May all the love in your heart

                        be shared with all of creation

                                      and especially with the foods that

                                                                                      nourish you

When the term "nutritional disease" is used it often conjures up the notion of deficiency for us or already existing disease that is advanced

Somehow there is a lack of nutrients in inner space leading to physiologic dysfunction of the tissues and hence even at the intracellular level  For example, folic acid deficiency can lead to neural tube defects in the developing fetus if the mother does not have adequate stores of this vitamin  Or the lack of iron in the diet of a vegan could lead to anemia  Or diabetes, stroke, and heart disease is present

Beyond Molecular Deficiency  

But the idea of nutritional disease from an energy science nutritional view goes beyond the molecular measurements of the matter science nutrition

This concept implies that the GI tract is not functioning properly due to choices made by the mind(choices that the mind makes about how it conceives of nutrition) This is a different concept than what we are used to thinking about since we only think of disease in the very late stages of manifestation

For example, vague abdominal bloating, intermittent acid indigestion, occasional constipation, excess gas, excessive belching are all early warning signs that nutritional disease is evident

Our problem is that this concept is so utterly foreign to us that it doesn't make much sense and if it does worst yet we don't have enough direction to know what simple things we can do about it

Disease Prevention

In order to prevent imbalances we have to begin with the concept of "nipping the imbalance in the bud" so to speak

This requires that we monitor the choices we make around nutrition  This is because all diseases that occur begin in the mind due to the choices we make  In order to prevent disease we need to begin shifting our attention to what choices are we making  And even if we have already manifested disease the choices we make about nutrition will begin the healing journey back to health  Many of these choices can be aided by looking at the foodsheal.com website  This is a good start

Many of the prodromal symptoms of disease listed above can be obviated by doing energy science nutritional work BEFORE more significant problems occur

For example before diarrhea, a person often has constipation, bloating, and abdominal gases and then diarrhea strikes  Before a heart attack the person manifests palpitations, breathlessness on exertion, transient chest pain that may radiate to the shoulder and so on  Instead of getting checked most people go on living unhealthy lifestyles and then one day find themselves in the ER with a severe heart attack

An Ounce of Prevention is ............

In this day of progressive worsening of the global economy and potential economic collapse and escalating health care costs we can ill afford getting serious disease

This means that taking care of ourselves is even more important than ever before  But you and I know that we do not have a health system that provides a system of prevention  It's emergency room medicine  Ask any allopathic doctor and she will concur

Health begins and ends with our choices  Are you making the right ones?

Next time we'll discuss how emotions,thoughts,and feelings lead to disease

Until next time  Ciao                                To health as a Skill  Love DrBill

Wishing you all the best for 2012

May all your resolutions

              be known and realized

                                                                                              And may your health soar

Our search for a solution to the obesity problem worldwide requires that we change our view of the way we see the human body since our current molecular or matter science medical model is incomplete

From an energy science view the Winter time is when we should pay particualar attention to the biological Kapha energy pattern because as we have talked about before, we pile on the vibrational frequencies of cold, heavy, slow/dull, static/stable, dense and liquid when the environmental conditions also have those qualities as well 

Biological Expression of Winter

One of the first things to do during winter is not add anymore of these vibrational frequencies than we already have  The phrase "First do the mindbody no more harm" comes to mind  Since we are part of Nature(nobody has shown me how to escape and be separate from Nature!)and these vibrational frequencies lead to weight gain, what can we do?

From the above list of frequencies staying warm and ACTIVE would be important 

          Maintain a consistent daily exercise routine and try to stick with it  Workouts outside in frigid weather is probably not a good choice

         Don't use cold food, leftovers, raw food, cold drinks(ice with water at the restaurant not a good idea)

         Try to stay away from drinking large amounts of fluid(>60oz per day)

Winter Foods

Have you ever thought about the kinds of spices used around the holiday season when we're all hunkering down inside due to the cold weather outside?

Nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves come to mind and most any warming spices are used  Why?  Spices are medicines and heat up not only the mindbody but also our digestive fire that deals with the foods that we consume  So using spices to help our physiologies to digest foods is helpful  A collection of spices called a churan according to our energy mindbody makeups can be beneficial to us during the sometimes heavy holiday fare

But eating foods that are consistent with our energy makeups can be healthy guidelines during the wintertime  So looking at foodsheal.com can give you such information

             In general avoid heavy foods such as dairy and lots of meat preferring drier meats such as white meats and not oily meats

            Drier grains such as barley is better than rice, oats, or wheat all the time

           Avoiding poor food combining(for a complete list)

Trying to avoid overeating by using the 2 handful rule(2/3 of stomach capacity) is a useful rule of thumb

Also consider a day long fast which will help improve digestion

It's All About Balance

I have yet to talk to someone who doesn't believe that balance is a good thing to have in life  The problem is how to achieve that balance

But what does this word "balance" from a health standpoint mean to us?  As we spoke about earlier we don't want to add cold, heavy, slow/dull, static/stable, dense and liquid if our physiologies already have too much of these qualities  If we are presently overweight it is a guarantee that we have these qualities in abundance 

So adding onto these predominant qualities during the winter time is adding to the problem and will unfortunately add to the "growing problem"(no pun intended)

Also let's not forget that these mindbody vibrational frequencies affect the mind as well  So during the winter the stable/static quality leads to inertia and a desire to not be ACTIVE and put off the daily exercise  Hence we can mindfully overcome our resistance once we know our problem

Until next time                                                               To health as a Skill   Love DrBill

Love Dr Bill Dean and the Energy Science blog

The rage is fruit smoothies these days but from an energy science view it's not a good combination  Fruit with any other food and that includes milk should be kept separate  But there's so much more about incomapatability that the energy science of Ayurveda has to say

The concept of food incompatability is not a well known concept in matter science nutrition circles but from an energy science view there is a large volume of information since ingestion of incompatable combinations lead to disease

Matter science has a few things to say about incompatable foods  Some say that it takes three foods to bring about incompatability  Other western nutritional experts believe there is a possilble molecular transmission and that disease is related in some way to the incompatability but draws on the fact that the incompatability rests on the individual

The Energy Science Perspective

According to energy science of Ayurveda, every food has its own taste (rasa), a heating or cooling energy (virya) and post-digestive effect (vipak)  When two or three different food substances of different taste, energy and post-digestive effect are combined together agni can become overloaded inhibiting the enzyme system and resulting in production of toxins in the system  While it is true that an individual's agni largely determines how well or poorly food is digested, food combinations are also of great importance  When foods, (proteins, carbohydrates and fats) having different attributes, tastes, heating or cooling properties, and post-digestive effects are eaten together, agni will be slowed down  The foods can then remain in the stomach for seven to eight hours  These same foods, if eaten separately might well stimulate agni, be digested more quickly and even help to burn ama(digestive toxic load or stagnant energy) Thus, according to Ayurveda, one should eat according to one's constitution and take fruits, starches, proteins and fats separately at different times of the day  Combining foods improperly can produce indigestion, fermentation, putrefaction and gas formation. This condition, if prolonged, can lead to toxemia and disease complex  For example, eating bananas with milk can diminish agni, change the intestinal flora producing toxins and may cause sinus congestion, cold, cough and allergies

Some Basic Concepts

Avoid taking milk or yogurt with sour or citrus fruits.
Avoid eating fruits together with potatoes or other starchy foods. Fructose (and other sugars) is digested quickly, whereas starch takes quite some time. In this case the sugar would not be properly digested.
Avoid eating melons and grains together. Melons digest quickly whereas grains take more time. This combination will upset the stomach. Melons should be eaten alone or left alone.
Honey should never be cooked. Honey digests slowly when cooked and the molecules become a non-homogenized glue which adheres to mucous membranes and clogs subtle channels, producing toxins. Uncooked honey is nectar. Cooked honey is poison.
Do not eat meat protein and milk protein together. Meat is heating and milk is cooling so they counteract one another, disturb agni and produce ama.
Milk and melons should not be eaten together. Both are cooling, but milk is laxative and melon is diuretic, and milk requires more time for digestion. Moreover the action of hydrochloric acid in the stomach causes the milk to curdle. For this reason Ayurveda advises against taking milk with sour fruits, yogurt, sour cream, cheese, and fish

Digestive Aids

There is a beautiful passage in the Sanskrit literature describing all types of foods and their actions. Among the digestive aids referred to there are:

Water, which imparts a liquid quality and helps in digestion and absorption of food.
Salt also aids digestion, and helps to retain water.
Alkalies help digestion and regulate gastric fire (HCL).
Ghee stimulates agni and improves digestion.
Milk invigorates.
Meat gives energy. Also in this literature are descriptions on influence of foods on the tri-dosha:
Pitta is increased by foods which are sour and pungent.
Kapha is aggravated by milk products.
Vata is over-stimulated by beans, dry fruits, astringent and bitter substances. The daily diet should contain:
40 - 50% well-cooked basmati rice, barley, corn or wheat depending upon one's constitution.
15 - 30% well cooked legumes.
2 - 5% vegetable soups.
1/2 teaspoon pickles

Incompatable Food Combinations

Milk Is Incompatible With:
Bananas
Fish
Meat
Melons
Curd
Sour Fruits
Kitchari
Bread containing yeast
Cherries

Melons Are Incompatible With:
Grains
Starch
Fried foods
Cheese

Starches Are Incompatible With:
Eggs
Chai
Milk
Bananas
Dates
Persimmons

Ghee (in equal proportions)
Heating or cooking with.

Radishes Are Incompatible With:
Milk
Bananas
Raisins

Nightshades, (Potato, Tomato, Eggplant, Chilies) Are Incompatible With:
Yogurt
Milk
Melon
Cucumber

Yogurt Is Incompatible With:
Milk
Sour Fruits
Melons
Hot drinks
Meat
Fish
Mangos
Starch
Cheese

Eggs Are Incompatible With:
Milk
Meat
Yogurt
Melons
Cheese
Fish
Bananas

Mangos Are Incompatible With:
Yogurt
Cheese
Cucumbers

Corn Is Incompatible With:
Dates
Raisins
Bananas

Lemon Is Incompatible With:
Yogurt
Milk
Cucumbers
Tomatoes

My profound gratittude to Dr Vasant Lad for helping to prepare this list

Until next time                                                       To health as a Skill  Love DrBill

Nightshades:  The Alkaloids and The Matter Science

Nightshades get their name from the fact that the flower during fertilization is bent down like the Victorian lampshades used at night for lighting

The group includes tomatoes, eggplant, sweet and hot peppers, potato both white and sweet, and paprika as a spice  So we can see that this food group has a wide range of usage in our nutritiion

From a molecular standpoint they have a high concentration of a class of compounds called alkaloids that have two significant biological effects  The first is that they interfere with a nervous system neurotransmitter that is ubiquitous in the nervous system  So there is a potential but subtle change in nervous function 

The second feature is that this class of compounds can affect the joint spaces and again even though subtle consistent intake of these compounds in all the varieties of nightshades currently available to us leads to potential imbalances that can affect our health long term 

Nightshades:  An Energy Science Perspective

The energy science of Ayurveda views foods from how they affect the energy physiology and ultimately their impact on the balance they bring or do not bring to the physiology  For example, if a Pitta Vata(PV) eats tomato they increase the qualities of hot, light, sharp/penetrating, rough, dry, liquid, and subtle  Vata is the energy of movement in the energy physiology so this has biologic repercussions for those of us who are Vata dominant

Many of these qualities can have imbalancing effects long term and lead over a period of time dis-ease consequences such as anxiety, anger, irritability, fear, and loneliness due to their effects on the nervous system through the above neurotransmitter effects on cholinesterase  With this example we can see how foods effect the mind not just the physical body, that is they affect the mindbody as a whole

And these same alkaloid effects can produce difficulty in managing joint dis-eases such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid and gouty arthritis  This is because these same qualities affect energy patterns that affect the joints, causing dryness due to the qualities of hot,rough, light, and dry

The below table helps us understand the nutritional use of the various nightshades from an energy science view

                                                                       Yes                                          Moderation                                     No

Tomato, raw                                                                                                                                                           PV/PK

Tomato, cooked                                                                                                PK                                               PV

Eggplant                                                                                                            PK                                               PV

Sweet peppers                                                                                                PK                                               PV

Peppers, hot                                                                                                    PK                                               PV

Potato, white                                                PK                                               PV

Potato, sweet                                              PV                                                PK

Paprika                                                                                                             PK/PV

How To Interpret the Table

The link provided above comes from foodsheal.com and by taking a questionnaire we can find out what our basic biological energy pattern is  With that information we can determine if we are PK(Pitta Kapha) or PV  Then using that we can see where we fit on the above table  As we can see PV should stay away from nightshades as a class of foods  Who would have thunk it? And it is based on the above information garnered from the alkaloid effects on the nervous system and joints

We can also see how PK can use this class of foods in moderation which means 1-2 x/week but as we show not all the time  And then PV can use sweet potato all the time and PK white potato all the time

Both PK and PV should stay away from raw tomato all the time!!  What happened to our salads!!

The Value of Energy Science Nutrition

It is obvious that most of us do not or would not follow the above scheme  But the information is there for any of us who want to be healthier  It's a different biologic paradigm but one that will help improve our quality of life if we so chose 

As in any aspect of nutrition, the choice is ours

Until next time Ciao                                                      To health as a Skill  Love DrBill

The Energy Science and Aggravated Vata

In the biological energy science of Ayurveda the energy of movement in the physiology is Vata which translated means that which acts like a vehicle  If this biological energy pattern is a vehicle, what does it carry?  The answer it circulates the other physiologic energy patterns of Pitta and Kapha but for our purposes today we'll focus on what produces an increase in the Vata energy pattern and what are the consequences

Aggravation of this energy pattern is brought about by;

Not eating according to your energy mindbody makeup
Eating old leftover food                   Dry uncooked food              Rapid eating

Eating before last meal digested        Too many activities(so called multitaskiing)         Overstimulation
Staying up late at night                        Prolonged loud talk         Overexertion                Excessive exercise Prolonged grief worries anxiety fear loneliness                    Excessive sex

So What Are the Physical Obervations of This Aggravated Vata State?

Once Vata is aggravated it shows up in many psychological signs and symptoms

Fear                                     Indecision                     Anxiety               Tremors
Loneliness                        Lack of direction           Fatigue              Muscle tension/joint pains

And physically as:

Dry rough skin            Early skin wrinkling           Chronic constipation or diarrhea

Poor sleep                  Interference with sexual performance         Addictions(alcoholism etc)

Cracking of the joints    

Many of these signs and symptoms are common reasons why we seek help at our matter science medical doctor's offices, estimated to be about 70-80% of all doctor visits  Yet by our list of symptoms we can see that often the tools that the doctor might use will be insufficient at best in dealing with the presenting problems

Long Range Consequences of Fast Paced Lifestyle Behaviors

But the serious consequences of this imbalance year after year decade after decade is not pretty  Left to continued aggravation by the "fast paced Western lifestyle" Vata takes us out to the woodshed and creates even more damage  Merely extensions of the above listed dis-eases and this list is not complete

Chronic fatigue syndrome                                Chronic diarrhea                 Chronic depression

Malabsorption(irritable bowel syndrome)     Chronic constipation          Eating disorders(anorexia/bullemia)

Chronic headache                                             Stroke(CVA)                          Osteoporosis   

Chronic insomnia                                             Asthma                                   Interstitial cystitis

So What To Do?

The first step is to stop the aggravation by observing what we are doing on a daily basis with the above aggravating factors in mind  Going to foodsheal.com will help give some nutritional guidelines

Other steps are important

           Get good rest on a regular basis (in bed by 1030pm)

           Don't overexercise(light sweat is enough)

           Do daily oil massage

If you yet don't have the long range consequences then it's a great time to start  If you have long range consequences then it's never too late!!!

Until next time Ciao                                                           To health as a Skill  Love DrBill

Even though  the health supplement industry has become amazingly successful I think it not unreasonable to look at the other side of the coin and consider the potential adverse effects of supplements  particularly employing the energy science view

The Matter Science Debate on Molecules

In the article that appeared in USA Today two sides of the coin are debated by one financed by the nutraceutical camp and the other representing the skeptical matter or molecular science view about the agents, both with solid credentials

The article revolves around a recent Archives of Internal Medicine research that showed an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in women taking regular multivitamins

And no doubt there will other future articles showing other potential adverse effects because it is impossible to control for all the variables leading to these matter science articles in peer reviewed journals

So What's The Point?

As a society we have translated the current matter science medicine pharmaceutical approach to intuitively believing that if pills bail us out of medical problems that pills can be taken to make us healthy

This transition seems to make logical sense on the surface but when we think more deeply about the problem it doesn't make sense

I  had a patient who was suffering from severe gastric hyperacidity(heartburn) requiring emergency room visits and in questioning was taking large doses of vitamin C(2000mg per day)  She had other symptoms of excess acidity as well and began feeling better after stopping the C

This story is not uncommon in a population that believes that health begins with taking a pill  It also points to the fact that blind pill popping can make us sick  Since these pills are concentrated food they can have adverse consequences because as we know even food can make us sick

Supplement According to Your Energy Pattern

The energy science can give us guidance here because when one takes supplements according to one's energy pattern makeup then we can't get into trouble  The patient mentioned above shouldn't have been taking C at all due to her makeup

So what should we do?

          Find out what energy makeup you are

         Find the appropriate nutritional format

         Look at the supplements section under your format

         Remember the rule:  A lot more is not better

Until next time Ciao                                           To health as a Skill   Love DrBill

What comes around, goes around, says our cartoon  And there are common responses to this "Yea, yea I know my nutritional decisions make me what I am, "As you sow, so shall you reap"

But if we subsitituted our friend in the cartoon with today's matter science nutritionist we might get an idea that what is being done today in nutrition circles is not working 

Perhaps it argues for a different nutritional philosophy?

Intellectualizing With Speculation

We don't currently have a philosophy behind our current nutritional discussions these days  We have a matter science or molecular nutritional way of assessing our foods and supplements  This information often debases our choices on "too much sugar, too much fat, not enough protein, not enough calcium, not enough too little protein, this lycopene will make you better" approach  And confusion reigns!!

And the molecular approach does have a place  But perhaps there's a way to add to the present nutritional way of doing things

But philosophy or the study of how we obtain knowledge, in this case nutrition, currently reactively intellectualizes about nutritional choices  For example, if refined sugar is bad, then there can be lots of choices that give you natural sugar  If being vegetarian seems like a good idea, then we can give you a lot of non meat choices

The application to our daily lives doesn't match with a body of knowledge with one pointed focus  A hodge podge of information  The application of the knowledge is not married to a grounding philosophy of nutritional thought  Mere speculation about foods that may or may not be good for us  I would submit a lot of conjecture and less trust by the consumer as to what the real truth is since it changes year by year

But nutritional philosophy should be utilitarian, that is, it should not be divorced from practical life circumstances

And I sense currently that people want more and better advice as to what to eat grounded on, you guessed it, a philosophy

Nutritional Philosophy Based on Nature

What separates the current matter science nutritional utilitarian approach from the energy science nutritional model is that the latter is grounded in a deep philosophical tradition whereas our matter or molecular approach is not 

Furthermore the energy science nutritional model is based on a  philosophy that is both theoretical and practical  What good is a philosophy if it is not practical to our every day lives?

This energy science philosophy is based on the understanding of the workings of Nature herself Again not on intellectual musings about what's currently in vogue but on why to act based on the fundamental laws of Nature

For example,if one suffers from heartburn(acid indigestion) then what foods should I use and what foods should I avoid?  You might be surprised!  If I have a strong family history of cancer what foods should I avoid and what foods should I favor?  You might be surprised!

More generally speaking, what foods are antiinflammatory, anticongestive, and antidegenerative? 

Philosophy and Improvement of Quality of Life

No one gets out of this life alive  And for some the quantity of life(longevity) is not as important as the quality of the life lived

We might be surprised by the fact that a sound philosophy brings about improved quality of life and possibly quantity as well 

But the key is that nutrition based on a life promoting philosophy will give its users a quieter mind, weight loss, more energy, ability to wake up in the morning with energy refreshed, better clarity with decision making, a better immune system response to cancer cells, emotional stability, and more balance in life and health overall

It sounds too good to be true  But what do you have to lose?  No money, just a promise and a gift

Until next time  Ciao                                          To health as a Skill   Love DrBill