Читать книгу Edgar Cayce's Everyday Health - Carol Ann Baraff - Страница 15

Most of us enjoy at least occasional carbonation—that tongue-tickling, belch-inducing process that puts the pop in sodas, the “soft” in soft drinks, the fizz in spritzers, and the sparkle in adult beverages. But how does this small indulgence affect our health, and how much is too much of a possibly good thing? Uh-oh—turns out the question of whether to carbonate is one of those tricky INDIVIDUAL MATTERS where strong statements can be found to support both sides. A survey of Cayce readings and research findings, while providing some helpful answers, allows some of the mystery to remain.

Sparkling water, fizzy water, and seltzer are all names for the end result of carbonation—the process of dissolving carbon dioxide into plain water. This can, of course, also occur in nature, producing a sparkling mineral water with an upscale or curative cachet. The readings appear to refer to the artificially produced kind whether taken by itself, with plain water, in soft drinks, or in fruit juice spritzers (though the term had not yet been invented.)

Because carbon dioxide is a waste product of metabolism that is exhaled through the lungs, there has been understandable concern about overloading the body with an ostensibly toxic substance. So far, however, modest benefits and little harm have been found. In studies of calcium erosion in bones and teeth, carbonation itself was found to have a negligible effect, though sodas remain a major cause of tooth decay.

A small 2002 study reported in the European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology found that carbonated water eases the symptoms of indigestion and constipation. The use of mineral water in these cases was believed to enhance the positive effects.¹⁹

Hydration testing has shown carbonated and plain water to be equally effective. However, some believe that carbonation may increase absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream and that esophageal irritation is also a possibility. And in cases of gastroparesis, a stomach disorder, carbonation can evidently worsen the symptoms.

A comparison with the readings shows more similarities than differences in these findings. Strangely, however, most of those that simply mention carbonated water or generalize about drinks that include it lean in a negative direction, while specified beverages are more often approved. In the first category, thirty-one readings are basically positive on the subject (often with precautions about amounts), while another eighty advise complete avoidance, at least for the time being, such as during a course of treatments.

However, those that focus on cola drinks, other soft drinks, juice drinks, or seltzer are weighted differently, with thirty favoring carbonation, nine advising Coke without carbonation, and only five declining Coke in any form. These figures reflect Cayce’s tactics in dealing with issues affecting the functions of digestion and elimination—if we can figure out how they apply and when.

In some cases the body’s pH, or acid-alkaline balance, is clearly a central concern. In this context, carbonated drinks are broadly described as conducive to acid formation:

In the diet—keep away from fats, from any carbonated drinks or drinks made from carbonated waters. Do not take any of these, nor any of the malt drinks or things of that nature; nor vinegar nor anything of that nature. Keep close to the alkalines.

337-28

Eat right! That is, about twenty percent acid to eighty percent alkaline foods! Beware of all soft drinks, or carbonated waters, or distilled drinks of any character.

263-8

Q. Of what foods should I beware?

A. Those that are excessively acid-producing. Those that have been indicated of too much carbonated waters, or those foods that produce an excess of fermentation in their activity.

361-10

Similar concerns about certain types of alcohol show that this, too, was sometimes considered too acidic for the body to handle. Perhaps this is doubly true of alcohol and seltzer combinations:

Q. Is this trouble with the stomach a return of the old trouble?

A. Not so much a return as a continuation, excited by too much of carbonated or distilled waters, see? No hard drinks, no malts, nor any drinks of that kind for this body.

348-24

. . . Keep away from beer, wines, whiskey, or even drinks that carry carbonated water; or do so . . . to thine own undoing!

391-18

Q. Skin eruptions on back and arms? Cause and treatment.

A. Warnings have been indicated to the body of diets, especially as related to carbonated waters and hard drinks and hops in drinks. Eliminate these, this will disappear.

416-18

. . . Do not mix too much of varied characters of the carbonated waters with drink, or strong drink. These make for a disturbance to the very portions that are causing reactions.

877-16

Keep away from meats, wines, any form of drinks made with carbonated waters.

987-5

As mentioned above, skin eruptions can be a sign of toxic reactions taking place in the digestive system. Another person with eczema tendencies was told to: “Leave off too much of the carbonated waters, and drinks with same.” (416-12) Similarly, in a case of acute rash caused by poison ivy, the advice was: “Little or no meat, and none of carbonated waters!” (1635-2)

Too much carbonation in the system can also be gas producing, as some readings attest:

As indicated, there should be the refraining from any carbonated waters, or those things that tend to make for gas in the digestive system.

1315-11

Take no form of carbonated waters, no form of any drink with those formations from hops or of fermentations.

477-2

Other comments were more generally negative with the reasons being somewhat difficult to interpret:

Do not take any form of drinks that carry carbonated waters. The gases of these, as well as all such, are detrimental and only add fire to the unbalanced chemical forces that are segregating themselves in the body.

1013-3

Do not take any drinks with carbonated waters, nor with the products of hops or the like. These are harmful, as they—through their activities upon the system—tend to charge this effluvium that has caused the disturbance in the circulation.

1709-6

. . . Never too much of any drinks with carbonated waters. These are detrimental to the better reactions of an already disturbed assimilation.

1772-2

. . . Especially no carbonated waters should ever be taken! These are hard upon the system.

1880-1

Underlying these prohibitions is the concept of carbonation as a stimulant that affects the body’s chemical balance. In cases of intestinal issues, it can easily be overdone to the point of causing distress and even an allergic type of reaction. Carbonation should, therefore, probably be avoided in conditions such as digestive upset, acid stomach, poor assimilation, toxicity, and thinning walls.

With that covered, we can now turn to some of Cayce’s more positive comments. The bulk of these by far concern Coca-Cola, which is regarded as highly alkaline! Taken medicinally, with or without carbonation, the beverage is regarded as a purifier of kidney, bladder, and liver circulation. Small, occasional doses are specified, and timing is important:

Q. Does Coca-Cola aid or deter?

A. Coca-Cola for the body is a stimulant, and will aid at times and deter at others. Taken when tired, very good, but do not gulp—drink slowly.

257-167

. . . If a few drinks of Coca-Cola or any super-alkaline-reacting vibrations would be taken, these would clarify and purify . . .

1268-2

. . . This is one body that would do well to occasionally take a Coca-Cola; not to become as a habituate action, but occasionally this would be good for the body. There are influences in same that would purify the lower hepatic circulation, that would be beneficial. Preferably, though, use that perfectly prepared—bottled, rather than from the counter—for they are more uniform.

1334-2

. . . Or if desirable drink Coca-Cola—a little Coca-Cola; this will act almost in the same way and manner in purifying or clearing the ducts through the kidneys, and thus reduce the general forces and influences there.

540-11

. . . If the acidity is indicated through the kidneys, or from the urine itself, then drink a little of the carbonated waters, as would be indicated with Coca-Cola—but that which is bottled is the better . . .

540-11

Keep away from any carbonated waters, save at times—or rather regularly—we would have a little Coca-Cola. This, with some of the activities in same, acts upon the kidneys to aid in relieving the tensions there.

584-8

. . . Carbonated drinks may be taken, especially Coca-Cola or those of such derivatives. These will aid especially in purifying the activity and coordinating same through the kidneys and the eliminating system.

849-26

In these cases the carbonation itself is clearly regarded as a beneficial element. This is equally true with a number of other types of fizzy drinks, some of which might be prepared at home:

. . . Those drinks with a little charged water would be very well—as Coca-Cola or Orangeade or the like, if taken once or twice a day; for their reaction upon the system as related to especially the hepatic or the kidney and liver circulation would be good.

1476-2

Soft drinks such as Coca-Cola, Cherry Cola, Pepsi-Cola or any of the Cola drinks, may be taken in moderation, . . .

1945-1

Noons—we would drink a little Coca-Cola, Orangeade, Lemonade, or the like . . .

327-2

Then any mild drink such as half and half carbonated and plain water will be very well, or Coca-Cola would be very well, to assist in purifying the flow through the kidneys; but not until such improvement is shown . . .

2367-1

Coca-Cola, limeades and such are well for the body. These will act with the kidneys in the eliminations.

391-17

Coca-Cola taken occasionally will be helpful, but limes, limeades and watermelon, these add principally.

540-6

. . . When carbonated waters or drinks are taken, either Dr. Pepper’s or Coca-Cola may be taken; but let such as these be rather as an extra drink and not too regularly—and of Soft Drinks beware!

487-22

Q. What drinks may the body have?

A. Any that agree with the body. Especially those that are half and half the carbonated waters, these are very good for the body; as ginger ale, or grape juice, or fresh grape juice. Any of these may be taken.

1055-1

. . . Such drinks as carbonated waters of ginger, as Ginger Ale, Coca-Cola, will be those to be taken by the body.

1210-4

Although it is hard to determine in some of these cases why the carbonation is approved, an interesting pattern emerges when comparing dates for all of the readings that mention Coca-Cola. Almost all of the pro-carbonation readings took place in the 1930s with spikes in 1936 and especially 1938. All but one of the anti-carbonation readings occurred during the 1940s. Whether this indicates a change in carbonation or soft drink production around 1940 may be impossible to determine now. But many other things changed during those war years, so why not soda pop?

How such distinctions might apply today is, of course, a very good question. Whereas Cayce sometimes preferred the uniformity of prepared beverages, quality and purity of ingredients may be greater issues now. Besides, it’s fun to mix one’s own drinks, always starting with some nice, pure water. Whether that water has a certain sparkle remains a highly individual decision that takes one’s state of health into account.