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Nutrition Diet In the Gerson TherapyJuicing and Detoxification isimportant for cancer recoveryThe Gerson Therapy of nutrition and diet emphasizes the importance of raw juices, vegetable juicing and detoxification and the sodium / potassium requirements in cancer recovery diets.
Gerson Therapy:
What’s Different about the Gerson Nutrition and Diet program
Consistency with the Gerson Therapy is important in the recovery of cancer
The Gerson Therapy of Diet and Nutrition along with detoxification is necessary in reversing and killing cancer cells
The Role of carbohydrates in the Gerson Nutrition and Diet protocol of reversing cancer
The Role of fats in the Gerson Nutrition and Diet protocol of reversing cancer
The Role of protein in the Gerson Nutrition and Diet protocol of reversing cancer
Juicing is one of the most important aspects of the Gerson Nutrition and Diet protocol in destroy cancer tumors
Food Preparation on the Gerson Nutrition and Diet protocol can seem very restrictive, yet very important in reversing cancer and giving health and vitality.
People often comment that the Gerson diet is similar to many other nutritional approaches. It may be similar, but it is not the same.
Some of the other approaches that are similar and yet very different are:
· The macrobiotic approach, for example, recommends cooked foods almost exclusively and is high in sodium. (see salt inhibits)
· Another dietary approach recommends large quantities of nuts and seeds. (nuts and seeds are very difficult to digest as well as nuts are very high in fats. See nuts and seeds)
· Still another stresses the importance of pH balance in foods.
· The Ann Wigmore diet recommends raw foods exclusively.
· And the list continues.
All of these diets have their supporters, and they all have successfully treated some individuals.
There are many different schools of thought about how diet affects health and many different paths to wholeness.
The approach you take to your own healing must be your own decision, but we encourage you to choose one approach and stick with it, adding aspects from other approaches only when they are known to be compatible.
The
Gerson Therapy usually is not effective if its dietary
guidelines are mixed with those from other treatments. While
the Gerson diet is similar to, and has served as the
foundation for many other nutritional healing programs, its
guidelines activate specific biochemical processes that
promote healing in a unique way.
Significant deviation from the diet can be as serious for a
Gerson individual as missing an insulin shot can be for a
diabetic, or as missing a chemotherapy or radiation
appointment can be for a cancer patient undergoing an
allopathic treatment.
For us we stayed as close as we could to the intent and protocol of the Gerson Therapy as possible. We elected to do some of the adjuvant cancer treatments described under home cancer treatments.
Because I still needed to continue to work full time and had other responsibilities I did not get the rest I needed. I also had to prepare and seal 2-3 juices in 8 oz. jars to drink at work.
By sealing the juice into the individual jars, I was able to preserve most of the enzymes (enzymes are destroy when exposed to air).
I knew by taking some of these steps it could jeopardize the success rate. For me it took longer to accomplish the desired results.
A person will not fail if they must make use of commercial produce occasionally, when organic produce is unavailable.
A person, will however, reduce his chances of success if he
cuts too many corners. How many corners can he cut? There is
no good answer to that question, because every person, every
diagnosis, responds differently to the Gerson Therapy.
Many individuals have followed the guidelines in Dr. Gerson's book, A Cancer Therapy, without medical assistance, and have healed themselves.
But the Gerson Therapy must not be considered a "paint by numbers" approach to healing. Care is optimal when individually supervised by a trained (and experienced) Gerson practitioner.
We contacted the Gerson Institute (www.gerson.org) and requested a Gerson trained doctor to review our labs, x-rays, and other reports and give us recommendation.
Review of the
Gerson Therapy of Diet and Nutrition along with
detoxification is necessary in reversing and killing cancer
cells
Juicing allows the cells to easily absorb the necessary enzymes and nutrients to break down toxins, chemicals and other foreign material. Coffee enemas are necessary for detoxification of the liver. It is the liver that often collects and stores the toxins, chemicals and foreign material in our body. (see Biological Basis of coffee enema)
The cell needs energy for healing and regeneration and carbohydrates provide the major source of energy. The source of the carbohydrates is in the fruits and vegetables.
Degeneration of cells and the formation of cancer tumors occur:
· if body tissues are mobilized and broken down by the gluco-corticoid hormones and
· if proteins and fats are used as the main energy source due to nutritional deprivation.
This
is equivalent to burning "dirty fuels" in your vehicles.
This, together with cholesterol and saturated fats, clog the cell membrane, inhibiting signals and transfer, and disrupts the whole energy system setting off a fermentation process.
The cell membrane is composed of a double layer of fatty acids with protein "gateways". It is reliant on adequate intake of corrects fats for membrane integrity and efficiency.
A cell membrane becomes increasingly inert due to the ingestion of the incorrect types of dietary fats leading to uncontrolled inflammatory mechanisms and a diminishing response to hormone stimuli.
As I studied types of fat and their effects on the deterioration of cell membranes and the mutation of cells causing cancer and my diet and nutrition I was appalled at what I had done to my body.
Through many weight loss diets plans I had starved my body of healthy fats and then filled my diet with all the wrong fats when my body cried out for fats. I had eaten way too many processed foods and restaurant prepared foods.
It is amazing that I had stayed healthy as long as I had.
Long-term compliance and an alternative or holistic approach are vital to overcoming disease states.
We need to recognize that what you eat today is your cells and tissue of tomorrow and it take a considerable period to increase the vitality and resistance of the body to overcome chronic degenerative disease including cancer.
On the Gerson Therapy the high vegetable content is taken mostly in juice form that provides sufficient energy for daily energy requirements and the higher energy demand of regeneration.
When carbohydrates are oxidized they do not leave an acidic waste in the body as do protein and fats.
The end products are carbon dioxide and water that promote an alkaline environment.
This encourages the:
· elimination of sodium from the tissues, · reduces toxicity and acidity and · enhances the passage of potassium into the cell.
A therapy loaded with carbohydrates will promote good insulin response. However, many people with degenerative disease have degrees of carbohydrate intolerance (diabetic) due to their weakened digestive system.
This will be evident in the gut and in other systems such as symptoms of low blood sugar (lethargy, fatigue, poor concentration, mood swings, panic attacks, hot and cold sweats, etc) and 'fuzzy' head after ingesting carbohydrates.
Improvements from these symptoms can
take days to months to occur, particularly in Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome. A person may feel unwell initially on this
type of diet but the all important uptake of potassium will
slowly improve at the cellular level.
Flaxseed oil contains both fatty acids linolenic and linoleic acid, but is richer in the former omega 3 series.
The biologically active, unsaturated oils belong to either the w6 series (linoleic) or w3 series (linolenic).
When these molecules are transformed through heating, refining and oxidation they:
· lose their electrical potential, · cannot be incorporated instructural lipids, and · are used only as fuel.
Dr. Gerson initially eliminated all fat
with cancer patients as he found that it encouraged tumor
growth. Later he found that cold-pressed and organic
flaxseed oil at the dose of 2 tablespoons (20 mls) daily in
the first month and then reduced to 1 tablespoon was the
maximum allowable.
· much of the enzyme activity, · energy transfer and · oxidation of the cell takes place.
A healthy membrane with EFA's present can store energy and attract oxygen into the cell. This is a crucial factor in cell metabolism, particularly to the brain, and a deficiency of EFA's leads to oxygen starvation by the cell (Budwig 1992). (See Budwig Treatment)
The Role of Protein in the Gerson Nutrition and Diet protocol of reversing cancer
Protein is required for growth and tissue maintenance but ingesting excess to our requirements creates acidity and strains the kidney that eventually affects the heart.
The reason for this is the body does not lay down excess protein but converts it to carbohydrate or fat by the liver.
The nitrogenous portion (amine) becomes urea and is eliminated by the kidneys.
Urea is not only a poison, but also a diuretic, increasing calcium loss and contributing to osteoporosis. This progressive dehydration:
· accelerates the ageing process, · degeneration and · our capacity for hydration.
With that comes hardening which
ultimately leads to decrease in functional capacity seen in
wrinkled skin, brittle spinal discs, hardened arteries,
brittle bones, stiff joints, cancer, and other debilitating
diseases.
Exercising increases the muscles
capacity to store carbohydrates, as muscles do not use
protein for energy.
The more acidity you produce from a high protein intake, the greater the amount of sodium absorbed by the kidneys.
He also observed that dietary protein stimulated tumor growth, but that when restricted for a short period (6-12 weeks), the immune profile changed and the white T-cell count improved.
This information was enough to make me want to give up all the meats. My question to myself was “which was more important to my and my family – meat or health”?
I now eat meat occasionally and in smaller quantity. I feel better and am healthy.
Dietary protein reinforced the immune response to tumors, fungi and viruses (Gerson 1999).
An adverse effect on the immune system is noted after this period so a form of soured milk product is introduced.
The maximum amount allowed is 8 oz/200 g (1 cup) yogurt or cottage cheese or 4 oz/ 100g pot cheese.
Raw, soured milk products are pre-digested by the bacterial conversion of lactose to lactic acid but it is increasingly difficult to find raw skimmed milk.
The pasteurization process distorts the protein and kills the natural enzymes (Fallon 1995).
Cooked protein, however, changes its structure from a globular to a straightened form that is not recognizable to the body's digestive enzymes for example, the change in the white of egg.
The impaired digestive system of an older or sick person will show symptoms of bloating, flatulence, heartburn, indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome and allergies.
Partially broken-down proteins enter the systemic circulation as toxic and foreign, and if the liver cannot cope in mopping them up, inflammatory reactions in the tissues and joints will arise.
The protein molecule is less damaged due to slow cooking of vegetables which also shortens the long carbohydrate chains and makes digestion easier, thus vegetables generally taste sweeter in their cooked state.
Cooking at low temperatures also
ensures maximum breakdown of indigestible fibers, maintains
the integrity of the enzymes as well as the conversion of
starches to easily digestible sugars. (See
Cancer Recipes)
The more damaged the protein, the more toxic it becomes in the body.
Recent research in Sweden revealed that starch-based foods that have been cooked or processed at high temperatures contain high levels of acrylamide, a chemical used in water and waste treatment, which is toxic and a potential carcinogen.
The list of foods includes:
· puffed cereal grains, · biscuits, · snack foods, · French fries/potato crisps and · Chips.
· Meat 20% · Raw grains 12% · Raw legumes 25% · Nuts 20% · Vegetables 2% · Fruits 0.5-3%
Later on in the therapy as the juices decrease and as the digestion strengthens, other foods can be included with discretion and understanding, starting with the lowest protein foods and moving up to grains (eg., brown rice and legumes).
Nuts are high in fat so are added much later and need to be soaked overnight, which enables the protein and fat to chemically combine, making the fat water-soluble and easier to digest.
Many traditional indigenous cultures understand the need to prepare foods to make it more digestible and ensure that the nutrients become available.
Natural souring, for instance, also contributes additional enzymes from the bacteria and their action on the sugars increases their food value.
Salting, pickling and chemical preservatives, processed and refined foods are NOT healthy options for food preservation, and although they are used by the food industry in mass production, they should be entirely avoided.
The anti-trypsin factor inhibits this process until conditions are favorable and allows for storage for long periods. This factor will also oppose human pancreatic enzymes and interfere with digestion.
This can be prevented by semi-germinating the seeds in the following way:
1. Soak grains and legumes for 12 hours in pure water. 2. Rinse, drain and leave in a glass dish at room temperature covered with a damp cloth for 12 hours. 3. In hot humid climates, rinse again - do not let seeds go moldy.
4.
Cook as
normal. Another problem with legumes, grains and seeds is the amount of phytate they contain.
Phytate is found in the outer covering (bran) of the seed and binds magnesium, calcium, iron and zinc, stripping it from the body.
Soybeans are high in phytate. Soaking neutralizes the phytates in seeds.
This applies to the soaking of oats overnight as the enzyme phytase is produced which neutralizes the phytic acid and in the leavening of bread by the natural fermentation of flour in buttermilk or yogurt (we prefer the sour dough method as yeast is not easily digested in cancer patients).
The detoxification therapy from the combination of juicing and coffee enemas is predominant and if done incorrectly could be too much for a weakened digestion to cope with.
It is not only essential that the individual ingest and digest the correct nutrients, but that they absorb them.
Fresh, live juices, free of fiber, which taxes the digestive system and inhibits absorption, are taken in large volume.
These are rich in enzymes (amylase, protease and lipase), which are destroyed when heated at wet temperatures higher than 45ºC/117ºF and 85ºC/150ºF with dry heat.
All natural foods contain living enzymes (amylase, protease and lipase), but the fresh juices ensure absorption and do not tax the pancreas to release greater amounts of digestive enzymes.
A masticating action to produce the pulp that is then pressed results in twice the nutrient value. See Norwalk Juicer.
This is vital to the weak individual who needs these enzymes
to support their digestive processes otherwise gas and
bloating will ensue. An inefficient juicer wastes a large
quantity of the vegetables and increases costs. In order to provide the huge amounts of nutrients required by the nutritionally depleted cancer person for healing, a large amount of organic food needs to be consumed on a daily basis.
The
digestive system is usually impaired and of small capacity,
some of this is juiced to promote maximum absorption with
minimum effort. The volume of produce consumed daily amounts
to about 20 lbs. When I first looked at the amount of food I would be consuming I felt overwhelmed.
But as I began the juicing I realized that I not only needed to drink enough juices to maintain, but I need to increase the amount of nutrients and enzymes to begin the healing process.
I had depleted my body of important enzymes, nutrients, etc. Now I need to replace and strengthen my immune system and body tissues.
Bloating has been attributed to food combining, however it is essential on the Gerson Therapy to pulp the apples and vegetables together.
The malic acid from apples enhances the uptake of nutrients from the vegetables. Apples are cored but not peeled, as the enzyme inhibitor in seeds impedes digestion. Pectin, which is high in green apples, stimulates the immune system.
Organic
food has significantly higher nutritional values and is
chemically non-toxic.
Cooking methods and enzyme supplements increase the complete digestion of starches and sugars, and ensure maximum absorption for the cancer person.
Undigested sugars will start to ferment and cause gas and bloating. The best way to prepare vegetables is to cook them slowly for 1 1/2 to 2 hours without water.
This preserves the natural flavor and keeps them easily digestible. The cells burst, lose their minerals and go out of their colloidal or 'gluey' state and become difficult to absorb when cooked at high temperatures.
To prevent burning, place a stainless steel heat diffuser plate under the sauce pan. Soup stock may be added (Hippocrates), or else sliced tomatoes, onions, leaks or apples added to give more fluid and improve the taste.
Spinach
water is too bitter for use and contains too much oxalic
acid.
Beetroots and potatoes are cooked in their skins (jackets) and with water. The soft bulk of cooked vegetables counteracts the effects of all the juices and raw salads, and provides plenty of nutrients.
Cooked
fruits and vegetables may be kept in a refrigerator
overnight and warmed slowly with a little soup or tomato
juice. Use grated, peeled or shredded food as soon as
possible as it deteriorates rapidly, as do the green juices.
Stewed vegetables are cooked in a heavy pot, preferably waterless, with a tight fitting lid, over a low heat. Simmered vegetables may be cooked with a small amount of liquid over a low heat.
Boiled
vegetables (sweetcorn, beetroot, artichoke) are placed in 1
inch of water, brought to the boil and then the heat lowered
as much as possible, just keeping the liquid boiling.
To stimulate appetite a variety of taste, color and consistency is important.
Use only stainless steel, glass, Pyrex, enamel, earthenware, cast iron and tin ware cooking utensils.
Do not use aluminum, Teflon or copper, pressure cookers, steam cookers or microwaves.
Radiation and microwaves
change the composition of food, making it difficult to
assimilate and affection the immune system.
Individuals who cannot chew and benefit from the digestive juices in the mouth do not do very well.
The Hippocrates soup is passed through a food mill to break down any fibers and make the food more digestible. This may be kept in the refrigerator for 2 days and retains nutrient, if not enzyme, value.
Any cooked vegetable could be prepared in mashed form for the very ill patient.
See Cancer Recipes
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