(Natural) supplementation and superfoods
Since the ‘80’s Arnaud van der Veere has been researching supplements, herbal treatments, healthy and unhealthy medications, hormone therapy and many more “secrets” to a long life. Longevity is the goal of people over 30 and a child’s dream of immortality. By the time people realize the speed of life it is already a long way ahead on the path and changes are inevitable. Most people become aware of the venerability of life when parents and love-once die. To most people, it happens during their 30’s. A frightening experience especially when death is due to illness or other tragic events. Most people consider this avoidable death. It should be possible to prevent oneself against death. Is that possible?
If advertisements and promotional articles are to believed it is surely possible to have a long and prosperous life in good health and with all the fruits of it. But when stick to the facts it is easy to understand that the factors of influence are unlimited and control is not possible. That is the hard reality. A person has never lived in hands. But this does not imply they should sit back and see what is coming. Active living is needed to enjoy given time and assure the spend time is useful and most of all workable. Active people have proven the longest life, sedative people the shortest.
Food is medicine and poison at the same time. It is important to understand food as medicine and part of the program for longevity. In former parts, the microelements of food have been explained and studied. In this part, the macro parts of foods are of interest. Besides the chemical reactions of food inside the body one should be aware of other important elements related to food:
Fact is that there is no single herb or medicine that is able to extend our life. Looking for supplementation or superfoods which help the individual life is a useful but also dangerous and difficult path. Most readers do not realize that herbs can be potentially dangerous and that the intake of herb combination can cause toxic reactions in the body. The study of the treatment and combination of herbs and other products is still on the way even with respectively 10.000 years (Ayurveda) and 5000 (TCM = Traditional Chinese Medicines) of practical experience.
What is known about the use of herbs in combination with daily food?
In other parts of this website, it is mentioned that the specific biological development of the digestive system suits the food that is consumed on a daily basis. The digestive system creates a set of enzymes and saliva to digest daily food in a specific pattern. It is possible to change a little in this existing combinations but the main program is hard to change. This biological given fact also influences the ability to consume and digest medical herbs from other parts of the world.
The Indian and Chinese diet is completely different from a Western diet. The differences are fundamental. It is possible for all eaters of specific kitchens to switch but the need and desire to their born kitchen continue to exist as the body is in demand of the specific ingredients which cannot be found in the other diet. The desire is not a psychological wish for the food but a digestive/biological need. As mentioned before the gut has its own brain.
Arnaud van der Veere called the study of food compatibility “food congruence”. Food has a direct relation to the personal digestive system. With “food congruence” people study the possibility of a combination of basic local diet with herbal, chemical and other medications. Is it possible to combine food with “medication” and have an optimal result?
Commerce has moved “alternative and complementary” medicines to all corners of the world but there is hardly any study known which made the effectiveness of combinations – food & natural medication – measurable and factual. During research, some foods have been discovered which have a global impact and are able to pass any digestive tract in the world. These foods can be considered world food medicines.
Prof. Dr. Mao divided the supplements and superfoods as follow:
In perspective of this dividing, the natural powers become clear. In this part, a small sample of products is displayed. The study covers hundreds of thousands of foods, herbs, superfoods, ingredients or supplements. Yearly many new products enter the market and researching all is an impossible task. To find effective products a few rules where used:
The quality of local and other natural whole foods (sometimes mentioned as superfoods) depends on the following