The protocol is not intended to treat or cure any illness, and medical attention should be
sought for that purpose. Use of skilled medical and nutritional specialists is recommended.
Additional Recommendations
We recommend moderate food portions, a reduction in the consumption of meat and fatty foods,
and the consumption of five servings of coldwater fish per week. Some examples of coldwater
fish are sardines, salmon and mackerel. Fish that contain high levels of methylmercury should be
avoided. These are generally large fish such as shark, tuna, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish.
Pregnant women need to exercise special care. Fish oil capsules are an alternative to fish consumption.
We also recommend daily portions of fruits and vegetables. Broccoli and other dark green vegetables
have great value. Allium vegetables such as garlic, scallions, shallots, leeks and onions are reported
to have anti-tumor effects and to significantly reduce the risk of prostate cancer. In that group,
scallions have shown the greatest reduction in prostate cancer risk. Nuts and dark chocolate (for its
antioxidant value) are suitable snacks. Cola beverages are not recommended as they are deficient in
vitamins and minerals and have other deleterious qualities. Purified water, green tea, fruit juices
and non-alcoholic beer are good alternatives. Daily exercise is strongly recommended. Tai chi and
walking are exercises that can be done at almost any age. Stress adversely affects the immune system
and, if possible, should be reduced. Smoking is very harmful and should be avoided entirely.
This protocol is also intended to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and may have other
health benefits. This Protocol is successful only if you use your best judgment. It should be
modified to fit individual needs.
A more detailed description of the Protocol and its benefits will be contained in the book being written by Dr. Lydia Bronte.
In the preparation of this Protocol, we have drawn on many sources. They include the work
of some of the members of our Scientific Advisory Board, the work of many of the doctors whose
statements follow, and medical and scientific studies from around the world. We expect to continue
to improve the diet as new discoveries occur.
Alcoholic Beverages
It is known that the moderate use of alcohol tends to increase longevity. As reported in the
University of California Berkeley Wellness letter of May 2002, "In most studies people who drink
in moderation have the lowest overall mortality rates, especially from heart disease - lower than
teetotalers, occasional drinkers, and heavier drinkers A moderate alcohol intake is usually
defined as no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks for men, on average. A
standard drink is 12 ounces of beer, 4 to 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor,
which all contain about the same amount of pure alcohol."
It has been recognized that alcohol decreases the risk of heart disease and also stroke by
helping prevent blockage in arteries and by keeping blood flowing freely. Now a new study shows
that alcohol can help protect the brain from the ravages of dementia - including Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at the Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands recently conducted research to see
if drinking alcohol could also protect the brain from dementia. The results of their study were
featured in the January 26, 2002 issue of the Lancet.
They looked at nearly 8,000 people, aged 55 and older who did not have dementia when the study began.
After six years, 197 people had developed dementia - mostly in the form of Alzheimer's. But those who
had one to three alcoholic drinks per day were more than 40% less likely to develop any type of dementia
during this time. One to three drinks per day decreased the chance of developing Alzheimer's disease by more than 35%.
The researchers suggested several possibilities for alcohol's protective effect on the brain.
Alcohol seems to reduce the overall risk for blood vessel disease, which is thought to contribute to dementia.
It can reduce the stickiness of blood clotting cells that are part of artery-clotting cholesterol plaques.
It may also improve cholesterol, especially HDL, the good cholesterol.
Alcohol may also have direct benefit on thinking and memory by stimulating the release of acetylcholine,
a chemical involved in memory and learning. But large amounts of alcohol have the opposite effect. Although
alcohol in moderation does seem to have health benefits, doctors are hesitant to suggest taking it because of
concern over possible addiction.
We recommend red wine as a preferred alcoholic beverage because it contains pigments called polyphenols.
Polyphenols inhibit the production of a peptite that contributes to hardening of the arteries. These pigments
come from the skin of grapes used for red wine. In whites and ross, the skins are removed before fermentation;
therefore, they do not have the same effect. These findings regarding red wine were reported in December 2001 by
researchers from the London School of Medicine and Dentistry.
Previous research had found that wine contains resveratol, a compound that may help prevent neurodegenerative
diseases such as Parkinsons and Alzheimer's. Resveratol also has been found to help cells from turning cancerous
and to inhibit the spread of malignancies. It also may help block cell inflammation, which is linked to arthritis
and other diseases. All wines contain resveratol but red wine seems to be its richest source.
Although we believe additional research is needed for definitive conclusions on the special effects of wine,
we believe sufficient evidence exists to make red wine a preferred choice among alcoholic beverages.
But beware. It is important not to overuse alcohol, and those who have
a propensity to overuse may have to avoid it entirely.
