1. HISTORY & PHILOSOPHY OF NATUROPATHIC NUTRITION

Question 1

Define Naturopathy

Answer 1

Naturopathy is “a system of healthcare which encourages and promotes the body’s own self-healing mechanisms”

Question 2

Name 4 therapies used in Naturopathy

Answer 2

1) Nutrition
2) Fasting
3) Homeopathy
4) Herbal medicine

Also, acupuncture, naturopathic manipulations, hydrotherapy and others, following naturopathic principles to promote the body’s own self-healing mechanisms.

Question 3

Name four Naturopathic Principles and briefly explain each

Answer 3

1.The Healing Power of Nature:
* The body can heal itself given the right conditions and treatment.
* The body has a ‘Vital Force’ (‘Qi’ or ‘Prana’) which can be stimulated or suppressed.
* Vital Force can be stimulated with:
fresh air, sun, clean water, a healthy diet, fasting, detoxification, natural therapy.

2.Treat the Cause, not the Symptom:
The question is not what is the disease, but
* why is it there,
* where did it come from and thus,
* what is the cause?

3.Treat the Whole Person:
* Recognise individuality.
* Take into account the whole patient
(encompassing physical, mental, genetic, environmental, social and other factors).
* The person is treated, not the symptom.
* There is no “one size fits all” approach.

4.Prevention is Preferable to Cure:
* Most diseases are clearly linked
to diet, lifestyle and the environment, it is essential to address these in order to
prevent disease, rather than simply react when it has already manifested.

• Promote health to maintain
  optimal Vital Force at all times.

5.Education:
* Educate patients by bringing a better
understanding of health,
* How to attain and maintain it and
* How to avoid creating an environment where disease can result.
* Empower patients to take
responsibility for their own health.

Question 4

Explain what is meant by
“treating the whole person”.

Answer 4

• Recognise individuality.
• Take into account the whole patient
  (encompassing physical, mental, genetic,
  environmental, social and other factors).
• The person is treated, not the symptom.
• There is no “one size fits all” approach.

Question 5

Who said “Whatever disease the body has produced, it is able to revert it”?

Answer 5

Dr. A. Vogel, Switzerland

Question 6

What is Health?

Answer 6

‘Abundant Vitality’
The best possible physical,
mental and emotional state.

Question 7

Explain the purpose of Nutrition

Answer 7

The purpose of Nutrition is food that promote healing and growth

Question 8

Who is a Naturopathic Nutritionist

Answer 8

A Naturopathic Nutritionist follows the naturopathic principles knowing that every person is an individual and requires a personalised nutritional approach to health.

Question 9

What is the difference between Nutrient, Nutrition and Nourishment?

Answer 9

• Nutrient: A substance which provides nourishment essential for growth and maintenance of life.
• Nutrition: The process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth.
• Nourishment: The food or other substances necessary for growth, health and good condition.

Question 10

Explain the difference between Food, Whole Food and Organic Food

Answer 10

Food: Any nutritious substance that people or animals eat or drink or that plants absorb in order to maintain life and growth.

Whole food: Food that has not been processed or refined and is free from additives or other artificial substances.

Organic food: Food free of fertilisers, pesticides, irradiation, GMOs, growth hormones and livestock feed additives.

Question 11

What is a Superfood and give 2 examples of a super food?

Answer 11

They are highly nutritious foods containing all, or nearly all, the vitamins, minerals and trace elements a body needs.

However, Superfoods are incorporated into a wholefood diet are fundamental for human health and they do not work in isolation but as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Example are algae, sprouts, bee pollen, wheatgrass.

Question 12

What is meant by ‘Junk food’? Give one reason why it should be avoided.

Answer 12

‘Junk foods’ contain substances which are not natural, have been altered, or are not suitable to maintain health and growth (GMOs, trans fats, sweeteners, pesticides, artificial colourings, etc.).

Junk foods hinder cell communication and are, therefore, detrimental to health and wellbeing.

Question 13

List FIVE junk foods commonly consumed as part of a typical Western diet and ONE nutritious alternative for each of these. Incorporate superfoods where possible.

Answer 13

Junk / Alternative

Cakes / Fruits
Biscuits/sweets / Dried fruit & nuts
Sugar / Bee Pollen
Chips / Algae/ baked Crispy Kale
Gluten Wraps / Lettuce wraps
Bacon / Grass-fed meat

Question 14

A client asks you “why should I chose
organic food”. What would you say?

Answer 14

Organic Food are free of fertilisers, pesticides, irradiation, GMOs, growth hormones and livestock feed additives which is better for your health.

Question 15

How old is Ayurvedic medicine &
Chinese medicine?

Answer 15

Ayurvedic medicine: Recorded over 5000 years ago (applications of air, herbs and water).

Chinese medicine: 3000 years ago, TCM.

Question 16

What was used by Egyptians for night blindness?

Answer 16

Liver

Question 17

What was used by Native Americans for healing?

Answer 17

Herbs

Question 18

How was disease treated in all ancient cultures?

Answer 18

They use fasting, diets, purging, herbs, and various forms of hydrotherapy.

Question 19

What is Hippocrates (468‒377 BC) best known for?

Answer 19

• Hippocrates: The Father of Medicine.
• “Food as the primary source of medicine,
  health and healing. First use food, then herbs, finally intervention.”
• Nature is the “Physician of Man”.
• Credited for writing the Hippocratic oath.

Famous Quote “Let food be thy Medicine, and Medicine be thy food.”

Question 20

What is the essence of the Hippocratic Oath?

Answer 20

Do no harm.

The oath:
“I will apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgment; I will keep them from harm and injustice”.

“I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I suggest to this effect. In purity and holiness, I will guard my life and my art.”

Question 21

What does Greek medicine have in common with Chinese medicine and Ayurveda?

Answer 21

All these medical systems seek to
harmonise the health of the individual with the Universal Life Forces of Nature

Question 22

What disciplines in Greek medicine has been a source and inspiration for Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries?

Answer 22

Homoeopathy, Naturopathy, chiropractic.

Question 23

What was the German Sebastian Kneipp (1821–1897) best known for?

Answer 23

The Father of Hydrotherapy.

He cured his own TB by bathing in the river Danube.

Question 24

What is Hydrotherapy?

Answer 24

It is the therapeutic use of water as a healing agent.

Question 25

Compare and contrast the use of HOT and COLD water in hydrotherapy

Answer 25

• Cold Water: Decreases circulation and numbs the area.
• Hot Water: Relaxes muscles and increases circulation.

Question 26

Explain the benefits of alternating hot and cold water?

Answer 26

• It stimulates blood flow, increasing oxygen and therefore nutritional supply to cells.
• Strengthens the immune system.
• Promotes circulation
• Lowers high blood pressure,
• Relieves headaches, promotes
  parasympathetic activity,
• Enhances sleep.

Question 27

Give one application of hydrotherapy internally and one externally?

Answer 27

• Externally: Compresses, wraps, foot baths, steam baths, sauna.
• Internally: Acts as solvent and carrier (nutrients into cells and wastes out).

Question 28

What did Swiss Dr. Max Bircher-Benner (1867–1939) advocate?

Answer 28

A 50/50 raw food diet with emphasis on fruit.

Heat (apart from sun) degrades food by destroying enzymes.

Question 29

What is Dr. Max Bircher-Benner (1867–1939) famous for?

Answer 29

• Famous for his Bircher muesli (raw oats, goats’ yoghurt and fruit, soaked overnight).
• “Good gut health is necessary for proper growth of cells and tissues”.
• To maintain nutrient profile in food

Question 30

Who said that “90% of diseases are due to improper functioning of the bowel” and promoted the importance of the intestinal microflora

Answer 30

Dr. John Harvey Kellogg (1852–1943)

Question 31

Who used the term ‘nature-cure’ to define his approach to recovery and formulated the ideas of ‘healing crisis’.

Answer 31

Henry Lindlahr (1862–1924)

Question 32

What was Henry Lindlahr’s (1862–1924) view of the primary cause of disease?

Answer 32

“the accumulation of morbid matter
is the primary cause of disease”.

Question 33

What, according to Dr. Max Gerson (1881–1959) are the
two planks underpinning health?

Answer 33

Toxicity and deficiency

Question 34

What is the basis of Gerson Therapy?

Answer 34

Alkalised the body with fresh organic vegetable juices and detoxified with coffee enemas.

Question 35

What did the Scottish Naturopath James C. Thomson (1887–1960) advocate?

Answer 35

Fibre (unrefined grains,
raw vegetables and fruit)

Question 36

Who advocated bowel-cleansing as the most important aspect in maintaining health and said, “every tissue is fed by the blood which is supplied by the bowel”?

Answer 36

Dr. Bernard Jensen (1908–2001)

Question 37

Who used chlorophyll extensively
in enemas and colonics and also claimed a 40% success rate curing leukaemia?

Answer 37

Dr. Bernard Jensen (1908–2001)

Question 38

What was developed by Dr. Bernard Jensen (1908–2001) and what theory did he promote?

Answer 38

Developed advanced Iridology and
promoted the ‘toxaemia’ theory.

Question 39

Which machine did Dr. Bernard Jensen (1908–2001) develop?

Answer 39

Colon hydrotherapy machine

Question 40

Explain the difference between Louis Pasteur and Antoine Bechamp’s theories of disease.

Answer 40

Pasteur: founder of ‘germ’ theory
Germ Theory: Disease occurs from outside of the body i.e. bacteria, viruses, fungi, cause diseases from outside

Bechamp: maintained that disease occurs from within the body (changes of the terrain, opposite to Pasteur).

• “Bacteria and viruses are the ‘after-effects’ rather than the cause of disease”.
• “Most diseases are the result of an acidic, low oxygenated terrain” (environment) where the diseased tissue spawns the growth of microorganisms which develop into different forms.

Question 41

What process did Louis Pasteur (1822–1895) develop which is the foundation of Western medicine?

Answer 41

He developed the pasteurisation
process where he found that rapid heating destroys microbes.

Question 42

How does Natural Medicine differ from Allopathic Medicine?

Answer 42

Allopathic medicine focuses on
Pasteur’s theory, consequently
suppressing symptoms with
drugs, ignoring the importance
of the ‘terrain’ which is favoured in Natural Medicine

Question 43

List 4 differences between Allopathy and Homeopathy

Answer 43

Allopathy: Allos (against); pathy (disease).
* Uses chemicals / drugs to ‘treat’ symptoms (not the disease).
* Views symptoms as the disease and is, therefore, ‘reductionist’.
* Treating a symptom means to suppress a symptom (disease).
* Suppressions drive the disease deeper into the body.

Homeopathy: Homeo (same); pathy (disease)
* Cures like with like.
* Uses specifically prepared substances to facilitate the body’s own healing process.
* Treats the whole person.
* Views symptoms as an expression of disease, not as THE disease.

Question 44

Who formulated the
‘Law of Similars’ and what is it? (support your answer with an example)

Answer 44

Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843)
The Law of Similars (or ‘like cures like’) was created giving birth to homeopathy.

Examples:
* Bee venom for a bee sting (Apis mellifica).
* Coffee for insomnia (Coffea cruda).
* Onion for watery eyes and a runny nose (Allium cepa).
* Snake venom for a snake bite (Lachesis mutus).

Question 45

Using the The Law of Similars (‘Like with Like’), explain why would you treat a fever using lukewarm water (like), instead of Cold water?

Answer 45

• As fever is hot (like), use lukewarm water (like), dab person’s skin to mimic the body’s natural way of cooling the body (perspiration).
• Cold water suppresses fever. The healing process takes longer.
  It is, therefore, best to apply the law of ‘like cures like’.

Question 46

Using the ‘The Law of Similars’ how would you treat a sunburn and a burn?

Answer 46

Sunburn:
Cool down slowly, Apply warmth, drink something warm. Heat stroke needs tepid applications. Avoid shocking the body with cold applications.

Burns:
Apply something warm (like). To use cold is a ‘shock’ (and suppression of symptoms).

Question 47

What is the suppression of symptoms in Allopathic Medicine.

Answer 47

Suppression: “One gets the manifestation of an illness to disappear, without having healed the illness” (S. Hahnemann).

Question 48

Explain clearly why is its not a good idea to suppress symptoms?

Answer 48

• If symptoms are suppressed, the body finds different ways to express itself. The results are deeper-seated problems which are more detrimental to body functions and longevity.
• Suppression masks the illness and drives it further into the body. For example, consider metastases as a result of cancer treatments.
• Emotional symptoms can also be suppressed and can cause severe physical conditions.

Question 49

Give 4 ways suppression can occur ?

Answer 49

• Suppression of emotions.
• Suppression of natural body secretions.
• Topical applications.
• Surgical removals.
• Suppression of recurring infections.
• Suppression of fever and pain.
• Suppression of natural immunity.

Question 50

What are the side effects of topical applications using corticosteroids?

Answer 50

• Compromise the immune system and weaken adrenal function.
• Inhibit waste elimination through the skin.
• Applied to eczema lesions can develop as asthma, allergies and candida.

Question 51

What are the side effects of topical applications using coal tar / zinc creams (for eczema / psoriasis)?

Answer 51

• Can incite skin eruptions to spread more superficially.
• Does push the disease deeper causing anxiety, candida, allergies and asthma.

Note: In cases of zinc deficiency, treat the cause.

Question 52

What can result from the surgical removals of tonsils?

Answer 52

It often results in chronic throat infections potentially spreading rapidly to become chest infections, digestive disorders such as ‘SIBO’ or heart problems. The immune system is compromised.

Question 53

What can result from the surgical removals of warts, cysts?

Answer 53

• Often leads to the formation of benign tumours / growth elsewhere deeper in the body (e.g., fibroids, intestinal / nasal polyps)
• Warts often return later and in greater quantity.

Note: Warts can be easily treated using herbs or homeopathy (thuja).

Question 54

What can result from using radiotherapy and chemotherapy?

Answer 54

They are highly toxic and suppresses the immune system.

Question 55

What are the adverse effect of pain and fever drugs?

Answer 55

• Drugs such as paracetamol (Calpol) can cause the disease to spread and delay recovery.
• Cold wraps could induce convulsions.

Note: Warm wraps are better as they follow the homeopathic Laws of Cure: ‘Like with like’.

Question 56

What are the disadvantage of using painkillers?

Answer 56

• Painkillers only mask diseases.
• Tens of thousands of people die every
  year from adverse effects of pain killers.

Question 57

As a Naturopath, how would you explain the cautious use of Antibiotics?

Answer 57

• Antibiotics can be life-saving in certain conditions. However, they are hugely over-prescribed, which contributes to the development of ‘superbugs’ that are increasingly resistant to current antibiotics.
• Antibiotics disrupt the intestinal flora and may lead to long-term digestive and immune issues.
• There are also links to neurological disturbances.

Note: World Health Organisation (WHO): “We are coming close to a ‘post-antibiotic era’ in which many diseases become almost impossible to treat with antibiotics”.

Question 58

The body has the intelligence and power to restore itself to health (providing it is allowed to do so).
How long does it take for the:
a) brain
b) blood
c) liver
d) skin
e) bone
f) stomach mucosa

to renew themselves?

Answer 58

a) brain: 1 year
b) blood: 4 months
c) liver: 6 weeks
d) skin: 1 month
e) bone: 3 months
f) stomach mucosa: 5 days

Question 59

What migh the body be manifesting in regards to the following Acute symptoms:
- Fever
- Diarrhoea
- Skin reactions

Answer 59

Acute symptoms can be manifestations of the body’s self-healing mechanisms:
- Fever is a reaction of the body to fight disease.
- Diarrhoea is an attempt at getting rid of unwanted toxins.
- Skin reactions shows the pushing out of toxins.

Question 60

What are Hering’s Laws of Cure? Explain with examples.

Answer 60

1) From inside out:
* For example, a boil formation clears toxins from the inside to the exterior away from more vital organs.

2) From more serious organs to less serious ones:
* For example, from the lungs (asthma) to skin (eczema)

3) The mind gets better before the body:
* For example, anxiety starts improving before IBS does.

4) Symptoms disappear in the reverse order to when they arrived.
e.g. Frequent diarrhoea, headaches and poor concentration. Headaches and concentration improved first then diarrhoea.

5) From above to below.

E.g. Rheumatoid arthritis. It had been particularly aggressive and progressed from distal finger joints to wrists. Now showing inflammation in elbows.

With nutrition, the elbow pain ceased and
the wrist pain slowly began to improve, then the pain in the finger joints improved.

Question 61

Briefly explain Coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis and compare and contrast the allopathic approach to the naturopathic approach?

Answer 61

It is a pathology where plaque forms inside the coronary arteries, obstructing the blood flow to the myocardium.

Allopathic approach:
* Removing plaque through surgical procedures; using drugs to prevent plaque formation; ignoring the cause of the disease.

Naturopathic approach:
* Correcting diet and lifestyle that caused the problem and, therefore, decreasing or even removing the plaque.

Question 62

Explain The Yin and Yang concept in TCM and how it relates to food?

Answer 62

Yin and Yang is the core of Chinese medicine.
* A healthy meal should achieve a balance of Yin and Yang
* Yin and Yang are opposites, but not in absolute terms.

• Generally, foods are either more:
  ‒ YIN (cool, contracting, cooling in property) or
  ‒ YANG (warm, expanding, warming in property)

Nothing is entirely Yin or Yang. E.g., raw foods are Yin when compared to warm stews, but Yang compared to ice cream.

Question 63

Describe the constitution of Yin Foods (relate your answer to the seasons)

Answer 63

• Cold and cooling foods.
• Plant foods in general.
  Foods with low calorific value such as fruit, green vegetables, seaweed.
• Wet or sweet foods are more Yin.
• Refined foods are more Yin, whilst also having less Qi.
• Raw food is generally more Yin and better tolerated in the summer.
• Foods that grow in the spring and summer are generally cooling (Yin) in quality and, therefore, should be eaten in season.

The nightshade family (tomatoes, potatoes, aubergines, bell peppers) and sweet tropical fruit are particularly Yin

Question 64

Describe the constitution of Yang Foods (relate your answer to the seasons)

Answer 64

Warm and warming foods.
* Foods with a higher calorific value including red meats. Meats, in general, are more Yang than plant foods.

• Chocolate, tea, coffee and alcohol.
• Black pepper, ginger, chilli, onion, garlic.
• Most root vegetables are warming (Yang) in quality and good to be eaten during autumn and winter.
• Fresh food has more Yang energy, which also enhances the Qi, whereas processed or stale food has more Yin energy (and weakens the Qi)

Question 65

Explain the ‘Relativity’ concept with Yin and Yang foods supporting your answer with examples

Answer 65

• Although fish is generally considered Yin, it is not Yin in relation to more Yin foods like raw vegetables.
  -In comparison to raw vegetables, fish is Yang.
• Foods in the same family (e.g., fruit) can be more or less Yang / Yin — sweeter is usually more Yin. Bitter fruit can be less Yin.
• Different texts can give you different groupings of Yin / Yang for particular foods / drinks. Wine is considered Yin by some and Yang by others. The initial effects of wine can be warming / heating Yang but excessive use can create problems associated with excessive Yin — depression, numbness, lethargy, phlegm.

Question 66

Give 2 examples each of Yin and Yang conditions with the cause.

Answer 66

Yin conditions: lethargy, anaemia, feeling cold.
* Caused by excess of sugar,
raw foods or not enough food;

Yang conditions: acne, high blood pressure, migraines.
* Caused by excess of animal products, hot spices or alcohol;

Question 67

Give one food example in each:
* Hot (Yang)
* Warm (Yang)
* Neutral Cool (Yin)
* Cold (Yin)
for a vegetarian?

Answer 67

• Hot (Yang)- Red Chilli
• Warm (Yang)- Ginger, Green pepper, Onion
• Neutral Cool (Yin) -Carrot, Cauliflower, Yam,
• Cool (Yin)- Broccoli, Cabbage, Celery
• Cold (Yin)-Mung beans, Sprouts, Cucumber

Question 68

Fish is generally considered cold (Yin) as it spends much time in water. How would you bring balance to a fish dish?

Answer 68

Cook it with ginger (Yang) to warm up the
dish and give it balance.

Question 69

For someone who has excess heat (Yang) or inflammation in their body, what food preparation methods can you advise to help them to reduce inflammation by increasing Yin?

Answer 69

Juicing, blending, grinding and other processing generally increases the Yin of foods.

Question 70

Explain the concept of Macrobiotic diet in TCM?

Answer 70

This postulates that health can
be achieved by balancing your
diet with foods that are closest
to the balance point (neither
extreme Yin nor Yang).

Question 71

What does the macrobiotic diet emphasise?

Answer 71

The macrobiotic diet
emphasises chewing food
completely and avoiding
the use of a microwave.

Question 72

From a TCM principle, what will be the advice/considerations as to the meal plan for clients with the following constitution:
- Yin
- Yang
- Neutral

Answer 72

• A Yang-type person usually can eat all Yin type food with no ill effect, but may easily get a nose bleed with a small amount of Yang-type food.
• A Yin-type person needs boosting or nourishing types of food (more Yang).
• A neutral person is generally healthy and will have strong reactions only after overconsumption of certain foods.

Question 73

Give 4 examples of heating foods which stimulate the metabolism?

Answer 73

Garlic, onions, horseradish, ginger

Chicken, eggs, duck, lamb, aged cheeses.

Wheat, sesame seeds, walnuts

Lemon, apples, olives.

Question 74

Identify the nature of the following food and what impact they will have on metabolism?

Bananas, most tropical fruit, lettuce, cucumber, melons, watermelon, milk and dairy products, fresh cheeses, yoghurt, mint, fish.

Answer 74

These are Cooling foods.
They sedate the metabolism and relieve excess heat

Question 75

A client exhibits excessively oily skin. Which food you would consider eliminating in their diet, at least for the short term?

Answer 75

‘Wet’ foods: those which are rich,
oily, moistening and emollient.
– Milk and dairy products, bananas, avocados, coconut, fresh cheeses, yoghurt.

Question 76

If a client comes to you with excess fluid in their body, what type of food you might consider, giving 2 examples?

Answer 76

Dry foods: those which are either
physically dry or aid the body in eliminating excess fluids.

Most beans, soybeans, chickpeas,
pomegranates, asparagus, dried
fruit, aged cheeses.

Question 77

A client wishes to lose weight but also has a lack of motivation to exercise, which food you would explore reducing in their diet?

Answer 77

Meat, wheat, aubergines, greasy fried foods.

Note: Heavy foods (of high quality) can give strength and durability to the body, but most commonly they produce sluggishness, heaviness and
drowsiness and are difficult to digest

Question 78

Explain the effects of long-term steroid use on the body?

Answer 78

• Compromise the immune system
• Weight gain
• Weaken adrenal function
• Muscle weakness
• Sleeping difficulty

Question 79

A client wishes to gain weight. Which foods you would explore reducing in their diet?

Answer 79

Rice cakes, popcorn, corn, sunflower seeds.

Note: Light foods produce lightness, alertness and agility in the body, but in excess, they can lead to light-headedness and weight loss

Question 80

Give TWO examples where a symptom is
treated and not the cause.

Answer 80

• Headache: given painkillers without adressing cause e.g. toxicity
• Heavy periods: given the pill without addressing hormonal imbalances
• Eczema: given steroids and or antihistamine without addressing microbiome, intolerances

Question 81

Compare and contrast Traditional Chinese Medicine with Modern Western Medicine stating clearly their aims?

Answer 81

TCM
* Based on centuries
of clinical observation
* Individualised (patient-centred)
* Emphasises stimulating the
body’s self-healing mechanisms
* Holistic — looks at the
person as a whole
Primary aim: Maintain health

Modern Western Medecine
* Based on experimentation
* Standardised
* Based on medication and
procedures
* Reductionist: looks at the
structure and functions of individual parts
Primary aim: Manage disease

Question 82

By using your knowledge about the Chinese Body Clock what organ might be associated with:
- A headache getting worse between 1pm and 3pm.
- Always waking up at around 3am to 4am.
- Having less energy around 6pm to 8pm.
- Nappy rash worse around 7am

Answer 82

1-3pm - Small intestine
3-4am - More likely to be liver (note lungs start at 3-5am- e.g. for an asthma attack 4am)
6-8pm - Kidneys and Pericardium
7am - Large intestine/ Stomach

Question 83

Compare and contrast the allopathic approach to the naturopathic approach for Type 2 Diabetes mellitus? Also explain the potential effects of those approaches?

Answer 83

Allopathic approach:
* Drugs like metformin that decrease insulin resistance and / or lower blood sugar levels, minimal dietary changes.
* Side effects: Weight gain, increase of cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, ↑ risk of cardiovascular disease.

Naturopathic approach:
* Applies more comprehensive dietary changes (and supplements) which naturally lower blood sugar levels and improve insulin resistance. Exercise and stress reduction programme.
* Effects: Improved cholesterol and blood pressure readings, weight loss, reduced cancer risk.

Question 84

Outline the condition of Type 2 Diabetes mellitus?

Answer 84

It is a pathology characterised by
hyperglycaemia, associated with insulin resistance. It is a result of improper diet and lack of exercise.

Insulin resistance:
* Cells become unresponsive to insulin, which is produced by the pancreas. More insulin is produced until the pancreas cannot produce any more.

Main causes of insulin resistance:
* Excessive processed carbohydrates (fructose and grains, especially wheat); trans fats / hydrogenised fats; low levels of dietary fibre; lack of physical activity; dehydration, etc.