Doctrine of Signatures: Super Foods

Kids love the concept of Doctrine of Signatures, as well as adults, and it can spice up a great dinner conversation (and possibly a fabulous science project) when any of these super foods are on the plate.

The ancient and intriguing theory of the Doctrine of Signatures is based on the idea that when you look at certain whole foods, you can see a pattern that resembles a specific body organ. And it is said that this pattern is a sign of the health benefit the whole food provides the eater.

What is the Doctrine of Signatures History ?

The history dates back somewhere between 130-200 AD with Galen of Pergamon. Later writings, one from the father of modern medicine, Paracelsus (1493-1541 AD), Jakob Boehme (1575-1624 AD), who wrote two books on the subject, and William Coles (1626-1662 AD), who was an herbalist, botanist and doctor in the 17th century. Although, not much has been written on the subject since then.

The Doctrine of Signatures of Whole Super  Foods

• A sliced Carrot resembles the human eye. And YES, science now shows that carrots greatly enhance blood flow to the eyes ( helps you see in the dark too).
• Celery, Bok Choy, and Rhubarb look like bones and share a similar chemical makeup: Bones are 23% sodium, and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don’t have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.
• A Walnut looks like a little brain: left and right hemispheres, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds are on the nut, like the neo-cortex. We now understand that walnuts help develop over 3 dozen neuro-transmitters for brain function.
• Eggplant, Avocados and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female – they look just like these organs. And to add, they also resemble the lungs, and baked pears are great when someone is coughing.

A Few Super foods that Help Nourish Your Cells

Superfoods can improve your health by lowering your heart disease and stroke risk while boosting your energy, focus, and mental sharpness. The best part is that you get these benefits from eating whole, colourful foods and avoiding processed foods.

Here are 6 Super foods to bring onto your plate or in your cup:

1. Sweet Potatoes. Sweet potatoes are packed with added fibre, potassium, and vitamin C. You can cook them in many ways, including baked or mashed and cubed in soups. Or, after you have cooked them, you can freeze them and put them in your next smoothie. Here is a recipe:

Orange Smoothie 

• 1 cup unsweetened nut milk 
• 1 large cooked and peeled sweet potato 
• 1 banana 
• 1/2 tbsp of nut butter 
• 1/2 tbsp of chia seeds

2.Blueberries. Blueberries are definitely a super fruit! They contain beneficial antioxidants as well as vitamin C and fibre. They make a healthy treat and are easy to eat on their own or in smoothies and baked goods.

3. Bananas. Bananas make a list because of their beneficial nutrients and high potassium content. They also contain a healthy dose of vitamin B6.

4.  Broccoli. Broccoli is a vegetable that has a healthy amount of vitamin C and folate. After cutting them up, I will place some in a glass container, and as a snack, I will eat them raw with a dip. I also like roasting them with salt, pepper, and olive oil.

5. Spinach. Spinach comes packed with many beneficial ingredients. It’s one of the best leafy green vegetables that you can eat. It contains folate, potassium, magnesium, iron, and more. They are super versatile: add to salads, smoothies, stir-fries, or mix in with fried rice or risotto.

6. Apples. So now you know there’s truth to the saying that an apple a day keeps the doctor away! They contain many benefits of other superfood fruits and decent fibre content, which may help with weight loss.

There are plenty more, but the above are simple and definitely kid-friendly!

xx

dr. heather

PS Check out the Human Body Detectives books to help encourage your kids to make healthy food choices.