Garlic and Onions and other below ground foods

[Futura Girl]

While dining out at our favorite Veggie Chinese restaurant that we have been going to for years, the owner came up to me afterwards and cautioned us to stop eating garlic and onions. She said they were very bad for the brain. She said that we should use ginger for all of our garlic needs.

I went away feeling sad (I love the taste of garlic and onion), but interested enough to start doing research. I found lots of articles pointing to this one single study where some Dr. Bob Beck talked about how garlic can penetrate the blood brain barrier and interfere with communication between the left & right hemispheres of the brain, but that did not seem to be substantiated anywhere. It was mainly just a bunch of different websites virally repeating the same thing with nothing but heresay to back it up.

This is just 1 single mysterious study that keeps getting mentioned over and over. I'm not saying that it couldn't be a possibility - but WHERE is the actual research????

I especially love the line that gets repeated on all sorts of forums and blogs about how 'somebody' did this study and that people came back with dead brain readings after eating a salad that had a little garlic in the dressing. Right! Like they weeded out every single other variable from the meal that was just eaten.


But since then, I have also heard that Ayervedic medicine and some other spiritual tracts say to abstain from below ground foods including garlic and onions. I know that on the journey from Raw to Fruitarian to Breatharian and living on Prana, the below ground foods go, but does anyone have any more real substantial info?


1) I am specifically looking for this 'study.'
AND
2) want to talk to anyone who is transitioning away from below-ground food.


P.S.
Here are some of the other threads I have found that have a little mention of this subject.
garlic and onions thiosulphate toxic to pets:
http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=48547
http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=54832

About onion food allergy
http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=53551
http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=52843
I agree totally with what Eva said here about garlic and onions should be used sparingly as medicine
http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=45447

Okay - here's a thread where Veronica talks about this blood brain barrier - BUT WHERE IS THE ACTUAL STUDY to back up this mythology that is going around the internet?????
http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=50067

[Tsurugi_Oni]

Every single recipe in India involves sautee'ing garlic and onion in ghee. Us South Koreans have a love affair with garlic. A lot of people therapuetically take garlic daily.

Just something to think about....

[Dimond]

There's also tons of evidence showing all the amazing health benefits of garlic. Once again it's about paying attention to what works for you. Soaking the garlic in lemon juice or vinegar removes any negative effects for those concerned.

After being raw for awhile, most eventually cut down and sometimes cut out a lot of foods, including spices. Your taste buds get use to eating more natural foods, and also certain ones may not agree with you anymore. Garlic is still an amazing medicine for when you need it.

[Bananna]

I don't know...but you're on the right track in trying to find legitimate research, which is not circular referencing, lol...

I've heard that it's the sulphur that kills the bacteria, but that it also kills the good bacteria too...which makes sense to me, it Does have antiparasitic properties..antiviral perhaps as well?
I've never heard anything about the brain though...

I do know that it makes my skin stink...not cool, lol.

[Spirited]

Can you tell me why people would transition from raw to fruitarianism to breatharianism?

I'm quite curious about this whole system

[Futura Girl]

There are so many reasons for doing this. I suggest searching for articles on living on Prana and breatharians.

One reason is to reach a higher state of consciousness. Another is to support immortality (or if you don't believe in that - to extend our dna code to support a longer healthier life)

Again back to my original question -
I do not dispute that garlic and onions have incredible medicinal qualities. Thanks for that input.

I would like to know if anyone on this forum is working towards transitioning away from below ground foods as part of moving towards frutiarian or breatharian.

[klomasius]

If you feel happy, healthy and vibrant and eat garlic, for me that'd be enough of an answer.

Also, we tend to create these false dichotomies, false 'either/or' situations. Either you eat garlic or you don't kind of thing.

What about if you are concerned simply cutting down on the garlic? Many foods are bad in large amounts but fine or even therapeutic in moderate to small quantities.

[Spirited]

There are so many reasons for doing this. I suggest searching for articles on living on Prana and breatharians.

One reason is to reach a higher state of consciousness. Another is to support immortality (or if you don't believe in that - to extend our dna code to support a longer healthier life)

Again back to my original question -
I do not dispute that garlic and onions have incredible medicinal qualities. Thanks for that input.

I would like to know if anyone on this forum is working towards transitioning away from below ground foods as part of moving towards frutiarian or breatharian.

I might give it a try for 2 weeks or so, see if I like it.

[streetsurfer]

Blood Brain Barrier deficiencies have recently been connected to celiac disease and are believed to be affected in the same manner as the intestines are in leaky gut or intestinal permeability. I had/have permeable gut and suffered symptoms that lead me to believe it was also affecting the b/b barrier, including among many neurological symptoms, brain inflammation, and extreme intolerance of prescription medications and the failure of them to do what they were supposed to do. University of Maryland is who I think has found the connection between the two and the substance zonulin that controls the cellular integrity of each barrier.
During my suffering with it, which is diminishing greatly with the help of raw eating btw, garlic was intolerable to me. In August, when I started coming here and changed my diet I experimented with garlic and was finally able to consume it without the hangover and illness it caused when consumed in the years prior. I am enjoying it regularly now and believe it too is helping me heal. I did find one article on the topic...this article mentions the link between celiac, zonulin and blood brain barrier...

http://www.umm.edu/news/releases/zonulin.htm

I don't know if this helps you any with what you are looking to find out, but if the research you read suspected garlic to cause brain problems, maybe permeable gut or celiac disease and improper zonulin levels were part of the issue and went undiagnosed in the studies. Just a guess. I will try to take some time later and read the links you posted.

Here's some good info on garlic's properties and health benefits.....

http://www.gourmetgarlicgardens.com/chemstry.htm

http://www.gourmetgarlicgardens.com/health.htm

[Aleesha Sattva]

I would like to know if anyone on this forum is working towards transitioning away from below ground foods as part of moving towards frutiarian or breatharian.

RFT is all about not limiting your foods. It's about following Alissa's philosophy outlined in her book.

So asking people if they have suggestions on how to transition to this way of eating isn't appropriate here.

Of course we all find our own way of eating as we become raw for longer periods of time. Our eating habits change. I know that I can't eat raw garlic or onions or I'm in a lot of pain.

[Futura Girl]

...So asking people if they have suggestions on how to transition to this way of eating isn't appropriate here.

i apologize. i follow a living foods diet and am just curious about other advanced variations. i was also trying to keep the thread on topic and not wander off why garlic is or isn't good for you. i know it is good medicinally and was not debating that.

but i had no idea the rules were that strict that you couldn't ask related questions?

streetsurfer - i wonder if there is a connection between certain foods and zonulin? if you are still allowed to post that univeristy of maryland link, i would appreciate it. what you posted is along the lines of what i have been looking for. i really appreciate it.

[DopeRawAbundance]

Do I see garlic in your avatar Futura Girl? Better get that cropped.

[snoops]

LOL and two onions. DRA again - you make me laugh:D

[Futura Girl]

oh yeh - totally! there are actually 2 onions (red and brown) and garlic there!

i am a huge raw onion and garlic fan. like i said - this only came up this past week when our restaurant friend brought it up and i started being sad, but curious. And then one thing followed another.

this inquiring mind wants to know more.

[streetsurfer]

streetsurfer - i wonder if there is a connection between certain foods and zonulin? if you are still allowed to post that univeristy of maryland link, i would appreciate it. what you posted is along the lines of what i have been looking for. i really appreciate it.

The first link of the three in my previous post above will take you to the article about zonulin and celiac disease from the University of Maryland's Medical Center. It talks of the connection between wheat gliadin and zonulin levels. There is a link at the top of that page that will allow you to "Ask the Experts". I would inquire there about other foods possibly disrupting or regulating the zonulin levels. In all my reading on celiac disease I've never seen garlic/onions mentioned as a causative or preventative factor. Only that you could become allergic to them as a result of leaky gut. I found mentioned elsewhere, a lack of calcium being similar to high zonulin levels, but I have to dig deeper to understand and/or verify that yet.

[kaybee]

Dimond--just curious about the "lemon juice getting rid of any possible negative effects" thing.. what does it do/neutralize? just curious, sounded interesting. like one of those symbiotic relationships or something...?

Spirited--I dont know about the ayurvedic thing, but i know that some people try to move towards fruitarianism (not just fruits, but nuts and tree leaves etc) because from an ecological perspective, fruit and nut and tree-leaf eating is more ecologically friendly and sustainable and kinder to the earth; because trees are perennial and live a long time, it doesnt entail frequently digging up huge tracts of land etc for annual crops etc. im not advocating it from a nutritional perspective as i know alissas philosopy is about not limiting foods, but just suggesting why some people do it as moving towards a more ecological way of living

kaybee

[Dimond]

Dimond--just curious about the "lemon juice getting rid of any possible negative effects" thing.. what does it do/neutralize? According to one article: lemon juice or vinegar deodorizes garlic but does not disturb its immune system chemicals.

David Wolfe mentions doing this or using aged garlic. Unfortunately aged (kyolic) doesn't taste good in food. Though it is good if using it as a supplement.

[annabella]

I always say follow the advice of your own bodymind....
eat garlic if you find it to be healthful to you, don't eat it if you don't

I'm here because I think I may have just discovered a raw garlic allergy? Just ate a salad with dressing including raw garlic, and immediately started feeling dizzy, short of breath, fatigued, etc. Pretty sure it is the garlic, so I guess I will just have to start replacing it with ginger, etc for spicy needs. Strange I've been eating this my whole life and haven't noticed anything like this since going raw.. what is the deal?

[sport]

It is my wish to remove garlic and onion from my diet and I have removed garlic but still like a little chopped onion if I am having a salad. I do not think that I will be doing this for much longer and anticipate that shortly I just will not want it.
I can not think of any "below ground food" that I eat other than that little bit of chopped onion and that is very little.
I know. I'm weird but I love me just the way I am.

[rkk]

Hi there. I also try to avoid garlic and onions for spiritual reasons, as I have also heard by my spiritual teacher (a yogi from India) that garlic is bad for the brain, the emotions, and meditation. It also makes you more aggressive and more prone to anger, frustration, etc. I didn't know why, but I heard that Dr. Cousens had said that garlic disrupts communication between the 2 hemispheres of our brains. The yogi I follow also said that garlic is very antibacterial, but you wouldn't take antibiotics every day as that would mess up your immune system... thus it similarly makes no sense to eat garlic everyday unless you are greatly ill and need it as a form of antibiotic. I previously also found some research done on rats who were given lots of raw onions (or was it raw onion juice?, I can't remember) in which it damaged the lining of their stomachs. I do really enjoy the taste of garlic and onions, but am doing my best to eat as little as possible. (Though I do cave in sometimes.) Even if it is good for cholesterol, I don't think I can justify eating it if it has a lot of other things bad for me.

Here is some interesting info about garlic and onions that I highly recommend you to read about.... http://www.rawfoodexplained.com/junk-foods-garlic-and-onions/

[SunshineMN]

Below ground? Like... CARROTS? :eek: I don't think I could give up carrots. However I've been giving up onions for... since I was born but other people still seem to put them in my food. :p

[rkk]

Below ground? Like... CARROTS? :eek: I don't think I could give up carrots.

I think the OP is referring to the Jain religion in India, where traditionally members of the community avoid all things growing under the ground. It isn't about giving up anything, it's about living consciously... and the premise is quite beautiful actually. When you eat the root of the plant (the part growing under the ground), you take the plants' life... as in the case of a carrot, ginger, etc or anything you have to uproot to eat. (I wonder if there are any plants where you can eat any portion of the root without killing the entire plant - I don't know.) However, when you eat an apple off a tree, you eat the fruit but the tree continues to grow and stay alive. That's a big part of what they are getting at, to live as gently on this earth as possible. As most of us are likely vegans, we understand the concept of not killing animals, and we believe that we have a responsibility to treat them kindly. But members of the Jain community extend that out to the plant community as well. Obviously they have to eat to stay alive, but it's an effort on their part to take the fruit/greens of a plant (rather kill the plant by taking its root), and also to eat as moderately as possible - to not take more than they need. Even though I'm not on that level yet, I think the attitude they have is just wonderful.

[Mary Kay]

I am glad this thread was started and am enjoying reading everyone's comments.

I've lost it, but I remember an article that came out a few yrs ago - perhaps it was forwarded by Frederic Patenaude? - where air force pilots were not allowed to eat garlic because tests revealed that it somehow messed with their brains....sorry I can't be more scientific or find the study.

Ive heard many say that as you become more pure/clean, you will find garlic and onions undesirable, and also what others here have written about them used medicinally --but not ALL the time.

Interesting that streetsurfer, became a little more "clean" but was now able to actually eat them, which is the opposite.

Thanks again for starting this thread. I look forward to reading more.

As for me, I still use them in moderation. I have for the past couple mos though, been craving "sauteed" onions ---I've made these in the D sliced thin, with a little bit of olive oil, pinch of salt and small amt of dates to sweeten. I just haven't gotten around to making them though.....



Mary Kay

[sport]

I have other reasons for not eating them.
1. If you can not make a meal of it you should not eat it.
2. The reason that we like them is because they deliver their sensation by shocking the system and I am not sure that that is good.
3. If we were meant to eat foods that grow in the ground we would have evolved with snouts.

OK. You can all take it that I have eaten my last onion.

[Raw Angel Mom]

check for some book of dr. Ann Wigmore (.org )

Follow what feels right to you and not your fear. If your body react well to garlic, it is most probably that you need it.

Onion has the property to clear out the mucus. I believe everything in balance is great.

I like my food simple now, so i rarely eat garlic, seasoning or onion or even any salt. I do eat that but so much less. I like to taste the freshness and the life force from the food. Your taste bot does change at the point that you can taste this amazing food. But in the beginning, if i wouldn't have use seasoning, garlic/onion, salt and sweetener, there isn't any way i would have stick to raw food. Your mind is the first step to convince that raw food is wonderful. If you cannot enjoy it or find comfort, your mind will make you eat cook food again.

I take garlic when i have a cold and it is a fantastic anti-biotic.

Have fun in your research!