Food Signatures – The Ancient Wisdom of What Foods Nourish What Body-parts

Do You Know That Different Foods Nourish Different Organs?

Have you ever wished you knew what foods were good for what things, without needing to do a nutrition course for years or consult a dietician?

If you want to strengthen your bones, improve your eyesight or nourish your heart, would you like to have a good idea of what foods nourish those organs without needing to consult some external expert or book?

Welcome to the ancient understanding of ‘food signatures‘.

According to Ayurveda and many other ancient health systems, there is a fascinating science known as the ‘doctrine of signatures’, which details that the colour, shape, and texture of Mother Nature’s natural foods give us a clear indication of what parts of our bodies (organs, tissues etc) these foods specifically target/nourish.

If you understand the ancient saying, “nature thinks everywhere like”, you will appreciate that the infinite intelligence underlying our universe, is one, single, unified intelligence. That same ‘pattern of intelligence’ is the same whether nature is producing DNA, a cell, a tree, a flower, a human
body, or even an entire universe.

The remarkable Don Tolman is without doubt the world‘s greatest teacher when it comes to whole food signatures. I had the pleasure of attending one of his talks last week and was re-inspired about the beauty of the ancient knowledge of whole food signatures. (These are known in Ayurveda through ‘the Law of Similarities’ and are discussed further in my new book (details at bottom).

Check out some of Don’s fascinating correlations below.

CARROTS:

A sliced carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye…and of course modern science shows that carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.

FIGS:

Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the motility of male sperm and increase the numbers of sperm as well to overcome male sterility.

TOMATOES:

A tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart is red and has four chambers. All of the research shows tomatoes are indeed pure heart and blood food.

* Note from Mark – capsicums (red) look even more like a heart and have a similar four chamber design.

GRAPES

Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows that grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalising food.

WALNUTS

Look like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebelums. Even the wrinkles or folds are on the nut just like the neo-cortex. We now know that walnuts help develop over 3 dozen neuro-transmitters for brain function.

* Note from Mark – Walnuts also help break down plaque build-ups in the brain and enhance memory and mental function.

SWEET POTATOES:

Sweet potatoes don’t just resemble the pancreas, despite their name, sweet potatoes strengthen the pancreas and are known to help balance blood sugars just like insulin, which is released from the pancreas. (Update: “a recent article on the great ‘Body+ Soul website mentions how sweet potatoes are considered a superfood for diabetics by the American Diabetes Association.)

GRAPEFRUITS, ORANGES, AND OTHER CITRUS FRUITS

look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.

And mine & Don’s favourite.

AVOCADOES:

Cut an avocado in half length ways (with the seed in tact) and it looks just like a pregnant woman – womb, baby & cervix.

Don points out that, avocadoes target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female. Today’s research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight and prevents cervical cancers.

But the best part… how long do you think it takes for an Avocado to grow from blossom to ripened fruit?
…. exactly 9 months

SOME OTHER FOOD SIGNATURES FROM MY STUDIES IN AYURVEDA:

BEETROOT / BEETROOT JUICE:

Colour of blood and shape of red blood cells – beetroot is known to great for nourishing the blood.

COCONUTS

Coconut juice is par excellence for nourishing the female breast tissue, and blood plasma.

Coconut flesh/meat (which is white and firm/hard) is great for the bones / strengthening bones.

GOTU KOLA:

The gotu kola plant (the leaf) looks very much like a human brain. Gotu Kola is known to be a leading herb for stimulating healthy brain function and memory enhancement.

Okay so now for your exam.

What organ in your body do you think kidney beans are good for?

………

Answer? A tough one I know, but it’s……..Your KIDNEYS!!!

What a surprise. Yes, kidney beans actually promote the healthy functioning of our kidneys. And of course they don’t just have the same name, but look exactly like each other. Isn’t Mother Nature just beautiful?

SUMMARY:

So next time you‘re out buying your fruit and vegetables, don’t get caught up in mind-boggling, point value confusion – vitamin E this, antioxidant that. Keep your life and your nutrition simple. Choose whole plant foods that you like the look and taste of and begin to think about the unique shape and colour of the foods you are selecting. Understand they are designed to nourish, strengthen and heal the different parts of your body.

Start to select your foods more intuitively. Look at them, feel them and choose the foods that your body is craving. Happy eating.

LAUGHTER MEDICINE

– Male Brain Cells:

Speaking of walnuts and brains.

Once upon a time, there was a female brain cell that, by
mistake, happened to end up in a man’s head. She looked around nervously, but it
was all empty and quiet.

“Hello?” she cried in brain
cell speak, but no answer.

“Is there anyone here?” she
cried a little louder, but still no answer.

Now the female brain cell
started to feel alone and scared and yelled:

“HELLO, IS THERE ANYONE
HERE?”

After a few seconds of
silence, she heard a voice from far, far away:

“We’re down here … “