Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease By Lifting Your Fork

By Wendy Rae Zarikshy

According to Benjamin Spock, Henry Heimlich, Dean Ornish, Neal Barnard and Andrew Weil, from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, vegetarian foods are recommended while meats and dairy products are “optional,” not recommended for daily consumption.

Dr. Neal Barnard claims that the FDA’s nutritional guidelines have “been repeatedly watered down by agricultural interests. The food pyramid recommends 2-3 servings of meat and dairy products per day. It [this recommendation] should be revamped, or even dropped.”

• Increasing the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables you eat increases vitality and health.

• When in doubt about which oil to use, use extra virgin olive oil.

• Purchase cold pressed and unrefined oils from a health store and refrigerate them after opening.

• Whenever possible, use fresh garlic and fresh herbs in your cooking. You 
will delight in the enhanced flavor.

• Shop at a local produce stand or market. Purchase organic foods whenever possible.

• Eat foods that are in season, enhancing your harmony with nature’s rhythms.

• Carefully read all ingredients on food labels. If you do not know what an ingredient is, chances are it is a chemical additive you would rather not consume.

• Avoid all foods containing tropical oils.

• Avoid all foods that contain hydrogenated oils and fats.

• Purchase raw, unsalted nuts and seeds.

• Eliminate refined foods from your diet (white flour, white sugar, white rice, etc.).

• Grow and eat sprouts.

• Drink 6-8 glasses of water daily.

• Chew your food well and make eating a relaxing, peaceful time.

• Plan your grocery shopping so that you eat beforehand.

• Appreciate the great gifts of nature.

• When preparing food, encourage loving, peaceful thoughts to radiate from you to others.

• Purchase fertile eggs from “free range” chickens.

• Make exercise a part of your life. Whatever types of exercise you enjoy, make it a habit.

• Consider buying a vegetable juicer.

• Start each day with time to recharge your Self.

• At the end of the day, empty your mind of all cares and concerns.

• Be aware of your posture as it affects every part of you, including digestion.

• Incorporate deep, diaphragmatic breathing into your day.

On September 17, 2001 HEALL’S Founder Arielle Wendy Zaritsky passed away after a heroic battle with cancer. The online community and family that Arielle created within HEALL.com was one of her most shining glories and most self-fulfilling accomplishments. It is the hope and wish of her family and friends that Arielle’s dream for the HEALL Website & Community continue in her vision of Mind, Body and Spirit Wellness.