| 181 | 182 | 183 | 184 | 185 |
| 1 | 79 | 159 | 238 | 317 |
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body systems
173
another good heart strengthener. It will also help to cool and clear the
blood, easing any inflammation. You can sprout the grains and eat the grass
with salads— a preferable choice for the many who need to avoid cracked
wheat. Following a mainly juice-oriented vegan eating program for just
one month can go a long way toward normalizing blood pressure and
removing cholesterol buildups. Use plenty of garlic (three to six cloves a
day). You should also add plenty of medium to hot raw cayenne. As a
guide, take a minimum of one small teaspoon per day, but two teaspoons
per day would be better, and nine teaspoons would be excellent (but check
with your stomach).
Most fruits are rich in salicylate, and this plant constituent helps to
keep the blood from becoming sticky and clumping together to form
dangerous clots, so eat plenty of bilberries, lemons, oranges, peaches,
prunes, figs, grapefruit, rhubarb, cherries, melons, nectarines, plums,
apples, and pineapple, always eating the skins (except, of course, those of
melons, pineapples, and grapefruit). The inner skin (pith) of lemons,
grapefruit, and oranges is an excellent source of bioflavonoids (vitamin P),
which really strengthen the veins, arteries, and capillary walls. All the
above fruits are also rich in vitamin C and will aid the structure and
elasticity of the veins, as well as protecting arteries from oxidation and
diminishing the growth of plaque on the vessel walls. Most fresh fruits
and vegetables are rich in antioxidants that keep all cellular structure
healthy and functioning as required. In modern life, we are increasingly
becoming deficient in vitamin C because stress and pollution rob us of
this vital vitamin, which we are not capable of making for ourselves. If
you have cold extremities, add raw black pepper or ginger to the fruits to
add fire and warmth for yourself. Meadowsweet leaf and flower and
willow bark are rich in salicylate, which is helpful for digestion and aids
the whole small intestine and heart partnership.
Cholesterol is a vital part of cell membrane structure. It is needed for
bile formation, hormone production, and vitamin D synthesis and is
transported from the intestine to the liver in order to perform these
functions. Any excess that cannot be metabolized will be deposited in the
linings of the arteries. Cholesterol-like particles called lipoproteins can
cause the growth of plaque, which gradually builds up to such an extent
that it constricts blood flow. Vitamin C helps to reduce the risk of these
lipoproteins binding to the wall of the artery. The amino acid lysine also
helps enormously, as it reverses the plaque buildup.
A cholesterol test kit will give you a quick guide to your cholesterol
count, or you can ask your doctor for a test. Always do the test before you
eat in the morning. If it is high, here are some ways to help reduce it:
•
Eat a generally good and balanced diet (see chapter 4), and make sure
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