. . . Thermography is safe and more accurate than mammography October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and women everywhere were prompted to run out and get mammograms “to prevent breast cancer.” However a December 2011 report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) warned women to avoid ionizing radiation (which mammograms expose them to) if they wanted to prevent breast cancer! What to make of this conflicting advice? It would seem to be a no-brainer: skip the mammogram and get tested with thermography, which is completely safe and more accurate.  But conventional medicine is still recommending mammograms! Based on the IOM report, a recent article in the Weill Cornell Medical College newsletter, Women’s Health Advisor, advises women to avoid unnecessary x-rays and CT scans. However, elsewhere in the same newsletter women are advised that getting mammograms is still worth the risk! They argue that radiation exposure from mammograms is very small compared to naturally occurring…

. . . few foods beat the beet for nutrition! Beets are a wonderful vegetable that we should all try to include frequently in our diets. High in glutamine, an amino acid that feeds and strengthens the intestinal lining, beets also contain a number of compounds that make them a tonic for both the liver and gallbladder and promote the activity of various antioxidant enzymes. The effect beets have on the liver is especially helpful to women since the liver metabolizes female hormones; many hormone problems are solved when the liver is detoxified and strengthened. Recent studies have also found beet juice boosts stamina and endurance during exercise, at least partly because it widens blood vessels (increasing blood flow and lowering blood pressure) and enables muscles to work more efficiently. In addition, beets are thought to fight cancer, help stabilize blood sugar and protect the heart. Normally, beets (both roots and greens) can be added to vegetable juice combinations, and shredd…

. . .  stay calm, cool and collected during the holidays!  Although some stress is beneficial, it’s all too easy to get too much. This is especially so at this time of year, when becoming burned out, overwhelmed and irritable is all too common. Not the way you want to celebrate the holidays! And what’s worse, excess stress can wreak havoc on endocrine, nervous, immune, gastrointestinal and other body systems, making you more vulnerable to disease and accelerating the aging process. Our November e-Zine offered tips on reducing stress, but what about the unavoidable stresses you can’t control? Wouldn’t it be great to be able to shield yourself from the negative effects of such stress simply by taking a magic pill? Well you can! There is a magic pill, called Rosavin™, that can protect you from the ravages of stress AND give you more energy, strength, stamina, better mental performance, and even a calmer, happier disposition!  It  may even help you lose excess weight, improve car…

. . .  for elegant dining during the holidays or any other time of year! Whether you want to lose a few pounds, prevent or reverse diabetes, protect your bones, reduce blood pressure and heart disease risk, or boost your immunity and fight cancer, balsamic vinegar can help. But what you’ll love our balsamic for during this holiday season (or at any time of year) is its rich, complex taste that complements just about any fruit or vegetable. Here are just a few of the many ways balsamic can turn ordinary fruits and vegetables into something extraordinary and memorable: *Spoon balsamic vinegar over baked pears, or fresh strawberries or peaches. *Add to steamed vegetables in place of butter and salt. *Combine tomato wedges with strawberries, fresh basil and balsamic vinegar. *Blanch spinach, drain and shock in ice water. Squeeze dry, chop and toss with toasted pine nuts, raisins, olive oil and a tiny bit of balsamic vinegar. Add capers if you like. An especially winnin…

. . . but it’s just one more cost of doing business When GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) paid the government a record $3 billion last July in settlement of numerous violations of the False Claims Act (FCA), including concealing data on fatal cardiovascular side effects of their diabetes drug Avandia, it was just business as usual. In fact, Sidney M. Wolfe, MD, of Public Citizen, reports that on the heels of the huge pay-out’s announcement, GSK’s stock price rose to a near 52-week high. Investors knew that even billion-dollar fines are a drop in the bucket compared to the multi billion-dollar profits enjoyed by the drug industry. According to the US Department of Justice, the pharmaceutical industry is the biggest defrauder of the federal government under the FCA, as measured by the size of civil and criminal settlements reached yearly. Consumer advocate organization Public Citizen, which has been tracking fines paid by Big Pharma, found that the amounts of these fines have been escalating…

. . .  35% of breast cancer goes undetected in women with dense breasts! Do you or a loved one have dense breasts? A 2010 Harris Poll found that 95% of women haven’t a clue, and that very few doctors discuss breast density with their patients. However about 40% of women have “dense breasts,” which some studies indicate may increase their risk of breast cancer. What exactly makes breasts “dense?” Whereas most breasts are composed of 75% or more fatty tissue, dense breasts contain more milk-producing glands and connective tissue than fat. Mammograms are not very good at detecting cancerous growths in women who have dense breasts.  A 2007 study found that as breast density goes up, the accuracy of mammograms goes down; as a result, about 35% of breast cancer in women with dense breasts goes undetected. While fatty tissue appears dark on a mammogram, dense tissue appears white. Since cancerous growths also appear white, according to Kemi Babagbemi, MD, at Cornell Medical College,…

. . . our products are chosen for their safety and effectiveness For more than twenty years, I’ve looked for exceptional skincare products that first do no harm and second achieve claimed results. While most skincare product manufacturers use inexpensive short-cuts – toxic chemicals that can add to your overall body burden of toxins and be directly harmful to your skin, our products contain only ingredients that benefit and nourish both the body generally and the skin specifically. It costs more to do it right, but we believe the results are worth it. We offer 4 different options in bars of soap – 3 kinds of Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Soap (Citrus Orange, Lavender and Unscented) and Olivella Fragrance Free Soap. What these four soaps have in common is the complete absence of harsh chemicals that dry the skin and the presence of nourishing oils that plump up skin cells to produce a silky-smooth skin surface. While Olivella is 100% pure olive oil, the Dr. Bronner’s soaps combine or…

. . . diet is by far the most important factor in keeping your skin hydrated, smooth and supple In winter, we may go from icy cold winds outside to dry, forced air heat inside. Extreme temperatures – both hot and cold – dry the skin. Add age to the mix (as we age, our skin becomes less efficient at producing lubricating oils), and it’s not surprising that many people suffer from dry skin during the winter months. Dryness intensifies fine lines on your face, making you look older; the skin can feel rough and appear dull and flaky. In some people, skin dryness gets so bad that the outer skin layer becomes leathery and cracks, especially on hands and feet. Apart from being quite painful, these lesions compromise the skin’s barrier function, permitting entry to germs and other irritating substances, often leading to infections. Here are 8 ways to keep your skin soft, supple and well-hydrated, even during winter: 1.  First and foremost, consume enough healthy fat, especially ess…

. . . it can save your brain Here’s a reminder that something as simple as brushing your teeth after meals can have a significant impact on your health. Researchers followed more than 5,000 older adults for 18 years, and found that people who brushed their teeth less than once daily were up to 65% more apt to develop dementia than those who brushed three times daily. Although they weren’t sure why this was so, the researchers hypothesized that it was related to bacteria that accumulate on the teeth and gums. Oral bacteria have been previously associated with increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke. While I don’t want to discourage good oral hygiene, I can’t help but think of Weston A. Price.  Dr. Price was an American dentist who spent his retirement years in the 1930s traveling the world with his wife in search of answers to questions about diet and dental health. He was especially interested in people living in traditional cultures and those who had transitioned…

Kale is a sturdy winter green that is chock full of nutrition. Combining olive oil with kale is a nutrient bonanza! Both supply lots of phytonutrients (kale alone provides over 45 different flavonoids) and antioxidants. As well as being higher than most green vegetables in vitamin C, kale is rich in carotenoids, like eye-healthy lutein, zeaxanthin and beta-carotene, and in vitamin K; olive oil facilitates the absorption of these fat-soluble nutrients. Kale also contains several times as much calcium as milk per calorie, and about half as much per unit of volume; the bioavailability of calcium from kale is better than from pasteurized milk. SIMPLE KALE SALAD Ingredients: 1 bunch of dinosaur kale (it’s less bitter than curly kale). 3 tablespoons Beyond Health Olive Oil Pinch or two of Selina Celtic Sea Salt Juice from 1 lemon Serves 2 unless you add more ingredients In a large bowl, combine kale, olive oil, lemon juice and sea salt. Massage kale with your hands for a few m…

. . . time to retire this old saw Although you’ll still hear the old saw about getting all the nutrition you need from food, in fact it’s virtually impossible today. (For the reasons why, see my report, The Roadmap to Choosing Supplements.) More and more establishment sources are calling a multivitamin a necessity. Case in point is the lead researcher in a new study from Harvard on multivitamins and cancer, J. Michael Gaziano, MD, MPH, who said in a recent news briefing, “Our main message is that the main reason to take a multivitamin is to prevent nutritional deficiency.” This study, by the way, which followed 15,000 men over the age of 50 for four years, found that taking a low-cost multivitamin reduced their risk of getting cancer by 8% (prostate cancer by 12%). Those are good results, but just imagine what that percentage could be on one of our high-quality multis plus the vitamin C and essential fatty acids found in the Basic Wellness Kit! In addition to a world-class…

. . . a rebounder could be just what you need! Some of you may have conditions that greatly limit your ability to exercise. Arthritis, a “bad back”, sciatica, severe fatigue, frailty, considerable excess weight and other handicaps can make you feel that exercise is beyond you. In such cases, doing infrared saunas can provide some of the benefits of exercise, not just the sweating, which is so beneficial to detoxification, but also by dilating blood vessels, saunas improve circulation and reduce blood pressure. If you’re trying to lose excess weight, saunas can burn up to 600 calories in just half an hour! Meanwhile, they can improve energy and alleviate joint stiffness. But no matter what condition you’re in, moving is still important for you. Spending a few minutes several times a day moving what you can move comfortably and easily – never pushing yourself into pain – is extremely valuable and can lead to gradually extending your range of movement. If you’re able to stand, I’…

. . . What's the difference? If you get the 25(OH)D test for vitamin D status that we urge everyone to get, you’re likely to find you’re deficient. It’s also likely your doctor will offer you a prescription for Drisdol, a synthetic form of vitamin D. Thank your doctor, but call us rather than fill that prescription. Drisdol is vitamin D2, a form of vitamin D that is less effective than vitamin D3 (the form of vitamin D we carry) and may even be harmful. There are two basic forms of vitamin D – vitamin D2 and vitamin D3. D3 (cholecalciferol) is the preferred form. It’s what’s made in our skin from sunlight; it’s also found in eggs, organ meats, animal fat and fish oil. Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) is synthesized by irradiating yeast or fungi. It isn’t generally found in the human body. Because it’s easier and less expensive to manufacture, D2 is the form most often used for food fortification and in medications. But it’s more difficult for the body to utilize and may even be detrim…

. . . let's make the common cold rare! Although viral infections are considered normal, they’re actually quite unusual among cultures where people consume a healthy diet and follow a healthy way of life. Likewise, people I’ve worked with who follow the Beyond Health lifestyle rarely get colds, and I myself have had only two colds in 27 years. How do you eliminate colds and the flu from your life? By building and maintaining a superior level of health and immunity. Your diet should be 80% alkaline, with plenty of fresh, raw vegetables and fruits, as well as beans, legumes, nuts, seeds and healthy oils. Avoid allergens (every allergic reaction weakens your immunity) and omit the Big Four (sugar, wheat, processed oils and dairy/excessive animal protein). Eating sugar alone is enough to knock out your immune defenses for the next 6-8 hours, yet each American now consumes an average of 160 pounds a year (one big reason colds have become “normal”). Get on a high-quality basic sup…

. . . why gluten in your diet could be making you fat! The buzz at the Beyond Health office these days is from customers who tell us they’ve been losing 10, 20 and even 30 pounds by doing nothing else except cutting out wheat! Of course we’re all biologically unique, and this doesn’t work for everyone, but wheat (and the gluten in wheat) isn’t healthy for anyone, so if you’re looking to lose excess weight, going gluten-free is certainly worth a try! Why would eating wheat make you fat? Well, you might be one of the up to 50% of the US population that has a gluten allergy or sensitivity and is “gluten intolerant.” Food allergies and sensitivities can cause both water and fat retention. I’ve known people who lost almost 10 pounds in the first week after giving up gluten, most of it water-weight. It takes longer to release the fat, but that comes off in time too. Also, we often become addicted to foods we’re allergic to, leading to intense cravings for these very foods and compul…

. . . drinking it daily is good for you! Wine, especially red wine, is less problematic than chocolate. You can drink it every day, and it’s actually good for you! . . . as long as it’s in moderation. Alcohol is a toxin, and while we can tolerate small amounts in order to get its benefits, most women should limit their daily wine consumption to one 5-ounce glass; most men two. Actually any alcoholic drink is potentially beneficial. A 5-ounce glass of wine, a 12-ounce stein of beer, or a cocktail made with 1-1/4 ounces of 80 proof liquor daily – all have been variously connected with longer life, increased HDL (the “healthy” cholesterol), thinner blood (less clotting), improved insulin sensitivity, beneficial effects on bone mineral density, and significant reductions in the risk for both heart and Alzheimer’s disease, all because of their alcohol content. Wine is particularly healthy because of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phenols found in grapes. The “French Paradox”…

. . . women who ate more chocolate had less heart disease! Yet another study has found that eating chocolate is good for you. Researchers in Australia observed more than a thousand older women (average age 75) for 10 years. About half of them habitually ate chocolate. The study found that the women who consumed chocolate most frequently were much less likely to develop heart disease – including ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, and atherosclerotic plaques in the carotid artery – than women who rarely ate chocolate. The frequent chocolate eaters were also much less likely to be hospitalized or die from heart disease. Why is chocolate healthy? It’s the flavonoids. Cocoa, the main ingredient in chocolate, is very high in heart-healthy flavonoids. If you want to get the most flavonoids, get dark chocolate with over 70% cacao (avoid white and milk chocolate). Of course you don’t have to rely on chocolate to get flavonoids. Green tea, wine and grape juice, garlic, an…

. . . many heart conditions have been reversed or significantly improved In honor of Valentine’s Day, we’re making February “heart health” month at Beyond Health, and there’s no better supplement for heart health than Coenzyme Q10, better known as CoQ10. If you have heart problems, you would do well to take 200-300 mg a day of this wonderful supplement. This is especially true if you’re taking statin drugs, because statins deplete the body of CoQ10. Although our bodies make CoQ10, CoQ10 production drops off more and more with age. By the age of 50, anyone with a chronic disease or experiencing energy problems should start taking at least 100 mg a day. CoQ10’s main function lies in the production of energy, so it’s needed everywhere in the body, but the need is greatest in our most metabolically active tissues, such as heart muscle. What most forms of heart disease have in common is low energy production in the heart muscle cells, leading to a condition called “energy-starved hear…