Ask Dr. Denton: What Diet is Best? Beautiful Eating.

The food we eat is the natural medicine God gave us to care for this beautiful form we call human. Life should be beautiful, even how we eat.

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PORTSMOUTH, VA. (Catholic Online) - I am asked increasingly these days, "What diet is the Best? Low-carbohydrate? Vegetarian? Vegan? High-protein? Low-fat? Dairy-Free? My answer, which I will now explain, is "beautiful eating."

The Inuit of Greenland thrive on a high-protein, high-fat diet. The people of Leistschental Valley in Switzerland have a diet high in Dairy fat. The Okinawan people have a diet which is a balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrates. The Island of Crete has a thriving population who have high monosaturated fats as their main staple. Interestingly, the Massai of Kenya have animal blood as a major food source. All of these people have thrived for centuries without the inflammatory diseases (Heart disease) and obesity (Diabetes) that we see in the United States.

The answer to the mystery of health and life is right in our bible. We read in Deuteronomy 34:7 Moses died at the age of 120 his eyes undimmed and vigour unabated. His diet and those of the other peoples of the world presented have one thing in common; natural whole food with no processing. Berries, nuts, whole grains, grass fed meats, unpolished rice, fish, olive oil are all clearly healthy and unprocessed, nonhormone treated foods.

Interestingly as I have stated in prior articles the absence of processed sugars in the human diet is absolutely ideal. The number of cultures and biblical societies that flourished on processed foods and sugar is, well, Zero. Think honey, stevia, guava, in short think less sweet.

The, think what Michelle and I call "beautiful eating", food in its original form, the way the Lord who fashioned all that is good and beautiful made it. Natural foods contain a basket of phytonutrients, phytochemicals, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and healthy fats.

Berries, especially blueberries and acai berries, are low in calories, high in fiber and loaded with phyotchemical and nutrients that promote the immune system. Nuts especially almonds which contain monosaturated fats are ideal and have been associated with decreased heart disease. Now what about those beans and whole grains? The outer coating of both contains the real kick, because the shield slows the digestion of the grain. By slowing the uptake of the carbohydrate insulin surges are slowed.... The reslul? Less inflammation.

The fiber content found in both foods also cleans the colon and fills us up so that we eat less. Possibly the most important component of the whole wheat grain is in the natural vitamin E present in the wheat germ (vitamin e rich site inside the grain). Whole complex vitamin E from wheat germ was shown to decrease coronary artery disease nearly 50 years ago at the Shute Institute in Canada.

So what about protein? The word comes from a Greek word meaning "of prime importance". Wow that's heavy ... no pun intended.... Well maybe. Protein...protein... protein, I love protein. It is the building block of the human body, but also the potential destroyer. What do I mean? Lean non-hormone fed meat is an ideal source of protein, the contrary can lead to devastating consequences = (Inflammation heart disease, stroke....)

On the Island of Crete pork is a high source of protein as well as fish. The pork is grass grain free roaming and the fish come from the sea. Wild salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. The red color is from the antioxidant astaxathin. Unfortunately the farm raised salmon will typically not have the same level of antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. Be aware that many of the farm raised salmon have dye added to the fillets to give a deeper color. The combination of omega-3 fatty acids (brain food), protein (body building block) and antioxidants (anti-inflammation) makes salmon the number one fish and protein on my list.

Please remember that soy is an excellent source of protein without the concern of saturated fat. Second on my list only because of personal taste reasons!

As for milk and eggs......sounds like breakfast back home in Iowa. Think organic or if you know of a local source with hay fed dairy. The eggs are ideal and have received a bad rap for the cholesterol. What a great gift free roaming chickens give to humans. Eggs are a perfect balance of protein, fat, vitamins (Vit D, B-12) and minerals. They were made for creation, can there be anything better? Oh by the way Harvard School of Health states in a study that there is NO link between egg consumption and heart disease.

Is there a bad vegetable? Maybe. Perhaps mashed potatoes made with butter, whole milk and covered in white flour based gravy. OK... OK... I said maybe. I still have this treat every thanksgiving and I am not giving it up - I don't care what I say. (I am a Gemini, there are two of me!). As for the rest of the vegetable world some really are some superstars. Vegetables from the Brassica genus which includes kale, cabbage, brussel sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower are full of B vitamins and antioxidant/phytochemical (indole-3-carbinol) which play a role in cancer prevention and increased immune function.

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Another group of vegetables worth noting is the Alliaceae family: onions, garlic and shallots. Garlic has been used for thousands of years for its medicinal properties and is one of the main stays of Eastern medicine. Garlic has antioxidants and natural antimicrobial (bacteria killing) effects which have been documented in countless articles. The members of this family are a healthy choice for flavour vs. the mainstay salt.

As you have probably figured out by now I am a bit of "fruitcake" when it comes to nutrition. So with that in mind, or in stomach (natural ingredients of course and only honey or stevia to sweeten) let us proceed to the Orchard.

Shall we begin in Genesis and the Garden where the forbidden fruit was the APPLE. I am glad I didn't eat the first one, but I sure glad God kept them around for the rest of us. An apple a day keeps me away (the Doctor)is true! Apples are loaded with fiber, minerals (boron) and phytochemicals (quercetin, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer properties).

Muscatine grapes and pomegranate juice have been shown to decrease the incidence of prostate cancer in recently published articles. Pomegranate juice has a blood pressure lowering component not yet understood and is considered a natural Viagra. Whoaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa guys, probably because of the positive effects on the prostrate gland and blood flow.

On the list of the Dr Denton's healthiest foods Green and red teas have to be at the top. Tea is second most widely consumed beverage in the world second only to water. Interestingly nearly all forms of tea (black, red, white, green and the more recent Yerba Matte) are loaded with antioxidants. Green tea contains catechins a powerful antioxidant with immune promoting activity. Remember Green Tea and Vitamin C in the winter, on a plane flight, pulling the overnighter studying.....Bye Bye Cold.

Are there more facts about food? Yes.

Remember the food we eat is the natural medicine God gave us to care for this beautiful form we call human. Life should be beautiful in all its forms including the foods we eat. Eat them in there natural non-processed design and the results are really remarkable. Did the wine at Cana have synthesised preservatives?

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Dr Denton D. Weiss, M.D. is board certified in both Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Weiss' approach to his medical practice flows from his convictions about the meaning of life which are deeply rooted in his Catholic Faith. He and his wife, Michelle strive for an integrated approach to life which recognizes the unity of the body, mind and soul. They call this approach "Bella Vitae"... or "Beautiful Living". He is a contributing writer to Catholic Online.

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