How to Heal Your Body

By Mary Beth Gonzalez

One of the central truths behind The Gonzalez Protocol® is this: God created your body with an extraordinary, God-given ability to repair, restore, and renew itself. When we nourish our bodies with the foods He provides, we honor His design and participate in the healing work He built into us.

My late husband, Nicholas Gonzalez, M.D., understood that caring for the body is an act of stewardship. A Cornell-trained physician and immunologist, he spent nearly 30 years serving patients in New York City. He believed deeply that many modern illnesses are connected not to destiny or genetics, but to the way we eat and live. As he often said, “It’s not your DNA—it’s your dinner.”

Food as God’s Provision

Scripture reminds us that God gives “every good and perfect gift,” and food is among those gifts. But not all food is created equal. Throughout history, God’s people thrived on whole, unprocessed foods—fruits, vegetables, raw dairy, clean proteins, and naturally raised meats. Modern, highly processed foods often work against the body God designed.

Because we are each uniquely created, nutrition is not one-size-fits-all. The Gonzalez Protocol® identifies your metabolic type—Sympathetic Dominant, Parasympathetic Dominant, or Balanced—so you can eat according to the way God made your body.

Food as Fuel for Life

Dr. Gonzalez studied the pioneering work of several great scientists who explored this truth long before it was fashionable:

Dr. Weston A. Price, in the 1930s, traveled the world for a decade to study vibrant indigenous cultures. He found that once traditional people adopted modern industrial foods—white flour, sugar, canned goods, processed meats, refined oils—their health quickly deteriorated. Those who kept to traditional diets of raw proteins, fresh fruits and vegetables, and nutrient-dense whole foods remained strong, joyful, and resilient.
Dr. Francis Pottenger Sr., in his 1919 book Symptoms of Visceral Disease, proposed that humans could be categorized by their autonomic balance.
Dr. Ernst Gellhorn, in the 1940s–50s, documented three autonomic categories: Sympathetic, Parasympathetic, and Balanced. Both Pottenger and Gellhorn believed that most disease arises when these systems fall out of balance—and health returns when that balance is restored.
Dr. William Donald Kelley expanded on these ideas, developing an entire system of treatment based on autonomic imbalance.

From these insights, Dr. Gonzalez shaped The Gonzalez Protocol®, combining diet, supplementation, and enzyme therapy to support healing at the deepest physiologic level.

Universal Principles for Everyone

These principles reflect God’s simple, natural design:

Choose whole, organic foods
Avoid sugar and artificial sweeteners
Eat only whole grains
Avoid refined oils and processed foods
Choose real, full-fat or raw dairy
Select organic, grass-fed meats and wild-caught seafood

Illness Patterns by Gonzalez Metabolic Type

Dr. Gonzalez observed consistent patterns among the three autonomic types:

Sympathetic Dominant

Strong heart and skeletal muscles
Weaker digestion
More prone to anxiety
Rarely prone to depression or allergies
Digestive disorders are common: ulcers, colitis, IBS

Parasympathetic Dominant

Very efficient digestion
Weaker heart and endocrine responses
Prone to allergies, asthma, chronic bronchitis
Hypothyroidism and chronic fatigue are common

Balanced

Sympathetic and parasympathetic systems function equally
Generally strong resilience
Rarely experience serious illnessHow

Honoring the Body God Gave You

Your body is a sacred gift—“fearfully and wonderfully made.” When you nourish it well, you cooperate with the healing wisdom God placed within you. Food becomes more than fuel; it becomes a way of caring for the temple God entrusted to you.

Sometimes the most powerful act of faith is caring for your body the way God intended—one meal at a time.

DISCLAIMER: The Nicholas Gonzalez Foundation offers natural health and nutrition information. This information is intended for general informational and educational purposes. They do not include diagnosing, treating, curing, or preventing any disease or medical condition. They are not a substitute for medical advice, medical treatment, or medical diagnosis from a licensed healthcare provider. The materials presented in no way are meant to be a substitute for professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner, nor should they be construed as such. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. Always check with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about your condition or before starting a new program of treatment.