Gillian McKeith's Food Bible (196 page)

Alcohol, coffee, tea, soft drinks, pickles, refined carbohydrates, and sugar. These can all affect fluid balance in the body and challenge the organs of detoxification.

HERBS AND SUPPLEMENTS

Drink herbal diuretics to increase the flow of urine. Good ones to choose include nettle tea, dandelion tea, corn silk tea, yarrow tea, and dandelion coffee.

Take evening primrose oil, especially

if you suffer from premenstrual water retention.

Take blue-green algae and alfalfa sprouts. These can both aid cleansing and supply magnesium and potassium.

Supplement with B complex plus extra B
₆
. Vitamin B
₆
is especially important for normalizing body fluids and is best taken in conjunction with other B vitamins to avoid imbalances.

EXTRA TIPS

Apply a lavender-oil-soaked cloth to the affected area. This can help to relieve the swelling. Raising the area above the hips is also useful.

Dry skin brush daily. Use a natural bristle brush on dry skin and brush from the feet upward. Always brush toward the heart. This helps to get the circulation and lymph moving, thus preventing stagnation.

Exercise daily. Get moving as much as possible during the day to prevent the pooling of fluids.

EMPHYSEMA

Emphysema is one type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The lungs of those with emphysema have lost their elasticity. They do not expand and contract on inhalation and exhalation as they should, but tend to remain expanded. This prevents proper exhalation and impedes full inhalation.
Carbon dioxide and stale air remain in the lungs and oxygen cannot get to the tissues.

The main symptoms are breathlessness, particularly on exertion, often accompanied by coughing. The lack of oxygen affects all body parts and fatigue is common.

CAUSES MAY INCLUDE

Chronic smoking is by far the most common cause of emphysema.

Deficiency of antitrypsin in the blood, but this is relatively rare.

Action plan

Give up smoking! There is no debate about this. Your lungs cannot heal fully while you continue to smoke. Seek help if necessary. Also avoid being in smoky atmospheres.

EAT/DRINK

Flax seed and hemp seed oils in salad dressings. These oils contain anti-inflammatory essential fats as well as vitamin E. Vitamin E aids in healing of the mucus membranes and is a powerful antioxidant.