"What is food to me, is to others bitter poison." —Lucretius

Unfortunately there are no absolutes on foods that are good for all individuals. Everyone is unique! Although a food may be nourishing, restorative, and tasteful for one person, the same food may cause adverse reactions in another individual. As an example, I technically needed starch badly at one time in my life, but good quality starch and in moderation. But, being in pseudo-poverty and under stress, I "overdosed" on refined starches. As a result, I developed liver problems, chronic hepatitis, and severe kidney and bladder difficulties. Now, I am barely able to eat even good starch without some form of discomfort or reaction due to these damaging excesses. Yet, another person may handle starch three times daily without any negative results. A lot depends upon a person's history in addition to his body type.

Cravings do not indicate a lack of true need. Instead, it usually is found to be an ingrained habit or, perhaps as in the example of starch, a low blood sugar condition, which may need natural fruit sugars.

After a person is thoroughly cleansed, some foods previously forbidden on an individual diet may be gently and slowly added back with no adverse reaction and are able to be assimilated well.

It has been observed that often so much residual acids remain in a toxic body that one can omit that particular food group totally from daily intake and the body will draw on its storage to meet requirements. This is true of several food groups including proteins, sugars, and starches.

Keep in mind one of Dr. Bieler's maxims, "What can you assimilate? What can you eliminate?" In addition to the individual diet this is very important because it influences how valuable any; food will be nutritionally. Also, eating slowly, without stress, and chewing well is essential to good digestion. As Dr. Bieler said so often, "The stomach has no teeth," so don't bolt your food and expect good results.

Through research and work with thousands of patients and clients, we have discovered information about various basic foods. I will tell you about foods that tend to be wholesome for most people and foods that can be harmful to the body.