[Setting: A café terrace in Vancouver. It’s late afternoon. The three are sipping coffee while scrolling through news about the looming government shutdown.]
Maximus: (leaning back, half-smiling) If the government really shuts down, maybe—just maybe—we’ll be in paradise soon. Elysium on Earth. A world without bureaucrats, no forms, no taxes. Just people free again.
Ante Bosko: (chuckles, stirring his espresso) You’re talking like Marcus Aurelius on a bad day. I’ve seen what happens when systems collapse—empty shelves, no security, chaos. Doesn’t sound like Elysium to me, bro.
Erica: (raising an eyebrow) Yeah, paradise without garbage pickup, hospitals, or passports? I think your “heaven” would start smelling real bad, real quick.
Maximus: (grinning wider) You two think too small. When the state falls, communities rise. People actually help each other instead of waiting for some department to save them. No lobbyists, no corruption, no wars for profit.
Ante Bosko: And no paychecks, no pensions, no border control. Elysium might look more like Mad Max than Maximus.
Erica: (laughing) Maximus in the Thunderdome. That’s a movie I’d watch.
Maximus: (shrugs, dreamy tone) Call me idealistic, but I’d rather risk a little chaos for a shot at real freedom. Maybe paradise isn’t clean or comfortable—maybe it’s just honest.
Ante Bosko: (softly) Or maybe paradise is the idea of government working right, not vanishing. But hey… if it shuts down, we’ll see who’s right soon enough.
Dr. Luka Kovač: “When it comes to the mind, Joe, we must remember that it is not separate from the body. What you eat, drink, and surround yourself with—these all play a role in balance. Let me give you a list I recommend for mental health.”
Foods for Mental Health:
Fatty fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel) – omega-3s for brain function
Dark leafy greens (spinach, kale, Swiss chard) – folate and magnesium
Berries (blueberries, blackberries, strawberries) – antioxidants against stress
Bananas – natural serotonin booster
Avocados – healthy fats for the brain
Fermented foods (yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi) – gut health linked to mental health
Dark chocolate (in moderation) – dopamine and serotonin enhancer
Water:
Clean mineral-rich spring water, or filtered water with trace minerals added
Herbal infusions like chamomile or lemon balm tea for calmness
Limit caffeinated and sugary drinks, as they spike anxiety
Vitamins & Minerals:
Vitamin D – sunshine vitamin, crucial for mood
Vitamin B complex – especially B6, B9 (folate), B12 for nervous system balance
Vitamin C – supports stress response
Magnesium – relaxes the nervous system, reduces anxiety
Zinc – supports brain function and mood regulation
Selenium – antioxidant, stabilizes mood
Herbs & Roots:
Ashwagandha – adaptogen for stress relief
Rhodiola – energy and resilience against burnout
Valerian root – for rest and sleep
Ginseng – mental clarity and focus
Turmeric (curcumin) – anti-inflammatory for brain health
Ginger – circulation and mental alertness
St. John’s Wort – for mild depression (with medical caution for interactions)
Supplements:
Omega-3 fish oil or algae oil capsules
Probiotics for gut-brain axis health
L-theanine (from green tea) – calm alertness
5-HTP – supports serotonin (taken only under medical guidance)
Lifestyle & Natural Therapies:
Daily exercise: even 20–30 minutes of walking or light training improves mood
Sunshine: at least 15 minutes of direct light on skin daily for Vitamin D
Time in nature: forests, oceans, mountains – reset the nervous system
Deep breathing and meditation practices
Social connection and laughter – the best natural medicine
Dr. Kovač smiles: “These things together create resilience. Not one pill, but a lifestyle of balance. Medicine should not only be what we prescribe, but how we live.”
[Scene: Luka’s small clinic in Dalmatia. The Adriatic light spills in through the window. Vinko sits nervously on the chair across from Luka, who leans forward with a notebook, speaking softly but firmly.]
Luka: Vinko… listen to me. Cancer is a hard enemy. But the body is not helpless. Every choice you make — every sip, every bite — can tip the scales. Think of this as arming yourself for war.
Vinko: I’ll do whatever it takes, Luka. Tell me what I need.
Luka: First, water. Only clean, filtered, mineral-rich. If you can, alkaline water, pH seven or eight. Drink plenty. Hydration is your foundation.
Vinko: And food?
Luka: Fruits — nature’s medicine. Apricots, and yes, the apricot seeds… they contain compounds people believe can fight cancer. Berries — blueberries, raspberries, blackberries — full of antioxidants. Grapes with resveratrol, pomegranates rich in polyphenols, papaya with papain. Citrus fruits, apples with their skins. These are not luxuries; they are ammunition.
Vinko: I like apples.
Luka: Good. Eat them whole. Now vegetables. The cruciferous family — broccoli, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts — they carry compounds that break down cancer’s defenses. And don’t forget your allies: leeks, onions, garlic. These humble foods have power. Spinach, beets, carrots, tomatoes — each one a weapon.
Vinko: Garlic my grandmother always swore by.
Luka: She was right. The old ways knew truth. Then, herbs and roots. Turmeric — the golden spice, with curcumin to calm inflammation. Ginger for circulation, ginseng and astragalus to strengthen your immunity. Milk thistle protects your liver, moringa nourishes every cell. Burdock root, Essiac tea… these are old allies from many traditions. Green tea, especially matcha, fights with antioxidants.
Vinko: And supplements?
Luka: Yes. Vitamin D3 with K2 — most of us here are deficient. Vitamin C, even high doses under supervision, can help the immune system. Magnesium, zinc, selenium. Omega-3s from flax or fish oil. Probiotics for the gut. Medicinal mushrooms — reishi, shiitake, maitake, turkey tail — they teach your immune system how to fight. Coenzyme Q10 for your mitochondria.
Vinko: It’s a lot, Luka…
Luka: I know. But cancer thrives on weakness. We cut off its supply. That means no processed sugar, no refined white bread, no sausages full of nitrates, no trans fats, no chemicals, no alcohol. Only clean, real food.
Vinko: And the maple syrup and baking soda I heard about?
Luka: Yes… some use it. The theory is simple: cancer cells crave sugar, so maple syrup draws them in. The baking soda delivers alkalinity that disrupts them. It is controversial, not accepted in hospitals, but I have seen people try it. If you do, you do it carefully, in balance with everything else.
Vinko: So, food as medicine.
Luka: Exactly. Food, water, herbs, roots, supplements. And your spirit. You must believe you are not a victim, Vinko. You are a fighter. Every meal, every sip, every breath — you remind the cancer: I am stronger than you.
[Vinko nods, tears in his eyes. Luka puts a steady hand on his shoulder.]
Luka: We fight together. You, me, and every root and seed the earth gave us.
🌊 Water & Alkalinity
Alkaline water (pH ~7–8) – believed by some to help balance body pH.
Filtered spring water – clean, mineral-rich water supports detoxification.
Hydration – at least 2–3 liters daily for cellular health.
🍯 Alternative Remedies
Maple syrup + baking soda mixture – promoted in some alternative circles (controversial, no mainstream medical backing). Idea: maple syrup carries baking soda to cancer cells (since cancer feeds on sugar).
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) – alkalinizing agent, sometimes suggested in moderation.
🍎 Anti-Cancer Fruits
Apricots & apricot seeds (B17/laetrile/amygladin) – often cited in natural cancer circles.
Alcohol, artificial sweeteners, chemical additives.
⚕️ Summary in Luka’s style: “Vinko, the body is a battleground. You want to give it allies, not enemies. Clean water, whole foods, anti-inflammatory herbs, and immune-supporting roots — these are your weapons. Apricot seeds, garlic, turmeric, berries — they all have compounds that fight disease at the cellular level. Stay away from sugar and chemicals, because cancer feeds on weakness. And remember, this is not magic, it’s support. Your body and mind must fight together.”
