El Análisis de las Críticas a las Premisas

Of particular importance to women is the relief of com-plaints currently abbreviated "PMS" or premenstrual syn-drome. These symptoms commonly include severe mood swings into depression, tissue swelling with weight gain, painful cramping in the abdominal area, and headaches. After understanding that a salty diet results in water retention, it is not difficult to see how these symptoms are induced. The inordinate retention of water in the body's tissues and vascular system cause pressure throughout the body. When undue pressure is applied to cerebral vascular pathways, the symptoms of mental disorder can result.

Dr. Fieve in Moodswing, the Third Revolution in Psychiatry underlines the depressing effects of the salty diet as follows:

"In manic depression, mood shifts are accompanied by shifts in body chemistry, particularly in the amounts of salt and fluid in and around the cells" Depressed pa-tient studies have consistently shown that they retain salt and fluid during their depressed phase."

While women may have long accepted The Mythology of the Monthly Curse and its concomitant irrational emo-tionalism, we may now clearly understand these moods and pains are brought on by excess fluids in the body. Marietta Whittlesy explains the hormonal machinations of the body during the menses and the subsequent water retention as follows:

"Estrogen and progesterone, two of the principle mones active in the menstrual cycle, are in an intricate balance throughout the month. When one is at its peak in the body, the other is then at its lowest. (This crucial cycle is regulated by our pituitary gland.) After ovula- tion, after the ripened egg is released, the levels of estrogen begin to taper off; and progesterone begins to increase. Now, recent research suggests that of these two hormones, progesterone has the most influence on our sodium-fluid balance. Any salt taken into the body at this time will be, therefore, more easily reabsorbed by the kidneys. Due to the influence of the pro-

gesterone, we will then find ourselves retaining higher amounts of fluid."

For the woman suffering from PMS on a regular basis, however, The Ideal Diet has far more to offer than the alleviation of retaining these "higher amounts of fluid." For if she chooses to follow the nontoxic eating plan described herein, she will, as her body detoxifies over a period of months, eventually experience a decreased menstrual flow with no cramping or mood swings whatsoever. The more toxic the diet, the heavier the flow and the greater the pain. The less toxic the diet, the lighter the flow until all PMS symptoms disappear. This is more of "The Good News" that Natural Hygiene has to offer. Women can free themselves from "The Curse "...forever! Women Hygienists have experienced that PMS is a pathology of The SAD Diet and of unhealthful living practices in general. This statement can be easily proven '

"Everywoman" for herself!

A number of less threatening, but nevertheless serious, diseases besides the foregoing are precipitated and/or ag-gravated by sodium chloride in the food supply. From per-sonal experience in her hospital research, Marietta Whittlesy in her inflammatory book Killer Salt adds kidney malfunction, unusual female menstrual discomfort, mental/emotional disorder, varicose veins, and gout to the list of salt-pathologies. In her opening statement of rage, she both ex-poses and attacks the Salt Conspirators:

"Today, millions upon millions of Americans are suffering from the effects of salt in their diets. This national epidemic includes people from all walks of life: old people, young people, children, and even infants. Of the countless who are suffering because of salt, only a few will be able to help themselves. Why? Because only a small percentage of those who suffer from salt abuse realize what a crucial —and deadly—role salt plays in their life...How could it be that something so 'common' as salt could be for so many a deadly poison? And if what we are learning about salt is true—that it is a chemical whose devastating effects are literally frightening to realize—how is it that salt is so commonly used and available? In other words, WHY WEREN'T WE TOLD?" Ms. Whittlesy continues: "The great institutions upon which we have learned to rely—government, industry, and even medical science—have done very little to alert and protect us."

Long term Hygienic Practitioner Dr. Keki Sidhwa adds many more notches on the Salted Gunbelt: pneumonia, pleurisy, Bright's disease, typhoid fever, jaundice, cirrhosis of the liver, scarlet fever, smallpox. He explains that in these conditions, the kidneys fail to remove salt at the normal rate, and that in all these diseases, salt in any shape or form in the diet is to be withheld.

A review of other Natural Hygiene practitioners throughout the abundance of Hygienic literature point out additional salt-related symptoms: lupis vulgaris, insomnia, headaches, migraines, premature aging of the skin, indigestion, arthritis, fatigue, deafness, sinusitis, hives, epilepsy, rheumatic swell-ing, and nervous tension.

Space does not allow a pathology-by-pathoiogy explana-tion of how all of the other aforemenexplana-tioned diseases are precipitated and/or aggravated by salt. Generally speaking, it is the poisonous nature of salt in the body as previously described that so adversely affects each and every one of us.

And it is the unique biochemical individuality, inherited predisposition, and existing state of toxicity, and nerve energy vitality that will determine which set of symptoms will be manifested in our own bodies when we don't

learn to leave the salt alone...once and for all!