Gabriel Cousens on Fungus and Garlic

[ajay5150]

Since I read Gabriel Cousens book, The Rainbow Green Live Food Cuisine, I've quit eating fungus. I am wondering if others follow this diet or if those who do eat fungus are aware of the studies in this book. Basically his research has shown him that fungus created by foods really impairs health. I am even more interested in learning about studies conducted by people other than cousens on this matter.

I'm also concerned about garlic. Cousens states that garlic disrupts left-right brain activity. I've also heard it can make one sexually indiscriminate. here's a site that describes some of my concern.

http://www.healingcancernaturally.com/garlic-brain-toxin.html

thoughts?

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Hi Aja,

I recently had a lady ask me if I had eaten at a particular restaurant as they had a lot of natural foods there. She told me that they had the best mushroom sandwiches. I told her that I didn't eat fungus. She said she never thought of it that way before - fungus. She said she's not sure if she's going to eat it any more either. To me, I can walk by an orange tree, pick the orange and eat it. But walking by mushroom, growing up out of the ground, just does not call out to me to pick it and eat it. YUCK!!!!

But, now saying that, I wouldn't pick a tomatoe and eat it either. I just don't like tomatoes!!!! But I do like the looks of a tomatoe plant over mushrooms growing out of the ground.

<>< Helen of Tennessee

[Sweet lips]

I think it is a matter of choice. Here are a couple of articles on healing mushrooms -http://healthyherbs.about.com/cs/herbfaqs/p/reishi.htm, http://www.connect.co.il/tekoa/shiitake.htm.

As for garlic, I can speak directly for my own sake, I lowered blood pressure and cholesterol by ingesting garlic. We can always find something to support or detract from what can be good or bad for us. :)

I think the coolest thing is the matter of choice and the mind to follow what works for one.

[pizda]

This is a first time I read that garlic is bad :confused:
Garkic is a natural antibiotic and has germanium (important trace mineral). So far all I heard that garlic is very beneficial for health. I eat every day 3 cloves (sometimes more) of fresh garlic in my salad. So far so good. Brain works ;) .
I think....,-))).

[Rawkinlocs]

Ya know...it all boils down to every person's personal experience. Now, I know that Natural Hygieniests do hold that not every raw plant food is optimal for humans (onions, garlic, hot peppers, sprouts, dense greens such as kale or collards and more...all fall into such a category) and this may or may not be true. I know a lady who is a raw fooder and lives down the street from where we used to reside. I was at her house and she had some notes taken on paper, posted on her kitchen cabinet of foods that "aren't good for us to eat" and she had gotten this from a book. Her list comprised of tomatoes, red peppers (any nightshades), greens, and a lot of others I can't remember. I recall thinking to myself as I read silently read these lists, "What in the world DO you eat then??!!"

The bottom line is, this, for MOST of us, is a starting point in raw. Many of these foods we eat now with no problems and no effects especially if coming off of a S.A.D. (standard american diet)...if coming off of such a strict "crap" diet, then a mushroom or a piece of garlic is definitely a few steps up the ladder of health, wouldn't cha think?

But for the raw fooder who has been at this for a while, perhaps after eating such foods they don't feel their best anymore. So I'll say this, eat raw and learn to listen to your own body and know it's signals. If you find you can eat certain things and it doesn't hinder your health and wellness or it doesn't make you feel badly after eating, then eat it.

Eating raw, period, can be (seemingly) strict enough without adding all this other stuff such as "don't eat this vegetable/don't eat that fruit".

I remember reading that durian was killing folks who ate too much of it...haven't heard much more on THAT issue as of late, but it was being touted around on all the raw food discussion groups at one time.

I guess I'm just saying, let your own body be your "expert advisor" as to what you can and cannot put into it. Cousens may write against fungus and someone else against garlic, but another raw expert/doctor may write in favor of it...so THEN whom will you believe? Raw Doctor/Expert "A" or Raw Doctor/Expert "B"?

For the record, I have this thing about eating fungus too, but just due to my own personal preference. There may be something to what Cousens and the garlic article said, but during the transition to eating raw, I'd say unless it makes you feel bad or you just don't like a thing, then don't get too consumed with whether you should eat it or not.

[PixieGreen]

Here's my take on it, and keep in mind this is only my *opinion.* There seem to be three reasons historically for calling one type of food good or bad; maintaining social order, maintaining the physical health of the members of society, or both.

In the case of pork, which many religions do not eat, conditions didn't exist at the time to safely raise, prepare, and preseve pork at the time. People were getting sick so pork was rejected. Since then this shared sacrifice [of you want to call it that] of not eating pork has served to bring together members of judaism and other religions, proving helpful to pigs and man alike.

Ghandi promoted vegetarianism not only out of respect for animals but because many of his countrymen could not afford meat creating a rift between the haves and have-nots. His stance helped equalize society.

Traditional Chinese Medicine claims that "cold food" [and that includes many raw warmed foods] is bad for the digestion but garlic, peppers, etc are good. Since raw human manure has been used to fertilize firlds in China for hundreds of years and boiling or stir frying food sterilizes it, it would make sense that people there who ate raw food from the fields would be suseptible to digestive problems. Garlic and peppers are antioxidents and antibacterial and antifungal so they helped protect the field laborers knee deep in raw manure. [and it has worked!]

It is important to take a step back when reading about specific foods that are considered harmful when they have been eaten by other cultures for hundreds of years. There is usually a good reason for both sides. As we hold ourselves accountable for our health as raw foodists it isn't a very big leap to ask ourselves if the conditions pro/ con those foods exist in our lives and make necessary adjustments.

As far as G Cousens is concerned, I have the greatest respect for the doctor. The diet that he recommends in RL is probably the most pure and healthful diet available to westerners. But it was created for individuals with fragile health, and he includes different stages with acceptable ingredients with that in mind. Unlike those with serious illnesses, those of us in robust health may or may not feel any ill effects from eating mushrooms, but it won't cost us much to try if we want to. He also follows ayurvedic principles, and like TCM some of them were culture, place and time specific when written.

Christa

[swingbolder]

>>I've also heard it can make one sexually indiscriminate. <<

Well, I've been eating garlic for years and have yet to cheat on my husband. :D

[SwishTN]

>>I've also heard it can make one sexually indiscriminate. <<

Well, I've been eating garlic for years and have yet to cheat on my husband. :D

What is to be meant by that phrase, sexually indiscriminate? Such as, not choosing partners wisely, just whatever? I don't get it, at all. And, especially how it could relate to garlic?

L.

[Revvell]

I remember reading that durian was killing folks who ate too much of it...

*wrinkles nose* Well, peeeeuuuuwww! That "I" can understand. Almost killed me to take the second bite. More than three woulda killed me. :D


:cool:

[rawpriestess]

HUMMMM, well, I did go to the link and read what Gariel Cousens had to say, as I respect him as a knowledgable person and raw food authority.

And this is my take on it, maybe those people coming back from lunch weren't lowered on their brain capasity because of garlic, maybe it was the cooked pasta, just a thought.

But aside from that, I KNOW that garlic has helped me cure many challenges for me and several of my friends, I know it keeps mosquitos away from me, and the deer away from my gardens. I know that I love the taste, the aroma and growing it.

I used to love it in everything cooked, now I love it in everything fresh.

I also love mushrooms, portabellas are a major stapel in my house, and I eat mushrooms everyday.

Now, I'm not saying that there isn't anything for me to learn, I am saying that I eat what I like.

Now, I've only been raw about 6 months or so, so my body is continually changing, I do know that I've tried some foods I used to love only a month or so ago and now they are not as appealing to me, so did my tastes change? Did my desire change? Did my body's need for them change? I don't know, all I know is I eat what "feels" good to me, and if it "feels" good while being raw,
then I'll eat it, if it "feels" not so good even if it's raw, I won't eat it.

I have found this to be true at many restaurants. I go in to the restaurant and they have a huge wonderful raw salad bar, so I get the salad bar, and as I go along, I find myself NOT picking up the fruit or the celery or the carrots, so I wonder "Why?", every time that I ask the waitstaff, the fruit has been dowsed with ascorbid acid crystals and the celery and carrots have been purhcased in a bag already "prepped" and they have sulfites in them, so I trust my "feelings" about these things.

I do know that there are many times that I am out at a farmers' market and I am drawn to a specific table and it is always the person who is 100% organic even if they can't afford the certification, so again, I trust my "feelings" about food now.

OF course, when I was eating cooked, I had some of the same "feelings" but I would over ride them on a daily basis, because of my desire to push down my true "feelings" but that is a whole other story entirely.

Good luck with your personal choices, and thank you for making this information available to me, as I had not heard this before.

[Jackie1995]

Christa, that was a really great post!

I've been reading so many conflicting theories and views and WOW! it gets my head spinning!

Your post, putting everything in the proper context, makes a lot of sense to me, and I thank you for your time posting that.

Mostly because I'm a pretty spoiled American, and subject to frequent bouts of instant gratification, and I'm lazy, too...well, that's why I don't jump on any one bandwagon concerning raw food opinions. Things that make sense, like using Celtic salt because it has the minerals intact, well, that kind of stuff I'll gravitate towards. But there seems to be an "expert" every time you turn a page in a magazine, or read some posts in message boards...well, I respect their opinions, but like I said, I'm pretty lazy, so I don't jump to any conclusions about anything.

That said, maybe that's why I find this raw lifestyle so easy! I don't spend hardly any time in prep, everything I eat just needs to be washed and eaten, and I feel TERRIFIC!

So, I'm going to just keep having fun, and I'll be looking for more informative, interesting posts from you, Christa!

Thanks again!
Jackie

[Gosia]

when I read something negative about garlic, I became quite oppositional. I used to love garlic. In my cooked days, from time to time, I would make myself some bread with margarine and garlic on top (quite a few pieces of it), and ... eat it. I loved that. It did make me smell, and I had to be careful not to do it on my "out going" days. In my first year of raw, I still ate garlic. Not every day, but quite often. Then, as I progressed in my journey, and my senses became more capable, I did indeed notice the effect it had on my brain. No, it did not make my brain not function at all, but yes, it did affect my equilibrium. I think that those who regularly meditate would be able to notice the difference even more precisely. Anyway, I just began my third raw year recently, and garlic is no longer on my menu. Raw food journey is filled with surprises!

Gosia.

[Arky]

>>I've also heard it can make one sexually indiscriminate. <<

Well, I've been eating garlic for years and have yet to cheat on my husband. :D


Ahh, but have you cheated on your wife? :D ;)


J.

[Arky]

Good, rational, post, Christa :)


J.

[ajay5150]

I guess my main inquiry is not if you eat garlic it or if you think others should eat it but actually I am looking for more solid evidence/studies showing its benefit or its harm. I know all the arguments/studies that have proven its positive effect on the body yet have found it difficult to find reliable science on it's effect on the brain. Most of the stuff regarding it's negative effect on the brain doesn't explain what is going on on the biological level. It's usually just some yogi, taoist or other health pro stating their opinion (with the exception of Bob Beck so far) rather than a real analytical explanation providing results from experiments and descriptions of what is occuring biologically. So does anyone have links pointing to hard facts/studies on garlic's negative effect on the brain.

here's another link about garlic and similar veggies (onions chives, etc)

http://www.reikiempowermentseminars.com.au/assets/taoist.html

apperently the sexually indiscriminate part only applies to cooked garlic, so we won't have to concern ourselves with that. and it probably explains why you've never cheated on your husband, swingbolder. :p

I know it's impossible to avoid fungus altogether as most of it is airborne and we can't help but breath it. Gabriel Cousens is saying that by intentionally digesting fungus we increase our levels of it thereby composting oursleves. By eating high glycemic diets or diets high in sugars we are feeding this internal fungus and only speed up the process. So to avoid fungus by intentionally eating fungus we minimize composting ourselves. I am wondering if there are experts out there who are producing studies on this subject other than Gabriel Cousens and if you might have links for this?

Thanks all for your opinions/responses!

[Gosia]

here is some data:
http://www.relfe.com/health_benefits_of_garlic.html

Also, you could check out the relevant publications at
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi
If anything was published on the topic of interest, you should be able to find it there.

Ajay, not all opinions by Cousens' are scientifically verified or assumed to be correct by the whole raw community. For example, it is well known that Dr Graham has been able to help people with candida overgrowth in a matter of days, by simply advising them to eat a high-fruit and low-fat diet. Graham and Cousens have the opposing views on the topic of what an optimal raw food diet is. In my personal experience, I can't stand the high-fat diet that Cousens is prescribing, but absolutely thrive on high-fruit-and-greens and low-fat raw diet (which by the way, is much higher in greens than the high-fat diet).

As far as scientific proofs, I do not rely too much on them. Usually, in the matter of health, science is well behind (OOPS, there was "beyond" here before, thanks Revvell for the correction below) what "ordinary" people have known already for years. It does not take a lot of study to realize simple truths. Experience is the best teacher.

Gosia.

[PixieGreen]

Hey, thanks Jackie and Arky! :o

Christa

[Revvell]

As far as scientific proofs, I do not rely too much on them. Usually, in the matter of health, . It does not take a lot of study to realize simple truths. Experience is the best teacher.

Gosia.

I'm not sure what you mean by "science is well beyond what "ordinary" people have known already for years" as you seem to contradict that in your next statement. I think science is well "behind" what "ordinary" people have known for years.

I keep reading these scientific studies which "prove" that more fruits and veggies are good for people; or that raw makes a difference. Many have known that looooong before someone actually published it scientifically ~ far as I know, anyway.

For every "scientific proof" about something, there will be more "proof" of the exact opposite.

As I said in another post, one can read 'til they turn old and grey yet, nothing changes until one does the experiment ~ on themselves.


:cool:

[ajay5150]

As I said in another post, one can read 'til they turn old and grey yet, nothing changes until one does the experiment ~ on themselves.

If i hadn't read a number of books and studies about how and why raw foods are good for me I probably never would have tried it on myself. I think it is wise to read about the experiments that have been done on others before deciding to do an experiment on one's self. Yes maybe experts will contradict eachother, but we can discern what is true by applying common sense and/or logic. I shouldn't try crack cocaine to find out if it will make me happy. I think it would be wiser to observe the life of a crackhead or read about the studies done on crack addicts to find out that it won't make me happy and in fact would ruin my life altogether.

[Revvell]

I didn't say don't read. I WAS saying that to continue reading and looking for sources and never taking a step to find out something on one's own...

...and, I don't think raw foods can be quite compared to cocaine. A different animal altogether.

You say "many experts". Sooo, what makes them "experts"? I'm an expert at experimenting... on me. Yes, I've read a lot of books yet, when someone explains that eating raw one gets more bennies ~ i.e. nutrients/enzymes/whatever ~ hey! It's time to put the book down and eat!
:cool:

[city]

there's plenty of scientific reasearch showing that garlic is beneficial to health. For example, The Greek population eats 20 pounds per person per year both cooked and raw and is much healthier than Americans.

You know, broccoli and cabbage are toxic in large amounts but kill cancer cells in normal doses - particularly when combined with selenium (brazil nuts, here I come). Anyone eating huge enough amounts of garlic will surely become a social outcast before they kill themselves with the stuff. I just really think this kind of thing is very alarmist

*sigh*

I'm going to make my marinated portabella mushroom sandwich with sprouts and two cloves of garlic now.

[Arky]

there's plenty of scientific reasearch showing that garlic is beneficial to health. For example, The Greek population eats 20 pounds per person per year both cooked and raw and is much healthier than Americans.

You know, broccoli and cabbage are toxic in large amounts but kill cancer cells in normal doses - particularly when combined with selenium (brazil nuts, here I come). Anyone eating huge enough amounts of garlic will surely become a social outcast before they kill themselves with the stuff. I just really think this kind of thing is very alarmist

*sigh*

I'm going to make my marinated portabella mushroom sandwich with sprouts and two cloves of garlic now.

Lol. and more power to you, City!

Still, one wonders what the stats are for 'sexual-indescrimination', in the Greek populace :D

On a more serious note, the Greeks do consume a huge amount of very fresh plant-based produce, so that is probably the single biggest contributory factor to their good general health (to say nothing of excellent exposure to the sun, for abundant synthesis of vitamin D3).

Nonetheless, I agree with the essence of your post - indeed, after much consideration of all the conflicting information in the nutrition literature, I coined the following for my own purposes: Variety, Rotation, Moderation = VR(oo)M!! :)

Although many of my posts are unashamedly cautious, I do believe, more and more, these days, that, provided one follows the above 3 dictates, one will enjoy vigourous health and need not be especially concerned about the specific issues associated with each individual foodstuff simply because they will:

a) not consume a concentrated- or excessive- enough quantity,

and

b) they will enjoy counterbalancing protective factors from all the other foods being variously ingested.

I truly believe this is the cornerstone to healthy nutrition - along with a healthy attitude (i.e. relaxed and enjoyable, not fixated or obsesssed) towards one's food intake.

Just my 2 cents... :)


J.

[Revvell]

a) not consume a concentrated- or excessive- enough quantity,



....and how would one judge (yeah, I'm judging here) :D what is "excessive"?

What would be excessive to one is barely minimal to another. For instance, I just brought home 2 pounds of cherries. I'll be surprised if they both last the day. For someone else, they'll be on the throne w/ 1/2 # or less.

Some here eat 6-8 'nanas at a sitting and do well. I can barely eat one. *shrug* Just chatting aloud to meself. :)

:cool:

[city]

Revell, I think everyone will just have to figure it out for themselves. Concentrations of ANYTHING depends on height and weight, current hydration, and a bunch of other stuff. I have a very "left-brain" job (mathematical modeling and game theory) and I eat a lot of garlic and I have noticed no difference between periods when I do and periods when I don't.

At the same time, even if the information in Cousen's book is just plain wrong, a low grade food allergy to garlic or even the placebo effect - the very BELIEF that garlic can one function improperly - can have an effect on any given individual.

Certainly it cannot be worse for you than a Big Whopper!

I WISH 1/2 pound of cherries would put me on the throne!!! I'm the perfect example of a person who should (and does) eat veggies and twigs - only a ton of that will put me on the throne :D :D :D

[Arky]

....and how would one judge (yeah, I'm judging here) :D what is "excessive"?

What would be excessive to one is barely minimal to another. For instance, I just brought home 2 pounds of cherries. I'll be surprised if they both last the day. For someone else, they'll be on the throne w/ 1/2 # or less.

Some here eat 6-8 'nanas at a sitting and do well. I can barely eat one. *shrug* Just chatting aloud to meself. :)

:cool:


Excessive as in so long as you don't consume large quantities every day then even a mad session on one food is unlikely to have any lasting effect on you (yes, there are always exceptions ;)...I wouldn't like to go crazy on tomatoes, for instance, or I might end up with blistering of the mouth)


J.

[Mike]

Hi folks,

I attended a seminar with Gabriel Cousens 2 years ago and someone asked him about garlic. He said it's not good for people who meditatite because it disrupts left-right brain activity.

This doesn't mean garlic is bad, it just makes it harder to meditate.

Many of the recipes in Rainbow Green use garlic.

I wish I could eat garlic but I have a bad reaction to it. When I eat onions or garlic, the skin on my face becomes red and itchy. If I eat too much of it, my skin starts peeling and becomes more irritated.

I hate it! I want to eat garlic and onions like everyone else! Whenever I go to raw potlucks, I often find myself with itchy skin the next day due to the garlicy dishes.

Peter Ragnar of www.roaringlionpublishing.com says he eats a whole bulb of garlic almost every day!

One of my favorite health teachers and authors, Dr. Richard Schulze, says garlic is an essential part of any healing program.

http://healingtools.tripod.com/DS_pages.html

Dr. Richard Schulze's Super Tonic.
(He says it will heal any illness or disease if used along with the other aspects of his program)->

http://healingtools.tripod.com/supertonic.html

This looks like an intense recipe!

[Revvell]

This looks like an intense recipe!

It is intense. You've not tried it?


:cool:

[tames]

Hmmm... I'm glad we are talking about garlic. When eating SAD, I was not a big garlic lover. I have tried a few of the recipies with garlic, and fresh garlic just doesn't seem to agree with me. I love the smell of it when you first remove the shell, but it seems to always overpower the food. I have made the Marinara sauce and the Summer tomato sauce. Recently, I just put in 1/2 of a clove. That still was too much. I notice that I get indigestion from it. Not horrible, but just a feeling that something is not quite right.

So for now at least my body is telling me to stay away from it. Maybe I'll try it again later. Since going raw, I have learned to listen to my body. It is really kind of interesting. Right now, for example, it is screaming "I want some of that Blueberry pie!" :D

[Mike]

Juliano says that the "toxins" in garlic are all in the little sprout that grows in the middle. I always cut the clove in half and remove the sprout.


It is intense. You've not tried it?
:cool:

I have not tried the tonic. I recently watched the Schulze "Natural Healing Crusade" 8 video set. He discusses the healing miracles that occur with the supertonic.

He also gave the recipe for his snuff formula. I found it on-line->

http://healingtools.tripod.com/sinusform.html

In the video, people in the audience were sniffing it and it cleared out their stuffed up sinus'. One lady said she had sinus problems for 15 years and tried everything to fix it. She used the snuff formula and the problem instantly disappeared!

I haven't done this yet either!

Sinus Formula (Herbal Snuff)
By Dr. Richard Schulze

1. Take 7 tbls. - Goldenseal Root Powder, 7 tbls. - Bayberry (NOT Barberry) Bark Powder, 1 tsp. - Garlic Bulb Powder & 1 tsp. - Cayenne Pepper Powder (90,000 + Heat Units).

2. Mix these powdered ingredients together.

3. Put a little in the hand and breathe it up your nose.

NOTE: You should sniff REALLY DEEP and LONG, NOT do a QUICK Sniff , to allow the Herbs to go DEEP into the Sinus Cavity, so that they are REALLY EFFECTIVE. You should use a Straw, if you NEED to and be FOREWARNED, this Herbal Formula is INTENSE!

[Revvell]

One can just do the cayenne w/out all the other stuff. Another thing Richard has recommended often as do I ~ from experience...and if your sinuses are really stopped up, it's not as intense as the mucus will block it. Try it sometime w/out the mucus. Not THAT is intense!

:cool:

[Gosia]

"Mucus serves a dual purpose...it is the medium that the body creates to protect delicate linings and tissues in the body from harsh substances. It also acts as a medium to carry toxins out of the body, such as inhaled dust and particulate matter.

When spicy foods are eaten, people often mistakenly believe that the increased mucus production is a sign that the spicy foods are cleansing, and are somehow causing the body to eliminate stored mucus. This could not be further from the truth. The reality is that these foods irritate the delicate linings in the body, and as a protective measure, the body coats these linings with mucus in an effort to keep the substances away, and also in an effort to transport them out of the body." (Michelle A)

Best,
Gosia.