  ENDURANCE  TESTING
MACHINE. After adding a few to the three hundred and
fifty I stopped, not because I was suffering fromfatigue, but because the pounding of the ironcollar on the muscles above my knee had madethe place so pummelled very sore, as if hit agreat number of times with a heavysledgehammer. I had doubled the record, andthat seemed sufficient for a starter in thecompetition. As I stood up, Dr. Anderson reached up his
arms to support me. But I needed no support.The leg that had been in use felt a trifle lighter,but in no sense weak or tired. Then I was examined for heart-action,
steadiness of nerve, muscle, etc., and was foundto be all right, with no evidence of strain. Aglass brimming full of water was placed first inone hand and then in the other, and was heldout at arm's length without spilling any of thewater. Next morning I was examined for evidence of
soreness, but none was present. There was thenormal elasticity and tone of muscle. Later in that same year, at the International
Young Men's Christian Association TrainingSchool at Springfield, Massachusetts, I liftedseven hundred and seventy pounds with the
muscles of the back and legs — a feat thatweight-lifting athletes find hard to perform.And I did these stunts eating two meals a day,one at noon and the other at six o'clock, at anaverage cost of eleven cents a day. Still another examination at the University of
Pennsylvania resulted in my breaking theCollege record of lifting power with the backmuscles. I do not cite these instances as feats ofextraordinary prowess, but just to show thedifference in my condition then and twentyyears before. All this I have done simply bykeeping my body free of excess of food and thepoisons that come from the putrefaction of thefood that the organism does not want andcannot take care of. As to myself, I am now past sixty-four. I
weigh one hundred and seventy pounds, whichis a good weight for my height. During themany years of experiment I have rangedbetween two hundred and seventeen and onehundred and thirty pounds, but have " settleddown " to my present quite convenient figure. Ifeel perfectly well; I can do as much work as cana man of forty—more than can the average man
of forty, I believe. I rarely have a cold, andalthough I am always careless in this regard,my work is never delayed. I do not know what itis to have " that tired feeling," except asexpressed by sleepiness. When I get into bed Iscarce ever remember my head striking thepillow, and after four and one-half hours Iawake from a dreamless slumber with a happywaking thought in process of formation. I usually find it agreeable to court
supplemental naps, to be followed by morepleasant waking thoughts : but these are pureluxury. I can do with five hours sleep if need be.CHAPTER III
WHAT I AM ASKED ABOUT FLETCHERISM
Let Nature Choose the Meals—How many Meals a Day? —Housewives—Fletcherism—The Financial Economy ofFletcherism—Business People and Fletcherism—The True Epicure. WHAT do I eat? When do I eat?How much do I eat?My answer to all these questions is very
simple. I eat anything that my appetite calls for;
I eat it only when it does call for it; and I eat until
my appetite is satisfied and cries " Enough! " With my New England food preferences, my
range of selection circulates among a verysimple and inexpensive variety, namely,potatoes, corn-bread, beans, occasionally eggs,milk, cream, toast-and-butter, etc. ; andcombinations of these, such as hashed-brownedpotatoes, potatoes in cream, potatoes au gratin,
baked potatoes, potato pats, fish-balls — mainlycomposed of potato; occasionally tomato stewedwith plenty of powdered sugar; oyster stew withthe flavour of celery ; escalloped oysters, etc.The taste for fruits is always suitable to the
season, and is intermittent, strong leaningstowards some particular fruit persisting for atime and then waning to give place to someother preference. But with all my fifteen or twenty years of
unremitting study of the subject, I cannot nowtell what my body is going to want to-morrow.But Nature knows, and she alone knows. LET NATURE  CHOOSE  THE MEAL. Once in Venice a group of experimenters, of
which I was one, subsisted on milk alone.During seventeen days nothing but milk,always from the same cow, and fresh from themilking, passed my lips in the way of food ordrink. I sipped the milk, and tasted it for all thetaste there was in it, and I learned to be so fondof it that it was with some difficulty that I wentback to a varied diet when the experimentcalled for a change. Good, fresh milk is anexception to Nature's dislike for monotony infood. Milk is the one perfectly-balanced foodmaterial; and while it may not be always thebest food for grown persons, it is the mostacceptable as a monotonous diet, and always is
good, sufficient and safe nutriment, if sipped,tasted, and naturally swallowed. I haveforgotten just what the exact quantity was thatI consumed daily during those seventeen days—I believe it was about two quarts. I get away asfar as possible from quantitative amounts,which may influence other persons. Theappetite is the only true guide to bodily need;and if the milk is.tasted
and swallowed only by
involuntary compulsion as required by rightfeeding, the appetite will gauge the bodily needexactly, and cut off short when enough for themoment has been taken. So I say to all who ask me these questions as
applied to themselves: I cannot advise youappropriately what to eat, when to eat, nor howmuch to eat; neither can anybody else. Trust toNature absolutely, and accept her guidance. If she calls for pie, eat pie. If she calls for it at
midnight eat it then, but eat it right.Understand the food filter at the back of themouth as I have described it in a previousarticle, and use it in connection with the pie. Ifit is used properly, and all the taste is extractedfrom the pie, and it is swallowed only in
response to the natural opening of the gate, andif the ingredients of the pie that are notswallowed naturally are removed from themouth, nothing will happen to disturb profoundsleep. Few persons will crave mince pie or Welsh
rarebit late at night. The worker on a morningpaper may do so, and often does. He has earnedhis appetite, and sometimes it is so robust as tocall for mince pie or Welsh rarebit; but if theseare eaten properly they will then be utilised bythe body, eagerly and easily. I dwell purposely upon this extravagance of
eating. It is to accentuate the fact that we wantto get as far away as possible, when cultivatingvital economies, from the idea of extraneousadvice in the matter of food. The ordinary person will probably find his
appetite leaning towards the simplest of foods,and away from frequency of indulgence. If thebreakfast is postponed until a real, earnedappetite has been secured, the mid-day or laterbreakfast (remember always that breakfastmeans the first meal of the day, no matter whentaken) will be so enjoyable a meal, and the
appetite will be so entirely satisfied that therewill be no more demand for food until evening,and possibly not even then. HOW MANY  MEALS  A DAY? I am often asked if it is true that I eat only
two meals a day; that I never eat breakfast, andwhy I have dropped that meal. I have two meals a day more habitually than
any other number, but not with any prescribedregularity, for the reason that my activities aremost irregular at times, and my appetiteaccommodates itself to my needs. When I am doing work under the most
favourable of conditions, one meal a day is therhythm best appreciated by my body. But thequestion of  " How many meals a day? " istantamount to the inquiry as to the amount ofsleep needed : it is a matter of satisfaction of thenatural requirements. The harder one works,the faster one runs, etc., the more air he needs.The same applies to the need for food accordingto the amount of heat eliminated, and the repairmaterial consumed. The really hardest workthat anybody does is done within the body. Muscular effort in normal conditions is not sowaste-provoking and exacting as getting rid ofexcess of food and the counteraction of worry oranger. Likewise, idleness begets uneasiness,uneasiness begets desire for something (nobodyknows just what), and groping around for" Don't know what " causes the temptation toeat and drink something which the body doesnot need ; and then the really hard work of thebody begins in the attempt of Nature to get ridof the excess. Excess of water can be thrown offin perspiration with comparative ease, but withexcess of food it is different. The kidneys,bacteria and fuel furnaces of the body are allover-worked to get rid of it. When I am so busy that I have only time to
replenish the real exhausted need of the body,say half an hour at most, I find one meal a dayall that my appetite demands of me. This istaken after I have done my


severe
flu
epidemic,
I
only
languished
for
two
days. It
used
to
be
much
longer. For
the
first
three
months,
I
didn't
have
any
special
sensations,
I
just
started
having
regular
stools. After
about
three
and
a
half
months,
severe
pain
started
in
my
wrists
and
knees. I
had
such
pain
in
my
legs
that
I
didn't
know
how
to
proceed. Hemorrhoids
appeared,
sharp
pain
in
the
genitals,
cutting
when
urinating,
sexual
weakness,
terrible
pain
in
the
back
and
in
the
entire
spine,
cutting
in
the
abdomen,
pain
in
the
right
side,
under
the
chest
and
in
the
solar
plexus
area,
I
was
troubled
by
heartburn
and
pain
in
the
lungs
,
my
heart
throbbed,
my
throat
hurt,
my
right
ear
hurt,
my
teeth
started
to
hurt
and
I
was
shaking,
I
had
a
cold
all
the
time. All
kinds
of
pimples
and
blackheads
popped
up
all
over
my
body. I
developed
a
fungus
between
my
toes
and
in
my
groin. I
just
had
a
normal
temperature. (This
is
precisely
a
symptom
indicating
a
cleansing
crisis
and
not
a
disease
-
author's
note). All
this
lasted
a
little
over
a
month. One
problem
followed
another. I
called
this
period
"little
hell". At
the
same
time,
however,
I
felt
that
I
had
nowhere
to
retreat. I
found
in
myself
a
strange
coolness,
a
blind
faith
bordering
on
fanaticism,
that
everything
would
be
normal
again. I
continued
to
drink
my
own,
native
urine. In
addition,
I
began
to
wash
my
mouth,
throat
and
nasopharynx
with
urine
in
the
morning
and
in
the
evening,
I
took
a
contrast
shower
every
evening. I
still
do
that
today. I
was
naturally
preparing
for
crisis
phenomena,
but
I
did
not
expect
something
like
this. Perhaps
it
wasn't
even
a
crisis,
but
an
exorcism. Relief
came
on
the
fifth
month
of
urine
intake,
on
the
sixth
month
I
tried
to
start
running. In
my
youth,
I
mean
the
years
after
coming
out
of
the
army,
I
tried
to
run
several
times,
but
after
two
or
three
kilometers
my
muscles
hurt
so
much
the
next
day
that
I
lost
the
desire
to
do
sports. Now
I
ran
3
kilometers
on
the
first
day
like
I
used
to. What
was
my
surprise
when
the
next
day
I
felt
no
pain
in
my
legs. So
the
next
days
I
ran
5
and
then
6
km. I
felt
a
pleasant
fatigue
in
my
whole
body
and
my
legs
hummed
like
a
transformer. I
started
running
10
km
and
stopped
there. Today
I
run
this
distance
every
day
without
rest. There
was
a
strange
persistence. At
the
same
time,
I
weigh
92
kg
with
a
height
of
180
cm. I
am
31
years
old. I
continue
to
use
urine
and
have
stopped
visiting
the
asylum. I
feel
like
a
twenty
year
old. Nature
gives
everyone
such
a
chance
to
survive,
you
just
have
to
take
it." The
author
leaves
this
letter
without
comment. Judge
for
yourself. Example:
“I've
been
drinking
urine
for
several
months,
the
middle
part. After
fasting,
I
go
to
the
steam
bath
and
only
then
will
I
feel
the
effect
of
using
urine. I'm
usually
there
for
three
hours
and
I
really
enjoy
it. I
have
been
going
to
the
couple
for
15
years
and
I
eat
reasonably
well
with
my
family. Therefore,
I
was
convinced
that
the
urine
would
not
cause
me
any
vomiting,
poisoning
or
other
negative
manifestations,
about
which
there
were
reports
-
warnings
-
condemnations
in
the
press. The
neighbor,
who
literally
overeats
herself
on
meat
and
canned
food,
throws
herself
from
extreme
to
extreme
and
is
literally
crammed
with
waste,
drank
urine
for
a
day
and
expected
an
immediate
result. Then
they
took
her
to
the
hospital,
as
if
poisoned. I
told
her
that
any
treatment
must
be
approached
with
caution,
with
sensitivity
and
strictly
individually. In
addition,
when
he
has
inflammation
of
the
intestine
and
stomach
and
other
problems. Such
fools
then
write
in
the
newspapers
and
try
to
dissuade
people
from
real
and
correct
treatment,
which
alone
is
capable
of
sustaining
and
prolonging
life. That
makes
a
person
sad.'' Comment:
Here,
too,
the
reader
can
decide
for
himself
whether
to
use
urine
or
not. The
example
clearly
shows
what
you
may
encounter. You
just
have
to
keep
repeating
the
motto
of
the
sages
of
old,
don't
you
urine
is
a
remedy
for
the
brave
. And
I
would
like
to
add:
and
for
those
who
are
wildly
curious
and
want
to
know
a
lot.In
1995,
a
certain
magazine
published
a
critique
of
my
book
"Myself
as
a
Doctor",
in
which
the
editor,
with
the
help
of
two
doctors,
criticized
not
only
my
cleansing
program,
but
especially
the
chapter
on
urinotherapy. It
didn't
hurt
the
book
too
much
(it
was
on
the
bestseller
list
for
several
months
and
is
still
sought
after),
but
there
remained
a
certain
bitterness
and
fear
of
human
stupidity
that
can
just
throw
away
a
thousand-year -old
method
that,
if
used
correctly,
could
bring
relief
to
a
huge
number
of
people,
certainly
more
than
both
doctors
combined. Urinotherapy
in
specific
cases
Because
urine
has
a
strong
multifaceted
effect
on
the
human
body
and
can
be
introduced
into
it
in
many
ways,
there
are
many
methods
of
its
use
and
many
combined,
mutually
reinforcing
variants:
urine
therapy
-
starvation,
urine
therapy
-
clay
treatment,
etc. Hello
one
method
is
suitable
for


 with saving many lives. All the while, blends of 30 percent carbon dioxide and 70 percent
oxygen became a go-to treatment for anxiety, epilepsy, and evenschizophrenia. W ith a few huf fs of the stuf f, patients who’d spent months or
years in a catatonic state would suddenly come to. They’d open their eyes,
look around, and begin calmly talking with doctors and other patients. “It was a wonderful feeling. It was marvelous. I felt very light and didn’ t
know where I was,” one patient reported. “I knew something had happened
to me and I wasn’ t sure what it was. ”
The patients would stay in this coherent, lucid state for about 30
minutes, until the carbon dioxide wore of f. Then, without warning, they’d
stop mid-sentence and freeze, staring into space and striking statue-like
poses or sometimes collapsing. The patients were sick again. They’d stay
that way until the next hit of carbon dioxide. And then, for reasons nobody quite understands, by the 1950s, a century
of scientific research disappeared. Those with skin disorders turned to pills
and creams; those with asthma managed symptoms with steroids and
bronchodilators. Patients with severe mental disorders were given sedatives. The drugs never cured schizophrenia or other psychoses, but they didn’ t
provoke out-of-body experiences or feelings of euphoria, either. They
numbed patients, and continued to numb them for weeks, months, and years
—as long as they kept taking them. —
“What’ s interesting to me is that nobody disproved it,” says Feinstein of
carbon dioxide therapy. “The data, the science, still holds today. ”
He tells me how he’d stumbled upon some obscure studies by Joseph
W olpe, a renowned psychiatrist who rediscovered carbon dioxide therapy as
a treatment for anxiety and had written an influential paper about it in the
1980s. W olpe’ s patients shared stunning and long-lasting improvements
after just a few huf fs. Donald Klein, another renowned psychiatrist and
expert in panic and anxiety, suggested years later that the gas might help
reset the chemoreceptors in the brain, allowing patients to breathe normally
so they could think normally. Since then, few researchers have studied the
treatments. (Feinstein estimates there are about five researching it now. ) He
just kept wondering if the early researchers were right, if this ancient gas
might be a remedy to modern ailments. “As a psychologist, I think, what are my options, what is the best
treatment for these patients. ” Feinstein says. Pills, he tells me, of fer a false promise and do little good for most
people. Anxiety disorders and depression are the most common mental
illnesses in the United States, and about half of us will suf fer from one or
the other in our lifetime. T o help cope, 13 percent of us over the age of 12
will use antidepressants, most often selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors,
also known as SSRIs. These drugs have been lifesavers for millions,
especially those with severe depression and other serious conditions. But
less than half the patients who take them get any benefits. *  “I keep asking
myself,” says Feinstein, “Is this the best we can do. ”
Feinstein had explored various non-pharmaceutical therapies; he’d spent
a decade learning and teaching mindfulness meditation. A wealth of
scientific research shows that meditation can change the structure and
function of critical areas of the brain, help relieve anxieties, and boost focus
and compassion. It can work wonders, but few of us will ever reap these
rewards, because the vast majority of people who try to meditate will give
up and move on. For those with chronic anxieties, the percentages are far
worse. “Mindful meditation—as it is typically practiced—is just no longer
conducive to the new world we live in,” Feinstein explains. Another option, exposure therapy, is a technique that exposes patients
repeatedly to their fears so that they become more accepting of them. It’ s
highly ef fective but takes a while, usually involving many long sessions
over weeks or months. Finding psychologists with that kind of time, and
patients with the necessary resources, can be a challenge. But everyone breathes, and, today, few of us breathe well. Those with
the worst anxieties consistently suf fer from the worst breathing habits. People with anorexia or panic or obsessive-compulsive disorders
consistently have low carbon dioxide levels and a much greater fear of
holding their breath. T o avoid another attack, they breathe far too much and
eventually become hypersensitized to carbon dioxide and panic if they
sense a rise in this gas. They are anxious because they’re overbreathing,
overbreathing because they’re anxious. Feinstein found some inspiring recent studies by Alicia Meuret, the
Southern Methodist University psychologist who helped her patients blunt
asthma attacks by slowing their breathing to increase their carbon dioxide. This technique worked for panic attacks, too. In a randomized controlled trial, she and a group of researchers gave 20
panic suf ferers capnometers, which recorded the amount of carbon dioxidein their breath throughout the day. Meuret crunched the data and found that
panic, like asthma, is usually preceded by an increase in breathing volume
and rate and a decrease in carbon dioxide. T o stop the attack before it
struck, subjects breathed slower and less, increasing their carbon dioxide. This simple and free technique reversed dizziness, shortness of breath, and
feelings of suf focation. It could ef fectively cure a panic attack before the
attack came on. “‘T ake a deep breath’ is not a helpful instruction,” Meuret
wrote. Hold your breath is much better. —
W e leave Feinstein’ s of fice and stroll through a labyrinth of elevators and
staircases until we enter through soundproofed double doors. This is
Feinstein’ s lair. Through the door to the right, he and his team conduct
research on floatation, a therapy that involves lying in a salt-water pool in a
dark, soundless room. Through the door to the left is Feinstein’ s newest
project: a carbon dioxide therapy laboratory. It’ s a tiny windowless box that
looks as if it might have held HV AC equipment at one point. W e squeeze
into the space like clowns in a phone booth. On a folding desk is the usual
array of monitors, computers, wires, EKGs, capnometers, and other stuf f
I’ve grown accustomed to wearing over the past few years. A beat-up
yellow cylinder that looks like a Cold W ar–era Russian missile sits in the
corner. Feinstein tells me it holds 75 pounds of pure carbon dioxide. For the past few months, as part as his NIH research, Feinstein has
brought in patients suf fering with anxiety and panic to this lab and given
them a few hits of carbon dioxide. So far, he tells me, the results have been
promising. Sure, the gas elicited a panic attack in most patients, but this is
all part of the baptism-by-fire process. After that initial bout of discomfort,
many patients report feeling relaxed for hours, even days. I’ve decided to throw my chemoreceptors into the ring. I’ve signed up to
see what a few heavy doses of carbon dioxide would do to my own body
and brain. Feinstein sticks a piece of white foamy material with a metal sensor on
my middle and ring fingers. This device, called a galvanic skin conductance
meter, will measure small amounts of sweat released during states of
sympathetic stress. On my other hand, a pulse oximeter will record my
heart rate and oxygen levels. The mixture I’ll inhale is 35 percent carbon dioxide, and the rest is room
air—about the same percentage of carbon dioxide once used to test
schizophrenics, sans the oxygen. Feinstein administered this same dose on
S. M., who panicked and hated it. He also tried it out on a few patients early
on, but they too suf fered heavy panic attacks. Some patients were so
freaked out they refused to take another hit, so Feinstein now reduces the
dose to 15 percent—enough to give the chemoreceptors a good workout,
but not enough to keep patients from coming back for more. Since I didn’ t
suf fer from panic attacks or chronic anxiety, not yet at least, he of fered to
crank up my dose to the S.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>
Q: What is the historical context of carbon dioxide therapy?,
A: Carbon dioxide therapy has been around for thousands of years, with the ancient Romans and French using it to treat various conditions, including gout and war wounds.
Q: Who is Dr. Feinstein, and what is his research focus?,
A: Dr. Feinstein is a psychologist who has been studying the effects of carbon dioxide on the body and is now exploring its potential as a treatment for anxiety and panic disorders.
Q: What is the concept of "prana" in ancient cultures, and how does it relate to modern medicine?,
A: In ancient cultures, "prana" referred to a vital energy or life force that is connected to the breath. This concept is no longer recognized in modern medicine, which focuses on pharmaceuticals and other treatments.
Q: What is the purpose of the carbon dioxide therapy laboratory in Tulsa, Oklahoma?,
A: The laboratory is a controlled environment where patients can experience and learn to control their breathing, which is designed


, currants), drained1–1/2 cups (375 mL) drained vanilla or plain yogurt
3 tbsp (45 mL) maple syrup
2 tbsp (25 mL) chopped fr esh citrus peppermint, optional
In a bowl, combine gooseberries, red berries, yogurt, maple syrup and mint,
if using. Pile in the centre of the meringue base. g o o s e b e r r y  a n d  a l m o n d  r e l i s h
Even if you start with only gr een gooseberries, the r elish will be  tinged with
r ed. I like to use this with ham and rich meats like duck and game. It is
r efr eshing with egg dishes as well. Some gooseberries have fine hairs on the
skin, but they soften in cooking. MAKES 6 CUPS (1.5 L)
1 cup (250 mL) white wine vinegar
1–1/2 cups (375 mL) granulated sugar
1/4 cup (50 mL) lightly packed br own sugar
8 cups (2 L) gooseberries
2 cups (500 mL) chopped onions
2 cups (500 mL) sliver ed almonds
1 tsp (5 mL) grated fr esh gingerr oot
1 tbsp (15 mL) finely chopped fr esh basil or 1 tsp (5 mL) gr ound
nutmeg

1. Heat six 1-cup (250 mL) jars  in boiling water, and scald the lids, lifter,
funnel and tongs ( Boiling W ater Method, Step by Step ). 2. In a M aslin p an or canning k ettle, combine vinegar and granulated and
brown s ugars. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring cons tantly. Add
gooseberries and onions and boil for 30 minutes, stirring oft en, or untilmost of the liquid has evaporated and mixture is thick. Add almo nds, ginger
and basil and boil for 1 minute. 3. F ill hot jars, leaving a 1/4-inch (5 mm) headspace. Run a thin non-
metallic utensil around the insid e of the jar to allow air to escape. Add more
hot relish, if necessary, to leave a 1/4-inch (5 mm) headspace. W ipe rims,
top with flat lids and screw on m etal rings. Return jars to the hot water bath,
topping up with hot water if necessary. Bring to a full rolling boil and
process jars for 15 minutes ( Boiling W ater Method, Step by Step ). 4. Remo ve cann er lid and wait 5 minutes before removing jars t o a towel or
rack to cool com pletely. Check seals, label and store in a cool place for up
to 1 year. Use: Ser ve this fruity, rich relish with hot or cold meats, savou ry pastries,
meat tar ts and roasted vegetables. It makes a great hamburge r relish and
marinade for barbecued meats or vegetables.g o o s e b e r r y  g i n g e r s n a p  c r u m b l e
Using g ingersnap cookies in place of the usual r olled oats puts a new spin
on a n old favou rite in our house. I think this may be closer to the original
berry desserts, which wer e sim ply sugar ed berries with cookies or stale
sweet br ead crumbled and spr ead over top. Y ou can use any berry or
combination of berries in this simple dessert. 8-cup (2 L) baking dish, lightly oiled
Pr eheat oven to 375°F (190°C)
MAKES 6 SER VINGS3 cups (750 mL) fr ozen (thawed) or canned gooseberries, drained
2 cups (500 mL) chopped apples
1/4 cup (50 mL) all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp (1 mL) gr ound cinnamon
1/3 cup (75 mL) butter
1/2 cup (125 mL) lightly packed br own sugar
1–1/4 cups (300 mL) crushed gingersnap cookies (about 18)
1/4 cup (50 mL) chopped almonds

1. In prepared dish, combine gooseberries and apples. Sprinkle flour and
cinnamon over top. 2. In a bowl, cream butter with brown sugar. Stir in gingersnaps and
almonds, mixing well. Spread the topping evenly over fruit in the dish. Bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes or until apples are tender and
topping is bubbly and golden brown. Fr eezing Gooseberries
1. Select Equipment:  Se lect suitable-size freezer c ontainers, bags or
Mason jars ( Freezing ). 2. Fr eezing Whole Gooseberries:  If you want whole gooseberries to
decorate cakes (example, Berried Pavlova ) or for use in fruit salads, the best
way to ensure that they hold their shape during freezing is to fast-freeze
them ind ividually. Arrange wash ed, completely dry berries in a single layer,
without touching each other, on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Fast-freeze
for 1 hour. Pac k into freezer containers (no need to leave headspace);
squeeze out air. Seal, label and return to freezer. 3. D ry P ack, Un sweetened:  Fill  pint (2-cup/500 mL) or quart (1 L) freezer
containers with whole gooseber ries, leaving a 1/2-inch (1 cm) headspace. Seal, label and freeze.OR
Dry Pack, Sweetened:  Fill  pint (2-cup/500 mL) or quart (1 L) freezer
containers with whole gooseber ries to within 3 to 4 inches (7 to 10 cm) of
the top. Pour dry granulated sug ar over top; use 1/2 cup (125 mL ) sugar per
quart (1 L) of prepared fruit. Squeeze out air; leave 1-inc h (2.5 cm)
headspace. Seal, label and freeze. OR
Crush and Strain:  U sing a potato masher, crush gooseberries in a non-
reactive bowl. Push the fruit through a coarse sieve to remove the seeds. For
every quart (1 L) of crushed gooseberry flesh, add 1-1/4 cups (300 mL)
granulated suga r (or less if the berries are ripe and sweet). Stir until the
sugar is dissolved. Pack into fr eezer containers, leaving a 1-inch (2.5 cm)
headspace. Seal, label and freeze.M e l o n s
AS P AR T OF THE GOURD F AMIL Y,  which includes pumpkins, squash
and zucchini, melons usually grow lar ge, with tender fragrant flesh. Melons
fall into one of two categories: muskmelon (Cucumis melo)  or watermelon
(Citrullus lanatus). Muskm elons have rind or skin  that is either netted or
smooth, wherea s watermelon varieties are all smooth skinned with thick
rinds. Good Pr eserving V arieties
A vailable all year, with a peak  in late summer, muskmelon types include
cantaloupe, hon eydew, casaba,  Spanish, Persian, winter and Crenshaw
varieties. Gener ally, the firmer and fragrant-fleshed types are best for
preserves and freezing. W atermelon var ieties usually have a high water content, along with a sweet,
mild taste. W atermelons vary in shape and size, in skin, seed and flesh
colour, and in taste. The rind can be pickled, but because of its high water
content, watermelon flesh does not can or freeze well. Pur chasing/Storing
• Melons vary in size and flesh yield.• 1 medium cantaloupe (3 lb/1.5 kg) yields 6 to 7 cups (1.5 to 1.75 L) cubed
flesh. It’ s always best to buy locally grown melons because flavour and water loss
occur fairly quickly after harves ting. Select firm, ripe fruits tha t are heavy
for their size, w ith no cuts, bruises or soft spots. A pleasant, f ruity aroma
will escape from the blossom end of a ripe muskmelon. A ripe watermelon
will sound hollow (a dull thump or thud) when tapped. Good W ith
• Mint and peppermint, tarragon and other anise-flavoured herbs. • Sweet seasonings such as cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, vanilla. • Semi-soft cheeses such as havarti, Boursin; medium-age cheddars, colby. • Other fruit, such as raspberries, peaches, nectarines, blueberries,
strawberries. • Hazelnuts, almonds, pecans and pistachio nuts; raisins, dates, currants. • Chicken; mild fish such as tilapia, orange roughy, sole. Pr eparation
Melons grow in contact with the soil, so to reduce the risk of co ntaminating
the f lesh, always wash melons just before preparing and eating. Using a soft
vegetable brush, lightly scrub melons in cool water to which a d


 himself, and thus been upset
when it was withheld. • You can break the connecting chain between what others think,
say and do, and your own self-worth. Talk to yourself when you
encounter disapproval. “This is her stuff. I expect her to behave that
way. It has nothing to do with me.” This approach will eliminate
the self-hurt that you inflict when you connect someone else’s feeling
with your own thoughts. • Ask yourself this important question when you acquire disap-
proval. If they agreed with me, would I be better off? The answer is
obviously no. Whatever they think can have no effect on you unless
you let it. Moreover, you’ll most likely find that you are better liked
by those important folks like a boss, or loved one when you can
disagree with them without worry. • Accept the simple fact that many won’t ever understand you,
and that it is okay. Conversely, you won’t understand70 / Your Erroneous Zonesmany people who are very close to you. You don’t have to. It’s all
right for them to be different and the most fundamental understand-
ing you can have is that you don’t understand. Gustav Ischheiser
makes the point clearly in the following lines from Appearances and
Realities:
….If people who do not understand each other at least under-
stand that they do not understand each other, then they under-
stand each other better than when, not understanding each
other, they do not even understand that they do not understand
each other. • You can refuse to argue or try to convince anyone of the right-
ness of your stance, and simply believe it. • Trust yourself when buying clothes or other personal items
without first checking it out with someone whose opinion you value
more than your own. • Stop verifying your facts by having them substantiated by a
spouse or someone else with sentences like, “Isn’t that right, honey?”
or “Didn’t we, Ralph?” or “Just ask Marie, she’ll tell you.”
• Correct yourself out loud whenever you’ve behaved in an ap-
proval-seeking way, thereby becoming aware of this tendency and
practicing new behaviors. • Work at eliminating the numerous apologies that you make
even when you aren’t really sorry for what you’ve just said. All
apologies are pleas for forgiveness, and requests for forgiveness are
approval-seeking which takes the form of, “I know you wouldn’t
like me if I really meant what I just did, so please say that I’m still
okay.” Apologizing is a waste of time. If you need someone else to
forgive you before you can feel better, then you are giving them
control over your feelings. While you can resolve not to behave in
certain ways again, and see some of your behavior as unfortunate,
apologizing behavior is a sickness that invests control of one’s feel-
ings in another.<|eot_id|><|begin_of_text|>Summarize the following text section accurately and concisely. Maintain specific details and numerical information, and use anti-repetition mechanisms:

        That ad-
vertisers would encourage you to do this is understandable in light
of profits to be made, but that you would buy the products is less
easy to understand in view of the fact that you’re choosing to throw
away the real you. You can stop hiding the beautiful, natural you. Thus if you choose to use cosmetic aids of any kind, it will not be
based on disliking what you are covering up, but for reasons of
novelty or personal fulfillment. Being honest with yourself in this
realm is not easy, and it takes time to learn to distinguish what
pleases us from what the advertising business says should please
us. Choosing More Positive Self-Images
It is possible to make the same kind of choices with all of your
self-images. You can choose to think of yourself as intelligent by
applying your very own standards to yourself. In fact, the happier
you make yourself, the more intelligent you are. If you are deficient
in any areas such as algebra, spelling or writing, it is simply the
natural result of choices you have been making up until now. Should
you decide to devote enough practice time to any of these tasks, you
would undoubtedly be more proficient in them. If your image of
yourself is of someone who is not too intelligent, remember what
we said about intelligence in Chapter I. If you underestimate your-
self, it is because you have bought that notion, and you compare
yourself to others on certain school-related variables. It may surprise you to hear this, but you can choose to be as bright
as you desire. Aptitude is really a function of time, rather than some
inborn quality. One support for this belief can be found in the grade
norms for standardized achievement tests. These norms demonstrate
that scores achieved by the top stu-36 / Your Erroneous Zonesdents at one grade level are achieved by the majority of students at
a later grade level. Further studies show that although most students
eventually reach mastery on each learning task, some students
achieve mastery much sooner than do others. * Yet the label “defi-
cient” or even “retarded” is often attached to those who move more
slowly toward absolute mastery of a skill. Listen to John Carroll as
he talks on this point in his article, “A Model for School Learning,”
which appeared in Teachers College Record:
Aptitude is the amount of time required by the learner to attain
mastery of a learning task. Implicit in this formulation is the
assumption that, given enough time, all students can conceiv-
ably attain mastery of a learning task. With enough time and effort you could, if you so chose, master
almost any academic skill. But you don’t make that choice, for very
good reasons. Why should you put that kind of present-moment
energy into solving obscure problems or learning something that
doesn’t interest you. Being happy, living effectively and loving are
far greater goals. The point is that intelligence is not something that
you inherited or had otherwise bestowed upon you. You are as smart
as you choose to be. Not liking how smart you’ve chosen to be is
mere self-contempt, which can lead only to injurious consequences
in your own life. The logic of being able to choose your self-pictures applies to all
of the photographs of you that are lodged in your brain. You are as
socially adept as you choose to be. If you dislike the way you behave
socially, you can work at changing the behavior and not confusing
it with your own self-worth. Similarly, your artistic, mechanical,
athletic, musical and other abilities are largely the result of choices
and should not be confused with your worthiness. (See Chapter IV
for a full treatment of your self-descriptions and why you’ve chosen
them for yourself. ) In
*Benjamin S. Bloom, et al., Handbook on Formative and Summative Evaluation of
Student Learning  (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1971). FIRST LOVE  / 37the same light, the preceding chapter made a case for your emotional
life being the product of your own choices. Self-acceptance based
upon what you believe to be appropriate for you is something you
can make a decision about now. Repairing those things that don’t
measure up can be a delightful undertaking, and there’s no reason
to choose to feel unworthy, just because there are things about
yourself that you’re going to improve. Self-dislike can take many forms, and perhaps you engage in some
putting-down-of-yourself behavior. Here is a brief list of some typ-
ically recurring behavior that falls into this category of the self-veto. • Rejecting compliments directed at you. (“Oh, this old thing…. I’m really not smart, just lucky I guess”…)
• Making up excuses for why you look nice. (“It’s my hairdresser,
she could make a toad look good”…“Believe me, it’s the wardrobe
that does it”…“Green is my color”…)
• Giving credit to others when it rightfully belongs to you. (“Thank
God for Michael, without him I would be nothing”…“Marie did all
the work, I just stood around and supervised”…)
• Using other-directed references when speaking. (“My husband
says”…“My mother feels”…“George always tells me that”…)
• Having your opinions verified by others. (“Isn’t that right
dear. ”…“That’s what I said, didn’t I, Martha. ”…“Just ask my hus-
band, he’ll tell you”…)
• Refusing to order something you want, not because you can’t
afford it (although this may be your stated reason) but because you
don’t feel that you’re worth it. • Not having orgasms. • Not buying yourself something because you think you have to
buy it for someone else, although sacrificing is not necessary;38 / Your Erroneous Zonesor not treating yourself to the things you would like to own, because
you’re not worth it. • Avoiding indulgences such as flowers, wine or whatever, which
you love because that would be wasteful. • In a crowded room, someone yells out, “Hey, Stupid,” and you
turn around. • Using pet names for yourself (and having others use them as
well) that are really put-downs, including Dum-dum, Silly, Sweetie-
pie or Baby (for an adult), Funny-face, Shorty, Fatty, or


 for their time to diagnose your condition and to offer an opinion on what to do, but you are
clear that you do not need or expect a treatment. Consultations are a good way to meet with a dentist
and see how good they are based upon their diagnoses and suggestions for treatments. This can add up
cost wise if you consult several dentists. It is also a good time to ask your dentist questions and to get
educated while you are paying them for their time to talk. Consultations can be difficult to perform if
you have a serious condition and just want the dentist’s opinion. The dentist will want to follow their
legal and perhaps moral obligations to treat you. Cavities and X-rays
One of my readers was overjoyed to have healed his gum problems. He then went to his conventional
dentist for a check-up and was shocked when his dentist told him that one of his teeth needed a rootcanal. “How could this be?” he wondered, when the tooth felt fine. The dentist diagnosed the new
cavity using older x-ray technology which can produce shadows or fuzzy images; these images
showed a large black spot under one of his tooth fillings, which the dentist claimed was not in the
previous x-ray taken 6 months prior. I advised the reader to seek care with a trusted holistic dentist. The holistic dentist used a more modern digital x-ray, which resulted in a clearer picture. The new x-
ray showed no cavity at all. It turned out that the conventional dentist mistook a shadow from a tooth
filling in the x-ray for a severe tooth cavity. The conventional dentist was obviously happy to show
this reader his cavity, because he would make a nice profit for the week doing a root canal procedure. It is even possible his dentist knew that it was a shadow, but the potential for a large financial gain
bypassed the dentist’s reasoning process and had him see cavities that were not there. The conclusion
I draw from this story and others like it is that there are likely tens of thousands, if not millions, of
dental procedures being performed yearly that are totally unnecessary. Not only are they unnecessary
from the perspective that they could be healed via nutrition, but fully unnecessary in that no condition
exists that requires treatment. In the case of a wrong diagnosis, once the dentist drills into your tooth he is not likely to say,
“Whoops, I do not see any tooth decay; sorry to have drilled a huge hole in your tooth.” Instead, he
will keep on drilling, put that filling in, and pretend as though everything went as expected. As readers of this book, you are now privileged with dental knowledge that I hope you will share
with everyone: all of your relatives, friends, coworkers and second cousins. Then they too can learn
how to avoid unnecessary dental procedures. Getting additional copies of
Cure Tooth Decay
and
sharing is a good way to spread this knowledge. Sometimes dental procedures are a good idea, and
that’s when you want them; the rest of the time, you of course do not want them. A good dentist should confirm his diagnoses with a second perspective. This means that an x-ray
image should not be exclusively relied upon to make the decision to drill. Other testing methods
include probing with an examiner, visual inspection, or using electrical or ultrasound tools to test the
strength and health of the tooth. The Dental Code of Silence
The dental code of silence means that if a dentist sees bad dental work in a patient’s mouth he will
remain silent rather than enlighten his patient to his condition. The only time a dentist might comment
on previous dental work is if it is extremely poorly done, and perhaps was performed in another
country. The only thing we know from going to each dentist we visit is our experience of lying in the
dental chair with our heads buzzing with the dental drill, and opening and closing our mouths to
varying degrees. We have no idea if the dentist put in the most amazing and clean filling ever, or if he
drilled away forever healthy tooth, and then placed the filling ineptly. I heard of a dentist who
recently passed away. He would spend five hours working on one crown. He guaranteed his crowns
would last 40 or more years. Quality dental work takes time. The dentists’ code of silence allows the profession to stay at low standards of performance since
patients are not informed or educated about poor dental work versus good dental work. Bad dentists
do not get caught, and they continue performing bad dental work. Mercury fillings are just another
example of the dentists’ code of silence. When dentists decline to take a stand against the tyranny ofdental “ethics” boards that obfuscate the toxicity and harm caused by mercury fillings and toxic
metals in the mouth, they allow the system to continue with impunity.Root Canals
George Meinig, DDS, was one of the founders of the American Association of Endodontists (root
canal specialists). When he started in dentistry, everyone simply extracted decayed teeth. Dr. Meinig
and other dentists had a great idea to save teeth rather than remove them if they were infected. Endodontists used to be on the fringe of dentistry and they worked hard to become mainstream
specialists. Now, each year in the U.S. alone there are more than 30,000,000 root canals performed. That is a 30
billion dollar industry. Dr. Meinig, once a root canal advocate after a lifetime of performing root
canals as a dentist, changed his position after he read 1174 pages of detailed research by Dr. Weston
Price and his 60-man research team. Meinig discovered that,
A high percentage of chronic degenerative disease can originate from root filled teeth. The most
frequent were heart and circulatory diseases. The next most common diseases were those of the
joints, arthritis and rheumatism. 19
What Dr. Meinig urgently wanted to show people is that in many cases a root canal sets up the body
for chronic and degenerative disease. If you have a significant degenerative condition, heart disease,
severe headaches, arthritis and so forth, a root canal may be contributing to your condition or even to
blame for it. The reason that root canals can be toxic is because each tooth contains about three miles
of microscopic tubes. After a root canal procedure, the body’s natural dentinal fluid flow to clean out
the microscopic tubes is destroyed. A sick tooth can easily develop toxic substances within the
microscopic tubules. It could be food particles or simply the death and putrefaction of the cells within
the tiny tubes. This highly toxic substance can then drip down tiny fissures through the root of the tooth
and enter your bloodstream. Dr. Price found that when bacteria could be filtered out of toxins
extracted from root canals, that the toxin became more potent than when the bacteria were present. Bacteria from a root canalled tooth are not likely the cause of illness, but are simply feeding off and
trying to clean up the rotting material. The conclusion of Dr. George Meinig’s book
 Root Canal
Cover-Up
 is that root canals are a really bad idea, and that they can be a serious source of disease. Not all root canals become infected and not all root canals cause health problems. The most recent
studies of root canal success rates over five- and ten-year periods reveal a dismal 30-40%. During
the time of Dr. Price, the rate of root canals that definitely had no observable side effects was 25%. 20
Root canals present a catch-22 situation without any good choice. Root canals that are successful in
the long run are going to be the ones that are not very infected before the treatment. These non-
infected teeth are going to be the teeth that would have been the easiest to heal naturally and therefore
did not really need root canals. The very damaged and rotten teeth are the ones that are the most
difficult to heal and the most likely needing a root canal to save the tooth. These are cases where the
root canal procedure will many times fail. Basically root canals work the best for the teeth that do not
need them, and the worst for the teeth that do need them. Why People Have Tooth Infections
Your tooth became infected because it is weak and damaged. Material from your mouth environmententered deeply into the tooth, which is now inflamed. As a response to the foreign invader, the
interior of the tooth acts to protect itself. This protection is known as an abscess. The body swells
around the foreign material, and sends white blood cells to contain the material and dissolve it or to
latch onto it and release it by collecting it in pus and then ejecting it out of your gums. The protective
mechanism of your body is the swelling, which usually is accompanied by pain. The pain is an
additional protection mechanism. Pain prevents you from chewing food in that location, so it
minimizes the chances of more material entering into the weakened area. Pain also prevents you from
chewing on the tooth so that it can be free from the biting pressure. What a Root Canal Procedure Accomplishes
A root canal is the complete removal of the guts of your tooth. A large hole is drilled into the top of
your tooth, and the inner pulp of the tooth is removed. The inside of the tooth is then cleaned with
chemicals. Once the inside is clean, a synthetic material is placed within the tooth, which is now
partially dead, and a crown is placed on top of the tooth. If this crown has stainless steel or another
metal in it, then you can have the problem of dissimilar metals in


	Big	Four? Sugar,	white	flour,	processed	oils	and	milk	products. Even	foods	touted	as	“healthy,”	such	as	multi-grain	breads,	usually	contain
impoverished	flour. •	We	eat	the	cells	of	unhealthy	plants	and	animals,	which	cannot	create
healthy	cells	in	our	body. Pigs	and	other	livestock	are	fed	toxic	diets. Chemicals	used	during	growing,	harvesting,	processing,	transporting	and
storing	diminish	nutrients	in	produce. In	no	way	can	such	food	support	our
cell	chemistry. •	Too	little	of	our	food—virtually	none	for	many	people—is	eaten	raw. Cooking	damages	foods’	nutritional	values. Some	cooking	methods,
particularly	those	that	use	high	heat	or	that	char	foods,	create	powerful
mutagens	and	carcinogens. •	Handling	and	preparation	methods—from	extended	storing	of	foods	in	a
refrigerator	or	freezer	to	chopping	and	mashing—rob	foods	of	many
nutrients	such	as	vitamins	and	minerals	that	we	believe	we	are	consuming. The	average	person	preparing	a	meal	damages	and	destroys	the	power	of
the	food,	even	food	the	individual	considers	to	be	“fresh.”
•	Commercial	practices	used	to	supply	food	from	farms	to	supermarkets	are
overwhelmingly	destructive. Produce	is	often	harvested	before	it	is	ripe,
stored	for	long	periods	of	time	and	subjected	to	harmful	methods	to	ripen	or
color	it	artificially	for	presentation	in	the	“fresh”	produce	section	of	the
supermarket. Some	of	this	produce	has	lost	nearly	all	of	certain	vitaminsand	minerals	by	the	time	it	rolls	down	the	supermarket	checkout	lines,	let
alone	by	the	time	we	eat	it. •	The	way	we	eat	our	foods—even	how	we	chew—often	prevents	us	from
realizing	the	best	nutrition,	even	from	good	diets. We	also	eat	the	wrong
combinations	of	foods,	which	interfere	with	effective	digestion. •	Most	of	the	vitamin	and	mineral	supplements	sold	today	are	of	poor
quality	and	not	worth	what	you	pay	for	them. They	do	not	provide	us	with
the	nutrients	we	think	we	are	buying. Starvation	on	a	Full	Stomach
According	to	the
State	of	the	World	2000
report	from	the	Worldwatch
Institute,	the	world	is	in	the	midst	of	a	nutrition	crisis. In	the	developed
countries,	1.2	billion	people,	including	most	Americans,	are	now	“starving”	and
undernourished	because	they	are	overfed	with	too	much	of	the	wrong	foods. The
average	American	diet	does	not	support	the	biological	needs	of	human	cells. We
try	to	achieve	the	impossible:	We	try	to	maintain	health	while	eating	a	diet	that
cannot	provide	health. Although	our	stomachs	may	be	full	(and	our	bellies	are
fat),	malnutrition	is	our	leading	cause	of	disease. Ultimately,	any	level	of	malnutrition	creates	susceptibility	to	disease. However,	when	we	suffer	health	problems	as	a	result	of	poor	nutrition,	almost
always	we	blame	our	illnesses	on	aging	or	on	faulty	genes	rather	than	on	its	true
cause. We	are,	indeed,	what	we	eat. That	cliché	should	guide	all	choices	we	make
about	the	foods	we	consume. The	average	person,	however,	is	poorly	informed
and	confused	about	what	to	eat,	how	to	eat	and	what	to	avoid. Misinformation
tossed	about	by	food	manufacturers	and	even	by	physicians	overwhelms	the
consumer. Few	people	truly	understand	how	food	helps	or	fails	to	keep	them
healthy. Food	manufacturers	nearly	always	favor	qualities	such	as	shelf	life,	taste,
appearance	and	marketability	over	nutrition	and	health. Physicians,	who
typically	lack	nutrition	education	themselves,	usually	tell	us	that	a	standard	diet
gives	us	all	the	nutrition	we	need. With	such	misinformation,	we	tend	to	make
irrational	and	harmful	decisions. A	diet	that	focuses	on	anything	other	than
meeting	the	nutritional	needs	of	cells	allows	your	body	to	get	sick. The	four	worst	food	choices,	comprising	the	bulk	of	the	average	American	diet
and	disastrous	to	the	health	of	our	population	are:1.	sugar
2.	white	flour
3.	processed	oils
4.	milk	products
Consuming	these	foods,	especially	as	a	large	part	of	the	diet	and	over	time,	is
virtually	guaranteed	to	cause	disease. They	provide	little	nutrition	and	are	toxic
as	well. If	every	American	were	to	stop	eating	these	“foods,”	our	epidemic	of
chronic	diseases	would	decline	dramatically. Problematic	in	their	own	right,	the
real	harm	caused	by	these	four	food	failures	comes	from	the	fact	that	we	eat
them	repeatedly,	day	by	day,	meal	by	meal. As	highly	as	we	might	think	of	ourselves,	on	a	physical	level	we	are	nothing
more	than	an	organized	mass	of	about	75	trillion	cells,	all	constantly	demanding
nutrients. If	we	consistently	choose	the	Big	Four—sugar,	white	flour,	processed
oils,	milk	products	or	foods	containing	these	as	ingredients—we	cannot	hope	to
meet	the	needs	of	our	hungry	cells. Every	single	time	you	choose	an	organic,
fresh,	unprocessed	food	instead	of	one	of	the	Big	Four,	you	are	doing	your	cells
(and	yourself)	a	great	service. Let	us	have	a	closer	look	at	the	Big	Four. Sugar	Wreaks	Havoc
If	you	make	only	one	change	in	your	diet,	let	it	be	to	eliminate	or	at	least
reduce	your	intake	of	sugar. People	in	our	society	eat	an	enormous	amount	of	sugar—	probably	far	more
than	you	realize. As	is	often	the	case,	our	perspective	is	the	real	problem;	we	are
so	familiar	with	sugar	that	we	do	not	think	of	it	as	a	serious	health	threat. Furthermore,	because	in	one	form	or	another	sugar	is	contained	in	an	enormous
number	of	processed	foods,	it	is	almost	impossible	to	avoid. Sugar	even	in	small	amounts	is	detrimental. Just	two	teaspoons	of	sugar	(far
less	than	a	typical	soft	drink	or	bowl	of	breakfast	cereal)	has	a	significant
hormonal	and	nutritional	impact	for	several	hours,	throwing	the	body	out	of
balance	and	into	a	state	of	biochemical	chaos. If	you	eat	sugar	morning,	noon
and	night	(as	many	people	do),	your	body	remains	in	chaos	all	day,	every	day. In
this	state	of	chaos	your	body	constantly	tries	to	restore	its	balance	but	never
quite	succeeds. Sugar	is	so	damaging	to	body	chemistry	that,	in	his	2000	book,
Fit	for	Life:	A	New	Beginning,
Harvey	Diamond	calls	refined	sugar	“a	deadly,
virulent	poison.”
During	many	thousands	of	years	of	human	evolution,	our	ancestors	survived
fine	without	any	sugar	other	than	sugars	naturally	occurring	in	wild	fruits	andberries. Refined	sugar	is	a	comparatively	recent	invention,	and	only	very
recently	has	it	become	a	dietary	staple. In	1750,	when	it	was	first	introduced	to
North	America,	sugar	was	a	rare	and	expensive	commodity,


. Then I related one of Abraham Lincoln’s
favorite retorts: “If you counted a sheep’s tail as a leg, how many legs would it have?”  Invariably the answer was “five. ” To which Lincoln would respond: “Only four. Counting the tail as a leg doesn’t make it one. ”
I think you’ll agree that we are not equipped in any aspect of our being as carnivores. Are We Eaters of Fermented and Rotten Foods?Substantially all of Americans eat fermented and putrefied substances that are
called foods. When fats oxidize and decompose they become rancid and repulsive. Carbohydrates ferment when decomposed by fungi (yeast) and bacteria. And proteins putrefy (rot) when decomposed by bacteria and fungi. It is odd that we will discard fermented grapes, yet drink their fermentation end-product
called wine. Odder still, most Americans consume with relish something that never oc -
curred in nature: a pathogenic putrefactive product called cheese. Cheese represents about all the decomposition products in a single package: r
ancid fats, putrefactive prod -
ucts and fermentation products. Bacterial and fungal (y east) f
ermentation produce
alcohol, vinegar (acetic acid) and lactic acid with other byproducts of methane and carbon dioxide. Proteins, decomposed primarily by anaerobic bac -
teria but also by fungi and aerobic bacteria, have as dec omposition end-products pt omaines (putr
es-
cine, muscarine, neurine, cadaverine, ptomatropine
and y et other toxic c ompounds), indoles
, leukomaines, skatoles, mercaptans, ammonia,
methane, hydrogen sulfide and yet other toxic compounds. You need only to refer to a good dictionary to learn just how poisonous these products are. Yet, Americans eat bil -
lions upon billions of pounds of cheese annually. Cheese is made b y taking the casein portion of milk and r otting it with t
ypes of bacteria
that yield byproducts that many palates have come to treasure. That all these poisons
going into the system cause anything less than sicknesses, diseases and debility is mis -
representation. Tumors and cancer are often the result. 58
FruiticultureHumans consume many fermentation, rancid and putrefactive products. Most are de -
rived from milk. Some are derived from grains (especially the alcohols), fruits (wines and
certain vinegars), legumes (especially the soybean and its tr ain of putr
efactive prod -
ucts), and decomposed meats. As humans could not consume these dec omposed pr
oducts in nature without tools and
containerization, we may safely categorize them as unnatural. I dare say that you agree.Are We Sucklings of Animals?I doubt that humans ever directly suckled cattle, goats, mares, camels, sheep and other
animals. And, of course, the idea of doing this is obnoxious to our disposition. I refer,
facetiously, to milk drinkers as secondhand grass eaters although, to be sure, grass has all the nutr ients necessar y t
o support life. While we can live on milks (certain Africans, like the Masai, live substantially on milk and blood, thus reducing themselves to parasite status), these are by no means our natural foods. Milk-drinking as a regular part of our intake is only a few hun -
dred years old with the exception of certain Arabic and A frican peoples. M ilk
-drinking is pathogenic. If milk and milk products were discontinued today, millions of people would cease to suffer sicknesses and pathologies within a short pe -
riod. In fact, if this alone was discontinued, the hospitals would virtually empty out and physicians’  w
aiting rooms would be mostly vacated. Milk-drinking is also an act by proxy. If we had to get milk directly from the teats of ani -
mals by suction, I’m sure we’d skirt milk altogether. I would and I’m sure you would too. Are We F
rugivores? Are we a species of fruit eaters? Would you, in nature, relish ripe, vibrant grapes, peach -
es, melons, bananas, apples, plums, oranges, mangos, avocados, tomatoes, figs, berries
and the thousands of other fruits? Would fruits attr ac
t your eye, tantalize your sense of
smell, and be a gustatory delight in their raw natural ripe state? Would you prefer any -
thing that occurs in nature to a juicy sweet watermelon? 59
FruiticultureMan has always had a love affair going
with fruits. Even through all his perver -
sions, he has continued to relish fruits. Fruits are the natur al f
ood of humans
and the only food category ideally suit -
ed to all their faculties. This does not mean we should eat fruits totally and
e
xclusively in our present circumstances,
but it does mean that, in nature, that’s all we ate as attested to by anthropo -
logical evidence scientists have uncovered, notably Dr. Alan Walker of Johns Hopkins University. Of c
ourse, you go for fruits in their raw state regardless of what else your acculturization
and circumstances dispose you to eat. Your instincts are still alive and well despite per -
versions. Many myths have been built around and about fruits. As a fruitarian I can offer
a new dietary for those who say w e
’re not—their own words! Nutritionists, so-called, are the creatures of training dictated by the meat, grain and milk trusts. These trusts are part of the dominant commercial interests that dictate what will be taught in our educational institutions from universities down to kindergarten. Nutritionists are trained like seals to parrot the propaganda which will induce the popu -
lace to consume their masters’ products, with the basic five food groups being one of the primary propaganda w eapons put a
t their disposal to serve their masters. Of course,
there are renegade nutritionists and dietitians who have revolted against the basic four except for the fruit and vegetable category. Most nutritionists are ashamed of the fifth food category and don’t even mention it though it is on the books along with the basic four. The fifth category consists of what might broadly be termed “accessory foods” such as
oils, syrups, snack foods, sugars, wines, seasonings, jams, preserves, etc. Even though we are admonished to eat from all five food categories daily by the framers of this scheme to peddle commercial products, nutritionists and dietitians are not keen on mouthing this part of the propaganda even though they include it liberally in their recipes. 60
FruiticultureWhile some nutritionists and dietitians praise fruits and vegetables, they still charac -
terize those who point out our biologically correct foods as faddists and nutritional
quacks. Yet, ev
en in seminars, those who sharply question me must admit that, aestheti -
cally, they would eat little besides fruits in nature and that we humans are naturally fruitar ians. All the cr it
eria heretofore cited as the requirements of our natural foods are amply met
by fruits. In short, they are replete with our nutrient requirements in practically the pro -
portions that we need them. We are biological symbionts of fruit-bearing plants, and in nature would ea t v
ery little besides fruits. Despite all this, there’s no particular harm in
eating green leafy vegetables, stalks, stems and their fresh juices in the raw state. Even some steaming or conservative cooking of tu -
bers, stalks, stems, roots, corms and selected legumes and g rains (pref er
ably sprouted), are
not sufficiently deleterious to seriously harm our health. Of course, there are some toxic re -
sults from eating all this fare. We’re better off without them. Yet, I r epea
t, there is no great
harm in their consumption relative to what is suffered from conventional fare. Dr. Bruce Ames of the University of California, Berkeley, has created a catalog of poi -
sons in vegetables and published an extensive article in the September 23, 1983 issue
of Science magazine. No indic tmen
t of fruits as having toxic substances was made or
can be made. Virtually every vegetable was indicted. All were a part of the same study. Humans are biologically equipped to handle most fruits. When ripened, fruits accommodatingly convert their carbohydrate components into glu -
cose and fructose, simple sugars we can use without further digestion. Their enzymes
conver t their pr
oteins into amino acids and their fats into fatty acids and glycerols. Thus,
when we eat fruits, all we need do is savor their goodness. The fruit portions, that is, mesocarps, were specifically compounded to attract biological symbionts. Fruits meet their nutrient needs rather ideally with predigested nutrients. For humans, no other food compares with fruits in satisfying all needs including, of course, our requirement for deli -
61
Fruiticultureciously vibrant soul-exalting fare. I’m sure that you will agree through your own senses that fruits would be your primary
food in a state of nature. Are We Vegetarian?The average American understands the term vegetarian to mean an “eater of vegetables. ”
But, in reality a vegetarian is someone who eats only plant-derived foods. This may in -
clude a preponderance of fruits but,


 the senses becomes "intel-
lect," the concrete or informational side of intelligence. Functioning inwardly through our deeper consciousness, it
becomes what could be better called "true intelligence. " The distinction between intellect and true intelligence is
crucial for understanding the condition of the world today Intelligence: The Power of Perception
and essential for establishing any real depth psychology. Intellect refers to an intelligence that uses reason, based
upon the senses, to determine truth. It extends the range
of the senses through various instruments, like telescopes
and microscopes, and increases its calculating capacity
through various machines, like computers. It invents dif-
ferent systems of ideas, temporal and spatial measure-
ments, to understand the world. Intellect constructs the idea of an external world as real-
ity, noting the names and forms of things in the world and
placing them into various categories and hierarchies. The
notion of an outer world of enjoyment as our place of ful-
fillment derives from it. From it comes a materialistic view
of life and a mechanistic view of the universe. Intellect
directs us to outer goals in life: enjoyment, wealth, power
or mundane knowledge. It creates a bodily idea of exis-
tence, in which we become trapped in time and space, sor-
row and death. Intellect emphasizes outer distinctions,
roles, and identities. Through it we get caught in surface
information, status and possessions. Intellect functions
under the control of ego and emotion rather than guiding
them. It can inhibit our spiritual evolution, making us
prefer solid worldly realities over inner experiences. True intelligence is a power of inner or direct percep-
tion quite different from the secondhand or mediated
knowledge of the intellect. It reveals to us the nature of
things, transcending their sensory appearances, the con-
tent behind the often misleading package. True intelli-
gence takes the eternal to be the real, and perceives tran-
sient names and forms as unreal. Through it we go beyond
all beliefs, preconceptions, and concepts and leam to see
things as they are. True intelligence is keenly aware of the impennanence Ayurveda and the Mind
of all external reality and does not attach us to any fixed
names and forms. Through it we learn to perceive the con-
sciousness behind the shifting movements of matter and
energy in the external world. We free ourselves from outer
belief structures, authorities and institutions, transcending
time and space into the reality of our True Nature. The intellect possesses only an indirect knowledge or
mediated knowledge of names, numbers and appearances. For this reason, the intellect cannot solve our human prob-
lems or bring peace to the psyche. It is not enough to
know what our problems are conceptually. We must
understand their origin in our own hearts and souls. With-
out an awakening of true intelligence, our society must
remain emotionally unstable and spiritually naive. West-
em psychology, with some exceptions, shares the limita-
tions of an intellectual view of life that the West has gen-
erally glorified in its philosophy and science. Ayurveda,
based on Yogic philosophy, regards the intellect as a lower
or inferior intelligence. It helps us cultivate our deeper
intelligence, which takes us beyond the senses to the tmth
within our hearts. Conscience
Each of us possesses an inherent ethical sense, which we
call "conscience" — a feeling that certain things are right
and others are wrong. Our conscience causes us not to wish
harm to any creature and to feel the pain of others as our
own. Conscience is a major part of intelligence, which
establishes how we value and treat other people. The more
intelligent we are, the stronger a conscience we have and
the less we seek to interfere with others or impose our will
upon them. Directly outwardly, intelligence creates morality, which Intelligence: The Power of Perception
may be little more than the arbitrary customs of a partic-
ular society. Directed inwardly, intelligence creates univer-
sal ethics like non-violence, which transcend all cultural
prejudices. Through our inner intelligence, we act ethical-
ly and humanely, not for material or social gain, or even for
heavenly reward, but for the good of all. Organized religion, with its dogmas and institutions, is
another product of the outward-oriented intelligence. It
results in the clash of beliefs and their exclusive claims. It
ties us to a particular church, book or savior as truth. On
the other hand, directed inwardly, true intelligence creates
spirituality or the quest for eternal truth beyond name and
form. It leads to the truth of our own inner Being, our
higher Self in which the insistence upon a belief, savior or
institution appears naive. Intelligence and Awareness
True intelligence is the aspect of consciousness that is
awake, cognizant, and developed, while consciousness
(Chitta) itself is the mental field as a whole, particularly its
undeveloped core. Consciousness, as it evolves, turns into
intelligence that articulates and clarifies it. Consciousness,
when directed toward a particular principle, value, or
higher good, becomes intelligence. In its highest function,
intelligence becomes spiritual discrimination, through
which we discern the inner reality from outer forms, which
releases our consciousness from its negative conditioning. Consciousness contains everything in the mental field
in a potential or seed form. Intelligence allows us to
become aware of the contents of consciousness, which oth-
erwise lie hidden and unperceived. I he cultivation of
awareness, which is meditation, is necessary to develop
true intelligence. However, the mind's intelligence (Bud- Ayurveda and the Mind
dhi) is always an awareness of something and remains con-
ditioned by its object. We must eventually step beyond it
to discover our true Self (Atman) beyond the mind. The
Self is the origin of intelligence. The reflection of its
unconditioned intelligence endows the mental field with a
conditioned intelligence. Our conditioned intelligence is
an instrument for the unconditioned intelligence of the
Self. From conditioned consciousness and intelligence
(Chitta and Buddhi), we must move to unconditioned con-
scious and intelligence (Chit and Jnana). Cosmic Intelligence
Intelligence has a cosmic as well as individual reality. 2'
Cosmic Intelligence is the evolved or sattvic portion of
Cosmic Consciousness. It is the mind of God at the sum-
mit of creation, through which God functions as the Cre-
ator-Preserver-Destroyer of the universe. 24 Cosmic Intelli-
gence is the field of God's action, the manifestation of His
laws. It is the Divine Word, the Logos, through which the
universe is created. From it comes the first or ideal cre-
ation, of which this material world is an imperfect reflec-
tion. Cosmic Intelligence is responsible for the structure and
order of the cosmos, while Cosmic Consciousness governs
the world process and being. A portion of Cosmic Intelli-
gence descends into matter and becomes the Divine flame
that constructs the worlds. 2' Our individual intelligence is
our particular portion of Cosmic Intelligence or the Divine
Word. This Divine flame is ever awake at the deepest level
of our consciousness as our inner guide. 26 It directs our evo-
lutionary process from matter to spirit, from the uncon-
scious to the superconscious, from ignorance to enlighten-
ment. Cosmic Intelligence is the inner guru who works to
awaken our internal wisdom. Intelligence: The Power of Perception
Cosmic Intelligence contains all cosmic laws (Dhar-
mas), from those that govern the physical world to the eth-
ical principles that govern our karma. It is the field of nat-
ural law, in which all the laws of life are held. Our
individual intelligence naturally strives to learn the laws of
Cosmic Intelligence, through which the entire universe
can be comprehended. Cosmic Intelligence establishes
what is dhannic, or in harmony with cosmic law, as
opposed to what is adhannic, or contrary to it. Individual
intelligence grows through aligning itself with Cosmic
Intelligence that is its source. This happens not by mere
study of books, but by studying nature and, above all, by
observing oneself. Composition
True intelligence develops from sattvic or finer matters
of consciousness (Chitta). However, directed outwardly,
intelligence becomes contaminated with rajas, or emotion-
al impurities, which cloud its perception,27 and by tamas,
which causes wrong judgment. The seat of true intelligence, like that of consciousness,
resides in the heart. However, the seat of intellect, or outer
intelligence, is the brain, which is connected with the
senses. Intelligence mediates between the outer mind that
works through the brain and the inner mind located in the
heart. 28 To merge intelligence into the heart is the way to
transcend the outer world and return to the inner Self. This is the basis of all true meditation. The field of intelligence makes up the sheath of intelli-
gence or wisdom, Vijnanamaya Kosha. This sheath medi-
ates between the causal (karmic) body and the astral or
subtle body of impressions. Without the proper develop-
ment of the intelligence sheath, the potentials of the deep- Ayurveda and the Mind
er


 anyone asking for money, remind yourself of
this, and if you honestly feel that you don’ t want to give, then by all means
don’t, but rather than being critical, angry, or even mildly upset, instead
offer that person a silent blessing and drive on with your ener gy field
uncontaminated by those lower vibrations. Before we turn to the third field of ener gy, I’ll close this section with
Mother T eresa’ s observation. It is a valuable guide to preventing the lower
energies of others in your immediate surroundings to impact your ener gy
field in an impure way. THE FINAL ANALYSIS

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true
enemies;
Succeed anyway.If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building, someone may destroy overnight;
Build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will often for get tomorrow;
Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is all between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway. —Mother T eresa of Calcutta
Decontaminating Y our Mind Fields of Energy
Here we enter a somewhat obscure area. But nevertheless it is of equal
importance for you in maintaining your ef fort to avoid contaminating your
life, so that you might implement spiritual solutions. Here we are talking
about thoughts, yours and those of others around you, and how you can
keep yours pure, and not allow the low ener gy thoughts of others to impact
you in a desecrating manner. This vignette from my life will help you
understand what I mean. In 1982 I went to Greece to run in the footsteps of Pheidippides who
purportedly ran the twenty-six-plus miles from Marathon to Athens in 490b.c. to carry news of the Greek victory over the Persians. I was part of a big
group of runners and other tourists who were gathered at JFK International
Airport in the departure lounge when we learned that the plane’ s departure
would be delayed by seven hours. The place became one gigantic collection
of grumblers, complainers, and agitated people who now had to decide what
to do for the next seven hours. Amid this chaos was a little old Greek lady, perhaps in her eighties, all
dressed in black, who proceeded to take a seat, close her eyes and,
apparently unconcerned about the delay, sit with a smile on her face as if
she were meditating. I walked around the Olympic Airline T erminal for two
hours and then wandered back to the departure area and there sat the little
old Greek lady, as peaceful as could be, still in the same position, still
showing no signs of dismay. I then took a cab to a movie nearby and returned to the airport three hours
later, and the little old Greek lady still sat in her peaceful manner. Other
passengers began to return still grumbling and upset six hours after the
announcement. But the little old Greek lady in black was unperturbed and
just as peaceful as before. Eight hours after the original departure time we
all boarded the plane. The little old Greek lady sat across the aisle from me. She smiled at me as we sat down, and then, believe it or not, for the next
thirteen hours, the duration of that flight across the world, she never moved
once. She didn’ t eat, drink, get up, watch a movie, complain, stir—nothing
but sit in the same position as in the departure area, with the same contented
look on her face. Finally, almost twenty-two hours after we had arrived at JFK for the flight,
we landed in Athens. As we left the customs area I noticed the little old
Greek lady in black being met by her family. She laughed, took out gifts for
the many children who awaited her arrival, hugged everyone, and was in an
animated, high ener gy, joyful mood as she left the airport. Almost two decades have passed and I have never for gotten that little Greek
lady and the impact she was to have on my life, even though we only
exchanged a smiling glance. Every time I observed her, either in the chaotic
departure area or on the plane, I noticed that I felt more comfortable, more
at ease, and less inclined to be upset. She had the same impact on all theother marathoners who were in the lar ge collection of passengers. W e all
remarked that she was twice our age and dressed in uncomfortable clothes. And we all noticed how she didn’ t demand food or lodging vouchers, didn’ t
threaten a lawsuit, but simply went to a chair and put her mind into a state
of bliss. Her silent statement impacted all those who observed her in a way
that seemed to relax everyone. T o this day, whenever I am involved in a
similar delay situation I recall that little old Greek lady all dressed in black
and remind myself of how to enter and remain in a mind field of peace. That our thoughts impact us is too obvious to elaborate on further. We all
know that we become what we think about. But it is significant to
remember that our thoughts are a field of ener gy cycles, a mind field, and
that just by our thoughts alone we impact not only ourselves but those
around us as well. The little old Greek lady was able to spread an invisible
energy of contented bliss to all of us on that flight by doing nothing more
than sitting and thinking. Obviously, she resonated her inner calm to all of
us. Scientists describe thought as an or ganized field of ener gy composed of
complex patterns of vibrations that consolidate information. Dr. Valerie
Hunt further describes it in her book, Infinite Mind : “Thoughts are events in
the mind field that are available not only to the consciousness of the creator,
but also to other minds.” She explains that our thoughts are not private but
rather “field-public.” This means that you do not think in a vacuum, but that
your thoughts are created from transactions with other fields. Thoughts can
be passed on from generation to generation not just by photographs, print,
or the spoken word, but also by the strength of thoughts remaining in your
mind fields. The more dynamic your field of ener gy, the more capable you are of
communicating and impacting your thoughts to others, and in being
impacted yourself. How do you go about making your thoughts so dynamic
and creative? I quote Dr. Valerie Hunt again. “One does not dwell upon the
process nor does one struggle to get answers. One trusts the process of
higher creative thought.... Such is the capacity of great healers, lecturers,
clairvoyants, physicians and spiritual leaders when they enter expanded
consciousness states.” Y ou can do this. Y ou have the potential to keep yourfield of ener gy uncontaminated, and the potential to radiate a dynamic
spiritual ener gy. Simply by your presence alone, vibrating in this mind field
of creativity and peace, you can impact others. Your intellect might protest and attempt to convince you that mind fields
and silent communication of ener gy are nonsense. But once you see this at
work you’ll know. The intellect itself is too disconnected from etheric
energy forces to readily accept such possibilities, but I have seen it work
over and over in my own life. When I am able to consciously project love,
understanding, and compassion to those in my immediate life space, I feel
the shift in ener gy. I surrender my judgment or my desire to make my point
and the mind field ener gy changes. Gradually I watch that dif ference in
energy af fect the other and enjoy the change within myself. My wife,
Marcelene, is a master at this. I have had the exquisite experience of being in the delivery room with my
wife as she gave birth on many occasions. She knows that she is entering a
space that is dominated by stressful and fearful thoughts so she prepares
herself with her thoughts prior to even entering such a space. She radiates
her thoughts of love, joy, and gratitude for being able to participate in the
mystery of creating and delivering life. She surrenders to the mystery, with
no fear, only a knowing and inner determination to be peaceful during this
wondrous event. Such is her mind-set and consequently her mind field as
well. I am with her and available but I am actually quite useless. She
projects her inner peace, and calm determination to do what “women have
been doing forever,” as she describes it. The presence of her thoughts brings
a sense of calm and peace to the other women in labor, the nurses, and even
the trained delivery personnel. Marcelene is writing her own book on giving birth with full participation in
the sacred mystery through mind field ener gy. She is an incredibly
impressive example of entering the mysterious sacredness of birthing
through mind field ener gy. Marcelene has delivered seven babies without
any drugs, each time creating the kind of ener gy I describe here. Moreover,
she is now a doula, a woman who assists others with their own high ener gy
in delivering their babies in an atmosphere where fear and anxiety arereplaced with a calm, loving feeling of


 a group of fatty
acids, which our bodies cannot make. These are the essential fatty acids. Essential fats
Essential means - we cannot live without them. Essential fats contain fatty
acids, which our human bodies cannot make, so we have to get them from
food. These are omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Every cell in the body
depends on them for proper function and survival. These oils take part in a
myriad of functions in the body on the most basic level. Our bodies, the
brain in particular, are to a degree made up of them. Hundreds of clinical
studies have been performed with the use of omega-3 and omega-6 oils,
where they were shown to be effective in treating every health condition
under the sun, including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, diabetes,
depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, infections,
cancer and so on. Due to food processing most of us don't get enough
essential fats in our diets. Because of impaired digestion, there is no doubt
that GAPS people are deficient in essential fatty acids and absolutely must
have them added to their diet. Let us have a look at this subject in detail. There are two essential fatty acids, from which the body can make all
others:
omega-3: Alpha-LinolenicAcid or LNAfor short and
omega-6: LinoleicAcid or LA for short. Both these fatty acids come from seeds and nuts. The richest sources of LNA (omega-3} are flaxseed oil (linseed oil), hemp
oil and some exotic oils from kukui (candlenut) and chia. In smaller
amounts this fatty acid is present in walnuts, soybeans, pumpkin seeds,
canola/rape, rice bran, dark green leafy vegetables, egg yolk, animal fats
(particularly wild), animal milk and, of course, in human breast milk. The richest sources of LA (omega-6) are evening primrose oil, safflower,
sunflower, walnut, hemp oil and pretty much all seeds and nuts. In smaller
amounts it is found in egg yolks, milk and human breast milk. LNA and IA are called "the parent fatty acids". From these two fatty acids
the body can make other fats to be used in pretty much every function in
every cell (FIG. 5). IOMEGA-3 i
EPA
fc)CoS«pent«cnoic Acid ":
FIG. 5 Conversion of parent omega fatty acids (LNA and LA) into various
derivatives in the body. Omega-3 fats
From LNA (Alpha-Linolenic Acid) two very important omega-3 fatty acids
are formed: EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic
Acid). EPA and DHA are absolutely vital for normal brain and eye develop
ment. They are found in abundance in brain cells, nerve synapses, visual
receptors, adrenal and sex glands. However, to make them from LNA the
body needs a good supply of certain nutrients: vitamins C, B3 and B6, mag
nesium, zinc and some enzymes. GAPS patients are almost routinely defi
cient in these nutrients, so it is not difficult to predict that their bodies will
not be able to convert parent omega-3 (LNA), from flax oil for example,
into EPA and DHA, so much needed by their brains. Some researchers in
the field believe that this inability to convert the parent omega-3 LNA to
brain-building omega-3 EPA and DFIA in GAPS children and adults plays a
big part in their problems (FIG. 6). So, just supplementing LNA as a flax
seed oil is not enough for these patients, they need EPA and DHA ready-
made. The best sources of these two oils are cold water fish: salmon, sar
dines, mackerel, trout and eel. The oil from these fish can be found as sup
plements. Sea and freshwater algae and phytoplankton are very rich in
these oils as well, that is where the cold water fish get their supply of
omega-3 fats. Supplementing algae would have been a good way of getting
these fats, however, the unpleasant taste of algae is a big problem, particu
larly with children. Smaller amounts of EPA and DHA are found in seal fat,
whale blubber, pike, carp, herring and haddock. Cod liver oil is a good
source of DHA and EPA and one of the oldest ways of supplementing these
essential fats. But apart from that it is a good source of natural vitamins A
and D. Despite concerns about water pollution and quality control in dif
ferent brands of cod liver oil again and again it has been shown to be most
beneficial for GAPS children and adults. What about just eating fish? Eating
fresh fish a few times a week is the best way of getting EPA and DHA for
healthy individuals. However, for GAPS children and adults that is not
enough due to their inability to digest foods properly and an overload of
toxins, coming from the gut, which reduce amounts of essential fatty acids
in the brain. GAPS people do need supplementing with EPA and DHA in
the form of cod liver oil and other fish oils. Most fish oils, including cod liver oil, contain roughly equal amounts of
EPA and DHA. However, there is evidence to show that GAPS children and
adults need more EPA than DHA In the body DHA can be made from EPA. A British psychiatrist Dr Basant Puri has described a patient with severe drug resistant depression who completely recovered after supplementa
tion with EPA rich fish oil. But the most astonishing result was seen on this
patient's MRI scans of the brain. Before treatment with EPA this patient
showed a typical for depression reduction in the thickness of the grey
matter in the brain. After nine months on EPA his grey matter was restored
to normal thickness. David Horrobin describes a similar example with a
schizophrenic patient where, apart from dramatic clinical improvement,
restoration of the brain tissue was seen on MRI scans. There are supple
ments on the market now with a higher ratio of EPA to DHA and many
patients report good effect from these oils. DHA is considered to be essen
tial for building the brain structure, where EPA is considered more impor
tant for the functioning of the brain. Both need supplementing in order to
help GAPS patients. Omega - 6 fats
LA (Linoleic acid) is a parent fatty acid for GLA (Gamma-Linolenic Acid),
DGLA (Dihomogamma-Linolenic Acid) and AA (Arachidonic Acid). These
fatty acids are essential for the immune system, hormone metabolism,
inflammation, blood clotting and many other functions in the body. Many
seeds and nuts contain these oils. lust as with omega-3 oils, to convert LA
into GLA and DGLA the body needs magnesium, zinc, vitamins B3, B6 and
C, so this conversion will also be a problem for GAPS patients, which
means that GLA has to be supplemented as well as LA. GLA is found in
evening primrose oil (9%), borage oil (24%), blackcurrant seed oil (18%)
and hemp oil (2%). Many omega-6 oils can be very efficiently supplied
through regular consumption of nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, pine,
Brazil nuts, etc.) and seeds (sunflower, sesame and pumpkin). Hemp oil,
evening primrose oil, unrefined sunflower oil, borage oil and safflower oil
are concentrated sources of omega-6 fatty acids, available on the market. One omega-6 fatty acid deserves particular attention as far as the GAPS
conditions are concerned, Arachidonic Acid (AA), which makes up 12% of
all brain fat. It is by far the most abundant fatty acid in the brain. Research
shows that patients with autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and
depression have low levels of AA in their bodies. What is happening in
these patients is that AA and other fatty acids leak out of the cell mem
branes, where they are naturally located. This deficiency in AA means that
any function, no matter how small or large cannot be accomplished effi
ciently between the brain cells, immune cells and other cells in the body. Why are GAPS patients loosing AA and other fatty acids from their cell
membranes? The reason is not yet clear. However, a lot of research points
in the direction of an enzyme, called Phospholipase A2 or PLA2, whose
function is to release AA from the cell membranes. In GAPS patients this
enzyme is overactive, leaching AA from brain cells leaving them deficient
in this vital fatty acid. There are a number of things which can cause PIA2
overactivity. Bio-toxins coming from bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites
in the gut are usually the major cause. Chronic inflammation in the body
activates PLA2 and we know that GAPS patients have chronic inflamma
tion in their digestive systems. Exposure to heavy metals, pesticides and
other chemicals is known to cause PLA2 overactivity. High levels of insulin,
caused by the consumption of processed carbohydrates


which it is not) or to refer the patient
to a rheumatologist because they think it is an inflammatory
condition (which it is not). Because of the associated fatigue,
people with fibromyalgia are also frequently diagnosed as
having chronic fatigue syndrome. However, chronic fatigue
syndrome is most likely viral in origin and is associated with low-grade fevers and swollen lymph glands. Of course, some people may have both conditions. There are no laboratory tests to directly diagnose
fibromyalgia, but several tests help rule out other conditions. For example, the results of the C-reactive protein and
sedimentation rate tests are elevated in inflammatory conditions
but should be normal in fibromyalgia. The ANA (antinuclear
antibiodies) test, which screens for autoimmune conditions
like lupus, should also be normal in fibromyalgia. There is one lab test, however, that offers indirect evidence
for fibromyalgia. This is the morning plasma cortisol test,
which can indicate an elevated adrenaline level. The standard |   71 ExCESS  ADRENALINE: THE  UgLy
“normal” level (up to 19.4) for this test I believe is misleading;
instead, I feel that any level greater than 11.5 suggests an
overproduction of adrenaline. This is because the normal
ranges for many lab tests were originally established by testing
the blood of medical students. Because adrenaline enhances intelligence and medical students tend to be intelligent, their a.m. cortisol levels would have likely been relatively high. In my view, there are two main causes of fibromyalgia. The less common of the two is related to the displacement of the first cervical vertebra (C1), also called the atlas. The atlas
sits at the top of the cervical spine, directly supporting the
skull, and nerves pass through a hole in the atlas on the way to the brain. It is not uncommon for the atlas to be displaced when there has been a neck injury caused by, for instance, a
whiplash or falling off a horse or bicycle. Displacement of the
atlas can lead to irritation of the nerves passing through it,
which can cause headaches, neck pain, upper shoulder pain,
or arm pain. The pain can cause muscles to tense up, resulting
in a buildup of lactic acid, which exacerbates the pain further. The importance of considering this cause of fibromyalgia
is that it is best treated by chiropractors specially trained to
manipulate the atlas either manually or by using an activator. (See the website www.nucca.org for names of chiropractors
in various locations trained in this method.) Alternatively,
specially trained orthodontists can supply a prosthesis that
may realign the atlas. However, the more common cause of fibromyalgia, in my
view, is the internalization of anger, associated with excess
adrenaline. Adrenaline, known as the fight-or-flight hormone,
should also be called the rage hormone, or anger hormone. Anger created by this powerful hormone is an intense feeling ADRENALINE DOMINANCE 72  |
that, when suppressed, can cause persistent muscle tension with
associated pain and fatigue. Because the anger is internalized,
many people with fibromyalgia may not even realize that they
have anger issues. Interestingly, they occasionally exhibit anger
when someone suggests that they have anger issues. The more common cause of fibromyalgia is
internalization of anger associated with
excess adrenaline. The underlying anger can cause persistent tensing of
muscles, which constricts circulation and prevents the buildup
of lactic acid from being cleared. Eliminating the cause of
the anger will, in most cases, eliminate the fibromyalgia,
as the following stories of two of my fibromyalgia patients
demonstrate. Their stories bring to mind one of my favorite
quotes from Wayne Dyer: “Every moment of your life you
spend upset, in despair, in anguish, angry, or hurt because of
the behavior of anybody else in your life is the moment you have given up control of your life.”
A 52-year-old woman with severe fibromyalgia came to
see me. When I asked her about anger issues, she said her
only known source of anger was her five-month-old puppy,
which she had brought to my office with her. She happened to be a perfectionist, and the dog, she said, kept urinating on her carpet. She would not allow the dog to sleep on her bed
because she worried he would urinate there. She could not
visit her daughter because her daughter had two large dogs. In other words, the puppy was controlling her life. I suggested
that since she did not have the temperament to live with a dog,
she should give her dog away. Hearing that, she handed the |   73 ExCESS  ADRENALINE: THE  UgLy
puppy to one of my nurses. When she came back two days
later to give some of the dog paraphernalia to the nurse, she
commented: “I cannot believe how much better I feel.”
A 38-year-old woman came in with severe fibromyalgia. I had seen her six years prior and had diagnosed her then as having fibromyalgia. At that time, our discussion uncovered
the fact that the source of her anger was her husband, who
was abusive. Since I approach illness by addressing its cause, I
recommended that she consider dissolving their relationship. Now she was back, six years later, still with severe fibromyalgia
and still with the same husband—who was still abusing her. So
again, I suggested that she consider dissolving their relationship
because he clearly was not going to change his behavior. One week later she returned—laughing and smiling. Her
fibromyalgia was completely gone. She had left her husband. These two cases represent a type of fibromyalgia that could
be called “reactive fibromyalgia,” comparable to the condition
“reactive depression.” However, I suspect that most clinically relevant fibromyalgia is from internalized anger due to excess
adrenaline. People with this type of fibromyalgia may have
other excess adrenaline problems as well, such as depression,
irritable bowel syndrome, or insomnia. They may wind up
on multiple medications, which can add to their malaise by
causing weight gain, impotence, confusion, additional fatigue,
and other symptoms. For example, a pastor who came to see me was on 15
different medications for treatment of severe fibromyalgia,
depression, and sleeping problems. His congregation thought
he had Alzheimer’s disease because his speech was slurred
and he appeared demented—though these were actually
side effects from the drugs. I helped him to quickly wean ADRENALINE DOMINANCE 74  |
himself off all his medications and also treated the underlying
excess adrenaline. His fibromyalgia, depression, slurred
voice, cognitive impairment, and insomnia disappeared. His
congregation thought a miracle had happened. The next time
he came into the office I chided him, “Do you realize that Jesus
is getting all the credit for what I did for you?” He looked at me
and replied, “Jesus sent me to you.” Spoken like a true pastor. I have seen a number of pastors in my practice. One thing
they all had in common is the symptoms of creative type ADHD,
which is associated with intelligence and enhanced creativity. The patient who wrote the following letter found that
her fibromyalgia was gone three days after she first came to
my office. When I asked how she got better so quickly, she
responded that as soon as she had insight as to the cause, she
was able to take the steps to eliminate it. Patient C.C. My first visit to Dr. Platt was in June of 2003, seven
years ago. I suffered from fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue
syndrome. I had seen multiple physicians, but none of them
ever had a solution for me. It took my last doctor five years
to figure out the above problems, and all he did was put me on drugs to mask the problems. I was missing five or six weeks of work at a time. I went to see Dr. Platt, who took the time to talk
and explain that I was not crazy. I did everything he
asked. In just days I had more energy, no brain fog, and
NO PAIN. I have not missed one day of work in the last seven
years and I have never felt better. Dr. Platt gave me back my life, and I will forever be grateful.|   75 ExCESS  ADRENALINE: THE  UgLy
The following letter shows how important it is for patients
to understand why they are not well. It is actually part of the
healing process. Patient L.C. My recent visit with you is still in the forefront of my
mind. I have been to many medical doctors, osteopaths,
and chiropractors in my 64 years, and I wanted to tell
you that the best doctor I have ever had an appointment with is definitely you. As you know, I was suffering very badly with
fibromyalgia. My energy level was nil. The program that
you put me on has worked miracles. I no longer have
the fibromyalgia pain all over my body. I am no longer
falling asleep for two hours after I eat my breakfast and
my lunch. I am actually sleeping for seven hours plus