A short while ago we had an article about a man in Ireland who was close to Saint Padre Pio's inner circle and who related an alleged prophecy from the saint that had to do with future events, including, he believes, a "time of peace" when, after tumultuous events, there will even be a cure for cancer.

We were struck by a portion of his quote line (allegedly paraphrasing the saint) which said, "There will be a cure for cancer, and it will be so simple the medical experts will all wonder why they never thought of it earlier." It's quite a claim, coming from a credible man who over the course of several years was in great proximity to the great Holy Man of the Gargano.

"There will be a cure for cancer, and it will be so simple the medical experts will all wonder why they never thought of it earlier."

Perhaps it's wishful thinking.

But it struck a chord with us.

Praying at Mass (indeed, dedicating a Mass to this supposed notion of cancer and cures) came the word "alkaline," as if out of nowhere. It's not a word we much think about (if hardly ever) yet when we searched the internet it popped up in discussions on natural cures for cancer.

In fact, jumping from the screen, one news item said, "In the 1930's, an interesting natural cancer treatment was proposed as a simple, effective answer to cancer -- almost any cancer.  This treatment approach is not well known because it is considered alternative or experimental -- or even dangerous -- by the medical and scientific community and hence has been referenced primarily in obscure publications outside the mainstream press. This treatment approach is called alkaline therapy or pH therapy [our italics] and is based in part on observations of cultures without significant incidence of cancer and in part on scientific observations of and experimentation with cellular metabolism.

"The principles of pH therapy are very simple. The metabolism of cancer cells has a very narrow pH tolerance for cellular proliferation (mitosis), which is between 6.5 and 7.5.  As such, if you can interfere with cancer cell metabolism by either lowering or raising the internal cancer cell pH, you can theoretically stop cancer progression."

Note the word "simple." It was used five times in the article and comments. And somehow, it feels like it makes sense. Many foods that are alkaline are the ones cited as anti-cancer. We are focusing on this issue because cancer is taking so many lives, in many cases is preventable (and curable), and because the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (ravaged these days by our society's straying from God).

It comes down, as so many things do, to balance.

In researching this further, it seems that a diet of seventy-five percent foods that are alkaline and twenty-five percent those more acidic is about right -- and harkens to times of old, as well as the diet of folks who live close to their gardens (as in the parts of the Mediterranean, and Asia, where cancer rates are much lower).

In truth, there are many factors that go into a disease like cancer, which comes in so many types. It's unlikely there is just one such aspect. But diet is seen as increasingly important, and a body in an acidic state is probably one that is being dealt with harshly.

What foods are alkaline?

Here's a long list (for those interested). There's a "print-friendly" button at the bottom you may want to use. We submit it for your contemplation.

It comes from a site called, "Your Food Guide for Achieving a Healthy Acid/Alkaline Balance."

VEGETABLES BEANS AND LEGUMES

Most Alkaline: broccoli, cucumber, cilantro, oriental greens, garlic, onions, kale, spinach, parsley, sea vegetables.

Medium Alkaline: bell pepper, cauliflower, parsnip, endive, ginger root, sweet potato, cabbage, celery, carrots, asparagus.

Low Alkaline: Brussels sprouts, beets (tops and roots), tomatoes and tomato juice, fresh peas, dark lettuce, all mushrooms, potatoes with skin, pumpkin, squash, tempeh.

Most Acid: processed soy beans, salted and sweetened peanut butter.

Low Acid: corn, lentils, peanuts with skin, organic peanut butter, soy protein powder, beans, (kidney, lima, navy, pinto, white, black, peas, split and chick,) extra firm tofu, edamame.

FRUITS

Most Alkaline: cantaloupe, honeydew melon, raisins, nectarine, raspberry, watermelon, fresh black cherries, black olives in oil.

Medium Alkaline: apple, avocado, pink grapefruit, lemon, lime, mango, pear, peach.

Low Alkaline: fresh pineapple, apricot, grapes, blueberry, strawberry, blackberry, papaya.

Most Acid: cranberry, dried fruit (sulfured).

Medium Acid : prunes, olives (pickled), sweetened fruit juice, sweetened canned fruit, sweetened jams, sweetened preserves.

Low Acid: dried fruit, natural figs, dates, banana, unsweetened canned fruit, natural fruit juice, unsweetened jams, unsweetened preserves.

SEASONINGS HERBS, SPICES

Most Alkaline: Celtic sea salt, Great Lake salt, miso and natto, cayenne, ashwagandha, gotu kola, ginkgo biloba, baking soda.

Medium Alkaline : cinnamon, ginger, dill, mint, peppermint, turmeric, rhodiola, basil, oregano, licorice root, Siberian ginseng.

Low Alkaline: most herbs, curry, mustard powder, kola nut, tamari, milk thistle, maca, astragalus, suma, echinacea

Most Acid: black pepper, MSG, soy sauce, brewer’s and nutritional yeast.

Medium Acid: vanilla, nutmeg, mayonnaise, ketchup.

Low Acid: tahini, carob, cocoa, regular table salt.

BEVERAGES

Most Alkaline: electron-rich alkaline water, plasma activated water.

Medium Alkaline: teas: green, macha green, ginger, rooibos, chamomile, water, ozonated water, ionized water.

Low Alkaline: dry red wine, unsweetened almond milk, distilled water, draft beer, dark stout, organic black coffee.

Most Acid: alcoholic drinks, soft drinks.

Medium Acid: coffee with milk and sugar.

Low Acid: unsweetened soy milk, unsweetened rice milk, black tea, black coffee, decaf coffee.

GRAINS, CEREAL, OTHER

Most Alkaline: bee pollen, soy lecithin granules, dairy free probiotic cultures.

Medium Alkaline: aloe vera juice,

Low Alkaline: whole oats. quinoa, wild rice, millet and spelt, hemp protein powder.

Most Acid: barley, pastries, cakes tarts, cookies.

Medium Acid: plain rice, protein powder, rolled oats and oat bran, rye and white bread, white pasta, white rice.

Low Acid: brown and basmati rice, wheat and buck wheat, kasha, amaranth, whole wheat and corn pasta, whole grain bread.

NUTS & SEEDS, GRASSES & SPROUTS, OILS

Most Alkaline: pumpkin seeds , almonds, (w/skin), plain almond butter, all sprouts, wheat grass, alfalfa grass , barley grass.

Medium Alkaline: extra-virgin olive oil, borage oil and primrose oil, chestnuts, Brazilian nuts, light and dark flax seeds, macadamia nuts, black currant oil.

Low Alkaline : hazelnuts, flaxseed and buckthorn oils, hemp seeds and oil, sesame seeds and oil, sunflower seeds and oil.

Most Acid: pistachios, trans fatty acids, acrylamides.

Medium Acids: cashews, pecans, walnuts.

Low Acids: popcorn, canola oil, grape seed oil, green soybeans, pine nuts, safflower oil.

MEAT, FISH & FOWL

Most Alkaline: none

Medium Alkaline: wild, ultra pure omega 3 fish oil, CLA ( conjugated linoleic acid)

Low Alkaline: cod liver oil.

Most Acid: beef, lobster.

Medium Acid: chicken, lamb, pork veal.

Low Acid: fish, turkey, venison, wild duck, seafood.

DAIRY & EGGS

Most Alkaline: human breast milk.

Medium Alkaline: dairy, probiotic cultures, whey protein, isolate powder.

Low Alkaline: soft goat cheese, goat milk.

Most Acid: processed cheese, hard cheese, yolk of chicken eggs.

Medium Acids: soy cheese and soft cheese, ice cream, whole chicken eggs.

Low Acids: cow’s milk, cream, yogurt, butter, buttermilk, white of chicken eggs.

SWEETENERS

Most Alkaline: none

Medium Alkaline: unsulfured blackstrap molasses.

Low Alkaline: stevia, brown rice syrup, pure maple syrup, unpasteurized honey.

Most Acid: artificial sweeteners.

Medium Acid: corn syrup, and fructose, high-fructose corn syrup, sugar.

Low Acid: commercial honey.

VINEGAR

Most Alkaline: none

Medium Alkaline: Apple cider vinegar.

Low Alkaline:

Most Acid: white vinegar.

Medium Acid: balsamic vinegar.

This list was put together by a retired teacher named Betty Hart. [Here's that other, for your discernment].

-- Michael H. Brown

[resources: books on healing]

[Note also: retreats: Connecticut! and Announcing two retreats in California; see also [Michael Brown's books]

Donations: we need and appreciate it! 

[Footnote: O most holy heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore You, I love You, and with lively sorrow for my sins I offer You this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure and wholly obedient to Your will. Grant, Good Jesus, that I may live in you and for you. Protect me in the midst of danger. Comfort me in my afflictions. Give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs, Your blessing on all that I do, and the grace of a holy death. Amen."]