I was visiting a friend in the hospital when lunch came. It was a hamburger with American cheese and a white enriched bun (the processed kind, made with dough conditioners and other additives). The side dish was a bag of baked potato chips. I am not above eating a hamburger or a piece of pizza, but this made me sad. It told me that our healthcare system has absolutely no understanding of the connection between diet and inflammation.
I have several patients who go to the Optimum Health Institute. It is an interesting place. They do not make claims about treating disease. In fact, no one is supposed to talk about their health problems while on campus. They do not recommend supplements—they discourage them. Instead, they aggressively change the diet of their clients.
Most programs begin with a short water fast. Food is then reintroduced gradually, along with rejuvelac, a fermented beverage made from sprouted grains. Rejuvelac is rich in beneficial bacteria and is commonly used to support gut health. Meals are built around whole, raw foods and are added according to a structured schedule. Colonics are also encouraged.
I have a patient who has had her thyroid removed. When she goes to Optimum Health Institute, she needs to cut back on her thyroid medication. She needs less when she is on their program. She told me about a woman with a huge tumor on her neck who lives there on a scholarship. Every year that my client goes back, the tumor is a little smaller.
These are just two stories; there are many more. Whether the improvements come from reducing inflammation, changing the microbiome, lowering stress, or some combination of factors, something appears to be happening. Simple, but it produces dramatic results.
Optimum Health Institute also has group sessions that encourage peaceful thinking and love (one reason no one is allowed to discuss their health problems). Electronic devices are restricted. The program focuses not only on food and the microbiome, but also on stress and lifestyle.
We recommend some supplements on WholeHealthWeb.com because, frankly, most people cannot follow this kind of discipline. Even the people who go there eventually allow some Western food into their diets. So, supplementation makes sense when discipline is less than ideal.
I only wish more of these ideas found their way into mainstream healthcare. My friend’s hospital stay might have been more beneficial if the food on the tray had been viewed as part of the treatment rather than simply a way to fill the stomach.
