Name of the Book: Healing with Whole Foods
Author: Paul Pitchford
Review: 'Healing with Whole Foods' book brings together traditions of oriental medicine with research on healthy vegetarian diet. ‘Healing With Whole Foods’ teaches us how to choose healthy, healing foods easily available in nature, and motivates the reader to embrace vegetarian diet. People in western meat-based culture are not familiar with lot of vegetables and other foods mentioned in this book but author has described them very well. It is not difficult to find these foods in local health food stores.
You are what you eat and if you choose foods wisely, it is not difficult to maintain good healthy body and mind. Food fuels your body as well as mind/soul. Studies show that two thirds of all deaths are directly related to improper diet and poor eating habits. Coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, atherosclerosis, and some cancers are caused by high calorie diets, diets rich in fat, sugar, salt, and by eating highly processed foods which lack essential nutrients.
Food itself can not cure disease but it sure acts as foundation of medicine. If diet is used correctly for prevention and treatment, medicines will have better effect on your body. This book will allow readers to self evaluate and learn which foods and diets are best for his or her particular constitution and health condition.
In the western world foods are categorized or recognized based on their major components such as fat, carbohydrates, protein, and other minor nutrients. These are clearly important dimensions of food and they are also recognized by the oriental culture. However, oriental culture also focuses on other dimensions of food such as warming & cooling values, ability to moisten, strengthen energy, calm mind etc.
This book is divided into five parts. In the first part (Part I) the author talks about roots of diagnosis and treatment. He discusses yin and yang concept (complementary opposite such as fire-water, heat-cold, light-dark, excess-deficiency) applied to food. Part II of the book is dedicated to different nutrients such as water, protein, vitamins, sugars, minerals etc. Effects of these nutrients on our body and foods rich in these nutrients are described. In this part, author also talks effect of fasting on body purification and foods for children. Part III of the book is called ‘Five element and organ systems’. It talks about seasonal attunement of human body due to climate change and suggests certain foods suitable for consumption in particular season. This section also describes therapeutic use of five flavors such as pungent, salty, sour bitter, and sweet. Part IV deals with disease ad their dietary treatment. Author has described which foods to use in order to cure disorders and diseases such as diabetes, blood deficiency, bleeding, asthma, skin diseases, mental illness, hair loss etc. The last part (Part V) has very useful recipes using whole grain and vegetables, nuts, sprouts, salads, soups. Apart from recipes this section has very good information on all these ingredients, their benefits and therapeutic values. I enjoyed this book!
Author: Paul Pitchford
Review: 'Healing with Whole Foods' book brings together traditions of oriental medicine with research on healthy vegetarian diet. ‘Healing With Whole Foods’ teaches us how to choose healthy, healing foods easily available in nature, and motivates the reader to embrace vegetarian diet. People in western meat-based culture are not familiar with lot of vegetables and other foods mentioned in this book but author has described them very well. It is not difficult to find these foods in local health food stores.
You are what you eat and if you choose foods wisely, it is not difficult to maintain good healthy body and mind. Food fuels your body as well as mind/soul. Studies show that two thirds of all deaths are directly related to improper diet and poor eating habits. Coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, atherosclerosis, and some cancers are caused by high calorie diets, diets rich in fat, sugar, salt, and by eating highly processed foods which lack essential nutrients.
Food itself can not cure disease but it sure acts as foundation of medicine. If diet is used correctly for prevention and treatment, medicines will have better effect on your body. This book will allow readers to self evaluate and learn which foods and diets are best for his or her particular constitution and health condition.
In the western world foods are categorized or recognized based on their major components such as fat, carbohydrates, protein, and other minor nutrients. These are clearly important dimensions of food and they are also recognized by the oriental culture. However, oriental culture also focuses on other dimensions of food such as warming & cooling values, ability to moisten, strengthen energy, calm mind etc.
This book is divided into five parts. In the first part (Part I) the author talks about roots of diagnosis and treatment. He discusses yin and yang concept (complementary opposite such as fire-water, heat-cold, light-dark, excess-deficiency) applied to food. Part II of the book is dedicated to different nutrients such as water, protein, vitamins, sugars, minerals etc. Effects of these nutrients on our body and foods rich in these nutrients are described. In this part, author also talks effect of fasting on body purification and foods for children. Part III of the book is called ‘Five element and organ systems’. It talks about seasonal attunement of human body due to climate change and suggests certain foods suitable for consumption in particular season. This section also describes therapeutic use of five flavors such as pungent, salty, sour bitter, and sweet. Part IV deals with disease ad their dietary treatment. Author has described which foods to use in order to cure disorders and diseases such as diabetes, blood deficiency, bleeding, asthma, skin diseases, mental illness, hair loss etc. The last part (Part V) has very useful recipes using whole grain and vegetables, nuts, sprouts, salads, soups. Apart from recipes this section has very good information on all these ingredients, their benefits and therapeutic values. I enjoyed this book!
No comments:
Post a Comment