By Penelope A. Domogo, MD
Last month, we discussed about “Lung season” which is the season of autumn. In countries in the Northern Hemisphere where there are four distinct seasons, autumn this year is from September 23 to December 22 (that’s how definite their seasons are). We mentioned in that column that during autumn, all of creation are in a state of relative rest. For example, the green beans have now dried up to become legumes or “bukel”. During this season also, it is the lungs that are challenged thus we call it “lung season.” Well, our observant ancestors have observed that beans is good for the lungs. They also observed that what is abundant food during that season is good for the body organ that is challenged or vulnerable during that season. So this season, we should not forget to eat “bukel”. It is what our Creator provided in abundance for our own good.
But you say “ Umipa-araytis” (“beans cause arthritis”). Some insist that beans cause arthritis, as they experienced a flare-up of their “rayuma” or “arthritis” when they ate “bukel”, usually white beans or mungo. My evidence that beans does not cause “rayuma” or arthritis is our ancestors the whole wide world. It is not only Igorots who eat a lot of bukel. Google the Mediterranean diet and it is full of beans. Indian food is a lot of lentils. My favorite Mexican food is chili beans. Dear reader, beans are provided so abundantly by our Creator, for our sustenance. Despite eating bukel everyday, our ancestors were strong and agile enough to catch wild animals, build big churches and rice paddies, run and walk up and down mountains everyday. You can’t climb to Tigil (in Betwagan, Sadanga) or Baknad (in Besao) if you had rayuma. Take note, they would carry heavy loads of palay or camote or wood in these mountains. I repeat, they ate bukel everyday and they did not have arthritis. I was happy to see publications in internet that even recommend beans as good for arthritis! This is because beans are rich in fiber and other plant nutrients that help prevent inflammation.
When you have arthritis or “rayuma”, your body is in a state of inflammation. Your joints are inflamed causing pain and maybe redness. Your joints are inflamed because of uric acid deposits in these areas- think of these as like microscopic splintered glass rubbing against your soft cartilages as you move your joints (aray talaga!). Arthritis is a chronic disease- meaning it did not just happen in a week. Just like other lifestyle diseases, arthritis is a disease of “accumulation.” You have accumulated excess bad food for many years before symptoms appear.
By the way, where does uric acid come from? Uric acid is a waste product of the metabolism of purine. Purine is protein – found in beans, yes, but much much more in meat and yeast products like beer. Purine is needed in our bodies. God has designed that uric acid could easily be excreted from the body through the urine because it is water-soluble. So why do we have rayuma nowadays? And why do we immediately put the blame to the beans? We forget the meat, the etag, the inasin, the eggs, the super-sweet coffee with creamer that we ate with the beans. These things we have been eating for years have accumulated in our bodies. These modern foods that we have added to our indigenous foods are what cause arthritis. Believe me, a loving God won’t give us something that makes us sick. Studies have found out that refined sugar, highly processed foods, saturated fats, yeast extracts aggravate arthritis. Foods produced by the factory, not found in the Garden of Eden. Think of these modern foods as glue – sugar and fat are sticky, eh? These glue the uric acid crystals to your joints and viola! you have pain. Natural! As I said earlier, these are like sharp glass splinters. By the way, under the microscope, these crystals found in the urine look beautiful.
Don’t wait for arthritis to attack before you indigenize your diet. Let’s aim to reclaim the strength and agility and endurance of our ancestors. Take your barako coffee black and reserve the meat for your birthday. Cook those beans, add ginger, garlic and/or onions and radish. These pungent foods also strengthen the lungs. ***
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“Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you.” Deuteronomy 32:7
