Green Yellow

Green Yellow

Conventional or Alternative Medicine is not Enough: Go Green

Whether you are strictly a proponent of Conventional medicine or a combination of both Alternative and Conventional to cure your health problem, it does not make sense if you have harmful habits.  One must not smoke, drink, or do drugs. One must manage one’s stress, exercise moderately, and, most importantly one must eat well ~ food is your medicine.

Components of the Greens Diet

When asked, the type of diet or healthy eating practice I preach is a diet I call "The Greens Diet". I actually stumbled on it at a Overeater's Anonymous meeting.   It consists of:

12oz of protein (chicken, fish preferably salmon)

1 fruit per day (at least)
20 oz of Green leafy vegetables:

  Beet tops (red and green leaves)

  Kale

  Spinach

  Collard Greens

  Swiss Chard

  Mustard greens

 Other vegetables include: Turnips, Parsnips, Jicama, Green beans, Summer and Winter squashes

I tell my friends, my family, and, my patients, at a minimum to incorporate features of the Greens Diet into their diet, if not replace their diets completely.  The green vegetables I recommend above are the leafy and cruciferous kind. Fresh is always best but if a particular vegetable is not in season, by all means, there’s plenty in the freezer section of your local supermarket.  If the choice is between frozen or none at all, I would go with frozen.

Benefits of Greens
The benefits of green leafy vegetables are endless.  Kale's constituents primarily include: Vitamin K, A, C, and manganese.  It is also rich in dietary fiber, calcium, potassium, iron, and magnesium. Some studies list that Kale helps prevent cancer, it's nutrients neutralize potentially carcinogenic substances.  The International Journal of  Cancer lists that those who consume kale and other cruciferous vegetables have a lower incidence of lung, colon, breast, and ovarian cancers.

Spinach, like Kale is another vegetable rich in Vitamins K, A, C, B6, E, folate, manganese, iron, and potassium.  Spinach helps protect against heart disease, arthritis, and, the type of cancer it helps protect against is that of the colon. Swiss Chard like Spinach and Kale is also rich in Vitamin K, A,C, E, and folate, manganese.  Research show that it helps with bone health and the type of cancer it protects against are in the digestive tract.  Because Swiss Chard is an excellent source of magnesium, so it helps regulate nerve and muscle tone by  balancing the action of calcium.  Insufficient magnesium can thus contribute to high blood pressure.   Like Kale, and Spinach, Swiss Chard is an excellent source of Vitamin C and E.  It has antioxidant powers that help battle free radicals that cause damage to cells.  Not having enough antioxidants in the body can result in inflammatory conditions like arthritis.  Vitamin C is also essential for immunity, excellent for the prevention of the common cold.   

All the greens and squashes listed above are excellent sources of fiber and shown to reduce high cholesterol levels which in turn help prevent atherosclerosis.  It's also been shown that fiber helps keep blood sugar levels low, therefore helpful to those with Type 2 Diabetes.   Including bulky greens, and, squashes  in one's current diet gives one a sense of fullness and contributes to weight loss.  I've seen this in my senior patients.  Some of my patients tout 1-3 lb/week losses. Some of the vegetables above contain some protein, but this Greens Diet includes 12 oz. of protein a day and I recommend fish, and if possible, salmon.  Salmon is a great source of omega oils excellent for heart, brain, skin, and vital in the reduction of high levels of cholesterol.  These dark green leafy vegetables, and  squashes  are easily available in your neighborhood supermarkets. Remember to add yellow, and, green squashes.  Low in carbs, and, sugar, they add texture to your greens. The most common type of squashes are either summer or winter squash.  When selecting your squashes, the summer squash should be fairly heavy for its size, and, free from blemishes.  Winter squashes are usually sold immature.Remember, think dark green Leafy, and yellow. In the 5 Element theory of Chinese medicine, squashes which are basically yellow, represent Earth; the organ: the Pancreas.  In Chinese Medicine theory, it is the pancreas that transforms food and drink into qi (energy), and, blood.     

You may blanch the greens, keeping them crunchy and tasty with your favorite salad dressing.  Remember that vinegar is an astringent, it holds in Lung Qi; the energy of breathing.  For frozen vegetables, check the instructions on the  package.  Remember not to overcook!  Feel free to garnish with nuts.  Squash is excellent baked or steamed.  Summer squashes can also be mashed and served with a little bit of butter or low-fat cream. Squashes can also be boiled before you toss in the greens cooking for an additional minute or two.  Spinach is great fresh.  Mix it with other salad greens.  I'm a fan of olive oil and vinegar as a dressing.

Patients Benefit from the Greens Diet

One of them let’s call Morris, a boy of 8 with ADHD.  His mother is a jewel of a woman with infinite patience, and, rationale.   Morris has everyone in the house inspired with how the Greens Diet has changed him.  He is calmer, and now can be still in order to listen.  "I want my daughter to have what you gave to Morris.  He is so much calmer, and, nicer,"  his classmate's dad told Morris" mom.   Of course Morris' mom and dad are on the program for weight loss, coz why not? They say.

My senior patient I will name Olivia, aged 70 came to Acupuncture because she had open heart surgery.  She was overweight, and worried about her heart.  She was sent to me by her cardiologist.  Olivia had a stroke, and open heart surgery.  A patient on blood thinners is not a candidate for herbal therapy.  She is kept on her conventional medicine protocol, and immediately put her on The Greens Diet.  The following week, Olivia happily reported that she lost 1 pound!  We were encouraged to continue,  balancing her coronary health, and diet.  Olivia is a good patient. She has an open mind, and, looks forward to alternative medicine complementing her HMO plan.  We were encouraged to continue, balancing her coronary health, with this Greens Diet and Acupuncture.
 

Another is a television actress we will call Gwen.  She is young, and, very talented.  Gwen needs to be clear of mind as she goes from one film set to another.  Gwen is a large woman of 5'9" who thrives on the Greens Diet because it keeps her energetic, and she continues to fit well in her size 12 suits.  I am in my thirties, and, I feel fabulous~ "let’s take as many pictures of me now while I am young, and pretty!" she says. 

An elderly lady we will call Rita has glaucoma.  She comes to Acupuncture, and, herbal therapy so that she can see better.  Acupuncture treatments always improve her vision.   In Chinese Medicine, Glaucoma is damp.  The Greens Diet drains damp, and cools the blood that is stored in the liver.  To help drain damp and tonify her pancreas, we replaced her soda pop habit  with fresh ginger juice and honey.   Her vision continues to improve with Acupuncture and a customized Chinese Herbal formulation.  

Nancy is 49.  Recently diagnosed with type II diabetes, she came to my clinic seeking alternative medicine to support her decision to get better.  So focused was Nancy with her new diet, and, exercise regiment, that her numbers cleared up and balanced out rapidly.  In 6 weeks, her doctor was surprised with her recovery.  You are a model patient.  Would you be willing to speak in my coming Forum on Diabetes at the University next month?   Nancy's recovery includes her will and determination to get better.  The Greens Diet easily manages diabetes.

Karena, 55, had surgery that incised the cancer she had in her breast.  She has Acupuncture to help her heal quickly.  I also put her on the Greens Diet to accelerate healing and to elevate, and, maintain her mood.
   
Conclusion:

 My patients are intelligent people who think out of the box as they pursue living well, and staying healthy.  They are in tune with their bodies.  They believe the Greens Diet works.  It gives them the energy to be on the ball with their busy schedules, as they continue to excel in their lives.  Less costly and always safe to use, I recommend The Greens Diet also because I am a Doctor of Chinese medicine with knowledge of traditional and natural remedies immediately recognizing its value (or value of its ingredients). As listed in my success stories above, I have used it to help my patient’s battle diseases or it's aftermath and emotional problems since 2001. I can proudly say that I do use the Greens Diet to fix whatever ails me or if I need to be on a manageable diet.

In the 5 element theory of Chinese Medicine, colors can help one remember internal organs that we nourish with food. Green (wood) is the liver, generating Red (fire) the heart, generating Yellow (earth), the pancreas,  which now generates White (metal),  the lungs, which in turn generates Black or Blue for (water), the kidneys.  One element generates the next.  I always remember to say that instead of meats which are acidic, try fish or seaweed from the ocean to nourish kidneys.  That fountain of Life is the kidney organ. When we breathe in, it’s our lower back that moves~ where the kidneys are; a breath out is the lungs.  In Chinese medicine, the liver is the General.  The liver holds blood in the body before that the heart circulates.  It assists the pancreas in digesting food.  It also creates energy directing the Lungs in its breathing function.   A breath out is from the lungs.  A breath taken in is when the body pulls up from the lower back, the area of the kidneys.  Whether currently being treated for cancer and most especially when recovering from cancer, we need to eat our greens and if possible organic green so that it is free of cancer-causing pesticides.  Food is medicine. We are what we eat.  Eat fresh, and eat organic.

About the Author

Maria Locsin, L. Ac., Dipl. Ac., earned her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the College of the Assumption in Manila, Philippines (1976), and, a Masters in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Herbology from Emperor's College, in Santa Monica,
California (2001). Maria is certified by the California State Board of Consumer Affairs, and, The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture, and, Oriental Medicine (2000). She is licensed to practice Acupuncture, Herbology, and, Chinese Medicine. Maria also completed postgraduate studies in Solid Waste and Recycling
Programs from The University of California at Los Angeles, (1990). Still a student of Chinese Medicine Maria treated hundreds of patients and held supervisory duties providing evaluations and guidance to Level I interns. Just into her first year of studies, one of her greatest accomplishments was treating her bedridden father, who was able to walk for the first time in years.

Maria has been passionately practicing Chinese Medicine since 2003. Fluent in three languages, her recent experience with Clinica Medica San Miguel includes helping seniors, and, the Spanish-speaking population with nutritional counseling and Acupuncture. She takes pride in helping “my seniors of Huntington Park”. She also was on Spanish TV and radio, marketing Clinica San Miguel and preaching the benefits of Oriental Medicine. Today she shares a clinic, treating various diseases, and, ailments with other accomplished Acupuncturists in West Los Angeles. Her Chinese Medicine “ministry” sometimes takes her to homes of patients who are homebound.

Spring Makeup: Green/Yellow/Blue