The Radiation Contamination-Radiation Sickness-Nuclear Radiation-Macrobiotic Diet

Foods to Clear Radiation from Body

The earthquake, tsunami and recent struggles with nuclear radiation in Japan have been a heartbreak to the world. I have been in contact with family and friends in Japan and all assure me that they were fortunate and are doing fine. Still we all hear and read of the dangers of the radiation contamination and this is something of great concern for all.Much of the media in the U.S. where I am living has been covering issues regarding widespread dispersal of radiation in the environment. While we are currently assured that the levels of radiation at this time are not a threat to human health in the U.S., traces of radiation from the nuclear plants in Daiichi have been discovered in Massachusetts, California, and now iodine 131 has been found in the milk of cows in Spokane, Washington.We are assured that the radiation in the cow's milk has a half-life of 8 days and poses no threat at its current rate of .8 pico-curies which is 5,000 times lower than the "intervention level" as mandated by the U.S. FDA.
Still, I would like to share with my readers some information at this time that may be useful to you.In Japanese culture and medicine we have long eaten sea vegetables (seaweed) and miso soup (fermented soy bean soup).These foods have an ability to help clear certain kinds of radiation from the body.In their book, The Cancer Prevention Diet, Michio Kushi and Alex Jack discuss the use of seaweeds and miso:
"Sea Vegetables: Kombu, wakame, nori, and other edible seaweeds are a small but important part of the daily macrobiotic diet. In Japan, a macrobiotic doctor in Nagasaki who survived the atomic bombing in August 1945 put all of his surviving patients on a strict diet of brown rice, miso soup, sea vegetables, and sea salt. In contrast to many patients at other hospitals and medical centers who contracted or died from radiation sickness, all his patients and staff were saved. "
Seaweed has historically been used in Chinese medicine to soften and help reduce masses in the body. Both seaweed and miso are being studied by modern medical researchers for anti-cancer properties and seaweed, for its tumor shrinking properties. Both are a mainstay of the macrobiotic diet which has long been famous for its successes in treating people with different cancers, including those caused by exposure to certain forms of radiation.
Seaweed is very potent, containing many minerals and vitamins. Only small amounts are recommended in the diet. Kombu is considered particularly potent. It is so strong in its effect, that for some patients with cancer it can actually have an adverse effect and worsen tumors if used excessively or under the wrong circumstances.
Similarly, there is conflicting data from different research on the use of soy and its anti-cancer properties. Certainly before considering the use of soy in the diet, one should consult your physician if you are a cancer patient.
The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission recommends eating two to three ounces of seaweed per week for those exposed to radiation.
For the layperson, you might consider adopting some mainstays of a traditional Japanese diet. Two servings of miso soup (low sodium) per day with a small portion of seaweed and a serving of brown rice on the side. read more..