Squash, ginger, and other foods are very alkaline. Smoking is the most acidic thing you could do to a body. Alkalizing yourself can help diminish that problem. In order to digest proteins, digest out things like candida, etc. Some spices like turmeric and ginger may help here to warm up the circulation and help digest the protein, fats, etc.
Enzymes can help the process.
It was very interesting to me to read about some families with juvenile diabetics in our local paper last week. The father of one of the other diabetics is manager of a candy store. Very short and readable and the best explanation of how sugar, processed flour, and potatoes affect insulin that I've ever read. Dr. Barry Sears author of the Zone and Dr. Paul Kahl MD the majority of patients were off meds in three weeks. This was after follind an RD's program for 1-year.