Gillian McKeith's Food Bible (325 page)

A diet high in sugar and simple. carbohydrates during vital development years.

Dormant virus that attacks the spine.

Action plan

It is the type of condition that tends to get worse over the years for all kinds of reasons. As the years have gone on, my pain has worsened. I have gone through long periods of excruciating agony. But there is hope. There are ways to mitigate the pain.

EAT/DRINK

Start each day with a cup of warm water or a cup of warm water and lemon.

Eat foods to feed the kidneys. The kidneys suffer a great deal with this condition. Include kidney beans, onions, fennel, spring onions, chives, beets, parsley and celery, quinoa, black sesame seeds, walnuts, adzuki beans, and black beans in your diet.

Almonds are a good source of magnesium. It is important to eat magnesium-rich foods, which can help to mobilize calcium into the bones.

Eat kale and other dark green leafy vegetables for their bone-building minerals.

Once every month, have a juice, soup, and broth detox day.

Hazelnuts contain vitamin E, which can help prevent tissue degradation in the muscle support, important with scoliosis. Other vitamin E foods include avocados, almonds, asparagus, cabbage, whole grains, edamame, and leafy greens.

AVOID

Challenging foods that will stress the kidneys and liver, particularly sugar and alcohol.

HERBS AND SUPPLEMENTS

Take the herb cleavers one week a month. 30 drops in water twice daily.

Drink goldenrod or oatstraw tea to nourish the kidneys. You can find this in a specialy herb shop or health-food store. Alternate with dandelion tea.

A good multivitamin should be taken daily.