posted July 22, 2007 02:18 AM         

by Douglas N. Graham

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This is a little book with a big message, as Dr. Graham invites readers to join him in examining the facts and implications surrounding grain eating amongst humans. Beginning with the historical background of this unnatural habit, Dr. Graham explores the entire spectrum of issues surrounding grain consumption including its effects on physical health, mental health, energy levels and the environment. Each page is studded with quotes that reinforce the truths being exposed and inspire readers to make superior food choices.

History proves that most great classics were written ahead of their time, and this book is one such masterpiece. Dr. Graham's book belongs on the shelf of every health seeker's library and is a "must" for anyone who wants to lose weight, enjoy more energy or simply improve their digestion.

Health care professionals can no longer afford to ignore the issue of grain damage. "Grain Damage" is a quick read but one which will leave a lasting impression on the reader.

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http://breathing.com/grain-damage.htm
"Grains are often an unidentified risk. Most grains break down to sugar very rapidly and can cause the same problems with insulin dysregulation". Dr. Joseph Mercola

Radiant Health Corner http://www.superbeing.com/dangerousgrains.htm

Dangerous Grains

I want to point out to you some of the dangers of eating grains. Many people think that grains are such a wonderful food. Through personal experimentation, I've discovered that eating grains made me lazy, moody and eventually put me into a deep 6.5-year depression. The very first day I reduced my grain intake and ate more raw foods, these problems went away.

Humankind has only been eating grains for the last 10,000 years. 10,000 years are not enough time to evolve into being able to eat grains. If you even believe in the flawed theory of evolution.

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Grains need grinding and cooking before they can be eaten. Unfortunately, their proteins contain peptides, which we cannot break down into their constituent amino acids for proper digestion. Even in a healthy person, who has not yet developed “leaky gut syndrome,” some of these peptides can be absorbed through the intestinal wall. . . . Some of these peptides from grains, particularly from gluten, are similar to our own tissues, consequently, when our immune system attacks them, it can also attack our own tissues and organs, resulting in many chronic diseases.

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Dangerous Grains - Dr. Mercola

If you suffer from a condition such as osteoporosis, Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis or depression, you're unlikely to blame your breakfast cereal. After all, intolerance of wheat, or celiac disease (CD), is a an allergic reaction to a protein called gluten, thought to affect only about one in 1,000 people.
http://www.mercola.com/2002/oct/5/dangerous_grains.htm

posted July 22, 2007 02:21 AM         

is the root cause of many cancers, autoimmune diseases, neurological diseases, chronic pain syndromes, psychiatric and other brain disorders, and premature death. There is also a clear clausal connection with some cases of osteoporosis, epilepsy, attention deficit disorders and learning disorders, infertility, miscarriage, premature births, chronic liver disease, and short stature. When a person is placed on a strict gluten-free diet, reversal of these conditions frequently occurs.

Why are so many devastating diseases connected to the consumption of grains? The authors point out that our genetic heritage has altered very little over the millennia. We have not had time to adjust to consuming grains. Some of the grain-related diseases involve lowered reproductive capacity. Consequently, some descendants from the inhabitants of the Near East, “the fertile crescent,” where farming with grains was first developed, are the survivors and have lost some of their sensitivity to grains. However, since most of the diseases occur in adults, many people would have already reproduced and passed on all the problems.

Our ancestors have only been farmers and consumed grains for a tiny portion—less than one half of one percent— of our life on earth. “The human species and its forerunners survived, thrived, and evolved eating fish, meat, organs, vegetables, and fruit, for at least a million years, and probably about 2.5 million years.” Our hunter-gatherer ancestors were tall and robust. When they turned to faming and the growing of grain, probably because of depleted supplies of fish and game, they became shorter “by five to six inches,” more diseased with weaker bones, and even their brain size decreased.

“Human brain size, based on head circumference, has diminished approximately 11 percent since the advent of agricultural societies.” We are reminded vividly of the work of NOHA Honorary Member Michael Crawford, PhD, who pointed out to us that for brain development, the long-chain “neural “ fatty acids are absolutely essential. We obtain them from fish and to some extent from wild game.2 They are absent in grains.

posted July 22, 2007 02:52 AM         

what are we humans to do? what are we to live off of?
fruits, veggies and water???

how horrible!

posted July 24, 2007 12:10 AM         

i have heard of raw food advocates who consider grains one of the most ancient 'fruits'...as one of the most basic of humans' sustenance.

the way that i've seen grains prepared for the raw foods crowd is to soak the grains overnight in a thermos of slightly heated water....not at the heat of cooking, as that destroys the vitamins and living part of the food. but just enought to soften them and make them edible, like hot cereal.

i've heard this is actually quite healthy. this is from the point of view of those who consider all cooked food unhealthy and disease promoting though.

and interesting also, the number of people who've cured terminal cancer through eliminating cooked food in their diets.

posted July 25, 2007 09:20 AM         

While I believe that our perceptions of sentience are quite limited, in that we generally regard living things as being higher or lower on the food chain based upon a faulty values system, there simply is no other choice for me than vegetarianism coupled with nutritious, healthy whole foods (and a little junk now and then).

In order for us to eat, something must die. Is the life of the apple of more value than the life of the chicken? The life of a spider over that of a cow? I am not equipped to answer those questions objectively.

To be a vegetarian does not mean that we are not responsible for the deaths of what we may or may not regard as sentient creatures.

And what sort of vegetarian? There are lots of junk food vegetarians. How careful are we? Forget how bad white sugar is for you for a second, and consider that the process of bleaching it uses animal bones. And that glass of wine in your hand, was it made with fish scales? Probably.

Dr. Mercola has a lot of good information on his site, especially in regards to the medical/pharma industries. But that doesn't mean you have to accept everything he says as absolute truth; the man sells a lot of processed products, too, like supplements and snack bars. It's still necessary to separate the wheat from the chaff, so to speak... And frankly, I don't think Dr. Mercola looks all that healthy or robust. In regards to nutrition, I'm more a fan of Dr. Schulze.

I love good whole grains, rices, and sweet potatoes. I am a much healthier woman as a vegetarian than I was as a carnivore. My head spins sometimes with the amount of alleged research floating about the internet, telling us what to eat, what not to eat, how to be healthy. It's simple, really: the more natural your food, the better for you, and that goes for meat, too. Ignore the whole 'traumatized flesh' issue for a moment, and consider that we have broken the food chain in regards to what we feed the animals we eat, and then we pump them with antibiotics, growth hormones, etc. Whether you believe that animals are here for our sustenance or not, it's hard to accept that anyone can believe all that crap in meat isn't harmful to us.

But hey, I'm amazed that people drink soda pop, and microwaved meals...

Ah well, don't get me started...

naiad

posted July 25, 2007 12:31 PM         

I'm not trying to dissuade anyone from anything. My mother has celiac disease, so i find out about this info. The books happened to come to mind the night i started this thread and thought posting it might help some people out. What people choose to eat is up to them and really does not bother me. I'm not trying to tell people what is good to put in their own mouths, only passing along information. What do i know? I'm sure grains are compatible with some people's bodies. When i eat pasta and other grainy foods, like i mentioned above, my heart races. For a long time i wasnt sure why and later was able to connect it with the eating of grains. Maybe i have celiac too, i havent researched enough or gotten tested for it. Luckily, i do not like bread, the texture of it, it's too spongey.

I understand that in order for us to eat, something must die.

"Is the life of the apple of more value than the life of the chicken?"
I've had this discussion numerous times with a friend of mine. Back then it always got heated....and he used a carrot as his example. My thoughts on that one have since changed. I have my own answers to that question, and they work well with me. That's all that matters.

We had a couple of other "vegetarian" friends, whom he liked to call, "the bread and pasta vegetarians", which i always thought was funny.

(hm. im having trouble posting this...i will try breaking it up into two posts)

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“What you are comes to you”

posted July 25, 2007 12:32 PM         

Without boring you with all of my thoughts on food and eating, i'll simply say that I think people are often cosuming mostly the emotion, judgements, opinions etc. that they attatch to the food they are eating and not really the food itself.

Placing your consciousness on High with everything you do or eat makes a big difference - to me at least.

There is a prayer/blessing that i've made up that i do silently with everything i eat. It works for me.

I've heard alot about Mercola, Schulze and others like them - "health gurus", i guess people call them, over the years. I have no opinion on them....(well, actually you could say in a way i do, but wont go there now). Food is usually one of the last things on my mind. I dont do alot of research on these guys or what they have to say. I'm not interested in it. Some days i forget to eat and find it to be a burden that i have to. So i'll eat whatever just to stop my stomach from growling. What a pain to have to eat!...is how i feel.

Yes, there is so much information floating around it makes your head spin. Who knows what to believe? I do, but that is for me and my life only. To each their own. So, you see, i'm not trying to tell anyone how to eat or how not to. Just passing along some info.

If something feels right to you, do it (or eat it) !

Peace sister.

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“What you are comes to you”

posted July 25, 2007 12:37 PM         

http://www.mybloodsugar.net/foodforlife.htm

You can get them at Trader Joes (if you have that store in your area)

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“What you are comes to you”

posted July 25, 2007 12:42 PM         

you are a health guru. though i know you will disagree. however, your wise and gentle words throughout the pages of these forums and time, have helped me in myriads of levels and ways...soul-wise, food-wise, health-wise, perspective-wise....all sorts of wise.

posted July 25, 2007 12:53 PM         

i always thought i'd make my own...it's still a goal -- someday.

i'm way behind on the actuality of eating healthily these days though. trying to improve, but sliding backwards is an ever present event. i see some truth in your words about "rules" in eating.

for me, my whole level of being changed enormously when i ceased consuming the flesh of other creatures. i suppose i'm still cannibalizing plants -- not at the breatharian level yet.

posted July 25, 2007 01:10 PM         

Wouldnt it be nice to be a breatharian?... Maybe someday.

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it's a process, and really, our entire life on earth is a 'process' i think. illusion or no, we're all here to love and be loved, in the best way we know how.

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Thank You.
Blessed eating.

posted July 25, 2007 02:40 PM         

I am not a fan of absolutes, and I don't hate on omnivores/carnivores. In fact, I've always said I would rather date an open- and broad-minded meat eater, than a close-minded vegetarian.

But I have to add, despite our (somewhat latent) abilities to manifest a perfect world in which french fries don't make us fat or clog our arteries or poison us with toxins, most of us aren't that capable. So to amend just a little: eat what is best for your body and mind for optimum health benefits.

Unfortunately, in our modern vernacular, the word "one" has been replaced by "you," which can make a sentence seem to be aimed at a particular person, rather than it being a general statement. To say "One must choose..." and continue in that vein now makes us seem pompous. *sigh* That's ok; I don't mind being perceived as pompous, especially if it means I'll communicate more clearly next time. We'll see if this is a lesson learned.

naiad You humble me. I am not a guru; I am but an egg. A sponge-y egg, absorbing and considering the information that I find. It is your wisdom, naiad, that often inspires me.

Blessings to you both...

posted July 25, 2007 02:42 PM         

And I love the Ezekiel products...despite the christian overtones.

posted July 25, 2007 03:06 PM         

My apologies if you think i was feeling defensive. My post was meant to be more of a generalized exchange as well, at the same time responding to things you said. Maybe in my own rambling way it didnt come out that way either. Though i sort of thought you were directing that post to me since it started with:

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26T It would take a lot more than this research to dissuade me from eating good, whole grains.

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From that, i thought you thought i was trying to dissuade people from eating grains.

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I don't mind being perceived as pompous, especially if it means I'll communicate more clearly next time. We'll see if this is a lesson learned.

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POMPOUS? By whom???

I've learned my lesson!

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“What you are comes to you”

posted July 25, 2007 03:09 PM         

one must always consider the implications of one's choices.

posted July 25, 2007 03:17 PM         

And i see what you really meant about the pompous thing now.

(this quote came to mind - as if i have to say it )

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”
Dr. Seuss

posted July 25, 2007 03:31 PM         

"Today one is One, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Oner than One."

posted July 25, 2007 03:41 PM         

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Today one is One, that is truer than true.

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Funny, i was reading something along this line earlier. About days and Time.

posted July 25, 2007 03:56 PM         

I'm gonna soak up the sun
Gonna tell everyone
To lighten up (I'm gonna tell 'em that)
I've got no one to blame
For every time I feel lame
I'm looking up o I'm gonna soak up the sun

and i'm gonna do just that. screw this bread thread, it's a gorgeous day outside.

takin' my sponge-EE self outside to soak up a book and some sun.