-- from www.chiDiet.com
Every
plant is a miracle with the ability to pull a unique combination of
elements from the soil, water, sunlight and air. When we find one
possessing the right balance to satisfy our requirements of health and
healing, we have found our miracle.
"There are two vital aspects
of chlorophyll that should not be overlooked. First is its creation in
the plant as a result of a conversion of the sun's energy-which makes it
a sort of living battery. Second is its remarkable similarity to a
vital component of human blood - hemoglobin. Circulating in the
bloodstream, hemoglobin molecules carry oxygen to the cells throughout
the body." Dr. Ann Wigmore, The Sprouting Book.
"Chlorophyll
deserves a high place in the eliminative diet program because it is a
fluid which helps clean the cell structure of the body. It has vital
minerals to help build these structures with new cell life." Dr. Bernard
Jensen, The Healing Power of Chlorophyll.
Below is a list of a variety of greens and their effects on the body.
All of these greens contain an abundance of chlorophyll. Decide which
are best for you so you can incorporate them into your juices and energy
soup.
- Alfalfa Sprouts: Rich in vitamins (including
vitamin U for peptic ulcers) and trace minerals, it also contains eight
essential digestive enzymes and eight essential amino acids. It helps
cleanse the kidneys and provides energy and endurance.
- Beets and Beet Greens:
Very rich in vitamins A and C, iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium,
iodine and other trace minerals. This cultivated green is a powerful
blood purifier and liver/gall bladder cleanser and is helpful with
obesity. It also builds good blood.
- Buckwheat Greens: A
wonderful building and cleansing food containing vitamins A, B1, B2, B6,
B12, C, niacin, pantothenic acid, many minerals including rutin (a
natural longevity agent due to its antioxidant properties) and calcium.
Buckwheat greens are especially helpful in circulatory and heart
problems as they also contain lecithin, a natural cholesterol-lowering
fatty acid. Buckwheat juice is best mixed with other sprout, green and
vegetable juices to make green drinks.
- Lecithin is one
of the derivatives of glycerin and is of value for cases of
malnutrition, rickets, anemia, diabetes and tuberculosis. Lecithin helps
in the structural support of all cells, especially of the brain and
nerves. It is important in preventing and correcting atherosclerosis,
causing cholesterol and neutral fats to be broken into microscopic
particles so they can be easily utilized by the tissues.
- Cabbage and Cabbage Sprouts:
Cabbage is a good source of vitamins A, C and U, along with the trace
elements iodine and sulfur. Cabbage is good for the digestive tract and
helps ulcers.
- Carrots: This king of vegetable juices is
extremely high in pro-vitamin A, which the body converts to vitamin A.
It also contains vitamins B, C, D, E and K, as well as calcium,
phosphorous, potassium, sodium and trace minerals. The alkaline minerals
contained in carrot juice, especially calcium and magnesium, help to
soothe and tone the intestinal walls, plus strengthen bones and teeth.
Skin, hair and nails benefit from its high protein and mineral content.
Fresh carrot juice stimulates digestion and has a mild diuretic effect.
Perhaps its most important contribution to body health is its tonic and
cleansing effect on the liver. Through regular use, carrot juice helps
the liver release stale bile and excess fats. When fat levels are
reduced, cholesterol levels are reduced.
---- There is no such
thing as a toxic dose of carrot juice. While it's true that it's
possible to "overdose" on vitamin A, it's impossible to overdose on
pro-vitamin A - the precursor to vitamin A that is found in abundance in
carrot juice. Pro-vitamin A is converted to vitamin A in the body.
Drinking more than five glasses of carrot juice per week may cause the
skin to yellow slightly; however this is simply a manifestation of the
toxins that the liver is excreting. To reduce these effects, simply
decrease the dose of carrot juice. Mixed with other juices, especially
sprout and green juices, carrot juice acts as a balancing element. It
adds a delicious, sweet flavor to juice combinations and increases both
their digestibility and nutritional value. As an overall tonic and
rejuvenator, carrot juice can't be beat.
- Celery: It has a
calming effect on the nervous system. This is probably due to its high
concentration of organic alkaline minerals, especially sodium. The
minerals contained in celery juice make the body's use of calcium more
effective, balancing the blood's pH.
- Organic sodium,
which is abundant in celery juice, has received a bad name because of
the average American's habitual overuse of inorganic sodium chloride -
table salt. Unlike inorganic sodium chloride, organic sodium found in
celery juice is naturally blended with many other useful minerals. It is
essential to the proper functioning of all major body systems. Organic
sodium is the element in the blood that makes it salty. Because of its
slightly salty taste, celery juice is an excellent component of any
vegetable juice combination. Celery juice is especially effective for
nervous conditions because it produces a calming effect. For weight
reduction diets it curbs the desire for sweets.
- Comfrey:
All parts of this plant can be used - root, leaves and flowers. Comfrey
helps eliminate bloody urine. It is high in potassium, vitamin A and
calcium. The allantoin in comfrey is the same ingredient that is
contained in fractured bones and is often referred to as the
"bone-knitter". It is also good in repairing nerve tissue.
- Dandelion Greens:
Pick young tender leaves before the flowers have formed. Rich in
vitamins A and C, minerals such as calcium, manganese, chlorine,
potassium and iron. Acts as a tonic to the system. It destroys acids in
the body. As it contains organic sodium, it is very good for anemia
caused by a deficiency of nutritive salts and is recognized as a great
blood builder and purifier. It is also effective as a liver cleanser. It
is a gentle laxative and can therefore be used in a tea for babies and
children.
- Lambs quarter: Pick young tender leaves before
the flowers have formed. Very rich in calcium, phosphorus, vitamins A
and C and the B vitamins thiamin, riboflavin and niacin. One of the best
tasting of the wild edibles and is very common throughout the United
States.
- Parsley: Rich in vitamin A, thiamin (B1), niacin
(B3), C and the minerals calcium, chlorine, iron, phosphorus,
potassium, sodium and sulfur. One of the best diuretics. Strengthens the
kidneys, bladder and spleen, lowers blood pressure, cleanses the liver
and strengthens the eyes.
- Purslane: Pick succulent
leaves and stems from June until frost. Very rich in iron, calcium,
vitamin A. This is a very good tasting wild edible green.
- Radish Sprouts:
Rich in vitamins A and C and minerals, including trace minerals. This
is a hot, spicy sprout and will heat up a cold body. The flavor is
strong, so use sparingly. A good blood stimulator and cleanser. Powerful
liver and kidney cleanser.
- Red Clover Sprouts: Has
many of the properties in the dried adult plant, plus a host of living
enzymes. Acts as a blood purifier in the body and helps relieve nervous
disorders, skin problems, acne, etc. It is very cleansing to the body.
- Sunflower Greens:
Sunflower sprouts do much to relieve malnutrition and to eliminate
toxic poisons from the system. This is done mainly by providing the body
with the nutrients needed and nature does the restoration work. The
many vitamins and minerals in sprouts are at their highest peak of
activity while sprouting.
- Other Healthy Edibles: Chicory,
Malva, Shepard's Purse, Nasturtium, Mint, Sourgrass, Chickweed,
Watercress, Fiddleheads, Rosehips, Plantain.
Dr. Jim at 260 lbs., December, 2000
Dr, Jim at 170 lbs., August 2006, thanks to Dr. Ann's detox lifestyle
