Foods that Heal and Foods that Harm

Introduction

This whole huge area is very complex. There is biochemical individuality. What this means is that everyone has a unique biochemistry. What is medicine for one man is poison for another. Therefore a great deal of work has to be done to figure these things out. The RDAs are not that useful because everybody is different. One person might be allergic to peanuts. Another might thrive on peanuts.

The RDAs are only valid for well people. If you are sick, the biochemistry is different. Linus Pauling and Abram Hoffer figured this out. They were backed by the brilliant nutritional scientist Roger Williams.

Nutrients

"Good plant sources of protein are beans, peas, nuts, bread, and cereals." orthomolecular.org

Protein has been a double-edged sword. For most people, protein is good. However, there are some diseases (such as PKU, kidney disease, liver disease, etc.) where the patient is allergic to protein. In celiac disease the patient is allergic to an amino acid called glutamine. This amino acid is found in gluten and in dairy products.

Although animal products have a lot of protein, there is substantial protein in some plant foods.

Fats

"Saturated fats usually are solid in form and of animal origin. In many typical diets, meat fat is the main source. Saturated fats can raise the level of cholesterol in the blood." orthomolecular.org

Dr. Weil recommends fish oil, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. He does not recommend omega-6 fatty acids, which are common. Fish oil is a rare example of an animal product that is good for the cardiovascular system.

Minerals

"Everyone at every age needs calcium. This mineral helps build bones and teeth, and it is necessary for blood clotting." orthomolecular.org

I don't know who wrote this website, but I suspect either Dr. Hoffer or Dr. Kunin or both. This is one of my favorite nutrition websites.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is retinol. However, beta carotene can be converted into vitamin A by the body. Sources are shown below: