The Natural VS Synthetic controversy Part 2

The phytochemicals – which, as the name suggests, are the chemicals found in plants – play particularly important nutri-tional roles. Genistein from soyabeans, lycopene from tomatoes and sulforaphane from broccoli are among the most well-known of these substances. In all likelihood they provide many of the missing links between the moderate benefit provided by individual tableted vitamins and the greater benefit of the food containing those vitamins. (I had thought of including a section on these nutrients in this book, but because our medical knowledge of them is in its infancy, I decided it would be better to write about them after I have acquired my own clinical experience with a high phytochemical diet.)

For now, the message is to choose your foods wisely.

– Certain proteins, such as eggs and roe, are better than others.
– Certain fats, such as flaxseed oil and salmon oil, are better than others.
– As for plant-derived carbohydrates, those which are eaten directly after picking or harvesting will contain their full complement of phytochemicals and vita-nutrients, while those subjected to refining are likely to be nutritionally barren.

Even people following a low-carbohydrate diet can, by choosing about 40 grams a day of phytonutrient-dense carbo-hydrates derived mainly from fresh, low-starch vegetables, take in more phytonutrition, not counting supplements, than the average American or Briton, who generally consumes seven times the amount of carbohydrates. I’m sure I do just that.

By the same token, vegetarians and people following low-fat and low-protein diets must choose wisely to ensure they consume sufficient levels of nutritionally essential fatty acids and amino acids. Egg substitutes and margarine just don’t cut it. Ultra-low- fat diets followed at the austerity level recommended by some Pritikin followers may make adequate fatty acid intake impossible, thus, potentially causing a range of related ailments linked to this nutritional inadequacy.

The third logical solution to the dilemma is to include foods that are, in themselves, nutritionally complete. The two old standbys, brewer’s yeast and liver extract, have become problematic since their heyday in the thirties. Brewer’s yeast is poorly tolerated by the millions of people struggling with a Candida epidemic; liver sources are increasingly contaminated by pesticide residues. But the spirulinas and the other algae, the propolis and royal jelly (which I have written about in this book), all serve to provide the accessory nutritional factors we are seeking.

Words of Caution In order to use this section safely and effectively, you must fully understand and follow this warning:

In treating any illness, do not take any vita-nutrient in doses beyond the basic, all-purpose recommendation without reading and thoroughly understanding the chapter dedicated to that nutrient In particular, be sure to watch for statements like ‘must be used with caution if on certain medications’ or ‘should be taken under medical supervision’. If you do not follow these caveats, a safe vita-nutrient could become dangerous.