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Chapter 4

Junk Foods
and the
Fruits of Malnutrition

The school textbooks of yesteryear have given some the idea that malnutrition is largely a Third World problem, yet this is far from true. While people in First World countries may not suffer from hunger as do those in Third World countries, and while the physical effects of malnutrition may not be as immediately noticeable in First as in Third World countries, the truth is that the modern-day Western Diet, made up as it is primarily of refined, convenience foods, is hopelessly deficient and, as such, it is a major cause of many diseases, discomforts and social maladies. 

Most of us, when confronted with the idea of malnutrition, usually think along the lines of deficiency diseases such as rickets and beriberi - yet science is only now beginning to realize that many other ailments are linked to malnutrition. Here again, sometimes these afflictions are of a physical nature, sometimes they are of a mental nature and, as the previous chapter rather convincingly proves, sometimes they can even be of a social nature.

Psychological Disorders

Millions the world over are suffering from psychological disorders such as depression, mood swings, anxiety, psychosis, suicidal tendencies, schizophrenia, paranoia, et cetera. The standard approach in the treatment of these disorders usually involves psychological counseling and/or electro-shock therapy and/or drugs. In most cases the primary focus is on the mind itself while the state of the body chemistry often receives little or no attention.

Yet one cannot help wondering about this approach. When we consider that our minds are fed by our blood, and that our blood is made up from the food that we eat, surely, when seeking to remedy psychological disorders, we should consider whether there is not a possible food-blood-mind relationship? It is a well-known fact that a faulty diet will lead to a disordered bloodstream, yet few are willing to accede that a disordered bloodstream can lead to a disordered mind.

As one widely publicized writer tells us . . .

`In order for the brain to be healthy the blood must be pure. If by correct habits of eating and drinking the blood is kept pure, the brain will be properly nourished.' (E. G. White, Mind, Character and Personality, p. 385)

In simple terms, therefore, we believe that healthy food makes healthy blood, and that healthy blood makes healthy minds. If this is the case then, surely, when seeking to remedy any disorder of the mind, we simply cannot take the patient's diet for granted, nor can we ignore his blood chemistry.

`In 1980 a clinical study appeared in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reporting that people who ate too many refined carbohydrates exhibited neurotic tendencies. Personality changes seen in this population, particularly among adolescents, included: a sensitivity to criticism, poor impulse control, frequent irritability, hostile behaviour, and a tendency to anger easily. Other features were: sleep disturbances, including restlessness, night terrors, insomnia, and walking or talking in one's sleep; chronic debilitating fatigue; depression; recurrent fevers of unknown origin; abdominal and/or chest pains; and headaches. The patients in this study were found to have sub clinical deficiency of vitamin B1 (thiamine).' (Alexander Schauss, M.A., Nutrition and Behaviour, p. 17).

The fact that all of these maladies were linked to the use of refined foods and, in particular, to a deficiency of but one vitamin, certainly suggests a strong link between nutrition and the functioning of the mind.

We are not implying that all psychological disorders are diet related, or that all such disorders are related to body chemistry, but the evidence does suggest that such a relationship could exist and that, in the treatment of such disorders, we simply cannot discount this possibility. This is of vital importance for, as Dr. Andre Sinden tells us, . . .

`It would not make sense trying to treat the symptoms of . . . psychological disease without ensuring that the basic chemical constituents of the body are in balance. So often does Psychotherapy fail because it addressed only a manifestation [a symptom] of a chemical disruption.' (Health Ate, p. 34)

In fact, as Dr. Linus Pauling pointedly states . . .

`A psychiatrist who refuses to try the methods of Orthomolecular Psychiatry (nutrition as related to mental health) in addition to his usual therapy in the treatment of his patients is failing in his duty as a physician.' (As quoted by Carl C. Pfeiffer, Ph.D., M.D., Mental and Elemental Nutrients, p. 12)

In their book, Diet and Disease, Doctors Cheraskin, Ringsdorf and Clark present convincing evidence of `known associations between nutrients, blood disorders and psychologic disorders.' Figure 8. presents a summary of some of these associations.

The point we wish to make, therefore, is that there is definitely a link between our diet and the functioning of our minds. This being the case, surely it makes sense to give our minds the very best? If our blood is our life, and our blood is made up from the food that we eat, then do we not owe it to ourselves and to our loved ones to avoid the use of refined foods and to include the very best of natural foods in our diet?

Learning Disorders

Considering that our blood is made up from the food that we eat, and that our mind, in turn, is nourished by our blood, we can appreciate that mothers can do much to help their children in their studies.

Over the years, we have seen the grades of many school children improve after mom had switched to feeding the family a more natural diet. This has been especially evident in the case of children who had been struggling with subjects such as mathematics. As the foregoing article convincingly proved:

`It isn't just behaviour that changes for the better when children are fed a healthy diet. Classroom performance improves, too.'

Then, by the same token, we can do much to hinder the scholastic capabilities of our children by ignoring their nutritional needs. For some years now scientists have been warning about this very real danger. As one report confirms:

`There is a suspicion growing in the minds of scientists with special knowledge of food and the brain that people are becoming very gradually more stupid from one generation to the next, because they are eating more highly processed and chemicalised foods.' (Sunday Times Magazine, August 7, 1988)

Insatiable Appetite

One of the most common effects of malnutrition is what is generally referred to as an insatiable appetite. This affliction is not usually associated with malnutrition and, as a result, millions of people suffer from guilt feelings because they believe that they were chosen by fate to be the gluttons of our world.

Yet the cry of the appetite of those who eat to excess is not always a cry for more food; it could just as well be a cry for more nutritious food. Day in and day out, the system tries to convince the mind that it is not being satisfied by the quality of food that is being eaten, yet this cry is seldom interpreted correctly. As a result, the unfortunate individual locks himself into a vicious cycle - indulging more and more in that kind of food that can only satisfy the appetite less and less.

The reader is invited to put this claim to the test. After a breakfast of refined mealie meal (corn meal) you will notice that you will be starving by mid-morning - and so it will be on every day that you eat such a breakfast. Now do yourself a favour and purchase a packet of whole-grain mealie meal from your local health store. You will notice that by substituting the unrefined product for the refined product, your appetite will be well satisfied right on into lunch time - and this from day one.

An insatiable appetite, therefore, is simply a desperate warning from within. It is the cry of the system telling us that human life simply cannot be adequately sustained on a diet that is made up primarily of white bread sandwiches, oil-soaked French fries, sugar-rich cakes, greasy burgers, sweet chocolates, and fizzy cold drinks.

Skin Problems

When considering cosmetic treatments, we must bear in mind that the body sheds at least one layer of skin a day. This means that no matter how beneficial our cosmetic treatment may be, we are only treating skin that we are destined to shed in the next day or so. Thus we can better appreciate why it is that the dictionary definition of the word `Cosmetic' reads - `Decorative or superficial rather than functional.' (Heritage).

If we really are serious about having good skin, therefore, the obvious thing to do is to seek to nourish the skin from within rather than from without. By doing this, we can rest assured that every layer of skin will be adequately nourished from the moment that it is formed.

There is nothing wrong with using a natural skin cleanser now and again, but we should bear in mind that the state of the skin, as with most else in the body, is determined by the state of the blood. In other words, good, healthy, clean blood will make good, healthy, clean skin. This being the case, those who are sensitive about their skin, and about their health in general, will do all in their power to ensure that they have good blood . . .

1. They will appreciate that water is the great cleanser of nature and, as such, they will use pure water as the primary means of quenching their thirst rather than tea, coffee, or cold drinks. They will avoid taking liquids with their meals as this practice dilutes the digestive juices and thus seriously hinders digestion.

2. They will not ignore their daily need of spending time outdoors - either exercising, relaxing, or working in the garden.

3. Their diet will be made up largely of natural unrefined foods that are free from preservatives, hydrogenated oils or fats, and other added chemicals. Fresh fruit, raw salads, whole grain products, and steamed vegetables will feature prominently in their diet.

4. They will always rub their skin vigorously with a soft cotton towel after a hot bath. Natural fabric body brushes are available for this purpose.

5. As far as possible, they will seek daily to deep-cleanse the pores of the skin by taking a sauna or by doing some exercise that promotes perspiration.

6. Understanding that the skin `breathes' and that it is dependent on sunlight and fresh air, they will not use any skin lotion, base, or moisturizer that `seals' the skin.

The all-important question that those with bad skin will ask themselves will not be `How can I make my bad skin look like good skin? but rather, `What am I doing, or failing to do, that is causing me to have bad skin?' Then, instead of engaging in a life-long battle to mask blemishes and spots, the wise will seek to eliminate the cause of their blemishes and spots by substituting better habits for the bad habits in their lifestyle and diet.

Those who are serious about their health and about their skin, will certainly adopt the well-founded recommendations that are included in the last four chapters of this book

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