Nature’s Pharmacy

There was an email, a while back, entitled Whole Foods Signatures, that was constantly forwarded and posted all over the web. The main idea of the Whole Foods Signatures was that foods and plants have patterns that resemble body organs or physiological functions. These patterns, therefore, are signs of the benefits the food provides to us. For example, a sliced carrot looks like a human eye and is good for the eyes.

This is very interesting idea, but after some internet research, it turned out that the information in the Whole Foods Signatures theory was highly incorrect, and some of the statements were simply not true.

Just one example: “Peanuts have a profound effect on the testicles and sexual libido. Peanuts were banned as a food for males by the church often during the middle ages. Most people don't realize that arginine, the main component of Viagra, comes from peanuts”. It turned out that the main component of Viagra is not arginine, eating more peanuts will not bust your libido, and there is no evidence that the church had ever banned peanuts.

So, I looked for scientific evidence that would support at least some of the claims. The research showed that some foods, resembling human organs, can actually be beneficial for these organs. Note, however, that this doesn’t mean there are no other foods that can have the same effect, or these foods can’t be beneficial for other organs too.

The thing is: having a photo of a fruit or vegetable next to a human part, make it really stick in your mind. And this is a good reminder that we should eat more healthy foods.

I’m sure we can all name someone whose brain resembles a pumpkin seed, but for the most part, brains resemble walnuts. It’s no coincidence; almost 60 percent of the human brain is comprised of the structural Omega 3 fats that are also found in walnuts. According to research published in the British Journal of Nutrition (July 2011) eating walnuts regularly can significantly increase critical thinking and especially what's called inferential reasoning.

If you cut a tomato in half, you will see how it resembles the human heart. Not only in color, but also in form - just like a human heart, the tomato has distinct chambers. There are a lot of studies, showing that tomatoes are beneficial for the heart. For example, a study at the University of Adelaide (published in the international journal Maturitas) has shown that tomatoes are rich in lycopene and may be an effective alternative to medication in lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, thus preventing cardiovascular disease.

When we breathe, the air travels to the lungs through a series of tubes and passages that finish up with clusters of thin-walled air sacs, called alveoli. The alveoli, which resemble bunches of grapes, receive the oxygen and pass it on to the blood.

Grape seeds contain a chemical called proanthocyanidin, which, according to preclinical studies, has the ability to inhibit the growth of lung cancer.

Also, according to research published in the American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology, a substance found in the skins of grapes, called resveratrol, could help with illnesses such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.

Ginger roots, commonly sold in supermarkets, often look like the stomach and it’s interesting that they also aid in digestion. Indians and Chinese have been using ginger roots for centuries to calm stomach and cure nausea, and motion sickness. Today, health care professionals recommend ginger to help prevent or treat nausea and vomiting from pregnancy, and cancer chemotherapy. The primary active ingredients in ginger, shogaols and gingerols, help neutralize the acids in your stomach.

True to their name, these beans are kidney shaped and are good for your kidneys. A study from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, has shown that healthy men with low "good" cholesterol, and high "bad" cholesterol and triglycerides, have twice the normal risk of reduced kidney function. Kidney beans are a rich source of fiber, which is extremely helpful in lowering cholesterol.

Moreover, diseased kidneys cannot always separate meat protein, which is essential for our diet, from waste. Kidney beans are high in protein, which can be used as a substitute for meat protein.

Clams bear a resemblance to testicles and are actually good for the male sex organs. A research from the Netherlands, published in the journal of Fertility and Sterility (March 2003), has suggested that supplementing the diet with folic acid and zinc - both of which clams are high in - can have a significant effect on improving semen quality in sub-fertile men.

Long celery stalks mirror human bones and are good for their strength. Celery is well known to lower blood pressure, but is also a great source of silicon. According to a research form the St Thomas' Hospital in London (The Journal of Nutrition Health and Aging, Mar-Apr 2007) dietary silicon is beneficial to bone and connective tissue health. Because of its silicon content, celery can help renew joints, bones, and connective tissues.

There are some similarities between round citrus fruits, like grapefruit and oranges, and the female mammary glands. These fruits contain substances called limonoids, which have been shown that may be beneficial in the prevention of mammary cancer (University of Western Ontario - Inhibition of Mammary Cancer by Citrus Limonoids).

Sweet potatoes (not all of them, of course) bear resemblance to the pancreas, and also promote its healthy functioning. Sweet potatoes contain provitamin A or beta-carotene. Low levels of this powerful antioxidant have been strongly associated with pancreatic cancer (Plasma Micronutrient Antioxidants in Cancer Patients - Journal of Cancer Detection and Prevention 2001).