Figure 2. Graphic images can have a significant impact on patients.
Fortunately, my slideshow worked. Tammy came to me 2-weeks later and told me that she had been unable to eat a doughnut for the whole 2-weeks. In fact, she said that she could not look at food in the same way. After understanding the impact it had on her body she changed her diet, and her blood sugar dropped from 160 to under 90. She was so astonished that she tested it several times. She simply could not believe that making small changes to her diet could have such a rapid and dramatic effect on her blood sugar.
Images such as those in Figure 2 tend to have little impact on medical professionals, simply because we are used to seeing similar images on a daily basis. However, they can have a life-changing impact upon your patients.
The Second Step – Create Simple Food Guidelines
Patients will respond better to simple guidelines. The guidelines in the Daniel Plan are:
•Eat high-quality calories – it is not as simple as calories in versus calories out. Swap junk food for a huge plate of salad and a bowl of homemade soup. You will get to eat a lot more and your body will receive significantly more nutrients;
•Don’t drink calories – drink ½ your body weight of water in ounces;
•Have clean protein with every meal – we suggest small doses throughout the day. Research suggests that balancing protein intake may be a better way of extending lifespan than radical calorie restriction4;
•Eat healthy fats – fat is not the enemy, but fried fats, trans fats and fats from industrial-raised animals should be avoided. Roberts found that people who ate a (healthy) fat-based diet have a 42% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, whereas people who ate a carbohydrate-based diet are 4-times more likely to develop the disease5;
•Focus on smart carbohydrates that are low-glycemic and high-fiber – lots of vegetables and some fruits, especially berries;
•Eat from the rainbow – eat fruits and vegetables of as many colors as possible;
Add herbs and spices to your food – many herbs and spices are so powerful they should be kept in the medicine cabinet instead of the kitchen cabinet:
•Garlic and oregano increase blood flow to the brain;
•Saffron is a natural antidepressant;
•Curcumin (from curry) decreases beta amyloid plaques – especially when combined with vitamin D;
•Rosemary, thyme, and sage enhance memory;
•Cinnamon boosts attention, balances blood sugar, and is supposedly an aphrodisiac for men;
•Stop eating potentially toxic foods – eliminate sugar, processed foods, gluten, most grains, dairy, soy, and corn from the diet.
The Third Step – Know Your Motivation
You need to ask your patient why they want to be well. Remember, you have get into their limbic brains to get cooperation, so ask them why they want to be well to make sure that they understand the consequences of not investing in their health.
Figure 3 shows a patient called Doreen who got clear on her motivation. She lost 100 pounds and started competing in bodybuilding competitions at 57-years-old. She was an 8th degree black belt and a karate champion, but she was also secretly bulimic and very depressed for over 20-years. One day she attended the funeral of a 22-year-old girl who was the daughter of her best friend. She said she had never seen pain and grief like that mother was going through, and that it put her life into perspective. She went home, she got on her knees and thanked God for every problem she has ever had, got off her rear, went to the gym, and then ate a salad. Her motivation is to be an example of health and empowerment for female athletes.
Figure 3. Doreen before (left) and after (right) following the Daniel Plan.
Figure 4 shows my mother. She got clear on her motivation after watching my grandmother deteriorate with diabetes and after taking care of other people for so many years. She decided that she was not going to be a burden to her family. She has completely transformed not only her body (she looks better at 66 than she did 20-years ago) but also her finances as well. She is certainly an inspiration to me.
Figure 4. My mother before (left) and after (right) following the Daniel Plan.
The Fourth Step – You and Your Office Must Model the Message
This step is simple – if you do not follow and live by your own message, you will usually be very ineffective at convincing others to follow it. You and your office must model the message.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
It is possible to heal the mind and body with food if we make the right choices. Eliminating junk food, sugar, grains, and dairy from the diet can have a dramatic effect on health. Following the 4 steps of the Daniel Plan can help you to transform your own life as well as the lives of your patients.
REFERENCES
1.Pelsser LM1, Frankena K, Toorman J, Savelkoul HF, Dubois AE, Pereira RR, Haagen TA, Rommelse NN, Buitelaar JK. Effects of a restricted elimination diet on the behaviour of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (INCA study): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2011;377:494-503.
2.Pelsser LM1, Frankena K, Toorman J, Savelkoul HF, Pereira RR, Buitelaar JK. A randomised controlled trial into the effects of food on ADHD. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2009;18:12-19.
3.Moreira PI. High-sugar diets, type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2013;16:440-445.
4.Grandison RC, Piper MD, Partridge L. Amino-acid imbalance explains extension of lifespan by dietary restriction in Drosophila. Nature. 2009;462:1061-1064.
5.Roberts RO, Roberts LA, Geda YE, Cha RH, Pankratz VS, O'Connor HM, Knopman DS, Petersen RC. Relative intake of macronutrients impacts risk of mild cognitive impairment or dementia. J Alzheimers Dis. 2012;32:329-339.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Starting her career as a neurosurgical ICU nurse at Loma Linda University Medical Center, Tana Amen, BSN, RN, presently serves as Executive Vice-President of the Amen Clinics. She teaches practical lifestyle application programs, using food to heal the mind and body.
Chapter 3
Arterial Inflammation, Autophagy, and Senescence: Relationship to Aging and Cardiovascular Disease
Bradley Field Bale, M.D.
ABSTRACT
The aim of this paper is to offer an introduction to arterial inflammation, autophagy, and senescence, and their relationship with aging and cardiovascular disease. Methods of preventing and reducing arterial inflammation, enhancing autophagy, and avoiding premature senescence will be discussed.
INTRODUCTION
The goal of a comprehensive anti-aging program is longevity. Arterial inflammation,