11-03-2012, 07:44 PM
(This post was last modified: 11-03-2012, 09:49 PM by Tenet Nosce.)
So I figure, since we are so close to the "finish line" nutritionally-speaking, we might as well go the distance. 
To review, if we eat to maximize macromineral consumption we come up with the following priority:
1. Greens and beans
2. Nuts and seeds
3. Herbs, spices, and seasonings
4. Superfoods
Now- chloride and phosphorus are sort of non-issues. It would be pretty much impossible to eat a diet deficient in these. Sulfur, however, can be an issue, and often is. Sulfur does a bunch of stuff, but it is especially important for certain detox pathways that are essential to health.
The most abundant sources of sulfur are the brassicant family, which includes mustard and kale, and cruciferous veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, and cabbage. Second to that are the allium family, like onion, garlic, leeks and shallots. Eggs (specifically the yolks) are a also a good source of sulfur, for non-vegans.
Eating as above will pretty much cover the microminerals, with the possible exception of iron. As iron is at the core of the hemoglobin molecule, meat-eaters don't usually have to worry about iron. The best plant sources of iron include sesame seed (or tahini) and chickpeas (or garbanzo beans). Therefore, vegans and vegetarians should be eating plenty of hummous.
Zinc can also sometimes be an issue. Most easily remedied by pumpkin seeds. And/or, for the meat eaters, seafood, particularly oysters.
There are a two other necessary elements which don't fall under the category of macro- or micro- minerals. These are selenium and iodine, and these require special attention.
There aren't many reliable sources of selenium. The brazil nut is an excellent source. Mushrooms are very good sources, so this one place they come into the diet, nutritionally speaking. The allium family is a good source, but not great. Root vegetables, particularly carrot and potato are also OK sources. As is asparagus.
Iodine is pretty sparse amongst land creatures, both plant and animal. Sea creatures, both plant and animal, are good sources. Or iodized salt.
Onto the vitamins...
Vitamin A isn't really found in plants. Plants have carotenoids (including beta-carotene) which are used by animals to make vitamin A. It is what gives plants red, orange, and yellow color. Squashes, carrots, sweet potatoes, and yams are excellent sources. Tomatoes and peppers are also good sources. For meat-eaters, organ meats are excellent sources of vitamin A.
Most of the B vitamins are already covered by the above foods. B12 might be more of an issue in vegans, or anybody with poor gut ecology, since gut microbes produce some B12 for us. Again, the "superfoods" like yeast, algae, and cyanobacteria come up high on the list. Also organ meats.
Vitamin C is covered by the cruciferous veggies and peppers, and to a lesser extent tomatoes.
Vitamin D isn't really a vitamin, but a prohormone produced when ultraviolet light interacts with cholesterol in the skin. So we actually need sunlight (about 20-30 minutes per day average exposure) to be "nutritionally complete." However, there are some other food sources which have become more suited to areas of the earth with low sunlight exposure. Mushrooms are a good source of vitamin D (actually vitamin D-2), and this can be enhanced by treating them with ultraviolet light. Fatty fish that tend toward more arctic environments, like salmon, herring, or mackerel, may also "store more sunlight" in their fat tissue as vitamin D.
Vitamin E (actually tocopherols in plants) is covered by the greens and seeds. It's worth noting that whole grains are also a decent source of vitamin E. But it must be whole grains, as vitamin E is fat-soluble and found in the bran and germ, rather than the endosperm which is almost entirely carbohydrate.
(We're almost done.)
There are two other main nutritional considerations from a nutritional standpoint: essential fatty acids and fiber.
Of the essential fatty acids (EFAs), omega-6 and omega-3 are needed in the greatest amounts. Omega-6s usually aren't an issue in meat-eaters, and are easily covered by nuts, seeds, and avocado for the nutritionally-balanced vegan or vegetarian. For omega-3s, we should pay special attention to flaxseed and walnut. And for those who eat meat, those same fatty fishes mentioned above.
Fiber is where I would really start talking about fruits. Vegetables and whole grains are great sources of insoluble fiber, which is important for mechanical cleaning and "bulking" of stools. But they aren't that great for soluble fiber, the notable exceptions being asparagus, artichoke, fennel, okra, and the allium family.
Fruit is a great source of soluble fiber which is essential for healthy gut ecology. Gut bacteria ferment the soluble fiber for food. There are quite a number of different subtypes of soluble fiber, so eating a great variety of fruit is the best approach here.
Of course, fruits are also excellent sources of many other nutrients. Nutritionally-speaking I would put blueberry at the top of the list. But fruits are also very high in sugar, and in my professional opinion, should be limited to no more than 3 servings a day.
Also important to note here is that when we juice a fruit (or vegetable) we remove the fiber from it. Which is why I get concerned when I hear of people with gut problems being encouraged to go on a juice fast.
Whew! I think that covers it! Oh, that's right. One more thing: Protein.
Luckily, we've got that covered by now!
So we can see how taking a nutritional, biochemistry-based standpoint to eating offers a sound, rational, "scientific" approach to diet that can actually be summed up with a couple pages of text and a few pictures!
(Kind of makes me wonder what everybody else is selling books and spreading viral videos about!)
So to review, in order of priority:
1. Greens and beans
2. Nuts and seeds
3. Herbs, spices, and seasonings
4. Superfoods
5. Cruciferous veggies
6. Squashes and root vegetables
7. Garlic, onions, peppers, and tomatoes
8. Mushrooms
9. Other random veggies, e.g. asparagus, artichoke, fennel, okra, etc.
10. Fruit
11. Whole Grains
(If non-vegan)
12. Eggs
13. Dairy
(If non-vegetarian)
14. Sea animals
15. Land animals
(If wanting to get sick and fat)
16. Refined grains, pastries, candy, and soda pop
Getting back to the Gerson Therapy, the above makes it unnecessary to talk much about dietary "cancer cures". The above nutritional, biochemistry-based approach would confer the same benefits, if not superior benefits. Not only for cancer, but for pretty much any condition.
It is also a forward-looking, health-supporting approach, rather than a backward-looking, disease-treating approach. It also has the added benefit of avoiding costly legal entanglements, cease-and-desist orders, regulatory agencies, or having to take to the streets with torches. Beyond all of this, it is an approach which is backed by SCIENCE! :idea:
And of course, if there are health and/or environmental and/or political concerns, simply reverse the order. Take #16 out first, and work backwards up the list. Simple.
Finally, but not at all least important, this is also the approach which maximizes the amount of nutrition per dollar spent. So, it is achievable for the poor and destitute, as well. Nobody has to go down to Mexico for their "cure", or spend untold thousands on other treatments, or even dietary supplements.
To review, if we eat to maximize macromineral consumption we come up with the following priority:
1. Greens and beans
2. Nuts and seeds
3. Herbs, spices, and seasonings
4. Superfoods
Now- chloride and phosphorus are sort of non-issues. It would be pretty much impossible to eat a diet deficient in these. Sulfur, however, can be an issue, and often is. Sulfur does a bunch of stuff, but it is especially important for certain detox pathways that are essential to health.
The most abundant sources of sulfur are the brassicant family, which includes mustard and kale, and cruciferous veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, and cabbage. Second to that are the allium family, like onion, garlic, leeks and shallots. Eggs (specifically the yolks) are a also a good source of sulfur, for non-vegans.
Eating as above will pretty much cover the microminerals, with the possible exception of iron. As iron is at the core of the hemoglobin molecule, meat-eaters don't usually have to worry about iron. The best plant sources of iron include sesame seed (or tahini) and chickpeas (or garbanzo beans). Therefore, vegans and vegetarians should be eating plenty of hummous.
Zinc can also sometimes be an issue. Most easily remedied by pumpkin seeds. And/or, for the meat eaters, seafood, particularly oysters.
There are a two other necessary elements which don't fall under the category of macro- or micro- minerals. These are selenium and iodine, and these require special attention.
There aren't many reliable sources of selenium. The brazil nut is an excellent source. Mushrooms are very good sources, so this one place they come into the diet, nutritionally speaking. The allium family is a good source, but not great. Root vegetables, particularly carrot and potato are also OK sources. As is asparagus.
Iodine is pretty sparse amongst land creatures, both plant and animal. Sea creatures, both plant and animal, are good sources. Or iodized salt.
Onto the vitamins...
Vitamin A isn't really found in plants. Plants have carotenoids (including beta-carotene) which are used by animals to make vitamin A. It is what gives plants red, orange, and yellow color. Squashes, carrots, sweet potatoes, and yams are excellent sources. Tomatoes and peppers are also good sources. For meat-eaters, organ meats are excellent sources of vitamin A.
Most of the B vitamins are already covered by the above foods. B12 might be more of an issue in vegans, or anybody with poor gut ecology, since gut microbes produce some B12 for us. Again, the "superfoods" like yeast, algae, and cyanobacteria come up high on the list. Also organ meats.
Vitamin C is covered by the cruciferous veggies and peppers, and to a lesser extent tomatoes.
Vitamin D isn't really a vitamin, but a prohormone produced when ultraviolet light interacts with cholesterol in the skin. So we actually need sunlight (about 20-30 minutes per day average exposure) to be "nutritionally complete." However, there are some other food sources which have become more suited to areas of the earth with low sunlight exposure. Mushrooms are a good source of vitamin D (actually vitamin D-2), and this can be enhanced by treating them with ultraviolet light. Fatty fish that tend toward more arctic environments, like salmon, herring, or mackerel, may also "store more sunlight" in their fat tissue as vitamin D.
Vitamin E (actually tocopherols in plants) is covered by the greens and seeds. It's worth noting that whole grains are also a decent source of vitamin E. But it must be whole grains, as vitamin E is fat-soluble and found in the bran and germ, rather than the endosperm which is almost entirely carbohydrate.
(We're almost done.)
There are two other main nutritional considerations from a nutritional standpoint: essential fatty acids and fiber.
Of the essential fatty acids (EFAs), omega-6 and omega-3 are needed in the greatest amounts. Omega-6s usually aren't an issue in meat-eaters, and are easily covered by nuts, seeds, and avocado for the nutritionally-balanced vegan or vegetarian. For omega-3s, we should pay special attention to flaxseed and walnut. And for those who eat meat, those same fatty fishes mentioned above.
Fiber is where I would really start talking about fruits. Vegetables and whole grains are great sources of insoluble fiber, which is important for mechanical cleaning and "bulking" of stools. But they aren't that great for soluble fiber, the notable exceptions being asparagus, artichoke, fennel, okra, and the allium family.
Fruit is a great source of soluble fiber which is essential for healthy gut ecology. Gut bacteria ferment the soluble fiber for food. There are quite a number of different subtypes of soluble fiber, so eating a great variety of fruit is the best approach here.
Of course, fruits are also excellent sources of many other nutrients. Nutritionally-speaking I would put blueberry at the top of the list. But fruits are also very high in sugar, and in my professional opinion, should be limited to no more than 3 servings a day.
Also important to note here is that when we juice a fruit (or vegetable) we remove the fiber from it. Which is why I get concerned when I hear of people with gut problems being encouraged to go on a juice fast.
Whew! I think that covers it! Oh, that's right. One more thing: Protein.
Luckily, we've got that covered by now!
So we can see how taking a nutritional, biochemistry-based standpoint to eating offers a sound, rational, "scientific" approach to diet that can actually be summed up with a couple pages of text and a few pictures!
(Kind of makes me wonder what everybody else is selling books and spreading viral videos about!)
So to review, in order of priority:
1. Greens and beans
2. Nuts and seeds
3. Herbs, spices, and seasonings
4. Superfoods
5. Cruciferous veggies
6. Squashes and root vegetables
7. Garlic, onions, peppers, and tomatoes
8. Mushrooms
9. Other random veggies, e.g. asparagus, artichoke, fennel, okra, etc.
10. Fruit
11. Whole Grains
(If non-vegan)
12. Eggs
13. Dairy
(If non-vegetarian)
14. Sea animals
15. Land animals
(If wanting to get sick and fat)
16. Refined grains, pastries, candy, and soda pop
Getting back to the Gerson Therapy, the above makes it unnecessary to talk much about dietary "cancer cures". The above nutritional, biochemistry-based approach would confer the same benefits, if not superior benefits. Not only for cancer, but for pretty much any condition.
It is also a forward-looking, health-supporting approach, rather than a backward-looking, disease-treating approach. It also has the added benefit of avoiding costly legal entanglements, cease-and-desist orders, regulatory agencies, or having to take to the streets with torches. Beyond all of this, it is an approach which is backed by SCIENCE! :idea:
And of course, if there are health and/or environmental and/or political concerns, simply reverse the order. Take #16 out first, and work backwards up the list. Simple.
Finally, but not at all least important, this is also the approach which maximizes the amount of nutrition per dollar spent. So, it is achievable for the poor and destitute, as well. Nobody has to go down to Mexico for their "cure", or spend untold thousands on other treatments, or even dietary supplements.