 a sugary breakfast cereal in the morning you feel
hungry again in an hour. That is hypoglycaemia. What do people usually
have at that time in the morning to satisfy their hunger? A biscuit, a choco
late bar, a coffee or something like that, and the whole cycle of hyper -
hypoglycaemia begins again. This up and down blood-glucose roller-
coaster is extremely harmful for anyone, let alone our GAPS children and
adults. It has been proven that a lot of hyperactivity, inability to concen
trate and learn, aggression and other behavioural abnormalities in school
children are a direct result of this glucose roller coaster. The hypergly-
caemic phase produces a feeling of a "high" with hyperactive and manic tendencies and self-stimulation in autistic children, whilst the hypogly-
caemic phase makes them feel unwell, often with a headache, bad mood,
tantrums, aggression and general fatigue with excessive sweating (FIG. 4}.
Another important point about processed carbohydrates is their detri
mental effect on the gut flora. We have talked in detail about the crucial
role of the normal gut flora in the health. Processed carbohydrates feed
pathogenic bacteria and fungi in the gut, promoting their growth and pro
liferation. Apart from that they make a wonderful glue-like environment in
the gut for various worms and parasites to take hold and develop. All these
micro-creatures produce toxic substances going into the bloodstream and
literally "poisoning" the person. The more processed carbohydrates with or
without gluten you give your GAPS child or adult, the more "toxic" he or
she will become and the more autistic, schizophrenic, hyperactive or other
symptoms you will see.
In the previous chapters we have looked in detail at the state of the
immune system in GAPS patients. Compromised immunity plays an
important role in GAPS development. By negatively altering the gut flora
processed carbohydrates will play an important part in damaging the
person's immune system. However, on top of that there is ample evidence
showing that processed foods, particularly processed carbohydrates and
sugar, directly weaken the functioning of macrophages, natural killer cells
and other white blood cells and undermine systemic resistance to all infec
tions. An immune-compromised person who has sugary drinks and crisps
daily, will worsen their immune system's condition by these food choices.
Let us have a look at some of the most common forms of those pro
cessed carbohydrates.
Breakfast cereals
They are supposed to be healthy, aren't they? That is what numerous TV
advertisements tell us. Unfortunately, the truth is just the opposite.
• Breakfast cereals are highly processed carbohydrates, full of sugar, salt
and other unhealthy substances. A bowl of breakfast cereal will start
your child's day with the first round of the blood-sugar roller coaster
with the all too familiar behaviours for you to deal with.
• Being a great source of processed carbohydrates, breakfast cereals
feed abnormal bacteria and fungi in the gut, allowing them to produce
a new portion of their toxins perpetuating the vicious cycle of GAPS. FIG. 4 Blood-glucose roller coaster. • What about fibre? The manufacturers claim that with a bowl of their
product you will get all the fibre you need. Unfortunately it is the
wrong kind of fibre for GAPS patients. The fibre in breakfast cereals
is full of phytates - substances that bind essential minerals and
take them out of the system, contributing to a patient's mineral
deficiencies.
• There has been an interesting experiment performed in one of the
food laboratories. They analysed the nutritional value of some brands
of breakfast cereals and the paper boxes in which these cereals were
packaged. The analysis showed that the box, made of wood pulp, had
more useful nutrients in it, than the cereal inside. Indeed, breakfast
cereals have got very low nutritional value. To compensate for that the
manufacturers fortify them with synthetic forms of vitamins, claiming
that by eating your morning bowl of this cereal you will get all your
daily requirements of those vitamins. Well, the human body is not that
simple, it has been designed to recognise and use natural vitamins,
coming in natural food form. That is why synthetic vitamins have a
very low absorption rate, which means that most of them go through
and out of your digestive tract without doing you any good. Then,
whatever amount of those vitamins does get absorbed is often not
recognised by the body as food and gets taken straight to the kidneys
and excreted in urine. We have a new syndrome in our modern pill-
popping society - a syndrome of expensive urine.
So, no matter what the advertisements say, there is nothing healthy in
breakfast cereals for the GAPS child or an adult.
Crisps and chips and other starchy snacks
Crisps, chips and popcorn, a backbone of children's diet nowadays, are
highly processed carbohydrates with a detrimental effect on the gut flora.
But that is not all: they are saturated with vegetable oil, which has been
heated to a very high temperature. Any oil that has been heated has got
substances called trans-fatty acids, which are unsaturated fatty acids with
altered chemical structure. What they do in the body is to replace the vital
omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in cellular structure, making the cells
dysfunctional. Consuming trans-fatty acids has a direct damaging effect on
the immune system. They are known to increase the activity of Th2 and
weaken Thi immunity. As you remember, the Thi immunity is already sup-pressed in many GAPS patients and Th2 overactive. Cancer, heart disease,
eczema, asthma, many neurological and psychiatric conditions have been
linked to trans-fatty acids in the diet. For a full story about fat processing
please look in the chapter: Fats: the good and the bad.
Recently another strong argument appeared against consuming crisps
and chips:
TheAcrylamides story
In the spring of 2002 the Swedish National Food Administration and
Stockholm University reported that they found highly neurotoxic and car
cinogenic substances in potato crisps, French fries, bread and other baked
and fried starchy foods. These substances are acrylamides. Scientists in
Norway, UK and Switzerland have confirmed this finding. They have also
found acrylamides in starchy foods, fried or baked at high temperatures.
Recently, instant coffee has been added to the list of foods containing these
highly dangerous substances. The World Health Organisation, United
Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation and the US Food and Drug
Administration have set a plan to identify how acrylamides are formed in
foods and what can be done to eliminate them, since they can cause
cancer, neurological damage and infertility. Acrylamides are so harmful to
health, that there are certain maximum limits set for these substances in
food packaging materials. For years government agencies paid a lot of
attention to controlling the amount of acrylamides in the plastic food
packaging, but nobody looked at the food inside that packaging. Now it has
been discovered that some foods inside these plastic packets have incredi
bly high amounts of acrylamides, way above all allowed limits. The acry
lamides story provides another reason for the GAPS child or adult to avoid
crisps, chips and other starchy snack foods.
Wheat
Cutting out gluten is recommended for autism, schizophrenia and coeliac
disease, so gluten-free wheat products become a major part of their diet.
But let us have a look at wheat as a whole with gluten or without it. Virtually
nobody buys wheat as a grain and cooks it at home, we buy foods made of
wheat flour. The flour arrives at bakeries in pre-packaged mixes for differ
ent kinds of breads, biscuits and pastries. These mixtures are already pro
cessed with the best nutrients lost. Then they are "enriched" with preserva-tives, pesticides to keep the insects away, chemical substances to prevent it
absorbing moisture, colour and flavour improvers, softeners, just to men
tion a few. Then the bakerymakes breads, pastries, cakes, biscuits, etc., out
of these chemical cocktails for us to eat. The producer is quite happy to
take the gluten out of these mixtures and make gluten-free products. So,
you will get all the processed carbohydrate with all the chemical additives
in it, but this time without gluten. Once swallowed, a piece of white bread
turns into a glue-like mass, which feeds parasites and pathogenic bacteria
and fungi in the gut, contributing to the general toxic overload a GAPS
patient already has got Being a staple in the western world, wheat is also a
number one cause of food allergies and intolerances.
Sugar and anything made with it
Sugar was once called a "white death" It deserves 100% of this tide. The
consumption of sugar in the world has grown to enormous proportions in
the last century It is estimated that an average western person consumes
about 160-200 lb. of this highly processed substance per year. Sugar is
everywhere and it is hard to find any processed food without it Apart from
causing the blood-glucose roller coaster and having a detrimental effect on
the gut flora, it has been shown to have a direct damaging effect on the
immune system, which


 to keep the B-vitamins in balance, since we
use fairly large amounts of B3 and B12?
A:  Dr. Gerson states in his book ( A Cancer Therapy—Results of 50 Cases, Appendix II, P.
418), that patients were damaged when he administered Vitamins B1 and B6 to them. The
Gerson protocol with its huge number of juices and fresh foods is very well balanced and has no
need for supplements.
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 154Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comQ: When can organic soy products be introduced into the diet?
A: The short answer is never. Soy products of all kinds (tofu, flour, sauce, etc.) contain a
substance that blocks absorption of nutrients, besides having a high fat content. A great deal
of research material has proven the toxicity of soy, even when grown organically. The hype
claiming soy’s usefulness in preventing breast cancer has turned out to be unsubstantiated and
the opposite of truth: soy is likely to stimulate malignancy.
Q: Proper food combining, not mixing starch and fruit, is supposed to be healthy. Why isn’t it
used on the Therapy?
A: Food combining is probably useful if applied to the average American diet, which is high
in animal proteins and sodium (salt). Since all Gerson foods are vegetarian and all vegetables
contain a certain amount of starch, it is neither necessary nor possible to separate those two
substances.
Q: Why not supplement Vitamins C and E, which help to boost the immune system? Surely
one glass of orange juice a day isn’t enough?
A: It is a general misconception that only orange juice contains Vitamin C. Not so. The juices
used in the Gerson program are richer in Vitamin C than orange juice, and patients consume
them in huge quantities every day. Raw salads and fruit increase the intake even further. Dr.
Gerson himself insisted that no additional vitamins should be given to patients. Besides, we
have found that pharmaceutically produced synthetic vitamins and minerals are poorly absorbed
and can even be harmful.
Q: Potatoes and tomatoes both belong to the deadly nightshade family and are banned from
many dietary regimes. Why are they the most used foods on the Therapy?
A: They are not! The most used items are carrots, apples and greens for juicing. Potatoes are
extremely nutritious, high in potassium as well as in protein, and easily digestible (much more
so than rice). Tomatoes are also valuable, as they contain vitamins and minerals, including
lycopene, a powerful anti-oxidant that has been extensively researched in recent years and is
reputed to boost immune competence. Other vegetables belonging to the nightshade family,
such as green peppers and eggplants, are also used in the diet and have never shown any toxic
effects.
Q: How many flare-ups or healing reactions can a patient normally expect?
A:  There is no ‘normal’ number for these. The body produces them as long as it needs to heal!
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 155Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comAs a rule, the first healing reaction sets in some 6-8 days after starting the intensive treatment.
The second one comes usually after about 6 weeks, and the third, which is often the most
severe one, is generally observed after three to three-and-a-half months. In patients pre-treated
with chemotherapy we further expect a so-called chemo reaction after some six months on the
therapy. But these timings are not fixed and only suggest that the patient can expect healing
reactions at certain intervals, which can vary widely in individual cases.
Q: Are headaches a good sign?
A: Certainly not. They may be a symptom of flare-ups, when the body is releasing its overload
of toxins. In that case an additional coffee enema should be taken, to speed up the process of
detoxification. In some rare cases the toxicity is so high that an enema does not relieve the
headache. If so, one or more additional enemas are needed. In almost all patients, as healing
progresses, headaches disappear forever, even if they had been a problem for many years.
If headaches recur after the therapy has ended, the chances are that exposure to toxins or
unsuitable foods has occurred and must be avoided in future.
Q: When do patients begin to feel better and have more energy?
A: Almost all patients, including extremely ill ones, feel better after the fi rst week on the
therapy. Pain diminishes, appetite returns, sleep improves; in some cases even tumors recede
or become softer. All this adds up to a great psychological boost; it also signals the moment
when the patient has to be warned about an impending healing reaction, bringing with it days
of feeling not well. A true rise in energy may occur in three to six months, depending on the
age and condition of the patient. At that point it is most important that the patient continues to
rest and doesn’t launch into multiple activities! The new energy must be used for healing and
nothing else. There will be plenty of time later to build muscles and make up for lost exercise
time. Trying to do so too soon can result in a serious setback.
.
Q:  How much of their increasing energy can Gerson patients use for exercise? Surely they
needn’t save it all up for healing?
A: It all depends on the patient’s condition, but it’s wise to use great caution in all cases. To
start with the worst scenario, for the terminally ill patient total complete rest, i.e., no exercise,
is essential in the first few months. Such patients frequently experience a decline in energy after
arriving at the Gerson hospital and assume that this is due to the lack of (animal) protein. Of
course this is not correct—Gerson food is high in easily assimilated plant-based proteins, which
amply cover the patients’ nutritional needs.
The initial weakness is caused by the various healing processes: the release of toxins from
the body tissues, and the destruction of tumor tissue that circulates through the blood stream
before being excreted. Clearly, the body is working flat out to start healing itself and needs every
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 156Healing the Gerson Way—Defeating Cancer and Other Chronic Diseases
www.thegersonway.comounce of energy it can muster. In such patients with advanced disease exercise should be entirely
banned for at least three to five months. After the sixth month the patients normally experience a
surge of energy. But at that point it is more important than ever to limit exercise, for misusing the
newfound energy would seriously curtail the continuing healing process.
 We suggest no more than five-minute walks to start with, and only in mild weather, i.e., not
in summer heat, nor braving winter blasts of icy wind! After 3-4 weeks exercise can be cautiously
increased to 10 minutes. It’s also possible to start using a mini-trampoline, but only to the extent
of raising and lowering the heels a summer heat, nor braving winter blasts of icy wind! After 3-4
weeks exercise can be cautiously increased to 10 minutes. It is also possible to start using a mini-
trampoline, but only to the extent of raising and lowering the heels a dozen times without moving
the body, and later do a little stationary walking.
 Recovering patients can gradually step up their exercise program, with the proviso that if
they become seriously tired and unable to recover after a rest, the duration of the exercise must
immediately be reduced to the last level that was comfortable. Gentle Hatha Yoga exercises can
also be tried. But however well the patient feels, it is never wise to abandon healing in favour of
exercise. After complete recovery it is easy to rebuild muscle strength.
Q: Why is it so important for patients to avoid getting a cold? Surely even mild fl u won’t do
us much harm?
A: We have to assume that patients who have developed cancer have a seriously damaged,
weakened immune system. If it weren’t so, there could be no cancer! With the intensive Gerson
Therapy the immune system will be restored in time. However, that time could well mean a
whole year, and until then colds and flu, caused by viral infection, remain dangerous, since the
recovering immune system is not able to deal with them easily.
 Furthermore, viruses invade healthy cells and change their genes in the same manner as
cancer tends to change the genetic structure of normal cells. These changed genes are called
oncogenes. If the patient contracts a viral invasion before the immune system is sufficiently
restored, a dangerous, even potentially life-threatening situation arises, which must be treated
with ozonation, extra immune boosters, possibly selenium, and more. Therefore prevention is
obviously vastly preferable. Don’t allow anyone, especially children with colds or flu anywhere
near the patient! CAUTION: even if the patient recovers well from a cold or flu, it is possible that
tumor tissue recurs and grows.
Q: I know that


ative factor for fibrocystic disease and breast cancer. In fact, one of the most
common treatments in conventional medicine for fibrocystic disease is to use birth control pills to suppress the ovaries and lower
the amount of circulating estrogen in the body.
As repeated hormonal cycles progress, oftentimes the fibrocystic changes in the breast will worsen. The breasts can become
chronically inflamed and hardened. Many women suffer terribly with this illness.
Dietary factors can also worsen fibrocystic breast disease. Caffeine and foods that contain trans-fatty acids can exacerbate
fibrocystic breast disease. Eliminating caffeine and eating foods rich in healthy fats, including essential fatty acids, will help alleviate
many of the complaints of fibrocystic breast disease.
Also, vitamin and mineral supplementation can alleviate this condition. Both vitamin E and vitamin A have both been shown in
studies to improve fibrocystic breasts.
Iodine has also been shown to be extremely effective in treating and preventing fibrocystic breasts.
23
 In fact, iodine has
been
the most researched mineral in treating fibrocystic breast disease.
MaryAnn, age 45, works as a nurse at a local hospital. MaryAnn suffered from fibrocystic breast disease for over 15
years. She said, “My breasts feel like two rocks. I can’t do aerobics or exercise heavily because the bouncing causes
tremendous pain.” MaryAnn was going to a specialized cystic breast clinic at the University of Michigan. Frequently, she
was having breast cysts drained, only to have them reappear a short time later. Dietary changes, including removing the
caffeine did help somewhat. MaryAnn was so miserable she was contemplating a bilateral mastectomy. MaryAnn was
found to be severely iodine deficient (iodine challenge test showed 27% excretion with normal levels >90%). She was
treated with Iodoral
®
 50mg per day and within one month had a dramatic change in her condition. She called me on the
phone and reported, “Dr. Brownstein, I was at the University of Michigan clinic yesterday and the doctor told me he
thought my breasts weren’t mine. The two rocks I had are now soft and normal feeling. All of the cysts are gone and all of
the pain is gone. This has been a miracle for me. I can’t believe one nutrient could have such a positive impact on my
life.”
New 5
th
 Edition update on MaryAnn: MaryAnn comes into my office twice per year for routine care. She recently
reported, “I
am feeling fabulous since I started taking iodine. My mammograms are now normal.” MaryAnn has no signs
of fibrocystic breast disease as long as she takes iodine.
Darlene, at age 39, suffered from fibrocystic breast disease for over five years. “Sometimes I am absolutely
miserable. I cannot stand anything touching my breasts. It feels like there is a tourniquet around them,” she said.
Darlene’s symptoms would get worse around her menses. She said, “My husband knows not to get within five feet of me.
If I bump into anything, I feel like crying.” Darlene was told to alter her diet and give up caffeine and chocolate, which
did help some of her symptoms. “The change in the diet did help, but I was still miserable,” she claimed. When I checked
Darlene’s iodine levels, her iodine-loading tests showed a 50% excretion (normal is 90%). After two weeks of
supplementing with an iodine/iodide combination (Iodoral
®
), Darlene’s condition rapidly improved. “I just woke up one
morning and I wasn’t in pain. I could not believe it. I feel like I have been given my life back,” she said. In addition, the
iodine significantly improved her energy and mood levels. Darlene says, “I can’t believe how much better I feel.”
MaryAnn and Darlene’s cases are typical of many with fibrocystic breast disease. Usually, the improvement in fibrocystic
symptoms occurs rapidly when there is an iodine-deficient state present.
THYROID DISEASE, IODINE, AND CANCER
For well over 100 years, iodine deficiency has been associated with a swelling of the thyroid or goiter. Goiter has also been
associated with cancers of the breast, stomach, esophagus, ovaries, and uterus.
24

25

26
 My colleague, Jorge Flechas, M.D.,
reports a “definite increase in the incidence of breast cancer, stomach cancer, ovarian cancer, and thyroid cancer with the
presence of iodine deficiency.”
27
 I have seen similar results in my practice.
BREAST CANCER AND HYPOTHYROIDISM
Because breast cancer is occurring at epidemic rates, it is important to discuss this topic again. The relationship between
hypothyroidism and breast cancer has been reported for over 100 years. In fact, the first reported connection between these two
illnesses was mentioned in 1896. Although there has not been a consensus opinion on the relationship between breast cancer and
hypothyroidism, many researchers feel there is a direct connection.
Researchers have found that hypothyroidism is much more common in women with breast cancer.
28

29
 Other researchers
have found that the use of thyroid hormones may cause a higher incidence of breast cancer.
30
 Although there has been a great
controversy in medicine on verifying the relationship
between hypothyroidism and breast cancer, my experience has shown thatthere is a connection.
It is known that hypothyroidism predisposes one to a poorly functioning immune system. This can set the stage for serious
illnesses such as cancer. One would think that the treatment of hypothyroidism with thyroid hormone would improve the condition
of breast cancer, since it should improve the functioning of the immune system. However, this has not been shown to be the case
in some studies. In fact, some studies point to an exacerbation of breast cancer when thyroid hormones are used to treat a
hypothyroid condition.
One study found that hypothyroid women who took thyroid hormone had a 50% increased risk of breast cancer.
31
Furthermore, as compared to women who were taking thyroid hormone for less than 15 years, the same researchers reported a
200% increased risk of breast cancer in women who were taking thyroid hormone for more than 15 years. The results of this
study are illustrated in
Figure 16
,
page 168
.
32
WHY WOULD THE TREATMENT OF HYPOTHYROIDISM RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF BREAST
CANCER? THE IODINE CONNECTION
When hypothyroidism is present, the body is in a hypometabolic state. In other words, all bodily functions slowdown and the
consequences of this state include cold extremities, dry skin, fatigue, brain fog and weight gain.

Figure 16: Increased Risk of Breast Cancer the Longer Women Took Thyroid Hormone
When thyroid hormone is ingested, it results in an increased metabolic state which reverses all of the above conditions.
ATP is the body’s “high octane” energy source. Thyroid hormone utilizes ATP to increase the body’s metabolic rate. This
increased metabolism helps the body produce more heat, lose weight, overcome fatigue, etc. If thyroid hormone is given to an
iodine-deficient patient, the increased metabolic rate due to thyroid hormone will actually increase the body’s need for iodine as
well as decreasing the ability of the cells of the body to concentrate iodine.
Iodine uptake by the cells is an energy dependent process which requires ATP. Thyroid hormones use the energy available for
the synthesis of ATP to produce heat. This effect lowers the available ATP for cellular uptake of iodine by the target cells. If
there
are lowered ATP levels in the body, the target cells have a more difficult time concentrating iodine.
Finally, if a hypothyroid condition is treated with thyroid hormone and there is also iodine deficiency present, the use of
thyroid hormone will exacerbate an iodine-deficient condition. In other words, if you treat with thyroid hormone without first
correcting for iodine deficiency, you will increase the body’s need for iodine and worsen the iodine-deficient problem that is
already present.
The only logical explanation that ties the treatment of hypothyroidism with an increased risk of developing breast cancer
would be the presence of an iodine deficiency.
In simpler terms, thyroid hormones introduced into the body will raise the body’s need for iodine. The breasts, like the thyroid
gland, have an advanced system for absorbing and storing iodine. When there is iodine deficiency, the breasts and the thyroid
gland enlarge to compensate for that deficiency. In both cases, iodine deficiency induces hyperplasia, which is a precancerous
lesion. This will set the stage for thyroid and breast diseases, including cancer of the thyroid gland and the breasts.
If iodine deficiency is present, the use of thyroid hormone supplementation without first correcting (or simultaneously
correcting) the iodine deficit will exacerbate the body’s deficit of
iodine. The result of this can be an increase in disorders caused
by iodine deficiency such as cancers of the breast and thyroid.
THE BREASTS AND IODINE
The therapeutic use of iodine in treating breast cancer was first described in the medical literature in 1896.
33
 There is a direct
relationship between breast cancer (as well as goiter) and regions of the world where iodine


	light	circling	the	horizon.	My	mental
guide	wasn’t	an	accident	or	a	daydream.	I	realized	that	for	a	long	time	I’d
wanted	to	know
how	it	all	works
.	The	answer	is	that	mind,	the	world,	and
Karma	are	the	same	thing,	perfect	mirrors	of	one	another.	Their	complexity	is
impossible	to	fathom.	Their	infinite	connections	can	never	be	mapped	out,
and	even	if	they	could	be,	the	next	tick	of	the	clock	will	bring	a	new,	equally
infinite	set	of	possibilities.
That	realization	is	as	close	as	I’ve	ever	come	to	being	in	the	gap	where	a
new	lifetime	is	chosen.	The	gap	is	pure	freedom,	and	when	you	see	that	you
are	completely	free,	choices	change.	Some	souls	want	to	remain	completely
unattached;	they	choose	Moksha,	or	liberation	from	a	physical	body	and	the
karma	it	acts	out.	Other	souls	cherish	Moksha	but	want	to	enjoy	it	while
possessing	a	body.	They	choose	to	reincarnate	with	complete	self-awareness
—we	call	them	enlightened.	The	rest	of	us	fall	somewhere	else.	We	cherish
being	free,	but	we	also	want	new	experiences.	So	we	let	Karma	weave	a	new
story	for	us.	We	keep	some	self-awareness	and	sacrifice	some.	We	agree	to
acquire	amnesia	about	“I	am”	in	exchange	for	the	drama	of	being	a	separate
person	with	likes	and	dislikes,	challenges	and	opportunities.
The	new	life	we	clothe	ourselves	in	will	contain	its	unique	measure	of
connection	and	disconnection.	This	is	hardly	the	perfect	way	to	relate	to
mind,	Karma,	and	the	world.	The	perfect	way	is	freedom.	But	in	our
imperfect	way	we	become	part	of	a	mystery.	We	accept	a	role	in	this
fascinating	play	of	light	and	darkness,	and	once	again	the	physical	world
becomes	our	reality.	We	return	to	a	belief	that	death	is	a	fearful	thing,	that
struggle	is	necessary,	that	pleasure	is	worth	pursuing	and	pain	worth	avoiding.
We	forget	the	knowledge	that	our
souls
	have,	or	that	we	had	when	we	were	in
the	gap.	We	keep	only	a	bit	of	the	truth	close	by	so	that	we	have	something	to
aspire	to.	I	have	a	feeling	that	we	also	keep	a	measure	of	sorrow	for	the
decision	we	made	to	leave	truth	behind.	Our	half-truth	has	one	virtue,
however.	As	long	as	we	believe	in	it,	the	soul	will	never	give	up	on	teaching
us	the	rest.	For	that	purpose,	the	dream	continues.Part	Two
T
HE
	B
URDEN	OF
	P
ROOF

UNTIL	THIS	CENTURY
	the	burden	of	proof	in	spiritual	matters	lay	with
disbelievers.	Religion	had	such	a	powerful	hold	upon	the	human	imagination
that	for	whole	cultures—the	ancient	Egyptians	and	medieval	Christians	come
to	mind—the	material	world	was	much	less	real	than	the	world	of	the	gods	or
God.	Most	modern	people	can	barely	fathom	this	worldview,	because	we	are
as	immersed	in	materialism	as	they	were	in	idealism—the	belief	that	nature
begins	in	subtle	realms	of	spirit.	In	idealism	the	earth	is	a	lower	world	while
heaven	is	higher.	Thus	everything	about	earthly	life—its	physicality,
appetites,	sexual	drive,	disease,	suffering,	and	old	age—is	further	from	God
or	spirit	than	heaven.
Science	did	not	overturn	this	view	by	disproving	it.	Idealism	was	simply
outmoded	by	a	new	worldview—materialism—that	was	more	practical.
Materialism	brought	about	technology,	with	its	attendant	comforts,	and	it
explained	many	phenomena	that	religion	preferred	to	regard	as	a	mystery
known	only	to	God.	Like	any	worldview,	the	old	one	overstepped	its	bounds
when	it	claimed,	for	example,	that	diseases	were	acts	of	God	to	punish
sinners.	Once	germs	were	discovered,	this	explanation	seemed	pointless	and
ultimately	irrational.	But	by	the	same	token,	the	new	worldview	would
overstep	its	bounds,	as	it	has	today,	when	science	claims	that	without	physical
proof	we	can	abolish	all	notions	of	God,	angels,	ghosts,	spirit,	the	soul,	and
the	afterlife	itself.	Just	as	religion	had	no	competency	in	physics	and
chemistry,	science	has	no	competency	in	spiritual	issues.
The	burden	of	proof	has	shifted,	and	now	it	is	the	believer	who	must
prove	that	God	and	the	soul	are	real.	For	many	people,	the	triumph	of
materialism	is	so	complete	that	even	showing
why
	we	should	care	about	God
and	the	soul	is	a	tough	challenge.
If	skepticism	carries	the	day	in	some	circles,	in	popular	culture	the	burden
still	lies	with	proving	that	the	afterlife
doesn’t
	exist.	Consistently	polls	show
that	90%	of	people	believe	in	heaven,	and	almost	that	many	believe	they	are
going	there.	Belief	in	hell	suffers	a	sharp	decline	to	75%	and	only	68%
believe	in	the	devil.	This	leaves	most	people	in	a	quandary,	dividing	their
allegiance	between	faith	when	it	comes	to	spirituality	and	science	when	it
comes	to	the	material	world.	No	less	than	Sir	Isaac	Newton	was	a	devout
Christian	who	wrestled	his	whole	life	with	the	schism	he	saw	between	science
and	metaphysics.
There	is	another	way,	however.	In	this	book	I’ve	tried	to	present	a	view	of
the	afterlife	based	on	consciousness,	and	issues	about	consciousness	can	be
settled,	at	least	partially,	through	science.	The	evidence	we’re	looking	for	isn’tphotographs	of	supernatural	phenomena	(these	already	exist	in	abundance	but
only	lead	to	more	skepticism).	The	most	helpful	evidence	would	be	in	support
of	the	major	claims	that	underlie	Vedanta,	which	is	consistent	on	its	own
terms.	The	primary	claim,	of	course,	is	that	reality	is	created	from
consciousness.	We	will	have	our	proof	if	we	can	answer	the	following
questions:
Is	Akasha	real?
Does	the	mind	extend	beyond	the	brain?
Is	the	universe	aware?
Does	consciousness	have	a	basis	outside	time	and	space?
Can	our	beliefs	shape	reality?
These	are	fundamental	questions	that	science	has	touched	upon,	even
though	few	researchers	had	the	afterlife	in	mind	when	they	made	their
findings.	It’s	fair	to	say	that	physics	never	set	out	to	prove	that	the	universe	is
self-aware.	But	so	many	mysteries	remain	unsolved	if	the	universe
isn’t
	self-
aware	that	cutting-edge	theories	are	starting	to	include	that	once	unthinkable
idea.
Looking	at	unsolved	mysteries	is	our	best	hope,	in	fact,	because	only
those	things	that	science	hasn’t	explained	offer	room	for	radically	new
thinking.	At	present,	neurology	doesn’t	know	how	memory	works,	or	how
brain	cells	turn	raw	data	into	complex	thought,	or	where	identity	is	located.	If
we	knew	these	things,	there	might	be	no


 or to distract yourself from pain. Even though your
emotional self isn’t your true self, it should mirror your true self, which is
silently sending you impulses of bliss and total self-acceptance.
The niyamas  are also defined by what you shouldn’ t do if your aim is
right living. Being aware of what not to do is just as productive as knowing
the practices for self-acceptance. Emotional intelligence contains both. The
opposite of self-acceptance is low self-esteem, so this is the area to focus
on.WAYS YOU LOWER YOUR SELF-ESTEEM
Comparing yourself unfavorably to other people.
Reminding yourself of your shortcomings.
Condemning all your mistakes, however trivial.
Setting up an ideal of perfection that you will never attain.
Being unreasonable in the demands you place on yourself.
Holding on to old experiences of guilt and shame.
Pretending to be better than you actually think you are.
Deprecating yourself in moments of false modesty.
I’ve offered many specifics in these two lists, yet emotional intelligence
isn’t difficult to come by, nor is self-acceptance. Just keep in mind that your
emotional life isn’t the be-all and end-all of existence. By their nature,
emotions rise and fall. If you accept this basic fact—that your feelings are
transient and can be mercurial, even on your best days—half the job of self-
acceptance is done. You have achieved a measure of detachment, which
allows you not to be so consumed by your feelings, especially the negative
ones; they are events in your mental activity, not aspects of your essential
true self.
You are never going to have a blissful emotional life by struggling with
your emotions or trying to escape them, either. This is one area where
allowing life to unfold naturally, without interference, is very ef fective.
Exercise
The single most important practice for contentment is not to resist the
flow of life. In other words, take things as they come. The opposite of this
is to offer resistance. Pause to reflect on the people you tend to resist in
various ways. Often, they are the people who are closest to you, whether
family member s, colleagues, or even friends. Consider the kinds of
resistance that are casually practiced. They include:
Bickering and argumentsUnresolved disagreements
Rejection
Ridicule
Resentment
Feeling either superior or inferior
Pushing people away
Expressing a lack of respect
Nagging
Indulging in petty criticisms
Emotional intelligence teaches that resisting others contributes to your
own lack of contentment and self-acceptance. One way of increasing
contentment in your life is to back down from unnecessary habitual
resistance. Try using the princip le of opposites. For instance, if you realize
that you can be highly critical, begin practicing criticism’ s oppo site: praise.
Instead of pointing out someone ’s flaws or complaining, take a breath and
offer a word of admiration or encouragement. Using this simple tactic
becomes your way of contributing to the flow of life.
WEDNESDAY
The Fire of Transformation
Begin by silently repeating today’ s theme:
I allow the light to create transformation.
I allow the light to create transformation.
The third niyama  is abou t transforming your old emotional habits.
Habits block the light by forcing you to react automatically without
consciously being in control. In classic Yoga, the lasting impressions that
rob us of choice are like seeds that must be burned away. The burning is
done by awareness itself, using the light’ s ability to purify the mind. It isalso taught that the fire of trans formation burns away ignorance. The point
here is that the obstacles that keep us from living in the light are frozen bits
of consciousness. Therefore, only consciousness can melt them away.
Old form s must  be destroyed to make room for the new. This makes
perfect sense emotionally. If you are consumed with resentment about a
failed relationship, a bad boss, or an unfair monetary loss, you can’t move
on until the emotion you are stuck in is dissipated.
There is considerable misunderstanding about how the process works,
however, and words like fire, destr oy, and burn  can mislead someone into
thinking that some kind of violence is involved. In many religious traditions
the ritual of mortifying the flesh had the intention of purifying the spirit,
using the body’ s pain as the fire. Fortunately, such rituals are irrelevant to
modern life. Simply by focusing your awareness, you can begin to burn
away the vrittis  that block your true self. It takes dedication to achieve
transformation. Focus is a necessity.
We are all familiar with how focus works whenever we become
absorbed in a game or hobby. Focusing for hours at a time without feeling
any strain is entirely natural. Royal Yoga teaches that experiences like these
are gateways to the true self. Becoming absorbed in the mom ent comes
naturally, so the only change is that you focus inwardly. Then you can allow
your awareness to do what it already wants to do, which is to find the light.
The practices of the third niyama  expand upon this basic insight.
THE PRACTICES OF SELF-TRANSFORMATION
Have an interest in ﬁnding your true self.
Enjoy going inside.
Value every experience of being in the light.
Don’t look for fulﬁllment in the outside world.
Make conscious choices, instead of following unconscious
habit and routine.
Welcome change, instead of resisting it.
See every experience as a mirror of yourself.Regularly meditate.
Take the opportunity for “in time” and “down time” every day.
These are all gentle practices, but the profoundest transformation is
gentle. Unlike our struggle to improve ourselves, the essence of
transformation is to allow the light to do all the work. This is the law of
least effort. Wha t you are aiming for is a series of revelations, insights, and
“Aha!” moment s. They signal that change is at hand. Only the light can
deliver these transformative experiences. Your ego and a burni ng desire to
get rid of the things you dislike about yourself cannot do the job. You will
be surprised at how steadily revelation comes once you get out of the way
and allow the focus of awareness to develop of its own accord.
Exercise
The key to transformation is getting out of the way, which happens to
be the opposite  of what most people do when they desire change. They
struggle, push themselves, and fight against frustration. (A good example of
how futile those tactics are is revealed in the dismal fact that only 2 percent
of dieters, in their struggle to lose weight, succeed in keeping off 5 pounds
for two years.)
You can turn this pattern around  in two ways. First, look honestly at an
area of your life where you have struggled and resolve not to keep doing
what never worked in the first place. Second, find enjoyable ways to meet
yourself “in here.” As alluded to earlier, seek some “in time” and “quiet
time” every day. Stillness conc entrates the light, while chaos scatters it.
Become accusto med to the comfort of being in communion with yourself.
Once this becomes your new habit, you are getting out of the way, setting
the stage for the process of transformation as it is really designed to work.
THURSDAY
Tracking Your True SelfBegin by silently repeating today’ s theme:
I reﬂect on my true self to bring it closer.
I reﬂect on my true self to bring it closer.
The fourth niyama  calls for clearly  understanding that your true self is
real, tangible, and powerful. The word self is one of the most important in
Yoga, and most people will have no trouble seeing that they have a social
self and an emotional self. Much more foreign is the notion that everyone
has a true self, hidden like a jewel in the stormy activity of the mind.
Various interpretations speak of this niyama  as self-reflection, but it
matters deeply whether you are reflecting on a self you can trust and have
faith in. Without a doubt, we don’t fully trust our emotions. We feel them,
sometimes strongly, but they are temporary, changeable, and fickle. It is
baffling why this niyama  would ask you to reflect upon the swirling
whirlpool of your emotions.
The key is that self-reflection enables you to stand aside and not
become so involved in your emotions. Think about a moviegoer who sits
entranced by an adventure film or a romantic comedy on the screen, and yet
who doesn’t know that he’s watching a movie or, worse, that movies even
exist.
We are all that moviegoer to some degree or other. Entranced by the
movie we are living, we don’t realize the illusory nature of what we are
watching, and, worse still, we don’t realize that everything we observe is
the play of consciousness. Self-reflection clears up this confusion and
therefore points us toward our true self.
THE PRACTICES OF SELF-REFLECTION
Keep in mind that you are here to evolve.
Don’t get stuck in emotional habits.
Place a high value on experiences that reﬂect your true self
(e.g., love, compassion, beauty, insight, creativity, andmental clarity).
Don’t add to the drama around you.
Resist buying into other people’s drama.
Avoid immersing yourself in news stories about catastrophes


The lessons in this section are set up to be as flexib le as
possible. First there’s an axiom or insight for the day. It is followed
by a brief expl anation, and then an exercise. Read the axiom and
explanation at least once, although several times throughout the
day is better, so that your att ention is drawn back to the theme of
the day. The exercise should be done as often as it takes fo r you to
feel tha t it really sank in—one  to three times separated throughout
your day should do it. Finally, space has been left for you to
journal about your experien ce. Even better would be to keep a
separate journal devoted to waking up.
Is a  month en ough time to completely wake up? I sinc erely
doubt it, but some people have been known to open their e yes one
morning, look around, and know with certainty that they haveawakened. Others gradually change inside and slip into higher
consciousness almost without noticing that the change has taken
place—it becam e second nature over the years. In all likelihood
you will get th e most out of repeating these lessons, goi ng back
when you feel the desire to reengage with the learning process.
There a re degr ees of being a wake, just as there are skill levels in
learning a new language, French cooking, or rock climbing.
Reinforcing your awakened state is part of the process.
The lessons get longer as the  month goes on, not because  they
are hard er but because there is more to see. Every lesson is  equally
easy.
Be open, fluid, and flexible a bout getting there. The beauty of
the direct path is that each lesson along the way has its own
achievements, its own “aha” moments, and its own pleasures. In
that spirit, let the waking up begin.To download, go to http://prhlink.com/9781524762988a001
DAY 1

The everyday experience of reality starts with perceptions
—sounds, colors, shapes, textures, tastes, and smells.
Waking up is supposed to b e effortless. But it’s important to
know w here to  start. There is  no better place to begin than where
you are  right this moment. In  fact, we will wind up in trou ble if we
pretend that there is any other starting point. You are
experiencing your life as it i s, a flow of experiences that begins
with the five senses.
For Today
Get in touch w ith the basics. Sit for a moment and be with your
simplest exper ience of light, w armth, the smells wafting your way,
the tast e of food. Relax into  the experience. Just observe. The
more yo u are able to relax, th e more effortless waking up will be.
Relaxing into the moment is the key. In a relaxed sta te your
mental activity calms down, and observing your direct experience
happens naturally.
YOUR EXPERIENCE:

 DAY 2

The range of human perception is a narrow bandwidth of
raw sensations.
The five senses are our window on reality, but the opening is a
slit, no t a picture window. “Seeing is believing” usually only
applies to a small fraction of the raw data bombarding the eye
every second. The same is t rue for the other four senses. They
conspire to deliver a narrow bandwidth of reality. To expand the
bandwidth to increase our perception, is one reason for waking
up.
For Today
Get in touch with how narrow your sense of reality actually is.
Cup your hands over your ea rs and notice how muffled th e world
is. Put on sung lasses and notice how dim the world becomes. Turn
off the lights at night and cautiously, with small steps, try to
navigate a room in your hou se you are very familiar with. When
you take your hands away from your ears, remove your sunglasses,
and tur n on the lights, your awareness of everything aro und you
expands. Waking up expands reality even more.
YOUR EXPERIENCE:

 DAY 3

All biological organisms have their own unique
bandwidth of sensory experience.
Experience defines us all, and since we are tuned in to only one
bandwidth of reality—call it the Me Channel—our identit y is also
narrow. Other living things are tuned in to different bandwidths,
giving them an existence we can barely imagine. But humans can
change the channel at will. Reality is only as narrow as our
awareness. Wh en you wake up, you are tuned in to the entire
bandwidth. Then reality is unlimited.
For Today
Take a mome nt to listen to  the birds singing. Each bird is
telling its story. Birdsong communicates information from parent
to c hick, announces the limit s of territory, attracts a mate, signals
danger, and identifies which  species the bird belongs to. Notice
that you do not understand a single thing on Bird Channel. If it is
winter o r you hear no birds, consider a dog sniffing the air. A dog’s
nose can tell i t who has wa lked by, what was on that person’s
shoes, and when the incident occurred. Notice that your nose
gathers none of the information that comes across Dog Channel.
YOUR EXPERIENCE:

 DAY 4

Our physical body is also a perceptual experience.
The Me  Chann el tells you th at you have a body. The body you
see and feel, th e sensations that come through the nervous system,
the locations of pleasure and pain—these signals are constantly
broadcast on the Me Chann el. The body is not a thing; it is a
confederation of perceptions. Your mind unites these frag mented
perceptions int o a coherent im age in time and space. If your mind
didn’t do that, the Me Channel would just be transmitting noise.
For Today
Take a momen t to perceive y our body directly. Close your eyes
and sit  quietly. Let your attention roam from sensation to
sensation. Lift your arm and feel its weight. Rub your fingers
together and feel their softne ss and the texture of the skin. Hear
your breath and your heartbeat. It doesn’t matter how many
signals you pick up, or wheth er your body feels nice to you or not
nice. You have contacted the real body you have. The experience of
the body is  the body. Everything else is mental interference. When
you wak e up, you will accept and enjoy the experience of t he body
for itself, which is blissful.
YOUR EXPERIENCE:

 DAY 5

By itself each perceptual experience is a unique,
evanescent, ungraspable, momentary sensation. Our
senses take snapshots of reality.
Life gives us a constant flow of perceptions that we live by. The
five sen ses are the pipeline through which everything flows. But
it’s not like a continuous flow of water from a faucet. Sensations
are muc h more like rain, whi ch falls one drop at a time. W e make
sense of life using fleeting t houghts and sensations. We ignore
how ev anescent every perception really is—each sensation starts
to fa de as soon  as it is noticed. Every thought has already v anished
by the time it registers. By w aking up, we stop ignoring what is
actually happe ning all the time. The need to turn fleeting
sensations into a running movie or story fades away.
For Today
Put a grain of s alt or sugar on  your tongue. Notice how the  taste
starts to diminish after the first strong taste sensation. Pay
attention to how your saliva ry glands quickly reacted and how
your throat wanted to swallow. This puts you in touch with how
brief and temporary experien ce is. But here’s the real point. Try to
taste what was on your tongue before  you  pla ced the  salt or sugar
on i t. You can’ t. That taste, which you probably didn’t ma ke note
of w hen it occu rred, has fled forever. Fleeting perceptions  are the
texture of life.
YOUR EXPERIENCE:

 DAY 6

The only constant in every snapshot of perception is the
presence of being and awareness.
Snapshots don’t take themselves—there has to be a
photographer behind the camera. No matter how many thousands
of photos a professional photographer takes, he is the constant
behind the lens. His job is to  look, arrange the setting, p lace the
lights, focus, and decide if the image satisfies him. You do the
same with reality. Your senses deliver snapshots of raw data,
which change in endless ways. The only constant is you, seeing,
arranging, turn ing random bursts of perception into so mething
you can relate to. Most of this happens automatically, but when
you wake up, you see what you’re doing. Then you hav e much
more freedom to create.
For Today
Get bac k in touch with the b asic units of experience. Sit for a
moment and be with your simplest experience of light, warmth,
the sme lls wafting your way, the taste in your mouth. Relax into
the experience. Notice each sensation spontaneously, w herever
your att ention wanders. The more you are able to relax, the more
effortless wakin g up will be. Waking


(these	substances	may	cause	the	body
to	lose	water).	Water	is	a	simple	choice,	often	overlooked.	Dehydration	is	a
common	problem,	especially	among	our	elderly	population.
A	toxic	lifestyle	is	often	created	unwittingly.	We	fail	to	appreciate	that	many
small	toxic	exposures	over	time,	to	a	wide	variety	of	toxins,	lead	to	an
accumulation,	causing	our	cells	to	malfunction.	Even	small	amounts	of	toxins
can	perform	amazing	feats	of	chemistry	by	inhibiting	hormones,	deactivating
enzymes,	compromising	our	detoxification	systems	and	using	up	precious
nutrients.	Toxicity	is	seldom	recognized	as	a	primary	cause	of	our	healthproblems.	The	toxic	invaders	in	our	lives—whether	they	are	brought	into	our
homes	or	they	are	created	in	our	own	bodies—are	also	not	easily	detected	by
typical	“radar.”	The	toxins	that	harm	us	seldom	are	labeled	hazardous,	and	they
are	difficult	to	identify.
Once	we	understand	the	role	toxins	play	in	cellular	malfunction,	we	can
understand	the	importance	of	minimizing	toxic	exposure	and	maximizing	the
body’s	ability	to	detoxify.	In	order	to	protect	yourself	and	your	family,	you	must
learn	how	to	spot	these	silent	and	hidden	dangers,	and	how	to	keep	your
defenses	strong	in	order	to	avoid	toxic	overload.	Never	before	has	the	human
body	been	faced	with	such	challenges	of	personal	and	global	pollution.	To
respond	to	these	challenges	and	to	move	yourself	in	the	right	direction	on	the
toxin	pathway,	learn	to	make	the	daily	choices	that	will	reduce	your	toxic
exposure	and	support	your	detoxification	systems.7
T
HE
	P
SYCHOLOGIAC
P
ATHWAY
“The	simple	truth	is,	happy	people	generally	don’t	get
sick.	One’s	attitude	toward	oneself	is	the	single	most
important	factor	in	healing	or	staying	well.	Those	who	are	at
peace	with	themselves	and	their	immediate	surroundings
have	far	fewer	serious	illnesses	than	those	who	are	not.”
Bernie	Siegel,	M.D.
Love,	Medicine	&	Miracles
E
ven	when	nutrients	are	scarce	and	toxins	abundant,	one’s	potential	for	health
is	nearly	limitless,	and	it	relies	almost	entirely	on	ourselves	and	the	power	of	the
mind.	Thoughts	and	emotions	have	a	tremendous	effect	on	our	cells	and
therefore	our	health.	What	we	put	into	our	minds	may	be	more	important	than
what	we	put	into	our	bodies.	The	power	of	the	mind	is	your	best	ally	in	choosing
to	get	well	and	stay	well.
You	are	what	you	think.
“How	can	it	be,”	you	might	ask,	“that	the	mind	has	so	much	control	over	the
body?”	This	question	assumes	that	one	is	separate	from	the	other;	in	fact,	they
are	inseparable.	All	the	cells	in	our	body	contribute	to	what	we	call	the	mind,
and	what	goes	on	in	our	mind	affects	what	happens	in	all	our	cells.
Chemical	reactions	are	produced	throughout	the	body	by	our	thoughts,
emotions	and	interactions	with	others.	Fear	makes	us	turn	pale;	embarrassment
makes	us	blush.	Modern	science	has	proven	that	these	“thought	chemicals”
either	can	be	beneficial	or	detrimental	to	health.
We	can	choose	what	we	put	into
our	minds,	and	in	doing	so,	we	can	choose	between	health	and	disease.
This	concept	is	sometimes	difficult	for	people	to	embrace	because	thought
chemicals	are	abstract.	Their	effect,	though,	is	reflected	in	Dr.	Bernie	Siegel’s
1986	book,
Love,	Medicine	&	Miracles
:	“If	I	told	patients	to	raise	their	blood
levels	of	immune	globulins	or	killer	T-cells,	no	one	would	know	how.	But	if	I
can	teach	them	to	love	themselves	and	others	fully,	the	same	change	happens
automatically.”
Consider	how	thought	chemicals	can	improve	or	damage	health:
•	A	1991	study	in	the
New	England	Journal	of	Medicine
found	that	stressful
life	situations	(such	as	losing	a	job,	breaking	off	an	engagement	or	simply
feeling	overwhelmed	by	life’s	problems)	nearly	doubles	the	risk	of	catching
a	cold.•	A	thirty-five-year	study	(1946–1981)	of	Harvard	graduates	showed	that
people	who	had	a	pessimistic	outlook	on	life	suffered	significantly	more
disease	after	age	forty-five	than	people	with	a	positive	outlook.
•	A	2001	study	in
Psychosomatic	Medicine
found	that	optimism	protects
against	heart	disease.	People	who	are	pessimistic	and	blame	themselves	for
everything	were	much	more	likely	to	die	of	a	heart	attack	than	their
optimistic	counterparts.
•	Dr.	O.	Carl	Simonton,	in	his	1978	book,
Getting	Well	Again,
talks	about
how	visual	imagery	with	positive	mental	images	had	a	beneficial	effect	on
patients	with	advanced	cancer.	Simonton	found	that	people	who	used	their
minds	to	heal	had	double	the	survival	rate	of	those	who	did	not.
•	A	study	in	a	2000	issue	of
Lancet
concluded	that	women	who	experience
severe	emotional	stress	during	the	first	trimester	of	pregnancy	are	80
percent	more	likely	to	have	a	child	with	birth	defects.
Body,	Heal	Thyself
You	must	believe	in	your	health	if	you	are	to	maintain	or	regain	health.	You
must	actively	care	for	your	health	when	you	are	well,	and	actively	pursue
wellness	when	you	are	ill.
When	my	own	body	was	in	progressive	deterioration	during	the	depths	of	my
illness,	I	began	to	realize	that,	for	survival,	I	needed	to	employ	my	mind	as	well
as	my	body.	I	began	to	repeat	a	version	of	an	old	affirmation	to	myself,	again
and	again,	a	mantra	of	sorts:
Every	day,	in	every	way,	I	get	stronger	and	stronger
and	better	and	better.
At	first,	when	I	would	say	this	to	myself,	my	mind	would	fight	back,	saying
something	like,
Wow,	are	you	a	liar!	You	feel	worse	today	than	you	did
yesterday.
I	realized	that	my	positive	mental	affirmations	were	being	negated	by
my	own	thinking	about	my	situation.	I	began	to	reply	to	my	mind’s	objections
by	saying,
I	know	I	am	worse	today,	but	I	am	giving	you	an	instruction.
Once	I	became	comfortable	giving	my	body	instructions,	my	own	objections
began	to	disappear	and	my	body	began	to	respond.	I	would	say	my	affirmation,
sometimes	out	loud,	with	passion	and	expectancy,	many	times	daily,	repeatedly,
until	I	could	feel	strength	coming	into	my	body	as	I	said	the	words.	After	a	few
weeks,	my	subconscious	mind	began	to	implement	the	instructions	and	intent	of
my	conscious	mind.	One	day,	after	saying	these	affirmations,	I	felt	the	best	that	I
had	felt	since	the	onset	of	my	illness.	The


 the principal of that school, I asked him what the probabilities were that many of
these boys would finally become involved in crime. His comment was, in effect, that they were
virtually in the vestibule of a penal institute, when judged by the experience of previous boys from
that school.
    In approaching a study of this group, it is helpful to observe the experience of the well-equipped
institutions organized for the correction of the abnormal trend which characterizes these boys. In
this connection, there is a helpful report by the United States Dept. of Labor, Publication No. 203,
which gives the result of tracing the after careers of 621 boys who were in five of the best-known
correctional institutions. It was found that 66 per cent had been arrested and 58 per cent convicted7/29/13 Nutrition and Physical Degeneration
gutenberg.net.au/ebooks02/0200251h.html#toc 213/250one or more times after having been paroled from the institution. It is apparent from data of this
type that probably the forces that produce these abnormal expressions cause irreparable damage
in the brain tissue. Practically all recent crime reports are recording an increase in juvenile crime.
The Children's Bureau of the Dept. of Labor stated (Nov. 4, 1938): "that juvenile delinquency
spurted during 1937 for the first time since 1930," but it cannot explain why until further study.
    Reports to the bureau from 28 courts in 17 states and the District of Columbia showed that they
handled 31,038 cases during 1937, an increase of 3,000 over 1936. The report showed that 44
per cent of the cases involved children between 14 and 15 years old; 22 per cent those between
12 and 13 years, and 10 per cent those between 10 and 11. Boys' cases comprised 8 5 per cent
of the total.
    As an approach to this problem I have made an examination of 189 boys in the Cleveland
school for pre-delinquents. I gave particular attention to those physical signs of nutritional injury,
which seemed to be definitely assigned to the formative period of the child. We endeavored to
obtain detailed information relative to the family history and to the birth of the child. We were
fortunate in having the assistance of the officers, and of a nurse in the dental service of the Health
Department of the Board of Education, a nurse who made visits to the homes of many of these
boys to obtain the information directly from the mothers.
    In this group of boys, there were twenty-nine for whom I had not sufficient details to include
their cases in the studies. Of the 189 in the group, there were only three with sufficiently normal
dental arches to be classified as normal. Accordingly, 98.4 per cent proved to be individuals with
more or less marked abnormality. Many of the faces were very badly deformed.
    While often it will be difficult to place the responsibility entirely on either parent for the child's
abnormal physical development, it is of interest to study the birth rank of these children. The
average number of children in the families represented by these 160 children is 4.75. Of these,
thirty-five, or 21.9 per cent, are first children in the families represented; thirteen, or 9.1 per cent,
are only children; thirty-nine, or 24.4 per cent, are last children; and thirty-six or 22.5 per cent, are
fifth children or later. Sixty-two, or 38.7 per cent, are either the first or last child. It will be seen
from these data that the first or last child, or even a late child in a large family, tended to have a
distinctly poorer chance than the intermediate children in the families in which these studies were
made. Statistical data relating the age of the mother and father to prenatal deficiency of their
offspring reveal that abnormally young parents have a much higher percentage of defective children
than do those in the most favorable child-bearing period of life. The group at the Cleveland school
included only those boys who have been before the courts because of more or less serious phases
of delinquency. If they are in a considerable part the products of a defective society, it seems quite
unfair that they should be held entirely responsible for that delinquency, which has put them in this
institution. If they are destined for a penal institute in which they will be held entirely responsible for
that abnormality which resulted in their misdemeanor, as has been the procedure in the past, are
they receiving just consideration? Society may be justified in protecting itself from their misdeeds
by placing restrictions about them, but it does not seem that society is justified in shifting the entire
responsibility to the affected individuals.
    Recent studies of the mental capacity of felons brought before the Common Pleas Court in
Cleveland have shown that of 3,197 convicted felons examined in the medical clinic only 42.3 per
cent were classified as normal. Fifty-five and nine-tenths per cent were classed as defective
delinquents and only 1.8 per cent as insane. The outgrowth of this study has resulted in the drafting
by the Cleveland Bar Association of a new criminal law for Ohio to be presented to the coming
State Legislature. This bill provides for the creation of a new criminal class composed of what are
called defective delinquents. This includes morons and others of abnormal mentality but not insane
who commit felonies or misdemeanors. The purpose of this legislation is to afford special treatment
for law violators falling within the new classification, making it possible to segregate delinquents in
separate institutions. The Ohio law like that of most other states now recognizes only two types of
criminals, sane and insane, and if not insane they must be punished.7/29/13 Nutrition and Physical Degeneration
gutenberg.net.au/ebooks02/0200251h.html#toc 214/250    It is proper that we should ask who is to blame for the abnormalities which render these young
men incapable of making the necessary adaptation to our environment.
    An important characteristic of the boys in the Cleveland school was their low intelligence.
Practically all were recorded as retarded or mentally backward prior to their transfer to this
institution.
    It is important that we note the characteristics of groups that are similarly retarded, but who
have not demonstrated sufficiently unsocial characters to have to be placed in the pre-delinquent
groups. We shall recognize them as individuals who may never commit unsocial acts sufficient to
get them into trouble, though they will doubtless continue in the group of mentally backward
persons. Such a group is to be found in the Outwaithe School in Cleveland. The children in this
school, which enrolls about one thousand students, were examined in order to ascertain whether
there might be groups that are similarly afflicted physically. The school is distinctive because it has
a very high percentage of children who are backward mentally. Many of these children have been
concentrated there in order to bring them under the influence of special teachers. In an examination
of a cross section of the children, almost all were found to have had distinct injury in the formative
period, as evidenced by the changes in facial form. A preliminary survey of the backward children
of this institution was made by having typical classes selected by an official of the school from ages
ranging from eleven to seventeen. I examined the arches and made measurements of the head and
face. With the assistance of the school nurse I obtained records of the other children in the families
selected. This latter survey was supplemented by field work by the nurse. The intelligence
quotients, as reported in the records, were also provided. In the twenty-nine individuals so studied,
seven, or twenty-five per cent were first children; fourteen, or fifty per cent last children in the
families. Only one individual was found with approximately normal dental arches, that is,
approximately three per cent of the individuals. Twenty-eight children, or 97 per cent, had
abnormality of one or both dental arches. These children were placed in this institution because
they were backward mentally, although as a group they are comparable to the group studied in the
Thomas A. Edison School, where the grouping was based on delinquent traits. A cursory
examination was made by observing other pupils in this school in their classes and on the grounds.
A large percentage of severe facial and dental arch deformities and a very high percentage with
definite disturbances in facial growth were evident. These data are presented as applying to a
group of individuals characterized by a disturbed mentality, to the extent that they were assigned to
special classes for the mentally retarded. While the group constituting the school population at
Outwaithe represented the relatively large group of pupils assigned to special classes for backward
children and did not carry the stigmata of delinquency carried by those of the Thomas A. Edison
School, both groups had many physical defects in common.
    We are, accordingly, concerned with the relationship existing among various stages of mental
backwardness, pre-delinquency and criminality. To throw light on this subject, I visited our State
Penitentiary to observe the characteristics of facial and dental arch development of the individuals
whose unsocial traits had brought them to this institution. I visited the dental clinic with the director,
Dr. May, and saw the mouths of typical members of that colony as they were presented for oral
examination. I asked the director what, if any, special features of the oral cavity he had observed
to be characteristic of this group and


-sized slice from the end of a fresh gingerroot, cut off the
peel, and chop very fine. Add a few drops of lemon juice and a pinch of salt.
Eat this mixture a half-hour before lunch and dinner to stimulate your
digestion. If that is incovenient, the mixture can be eaten just before the
meal.
GHEEGhee, or clarified butter, is prized because it increases agni without
simultaneously fueling Pitta. Ghee in fact is considered excellent for
balancing Pitta. Kapha types generally need to avoid too much oil of any
kind, but ghee is the best for them, too. Ghee is used:
As a cooking oil. Small amounts of ghee are good for sautéing vegetables
(not for deep-fr ying). Ghee does not work as well as butter in baking—
breads and desserts need the moisture and milk solids in regular butter.
As a flavoring in place of butter. Since ghee is a prepared food, using
butter is not the same as using ghee. Where you would ordina rily butter a
vegetable dish or a baked potato or mix it into your oatmeal, ghee is a better
choice.
As a digestive. Drizzle a teaspoon of ghee over food at the table (more is
not better, since too much oil of any type is not healthy).
How to Make Ghee
Place one pound unsalted butte r in a one-quart saucepan over low heat.
Allow to melt completely, then raise heat to medium. Skim off foam as it
rises. When the butter starts to boil, giving off its water conten t, lower heat
again and cook slowly for abou t ten minutes. The ghee is done when all the
moisture has cooked out and the milk solids at the bottom of the pan have
turned light golden brown (there will also be a nutty aroma, but no hint of
burning). Remov e from heat, let cool, and pour into a clean glass jar or bowl.
Ghee keeps indefinitely in the refrigerator but can also be stored at cool or
even room temperature for several weeks.
OTHER SPICES FOR GOOD AGNI
Herbs and spices can be selected for each body type, as we did in the
Vata-, Pitta-, and Kapha-pacify ing diets. But certain ones are good for
generally improving the quality of agni.(Pitta types have to be careful to use these in small amounts, since they
tend to increase Pitta dosha.)
Building up excess Kapha will make digestion difficult by decreasing
agni; it is also bad for buildin g up ama, since both are cold, heavy, and
viscous. Using bitter and pungen t herbs will reduce Kapha and also “scrape”
ama out of the tissues. Ayurve da specifically recommends bitter taste for
purification. Among the more common spices that attack ama are:
As you can see, these are some of the spices recommended for stimulating
agni. The regula r but moderate use of these flavorings in your cooking will
help prevent ama from forming. Chewing fennel seed after a meal and
sweetening your herb tea with raw, uncooked honey are also standard
practices for balancing agni.
A BLISSFUL  DIET
If bliss is basic to life, there should be a physical counterpart for it in the
body, and indeed there is. According to Ayurveda, the body’ s counterpart to
pure joy is a subtle substance called ojas, which is extrac ted from food once
it has been perfectly digested. Like the doshas, ojas is just on the edge of
being physical; one could call it a subtle substance that registers on both
mind and body. The final and most valuable result of eating a good diet is toextract every drop of this subtle  substance from your food. That enables the
cells to “feel happy,” to experience the cellular equivalent of bliss.
Twenty years ago, the idea of a happy cell would have made little sense in
scientific terms.  Now we know that the body in fact is capable of generating
a complex network of chemic als (neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, and
related molecules) that the brain uses to communicate emotions throughout
the body. It is also known that a single meal can change  the brain’ s
biochemistry quite radically. A brain chemical connected with feelings of
well-being, such as serotonin, goes up and down in response to the food
being digested in the intestinal tract. This has opened up the exciting
possibility of a “food pharmacy ” to correct depression, anxiety, and other
mental disorders, just as fiber helps to correct cholesterol.
In Ayurveda we can bypass the bewildering complexity of brain
chemistry. Natur e has given us ojas, a single substance for happiness that the
body makes all the time.
THE SA TTVIC DIET
Ideally, any food you eat is turne d into ojas. At the breast, a baby naturally
turns his mother ’s milk into ojas, but it would take a remarkable digestive
tract to produc e ojas from three-day -old leftover pizza. An excellent,
balanced diet can be planned around the foods that turn into ojas with the
least effort on your body’ s part. Ayurveda calls these the sattvic, or pure,
foods.
To this list one often sees added wheat, mung beans, coconut, oranges,
dates, and honey. You do not need to be compulsive about these few foods,
or eat them exclusively. Just include them in your diet on a regular basis. On
a more general level, a sattvic diet contains:
Light, soothing, easily digested food
Fresh produce
Spring water
Balance of all six tastes
Moderate portions
According to Ayurveda, this is the best diet for physical strength, a good
mind, good health, and longevi ty. It is conducive to happines s and loving
emotions becau se it is in tune with nature as a whole. The list of sattvic
foods is short and would not fulfill a normal person’ s dietary requirements,
although if well managed, a diet limited to milk, vegetables, rice, and fruit
would certainly be excellent for one’s health. The famous Duke University
rice diet, based only on boiled rice and fruit, is recognized as an effective
therapeutic regime for heart patients, diabetics, and obese people.
Milk is currently unfashionable among health-conscious people, who tend
to link it with digestive problem s, allergies, and high cholesterol. Ayurveda
holds that most of the objections to milk have to do with consuming it
improperly. Milk should be boiled before drinking, which makes it more
digestible. It can be drunk hot, warm, or cool, but never ice cold, straight out
of the refrigerat or. Milk should not be taken with tastes that conflict with it
(pungent, sour, salty) but only with other sweet foods (such as grains, sweet
fruits, and cereals). Whenever possible, drink milk from organic dairies that
do not use hormones or pesticides and have a stated commitment to treat
their cows compassionately.
Sweet foods aside, it is recomm ended that you drink milk alone rather
than with your meals, since this is easier on your digestive tract. Low-fatmilk may be best for Kapha types, but whole milk is preferred for all other
body types (unless there is a problem with high cholesterol, in which case
skim milk is best). If you still have trouble digesting milk after it is boiled,
or if it seems to create mucous congestion, try adding two pinches of either
turmeric or dry ginger before boiling (adding a little raw sugar or honey will
cut the bitter taste of the turm eric). These measures remove most of the
current objections to milk, which Ayurveda traditionally considers an
excellent food for bodily strengt h, longevity, and peace of mind. Cow’ s milk
is favored above others as the most sattvic.
To move  in the direction of a more sattvic diet, try having your next plate
of pasta  with butter, cream, and Parmesan cheese instead of tomato sauce
with meat, onions, and garlic. Any such change, even for one or two meals,
should amply demonstrate that sattvic eating makes digestion easier, gives
you more energy after you eat, and infuses a light, buoyant feeling
throughout the body. (If you want to measure this difference accurately,
don’t drink alcohol with your meals while you are experimenting.) If your
cholesterol is elevated, go easy on the butter and cream; tossing the pasta
with olive oil, fresh basil, and a touch of Parmesan is a delicious substitute.
Another example of a sattvic food is sweet lassi, an excellent digestive aid
that can be drunk during mild or warm weather (it may tend to promote
excessive Kapha in the chill of winter).
Sweet Lassi
For four people, place a scant quarter teaspoon of cardamom, a pinch of
saffron threads, and three tablespoons of hot water in a blender. Blend for
ten seconds. Add two cups plain yogurt, two cups cool water, and two
tablespoons sugar; blend until smooth. If your mixture tastes too sharp, add a
quarter cup heavy cream. Adding a few drops of rose water at the end is
quite sattvic and cools Pitta (rose water is available at Indian and Middle
Eastern groceries and many health-food stores).


	meals.
•
Increase	your	consumption	of	raw	apple	cider	vinegar	by	adding	it	into	salad
dressings	or	hot	water	that	you	sip,	as	it	has	antiseptic	qualities	to	help	you
cleanse	for	spring	while	building	healthy	bacteria	in	your	gut.	It	also	offers
the	beauty-balancing	electrolyte	potassium.
•
Sprouts	and
microgreens	very	much	capture	the	emerging	energy	of	the
spring	and	are	bursting	with	living	enzymes,	vitamins,	minerals,	and
phytonutrients.	Wash	them	well	and	sprinkle	them	liberally	into	salads,	on
top	of	soups,	and	on	just	about	any	dish	you	eat.	Even	though	they	are	so
pretty	to	look	at,	you	can	also	throw	a	handful	into	a	smoothie!
•
Add	some	natural	diuretics	to	your	smoothies	and	other	dishes	to	help	flush
out	some	spring	water	weight.	Some	good	options	include	coriander,	parsley,
asparagus,	cranberry,	and	pineapple;	as	it	gets	closer	to	summer,	try	eggplant
and	watermelon.
•
Take	full	advantage	of	your	farmer’s	market,	which	will	have	a	much	wider
array	of	foods	than	it	did	during	the	winter.	Lettuces,	fennel,	broccoli,
asparagus,	watercress,	and	collard	greens	are	just	a	few	of	the	farmer’s	market
spring	treasures	you	will	discover.
•
Sweat	any	way	you	can!	This	is	a	great	time	of	year	to	hit	the	infrared	sauna
or	get	out	into	the	light	of	day	for	some	vigorous	hiking,	walking,	or
jogging.	Sweat	is	a	great	way	to	purge	out	toxicity	and	excess	stagnation	that
built	up	during	the	winter.
•
If	you	have	a	home	yoga	practice,	this	is	a	great	time	to	increase	the	Surya
Namaskars,	or	sun	salutations,	and	other	standing	flow	sequences,	as	you’ll
naturally	feel	like	moving	more	vigorously	this	season.
•
Take	advantage	of	the	growing	light.	Get	up	earlier	to	enjoy	the	mornings,
and	perhaps	take	an	afternoon	or	post-early-dinner	stroll	to	enjoy	the
evening	light	and	watch	the	sunset.	This	is	a	beautiful	way	to	sync	with	the
changing	rhythm	of	the	environment.•
Gently	exfoliate	dead	skin	cells	that	may	have	accumulated	from	winter	with
a	cleanser	that	contains	alpha	or	beta	hydroxy	acids.
•
Try	sloughing	off	excessive	dead	skin	cells	on	your	body	with	a	salt	scrub
rather	than	the	sugar	scrub	you	might	have	used	for	winter.	Salt	scrubs	are
considered	slightly	more	exfoliating,	and	salt	is	said	to	have	a	negative	ionic
charge,	helping	purify	negative	energies	and	impurities	that	you	may	have
picked	up	from	the	environment.
1
	This	is	the	theory	behind	the	rock	salt
lamps	sold	at	local	health	markets,	which	are	said	to	help	neutralize	home
environments	from	electronic	devices	that	are	believed	to	give	off	a	positive
ionic	charge.	Combine	equal	parts	coconut	oil	and	salt	with	15	to	20	drops
of	your	favorite	essential	oil	(such	as	lavender	or	neroli).	Keep	the	mixture
in	a	glass	or	BPA-free	container,	and	gently	scrub	your	entire	body	in	the
shower.
•
Pay	extra	attention	to	moving	stagnation	through	your	lymphatic	system,	as
this	is	the	season	to	detox.	Refer	back	to
this	page
	for	more	tips	on	this.
•
Ayurveda	encourages
Panchakarma
	methods	to	help	cleanse	the	body	and
renew	digestion.	These	are	detoxification	methods	that	include	colon
cleansing.	If	you’re	up	for	it,	try	getting	an	at-home	enema	kit	or	a	gravity
colonic	from	a	recommended	therapist.
•
Increase	your	water	intake	to	flush	out	impurities.	Also	try	incorporating
hot	water	with	lemon	in	the	afternoons	and/or	evenings.	This	is	a	fantastic
cleansing,	flushing	drink.
•
With	the	growing	light,	be	sure	to	properly	protect	yourself	from	the	sun
with	wide-brimmed	hats,	large	sunglasses,	and	nontoxic	sunscreen	(see
this
page
).
•
Synchronize	with	the	creative	power	flowing	through	nature	and	the
universe.	Take	the	time	to	put	energy	into	your	creative	ventures	and
longings,	and	cultivate	them.	Be	selective	with	your	time,	cutting	out
excessive	television	watching	and	other	more	passive	activities	you	might
have	engaged	in	over	the	cold	winter.	Spend	more	time	going	for	what	you
want.	You	have	all	the	power	of	the	universe	supporting	you	now	to	go	for
it!
Summer	Lifestyle	Beauty	Practices
Summer	brings	the	most	intense	sunlight,	which	is	activating	and	exciting.
Depending	on	where	you	live,	it	might	be	extremely	humid	or	extremely	dry	atthis	time.	You	might	also	be	contending	with	a	vacillation	between	hot	outdoor
weather	and	freezing	indoor	air-conditioning.	It’s	important	to	protect	and
nourish	your	immunity	and	energy	during	these	vital	summer	months.	Here
are	some	of	the	most	effective	Radical	Beauty	summer	practices:
•
Eat	lots	of	cooling,	juicy	in-season	fruits,	including	apricots,	grapes,
blueberries,	blackberries,	cherries,	plums,	raspberries,	strawberries,	figs,
nectarines,	and	melons.
•
Enjoy	beets,	cucumbers,	bell	peppers,	radishes,	summer	squash	varieties,
endives,	and	beans.	These	are	among	the	bounty	of	summer	foods	you’ll
find	fresh	and	available	at	your	local	farmer’s	market.
•
It’s	easier	to	get	more	agitated,	impatient,	and	annoyed	during	this	“fiery”
season	of
Pitta
,	which	governs	our	internal	fire.	It’s	a	good	idea	to	avoid
overactive	foods	that	might	enhance	those	qualities,	including	chilies,	spicy
tomatillos,	and	excessive	garlic	and	onion.
•
Drink	cooling,	herbal	teas	such	as	fresh	mint	tea	or	chamomile.	It’s	easy	to
grow	a	little	mint	plant	at	your	kitchen	windowsill	and	have	fresh	mint	tea
all	summer.
•
Honor	your	body’s	natural	inclination	to	eat	lighter	during	the	heat	of
summer.	Listen	to	your	body	and	never	force	it	to	eat.	It’s	important	to
recognize	that	you	shouldn’t	necessarily	eat	the	same	meals	or	foods	during
every	month	of	the	year.	This	is	a	great	time	to	eat	lots	of	raw	foods	such	as
fresh	salads	and	fruit.
•
Drink	coconut	water,	which	is
hydrating	and	helps	to	replenish	electrolytes
and	minerals	that	you	lose	from	sweating.
•
Enjoy	lots	of	raw	greens	this	season,	which	are	by	nature
yin
,	or	cooling.	Be
creative	with	the	range	of	lettuces	and	greens	you	see	at	your	farmer’s
market,	and	rotate	them	to	create	some	new,	tasty	salads.
•
Since	you	may	already	feel	puffy	or	somewhat	swollen	from	the	heat,	it’s	a
good	idea	to	cut	back	on	salty	foods.	Try	using	more	fresh	herbs	for


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   33. Privett, O. S. J. Am. Oil Chemists Soc. 32(505-511) of 1955.    34. Roberts, J. C. and Straus, Reube n "Comparative Atherosclerosis" 1965 Hoeber.
34A. Roe, Robert S. Cereal Chem. 13-160 (1955)
   35. Stanley, W. M. & Valens, E. G. "Viruses and the Nature of Life" 1962 Dutton.
   36. Stefansson, V. "The Lost Franklin  Expedition" in "Unsolved Mysteries of the
Arctic—1962 Collier.
   37. Storck, J. & Teague, W. D. "Flour for Man's Bread"—1952 Oxford Univ.
   38. Sullivan, B. & Near, Cleo—Ind. & Eng. Chem., Vol. 25, Jan. 33.
   39. Sullivan, B. et al Cereal Chem. Vol. 13, p. 318 of 1935.
   40. Sullivan, B. Cereal Chem. Vol. 17, p. 661 of 1940.
   41. Swern, D. "Fatty Acids" Ed. Markley, K. S. Ed. 2 P. 1429. 41A. Thatcher, F. S.
et al Cereal Chem. 30-71 (1953)
   42. Walde, A. W. et al, Cereal Chem. 7:480-486 of 1930. 42A. Walker, Niles H.
Cereal Chem. 24-39 (1946)
   43. Wells, H. G. "The Discovery of the Future"—Smithsonian Yearbook for 1902.
   44. Zeleny, Cereal Chem. Vol. 15, of 1938, p. 580.

HOW IT ALL STARTED AND WHAT IS YET TO COME

 The author's long crusade against choked arteries was begun in
October 1961, prompted by early death of both parents from these
strange fatty deposits. Having previously been highly successful in
solving many difficult technical problems where others long had
failed, and having been awarded citations and patents for many important discoveries and inventions, he felt this grisly problem
also might be solved by the same kind of hard-hitting attack. With
the help of his wife Rose and brother Charles, he founded the
laboratory, which was given a charter by the State on November 19,
1961 as a non-profit scientific institution. On December 29, 1965 the federal Internal Revenue Service determined Magnolia Laboratory tax-exempt
under section 501C(3). This means that contributions to this institution may be
included in the deductions on your income tax return in the same space used for
contributions to churches, etc., and have th e same effect toward reducing your income
taxes.
   The chartered purposes of Magnolia Lab read as follows: "To carry out such
scientific, creative, educational, and ch aritable activities and endeavors as are
calculated to discover a better knowledge of the laws of life and true hygiene, to
advance and improve the physical and mental health, standards of living, and well-
being of mankind through research in the prevention and cure of diseases of man and animal; methods for more efficient production and improvement of food supplies; and
the invention of improved labor-saving apparatus and processes for producing the goods and services on which civilized human life depends, —."
   This sixth edition has been revised and improved, our work on choked arteries now
being far advanced. We have almost co mpleted scientific explanation of the
remarkable benefits the Fresh Food Diet brings toward cleansing arteries. Better still,
it now seems possible to develop improvements in commercial foods so as to eventually obtain similar results in the whole population with no self-denial. Since
such broad-scale public benefits will re quire greater support than can be obtained
through booklet sales alone, we have now deci ded to ask for contributions. Those who
contribute will be notified by letter as soon as the complete findings are published.
   Magnolia Laboratory is the only self-supported independent lab in the world doing
experimental feeding trials on choked arte ries. We are finding and teaching the real
truth in the best interest of the people them selves, free of any selfish influence or bias
from the drug and food industries, professiona l groups, and other vested interests who
are making a profit out of the people's fear and misery. Finding the better way, the
self-help way to a happier and more productive life for everyone, is what Magnolia
Laboratory is for. By your contribution you can work to help light a bright path
through the darkness of this awful mystery, so that in years to come perhaps you and yours may eat almost anything you please without suffering the consequences. Every
dollar counts. You can make a difference, you can make it happen sooner. Chip in
now and help us find the way for you to have a better life.  <|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>MY RADICAL RECOVERY FROM LA TE-ST AGE
L YME DISEASE  AND HOW IT COULD HELP OTHERS
STARVING TO
HEAL
IN SIBERIA
MICHELLE B. SLATER, PH.D.
BOOK GROUP PRESSGREENLEAFThis book is intended as a reference volume only, not as a medical manual. The information
given here is designed to help you make informed decisions about your health. It is not
intended as a substitute for any treatment that may have


 pretrial
hearings. I told Randy that I wanted the charges dropped
with no thing on my record. If  they wanted a statement of
facts, I would state that I had always believed that
everything was  being done in  accordance with standard
accounting principles, but I now saw that Bobby had
been doing some things improperly. In other words, I
would tell the truth and nothing else.
Somehow, just four weeks before trial, and six years
since t he rai d, light was dispelling darkness. The
government insisted that I voluntarily give up a portion
of a twelve-ye ar-old stock sale, just in case the share
price had been affected by Bobby’s accounting
inaccuracies. I doubted that the share price would have
been af fected, but if it had been, that was money I didn’t
want or need. Then, as suddenly as the whole nightmare
had begun—it was over. The government agreed to drop
all charges against me.
I didn’t feel joy, and I didn’t feel relief. What I felt was
a d eep sense of appreciation that in the end, truth
triumphed. It may have taken divine intervention, but
the truth won. Tempering this feeling, however, was the
fact tha t John Kang and John Sessions were still headedfor trial. I had been exposed to all the documents in the
case, and the o nly things I ever saw being done willfully
wrong w ere the actions of Bo bby Davids and his group. I
knew th at John Kang and John Sessions had both just
done their jobs to the best of  their ability. I worked with
Randy s o that he and his team  could do all they could to
provide support during the trial. They couldn’t
participate directly, but they were present and wrote up
most of  the summaries, mot ions, and other documents
needed during and after the proceedings.
The trial went extremely well. John Kang’s attorney
turned out to be an excelle nt litigator, and he pretty
much handled all the cross-examination of the
government witnesses, including Bobby and his
paramour from  the accounting department, Caroline. By
the time the government rested its case, the defense
attorneys felt that almost every government witness had
been turned into a favorable witness for the defense.
That being the case, the defe nse also rested. Given what
had taken place in that cour troom over the past month
and a half, no one coul d possibly feel that the
government h ad proven its case beyond a reasonable
doubt. With both sides havin g rested, the case went to
the jury.
The jurors did not deliberate  very long. After only five
or s ix hours, t hey announce d that they had reached a
unanimous verdict. Given what had transpired during
the trial, that seemed like a reasonable amount of
deliberation. On March 1, 2010, the jury gathered back in
the courtroom and read the verdict: guilty as charged.
The defense was stunned. The judge dropped his head
into h is hands. What had happened? Post-trial
interviews with the jurors showed that the case was
pretty much over after opening arguments. The
government had presented such a simplistic,
overwhelming view of what had been done wrong in the
company that most jurors had  made their minds up rightthen. Just hearing the govern ment tell its story had been
enough for most of the jurors. It was very sad. Our legal
system had not worked. The truth had not been
uncovered, and John Kang and John Sessions awaited
sentencing.
Only one glimmer of hope was still burning. The
defense had filed a motion for dismissal based on the
statute of limitations, and the judge had not yet ruled on
that motion. On May 27, 2010, almost three months after
trial, Judge Norton issued his ruling and dismissed the
entire case against John Kang and John Sessions. In that
ruling, the judge took the opportunity to again and again
chastise the government for what had happened in this
case. Among his other comp laints, he questioned why
the government would kee p so many people under
indictment for five years and then drop all charges just
before trial. Judge Norton pointed out that this had
helped drive the pretrial defense cost of the case to more
than $190 million.
I wa s p leased t hat John Kang and John Sessions were
free with nothing on their rec ords. I was also encouraged
that at least so meone had noticed the absurdity of what
had taken place. But it wasn’t necessarily over: the
government had the right to appeal the judge’s dismissal.
In c ase that ha ppened, the defense had filed a motion for
retrial. This motion was based  on the bold argument that
the jury had been mistaken—the weight of the evidence
presented at trial did not support the verdict. On
January 19, 2011, almost a year after trial, the whole
truth and nothing but the tru th finally broke through. On
that day, when Judge Norton signed his ruling regarding
the retrial motion, Jefferson,  Mason, and Madison must
have breathed a sigh of relief. After two hundred years of
interpretations of what they  had intended—the system
had worked. Truth and Justic e would have the final word
after all.It ha d b een mo re than seven years since Bobby Davids
had walked into the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charleston
and beg un telling his lies. That web of illusion gained
momentum and ensnarled everything in its way. But it
did not make it past the chief U.S. judge of South
Carolina. Judge Norton had sat through the entire trial
and heard all the evidence. The jury may have been
willing to accept the government’s story at face value—
without holdin g prosecutors  to a reasonable burden of
proof—but the  judge was not. In case his dismissal order
was overruled, Judge Norton not only approved the
defendants’ m otion for a ne w trial, but in a nineteen-
page opinion he tore the gove rnment’s case to shreds. He
stated that the government had not proven that there
was any conspiracy among the executives, but to the
contrary, the evidence supported that the executives at
Medical Manag er believed that the accounting was being
done p roperly. He went on to state that he found the
government’s chief witnesses, Bobby and Caroline, to be
noncredible, and that Caroline appeared to just be
parroting Bobby’s words.
I r ead Judge N orton’s ruling  with a sense of awe and
relief. N ow it was over. In  the end, the person who
mattered most had seen through the noise and
recognized the  truth. I didn’t know that a judge could put
aside th e jury’s verdict because he believed it was not
supported by the weight of the evidence. Judge Norton
made it  clear that he not onl y had the right to put aside
the verdict, he had the obligation. This was the
Constitution in its finest hour. It was framed to protect
the citiz ens from their government. But, alas, it is just a
piece of paper. The judge is th e only agent through which
that protection  can come to life. In my eyes, both of the
judges in this case are heroes. They showed why our
separate bran ches of government create important
checks and balances against one another. These judges
had tak en a vow to protect the Constitution, and they
selflessly did just that.54  It is worth noting that years earlier the federal prosecutor in South
Carolina who originally filed the charges had resigned, and the
Department of Justice in Washington had pretty much taken over the case.
5  For those interested, the government chose not to appeal Judge
Norton’s dismissal of the case. In the end, all the indicted Medical
Manager executives walked away free.5 6.
R e t u r n i n g  t o  t h e  B e g i n n i n g
W hen the smoke cleared, the whirlwind of life had
dropped me off exactly whe re she had picked me up.
After forty years, I still lived j ust down the field from the
house I had built when I  moved to the woods to
meditate. I was still meeting with people every morning
and evening for services in the Temple, including the
large Sunday morning gathe rings started back in 1972.
But the original ten acres the Temple sat on was now
surrounded by nine hundred acres of rolling fields and
beautiful forests over which life had made us steward.
The foundatio ns of my life  had remained completely
undisturbed throughout this entire dance with the
Universal Flow.
The legal ordeal quickly became a distant memory,
almost a dream. It had c ome and gone, just like
everything else. I could clea rly see that because I had
inwardly surre ndered each step of the way, no scars were
left on my psyc he. It had bee n like writing on water—the
impressions only lasted while the events were actually
taking place. Yet in the moment of actual experience,
each twist and turn had re ached deep inside me and
forced me past foundatio nal fears and personal
boundaries. A s long as I was willing