How many times have you heard that it’s better to get nutrients from food than from supplements? We completely agree! The problem is it’s hard to find real, unprocessed, unadulterated food grown in healthy soils, harvested at its peak and quickly delivered to your table. That’s why the National Academy of Sciences says supplements are necessary. But when real food is available, there’s nothing like it, and we recommend grabbing it with both hands. That’s especially so with a super-nutritious food like olive oil. Real, extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), unrefined and made from premium quality olives, contains more than a hundred different polyphenols, vitamins and other compounds that protect and repair the body as well as act as anti-inflammatories and antioxidants. But real EVOO is rare! Philip James, a leading nutrition researcher in Great Britain, is a proponent of the Mediterranean Diet, which, you’ve no doubt heard, is one of the healthiest diets in the world. The Mediterra…

It’s Heart Month at Beyond Health. We recently wrote about magnesium and the heart—that magnesium is essential for a healthy heart, and that magnesium deficiency is often the real cause of cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and even heart attacks. Unfortunately magnesium deficiency is epidemic today! It has been estimated that 3/4 of the US population doesn’t consume the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for magnesium. So 75% of us may not even be getting enough magnesium in our diets to prevent severe deficiency disease, let alone achieve optimal health. But add to that the many factors that prevent full utilization of the magnesium we consume (see article below) and you’ve got a real problem that affects almost everyone. But how can you tell if you’re deficient? The blood test most doctors will give you won’t tell you very much.  The body does everything it can to keep blood levels consistent, and will keep pulling magnesium out…

Consuming enough magnesium is only half the battle. For our bodies to utilize it, magnesium needs to be absorbed and get into our cells. However, when you’re deficient in magnesium, you face a paradox.  Cells need magnesium to correct systemic acidity and activate an enzyme that allows them to take up magnesium! Fortunately Raymond Francis’ friend, scientist Russell Jaffe, MD, PhD, found a way around this problem, by combining magnesium with choline citrate, Dr. Jaffe estimates that most people who need magnesium need to take it with choline citrate to benefit from it. This would include about half the population and the majority of people who are chronically ill. So although you will get magnesium in our Beyond Health Multi and Bone Formula, and a little more in our Vitamin C powder or tablets, if you’re experiencing any of the symptoms above, we strongly recommend taking Beyond Health Magnesium with our Choline Citrate. Start with 1 capsule of magnesium and a teaspoon of…

As we all know, weight loss is a HUGE market. There are 1,001 products and programs out there that promise to help our increasingly obese nation shed excess pounds. But, as Raymond Francis pointed out in his breakthrough book, Never Be Fat Again, most of them miss the mark. The only truly effective way to lose weight and keep it off is by addressing excess weight as a health issue. By shifting your focus to becoming truly healthy, the pounds fall off by themselves or are lost with minimal effort. Our bodies were built to be self-regulating. When each one of our cells is operating as it should, our appetites are regulated to eat only what we need; our thyroid glands regulate metabolism so that we burn most of the calories we consume as energy to maintain body temperature and to use as fuel; and many other body systems that affect weight, such as blood sugar, hormone balance, and pH, are regulated as well. The result? An ideal weight. So the trick to losing weight and keeping it o…

Who wants to bet that a thick, juicy steak would satisfy your appetite more completely than a bowl of beans and peas? If you bet on the steak, you would be wrong. A recent study proved it. The reason beans and peas were more satisfying?  Fiber! Researchers fed 43 healthy, normal-weight young men a pork/veal dinner. The meal was 19% protein, 53% carbohydrate and 28% fat, and supplied 6 grams of fiber. The men’s appetites were then scored every half hour for the next three hours. At that point, they were given a second meal and told to eat as much as they wanted. The next day, the same men were fed the same meal, except that the meat was replaced by beans and peas. Although the percentages of protein, carbohydrate and fat were the same as in the first meal, the fiber content was now 25 grams.  The men’s appetites were again monitored, and after three hours they were given a second meal and told to eat as much as they wanted. The results? The men reported being less h…

Children’s energy and zest for living make us adults feel alive and joyful. They seem to epitomize good health. But appearances can be deceiving. Like most Americans today, our children are suffering from poor nutrition and toxicity, the two causes of disease. And while children may appear invulnerable, nutrient deficiencies and toxic exposures are taking a silent and sometimes not-so-silent toll. The truth is that even though the knowledge exists to raise strong, healthy children, it is difficult to find a truly healthy child. Child poverty is a significant problem in the US, but even the children of affluent and highly-educated parents have multiple nutrient deficiencies based on government standards, which are already too low. Meanwhile, chemical use in America has gone up 2,000% over the past half century. More than 85,000 synthetic chemicals (only a tiny fraction of which have been tested for safety in humans) are now found in our air, water, soil, food, household furnish…

It may seem like a simple mathematical equation:  One pound equals about 3,500 calories. If you want to lose one pound, you simply eat less and/or exercise more so that you consume 3,500 less calories than you’re burning. But the truth is more complex. Although if you eat less and exercise more, you can lose weight, most people who take this limited approach have a hard time and often wind up like our friend Debby who reported, “I exhausted myself losing five pounds, but they found me again!” As Raymond Francis says in Never Be Fat Again, overweight is a disease, a disease that can only be cured by normalizing body chemistry. This is done by permanently adopting a holistic lifestyle that supplies the body with all the nutrients it needs to be healthy, and eliminates toxins that interfere with good health. A body in optimal health sustains self-healing, self-regulating mechanisms that automatically shed excess pounds and then maintain a healthy weight. Regular exercise is…

Beyond Health exists for one purpose: to help you get healthy and stay healthy. We’re here with information, products and the enthusiasm that comes from seeing and experiencing the dramatic changes in health and well-being that are possible. (That’s why we call it “beyond” health: we help people go “beyond” what they previously thought possible.) What we need to complete the picture is you! Your participation and feedback allow us to continue to improve our service. So we’re inviting you, as 2017 begins, to consider us your partner on a journey toward becoming stronger, healthier and happier. Let us know how we’re doing in meeting your health needs. We’re available by phone or email, and we want to hear from you. Has a supplement helped you? We want to know! Or has it not lived up to your expectations. We want to know that too. Often a little counseling will solve the problem. Do you have a criticism, suggestion, or question? Althou…

Feeling tired all the time? Cold intolerant? Depressed? Constipated? Losing your hair? Do you gain weight easily, or have muscle or joint pain, or are you forgetful and unable to concentrate? These are some of the major symptoms of hypothyroidism, a condition in which your thyroid gland is not producing enough thyroid hormone or not enough hormone is getting into your cells to do its job. If hypothyroidism is a problem for you, you may be surprised to learn that fluoride, which is dumped by the ton into much of our public water, was once used as a medication for deliberately suppressing thyroid function in cases of overactive thyroid. Why are we dumping a thyroid-suppressing drug into our public water?  Good question! Even the government’s National Research Council voiced concern about fluoride’s effects on the thyroid in a 2006 report. They found “clear evidence” that amounts of fluoride at or near levels added to US water present potential risks to the th…

Vitamin D Deficiency and the Rising Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Women Recent research from the Mayo Clinic has identified a concerning trend: rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is increasing among Caucasian women, and vitamin D deficiency appears to be a significant contributing factor. While rheumatoid arthritis is a complex autoimmune condition influenced by genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors, researchers noted that the most plausible explanation for the rising incidence is the increasing prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, particularly among women. Why Vitamin D Matters in Rheumatoid Arthritis Vitamin D plays a critical role in: Immune system regulation Inflammation control Bone and joint health Low vitamin D levels have been associated with increased autoimmune activity, which may help explain its link to rheumatoid arthritis. As vitamin D deficiency has become more common—due to indoor lifestyles, sun avoidance, and inadequate dietary intake—rates of im…

This month our Beyond Health Journey to become stronger and healthier has been all about taking time and space to relax, regroup and renew yourself. Whether that’s the traditional two weeks of vacation or taking time out of your day to have a “mindful cup to tea,” a bike ride, or simply a few minutes to sit outside in the sun (preferably barefoot), it all counts as a deposit in your health bank account. One more way you can build up your health savings account is by pacing yourself at work. You’ll also improve your productivity.  Who wouldn’t want to get more work done in less time, and feel healthier and happier to boot! Many of you know that sitting for prolonged periods of time isn’t healthy, and, based on the science, at Beyond Health we’ve recommended getting up and moving around a bit every fifteen minutes or so. But the mind needs a break too also. Over time, the quality of our attention diminishes unless we take short rest breaks. A 1999 study by Cornell Univers…

Taking showers can cause cancer! Twenty years ago the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) placed hot showers on their list of cancer sources. The main culprit was chlorine. Chlorine is a poisonous chemical, a bleaching agent. Sure, it does a great job of killing living things in our water, like bacteria and viruses. The problem is we’re living things too. Chlorine gas was used as a deadly weapon during World War I! Chlorine is a pro-oxidant that causes free radical damage in the body, a major factor in aging and in every kind of disease. Chlorine and its by-products have been linked with various forms of cancer, neurological issues, reproductive problems, heart disease (including atherosclerosis and hypertension), decreased immunity, allergies, hypothyroidism and lung problems. When you smell chlorine in your shower, it’s because it’s escaping into the air as chlorine gas. Since showers are usually poorly ventilated, chlorine gas concentrations can be quite high. In…

It’s been called “the most effective, potent way that we can improve quality of life and duration of life.” If it were a drug, “it would likely be the most valuable pharmaceutical ever developed.” It isn’t a new supplement or super food, and best of all it’s free. It’s . . . exercise! In a recent issue of Time magazine, reporter Mandy Outlander explored the cutting edge of exercise research with various experts who have become increasingly excited about “exercise as medicine.” His own research prompted the rave reviews above from genetic metabolic neurologist Dr. Mark Tarnopolsky at McMaster University in Ontario. That exercise is good for us isn’t exactly news, but Dr. Tarnopolsky hopes that by pointing out all its wonderful rewards, he may motivate us enough to jump up out of our chairs and actually do it! Rewards being documented are both immediate and long-term. Right after a short exercise session, measurable result…

How to Measure Your Omega-3 Status — And Why It Matters We’ve written extensively about the importance of a special family of fats known as omega-3 fatty acids—and for good reason. Omega-3s are found in: Flaxseeds and flax oil Green leafy vegetables Wild (non-farmed) fatty fish such as salmon, anchovies, herring, and sardines Decades of research show that adequate omega-3 levels are associated with better cardiovascular, metabolic, cognitive, immune, and inflammatory balance. Omega-3s play structural and regulatory roles in cell membranes, brain tissue, and immune signaling—making them foundational nutrients, not optional extras. Why Omega-3 Levels Matter More Than Intake Alone Many people assume that eating fish or taking fish oil automatically means they have sufficient omega-3s. In reality, intake does not always equal absorption or tissue incorporation. Genetics, digestion, inflammation, oxidative stress, omega-6 intake, and supplement quality all i…

As we arm ourselves for our battle with COVID-19, we must not forget zinc.  This is especially true for those over the age of 40, and the need increases with increasing age. According to the US Department of Agriculture, 73% of Americans are deficient in zinc, and deficiency is especially found in older people—even those who report taking zinc supplements.  Zinc is one of the foundation nutrients needed for building a strong immune system. Even a small deficiency can significantly impair immune function. Research over the past twenty years has shown that having adequate zinc reserves in cells inhibits replication of the coronavirus family of viruses, of which COVID-19 is a member. If a virus can’t replicate (reproduce itself), it can quickly and easily be eradicated by the immune system.  Zinc has also been shown to restore vigor to immune cells and to reduce excess inflammation. Controlling excess inflammation is extremely important in COVID-19 infections b…

A Healthier Year Starts With the Right Foundation No matter your age or current health status, every year offers a new opportunity to build better health than the year before. We know this is possible because we’ve worked with thousands of individuals who didn’t just recover from health challenges—but continued to improve year after year as they learned how to support their bodies properly. We’ve also seen people who began in good health move toward exceptional wellness by making consistent, informed choices. Across these success stories, one factor shows up again and again: A properly designed supplement program. Why Diet and Lifestyle Alone Are Often Not Enough A healthy diet, regular movement, stress management, detoxification, meaningful relationships, and minimizing toxic exposure are all essential pillars of wellness. But there’s one non-negotiable truth: Your body cannot build healthy new cells without the raw materials it requires. Vitamins, mi…

What could be more basic to health than breathing pure air and drinking pure water? Yet neither is found in the average home today! This is why we highly recommend both a high-quality air purifier (especially in your bedroom) and a system for treating drinking water for your home. The average American breathes in about two heaping tablespoons of airborne particles daily. And if you think driving in polluted traffic is bad, consider that most indoor air is two to five times, sometimes a hundred times, more polluted than outdoors. Building materials, carpets, furnishings, household appliances, water heaters and furnaces, fumes from household products and more contribute to indoor air pollution, increasing the risk of allergies, asthma, cancer, heart beat irregularities, immune suppression and even genetic mutations that are passed down to future generations. Our Austin Air Filters do a spectacular job in providing fresh, clean, healthy air. Most people order our Austin Air Healthm…

Addressing Root Causes Acne is not simply a skin issue; it’s closely connected to diet, hormones, inflammation, and gut health. Addressing these underlying factors often leads to meaningful improvement—without relying solely on long-term medications. How Diet Influences Acne Research shows that high-glycemic diets—those rich in refined sugars and rapidly absorbed carbohydrates—can worsen acne by disrupting normal hormone signaling. High-glycemic foods (such as refined bread, pasta, sweets, and sugary drinks) can: Rapidly raise blood sugar and insulin Increase IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1) Stimulate excess skin cell production, which can clog pores Increase androgen signaling, leading to higher oil (sebum) production Together, these effects can promote reminder breakouts and inflammation. Shifting toward a lower-glycemic, whole-food diet—emphasizing vegetables, quality proteins, healthy fats, and minimally processed foods—often suppo…