butters, and alcohol, often brings on almost miraculous cures as the body rebalances itself. A word of caution: In certain cases, dietary management alone is not sufficient to heal skin problems, and other methods must be called upon. Each stubborn or complicated case should be evaluated individually and treated by a competent healer. It is beyond the scope of this book to deal specifically with anything other than simple everyday problems. ‖ Hair and Nails These extensions of the skin are supposedly“ dead,” yet hair can be lustrous or dull, nails strong or brittle, a fact that suggests that there still is life— that is, the ability to change— in them. Because they grow and change, and because they are a form of output, we can affect their condition by varying the input. It may take time to see results, but there will definitely be results.
• Fuzzy, unruly, brittle hair on top front of the head— or at times all over— usually appears in people who consume considerable amounts of sugar, fruit, juices( including orange juice), raw vegetables, and / or smoke marijuana. Split ends( an expansive phenomenon) is another effect of these expansive foods.
• Loss of hair can be the result of various situations. On the crown, it may be from an excess of contractive foods, such as meat and salt. At the front of the head it could be from expansive foods and drinks, as mentioned previously. Allover gradual thinning can be caused by faulty protein metabolism, malabsorption or lack of zinc, or possibly by some sluggishness or malfunction in the intestines. Faulty protein metabolism that leads to hair loss can be the result of:
• Insufficient protein, too much sugar, or insufficient animal food( for those who are unable to absorb all the nutrients and protein they need from vegetarian sources). Remedy: Eat more beans, eggs, fish, chicken, even beef in some cases. Eliminate sugar.
• Uncomplemented vegetable proteins( too much grain and not enough beans; or too many vegetables, fruit, and nuts and not enough beans and grain; or too many beans and insufficient grain). Remedy: Pay more attention to complementary proteins, increasing beans, seeds, or grain, as needed.
• Too much protein, not enough minerals. Remedy: Add sea vegetables to the diet, decrease animal protein foods.
• Too many minerals, and proportionately insufficient protein( normal absorption of protein may be hampered when it’ s out of proportion with minerals; see chapter regarding nutrient proportions). Remedy: Increase protein intake and reduce seaweed, salt, or mineral supplements. I have seen dramatic changes in the luster and quality of hair of some of my students as they changed from a diet high in meat, sugar, fruit juices, and dairy to one rich in whole grains, beans, fresh vegetables, and sea vegetables. Dull, frizzy, brittle hair became shiny and heavy. Most amusing is the stage when the new hair coming in is of that beautiful quality and has already grown three or four inches, and the rest of the hair is its old brittle self. One can actually see the change in diet, and in health, chronicled in the hair shaft. Oily hair and dandruff are usually related to the intake of fats, milk, cheese, and ice cream. Reducing the intake of these foods and increasing salads and cooked vegetables usually brings improvement.( Dry hair and scalp can also be the result of too much fat in the diet, as is the case with dry skin generally( see this page); dehydration may be another cause.) The condition of the nails is affected by many internal factors, among them:
• Improper protein and calcium balance. Remedy: Increase protein and mineral intake: seaweed, fish, eggs.
• Dehydration. Remedy: Increase liquid intake.
• Stress( which may affect calcium balance). Remedy: Overcome stress with rest and relaxation.
• Excess expansive, sour foods, including vinegar, citrus and lemon juice. Remedy: Reduce the intake of sugar, salad dressings with vinegar, fruits, and fruit juices.
• Excess salt. Remedy: Reduce salt intake, increase fruit. If the approach selected is the correct one, results will be noticeable in one to two weeks. Digestive Problems GENERAL DIGESTIVE DISTRESS In order to keep ourselves balanced, as we have already established, we need to work with opposite forces. You will be able to appreciate just how effective this approach is if you put it to work after some enjoyable gastronomic excess that leaves you tottering the morning after. Here is a list of various food excesses and how you can balance them within one hour to two days if there is digestive distress: IF YOU NEUTRALIZE IT WITH HAVE HAD TOO MUCH