Foods

that
Heal
by Dr. Frank Shallenberger
 Copyright© 2008
by
Soundview Publishing, LLC

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— 1—
 Foods That Heal
“Let food be your medicine.” Those words
were spoken 2,300 years ago by Hippocrates,
the Father of Medicine. And now modern sci-
ence is confirming the healing power of foods,
by putting them through the rigors of scientific
testing.
I’ve seen this healing power in my own
clinic. Almost every day I find that putting
high-grade fuel into your body will help you
run longer, cleaner, and healthier than any-
thing else. There aren’t any imitations that
work as well. But there are some great ways to
fight even major diseases simply by eating the
right food. Let me show you...
This Powerful Food Lowers
Blood Sugar and Fights Cancer
You may have read in my other special
reports about the best way to avoid getting
cancer – make sure that your cells are burning
fat for energy instead of carbohydrates
(sugar/glucose). Although all cells can burn
either fat or carbohydrates for energy, healthy
cells prefer to burn fat.
Cancer cells, on the other hand, burn
sugar. This is a major reason cancer is such a
problem today – everyone eats too many carbo-
hydrates and sugars.
The best way to prevent cancer or to stop
cancer from growing is to greatly reduce your
carbohydrate intake, eliminate your sugar
intake, exercise properly, get plenty of sleep,
take the right supplements and hormones, and
don’t stress out. All of these activities force
your cells — even cancer cells — to burn fat
instead of glucose.
But that’s not all you can do. One of the
most intriguing, new ways to shift the body
into a fat-burning mode comes from one of my
favorite foods.
Way back in 1995, researchers from the
Department of Biochemistry at Oxford
University in Britain discovered the cancer-
fighting abilities of the avocado. First, they
added an extract from the avocado plant
(Persea americana) to tumor cells in a test
tube. They found that the extract inhibited the
tumors cells’ ability to burn carbohydrates by
as much as 75%. This forced the cancer cells
into a fat-burning mode.
The result? As expected, the avocado extract
stopped the growth rate of the cancer cells.
Next, the researchers gave the same
extract to lab animals with cancer. They used a
dose of 1.7 mg of extract for every gram of
body weight, and they gave it to the animals
for only five days. To their delight, they found
that the growth rate of the tumors was
reduced by at least 65%, and as much as 79%.
This is a truly remarkable finding!
The purified extract that they used con-
tained a substance found in high levels in the
avocado called d-mannoheptulose.
Researchers at the University of
California at Los Angeles tried using
d-mannoheptulose on a line of prostate cancer
cells. These cancer cells were “androgen-inde-
pendent.” That means that they grow inde-
pendently of whether or not they are exposed
to the hormone testosterone. These are the
most difficult kind of prostate cancers to treat.
The researchers found that the avocado extract
caused the cancer cells to stop growing.
Based on these studies, there’s good rea-
son to believe that regularly taking avocado
extract is a great way to prevent cancer. It can
help prevent the shift from fat to carbohydrate
metabolism. And it works even better if you
use it with the other treatments I mentioned
earlier. But there’s more....
As Good As It Is,
Never Take It When...
It also looks like taking the extract is an
excellent idea for people who have had cancer
in the past or are currently battling cancer.
However, this comes with one caveat: Don’t
take this extract if you’re getting chemotherapy!
Ironically, arresting the growth of cancer
cells is about the last thing you want to do if
you’re on chemo. With chemo you want the
cancer cells’ growth rate to increase, not
decrease. Let me explain.
All cells including cancer cells go through
a life cycle. The final part of this cycle, which
we call mitosis, is where the cell divides into
two daughter cells. And the only time the
cancer cell is vulnerable to chemotherapy
is during mitosis — when the cell is actually
dividing.
So to make the tumor most vulnerable
to the chemo, you need to have as many cells
dividing at the time of the treatment. Anything
that slows down the cells’ cycle (decreasing
the growth rate of the cancer) will cause a
lower percentage of the cells to be in this
vulnerable stage.
That’s why taking a substance like avoca-
do extract, which slows down cell growth, will
make a cancer more resistant to chemotherapy
and radiation. So be sure not to take anything
that slows down cancer growth while you’re
actively getting cancer treatment. It will inter-
fere with it.
Of course, once the course of treatment is
over, then it makes complete sense to take d-
mannoheptulose both as a preventive, and just
in case some cancer remains. It just might slow
the growth rate down to the point that it stops
growing altogether.
One final note on chemotherapy treat-
ments: While the avocado extract will slow
down tumor growth, there is an easy way to
make a tumor grow. All you need to do is take
antioxidants. They speed up the growth rate of
cancers. And by doing this, they make them
much more sensitive to the killing effects of
chemotherapy.
That’s why I advise patients who are get-
ting chemotherapy to take a healthy dose of
antioxidants during their treatment. The same
is also true for people getting radiation therapy.
Helps Control Blood Sugar Too
One other potential problem to consider is
that since d-mannoheptulose alters carbohy-
drate metabolism, it might also alter blood
sugar levels in diabetics. So anyone with dia-
betes should be sure to let their physician know
that they intend to take the supplement. They
may very likely find that their need for medica-
tion will decrease — a good problem to have.
Currently, d-mannoheptulose is available
in two different products. You can easily find it
in supplements. However, these often will con-
— 3—
tain other nutrients that are designed for fat
loss. This makes complete sense. Since the
effect of d-mannoheptulose is to increase fat
metabolism, this is great for those who need to
drop some weight.
If you don’t need to lose weight, look for
an avocado extract powder. These products will
work for most people. My only complaint with
them is that they don’t always list exactly how
much d-mannoheptulose is contained in the
powder. If you buy some that doesn’t have the
amount listed, contact the manufacturer and
ask. You should be able to find their contact
information on the Internet.
References:
Board, Mary, Alison Colquhoun and Eric A. Newsholme,
“High Km Glucose-phosphorylating (Glucokinase) Activities
in a Range of Tumor Cell Lines and Inhibition of Rates of
Tumor Growth by the Specific Enzyme Inhibitor
Mannoheptulose.” Cancer Research, 55, 3278-3285, August 1,
1995.Lu, Q.Y., et al. “Inhibition of prostate cancer cell
growth by an avocado extract: role of lipid-soluble bioactive
substances.” Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry,
2005;16(1):23-30.
Get Rid of Irritable Bowel
Syndrome by Eating Something
Most People Throw Away
Most people who have Irritable Bowel
Syndrome are still looking for a solution. Their
doctor may prescribe drugs for it. But these
treat the symptoms, not the cause. And most
supplements do the same thing. But I’ve got
some good news for you — I have a cure.
It comes from one of my favorite foods —
the artichoke. But it’s not the part you eat. It’s
the leaf.
In one study, a group of patients with
IBS took capsules of artichoke leaf extract
for six weeks. The results? It significantly
reduced the severity of all of their symptoms.
An amazing 96% of the patients rated arti-
choke leaf as better than or at least equal to
the medications their doctor gave them. But
with none of the side effects! I’ve found that
when combined with an anti-yeast program,
artichoke leaf never fails to cure even the
worst cases of IBS.
Another study looked at the effects of arti-
choke leaf in 553 people with different kinds of
gastrointestinal symptoms. The average age of
the patients was 54.7 years. Each person had
suffered for about three years prior to taking
the artichoke leaf. The average period of use
was only 43.5 days.
The researchers found some striking
results. They discovered:
• 71% of those complaining of constipa-
tion found relief
• 68% of those with persistent gas
(flatulence) improved
• 72% of those who regularly experienced
loss of appetite found improvement using
artichoke leaf extract
• 76% had their intestinal cramps relieved
• 88% of those with frequent nausea and
vomiting improved
Artichoke leaf was also effective in a dou-
ble-blind study of people with indigestion from
various causes. But it was particularly helpful
to those with indigestion caused from insuffi-
cient bile. This is common in people who have
had their gallbladder removed.
Most people know that the herb milk
thistle (silymarin) is an excellent tonic for the
liver. But you may not know that artichoke
leaf is just as effective. Just like milk thistle,
it protects and regenerates the liver, and
completely protects it from potentially deadly
doses of many toxins. It even protects the
liver from the damage caused by the excessive
use of alcohol.
Fortunately, you don’t actually have to eat
the leaf to get its benefits. The best way to
take artichoke leaf is in capsules of the extract.
You can buy the capsules at any health food
store. The label should say that the extract is
standardized to contain 15-18% caffeoylquiinic
acids (also called chlorogenic acid) and/or 2-5%
cynarin. Many researchers feel that the cynar-
in component is what is primarily responsible
for its many benefits.
The usual dose is from 200-400 mg of the
extract taken three times per day. Start with
the higher dose, and decrease after you’ve seen
maximum improvement. And remember that
unlike drugs, herbs do not always work fast. It
might very well take four to six weeks to see
the best results.
References:
Dolby- Toews, V. “Finally, indigestion relief.”
MotherNature.com News. 3(14), 2000.
Gebhardt, R. “Antidyspeptic and lipid-lowering effects of
artichoke leaf extract,” Journal for General Medicine, 1996.
— 4—
Proof That Wine Is
Heart Healthy
A study from researchers at the
University of Palermo, Italy looked at the well-
known connection between wine consumption
and risk of heart disease.
You may have heard that this connection
was due to resveratrol, a component of wine
that protects the heart and arteries. But these
researchers found that there’s much more to
wine than just resveratrol. Drinking wine
exerts many other protective effects. It
improves the cholesterol levels. It decreases the
tendency of the blood to form the abnormal
clotting that leads to strokes. And it improves
the way the cells, including the cells of the
heart and arteries, use oxygen.
Because of this last effect, drinking wine
can truly be said to be an anti-aging treatment.
But that’s not all the researchers found. Just
like aspirin, wine decreases the way platelets
stick together. I’d much rather take a glass of
wine than an aspirin any day.
And lastly, wine improves what is known
as endothelial function. Endothelial cells are
the cells that line your arteries and capillaries.
These cells regulate and balance blood flow and
circulation. They do so by either relaxing and
increasing blood flow, or by vasoconstricting
and decreasing flow.
Wine helps these cells to relax and vasodi-
late. This causes increased blood flow and
decreased blood pressure.
Of course, these benefits are greatly
enhanced with a Mediterranean-type diet. But
there’s more to good health than just eating
right — you have to drink right, too.
References:
Caimi, G., C. Carollo, and R. Lo Presti. “Wine and endothe-
lial function,” Drugs Exp Clin Res, 2003;29(5-6):235-42.
The Fruit That Fights
Lung Disease
A new study gives people with asthma
or lung disease a natural way to battle their
illness.
The study of 2,500 Welsh men between
the ages of 45-59 found that eating apples
improves breathing capacity. The researchers
divided the men into groups depending on
their height and weight and how many apples
they ate. They took into account the calories
the men ate, and whether or not any of them
smoked or exercised. Then the researchers
measured the amount of air that each man was
able to exhale in one second.
The result? The men who ate five apples
or more per week were able to exhale 138 milli-
liters more air than those who ate no apples.
The researchers concluded that eating apples
decreased the amount of obstructions found in
the lung and bronchial passages. Other
research backs up this finding.
Another study, again in England, looked
at the dietary habits of 1,500 adults over one
year. People who ate at least two apples per
week had a 22-32% less chance of having an
asthma attack than those eating fewer than
two apples.
There are several reasons for the apple’s
protective effect on the lungs and the bronchial
tubes. For one, apples have a high content of
the bioflavonoid nutrient called quercetin.
Quercetin acts like an anti-inflammatory and
anti-allergic medication in the body. It inhibits
histamine and leukotriene. These are pro-
inflammatory molecules that create the vaso-
constriction and broncho-constriction that
cause asthma attacks.
But that’s not all. Did you know that
there are over 450 different nutrients in one
fresh apple? That means just about every
nutrient you can think of is found in an apple.
References:
Blechman, S., et al. “Eating apples may make breathing eas-
ier,” Muscular Development 37(5):35, 2000.
Quillin, P. Immunopower - Full spectrum nutritional protec-
tion. 1999, Nutrition Times Press, Inc. Box 130789,
Carlsbad, CA 92013.
Shaheen, S.O., et al. American Journal of Respiratory and
Critical Care Medicine.
Before You Try Any Treatment
for Macular Degeneration, Try
These Nutrients
If your ophthalmologist says you have
macular degeneration, he may want you to
start taking drugs or some type of expensive
therapy. Don’t do it! Instead, try these nutri-
ents that work miracles for some people with
macular degeneration.
— 5—
The first one is a bioflavonoid that you
may have heard about. It’s called lutein and it
protects the pigment in your eyes. Lutein pro-
tects the macular pigment in two ways: It
absorbs harmful blue light from the sun’s rays,
and it neutralizes harmful free radicals.
But how much lutein do you need? A
study in the Journal of the American Medical
Association wanted to find out for sure. The
researchers in the study tracked people’s lutein
consumption and then broke the group down
into five equal groups, or quintiles.
They found that the people in the highest
quintile were 43% less likely to develop macu-
lar degeneration.
Now here’s the best part: To eat as much
lutein as the people in the highest quintile, all
you need is a measly six grams of lutein a day!
You can get that by eating a single serving of
dark leafy green vegetables (especially
spinach). You can also get lutein in kiwi fruit,
grapes, orange juice, zucchini (or vegetable
marrow), and different kinds of squash.
But that’s not the only nutrient you need
to fight macular degeneration. I also recom-
mend you take daily doses of bilberry extract
(400-600 mg — standardized to contain 25%
anthocyanidins), vitamin E (400 units), zeaxan-
thin (1-2 mg), and zinc (50-100 mg).
All of these nutrients can help you pre-
vent most cases of macular degeneration. They
won’t work for everyone, but they are definitely
worth a try.
The Cocktail Party Mixer That
Helps Your Eyesight
Studies show that a popular party drink
can cut your risk of macular degeneration in
half! A study of 3,072 adults with macular
changes showed that moderate red wine con-
sumption may offer some protection against
the development or progression of macular
degeneration.
Red wine is high in flavonoids, such as
quercetin, rutin, and resveratrol. These
flavonoids have powerful antioxidant activity.
This is important because damage from oxida-
tive stress is thought to contribute to the devel-
opment of macular degeneration. Dark berries,
such as blueberries, blackberries, and dark
cherries, are high in flavonoids as well.
How to Eat Fish Without
Poisoning Yourself With Mercury
You may know that fish is great for your
health. But you also may know that eating too
much fish can be hazardous. Even mainstream
publications have caught on to the fact that the
world’s fish supply is tainted with mercury. But
there’s one thing the media hasn’t told you.
There’s a very simple way to eat fish without
poisoning yourself.
The Journal of the American Medical
Association recently published an article enti-
tled, “Fish intake, contaminants, and human
health.” In the article, the authors noted the
many dangers of methyl mercury. Methyl mer-
cury is formed from inorganic mercury, which
is common in the environment.
When a volcano explodes, it releases mer-
cury into the atmosphere. The same thing hap-
pens when electric plants burn coal, or when
waste companies incinerate waste. There are
numerous industrial processes that release
mercury into the air. Rain then brings the inor-
ganic mercury from the atmosphere into lakes
and oceans. There it’s converted by bacterial
activity into methyl mercury.
Methyl mercury is very toxic. Unlike inor-
ganic mercury, your body absorbs it easily in
the digestive tract, and then transports it into
tissues. Plants, such as algae, plankton, and
other foods that fish feed on also absorb the
methyl mercury. So when you eat fish, you're
also eating all of the methyl mercury that the
fish has eaten.
The amount of methyl mercury found in
fish depends on how long the fish lives. Older
fish have more methyl mercury than their
younger cousins because they have more time
to accumulate the mercury.
It also depends on how predatory the fish
is. Highly predatory fish accumulate more
methyl mercury because they eat more.
Longer-living, larger predators, such as sword-
fish and shark, have the highest levels of
methyl mercury. Smaller or shorter-lived fish,
such as shellfish and salmon, have only 1/20th
as much.
The more fish you eat, especially if you
eat the ones with the highest levels, the more
methyl mercury your body will amass. The
longer you live, the more you will store. Many
— 6—
people over 50 have unhealthy amounts of
methyl mercury.
So what does all this methyl mercury do?
First of all, it crosses the placenta. It also
crosses into breast milk. The tolerance for any
toxin depends upon the weight and detoxifying
ability of the person being exposed. Therefore,
children and especially infants and are at a
greater risk for toxicity.
Researchers have found significant abnor-
malities in the brain function of children whose
mothers ate too much fish during their preg-
nancy. The authors of this study concluded
that even low exposure to methyl mercury can
decrease a child’s brain function.
But children aren’t the only people that
need to be concerned about methyl mercury.
Several studies have also indicated that it’s
toxic to the heart, and can cause heart attacks
in adults.
And this is where it really gets interest-
ing. In addition to mercury, fish also contain
two wonderful fats. One is eicosapentaenoic
acid (EPA) and the other docosapentaenoic acid
(DHA). These fats are so effective at improving
both neurological and cardiovascular function,
that the damage done by the methyl mercury
is somewhat offset by the benefit of the fats. So
much so, that the authors of this study con-
cluded that “the benefits of fish intake exceed
the potential risks.” But let me take this one
step further.
Why eat any methyl mercury at all? It
can’t be good for you. Why not just have your
fish and eat it too? This is what I advise my
patients to do — unless they're pregnant. I tell
my pregnant patients to avoid fish completely.
The risks just aren’t worth it. You can get
enough mercury-free EPA and DHA in gel-
caps, such as those sold with Healthy Resolve
(800-728-2288).
But I tell all of my other patients to eat all
the fish they want. But when they do, I tell
them to take DMSA at the same time.
DMSA (dimercaptosuccinic acid) is a natu-
rally occurring substance that chelates mercu-
ry. This means that it binds to mercury, and
does not allow it to be absorbed in the intestinal
tract. It also binds any mercury that’s already
in the body and takes it out in the urine.
DMSA is extremely effective both at stop-
ping mercury absorption, and removing mercu-
ry from the body. And it's entirely safe when
you take it in recommended doses. An adult
can very safely take up to 1,500 mg per week.
Whenever I eat fish, I haul out my little sup-
plement case and take three 100 mg capsules
of DMSA before the meal. And then I can for-
get about mercury and enjoy my meal.
DMSA capsules are available at most
health foods stores.
References
Mozaffarian D, Rimm EB. Fish intake, contaminants, and
human health. JAMA, October 18, 2006. Vol. 296, No 15.
1885-99.
The Best Foods for
Healthy Digestion
If you have digestion problems, here are a
few quick tidbits that might help you. If you
need more help, please see my special report
How to Knock Out Digestive Problems Once
and for All.
(1) Mornings are the most important time
of the day regarding detoxification, and as such
should emphasize high nutrient and fiber
intake. In addition, eat at least three servings
of vegetables, and at least one fresh salad every
day. Since each vegetable has its own particu-
lar nutrient pattern, it’s a good idea to eat a
variety of different kinds.
(2) Make sure you get enough lean protein
and that you avoid the high glycemic carbohy-
drates. How well you are doing in this regard
can be determined by Bio-Energy Testing.
(3) Another very important thing to
remember is that many studies have conclu-
sively shown that overeating will shorten your
lifespan substantially. It is important to eat
only as much as is needed to satisfy hunger.
4) As a general rule, make sure to limit
your coffee intake to 4 oz. of organic coffee per
day. Several of the markets carry organic cof-
fee. The reason is that too much coffee is very
hard on the liver, leading to allergies and vari-
ous digestive and bowel disorders. Not only
that, but excessive coffee will also cause osteo-
porosis by creating an acid condition in the tis-
sues. Osteoporosis occurs because the body
responds to the acid challenge by pulling calci-
um off the bones to buffer the acid.
(5) For the same reasons, limit alcohol to
— 7—
one to two drinks per day. Coffee and alcohol
in small amounts such as these act as stimu-
lants to the body, and in that sense can be ben-
eficial. Excessive intake, however results in a
suppressive effect on the body. Remember the
Arndt-Schultz Principle, which applies to all
substances: in small enough doses any sub-
stance will act as a stimulant, in larger doses
the same substance can be supportive, and in
large enough doses any substance will be sup-
pressive. Viewed from this angle, it’s not so
much what you take into your system that is
important, but how much. This means there
are no bad foods, only bad doses!
(6) Milk is just such a food. Because it has
been ruined by homogenation and pasteuriza-
tion, milk even in small amounts often leads to
allergies, and in larger amounts is sure to
cause bowel and liver problems. Yes it has a lot
of calcium, but it has no fiber, and you can get
more calcium per gram weight from spinach
and other vegetables than you can from milk.
Children do not need milk at all. This is a
common misconception. Children who avoid
milk will have bones just as strong as their
milk-drinking friends, and will avoid all the
problems associated with milk ingestion, such
as chronic ear infections. Dr. Frank Orski,
Director of the Department of Pediatrics at
Johns Hopkins Hospital points out that the use
of milk in children leads to diarrhea, constipa-
tion, anemia, skin rashes, ear infections, and
hyperactivity.
(7) Avoid sodas, sugars, sweets, fast food,
and junk food like the plague. Talk about
industrialized waste!! When cooking, it’s a
good idea to use Pam, lecithin, olive oil, or but-
ter. Avoid deep fried foods, and instead, learn
to lightly sauté the foods in a little olive oil and
butter. Never, ever use margarine, shortening,
hydrogenated, or partially hydrogenated oils!!!
These manmade industrial wastes have been
shown to be immune suppressive. Recent pub-
lications have also demonstrated that these
artificial trans fatty acids actually damage the
inner walls of the arteries contributing to car-
diovascular disease, and also are toxic to the
most fundamental aspects of energy production.
Carefully read ingredients labels, and avoid all
foods that contain these poisons. It has been
estimated by some researchers that it takes
about nine months to completely rid your body
of these toxic fats after you have ingested them.
 (8) Here's another news flash: fruit juice is
not a health food. Drink fruit juice only spar-
ingly, as a treat. Why? Because it has no fiber,
and is high in sugar. Did you know that a
glass of most fruit juices contains as much
sugar as a coke?
(9) Eat sweets in the form of a dessert
(i.e., after a meal). Avoid sweets, breads, fruit,
cookies, etc. on an empty stomach. By eating
them after a meal you will dilute their sugar
effect with the other foods already in your
stomach. This is a good time to eat some fruit.
Whole fruit makes an excellent dessert. It
is sweet and has valuable fiber and nutrient
content.
(10) In general, keep your breakfast and
lunch on the light side, and make supper the
biggest meal of the day. There may be some
exceptions to this rule in persons who have
very physical jobs.
(11) Here is an important rule: avoid
going to sleep for at least three hours after sup-
per. Lie down and rest if you will, but don't go
to sleep. You cannot fully digest your foods
while you sleep, and this will ultimately lead to
increased toxicity, and weight gain. Three
hours is enough time for your body to digest
the meal.
(12) The last rule is my personal favorite,
and it goes like this: Feel free to break all the
above rules once a week (except the hydro-
genated fat rule). Let's face it. A healthy body
is equipped to deal with a toxic situation peri-
odically, and besides it give us something
different to look forward to! On this happy
note, I will congratulate you on completing the
dietary part of this anti-aging and detoxifica-
tion program.
The World’s Best Energy Food
You’ve undoubtedly heard that fat is bad
for you. The message is so pervasive, everyone
believes it. Walk through the grocery store and
you'll see low-fat this and fat-free that. But they
have it all wrong. You don’t have to avoid fat!
This may surprise you. After all, experts
far and wide have scorned dietary fat. They
claim it causes everything from arterial plaque,
high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and
diabetes!
But it’s just not true! Years ago, when I
— 8—
tried putting my patients on low-fat diets dia-
betes, I just didn’t see any results. Instead, I
saw a lot of negatives. Almost none of them
lost weight. Their blood sugar control didn’t
improve. And the vast majority of them com-
plained of fatigue, poor immunity, insomnia,
and many other health problems.
Low-fat diets = low-energy diets
That’s when it hit me that fat isn’t the
problem. It’s the solution. As I mentioned ear-
lier, your metabolism works best when it’s
burning fat. Limiting your intake of fat deprives
your cells of fuel they need to produce energy.
But I needed proof. So I started looking at
the diets of my patients. Of the patients who
came to me with diabetes, heart disease, and
eating disorders, literally none of them ate a
high-fat diet. That’s right — none!
One reason is that when you’re on a high-
fat diet, it’s almost impossible to overeat.
Another reason, as I mentioned, is that fat
is the preferred source of energy.
And, unlike carbohydrates, which contribute
nothing to the structure and composition of the
body, fat makes up the membranes of our cells.
Research shows that when cells become dis-
eased or poisoned, it first occurs in these mem-
branes. Unhealthy cell membranes severely
impair the cell’s ability to produce energy.
Our nervous system and brain are almost
completely made up of fat. Fat is the building
block for cortisol, DHEA, and the sex hor-
mones. Fats also make up prostaglandins,
which are essential for proper immune func-
tion, the cardiovascular system, and the heal-
ing process after an injury.
So fats are a vital part of a healthy body.
But they have to be healthy fats. Notice I said
“healthy fats.”
Healthy fats include monounsaturated
fats, such as olive oil and coconut oil. They also
include animal fats, as long as the animals are
not fed grain. This includes fish, lamb, free-
range chicken, grass-fed cows, and eggs that
come from free-range chickens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Have you heard about a fruit called
mangosteen? — Joni M., Surprise, AZ
Dear Joni,
The mangosteen fruit is very common in
the Orient. They call it the “Queen of Fruits.”
I regularly visit the orient to give lectures,
and I see mangosteens at virtually every
fruit vendor.
Here in the U.S., however, mangosteen is
more than just the Queen of Fruits. Here it’s
the queen of multilevel marketing.
These marketing companies tell you man-
gosteen is supposedly much higher than ordi-
nary foods in several antioxidants. This is just
not true. No reputable research has shown
that mangosteen fruit contains even the
antioxidant levels of the average orange. And
this should not be too surprising. In fruit, the
antioxidant qualities come from pigment, and
mangosteen is white. It has almost no pigment.
In fact, the only thing mangosteen seems to be
really high in is price.
Another problem is that the commercial
mangosteen juice that's being sold isn’t pure.
It’s diluted with other juices. I’ve yet to see a
mangosteen juice that is even close to 100%
mangosteen. Most are less than 50%
mangosteen.
To be fair, I should mention that there are
several studies that used mangosteen juice in
test-tube experiments. Most of these are some
variation of pouring some juice on top of a cul-
ture of cancer cells and noting that they don't
grow as fast. This type of experiment is called
— 9—
an “in vitro” test. In vitro tests are often inter-
esting. But most of the time, they have
absolutely no meaning for the non-test tube
world. I looked for published studies on the use
of mangosteen juice in actual people who had
cancer. But there aren’t any. Not one.
The long and the short of mangosteen
juice is that it’s overpriced and over-touted. If
you like to drink it for its taste, that's fine. But
if you're looking at it as a miracle health drink,
save your money.
Q. I have heard about the success of Goji
Juice. What is your opinion? — Wes V.K.,
via e-mail
Dear Wes,
Gogi juice is another one of the “Super
Juices” that are so widely promoted these days
by multi-level marketing companies. I would
like to believe that these juices were more than
just a very nutritional form of snake oil. But,
unfortunately, they have no nutritional value
over just eating healthy foods. And they're
much more expensive.
Additionally, there are no reputable clini-
cal trials proving that they do what the sellers
say they can do. That being said, I will tell you
what I tell all my patients when asked this sort
of question. Try it out, and let me know what
happens. If it works, email me and let me
know. So far I have not had one patient get
back to me.