TOTAL HEALTH
NOHA Professional Advisory Board Member Joseph Mercola, DO, "is widely considered to be the world's top natural health physician practicing today." In his latest book, Dr. Mercola's TOTAL HEALTH COOKBOOK & PROGRAM, he presents his excellent and well-researched program plus many delicious, healthful, and quickly prepared recipes.
Fundamental to his diet program is metabolic typing. We are NOT all the same! He cites the work of the late NOHA Honorary Member Roger J. Williams, PhD, on the amazing differences found in our organs, even their shapes and sizes, which Dr. Williams illustrated in Biochemical Individuality. In NOHA, we remember Dr. Williams' book Nutrition Against Disease, which inspired the 1972 founding of NOHA, and our delight welcoming him to celebrate our Fifth Anniversary. In regard to these differences, Dr. Mercola points out that the way individuals metabolize food can vary in fundamental ways-some are fast oxidizers, others slow oxidizers, and many in between. In terms of the three main categories of food-protein, fat, and carbohydrate, these individual differences are fundamental to how we feel when we consume different proportions of protein, fat, and carbohydrate and also different forms of the protein and carbohydrate. Some of us do better with a higher proportion of protein in our meals, often including red meats. At the other end of the spectrum some do better on more and different carbohydrates and on less protein, perhaps even using white meats. Dr. Mercola provides a questionnaire to gage about where you are at the present time from "Protein Type" at one end to Carbohydrate Type at the other. All the recipes give variations that are appropriate for Protein Types, Carbohydrate Types, and those between.
Some of us do better with a higher proportion of protein in our meals, often including red meats. At the other end of the spectrum some do better on more and different carbohydrates and on less protein, perhaps even using white meats.
Fats, like proteins, are essential
to life. Mercola is eloquent on the essential fatty acids, especially the long-chain,
omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in cold-water fish. Unfortunately now the
fish are often contaminated with mercury and other pollutants. He insists that
we must find an uncontaminated source of these absolutely essential fish oils
(EPA and DHA) and recommends that we only use a tested source. Thus, for fish
oils, he recommends supplements. He also recommends full-spectrum vitamin
E, as an excellent anti-oxidant and for protecting our cell membranes (not just
the d-alpha tocopherol and never the dl-alpha tocopherol). He does point out
for the few supplements, which he heartily recommends, that you must be just
as careful to find excellent sources, as you are with your food. In general,
Dr. Mercola is completely disgusted with people who feel they can take handfuls
of supplements, then eat junk food, and expect to be healthy.
He also points out the deceptive propaganda promoting the cheap vegetable oils that are often hydrogenated and contain the deformed and deleterious "trans" fats. NOHA Speaker Mary Enig, PhD, whom he cites, has known and spoken about the toxic effects of trans-fats for many years. At last, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) "has mandated that trans-fat content must be listed on all nutrition labels by 2006." . . . "Not soon enough"!
Dr Mercola points out the deleterious effects of sugars and grains, neither of which were consumed by our Paleolithic ancestors from whom we have our genetic heritage. In his "Foreword," Jonathon V Wright, MD, has an amusing and satirical quotation from his own first book, which dramatizes the awful changes in our diets from those of our ancient ancestors:
The hunter stalked his prey through the awakening forest. As the early rays of the sun filtered through the branches overhead, he moved noiselessly from tree to tree. Finally halting, he quickly but carefully fitted an arrow to his bowstring, aimed, and let fly. This time he hit his mark; he was glad, because he had not eaten since the previous day. He walked to where his arrow had fallen, carefully removed the chocolate-covered jelly doughnut, and walked away, eating his breakfast.
Dr Mercola points out the deleterious effects of sugars and grains, neither of which were consumed by our Paleolithic ancestors from whom we have our genetic heritage.
We expect the hunter to find meat! Dr. Mercola is eloquent on the virtues of meat, which provides us with complete protein. He insists on certified organic, grass-fed beef. He points out the awful, crowded, unsanitary conditions under which all our commercial meat, including our poultry, is raised. Antibiotics are used lavishly-contributing to the fact that they are becoming useless, not only for the animal but also for us. Pesticides contaminate the feed. When we consume the meat, we concentrate and store in our tissues, these poisons, which are designed to be long-lasting and not degrade. In his book, Dr. Mercola gives us sources for organic beef and poultry, plus grass-fed, Kosher bison. The latter he recommends highly and supplies us with interesting and delicious recipes.
Dr. Mercola point out that any meal can be eaten at any time. We don't have to have just eggs for breakfast. If we insist on something like toast, he has ways we can convert vegetables into something like leather. Of course, raw is best. Then, we have not destroyed the wonderful enzymes and degraded other nutrients. (We remember Dr. McGee hearing the natives speak of "living food" in Hainan Province in China. See "SURVIVING MODERN TECHNOLOGY" ).
Dr. Mercola describes good equipment
for our kitchens and gives us sources for unfamiliar foods listed in the recipes.
He points out that writing down a weekly plan is essential for success. Then,
each day, we know that we have the appropriate ingredients for every meal and
the preparation time becomes really short.
Finally, Dr. Mercola is enthusiastic about his successful program for motivating patients to commence and to continue the healthful diet program. Interestingly, he writes of the meridians of energy in our bodies and how they can be accessed by gentle tapping. He has a series of videos for learning the technique. In this brief summary, we have only dealt with the diet aspects of Dr. Mercola's program. It is really much more comprehensive. For instance, he writes of "Feeding Your Mind and Spirit," of the therapeutic effects of meditation, and he has a great section on "Fall Madly In Love . . .With Exercise."
How Can One Book Dramatically Improve your Health and Help NOHA at the same time?
If you click "here"
on the "Welcome" page of the NOHA web site:
www.nutrition4health.org to
learn more about Dr. Mercola's excellent program to enhance your health, NOHA
will receive a generous percentage if you purchase the book online from this
link.
Article from NOHA NEWS, Vol. XXIX, No. 3, Summer 2004, pages 7-8.