Module 9 QUESTIONS ANSWERED JOHN DOUILLARD, DC. 2013, 2015 Integrative Nutrition, Inc.

Transcription

1 Module 9 QUESTIONS ANSWERED JOHN DOUILLARD, DC 2013, 2015 Integrative Nutrition, Inc.

2 2 Q I donate blood frequently and would like to know more about how the philosophical discipline of Ayurveda is related to the practice of blood donation. A With regards to donating blood, blood letting is actually a well-known part of Ayurveda. It is great to help thin the blood and detox the blood from impurities. It is not for everyone though - it is best for Pitta body types at the end of the summer (Pitta season). Secondarily, it is good for other types as needed for detox and blood thinning, but not good for Vata types in the winter. Changes of seasons are always a better time to give blood because at the end of each season the impurities accumulate.

3 3 Q It seems the concept of eating only three (or less) meals a day is geared towards people who want to lose weight. What about others who do not need to lose weight? A Three meals a day is a balancing act for the body since it first and foremost stabilizes blood sugar levels. Hypoglycemia is a major cause of difficulty gaining weight and is the first thing addressed when we are encouraged to eat only three meals, which allows the body to burn fat in between. The three meals concept is less about your weight and more about whether you have the ability to burn fat and stabilize mood, blood sugar, and your weight. I have many patients who have gained weight with three meals a day.

4 4 Q What about activity levels in an individual who wants to gain weight? A Some people may live a more sedentary life while others are more active. No doubt, each body type will have different requirements for activity. Vata types do well with calming activities like yoga and hiking. Pitta types have to cool and calm their competitive energy. Kapha types need more aggressive and cardiovascular activities. I talk a ton about this in my book, Body, Mind, and Sport.

5 5 Q You mentioned you gave your kids castor oil and ear oil. What is the benefit of castor oil? What kind of ear oil? What is it for? How is it used? A I used to give my kids castor oil. It is not harmful, and in a pinch, I would use it to help them fight a cold. Castor oil purgates the gut, causing an enema effect, which leads to an almost instant draining of the sinuses to help flush out infected mucus from the upper respiratory tract. I suggest an ear oil made of mullein and garlic oil. The warm oil drains the cervical lymph and the eustachian tubes. This allows the body to flush infected mucus and enhances the lymphatic system and white blood cell s attack on opportunistic viruses and bacteria.

6 6 Q It is recommended that weightlifters and bodybuilders eat five to six smaller meals per day to maintain metabolism, avoid binge eating, and bloating that bigger meals may cause. Is this diet ideal? A In my book, Body, Mind, and Sport, I talk about this and interview a few nationally ranked bodybuilders that I trained and whom still train. As you know, most body builders push themselves to the dietary limits of exhaustion, and it does work, but it is quite an exhaustive process for the athlete. I have treated countless personal trainers who have become exhausted, anxious, unable to sleep, and depressed over the past 10 years, and I ve watched them stabilize as they bring their eating habits back into balance. I understand why this diet is attempted, and there are some benefits - like the body won t store fat. The problem is that the body will have a hard time burning toxic stored fat if it is fed six times a day. Also, the metabolism is maintained at a higher level, so you will not have an energy dip and store fat. This is where some logic needs to be applied.

7 7 Traditionally, people ate one, two, or three meals a day never six. The body is designed based on cycles of rest and activity like sleeping and waking. The digestive system cannot perform well when it is working all day. It too needs cycles of rest and activity. If bigger meals cause bloating and weight gain, then I would say the digestive system is out of balance and needs repair. I would repair it first before I stopped using it. As far as binge eating goes, as you combine three meals a day and no snacks with a relaxing environment to eat in, you will find that you actually need smaller portions than you think. This is all part of creating real stability in the blood sugar. The need for food becomes less and the ability to be active between meals improves while the number of meals needed decreases.

8 8 Q Is snacking appropriate for young children? If so, at what age should snacking stop? A Even for young children it is best to get them in the habit of eating meals and not in the habit of snacking. The problem in our culture is that snacks now replace meals. Many families do not sit down to a dinner anymore they sit in front of the TV and come and go during the meal. That being said, it is important for young children to be fed three full, sit-down meals. When this happens, your kid s need for a snack will be greatly reduced. That being said, when your child is hungry, then a snack is fine. As they grow, usually between 14 to 16 years of age, they start not needing as many snacks. However, this depends largely on the activity level of the child. If the child is involved in after school sports, then a snack before practice will be necessary. Most importantly, the child will have an awareness of the importance of three meals a day and not blow off lunch. Snacking is best when you miss a meal or were not able to eat a big enough meal to make it to the next meal.

9 9 Q Are we the same mind-body type our whole life? I know we have characteristics from the three types and one of them may be predominant, but as we evolve and make changes during our life, does our type change? A Great question! Actually we are given our body type at conception and it is yours for your entire life. That being said, we do change our appearance over the years, and the experience of our true body type may change. There are two basic body types: First, your birth body type, which is the non-changing version. Second, there is the current or Dayha body type, which takes into consideration the accumulation of stress, emotion, weight, and physical imbalance as part of the current amount of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha you have. Ideally, your current type and birth type should be the same that would be a balanced state of mind and body.

10 10 Q As we adopt the seasonal eating pattern more mindfully, do you suggest variations for those who live in a warmer climate? A In warmer climates the temperatures still vary considerably from winter to summer. In Florida, you may have 95 degree days in the summer and 60 degree days in the winter, which is plenty for nature to make its transformation from one season to the next. The one variation in these climates would be that in the summer - when Pitta cooling foods are naturally available - they may be emphasized as early as May and continue through October. If you were a Pitta body type living in this hot climate, then this variation would be paramount. In addition, eating more of the seasonal cooling foods in the summer would be a powerful prevention tool.

11 11 Q What if someone is very high in Vata and Kapha? For instance, a Kapha body type with a Vata mental and emotional disposition. How do you know which dietary and lifestyle guidelines to follow? A If someone is Vata-Kapha, then they need to eat a Vata (winter) diet in the winter and a Kapha (spring) diet in the spring. During the summer, you should still eat with the seasons, but you may not need to eat so strictly during this season since it is not the season that reflects your tendency to accumulate a dosha (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha). The fact that this person has a Vata mental subtotal tells me that the nervous system could be easily stressed. I would suggest some herbs to support the nervous system if that is needed. So the answer is to always eat with the season and prescribe herbs for the imbalance. Let nature determine the diet seasonal food will be readily available and cheaper as well.

12 12 Q How do you know what mind-body type a child is? A Determining the body type of a child is a little tricky. Usually both parents take the questionnaire together and slowly go through the questions. When you have a significant number of conclusive answers on the quiz, then you are on your way to figuring out the type of your child. If the answer fits, check it. If two fit, check both. Basically, any quality that matches your experience of your child, mark down, and then tally them up. This is where you begin to really get to know your child and understand them early on.

13 13 Q Can the Ayurvedic diet work for someone who lives with a non-typical schedule, already functioning outside of the natural cycle of things, such as someone who works the graveyard shift? Are there things you can do to mitigate the strain of this lifestyle? A No doubt this type of lifestyle is hard on you and you may not even be aware of that. You may be doing fine, but swimming against the grain will eventually take its toll. I love the herb Ashwaganda for this - it is the only herb that can actually rejuvenate your reserves in your nervous system, which is so critical when working nights. In addition, when you wake up the next afternoon in the middle of the day time, this is the best time to eat your big meal. Still, try to hold onto a three meal schedule and make lunch at 1, 2, or 3 o clock the biggest meal of the day.

14 14 Q I am a competitive endurance athlete. My coach encourages me to eat and drink high-carb items when I m on longer bike rides. How does the idea of having exactly three meals a day square with the training and competition needs of an endurance athlete? I m concerned that without the usual snacks and sweetened drinks most endurance athletes consume, I ll lose my competitive edge. A With regard to endurance athletes, the need for gels, shakes, bars, and powders is highly overrated. While there are many marketing dollars (and in some cases good science) behind these carb loading drinks, in most cases just plain old water will do the trick. That is, of course, if you have balanced blood sugar. If the blood sugar is unstable, we will feel the need to prop up a blood sugar crash with a sports drink or snack. The Tarahumara Indians of Northern Mexico are probably the best endurance runners in the world. They regularly win the Leadville 100 in Colorado and only drink water, eat complete meals, and don t have access to all the newest snacks. I write about a client in my Body, Mind, and Sport book who was running his tenth Ironman triathlon. Typically, the food served the night before the race is overwhelming in quantity. I told him to eat that same large meal as a big lunch the day

15 15 before the race and get to bed early. He did, and had a personal best race, and only needed one-third of the food he carried on his bike to reload. He felt so good the entire race, he said he was never really hungry.