Edgar Cayce, often called "The Sleeping Prophet," was an American psychic whose insights, obtained during trance-like states, have had a lasting impact on holistic health. From 1901 to 1944, over 14,000 documented "readings" captured his telepathic clairvoyant statements, revealing a unique perspective on the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit. His medical readings, in particular, have resonated with many, even influencing modern medical treatments and solidifying his role as a pioneer of holistic medicine. The Association for Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.) continues to preserve and study his work, ensuring its accessibility to researchers and the public.
The Core Principles of the Cayce Diet
The Cayce diet emphasizes whole, unprocessed foods, mindful eating, and the importance of maintaining a balanced internal environment. While Cayce offered specific dietary recommendations for individuals with particular health conditions, several fundamental principles apply to everyone seeking to improve their overall well-being.
1. Fresh, Locally Sourced Foods:
Cayce advocated for consuming fresh, locally grown, and seasonal foods whenever possible. He recognized the nutritional value of just-picked produce, highlighting the rapid loss of certain vitamins, such as Vitamin C, after harvesting. This emphasis on local sourcing aligns with the modern "locavore" movement, where individuals prioritize food from their immediate "foodshed" to maximize freshness and support local agriculture. Edgar Cayce had no idea how forward-thinking he was when he spoke of the importance of eating locally grown and seasonal foods. Nowadays, people are becoming more and more aware of the health benefits found in an organic diet created with fresh, local ingredients.
2. Alkaline-Acid Balance:
A cornerstone of the Cayce diet is maintaining an 80/20 balance between alkaline-producing and acid-producing foods. Alkaline foods include most vegetables, fruits, and dairy products, while acid-producing foods encompass meats, starches, and sugars. This principle aims to create an internal environment that supports optimal health and reduces the burden on the body's natural detoxification processes. But have rather a percentage of eighty percent alkaline-producing to twenty percent acid-producing foods.
3. Mindful Food Combinations:
Cayce stressed the importance of proper food combining to facilitate efficient digestion and prevent the formation of toxins in the body. He advised against consuming proteins and starches in the same meal, a direct contradiction to the typical Filipino meal of rice and meat. He suggested that starches combine well with greens, and meat with vegetables, or vegetables with starches. Most fruits should be taken alone, not together with other foods. Some food combinations require different acids to be digested; thus, one type of food would be digested while the other would ferment in the body and become toxic. Specifically, proteins and starches should not be taken in the same meal, thus, the traditional Filipino meal of rice and meat is a big violation.
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4. Prioritize Lean Meats and Fowl:
Cayce recommended limiting the consumption of red meat, particularly pork, due to its potential digestibility issues. Instead, he encouraged eating more fish, fowl, and lamb. He also suggested utilizing the entire bone structure of fowl, such as chewing on chicken necks and bones, to obtain additional nutrients.
5. Cereals as System Sweepers:
Cayce viewed cereals as "system sweepers" and advised against combining them with other foods, especially citrus fruits. He believed that citrus could make cereals too heavy for the system, hindering their eliminative function. Cereals, as we have come to know today, are the system sweepers. They should not be used together with other food, especially citrus. When taken with citrus, cereals become too heavy for the system instead of acting as eliminants.
6. Cooking Methods Matter:
Cayce strongly discouraged frying foods, asserting that they are difficult to break down. He recommended roasting, baking, or boiling as healthier cooking methods. He also cautioned against using bacon fats for frying vegetables. Meat should ideally be roasted, baked, or boiled - never fried. Cayce reserved his biggest objection to anything fried. He said fried food is difficult to break down. He also cautioned against using bacon fats for frying vegetables.
7. The Mind-Body Connection in Digestion:
Edgar Cayce had always maintained that the spiritual, mental, and physical lives are not separate but are, in fact, one. Thus, he warned people not to eat when they’re upset, angry, or extremely tired. Due to the resulting physiological changes in the system, food would remain undigested and become harmful to the body. Cayce emphasized the importance of one's mental and emotional state during meals. He cautioned against eating when upset, angry, or excessively tired, as these states can negatively impact digestion and nutrient assimilation.
Specific Food Recommendations and Insights
The Cayce readings offer a wealth of specific food recommendations and insights. Here are a few examples:
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- Tomatoes: While nutritious, tomatoes should be vine-ripened to maximize their vitamin content. Tomatoes contain the most vitamins, but they should be ripened in the vine.
- Yogurt and Buttermilk: Yogurt or Bulgarian buttermilk is largely responsible for natural health, vigor, and virility.
- Gelatin: Gelatin helps in making the system react more favorably to vitamins.
- Raw Vegetables: At least three times each week have almost a full meal of raw vegetables. These should be included at various times; carrots grated, chopped or cut, lettuce, celery, and especially water cress.
- Acid-Alkaline Balance: Edgar Cayce frequently emphasized the importance of maintaining a proper acid-alkaline balance by eating mostly alkaline-forming foods.
- Citrus and Cereals: Certain food combinations are difficult to digest and may cause problems in the digestive system. Do not take citrus fruit juices and cereals at the same meal.
- Coffee and Tea: Do not take milk or cream in coffee or in tea.
- Fried Foods: Do not eat fried foods of any kind.
- White Bread, Potatoes, and Spaghetti: Do not combine white bread, potatoes, spaghetti-or any two foods of such natures in the same meal.
Cayce's Perspective on Vitamins and Minerals
The need for vitamins and minerals is now widely recognized, as is much concerning their functions and sources. The readings, however, add a great deal to our understanding of these and how they may be… Cayce recognized the importance of vitamins and minerals for overall health.
The Locavore Movement and Cayce's Vision
Edgar Cayce had no idea how forward-thinking he was when he spoke of the importance of eating locally grown and seasonal foods. Nowadays, people are becoming more and more aware of the health benefits found in an organic diet created with fresh, local ingredients. Cayce's advocacy for locally sourced foods predates the modern "locavore" movement, which emphasizes consuming food from the closest possible sources. This movement promotes both health and sustainability by reducing transportation costs and supporting local farmers.
The Hay Diet and Food Combining
The Hay Diet is a nutrition method developed by the New York physician William Howard Hay in the 1920s. It claims to work by separating food into three groups: alkaline, acidic, and neutral. (Hay's use of these terms does not completely conform to the scientific use, i.e., the pH of the foods.) Acidic foods are not combined with the alkaline ones. Acidic foods are protein rich, such as meat, fish, dairy, etc. Alkaline foods are carbohydrate rich, such as rice, grains and potatoes. A similar theory, called nutripathy, was developed by Gary A. Martin in the 1970s. The Hay Diet, developed by Dr. William Howard Hay, shares similarities with Cayce's food combining principles. Hay's system categorized foods into alkaline, acidic, and neutral groups, advocating for the separation of acidic and alkaline foods during meals.
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