Question: I have tremendous allergic rhinitis.  I am congested most of the time.  I eat healthy, use supplementation, and exercise.  I live in a polluted city, but in a green area, outside of the center of the city.  What could be wrong? – Internet Answer:   I have had much success in helping myself and others to eliminate allergies.  First and foremost, you need to strengthen your immune system and reduce inflammation.  Implementing the lifestyle suggestions in my books is vital to your success.  Elimination of sugar, wheat, processed oils and dairy/excessive animal proteins (the Big Four) must occur.  You will need to replace these with fresh produce and other whole foods, including good oils like coconut, olive, flax and fish oils.  In addition, you need to take our pure and biologically active Multi-Vitamin and powdered Vitamin C to bowel tolerance along with our Immune Support Kit.  You will need large amounts of these until your immune competence has been restored. I sug…

Today’s “baby boomer” generation wants to look good and age gracefully, without suffering from the same debilitating and chronic conditions as their parents. Yes, you can age with vitality! We all age over time, but the rate at which we age is a choice. Good health slows the aging process, causing one to feel and look younger. Poor diets, toxic exposures, stress, and lack of exercise all conspire to “age” a human body beyond its years. That’s why aging, as most of us experience it, relates more to disease than chronology. Very simply, a healthy body will maintain healthy, youthful skin. The Skin as a Barometer The skin acts like a barometer for the body, revealing much about overall health. You may not think of your skin as an organ, but in fact it is the largest organ you have. It is also one of the most essential. When intact, skin provides a nearly germ proof barrier to protect us against microorganisms and it also prevents moisture loss. Body temperature is regulated by blood…

. . . many cases of hypothyroidism go undiagnosed You’re troubled with fatigue, cold hands and feet, headaches, dry and rough skin, hair loss, and to top it all off, you’re overweight but the scale refuses to budge no matter how much you cut back on the calories. Someone suggests you might be hypothyroid, so you go to your doctor. Your doctor gives you “the test” and later reports that the results are normal. But if you have several of the above symptoms, or others like edema, muscle aches, decreased libido, poor concentration, poor digestion, insomnia, memory loss, hoarseness and/or anxiety or depression, don’t accept this verdict as final! You may have “subclinical hypothyroidism,” a hypothyroid condition that may not be detected by the usual lab tests. Yet according to a recent article in the Archives of Internal Medicine, subclinical hypothyroidism is a significant risk factor for heart disease. Other problems associated with subclinical hypothyroidism (and regular hypothyroi…

. . . resisting the stealthy encroachment of middle-age spread! I’m not going to lie. If you’re a woman whose had weight problems all her life, it’s not going to get any easier once you hit forty and beyond. Even women who’ve never been overweight tend to gain 7-10 pounds after menopause. Your metabolic rate decreases with age – as much as 5-15%. There’s also a tendency to lose muscle mass, and less muscle burns less fat. Adrenal and thyroid functions tend to decline as well, contributing to a slower metabolism. Declining estrogen levels affects weight distribution in your body; fat no longer gravitates to your hips and thighs but centers in your waist and belly – the unhealthiest site for fat accumulation. Fortunately, if you take a proactive approach you can prevent and minimize “middle-age spread.” Start out by reading or rereading my book Never Be Fat Again for the fundamentals of weight loss. For preventing weight gain or losing weight after the age of 40, exercise…

. . . four nutritional factors shown to help preserve muscle It’s not just bone loss we need to be concerned about as we age. Loss of muscle mass, or sarcopenia, often increases with age and can lead to weakness and eventually diminished ability to take care of daily tasks. It’s also a risk factor for falls and fractures. Although resistance exercise is the standard prescription for maintaining muscle, a new review from Osteoporosis International found nutrition also important in keeping muscles strong. The researchers looked at studies involving hundreds of thousands of patients and found evidence that four nutritional factors help preserve muscle as we age: Adequate protein Systemic alkalinity Vitamin D Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid The researchers estimated that about half a gram of protein per pound of body weight was optimal for an aging population, primarily from plant sources. They advised limiting animal protein, as well as sugar and grains (all acidifying), and…

. . . yum, yum - a quick and refreshing tomato-basil cold summer soup recipe Do you think being healthy requires spending hours in the kitchen chopping vegetables? Not if you have a powerful blender, like a VitaMix. Instead of chopping up vegetables for a salad, try chopping them just small enough so they fit into the VitaMix. Add oil and lemon juice or vinegar and some purified water, and make yourself a delicious cool summer soup. For a warmer soup, simply let the VitaMix run on high until the carafe is warm from the heat generated by the mixing action. Here’s a recipe that can be ready in minutes. The trick to making it delicious is to use top-quality ingredients. Be sure to get fresh, juicy, organic ripe tomatoes at your local farmers market (maybe heirlooms?), or sign up with a nearby farm to get fresh produce delivered to your home. Tomatoes are most flavorful in the summer months and when picked ripe. Look for tomatoes that are fairly firm, smooth and heavy for their si…

. . . yet another reason for including olive oil in your diet Olive oil is well known for preventing heart disease, lowering cholesterol and blood pressure and thinning the blood. It’s also known for helping to prevent various cancers, for its positive effects on digestion, and for being conducive to weight loss. But does it also have a protective effect on bone health? A recent two-year study suggests the answer is yes. Spanish researchers looking at the cardiovascular effects of the Mediterranean Diet in 127 older men (ages 55-80), randomly assigned them to one of three different diets: a low-fat control diet or a Mediterranean Diet with either about 3 tablespoons of olive oil a day or about an ounce of nuts. After two years on these diets, only the olive oil supplemented group showed improved markers of bone health. The Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter quotes the researchers as saying, “This is the first randomized study which demonstrates that olive oil preserves bon…

. . . removing body parts to prevent disease is neither necessary nor advisable When told by her doctor that she had a mutated BRCA1 gene and an 87% chance of getting breast cancer, famous movie star Angelina Jolie says she “decided to be proactive and minimize the risk as much as I could. I made a decision to have a preventive double mastectomy.” Her husband, Brad Pitt, called her choice “heroic,” and she has been hailed as a role model for women who want to take an active role in informing themselves about their health and exploring all of their options. While we applaud Ms. Jolie’s courage and her desire to be proactive, we think she has made a big mistake and may have actually increased her risk of getting cancer. We wish she had consulted another celebrity, Suzanne Sommers, who beat already diagnosed breast cancer with good nutrition and other alternative means. Removing body parts to prevent disease is neither necessary nor advisable. In fact, since surgery greatly suppr…

. . . it's estimated that more than 30% of the US population does Just what we need, a new epidemic! A disease that didn’t even have a name until 1980, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) has been claiming more and more victims, and is now estimated to affect 30-40% of Americans including increasing numbers of teenagers. Unless it becomes quite advanced, it usually has no symptoms other than fatigue, general malaise, or an occasional feeling of fullness or dull pain on the right side of the abdomen just below the rib cage. Yet it is a silent source of chronic inflammation and free radical stress, and significantly elevates risk for serious, sometimes fatal, liver disease, as well as for heart disease, diabetes and cancer. NAFLD is thought to be caused primarily by obesity, lack of exercise, poor diet and nutrient deficiency. If you’re overweight, insulin resistant or have diabetes or metabolic syndrome, you are at particular risk. Metabolic syndrome is defined as having thr…

. . . shown to have limitations, the BBT is still helpful Since the 1940s, alternative healthcare practitioners have recommended the basal body temperature (BBT) developed by Broda Otto Barnes, MD for thyroid testing. Patients were instructed to keep a non-digital thermometer at bedside and, moving as little as possible, take their underarm temperature first thing in the morning for ten minutes. A temperature below 97.8° F was considered an indication of hypothyroidism; a temperature above 98.2° F an indication of hyperthyroidism. Broda Barnes was an outstanding clinician/scientist, and the test he developed was the most accurate for its time. However according to Dr. Alan Christianson, author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Thyroid Disease, it has since been found to have significant limitations. Regulation of body heat, Christianson says, is a multifaceted process. While the thyroid is the key player in this process, various hormones and messenger molecules factor in, as do…

The allergy season is upon us and people are responding with sneezing, wheezing, sinus problems, itchy eyes, and other symptoms. Some grin and bear it, some take antihistamines, and others seek desensitization shots. Most of us think of allergies as a nuisance or even a normal part of life. Few realize that allergies are virtually unknown among healthy populations, and that allergies are serious immune dysfunction diseases with profound, long-term implications. An allergic reaction is actually a significant event. The allergic immune response consumes a lot of precious chemicals and energy that would be better put to use doing daily repairs to the body. Chemicals produced by an allergic reaction are damaging to health. Frequent reactions will create conditions leading to other diseases, infections, loss of normal energy levels, and shorter life span. The formation of immune complexes is just one example of the myriad things that happen during and after an allergic reaction. These…

. . . Be careful about the form of vitamin D you choose We need more real food, not more engineered fake foods, but here’s one more third-rate food choice coming down the pike. The FDA recently granted a petition from bread manufacturers to use irradiated yeast to boost vitamin D levels in bread to about 125 IU a slice. Almost all bread is a toxic food choice to begin with, and the synthetic form of vitamin D (vitamin D2) used to fortify foods is not the form of vitamin D you want to be taking. The one bright spot in all of this is that government authorities are beginning to recognize the value of vitamin D. The latest update from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) concedes that vitamin D has many more roles in the body than merely helping calcium get absorbed and incorporated in bones. The NIH information now states that vitamin D is important in the modulation of cell growth, in neuromuscular and immune function, and in the reduction of inflammation. The vitamin D form…

Question: I have been hearing recently that calcium supplements can harm you by forming calcium deposits in your brain and arteries.  Is this true? – Internet Answer:   Yes, it is true if you use the wrong kind of calcium.  That’s why we use only organic calcium in our supplements.  Beyond Health’s calcium is reacted with organic acids to produce molecules are identical to the calcium found in produce – organic calcium.  Most calcium supplements are dangerous, because it is rare to find supplements with calcium that is an organic form, as ours is. The body doesn’t know how to handle the inorganic calcium, and it can easily be deposited where it shouldn’t be, like in the arteries.  The body does know how to handle the organic form, including getting rid of it if there is too much. Our position is that deposition of calcium in the soft tissue is caused by faulty calcium metabolism.  Here are some of the things that can cause faulty calcium metabolism: Using a poor form of…

Question: Is there a safe way to treat menopausal hot flashes? – C. S. – Topeka, KS Answer:   There are a number of approaches to reduce hot flashes, but the most simple, inexpensive and least complicated is to do regular meditation.  In other words, get your stress levels down every day.  Another technique is electro acupuncture.  You can purchase your own electro acupuncture devise and learn how and where to apply it. Both of these techniques have been proven effective in studies.  A 2007 study at University Hospital in Linkoping, Sweden found that both techniques, when used together, provided a significant reduction in hot flashes, as compared to the placebo group.…

Question: Is it safe to take human growth hormone? – B.T. – Roswell, GA Answer:   Human growth hormone (HGH) is highly advertised and a popular-selling product. HGH is produced by the anterior pituitary gland in the brain.  It promotes tissue repair, cell regeneration in the bones, muscles and vital organs, and supports the immune system in combating infection and disease.  As we age, our HGH levels decline to a fraction of the levels of our youth.  Many in modern medicine believe that supplementing our diets with HGH is an effective way to avoid the diseases and conditions associated with aging and improve vitality and appearance. Buyers are told the HGH will improve immune, brain and heart function, boost energy, remove wrinkles and help shed body fat.  I don’t buy it!  If you want to increase HGH in your body, moderate exercise will double it and vigorous exercise will triple it.  Playing games with hormones is not recommended.  The chemistry is too complex and you have no…

. . . only two are recommended There are only two forms of B12 we recommend: methylcobalamin is the form used by the body; hydroxocobalamin is a storage form from which methylcobalamin is made. Our B12/Folate formula combines fast-acting methylcobalamin with long-lasting hydroxocobalamin for maximum coverage. The most common form of B12 is cyanocobalamin. Used in low-quality supplements, cyanocobalamin is not a good source of B12 and can even break down into toxic cyanide in the body. The biggest danger of taking B12 in the form of cyanocobalamin is you may think you are getting the B12 you need, but you aren't because of its low biological activity. In addition, our B12/Folate comes in a sublingual tablet. This allows the B12 to be absorbed directly through the mucous membranes of the mouth and avoids various absorption problems caused by low stomach acid, lack of intrinsic factor, leaky gut and gut inflammation. Our sublingual can be used in place of painful shots as it is j…

REPRINTED FROM BEYOND HEALTH® News by Raymond Francis Diabetes, a metabolic disorder affecting carbohydrate metabolism, is an out-of-control epidemic. It doesn’t have to be this way. Diabetes is both preventable and reversible. About 18 million Americans have diabetes. Another 16 million have pre-diabetes, and about one-out-of-three people with diabetes are unaware they have it. Type 2 (adult onset) diabetes is the most common form, and it has become epidemic in our children, with alarming increases in the last decade. Type 2 diabetes has been transformed from a disease of older people to a disease of children and young adults. An American child born in 2000 stands a one-in-three chance of being diagnosed with diabetes in his or her lifetime. Finding out you have diabetes can be scary because diabetes is a nasty disease. Diabetics suffer from high levels of free radicals, and oxidative stress is central to the damage caused by diabetes. It is a silent killer that causes lif…

REPRINTED FROM BEYOND HEALTH® News by Raymond Francis Inflammation is one of the common denominators of disease. Every chronic disease is an inflammatory disease. No matter what so-called disease you have, from cancer to the common cold, inflammation is a major part of your problem. Learning how to prevent and reverse inflammation will go a long way toward preventing and reversing almost all disease, as well as slowing the aging process, keeping us healthy, biologically young and vigorous for a lifetime. Unfortunately, most Americans suffer from chronic inflammation, caused by a variety of factors that seriously undermine health and ages us prematurely. Resulting from an “inflammatory cascade,” common inflammatory diseases include allergies, Alzheimer’s, asthma, arthritis, autoimmune diseases, bursitis, cancer, cervicitis, colitis, cystitis, diabetes, gastritis, heart disease, hepatitis, infections, myocarditis, nephritis, neuritis, osteoporosis, prostatitis, sinusitis, tendon…