, stewed and poached meats and fish are much
easier to digest, than fried, roasted or grilled. Eggs are one of the nature's
treasure chests of excellent quality protein, most B vitamins, zinc and
many other useful nutrients. Unless the patient shows a clear allergy to
egg, eggs should be an important part of the diet.
Fats
To be absorbed fats require bile. The enterocytes do not have to do much
work in absorbing fats, as far as we know. That is why the clinical practice
shows that people with digestive disorders tolerate fats quite well.
However, there is a problem in a person with abnormal gut flora. The gut
lining is a mucous membrane. Any mucous membrane, when under attack
from pathogens to protect itself produces a lot of mucous. In people with
digestive disorders mucous production is excessive. These large amounts
of mucous interfere with digestion of food including fats. Mucous coats
food particles and does not allow bile and digestive etizymes to get to
them. As a result a lot of fat goes undigested and often comes out as pale
greasy stools. This impaired absorption of fats also causes deficiencies in
fat soluble vitamins: A, D, E and K. Clinical experience shows that when the
starch and double sugars are out of the diet for long enough period, the
production of mucous normalises and as a result the absorption of fats
improves.
To summarise:
A GAPS patient has to avoid:
• All grains and anything made out of them: wheat, rye, rice, oats, corn,
maize, sorghum, barley, buckwheat, millet, spelt, triticale, bulgur,
tapioca, quinoa, cous-cous (some of them are not stricfiy grains, but
are commonly perceived as such, so we listed them here together with the grains). This will remove a lot of starch and all gluten from the diet.
In fact removal of all grains makes the diet truly gluten free.
• All starchy vegetables and anything made out of them: potato, yams,
sweet potato, parsnip, swede, lerusalem artichoke, cassava, arrowroot
and taro.
• Sugar and anything that contains it.
• Starchy beans and peas: soybeans, mungbeans, garbanzo beans, bean
sprouts, chickpeas, fababeans.
• Lactose and anything that contains it: fluid or dried milk of any type,
commercially produced yoghurt, buttermilk and sour cream, pro
cessed foods with added lactose.
For a full list of foods to avoid look in the next chapter.
No processed foods, please!
"Do you know what breakfast cereal is made of?
It's made of all those little curly wooden shavings
you find in pencil sharpeners!"
Roald Dahl,i964,
[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)
We live in an era of convenience foods, which are very processed foods.
When Mother Nature made us, humans, she at the same time provided us
with every food we need to stay healthy, active and full of energy. However,
we have to eat these foods in the form Nature made them. It is when we
start tampering with the natural foods we start getting into trouble. Any
processing that we subject the food to, changes its chemical and biological
structure. Our bodies were not designed to have these changed foods! The
more food is processed, the more nutrient depleted and chemically altered
it becomes. Apart from losing its nutritional value, processed food loses
most of its other properties: taste, flavour and colour. So, to compensate
for that various chemicals are added: flavour enhancers, colours, various E
- numbers, additives and preservatives. Many of these chemicals have
been conclusively shown to contribute to hyperactivity, learning disabili
ties, psychiatric disorders and other health problems. Natural foods do not
keep very well, so the industry has to change them to prolong their shelf-
life. So, natural foods get subjected to extreme heat, pressure, enzymes,
solvents and countless number of various other chemicals, fats get hydrogenated and proteins get denatured. Natural foods get changed into
various chemical concoctions, which are then packaged nicely and pre
sented to us as "food". "Food" made to suit commercial purposes where
health considerations never enter the calculation. The manufacturers are
obliged to list all the ingredients on the label. However, if the manufacturer
uses an ingredient, which has already been processed or made from pro
cessed substances, this manufacturer is not obliged to list what that ingre
dient was made from. So, if you are trying to avoid something in particular,
like sugar or gluten for example, reading an ingredient list may not always
help you.
If we look at the supermarket shelves, we will see that the bulk of pro
cessed foods are carbohydrates. All those breakfast cereals, crisps, biscuits,
crackers, breads, pastries, pastas, chocolates, sweets, jams, condiments,
sugar, preserved fruit and vegetables, frozen pre-cooked meals with
starches and batter are highly processed carbohydrates. We will examine
some of them in detail. But first, let's look at them as a group.
All carbohydrates in foods get digested and absorbed as glucose. Nature
provided us with plenty of carbohydrates in the form of fruit, vegetables
and grains. When we eat them in the natural untampered form, the carbo
hydrate part of them gets absorbed slowly, producing a gradual increase in
blood glucose, which our bodies are designed to handle. Processed carbo
hydrates get absorbed very quickly, producing an unnaturally rapid
increase in blood glucose. Blood glucose is one of those factors which our
bodies go to great lengths to keep within certain limits, because both high
and low values are harmful. A rapid increase in blood glucose, called
hyperglycaemia, puts the body into a state of shock prompting it to pump
out lots of insulin very quickly to deal with the excessive glucose. As a result
of this overproduction of insulin, about an hour later the person has got a
very low level of blood glucose, called hypoglycaemia. Did any of you
notice that after eating


 144Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comthree daily meals and coffee concentrate for enemas, plus securing the constant supply of large
amounts of organic produce needed for the smooth running of the program. The produce needs
to be washed and prepared for juicing and cooking, salads and vegetables have to be made ready
as near mealtimes as possible in order to safeguard their freshness—and of course all this is
accompanied by the constant washing of dishes. Moreover, this daily routine, taking up nearly
eight hours, must continue non-stop seven days a week.
 Obviously seriously ill patients, or even less ill ones, cannot cope with such a demanding
schedule. Irrespective of their condition, patients must rest if they are to heal.  This cannot be
repeated too often, for many people, especially members of the patient’s family are not clear
about this. Healing, the body’s heroic effort to defeat disease requires energy; a sick person’s
already diminished energy must be reserved for that.
In other words, a whole person is needed to fulfill the Therapy’s requirements. In many cases
a spouse or some other family member is willing and able to do the work, but the intensity of the
non-stop tasks will soon exhaust a single person. In this case a kitchen helper has to be hired and
trained. In fact it is best to have two helpers, each one working several days a week.
Choosing the right helper is important. It is unwise to engage a nurse trained in allopathic
medicine, since she might not approve of the nutritional regime and could try to add items of
her choice. Likewise, a ‘gourmet cook’ would probably find the Gerson way of food preparation
difficult to handle. The ideal choice would be a kind and open-minded person, willing to be
trained in the exact requirements of the job. Some patients have found it helpful to approach
their Church to provide volunteers. The best way is to arrange for several volunteers to schedule
continuous assistance, so that they take turns if one or the other is unable to attend.
 Since the hourly preparation of juices with all the other tasks keeps the helper busy, a cleaner
may also be needed once or twice a week. As pointed out earlier (see Chapter 9, The Gerson
Household, pg. 95 ) no toxic cleaning materials are to be used in the patient’s home.
 After 8-12 months on the Therapy the patient is usually in a much better condition and can
take on a number of food preparation tasks, including juicing. However, if this extra effort brings
on new symptoms or excessive fatigue, outside help must be brought in. Some people, particularly
the breadwinner, are able to return at first to part-time work, later to a regular job. There is just
one important condition: the patient must never eat lunch in a restaurant. He/she needs to eat the
usual Gerson lunch at home, together with the freshly made green juice (which cannot be taken
along to work), and also have some rest plus the midday enema. The carrot/apple juices can be
taken to work in the morning, in a glass-lined thermos flask; another thermos full of juice needs
to be ready for the patient to drink during the afternoon. Then on returning home the balance of
the green juices can be taken, along with the missing enemas and followed by  rest.
This arrangement only works if there is a person at home able to prepare all the Therapy
Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007.  All rights reserved.
This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author.Page 145Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comitems needed by the patient.
The Trouble With Sunshine
Sunshine can be a source of good health; it can also be a killer. The difference lies in the degree
of exposure we choose. The human body needs Vitamin D, which helps to maintain several organ
systems and is essential for forming and maintaining healthy bones. However, very few foods are
naturally rich in Vitamin D (some commercial foods are fortified with synthetic versions of the
substance), so we need the Vitamin D, which is produced in our skin exposed to sunlight.
The trouble is that the ultra-violet (UV) rays contained in sunlight can cause severe damage
to cells. This partly explains why the widespread fashion for deep tanning has been accompanied
by the doubling of skin cancer cases in the last few decades. Even those who don’t lie for hours
practically naked on a sunny beach but have an outdoor job may develop skin cancer, since 30-
50% of UV rays reach us even on a cloudy day.
All this means that Gerson patients must take great care to avoid sunburn, which causes
immediate harm in the form of blisters, reddening and discomfort, but can also produce long-term
damage, with dry, wrinkled skin as its mildest, and melanoma as its worst effect. The first rule
is to keep out of sunshine between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. in the summer and in hot climates all the
year round. It is still possible to enjoy brightness from a shady spot, but not close to water, which
reflects back sunshine powerfully.
Even at other times of day it is important to be well covered when outdoors. Light, white,
long-sleeved cotton shirts, full length pants and wide-brimmed hats or white caps with visors give
necessary protection.
Healthy children need to be able to play outdoors and swim in summer, but they are even more
sensitive to sunburn than adults. Unfortunately 90% of commercial sunscreens and sunblocks
contain a chemical called Octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC), which is toxic and doubles its toxicity
when exposed to sunlight. As the skin absorbs 60% of everything applied to it, obviously such
preparations cannot be used by children. However, effective non-toxic sunscreens containing
natural ingredients, such as Green Tea, are available and can be tracked down with a little effort.
Complementary Therapies
These days there is a bewildering array of complementary treatments on offer and the question
arises whether Gerson patients should use any of these. The simple answer is that anything that
promotes healing and does not clash with the requirements of the Therapy is permissible and
potentially helpful. However, there is no margin for error, so let us see which techniques are safe
to use.
Copyright © Charlotte Gerson, 2007.  All rights reserved.
This material may not be reproduced in any medium, print or electronic without prior written permission from the author.Page 146Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comReflexology or Zone Therapy dates back to Ancient Egypt, China and India. It is based
on the principle that the feet and hands are a mirror image of the body, and that by applying
pressure to certain points, especially on the feet, corresponding parts of the body are affected.  The
purpose of the treatment is to break up congestion, blockages and patterns of stress, and restore
homeostasis, the body’s internal equilibrium. Reflexology does not claim to diagnose or cure, but
it has a good record of improving general well-being. It must be used gently and cautiously with
cancer patients, avoiding reflex points that correspond to affected areas of the body.
Reiki  is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that promotes healing. Its
practitioners claim that there is an invisible life force energy that flows through us and keeps us
alive. If this energy becomes low, we fall sick and suffer from stress, so in order to heal the Reiki
master channels the energy through his or her hands into the patient’s body. There is no need for
massage, only for very gentle touch, but although the patient feels very little, the treatment is
truly holistic, affecting body, emotions, mind and spirit. Because of its non-specific nature Reiki
is able to help in any disease and works well with other medical or therapeutic techniques. The
word itself consists of two parts: Rei means higher power, Ki stands for life force energy, so the
implication is that Reiki is a spiritually guided way of restoring universal life force energy in
those who need it.
Acupuncture  originated in China some 2000 years ago, and has been known and increasingly
practiced in the U.S. since 1971. Its essence is the stimulation of certain anatomical points on the
body by penetrating the skin with thin metal needles and manipulating them by hand or electrical
means. This is claimed to regulate the nervous system, activate the body’s own painkilling
biochemicals and strengthen the immune system. Acupuncture has a proven record of good pain
control and of hastening recovery from surgery. It can impart a sense of well-being and boosts
depleted energy. Acupuncture needles, which cause minimal pain, were approved by the FDA
for use by licensed practitioners in 1996. Today this ancient technique is used in the U.S. by
thousands of physicians, dentists and other practitioners for the prevention or relief of pain, and
members of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture use it on cancer patients in many
hospitals and clinics.
Yoga  first emerged in India some 5000 years ago. It has several varieties, including hatha
yoga,  a physical discipline consisting mainly of stretching and breathing exercises, which has
grown in popularity in the West since the mid-20th century. Being non-competitive, gentle, and


 ultrasound 18 months after starting the iodine-based therapy and the radiologist reported on
the ultrasound, “It would seem, therefore, that these malignancies have diminished considerably in size. The breast
cancer appears considerably diminished when compared to previous ultrasound. Interval improvement is definitely
seen.”
Update on Delores’ condition: It has now been nearly two years and Delores has been taking iodine as well as the
nutrient therapies described. Delores just had a follow-up mammogram and ultrasound which failed to show any
abnormality. Both were read by the radiologist as normal and she was recommended to have yearly mammogram
screening.
New 5
th
 Edition Update on Delores: Delores is still doing well with no signs of breast cancer. I see her twice per year
for routine follow-up. At our last visit she reported that she was
feeling well. “I am glad I followed a natural program.
Who knows what all those toxins would have done to me,” she said.
There is a wealth of research showing the connection between iodine deficiency and breast cancer. We should be searching
for underlying cause(s) of cancer and formulating a treatment program tailored to addressing the underlying cause(s). The “war”
on breast cancer began 35 years ago. The progress in treating breast cancer with chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation has been
dismal. Survival rates for breast cancer victims are virtually unchanged over the last 70 years
6
, even with the use of
mammograms, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.
Iodine deficiency as well as other toxicities (especially the toxic halides bromine and fluoride) must be investigated. Perhaps
rectifying iodine deficiency will be the missing piece of the puzzle to solving the riddle of breast cancer. Delores’ results have been
repeated over and over in my practice. I believe all women need to be evaluated for their iodine status before they reach the
stage of breast cancer.
ESTROGENS AND IODINE: THE CONNECTION
This section will deal with the relationship between iodine and estrogens. Estrogens are a class of steroid hormones produced
and secreted in both men and women. In men, most of the estrogen is produced in the adrenal glands, fat tissue, and
liver. The
amount of estrogen in men is ten times lower than it is in women.
In women, estrogens control female sexual development including promoting the growth and function of the female sexual
organs such as the ovaries, uterus, and breasts. The ovaries produce most of the estrogen in women, with smaller amounts
produced in the adrenal glands and the fat tissue.
DIFFERENT FORMS OF ESTROGEN
There are three major types of estrogen produced in the female body: estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), and estriol (E3). Estriol is
a much weaker estrogen than either estrone or estradiol. Research has shown that estriol may be able to prevent breast cancer in
mice.
7
 Furthermore, estriol is less stimulating to breast tissue than either estradiol or estrone and may have a protective effect for
breast cancer. My colleague, Jonathan Wright, M.D., measured the estrogen levels in healthy twenty to forty-year-old womenand found that estriol was produced at much larger amounts than either estrone or estradiol.
8
 Estrogen replacement therapy has
been promoted to help women with menopausal symptoms, osteoporosis, and other illnesses. Common sense would argue that
to achieve the greatest benefit from estrogen replacement therapy, we should try to mimic the body’s own production of estrogen.
In other words, we should use the same proportions of estrone, estradiol, and estriol normally produced in
the healthy body.
Estrogen production in the body can be monitored by measuring the amounts of estrone, estradiol, and estriol that are present in
biological fluid. When there are imbalances in estrogen production, such as lowered amounts of estriol and larger amounts of
estrone and estradiol, problems such as fibrocystic breasts, cancer, and weight gain may develop.
Dr. Wright has reported compelling data that iodine, in the form of Lugol’s solution (iodine and iodide) can help maintain the
correct balance of the three estrogens. Specifically, Dr. Wright has reported that Lugol’s solution will help the body metabolize the
estrogens to favor the safer form of estrogen—estriol. My experience has found the same results; the use of iodine helps to
maintain a balanced estrogen ratio in favor of estriol.
9
For women, a balance of estrogens is vitally important for numerous bodily functions including ensuring optimal function of the
brain, breast development, and lubrication of the skin. In addition, estrogen balance helps to ensure strong bones and may help to
prevent cardiovascular disease. Imbalances in estrogen production are associated with weight gain, mood swings, and disorders
such as diabetes as well as cancer of the breast, ovary, and uterus. Estrogen balance is impossible to maintain when there is
iodine deficiency present. For more information on the use of estrogens and other natural hormones, I refer the reader to my
book,
The Miracle of Natural Hormones, 3
rd
 Edition.
IODINE ALTERS GENE EXPRESSION IN THE BREASTS
Researchers have recently reported that the combination of iodine/iodide (e.g., Lugol’s solution) has been shown to alter gene
expression in estrogen-responsive breast cancer cells. They found that iodine down-regulated (lowered) several estrogen
responsive genes. They also reported that iodine increased BRCA1 activity. BRCA1 is a gene that modulates estrogen activity in
the breast. People with abnormalities in BRCA1 are at a markedly increased risk for breast cancer. Finally, the same researchers
reported that iodine/iodide therapy “…could enhance the efficacy of Tamoxifen therapy…thus preventing or slowing the
development of Tamoxifen resistance.”
10
This is a very important study showing that iodine can favorably influence the gene expression in breast cancer. Future
research will undoubtedly build on this concept.
IODINE DEFICIENCY AND THE BREASTS
Iodine deficiency has been shown to produce specific changes in the breast tissue of rats. Studies dating back nearly 40 years
ago show that iodine deficiency in rats produces the exact precancerous changes seen in humans—dysplasia and hyperplasia.
11
12
 Furthermore, with long-term iodine depletion, more atypical changes in rat breast tissue occur.
13
 This is the precursor to breast
cancer.
Dr. Bernard Eskin, one of the world’s foremost researchers on iodine and the breast, writes, “In all these studies, termination
of dietary iodine restriction…results in a variable modest return toward the normal {breast} structure.”
14
Dr. Eskin has studied the effects of estrogen and iodine in rats. He has found that rats need an adequate level of iodine in
order for estrogen to perform its normal function in breast tissue.
15
Researchers have demonstrated that rats given certain carcinogens will develop breast cancer. When iodine is given along
with the carcinogens, tumor formation is blocked.
16

17
 These studies would indicate that iodine has the ability to block cancer
progression in the breast tissue.
It is known that the ovaries concentrate a large amount of iodine. After the thyroid, the ovaries have the second largest
concentration of iodine in the body. Iodine deficiency produces changes in the ovarian production of estrogens as well as changes
in the estrogen receptors of the breasts. In an iodine-deficient state, research has shown that ovarian estrogen production
increases, while estrogen receptors in the breast increase their sensitivity to estrogens.
18

19
 Both of these conditions will increase
the risk of developing pathology of the breasts including breast cancer.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHOR: ESTROGEN AND IODINE AND THE CONNECTION TO CANCER
Iodine deficiency has many consequences. First, it causes estrogen production to increase. Iodine deficiency also leads to an
increased sensitivity of breast tissue to estrogen. All of the above conditions will increase the chances of developing disease(s) of
the breast including breast cancer. When you factor in our exposure to environmental estrogens, including xenoestrogens found in
plastics, and pesticides, as well as meat and dairy products, it is no wonder that hormone-sensitive cancers like breast (as well as
prostate, ovarian, and uterine) cancer have reached epidemic proportions. Research in animals has shown that the correction of
iodine deficiency results in abnormal breast tissue changing back to normal breast tissue. My clinical experience has shown the
same positive results occur with my human patients. This chapter will explore this concept in more detail.
FIBROCYSTIC BREAST DISEASE
Fibrocystic breast disease is a condition whereby the breasts have cysts that are usually painful to touch. Up to two-thirds of
American women suffer from fibrocystic breast disease. In fibrocystic breast disease, the texture of the cysts can vary from softto firm. Many times these cysts can change size and shape during the menstrual cycle, and they can cause discomfort
premenstrually. Although fibrocystic breast disease is generally thought of as a benign condition, there are many physicians who
feel that the abnormal breast architecture found in fibrocystic disease is a precursor for breast cancer, and this has been confirmed
in various studies.
20

21

22
Estrogens have been implicated as a caus


	a	vividness	and	clarity
that	shows	you	exactly	what	each	one	meant.	Right	and	wrong	are	also	clearly
revealed,	with	no	excuses	or	rationalizations.	You	become	responsible	for
everything	you	did.As	these	judgments	are	made—they	are	all	self-judgments,	not	divine
edicts—you	find	yourself	in	various	Lokas,	worlds	that	reflect	the	kind	of
reward	or	punishment	that	your	actions	deserve.	A	single	soul	is	not	assigned
to	one	Loka	forever	but	stays	only	as	long	as	Karma	dictates.	During	this
passage,	which	encompasses	worlds	of	pleasure	and	pain,	you	will	learn	about
yourself	and	come	to	your	own	conclusions.	No	external	force	tells	you	what
your	life	meant	or	how	to	proceed	to	the	next	step.	You	may	suffer	in	a	hellish
Loka	for	what	seems	like	eternity,	or	you	could	leave	immediately.	Time	is
purely	subjective,	and	what	you’re	actually	experiencing	is	your	own
awareness	working	out	its	dilemmas	and	conflicts.
Why	am	I	here?	What
makes	me	suffer?	Do	I	deserve	to	suffer?	Is	there	a	way	out?
People	who	are	disconnected	from	themselves	will	be	as	baffled	by	the
afterlife	as	they	are	by	the	present.	For	them,	cause	and	effect	aren’t	clear.
Feelings	of	being	alienated,	alone,	victimized,	tossed	around	by	fate,	out	of
control,	or	abused	by	authority	clash	with	one	another.	In	this	fog	of
confusion	they	cannot	take	responsibility	for	their	own	motivations	and
desires,	and	the	afterlife	may	frighten	or	baffle	them.
Being	disconnected	is	an	illusion	from	the	soul’s	perspective,	and
however	long	it	may	take,	the	person	eventually	prepares	to	leave	the	region
of	Lokas.	Understanding,	symbolized	by	light,	begins	to	dawn.	In	clarity	you
realize	that	“I	am”	is	your	basis,	not	the	things	you	did.	You	no	longer
identify	with	being	a	certain	person;	you	now	identify	with	being	conscious,
and	what	fills	your	mind	is	fresh	possibilities.	The	karma	you	brought	into	the
last	lifetime	has	been	exhausted,	and	fresh	seeds	of	karma	are	ready	to	sprout.
Being	reborn	enters	your	mind	gradually.	For	a	long	period	(speaking
subjectively)	you	experience	bliss,	or	Ananda;	you	have	gained	pure	being,
which	brings	its	own	fulfillment	regardless	of	any	karma,	good	or	bad.	You
find	yourself	in	the	same	gap	as	the	one	between	two	thoughts,	only	this	time
you	are	aware	of	uncountable	possibilities	from	which	to	choose.	How	do	you
choose	the	next	life?	Through	the	same	process	as	choosing	the	next	thought.
We	do	this	all	the	time,	yet	we	don’t	know	how	we	do	it;	the	next	thought
emerges	from	the	gap,	the	purely	unknown.
You	will	witness	as	the	dream	of	a	new	identity	begins	to	clothe	you,	and
you	will	fall	into	your	next	life	in	complete	surrender	to	past	actions	that	you
still	know	almost	nothing	about.	But	all	of	us	can	take	a	more	active	role	in
how	we	reincarnate.	In	the	gap,	when	every	possibility	confronts	us,	choice
lies	among	those	possibilities.	The	elaborate	rituals	in	the	Tibetan	Book	of	the
Dead	aren’t	designed	to	get	a	kind	person	to	a	nice	heaven	and	a	better	next
lifetime.	They	are	designed	to	make	freedom	of	choice	real,	to	bring	the
person	fully	aware	into	the	gap	so	that	karma	can	be	shaped,	controlled,	or
even	fully	resolved.Freeing	Yourself
What	will	it	be	like	to	find	yourself	in	the	gap?	I’d	like	to	answer	that	from
personal	experience.	A	year	ago	I	was	sitting	on	an	airplane	in	a	bewildered
state	of	mind.	During	a	short	layover	in	the	Midwest	I	found	myself	without
something	to	read.	I’d	looked	over	the	airport	newsstand,	but	nothing	on	the
racks	appealed	to	me.	When	I	boarded	my	next	flight,	intending	to	pass	the
time	by	writing,	I	discovered	that	my	notebook	and	handheld	computer	had
been	packed	away	in	a	suitcase.	Something—fate,	circumstance,	a	clumsy
oversight—had	placed	me	alone	for	four	hours.
Without	notice	or	permission,	a	subtle	mental	voice	started	to	guide	me.	It
gave	me	a	glimpse	into	how	my	mind	works	when	it	has	no	distractions
around.	What	I	saw	was	very	basic.	There	is	a	thought	in	the	mind	and	then
another,	and	then	another	and	another.	Thoughts	can	be	gripping	or	pass	by
unnoticed;	they	can	be	strong	or	weak,	momentous	or	casual,	frivolous	or
serious.	The	guiding	voice	pointed	all	this	out	in	a	few	seconds.
Now,	what	is	the	proper	way	to	relate	to	your	mind?
	the	voice	asked.
Should	you	always	do	what	it	says?	Clearly	not,	for	we	have	all	kinds	of
thoughts	that	are	irrelevant	or	fantastic.	Should	we	ignore	what	it	says?	No
again,	because	the	mind	gives	us	all	the	desires	upon	which	we	build	our
lives.
There	is	no	single	way	to	relate	to	the	mind
.	You	can’t	take	a	stance	that
will	always	work.	When	people	decide	arbitrarily	to	be	optimists,	they	may
miscalculate	when	it	comes	to	serious	crises,	evildoing,	wars,	personal
conflicts,	etc.	If	they	decide	arbitrarily	to	be	pessimists,	they	will	miss	many
opportunities	for	joy,	fulfillment,	hope,	and	faith.
My	mental	guide	showed	me	this,	and	I	was	intrigued.	It	would	appear
that	being	spiritual	is	one	stance	that	works,	yet	there	are	situations	where
even	being	spiritual—tolerant,	loving,	accepting,	and	detached	from
materialism—won’t	work	at	all.	A	parent	can’t	simply	accept	and	love	a	child
addicted	to	cocaine,	for	example;	active	intervention	is	called	for.	A	thousand
other	examples	come	to	mind.	Love	won’t	defeat	torturers;	tolerance	won’t
stop	the	excesses	of	fanatics.	A	person	must	find	an	infinitely	flexible	way	to
relate	to	the	mind;	otherwise	something	gets	lost.	The	most	precious	gift	of
the	mind—its	total	freedom—is	the	source	of	our	creativity.
Now,	my	mental	guide	said,	look	at	the	world.	Isn’t	it	the	same	as	the
mind?	The	same	unpredictability	prevails,	and	therefore	you	cannot	take	a
fixed	attitude	toward	the	world	that	works.	People	who	are	congenitally
optimistic	about	the	future	are	as	shortsighted	as	people
who
	are	congenitally
pessimistic.	Go	one	step	further.	Karma	is	also	unpredictable,	and	it	too
cannot	be	approached	single-mindedly.	To	fight	your	karma	is	just	as
frustrating	as	accepting	your	karma.
At	this	point	the	sun	had	set	and	the	plane	cabin	was	empty	and	dark.	Icould	see	the	last	band	of	blue-orange


 since both involve “right living.” But the five
niyamas  are subtler and more intimate. Everyone’ s emotions are a tangle of
positive and negative feelings, which make them a perfect area for learning
how to distinguish the light from the darkness. This happens when we
develop our emotional intellige nce. Everyone has emotional intelligence,
but it’s usually at a level not very far advanced from childhood. Our
emotions come and go without any sort of conscious control.
Before you can control your emotions, you first need to understand
what contr ol means. It doesn ’t mean suppressing, pushing down, or denying
those feelings you find undesira ble and don’t want to experien ce. Instead,
emotional contr ol, as Yoga sees it, means finding the core of bliss that is
your true self and returning to it. The five niyamas  give you the skills to
accomplish this.
MONDAY
Puriﬁed Emotions
Begin by silently repeating today’ s theme:
I experience the light through my emotions.
I experience the light through my emotions.In most people’ s lives, their emotions control them, rather than the other
way around. The sharp rise in anxiety and depression over the past few
decades provides stark evidenc e of this. It therefore sounds strange, even
unbelievable, that Royal Yoga asks us to bring our emotions under control.
Fear, worry, and anxiety should  not be allowed to roam the mind at will.
Grief and sadne ss should not overwhelm us to the point of paralysis and
helplessness.
These conditions come about, according to Yoga, because of
impressions made on the emotional self. Emotional wounds are just as real
as physi cal ones, but the impres sions Yoga describes, known as samskaras,
are invisible, and quite often we have no memory of how or when they
occurred.
Even without knowing where they came from, these holdove rs from
your past are the obstacles that block the light. In emotional terms, the light
is experienced as bliss. When your emotional self is in direct contact with
your true self, you will experience bliss as a normal state. The five niyamas
give you the skills to make that connection. Each skill stren gthens your
emotional intelligence, as follows:
1. Observing mental hygiene, which puriﬁes the emotions
2. Learning to be contented, self-accepting, and accepting of other people
3. Transforming old, outworn emotional habits
4. Clearly understanding that your true self is real, tangible, and powerful
5. Recognizing your higher reality and surrendering to it
Royal Yoga is based on the power of consciousness, which includes the
power to heal the past. If your emotional life is spent entirely in the present,
the past is autom atically healed— you don’t return there anymore. The trick
isn’t how to be in the present moment—you are there anytime you focus on
whatever is before you, whether you’re boiling an egg, bringing a child
home from school, or meeting a deadline at work.
The trick is to remain in the present. The mind is thrown out of present-
moment awareness by all kinds of distractions. The niyamas  are concerned
with emotional distractions. The worst of these are negative emotions thatarise spontaneously, including fear, worry, shame, guilt, ange r, and their
nasty relations.
Therefore, the first niyama  is about purifying your emotions to rid them
of these toxic distractions. Until it is distorted by vrittis, awareness, by its
very nature, is unblemished, or pure. How does this relate to emotions?
Your emotional self is where old wounds are stored as impressions.
Whatever makes  these impressions dark, such as humiliations, shame, and
guilt from the past, are the impurities that need healing.
THE PRACTICES FOR EMOTIONAL HEALING
Favor your positive emotions.
Reject the memory of old hurts.
Face your feelings honestly without denying or repressing
them.
Realize that the past is gone, except as an illusion of memory.
Pursue friendships that accentuate positive emotions.
Be easy with yourself, not putting pressure on yourself to
change.
Look at your emotions with a measure of detachment. Don’t
overly indulge or exaggerate them.
Return to bliss as often as you can.
Untrain your old habitual emotional responses.
All these practices are based on bliss as a permanent reality and
distorted aware ness as temporary. What follows is that our negative
emotions are learned responses. Somewhere in our past we started favoring,
usually in small ways, being  sad, helpless, worried, victimized, or
depressed, just to name the most common emotional habits. These small
beginnings began to cascade the more we relied on them. What started out
as defensive and protective beha vior reaches a tipping point. (Passivity, for
example, is a psychological form of playing possum, defending yourself bynot attracting attention.) After that, you have trained your emotional self to
use this learned behavior all the time.
In that context, the purity called for in the first niyama  is a clean slate,
and the practice s involved are reminders that you can clean the slate—
whatever is learned can be unlearned. The opposite of purity is toxicity, and
the first niyama  can be expressed as freeing yourself from toxicity.
THE PRACTICES FOR CLEARING TOXINS
Expose yourself to uplifting people and experiences.
Go out into Nature as much as possible.
Get 8 to 9 hours of steady good sleep every night.
Avoid physical toxins, such as alcohol, drugs, and tobacco.
Keep away from friends and family with persistent negative
attitudes.
Work in a happy, positive environment.
Get enough physical activity every day to feel ﬂexible and
active.
Your body has natural mechanisms for detoxifying itself. This has long
been recognized  physically through the action of organs like the kidneys,
which remove toxins from the blood. But there is a mental and
psychological connection, too, because it was discovered that the brain uses
sleep to clear away toxic debris from the previous day.
The first niyama  goes a level deeper, to the spiritual state of purity,
which is based on pure awareness. But deeper  also means “expanded,”
because Yoga teaches that awareness is the ultimate healer, no matter at
what level it occurs.
Exercise
With pen and paper in hand, go over the two lists of practices for
emotional healin g and clearing toxins. Rate yourself on how well you think
you are doing in both areas. Take one of your strongest points and writedown ways you can expand it. Having done that, write down your weakest
point and write down how to improve it.
Perhaps your weakest point is that you let old memories of past hurts
return too much. You can untrai n yourself by adopting the habit of looking
these memories in the eye and silently saying, “I don’t need you anymore.”
You can sit and center yourself in a simple breathing meditation until the
memory subside s. You can get up and take a few moments to stretch and
move around, which is often quite effective in making negative thoughts
dissipate naturally.
Your strongest points are likely to be much easier to address—simply
do more of the things that inspire you and you will naturally bring out an
experience of bliss. So why engage in this exercise? Writing down your
strong points reminds you not to take them for granted and forget to
reinforce them.
TUESDAY
Finding Self-Acceptance
Begin by silently repeating today’ s theme:
Being myself brings contentment.
Being myself brings contentment.
The second niyama  is abou t learning to be contented, self-accepting,
and accepting of other people. A basic teaching in Royal Yoga is that you
cannot reach your true self without making peace with your other selves
first. The easiest way to understand this is by looking at the opposite. If you
are disco ntented with your emotional life, your discontent will nag at you
about the same emotional issues over and over again. Like a magnet, your
mind will be attracted back to your unresolved anger, resentment, envy, and
fear. The impres sions of the past (samskaras ) exist to attract your attention,
not to hurt you but to motivate you to seek change.Discontent is not enough on its own to drive a person forward on the
spiritual path. You cannot get beyond emotional pain by dwelling on it;
that’s a basic insight of emotional intelligence. The probl em is that
discontent only serves to fuel more discontent. There has to be the added
element provided by the second niyama, which focuses on finding
contentment and self-acceptance here and now.
THE PRACTICES FOR SELF-ACCEPTANCE
Remind yourself of your own goodness and worth. Reject any
opinion to the contrary, either from yourself or from others.
Find something every day to be contented with.
Reinforce your happy experiences.
Don’t dwell on your unhappy experiences.
Be around people who have high self-esteem.
Choose activities that make you feel good about yourself.
Be vigilant that you don’t fall into false self-worth (the
symptoms are vanity, egotism, pride, arrogance, and
boasting).
Don’t make other people feel small so that you can feel bigger.
The underlying teaching behind all these practices is that your
emotional self exists to bring fulfillment. You aren’ t here to be important,
successful, and respected while feeling miserable inside. You aren’t here to
pursue pleasure


, an impossibility when he was the Unmoving M over by
definition. ( He  is archaic and not correct  in Hebrew, but I’m
resorting to the masculine for convenience, since he/she/it  is
cumbersome.) When referring to God, the medieval Christian
mind couldn’t violate—or escape—divine perfection.
That ob session survives today, but in a different guise. With no
perfect creatio n to dream about, we are left with o ur own
imperfections. We feel as bewildered and confused as the biblical
Adam and Eve. We feel guilty about despoiling the planet  and yet
cannot help ourselves, even as Nature crumbles before our eyes.
This book has proposed that creation unfolds from pure
consciousness. There is no divine artist with a picture in mind.
There is just c reation evolving without end. The process  has no
one story line; it embraces all story lines. It has no m orality.
Tragedy is as fascinating to the human imagination as comedy,
which is why we keep creatin g both. (Shakespeare presented the
whole panoram a to his audience standing in the pit of the Globe
Theatre, and Hollywood keeps the show going.)
The evolution of consciousness is the only explanation for
creation that holds everything  together. It has the advanta ge of no
boundaries. Th e miraculous stands on the same level playing field
as the mundan e. At this poin t I am going to go out on a limb. If
you go  to YouTube and enter three search words, Lourdes
levitating Host, yo u can watch a filmed miracle that occurred in
Lourdes, France. As one informed online commentator explains it:
In 1999, during a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Billé,
then archbisho p of Lyon, the Host began to levitate just
above the paten [the plate us ed for Eucharist] from the
moment of the epiclesis  u ntil the eleva tion. The prodigy
was filmed for broadcast an d a clip of it is making its
way around the internet. At the time, the French bishops
decided to keep it quiet. Recently, it was brought to the
attention of a cardinal in th e Curia, who took it upon
himself to verify the origin of the clip and ask the
current archbishop of Lyon for the position of the
French bishops on the matter. This cardinal in turnpassed it on to  the Holy Father. He is concerned that
certain bishops were too quick to put the lid on what
seems to be an authentic sign.
The existing video is blurry, but it shows what the commentator
describes. During this Mass a large Host was used, about  the size
of a dinner pla te. The levitation, which lasts several minutes, ends
with th e elevat ion of the Hos t, when the archbishop lifts it up to
display to the congregation. The levitation, if that is wha t we are
seeing, raises the Host only an inch or two into the air.
I d on’t know w ho is in a position to rule the footage rea l or a
clever d igital h oax, but for m e the issue isn’t about mirac les. It is
about what human beings ar e willing to allow into the acceptable
picture of reality. To date, millions of people have seen the video
of t he levitating Host, and their responses cover the spectrum.
Most people I know are momentarily impressed; others question
the blur ry imag es. A few get a strange expression on their faces, as
if th ey were H oratio and Hamlet had just said, “There a re more
things in heaven and earth, Horatio, / Than are dreamt of in your
philosophy.”
You co uld say that Hamlet is accusing his friend of not
dreaming deep ly enough. Miracles are similar reminde rs. The
levitating Host may be explained away one day—after all,
antigravity exists in theoretic al physics. It might be exposed as a
fraud or simply sink into the morass of forgotten experience. Even
so, something important happened. A bit of strangeness was
allowed to enter our collective dream. It takes only a spark to burn
down a  forest. You never kn ow which strange bit will dispel our
collective dream.
The time for waking up never grows short. Waking up takes you
beyond the bounds of time. Yet it’s hard not to feel the pressure of
disaster the closer it approac hes. There is such a thing as a storm
so powe rful it occurs only on ce every five hundred years, but by
the reckoning of meteorologists, twenty-six such storms have
occurred in the past decade. If we are going to make cosmic
consciousness matter, we cannot wear rose-colored glasses. Those
storms, and the human misery they generated, were allowed intovirtual reality.  Many things have entered virtual reality to make
life nightmarish.
The average person isn’t prepared to accept responsibility for
the spell/dream/illusion we are entangled in. The accumulation of
greenhouse gas es can be explained as divine retribution, or as the
outcome of a series of very  unfortunate events, or as human
imperfection screwing up one more thing. Self-destruction is part
of our nature, but self-creation is infinitely more powerful. By
waking up, metahumans can make right what humans ha ve done
wrong. Waking  up happens o nly one person at a time. Reality isn’t
a numb ers game. It’s a one-player universe, and you an d I are
enough to move creation itself.One purpose of this book is to demystify the process of
waking up. The direct path i s meant to be effortless and natural.
The only uncertainty is time—people who want to achieve higher
consciousness all begin at a different place, and this makes a
difference. I’ve found in my own experience that desire is a
powerful incentive no matter  where you start from. If you really
want to learn something—a new language, French cooking, rock
climbing—the process becomes enjoyable. The better you get at
learning, the more enjoyable it is.
Unlike those things, however, waking up isn’t a skill. There’s no
set of rules or  guidelines. Even finding a teacher is fraug ht with
missteps. How does a teacher prove that he’s awake? But every
culture that believes in higher consciousness has, over time,
developed a setting for this special kind of learning, suc h as an
Indian ashram or a Zen Buddhist monastery.
These settings fit into the context of each culture. If you don’t
happen to belong to the culture, however, and you’re viewing
these settings from the outside, ashrams and monasteries look
alien and exotic. Yet there’s no proof that a special setting is
mandatory. Af ter all, the process of waking up is abo ut self-
awareness. No  one can teach you to be self-aware. No one needs
to. Con sciousness already includes self-awareness. I’ve been
arguing in this book that existence is  consciousness. In other
words, you were born with the tools to become more self-aware.
It’s just a matter of applying them.
In the process of waking up, n o special lifestyle is required. You
live as you’re living now, by being aware of the world “ou t there”
and the  world “in here.” The  only thing new is that you relate to
both wo rlds using new assumptions. You assume that the “real”
reality isn’t the same as virt ual reality. You assume that you are
whole at the le vel of the true self. You assume that the true self
offers a better way to live, a more conscious way but also more
creative, open, relaxed, accepting, and free.
Assumptions a ren’t the same as truth or facts. They need to be
tested, which is the purpose of this section. You are asked toexperiment on yourself, spen ding time every day for a month to
find out if the direct path works. It’s a fortunate time to seek
higher consciousness. Stripped of religious trappings and the fog
of m ystery, consciousness h as entered a new phase as  a full-
fledged researc h topic, studied by psychologists, psychoth erapists,
biologists, philosophers, neuroscientists, and even physicists.
This explosion  of interest makes for a better setting, in  fact,
than traditional ashrams and monasteries. You can be fully
engaged in everyday life while placing your deeper attention on
waking up. It’s a little odd th at someone must learn to w ake up,
but that’s the result of living  so long with the conditione d mind.
Convinced that the spell/d ream/illusion is real, our  minds
conform to it. Waking up happens by dismantling the conditioning
that kee ps us trapped in mental constructs. When those co nstructs
begin to fade away, waking up is the state we arrive at.
Arriving there is unpredictable and totally personal. It’s best to
set out with an open mind and no expectations. Just adopt the
attitude that waking up is real; other people have done it f or many
centuries, and the only requirement is self-awareness.
A  D a i l y  P l a n


food	molecules	are	allowed	to	enter	the
bloodstream	though	damaged	gut	tissue.	The	immune	system	recognizes	these
food	particles	as	foreign,	and	you	have	an	immune	response	called	an	allergy.
The	body	remembers	this	response;	every	time	you	eat	the	offending	food,	an
allergic	reaction—and	the	toxins	created	by	that	reaction—	is	produced.
When	an	offending	substance,	called	an	allergen,	reacts	with	an	antibody
produced	by	the	immune	system,	large	amounts	of	allergen/antibody	(immune)
complexes	can	be	formed.	If	immune	complexes	are	formed	in	greater	quantities
than	the	body	can	handle,	they	can	be	deposited	in	tissues	(such	as	brain	arteries,
brain	membranes,	small	blood	vessels,	the	liver,	the	uterus,	the	lungs	and	the
kidneys),	where	they	are	capable	of	clogging	blood	vessels	and	joints	and	are
known	to	release	chemicals	that	cause	a	cascade	of	health-damaging	reactions.
Through	this	mechanism,	immune	complexes	may	be	responsible	for	up	to	90
percent	of	all	kidney	disease.
Allergies	are	an	indication	of	systemic	illness	and	should	be	considered	a
serious	immune	dysfunction	disease.
If	you	are	allergic	(and	most	Americans
have	allergies	and	intolerances,	although	they	may	be	unaware	of	it),	determine
the	substances	you	react	to	and	avoid	them.	More	importantly,	strengthen	your
immune	system,	through	diet	and	supplements,	so	these	reactions	will	not	occur
in	the	first	place;	optimize	your	body’s	ability	to	detoxify	so	that	you	can
minimize	damage	caused	by	the	allergic	reactions	you	do	suffer.
Stress	Poisons	in	Many	Ways
Stress	can	be	loosely	defined	as	any	demand	we	place	upon	the	body;	thebody’s	reaction	to	these	demands	causes	us	to	“feel	stressed.”	Everybody	knows
that	stress	is	hard	on	us,	but	few	people	understand	why,	on	a	physical	level.
Chronic	stress	literally	poisons	you.
The	body’s	response	to	stress—often	called	the	“fight-or-flight	response”—
refers	to	feelings	of	anger	or	fear	that	generate	the	release	of	chemicals	in	your
body,	designed	to	give	you	more	strength	in	an	emergency.
In	an	emergency	situation	that	passes	quickly—for	example,	you	rush	to	catch
someone	who	is	falling—the	body	is	able	to	detoxify	the	stress	chemicals	that
are	produced.	However,	when	stress	is	chronic,	and	we	constantly	live	our	lives
in	stressful	ways,	these	chemicals	build	up	and	inflict	damage	to	our	cells.
Common	stress	symptoms	include	muscle	wasting,	fatigue,	osteoporosis,	high
blood	pressure,	fragile	blood	vessels,	suppressed	immunity,	impaired	mental
function	and	a	host	of	other	problems.	What	stress	is,	how	it	affects	you
(physically	and	psychologically)	and	what	you	can	do	about	it	will	be	explored
more	in	chapter	7,	which	explores	the	psychological	pathway.
As	we	have	discussed,	the	cells	in	your	body	naturally	produce	toxic
byproducts	that	a	healthy	body	is	designed	to	handle.	If	the	body	becomes
overloaded	with	toxins,	for	whatever	reason,	even	normal	metabolic	toxins	can
add	to	the	total	toxic	load	and	damage	cells.	Chronic,	internally	generated	stress
chemicals	can	often	move	us	into	toxic	overload.
Illnesses	also	stress	us	with	massive	amounts	of	internally	generated	toxins,
which	is	why	we	must	choose	health	in	the	first	place.	When	symptoms	of
illness	do	manifest,	cells	are	malfunctioning	and	the	body	is	struggling
desperately	to	make	itself	well	again.	Under	these	extra	stress	loads,	to	minimize
the	damage	done,	taking	steps	to	optimize	cellular	function	becomes	even	more
important.
Your	Primary	Toxic	Defense:	The	Liver
Various	organs	in	the	body—kidneys,	bowels,	lungs,	lymph	system	and	the
skin—are	designed	to	eliminate	metabolic	waste.	Fiber	helps	“carry	out	the
garbage”	in	the	digestive	system,	and	exercise	helps	us	detoxify	via	sweating
and	movement	of	the	lymphatic	system.	Water	promotes	detoxification	through
the	kidneys	and	sweat	glands,	and	saunas	assist	in	removal	of	both	water	and	oil-
soluble	toxins.
At	any	given	time,	about	25	percent	of	all	the	blood	in	your	body	is	in	your
liver,	awaiting	detoxification.	This	process	begins	with	a	sophisticated	filtering
system	that	captures	and	digests	foreign	debris.	Next,	enzymes,	produced	by	theliver,	deactivate	and	eliminate	toxins.	If	these	enzymes	are	interfered	with—
either	deactivated	by	environmental	toxins	such	as	lead	and	mercury	or	never
manufactured	in	the	first	place	because	of	nutrient	deficiency—toxic	overload	is
certain	to	result.	Liver	enzyme	detoxification	has	two	phases:	In	phase	one,	the
liver	produces	enzymes	that	take	harmful	toxins	such	as	alcohol,	pesticides,
herbicides	and	prescription	drugs,	and	oxidizes	them	(burns	them)	in	preparation
for	removal	from	the	body.	This	process	creates	potentially	harmful	free	radicals
that	must	be	neutralized	with	dietary	antioxidant	nutrients.	In	phase	two,	more
enzymes	are	used	to	combine	the	oxidized	chemicals	from	phase	one	with	other
molecules,	which	then	can	be	excreted	harmlessly	in	the	bile	or	urine.	In	both
phases,	the	food	we	eat	supplies	the	raw	materials	needed	to	produce	all	of	these
enzymes	and	other	chemicals	that	are	required.	These	elegant	detoxification
systems	depend	on	a	constant	supply	of	nutrients,	which	we	must	obtain	from
our	diet,	but	we	frequently	do	not.
Help	your	liver’s	phase-one	detoxification	process	with	antioxidant	nutrients:
vitamins	C,	E	and	A,	along	with	coenzyme	Q10,	carotenoids,	bioflavonoids,
selenium,	manganese,	copper	and	zinc.	Some	of	these	nutrients	neutralize	free
radicals	directly;	others	activate	enzymes	that	neutralize	them.	Red,	yellow	and
green	vegetables	are	loaded	with	these	antioxidant	nutrients.	Assist	your	liver’s
phase-two	detoxification	with	cruciferous	vegetables,	such	as	cabbage,	broccoli,
cauliflower,	green	onions,	kale	and	brussels	sprouts.	These	vegetables	enable	the
liver	to	eliminate	powerful	carcinogens,	helping	to	protect	us	against	cancer.
These	dietary	suggestions,	combined	with	high-quality	supplements,	can	keep
your	liver’s	toxic	defenses	at	peak	function.
Much	of	our	body	is	made	of	water;	the	kidneys	need	it	to	excrete	water-
soluble	toxins.	Water	constantly	moves	throughout	your	body	and	must	be
changed	frequently	to	keep	it	pure.	A	minimum	of	eight	glasses	of	pure	water
should	be	consumed	every	day,	and	more	is	better.	Your	water	supply	must	be
pure	so	as	not	to	add	to	your	toxic	load.	Water	should	be	consumed	as	water,	not
as	beverages	such	as	coffee,	tea	or	alcohol


. Weisman associated the type of chest which predisposes the
individual to tuberculosis, with a prenatal condition since he states "even the new-born and infants
are shorter and lighter and have a deeper chest than an average infant from a better environment."
This work throws important light on why in the primitive groups the children born to parents who
are living on the imported nutrition lower in vitamins and minerals than the native foods, not only
showed a greatly increased incidence of tuberculosis over the children born to parents on the
native diet but also proved to be those individuals who, in facial and dental arch form, presented
positive evidence of prenatal injury. We also have a direct explanation for the observations that
have been emphasized by Dr. George Draper, that physical form has a direct relationship to
disease susceptibility of certain types, frequently spoken of as diatheses.
    It is important in this connection to call to mind the statement made by some clinicians that
tuberculosis patients with narrow nostrils tend to make a poor fight. These narrow nostrils are
clearly related to prenatal injury resulting primarily from defective germ cells which determine the
architecture, not heredity but intercepted heredity.7/29/13 Nutrition and Physical Degeneration
gutenberg.net.au/ebooks02/0200251h.html#toc 211/250    It is very easy to understand the effects of gross physical lesions such as the absence of
eyeballs, harelip and cleft palate. These defects can readily be seen. The problem is very different,
however, when we are dealing with disturbances of function due to minute anatomical lesions in
either external or internal organs such as the brain. These latter will be discussed in the next
chapter.
REFERENCES
1. PRICE, W. A. Dental Infections. Cleveland, Penton, 1923.
2. DRAPER, G. Human Constitution. Phila., Saunders, 1924.
3. DRAPER, G. Disease and the Man. N. Y., Macmillan, 1930.
4. WALD, G. Vitamin A in Eye Tissues. J. Gen. Physiol., 18:905, 1935.
5. MELLANBY, E. Vitamin A deficiency and deafness. Biochem. J. In press.
6. MASON, K. E. Foetal death, prolonged gestation and difficult parturition in the rat as a
result of vitamin A deficiency. Am. J. Anat., 57:303, 1935.
7. MEIGS, E. B. and CONVERSE, H. T. Some effects of different kinds of hay in the ration
on the performance of dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci., 16:317, 1933.
8. BARRIE, M. M. Nutrition anterior pituitary deficiency. Biochem. J. In press.
9. BACHARACH, A. L., ALLEHORNE, E., GLYNN, H. E. Investigations into the method
of estimating vitamin E. 1. Influence of vitamin E deficiency on implantation. Biochem. J.,
21:2287, 1937.
10. SHERMAN and MACLEOD. The relation of vitamin A to growth, reproduction and
longevity. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 47:1658, 1925.
11. HUGHES, AUBEL and LIENHARDT. Importance of vitamins A and C in the ration for
swine, concerning especially their effect on growth and reproduction. Kansas Agric. Sta.
Tech. Bull., No. 23, 1928.
12. HART and GILBERT. Vitamin A deficiency as related to reproduction in range cattle.
Univ. of Calif. Agric. Exper. Sta. Bull., No. 560, 1933.
13. HUGHES, E. H. Effects of vitamin A deficient diet of sows. J. Agric. Res., 49:943, 1934.
14. SURE, B. Dietary requirements for fertility and lactation; dietary sterility associated with
vitamin A deficiency. J. Agric. Res., 37:87, 1928.
15. HALE, F. The relation of maternal vitamin A deficiency to microphthalmia in pigs. Texas S.
J. Med., 33:228, 1937.
16. WILLIAMS, W. L. The problem of teratology in clinical veterinary medicine. Cornell
Veterinarian, 26:1, 1936.
17. MOENCH, G. L. and HOLT, H. Sperm morphology in relation to fertility. Am. J. Obst.
and Gynec., 22:199, 1931.
18. STIASNY, H. and GENERALES, K. Erbkranheit and Fertilitaet. Ferdinand Enke Verlag,
Stuttgart, 1937. Review, J. Heredity, 29:9, 1938.
19. SUTTON, T. S., SETTERFIELD, H. E. and KRAUSS, W. E. Nerve degeneration
associated with avitaminosis A in the white rat. Ohio Agric. Exper. Sta. Bull., No. 545,
1934.
20. WEISMAN, S. A. Correlation of the positive reaction to tuberculin and the shape of the
chest. J.A.M.A., 109:1445, 1937.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 19
PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND MORAL DETERIORATION7/29/13 Nutrition and Physical Degeneration
gutenberg.net.au/ebooks02/0200251h.html#toc 212/250AFTER one has lived among the primitive racial stocks in different parts of the world and studied
them in their isolation, few impressions can be more vivid than that of the absence of prisons and
asylums. Few, if any, of the problems which confront modern civilization are more serious and
disturbing than the progressive increase in the percentage of individuals with unsocial traits and a
lack of irresponsibility.
    Laird (1) has emphasized some phases of this in an article entitled, The Tail That Wags the
Nation, in which he states: "The country's average level of general ability sinks lower with each
generation. Should the ballot be restricted to citizens able to take care of themselves? One out of
four cannot." He has illustrated the seriousness of this degeneration by presenting details as follows:
    Although we might cite any one of nearly two dozen states, we will first mention Vermont by
name because that is the place studied by the late Dr. Pearce Bailey. "It would be," he wrote,
"safe to assume that there are at least 30 defectives per 1000 in Vermont of the eight-year-old
mentality type, and 300 per 1000 of backward or retarded persons, persons of distinctly inferior
intelligence. In other words, nearly one-third of the whole population of that state is of a type to
require some supervision.
    From a broad view of the problem of modern degeneration it will be helpful to note the
observations by Tredgold (2)  in mental deficiency. He states:
    It is thus evident that the condition of mental deficiency, whilst presenting many interesting
problems to the physician, the pathologist, and the psychologist, has also a much wider interest
and importance. Since in Man the predominate feature is Mind, and since it is by its
development and evolution that human progress has taken, and must take place, it is clear that
the question of its disease, and particularly of its defect, is one of supreme importance to the
statesman, the sociologist, the philosopher, and the whole community.
    In connection with these investigations among primitive races it is interesting to note that the data
are in complete harmony with the data which clinical pathologists, clinicians and anatomists have
obtained in their study of the physical and structural characteristics of individuals who make up the
deficiency groups. In discussing the problem of the significance of the shape of the palate,
Tredgold (2)  states:
    Palate--The association of abnormalities of the palate with mental deficiency has long been
recognized, and there is no doubt that it is one of the commonest malformations occurring in
this condition. Many years ago Langdon Down drew attention to the subject, and more recently
Clouston has recorded a large number of observations which show conclusively that, although
deformed palates occur in the normal, they are far and away more frequent in neuropaths and
the mentally defective. He states that deformed palates are present in 19 per cent of the ordinary
population, 33 per cent of the insane, 55 per cent of criminals, but in no less than 61 per cent of
idiots. Petersen, who has made a most exhaustive study of this question, and has compiled an
elaborate classification of the various anomalies found palatal deformities present in no less
than 82 per cent of aments, (mental defectives), in 76 per cent of epileptics, and in 80 per cent of
the insane.
    Probably every city in the United States has made special provision for both mentally deficient
groups and unsocial individuals, either in special schools or in special classes. In Cleveland, we
have had a large school devoted to the problems of the so-called pre-delinquent boys, of whom
nearly all have been before the courts and are assigned to this institution because they are not well
enough adjusted to be kept in their normal school environment. In discussing the characteristics of
these boys with


 light activi ty. A short
walk in the morning and in the afternoon is a good idea. Do not travel any
distance or undertake heavy physical tasks. If you run or exercise heavily,
skip it for a day and relax.
If you feel faint with hunger, take one tables poon of honey with a glass of
warm water and lie down for five minutes.
It is normal to feel lightness in your limbs, but if you start to tremble or
feel dizzy, lie down and rest. If the feeling persists, eat a small meal. You
may be unsettled from unusually high stress that has thrown you of f balance.
SUNDA Y ROUTINE
Now you want to restart your agni and let it adjust itself to its normal
cycle. To do this, eat a light breakfast of hot cereal (oatmeal, cream of rice,
or cream  of wheat) with a little butter, milk, and sugar. Herb tea is also good
in the morning to soothe the stomach—licorice root for Vatas, peppermint
for Pittas and Kaphas. If you followed the program correctly on Saturday,
this will be all the breakfast you’ll want. If you still feel very hungry, have
more cereal or a glass of juice. Coffee, tea, and cigarettes will throw off your
agni rhythm and defeat your purpose. (Kapha types, who are slow starters in
the morning, can drink gotu kola tea as a stimulant—this herb is sold in
health-food stores.)
Do not eat again until noon.At exactly noon, have a good lunch, one that satisfies you without being
heavy or immoderate. It is best not to excite your digestion with salty or
spicy food or alcohol, but do not have just a salad and water, either. Ginger
tea is a good idea. If you are Vata and have no appetite, drink it before the
meal; otherwise, during or after the meal is fine. If you do not have ginger
tea, sip a glass of warm water with your meal.
Do not eat again until dinner.
Have an early dinner (at least three hours before you go to bed), eating a
nourishing meal that suits your body type. Make this meal smaller than
lunch. Rice, lentils, and steamed vegetables are good. Even a repeat of
breakfast would  be good for most Kaphas and Pittas, or for anyone who
tends to overeat.
Now that your agni is reset, your hunger cycle will naturally tend to make
you want
a light breakfast
a substantial lunch, eaten at the same time every day
a light supper, eaten early and at the same time every day
The following things will throw your agni off again and should be
avoided.
Eating between meals. The rule here is not to stimulate your appetite if
you are not going to eat. Agni likes to finish what it starts; therefore, it
is thrown of f by empty stimulation from chewing gum, hard candy, or
breath mints taken throughout the day. However, having tea and
cookies in the afternoon is a good idea for Vata types or for anyone who
gets fatigued at the end of the workday.
Strong stimulants. Caf feine, salt, and alcohol are strong stimulants and
should be taken moderately. The indigestion most people feel at a
cocktail party comes from the mixing of salty food, alcohol, and noise.If you like to drink cof fee, always have it with food, not alone. The
same applies to salt and alcohol. Being addicted to any of these
stimulants makes it impossible to balance the digestion.
Skipping meals. Agni wants something to do three times a day and
resents it if you do not eat. Kapha types can skip meals because their
agni moves slowly and burns low, but it is still a good rule to eat three
times a day.
AGNI AND AMA
The Ayurvedic ideal is that agni be kept operating efficiently under all
conditions; it must not be so cold that food is not complete ly digested.
Partially digeste d food turns into ama, a cold, foul-smelling residue whose
“stickiness” prevents the doshas from circulating freely as they should.
There is also the opposite dange r that agni will burn too high, in which case
the nutrients in food will not be extracted but burned away. Then digestion
becomes feverish, leading to weakness instead of strength.
Agni and ama form the most important pair of opposites in the body,
making the difference between a state of dynamic health and a state of slow
deterioration. The most obviou s difference between the two is that agni
makes you feel well, while ama makes you feel sick. There are some specific
signs as well. Agni gives one:
Glowing complexion and bright eyes
Strong digestion without constipation or diarrhea
Ability to eat all foods
Clear, straw-colored urine
Normal feces without strong smellIf there is ama in the body, it can vary from a minor to a major serious
condition. Among the earlier signs are:
Dull skin and eyes
Unpleasant taste in the mouth, with coated tongue in the morning
Strong bad breath
Urine that is cloudy, dark, or discolored
Weak digestion, chronic constipation and/or diarrhea
Loss of appetite (food tastes bad)
Aching joints
Once the digestive fire has returned to normal and the collected ama from
the past is flush ed out, agni by itself will continue to purify the body. Your
digestion is self-correcting, because nature has set things up so that agni
burns ama. This is another example of how you can trust your body to know
what to do.
IMPROVING YOUR AGNI
Certain foods, spices, and herbs  are effective in improving the quality of
agni in everyone, according to Ayurveda. They are used to stimulate appetite,
increase the power of digestion, and remove ama.
GINGER
Dried into a powder or used fresh, ginger is praised as the best spice for
helping the agni of all body types. Powdered ginger, sold in grocery-store
spice racks, is stronger, more drying, and more pungent than fresh
gingerroot, which is sold in the fresh produce department (or in health-foodstores if your supermarket does not carry it). Fresh ginger is considered the
better digestive aid.
Ginger can be used in various ways:
As a tea. Boil a large pinch of dry ginger in a cup of water over a low
flame until a quarter of the water boils away, then strain. This tea is drunk
before meals to whet the appetite. A small glass of it can be sipped during or
after meals to aid digestion.
Fresh ginger tea is made by first boiling your water and then, with the heat
off, dropping in a few thin slices of unpeeled gingerroot (about one
tablespoon per cup of water). Allow to steep for five minutes, then strain.
You can make a much stronger  tea by boiling the slices of gingerroot with
the water, but this would be considered a medicinal tea, not to be drunk
every day.
As a spice. Ayurveda recommends a variety of ways to use ginger in
cooking. Either the powder or the root can be added to recipes for steamed
vegetables, curri es, gingerbread, cakes, and cookies. You can lightly sprinkle
ginger on your food at the table or chew on a sliver of fresh ginger during
the meal. Although it may be too strong for everyone, scatter ing chopped
gingerroot over your food as a garnish (like parsley) is also considered
worthwhile. Try one approach at a time, however; it does not take much
ginger to kindle agni.Fresh ginger  tea aids digestion.
Different body types are advised to take ginger in slightly different ways:
Vata types can mix the choppe d fresh root with salt. Pitta types need less
pungency, so weak ginger tea is enough for them, sweetened with sugar to
make the ginger less spicy. Kapha types (and anyone who is overweight)
want it for eliminating excess Kapha from the system, so they can take a
good deal of ginger tea sweetened with honey.
If your appetite and/or digestion  become poor as the result of nervousness,
stress, or illness, an excellent way to restore it is with the following ginger
routine.
Ginger Routine
In a small glass, metal, or ceramic bowl, mash four tablesp oons each
powdered ginger, brown sugar, and ghee (melted, clarified butter, see page
304). Mix to a uniform consistency, cover, and store in a cool place.Take a little bit of this ginger mixture every day before breakfast, making
sure that you follow it with a good breakfast (hot cereal, grape juice,
muffins, and herb tea with cinnamon in it is a good menu). Consume the
ginger mixture according to the following schedule.
After finishing the ginger routin e, your digestion should be norm alized. If
you still experience digestive difficulty, see a doctor; at the first sign of
digestive cramps and pain, do not attempt this routine—consult a physician
instead.
Ginger Follow-up
If you are trying to cure a long-standing Vata imbalance or want to keep
your digestion at its peak, takin g a little fresh ginger every day is a good
idea. It is also considered the best preventive against build ing up ama
through improper digestion.
Cut a thin, nicke l


ves,	and	cinnamon	to	your	teas	and
recipes.
•
Switch	to	organic,	cold-pressed	sesame	oil	to	moisturize	your	skin	for	your
abhyanga
	practice.	Sesame	oil	is	said	to	have	warming	properties.
•
Due	to	the	dryness	of	winter,	you	might	need	a	heavier	facial	moisturizer.
Switch	accordingly	and	look	for	one	that	is	oil	based	rather	than	water
based,	as	the	oil	will	provide	a	protective	layer	on	your	skin	and	hold	in
moisture	longer.	Products	containing	pure	plant	oils	like	coconut,	almond,
avocado,	and	primrose	oil	should	not	make	your	skin	break	out.	On	theother	hand,	shea	butter	may	clog	your	pores;	especially	if	you	are	acne-
prone,	avoid	products	on	the	face	that	contain	shea	butter	(though	it’s	great
to	use	on	your	body).	Avoid	products	that	contain	synthetic,	petroleum-
based	oils,	such	as	mineral	oil.
•
Your	skin	will	likely	be	dry	and	dehydrated	not	only	from	the	wind	and	cold
elements,	but	also	from	indoor	heat,	so	make	sure	your	moisturizer	contains
hyaluronic	acid	and	other	humectants	to	attract	more	moisture	to	your	face
and	keep	it	supple.
•
Increase	your
fat	intake	slightly—but	not	dramatically—with	whole	plant
foods	such	as	chia	seeds,	walnuts,	and	avocados.	These	essential	fats	will
nourish	supple	skin.	Just	an	extra	few	tablespoons	of	chia	seed	pudding	(see
kimberlysnyder.
com
	for	the	easy	recipe)	or	another	half	of	an	avocado	will
keep	your	skin	moisturized	from	the	inside	out.	Extra	fat	in	the	winter	may
also	feel	grounding	during	this	dark	period.
•
Use	a	creamy	cleanser	rather	than	a	gel	one.	The	cream	will	have	fewer
stripping	surfactants	and	help	keep	the	natural	oils	on	your	skin	intact
during	these	times	when	you	want	to	hold	on	to	all	of	the	moisture	you	can.
•
Do	a	weekly	at-home	oil	treatment	to	keep	your	hair	protected	from	the
drying	weather.	At	least	once	a	week,	massage	coconut	oil	into	the	tips	of
your	hair	and	throughout	the	strands,	pile	it	into	a	bun	or	tuck	it	into	a
shower	cap,	leave	it	in	for	at	least	30	minutes	to	1	hour,	and	then	rinse	out
and	shampoo	as	usual.
•
Slough	off	dry	skin	cells	with	an	at-home	sugar	scrub.	Combine	equal	parts
coconut	oil	and	organic	sugar	and	then	add	15	to	20	drops	or	so	of	your
favorite	essential	oil.	Keep	the	mixture	in	a	glass	or	BPA-free	container.	In
the	shower,	gently	rub	off	dead	skin	cells	from	your	entire
body,	including
your	elbows	and	heels.	Shaving	is	also	a	great	exfoliator	for	the	large	surface
area	of	your	legs.
•
Stay	active.	It’s	tempting	to	just	curl	up	during	winter,	but	the	diminished
light	and	the	cold	weather	can	contribute	to	depression,	stagnation,	a
weakened
immune	system,	and	sluggish	feelings.	It’s	a	great	time	of	year	to
begin	or	deepen	a	home	yoga	practice,	whether	on	your	own	or	with	a	yoga
DVD.	You	don’t	have	to	expose	yourself	to	the	elements	to	stay	active	and
move	every	part	of	your	body.
•
Honor	the	natural	tendency	for	more	“darkness”	and	allow	yourself	to
rejuvenate	and	rest	by	staying	at	home	more.	Don’t	push	yourself	to	go	out
more	than	you	naturally	like	out	of	obligation.	You	might	feel	that	eveningsat	home	with	herbal	tea,	a	warm	bath,	and	a	good	book	simply	serve	you
more.
•
If	you	live	in	a	place	that	has	limited	sunlight	for	extended	periods	of	time
throughout	the	winter	months,	you	might	want	to	consider	supplementing
with
vitamin	D
3
,	or	getting	a	special	light	designed	to	help	stimulate	vitamin
D	in	your	body.	Vitamin	D	plays	a	vital	role	in	maintaining	healthy,
beautiful	bones,	strong	immunity,	balanced	moods,	and	all-around	health
and	wellness.
•
With	the	very	slowly	burgeoning	light	of	the	winter	solstice	near	the	end	of
the	year,	complete	an	honest	and	deep	assessment	of	where	you	would	like
to	put	your	energy	in	the	upcoming	year	and	what	is	nurturing	and
authentic	for	your	beautiful	spirit	at	this	time.	In	nature,	new	seeds	are
growing	at	the	root	level	now,	and	a	lot	is	taking	place	beneath	the	surface.
This	is	a	great	time	for	you,	too,	to	evaluate	where	you	want	to	plant	your
“seeds,”	which	projects	you	want	to	pursue,	and	where	you	want	to	put	your
energy,	which	will	bloom	later	in	the	year.	You	can	determine	this	only	by
being	honest	and	listening	to	your	heart.
Spring	Lifestyle	Beauty	Practices
In	spring,	life	emerges	again.	No	matter	how	long	the	cold	winter	months	may
seem	some	years,	spring	always	follows.	You	can	see	the	burgeoning	beauty	of
fresh	flower	buds,	leaves,	and	shoots	and	feel	the	urge	to	express	your	natural
beauty	outwardly	with	sundresses,	skirts,	and	perhaps	brighter	makeup	colors.
As	the	light	increases,	you	naturally	feel	like	shedding	the	stagnation	and
heaviness	of	winter.	This	includes	a	tendency	to	start	eating	lighter	and	perhaps
lightening	up	on	your	skin-care	products,	too.	You	may	also	feel	a	natural	rise
in	energy,	a	newfound	spark	of	powerful	inspiration	that	can	now	be	directed
toward	whatever	goals	you	decided	to	pursue	when	taking	stock	in	the	darkness
of	winter.	Here	are	the	best	ways	to	harness	the	beauty	of	spring:
•
Spring	is	the	very	best	time	of	the	year	to	complete	a	cleanse	or	engage	in
some	detoxing.	If	you’re	interested	in	a	liquid	cleanse,	check	out	the	organic,
strategically	designed	ones	offered	from
Glow	Bio	(
myglowbio.
com
)	or	do
your	own	version	by	making	fresh	green	smoothies	or	juices	and	abstaining
from	heavier	foods	for	a	few	days.
•
Lighten	up	your	diet.	This	is	a	great	time	of	year	to	shift	into	eating	more
raw	foods	(though	you	don’t	have	to	eat	100	percent	raw,	by	any	means).Reduce	your	ratio	of
fats	so	you	feel	less	weighed	down.	You	might	want	to
eat	lighter,	broth-based	soups	and	favor	smaller	amounts	of	avocado	and
nuts.	Use	all	oils	sparingly.
•
If	you	indulged	over	the	winter,	it’s	a	great	time	to	reset	bad	habits	and
patterns	and	renew	your	resolve	to	improve	your	eating	habits.	Feel	in	tune
with	the	bursting	energy	of	spring	by	letting	go	of	heavier,	dense,	or	clogging
foods.	Ditch	the	dairy,	refined	sugars,
gluten,	and	excess	animal	protein,	and
eat	more	light,	plant-centric


 that new findings are at last confirmed.

36. FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS IN FOOD SUPPLY
   Many clever and knowledgeable scientists are employed by the various food
manufacturers, and just as recounted in the case of flour these people understand very
well the presence of the deteriorated materials which I have called "fatty rubbish" in
stored foods. However, they have apparently not realized previous to publication of my discovery on September 21, 1967, that these materials cause arteriosclerosis,
previously considering the materials as simply "unavailable" for nutrition.
   The staling and deterioration of stored food has been the chief concern of food
scientists for many years, and they have developed dozens of chemicals and processes
which are applied to stored foods to preserve them. It is possible that they will be able
to make future improvements in processed foods to make them cause less
arteriosclerosis, now that the cause of this  disease has been disclosed. For example,
five years ago millions of people had fatty  atherosclerotic yellow plaques in their
facial skin and eyelids. After the salad and cooking oil manufacturers were shown by
my feeding experiments that some atherosclerosis was being caused by durable
materials in their oils, the oils were further purified with the result that nowadays the plaques are rarely seen.
   Sometimes it happens that scientists may be pressed to make statements which serve
the business interests of their employers or sponsors
   rather than the public interest or the extension of true knowledge. Food scientists
know better than anyone else the truth of the conditions disclosed in this book, and have an awesome moral responsibility to their own race to bear themselves honorably
and truthfully as regards this matter.
   The atherosclerotic condition of the people cannot wholly be laid at the door of the
food processing industries, because the same disease from flour, bacon, ham, sausage,
and so on existed to some extent long before development of the modern food
industry. Rather this condition is simply an extreme stage in the long process of
gradual learning and improvement by which civilization is developing. It is not
desirable to point an accusing finger at anyone, but only that all concerned should
work constructively to improve the condi tion of our people. Knowing the cleverness
of industrial scientists, I would not be surprised to see arteriosclerosis begin to gradually fade away after they have had a decade or so to improve processed foods
based on this new knowledge.
   Due to the seasonal availability of agricultural products there will always be a
necessity for storing food through the barren seasons. Fresh food for all will hardly
come in our time, but it is hoped that publication of these findings will start a trend
toward increased use and production of fresh foods, and stimulate research in food storage and processing.
   It should be recognized that an increased appreciation of and demand for fresh farm
produce would foster a revival of the small family farm, open up possibilities for responsible self-employment to the unemployed, and promote a return to the
countryside with consequent dispersal of the urban masses.

37. CRITICISM OF THESE FINDINGS
   These findings have been favorably commented on by a number of eminent
scientists and doctors.
   Four criticisms have been made as follows:
1. "Why were these findings published now instead of waiting until academic
science can investigate them thoroughly?" Because the people who are sick
now need help now, not ten years or more in the future. Academic scientists
can study the fine details at their pleasure, but meantime the information is
being released so the people can help themselves. Also, book sales will help support further research.
2. "There is not enough fresh food to go around." True, but there is enough to
feed the sick and as the demand gradually increases the farmers and business
interests will keep pace with it.
3. "Food that is stale enough to hurt us has a bad taste so that we wouldn't eat it."
False. Food scientists have published extensive reports of deteriorated fatty
materials contained in food that was perfectly good to taste, and I have
samples of fatty rubbish that have a pleasant taste.
4. "Our intestines do not absorb particles of fatty materials, but only the broken-
down constituents of fat." False. We absorb both whole fats and broken-down fats, as shown by scientists many years ago. There were two schools of
thought, both partly right.
   Further research and constructive criticism is welcomed. The other kind of criticism
can easily be recognized when it is directed at the author rather than the subject.

38. A GENERAL VIEW
Important Summary -- Study This and Page 1
   It is hoped that this book will help bring about an understanding that in spite of
tremendous technological advancements, mankind still is tied nutritionally to his native place in the worldwide scheme of living things. The actual living stuff, the
fabric of life, is made by plants, and man and his livestock are dependent on eating
them to obtain the materials which compose their bodies. This is Nature's ancient
plan, and the closer we comply with it the better we will thrive.
   It is evident that full adherence to the fresh food diet involves doing without some
tasty items, and I am sure no one but ill people will completely toe the line. But we
don't have to bat 100% to stay in the ball game, and likewise we can snitch some
goodies occasionally and still avoid arterioscl erosis sufficiently so that the chances of
serious trouble will be small. The quantity and frequency of eating is proportional to
the damage done, so novelty items which we might have a taste of once a month or so
would do little harm.
   Taking both the food and the quantity usually eaten into consideration, flour
products such as bread, biscuits, ready-to-eat cereals, cake and crackers are the big
killers, probably accounting for 60% of arteriosclerosis damage. Next come bacon,
ham, sausages, sardines, etc., accounting fo r perhaps 20%. Grits, oatmeal, farina, and
similar ground grains play a part. Also overheating and browning are very important factors.
   The sick people trying to somehow find their way back to normal life again will of
course be the ones who will get the most be nefit. A few younger people with foresight
and a little will-power will improve themselves and so live long and happily.
   The children respond best of all to improved food, and I must say that I hope to see
young men and women who were bred, born, and raised on good fresh food, and so
enabled to reach the full potential of our native bloodlines. Mankind is more noble
than we know, and one day we may see our ch ildren, or their children, rise to heights
of strength, beauty, and intelligence undreamed of in our time.

39. SOURCES OF INFORMATION
   The fresh food diet, the stale food theory for the cause of arteriosclerosis, the
findings on dental calculus, sex glands, bran pigment, and the bleeding action of sugar
are new knowledge generated by my expe rimental work. Other information is
supported by the published works of various authorities as listed in the references
below.

(GENERAL NOTES—Continued From Page 6)
   Many people have been told that aluminum cookware is poisonous. The best scientific authorities
agree that aluminum is not poisonous, and aluminum compounds have been used in popular patent medicines for many years. However, in our research it has recently been found that aluminum forms a
durable chalky compound with food fats which can play a part in clogging the arteries. This would be
most likely to occur where watery food is boiled or let stand in an aluminum pot for a long time, as in making stew, soup, preserves, etc. Pyrex glass, chin a-ware, vitreous enamelware, or stainless steel is
safer.

   The Fresh Food Diet is highly digestible, so that  food is very well absorbed by the body, thus leaving
less residue for excretion by the bowels. For this reason, bowel action may tend to be scantier and less
frequent. If increased bowel action is desired, more leafy green vegetables can be eaten to provide bulk. Yeast, honey, dates, raisins, prunes, and dried figs can be used in small quantities to provide a mild
laxative effect if needed. Raw fruit also can provide a laxative effect.

   The Fresh Food Diet involves chewing firm foods, so any bad jaw teeth should be fixed or replaced.
   Newly ground wheat germ contains valuable nutrients, but deteriorates so rapidly that the usual
commercial product has no outstanding food value. It contains small amounts of bran and is rather hard
to digest. Being a stale food concentrate, it contains hardened oily materials which can collect in the arteries and joints. A byproduct of flour manufacture, it has never been widely used as human food, the
bulk of the production going into hog feed.

LIST OF REFERENCES
   1. Altschul, Rudolph "Selected Studies on Arteriosclerosis"—1950 Thomas.
   2. Anderson, J. A. and Alcock, A. W. "Storage of Cereal Grains and Their
Products"— 1954 Amer. Assoc. of Cereal Chemists, St. Paul.
   3. Bailey, A. E. "Industrial Oil & Fat Products"—3rd ed. Interscience.    4. Bailey, Alton E. "Cottonseed"—1948 Inters


 it really was g oing to take an army of
attorneys.
Halfway to the trial date, Randy’s cancer returned.
This time he was going to need eight weeks of very
intense chemo therapy and an indeterminate recovery
period. I remembered back to when Jim Mercer was
advising me about choosing an attorney. He said the
Holy Gr ail would be to get a senior partner from one of
the country’s premier firms who would be personallycommitted to your case alone. Randy had turned out to
be that Holy Grail. Now, against his doctor’s advice,
Randy was seriously consi dering risking his life by
waiting until the trial was over before starting his
treatment. I assured him I w ould have none of that, but
he decided to wait and see  how fast the tumor was
progressing before making his decision. Randy was like a
Samurai warrior who had finally been given a battle that
was about Honor, Truth, and Justice. He was not about
to lay down his sword for a tiny tumor.
Unfortunately, it only took a month for the tumor to
progress to the point that there was no longer a decision.
We kne w Judg e Blatt was ad amant that there would not
be a ny extensions of the trial  date. Though it was a long
shot, Randy requested a three-month extension so that
he coul d represent me at tr ial. Once again, it was the
Constitution that took care of me. The motion filed
invoked my Sixth Amend ment right to have the
assistance of counsel of my choice. Though the
government opposed the motion for an extension, it was
granted by the judge under the condition that I begin
working with another lead attorney in case Randy did
not reco ver in time. With the new trial date set for May
4, 2009, just five months away, Randy began his
treatment.
I had been working with Randy for more than five
years by then. He had not o nly been my lead attorney
and goo d friend, but he was also the chief legal strategist
for the entire joint defense group. There was no replacing
him. Having promised the j udge that I would do just
that, at least as a backup, I took a deep breath and
surrendered to the reality before me: I would have to
start working with a new lead attorney.5 5.
D i v i n e  I n t e r v e n t i o n
T he workload increased significantly as we moved
toward trial. In February, we started a very interesting
and imp ortant phase of the pretrial hearings—motions in
limine.  These were pretrial motions that gave us the
opportunity to challenge whether the evidence the
government pr osecutors inten ded to present at trial was,
in fact, trustworthy from a legal perspective. They had
taken document after document and defined them in a
way that seemed to support  their version of events. I
knew fo r a fact that many of the documents didn’t say
what they were being twiste d to say. But taken out of
context, they would influenc e a jury. I was pleased to
learn th at the courts had int erpreted our constitutional
right to a fair  trial to mean  that a jury could not be
prejudiced with evidence that did not meet a reasonable
standard of trustworthiness. In other words, we had the
right to  petition the judge to exclude some of this
material from the trial altogether.
Motion by motion we challen ged the relevance and/or
trustworthiness of what the government intended to
present to the jury. In many cases, the judge agreed with
us. This judge was finally reining in the unbridled
attempts to create evidence by arbitrarily assigning
meaning to documents and events. I was not attending
any of the pretrial hearings, but I was reviewing all the
motions and following with great interest as they had
their day in court. With Randy out, the associate
attorney, Alex Walsh, would give me the daily updates. I
was rea lly impressed with her and could see how Randy’s
absence afforded tremendous opportunity for theyounger attorneys. I loved seeing that out of this
darkness, something great was being forged.
Randy c ompleted his chemotherapy and tried to come
back to work right away. B ut though the therapy was
successful, it would take a fe w months before he got his
full strength back. In late M arch, just one month from
trial, we learned that Randy’s recovery period was not
our only concern. On March 27, 2009, Judge Blatt
announced tha t because of his age and his health, he was
stepping down from the case. We had lost our judge.
The saber rattling began immediately. The government
sent ou t word to all defense counsel that they had better
come in  and negotiate a plea  because they were going to
be d estroyed in trial with a n ew judge. Needless to say,
given h ow well Judge Blatt h ad come to know the case
over th e last three and half years, and how fair he had
been, the prospect of a new judge at the eleventh hour
was disheartening. In the midst of the most dangerous
situation of my life, the two  forces in this world I had
come to have the most con fidence in to protect me,
Randy and Judge Blatt, were both taken away. This
amazing sequence of events was so completely out of my
control that I h ad no choice but to surrender at an even
deeper level. It seemed like li fe was finally unfolding in a
way that would assure the de mise of whatever was left of
my personal self—just what I had asked it to do so many
years ago.
No one knew w hat was going to happen next. The trial
date would almost certainly h ave to be reset, but no one
had any idea of a new date or who the judge would be. All
we could do was continue to make sure we were ready,
just in case. The chief distric t judge, Judge Norton, took
charge of finding a federal judge who could handle a
four-month-long trial on short notice. In the meantime,
Judge Blatt continued to hold pretrial hearings, and we
continued to do very well with our motions in limine.
Finally, unabl e to find a replacement judge, JudgeNorton decided  to take the case himself. At a hearing in
July, we were given the new trial date of January 18,
2010, w hich was five months away. So now t he chief U.S.
district judge of South Carolina was going to hear the
case. Everything just kept getting bigger and bigger.4
Judge N orton took over the pretrial hearings around
August 2009. By then Randy was fully back in the
saddle, and he found Judge  Norton to be very bright,
knowledgeable, and impartial. It turned out that Judge
Norton’s rulings were very similar to Judge Blatt’s. We
continued to tear down the government’s case in pretrial
motions throughout the months leading up to trial. It
certainly appea red that the n ew judge, like the old, saw
the weakness of the case being brought against us.
By O ctober, we were three months from trial, and the
time had come to reserve housing in Charleston. Years
earlier I  had asked Randy wh at the probability was of the
government catching on that I didn’t do anything wrong
and just dropping the charges. He told me that he
expected the government to drop charges against
everyone except me, John Kang, and John Sessions—the
CEO, the president, and th e chief operations officer.
Randy would have included  the chief financial officer,
but he had previously died of cancer.
I wanted to be sure of my odds, so I pushed Randy by
asking i f it would literally take divine intervention for me
to a void a tria l and just walk free. He pondered for a
moment and said, “Yes, it w ould take an act of divine
intervention.” With that in mind, Donna and I headed to
Charleston to rent a place to  live for four months. We
made it an adv enture. We had both lived at the Temple
for mor e than thirty-five years. We had never been away
for muc h more  than a few weeks at a time. This trial is
what it would take to force us to relocate for such an
extended perio d. There was, of course, the possibility
that my departure would be much longer.As we approached the trial date, things unfolded in
accordance to  Randy’s predictions. The government
called in the second tier of indicted executives one by one
and tried to get something useful before dropping
charges. Of course, there was nothing to get, and we were
all g lad to see  our colleagues taken out of harm’s way.
That left the three senior exe cutives headed for trial on
January 18, 2010.
I received a call from Randy mid-December. He had
gotten an indication thro ugh back channels that
suddenly the government was interested in discussing a
settlement. After checking it out, Randy said it seemed
prosecutors had had enough, and they wanted me out of
the case. We were feeling pretty confident about my
position given the successes we had in the