THE SECRETS OF STAYING HEALTHFULLY YOUNG: REJUVENATION BULGARIAN STYLE
May 8th, 2009Ilja Metchnikoff, the famous Russian bacteriologist, revolutionized medical thinking on aging when he published his famous book How to Prolong Life. He advanced the theory that the secret of youth lies in the large intestine. He believed, and proved by experiments (as well as by long-living Bulgarians), that autotoxemia (self-poisoning) through putrefaction of metabolic wastes in the large intestine is the main cause of premature aging. He was convinced that if we could prevent the development of toxins in the colon, we I could double the normal life span. Dr. Metchnikoff recommended the use of soured milk products, such as yogurt, kefir, acidophilus milk, etc., as a means of preventing putrefaction in the colon and j bringing about the prolongation of life.
Bulgarians seem to be a living proof of Dr. Metchnikoff’s theories. They live longer than most other people on earth and they also have comparatively more centenarians than any other country. It is well known that Bulgarians consume more soured milk in form of yogurt and kefir than any other nation.
There is extensive literature to support yogurt as a youthifying food. In order to prevent intestinal putrefaction and the consequent autointoxication, it is important to support and feed the friendly , intestinal flora. This is best done with soured milk products and whey which contain lactose, the natural food for these bacteria.
Swedish Dr. E. M. Hoppe has made a very thorough study of Bulgarian centenarians and their living and eating habits. He made a detailed questioning of 158 Bulgarians of 100 years or older, and arrived at the following conclusions:
Most of them were predominantly lacto-vegetarians: their diet consisted mainly of locally grown and stone ground whole grains, always freshly ground; fresh vegetables and fruits from their own gardens; and milk and milk products, predominantly from sheep milk. Only 5 of the 158 ate meat regularly.
All of them ate yogurt, made mostly from sheep milk, regularly.
Almost all of them were bee-keepers and used lots of honey in their diet.
Almost all of them ate sunflower seeds regularly.
They all ate fermented foods, especially sauerkraut.
All have worked hard most of their lives, mostly on farms. Only 13 of the 158 lived most of their lives in cities.
110 of the 158 were extremely poor and could not afford to overeat.
They were friendly, contented and had no great ambitions. They lived “without a clock,” following nature’s rhythm in sleeping, eating and working.
Here you have in a nutshell the Bulgarian secret of long, healthy life! No fancy secrets, tricky diets or drugs—just simple common-sense natural foods and wholesome, stress-free country life. But don’t be deceived by its apparent simplicity: all the factors involved—a lacto-vegetarian diet of fresh vegetables and fruits, milk, yogurt, honey, sunflower seeds, fermented foods, and moderate eating—are scientifically proven as the most potent factors in preventing premature aging and prolonging life!
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