Body chemistry and Allergies

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, May, 2001 by Irene Alleger

Heal Yourself With Natural Foods

By Nancy Appleton

Published by Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. 387 Park Avenue South, New York, New York 10016 USA 1998, softcover, $14.95 US/$21.95 Canada, 144 pp.

Few authors can explain complex body chemistry and the importance of homeostasis (balanced body functions) as well as Nancy Appleton. A well-known author, lecturer, and nutritional consultant, she has made body chemistry her specialty -- maintaining that most of our modern illnesses of today stem from upset body chemistry, especially the mineral ratios.

Many books have pointed out the damaging effects of modern, processed foods in our diet today, but Appleton goes deeper, into one of the most basic functions of the body - that of maintaining health. It all starts when the digestive process is compromised. For instance, excessive sugar in the diet will throw the minerals out of balance. This, in turn, will put some digestive enzymes out of commission, leading to incompletely digested food. This often leads to the "leaky gut syndrome," and food allergy symptoms, and eventually to an exhausted immune system.

This is all clearly outlined in Appleton's book Heal Yourself With Natural Foods. The first chapters lay the groundwork, with "Homeostasis: Your Body's Natural Healing Mode," explaining the role of enzymes, minerals, and hormones in maintaining health. Next comes "Getting Started: Listening to Your Body." This section looks at the role of stress and mind/body connections in disrupting the body functions.

The third chapter, "What's Food Got To Do With It?" is the central focus of the book, looking at the difference between sensitivity and allergy; how allergies develop; how to be your own "allergy detective"; and common allergens. Many people think only pollen, molds, and animal dander cause allergies, whereas our modern diet contains many more sources of allergens. Appleton lists the main offenders:

1. Sugar

2. Dairy products

3. Kola family

4. Wheat

5. Yeast

6. Alcohol

7. Corn

8. Eggs

9. Peanuts

10. Citrus fruits

If you have symptoms that you think might be food-related, she suggests eliminating these foods for 2 months. She has provided three food plans and Food Plan 3 is the one to use for suspected allergies. Food Plan 1 is for maintaining health and Food Plan 2 is for "simple healing." These chapters are concise yet impart the essential facts in plain, language. The beauty of this book is that it explains some complicated basic physiology in a context that's understandable by most readers.

Nancy Appleton includes a chapter on "A Healing Lifestyle," emphasizing the mind-body connection, our diet, our environment, and maintaining our health. Heal Yourself With Natural Foods also addresses specific problems besides allergies that are diet-related. These include obesity, osteoporosis, arthritis, hypothyroidism, hypoglycemia and diabetes, Candida albicans, MCS, and specific women's problems such as PMS, menopause and the birth control pill.

Appleton's experience and skill in showing people what they are doing to upset their body chemistry is complemented by her nutritional knowledge. There is no "treatment" per se - just avoidance of the allergenic foods and a return to natural foods. Our diet in the US is rapidly moving away from natural and whole foods, creating a whole population of allergic individuals in its wake.

Appleton's caveat: "People really don't want to hear that they are doing something to cause these problems. We want a magic pill whether it's from a doctor and called tetracycline or Valium or from a practitioner in the nutritional field and called a vitamin, mineral, or enzyme. None of these magic pills or potions will work as long as we are upsetting our body chemistry."

Once again, we are responsible for our health.