In our Qi Cultivation Class, we have been discussing food and its impact on our health. Food, as you probably know, is often the first line of defense for better health. Sometimes, just by changing our diet, or even adding or removing certain foods, we can improve our health.
Some class participants shared information on what diseases or symptoms they would like to know more about which foods could help different symptoms or ailments. Below is a quick summary of foods which could help improve a certain ailment or symptom..(Much of this information comes from Paul Pritchard's book,"Healing with Whole Foods; Asian Tradition Modern Nutrition", or from Dr. Terry Wahl, or from various medical resources, and some are from personal experience).
LOW ENERGY
Change to organic and real food (reduce your processed food)
Eat more leafy greens (2-3 cups per day)
Eat more spinach, broccoli, quinoa, walnuts, blueberries, chia seeds, green tea, almonds, and cucumber
Drink more water
Try going gluten free, soy free, dairy free
HEARTBURN
Carrots, grapefruit, sprouts, honey, oatmeal, ginger, aloe vera
Fermented vegetables, cultured dairy (yogurt, kefir)
Avoid these foods
SINUS PROBLEMS
Eat more fermented foods, probiotics, Radish transforms thick mucus conditions so is good for clearing sinuses & sore throat. Regular use of radish will help prevent viral infections.
Avoid these food
MENTAL CLARITY & MEMORY
Switch to organic foods & eat more leafy greens; eat more wild fish
Avoid these foods
INFLAMED TISSUES
Eat more whole vegetables, sprouts, fruits, vegetables (especially leafy greens), sea vegetables, cereal grasses, grains, and legumes (especially lima, aduki, and mung beans). Celery, lettuce, asparagus, rye, are also beneficial, apples, avocados, blueberries, cantaloupes, oranges, papayas, peaches pears, pineapple, ginger, green tea, arugula, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, oregano, turmeric
Avoid these foods
DEPRESSION
These foods work well for treating minor depression: brown rice, cucumbers, apples, cabbage, fresh wheat germ, wild blue-green micro-algae (1.5 grams 1-3 times daily), apple cider vinegar (1 teaspoon vinegar in a little water while experience depression, up to 3 times daily).
FOODS TO HELP JOINT PAIN & CALCIUM BUILD UP IN KNEES
If joint pain is caused by arthritis, then try avoiding nightshade vegetables (tomato, eggplant, bell pepper, potato) for 6 weeks, and then only add one to the diet every few days back into the diet so you can see which to completely avoid.
Reduce or eliminate dairy or switch to goat milk. Barley & wheat grass help with reducing inflammation. Alfalfa in tablets or tea is also beneficial. Restrict consumption of all nuts, nut butters, and oil-rich seeds. Vegetables, fruits, sprouts, cereal grasses, grains, sweeteners, and animal products are generally beneficial. Celery helps renew joints, bones, and all connective tissue.
Kombucha, Ginger, turmeric, berries, bananas, Drink more water
FOODS TO HELP HEMORRHOIDS
Change to organic real food, especially more vegies, more fruits, make sure
Eat more lettuce & cabbage (cabbage improves digestion), raw sauerkraut
Eggplant is good for bleeding hemorrhoids
Drink more water
Add fermented foods; Take probiotics
FROZEN SHOULDER
Increase your intake of anti-inflammatory foods such as fruits (especially red grapes, pineapple) and vegetables (especially cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cress bok choy, garlic, and sweet potatoes).
Oily fish, like salmon, should be included in the diet at least twice a week.
Extra-virgin Olive oil, nuts, seeds, and certain spices, such as ginger and turmeric.
Reduce your intake of simple carbohydrates and fats, such as saturated fats and transfats.
PARKINSON'S DISEASE
Strawberries, whole wheat, brown rice, caffeine, plant-based diet, especially legumes, beans, & nuts are good for Parkinsons
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (From Dr. Terry Wahls)
• 3 cups of daily green leaves each day (Kale, parsley, spinach, cooked greens, smoothies, kale chips)
• 3 cups of sulfur rich vegetables a day (Cabbage family, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, radishes, kale, onions, mushrooms, asparagus)
• 3 cups of 3 different colors each day (beets, carrots, peppers, red cabbage, peppers, berries, peaches, oranges, blueberries, blackberries)
Have high quality protein every day
• wild fish, salmon, herring, or grass fed meat
• have organ meats (liver, heart, tongue, gizzards) once a week
Seaweed – have seaweed at least once a week (you need this for your iodine)
Eat above BEFORE you have any grain & dairy
FOODS FOR KIDNEY STONES
If the stones are a calcium stone, foods which can help: Beer, tea, nuts, chocolate, corn, chives, beans, eggplant, green peppers, figs, sodium rich foods, calcium dietary supplements, red meat, organ meat
If the stone is a struvite stone (from kidney infection), foods which can help: eat Soy-based foods, carbonated drinks
If the stone is a cystine stone (genetic abnormality), foods which can help: canned food, milk, peanut butter, cheese, eggs, rice, corn meal
If it is a uric acid stone (trigger is from a diet consisting of food with high purine content, such as high protein food like meats)
Foods that are good for Kidney Stones
Some class participants shared information on what diseases or symptoms they would like to know more about which foods could help different symptoms or ailments. Below is a quick summary of foods which could help improve a certain ailment or symptom..(Much of this information comes from Paul Pritchard's book,"Healing with Whole Foods; Asian Tradition Modern Nutrition", or from Dr. Terry Wahl, or from various medical resources, and some are from personal experience).
LOW ENERGY
Change to organic and real food (reduce your processed food)
Eat more leafy greens (2-3 cups per day)
Eat more spinach, broccoli, quinoa, walnuts, blueberries, chia seeds, green tea, almonds, and cucumber
Drink more water
Try going gluten free, soy free, dairy free
HEARTBURN
Carrots, grapefruit, sprouts, honey, oatmeal, ginger, aloe vera
Fermented vegetables, cultured dairy (yogurt, kefir)
Avoid these foods
- Spicy foods like garlic and onions, fatty or fried foods, and acidic foods like tomatoes or citrus
- Coffee, soda, and alcohol increase production of stomach acid, so may make things worse.
- Peppermint, chocolate, alcohol, and cigarette smoking all cause the lower esophageal sphincter to relax so they can make reflux worse.
SINUS PROBLEMS
Eat more fermented foods, probiotics, Radish transforms thick mucus conditions so is good for clearing sinuses & sore throat. Regular use of radish will help prevent viral infections.
Avoid these food
- Sugar & corn syrup completely
MENTAL CLARITY & MEMORY
Switch to organic foods & eat more leafy greens; eat more wild fish
Avoid these foods
- coffee, alcohol, tobacco, refined salt, sugar, refined flour, aluminum in foods, pesticides, and marijuana.
INFLAMED TISSUES
Eat more whole vegetables, sprouts, fruits, vegetables (especially leafy greens), sea vegetables, cereal grasses, grains, and legumes (especially lima, aduki, and mung beans). Celery, lettuce, asparagus, rye, are also beneficial, apples, avocados, blueberries, cantaloupes, oranges, papayas, peaches pears, pineapple, ginger, green tea, arugula, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, oregano, turmeric
Avoid these foods
- Rich, sweetened, refined, and intoxicating foods & replace them with low-fat
DEPRESSION
These foods work well for treating minor depression: brown rice, cucumbers, apples, cabbage, fresh wheat germ, wild blue-green micro-algae (1.5 grams 1-3 times daily), apple cider vinegar (1 teaspoon vinegar in a little water while experience depression, up to 3 times daily).
FOODS TO HELP JOINT PAIN & CALCIUM BUILD UP IN KNEES
If joint pain is caused by arthritis, then try avoiding nightshade vegetables (tomato, eggplant, bell pepper, potato) for 6 weeks, and then only add one to the diet every few days back into the diet so you can see which to completely avoid.
Reduce or eliminate dairy or switch to goat milk. Barley & wheat grass help with reducing inflammation. Alfalfa in tablets or tea is also beneficial. Restrict consumption of all nuts, nut butters, and oil-rich seeds. Vegetables, fruits, sprouts, cereal grasses, grains, sweeteners, and animal products are generally beneficial. Celery helps renew joints, bones, and all connective tissue.
Kombucha, Ginger, turmeric, berries, bananas, Drink more water
FOODS TO HELP HEMORRHOIDS
Change to organic real food, especially more vegies, more fruits, make sure
Eat more lettuce & cabbage (cabbage improves digestion), raw sauerkraut
Eggplant is good for bleeding hemorrhoids
Drink more water
Add fermented foods; Take probiotics
FROZEN SHOULDER
Increase your intake of anti-inflammatory foods such as fruits (especially red grapes, pineapple) and vegetables (especially cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cress bok choy, garlic, and sweet potatoes).
Oily fish, like salmon, should be included in the diet at least twice a week.
Extra-virgin Olive oil, nuts, seeds, and certain spices, such as ginger and turmeric.
Reduce your intake of simple carbohydrates and fats, such as saturated fats and transfats.
PARKINSON'S DISEASE
Strawberries, whole wheat, brown rice, caffeine, plant-based diet, especially legumes, beans, & nuts are good for Parkinsons
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (From Dr. Terry Wahls)
• 3 cups of daily green leaves each day (Kale, parsley, spinach, cooked greens, smoothies, kale chips)
• 3 cups of sulfur rich vegetables a day (Cabbage family, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, radishes, kale, onions, mushrooms, asparagus)
• 3 cups of 3 different colors each day (beets, carrots, peppers, red cabbage, peppers, berries, peaches, oranges, blueberries, blackberries)
Have high quality protein every day
• wild fish, salmon, herring, or grass fed meat
• have organ meats (liver, heart, tongue, gizzards) once a week
Seaweed – have seaweed at least once a week (you need this for your iodine)
Eat above BEFORE you have any grain & dairy
FOODS FOR KIDNEY STONES
If the stones are a calcium stone, foods which can help: Beer, tea, nuts, chocolate, corn, chives, beans, eggplant, green peppers, figs, sodium rich foods, calcium dietary supplements, red meat, organ meat
If the stone is a struvite stone (from kidney infection), foods which can help: eat Soy-based foods, carbonated drinks
If the stone is a cystine stone (genetic abnormality), foods which can help: canned food, milk, peanut butter, cheese, eggs, rice, corn meal
If it is a uric acid stone (trigger is from a diet consisting of food with high purine content, such as high protein food like meats)
Foods that are good for Kidney Stones
- Water & hydration
- Foods with natural calcium
- Foods rich in magnesium
- Citrus foods can dissolve kidney stones naturally
- Apples, watermelon
- Drink lemon juice &/or raw apple cider vinegar each day (helps to regulate the pH balance in the body)
- Use spinach sparingly
- Drink plenty of water
- Pears help stimulate urine elimination
- Avoid sugar. avoid nonfermented soy (like tofu, soybeans, soymilk, etc.)
