J. Peterson (USA) and G. Pietruska (D) demonstrating healthy cooking.

About 50 participants, mainly medical professionals came to the Swiss Holiday Park, in Morschach CH, to take part in a 3-day continuing education seminar that was organised by BestLife Institute, Germany. The speakers came from the United States and Germany, all professionals who have had many years of practice in how to prevent or cure Western diseases without drugs or surgery. The amazing answer to ‘epidemic’ diseases like coronary heart disease, stroke, heart attack, high blood pressure or diabetes (type II) is simply a change in lifestyle. The Western way of eating and (not) exercising is the main culprit when it comes to analysing the causes. Considering the fact that in central Europe every second (!) a person dies of a cardiovascular disease (heart attack, stroke), this is good news. It is not mere fate if someone drops dead with a heart attack but he can do a lot to prevent it by the way he eats and lives.

Main speakers Dr. Ralf Peterson (USA) and Prof. Dr. Zeno-Marcel (USA).

The main speaker, Prof. Dr. Zeno-Marcel, Professor for geriatric medicine at Loma Linda University and Medical Director of the Lifestyle Center of America in Oklahoma, pointed out: the latest scientific research underlines the fact that the best approach by far of lowering cardiovascular risk factors (i.e. high serumcholesterol) is a basic change toward a diet that is mainly based on plant food. In his Center he has had the best results with a diet that is plant based without using meats, eggs, dairy, concentrated fat or refined foods, but indcludes vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, nuts and seeds in a wide variety. The Lifestyle program inclcludes moreover an individual exercise program, sunshine and pure air, stress management, plenty of water inside and outside, giving up smoking and emphasis on the spiritual.

Within a few weeks this program is able to normalise high blood pressure, diabetes and symptoms of heart disease for a high percentage of the patients. On the average cholesterol levels drops by 30-40% which corresponds to a 90% risk reduction for a heart attack by reducing just this one Successful Seminar: Lifestyle Solutions to Western Diseases risk factor alone. Another very important risk factor for heart disease is the emotional attitude of a person. Hatred, aggression, resentment and other negative feelings have an equally high risk as high cholesterol. Dr. Ralf Peterson (Vegetarian Institute for Nutrition & Culinary Arts, USA) introduced the audience to the latest findings in the area of phyto-chemicals. Only during the last years has science discovered the importance of these substances that are found exclusively in plant foods and are essential for humans in order to prevent certain diseases like cancer and heart disease. There are hundreds of different phytochemicals in different plant foods that act against different diseases. He pointed out the importance of also eating some cooked food in order to get all the advantages of these substances since some phyto-chemicals only develop their activity in heated food.

Gabriele Pietruska from Germany, who has been studying with Dr. Hans Diehl, one of America’s foremost health authorities held a lecture on the story of the protein myth which was very instructive and opened the eyes of many of the participants.

Joyce Hofer (CH) presents her delicious vegan buffet.

All those present were able to get an idea of what plant based food tastes like and were excited and surprised about the delicious taste and variety of a pure vegetarian diet. For many participants it was the first time they had had a vegetarian meal without any dairy produce. Sunday they were served an outstanding buffet with Asian, Mexican and Arabic cooking and different Tofu dishes. The unanimous evaluation: Absolutely superb! Chef and supervisor of the cooking was Joyce Hofer of 'Dimensions in Food and Nutrition'.

Prof. Dr. Charles-Marcel will return to Europe in September 1998 when Country Life Basel, CH, ('Die Knospe') is organising a seminar. (SDL)

For information:
Joyce Hofer, PO Box 244, 6440 Brunnen, Switzerland
Tel./Fax:+41 41 820 3340

• Pre-Seminar Plans (EVU News 97/3)
• Switzerland - from the Global Directory
• Helath and Nutrition - from the Articles Index