Deirdre Earls is a dietitian from Texas, author of the recent book 'Your Healing Diet' published by BookSurge Publishing, South Carolina. Though a short work of sixty-two pages, Earls’ book teaches some important things that patients of psoriasis need to know in order to adopt more healthy eating habits and positive outlook. Earls reversed her own painful condition of psoriasis without chemotherapy and by means of healthy diet. In 'Your Healing Diet' she shares her experience with readers and offers practical advice on coping with problems resulting from noxious food. Following is my interview with Deirdre Earls.

Ernest: Ms Earls, would you please tell us a little about yourself, qualification, and profession?

Earls: Despite 15 years as a Registered Dietitian and 30 years of visits to doctors around the world, I was never taught how food could be good medicine. Now, having reversed my own severe disease with nutrition instead of chemotherapy, my aim is to help others experience the incredible healing power of food via my book and nutrition consultations. At my homepage on www.yourhealingdiet.com, you can see a list of my credentials.

Ernest: What is psoriasis and how is it caused?

Earls: Psoriasis is a non-contagious inflammatory skin disease characterized by recurring reddish patches covered with silvery scales. There is no clear understanding on the cause of psoriasis but I believe it is associated with compromised bowel and immune systems.

Ernest: How do physicians treat psoriasis in routine?

Earls: This page says it much better than I could: http://www.psoriasis.org/treatment/

Ernest: But you believe that this skin condition can be treated with food better than by routine chemical treatment?

Earls: I don't like to say food is better than routine chemical treatment. I prefer to say that for those who are willing to make very healthy eating choices, combined with a few other specific diet recommendations for those with psoriasis, I believe that diet is a viable treatment option. When compared to routine chemical treatments, a healthy diet can offer significant cost savings and positive side effects rather than negative side effects.

Ernest: What other diseases can be treated with healthy eating habits?

Earls: Diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, autoimmune diseases, digestive disease, skin diseases ... i don't know that there's any chronic disease that can't benefit from a very healthy diet.

Ernest: In Your Healing Diet, you put repeated emphasis on vegetarian diet. Would you tell us about some particular conditions that can be effectively treated with certain vegetables and fruits?

Earls: I prefer to emphasize general good habits versus to specify particular vegetables and fruits because my belief is that fresh vegetables and fruits offer anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can enable the body to heal itself. Plus, it's important that the person emphasizes vegetables and fruits for months or years to gain this desired effect. If one eats only particular fruits and vegetables to maximize the benefit, I believe that people tire of eating those limited vegetables and fruits. Then they quickly return to their old eating habits and never give food the patient time it needs to demonstrate its healing power.

Ernest: Your information on acid/alkaline balance is new and interesting. Would you like to name a few important alkaline food items?

Earls: Watermelon, sea vegetables, almonds.

Ernest: Your Healing Diet also advocates for a positive outlook. How do you explain this in regard to healing with diet?

Earls: If you can navigate away from the negative emotions associated with giving up addictive foods (i.e. alcohol, white sugar, white flour), you are more likely to succeed in following this way of eating for an extended period of time. In other words, instead of focusing on anger because you're avoiding alcohol, focus on all the good things your body allows you to do every day. Sometimes we have to focus on the small things our body does to realize that these small things are essential to everything about life. For instance, even when we are in physical pain, there are still things that our body is doing for us that make life possible.
Ernest: Let’s have your word on the third principle, that is, outdoor activity.

Earls: I especially like walking because it allows the body to rid itself of excess carbon dioxide (which is a mild acid) and it allows us to marvel at nature (which supports a positive outlook).

Ernest: What about disabled people who can’t participate in such outdoor activity? How would you advise them on health?

Earls: I would still encourage them to seek out means to enjoy and marvel at nature. And I would encourage them to find ways to be as physically active as possible. Even if we can't voice a laugh, we can still feel a laugh inside. Seek out things that make you happy. Seek out food that energizes you rather than drains you. This is the same for all of us.

Ernest: The motivational side of your book is striking. How much it matters if we are aware from the start about the natural nutritional treasure in our lives?

Earls: The saying 'you are what you eat' is cliche but profoundly complete.

Ernest: What advise you offer to people in general regarding habits as smoking, alcohol, and drugs, regarding their effect on health?

Earls: In general, I prefer whole food and simple good nutrition to many other forms of 'medicine' because its effect is mild and slow acting and is associated with positive rather than negative side effects. When we smoke, drink alcohol, do drugs, consume refined and concentrated foods (sugars, flours, genetically modified products, etc), our body experiences a stronger, faster response from these processed items. If you want your life to reflect a calmer, more deeply contented and peaceful state, you must mirror that desire with what you put inside your body. I believe that our choices for thoughts, friends, environment, TV, movies, etc. all exhibit a remarkable influence on our overall health, too. A simple analogy: good in = good out, bad in = bad out.

I look forward to your feedback and thank you for this opportunity to work with you. Best, Deirdre

Ernest: Thank You Ms Earls for your precious guidance.

Earls: Thank you, Ernest for this opportunity to work with you!

To read my review of Your Healing Diet, visit http://bookreviewpot.blogspot.com/