. . . plus, one more reason choosing to breastfeed benefits newbornsIodine deficiency is a global problem. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 72% of the world’s population is iodine deficient. In the U.S. alone—according to the most recent CDC National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES)—the number of people with moderate to severe iodine deficiency (<50ug/L urinary iodine concentrations) increased some 300% since 1970.Iodine is essential for cell metabolism. But it’s better known for its role in regulating the rate of metabolism and production of thyroid hormones. Given this critical role in thyroid function, it’s no wonder we’ve seen an explosion of thyroid disease. Additionally, iodine deficiency is known to cause birth defects, reduced mental capacities, ADD, autism, increased risk of breast, prostate, ovarian, and other cancers, infertility, and more.Now, here’s more reason to be concerned about the most vulnerable in our society…our children.Why is iodine so import…

For many people, fear of senility and dementia trumps even the fear of death, and there is justification for their concern. Alicia Munnell, director of the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, recently advised retirees to plan for the fact that currently more than half of men and women over the age of 80 have either dementia or such serious cognitive impairment that they are unable to handle their own finances. Rates of Alzheimer's Disease are skyrocketing. A 2007 Johns Hopkins University study estimated that by 2050, one in every 85 people will have the disease -- that's 4 times the prevalence found in 2006. A recent survey published in the British Medical Journal found that mental decline begins in the mid 40s for most people. These investigators predicted that the average person will lose 20% of their cognitive ability between the ages of 45 and 75. But are you the average person? I hope not! The average person is eating a toxic and nutrient deficient d…

Introduction:The antibacterial triclosan has become ubiquitous in our environment, showing up in tap water, breast milk and in the body fluids of ¾ of those tested in the US. Initially used to prevent bacterial infections in hospitals, it’s now found in soaps, toothpastes, kitchen utensils, toys, bedding and anywhere else that manufacturers believe it will bolster the price of their products. Already shown to be an endocrine disrupter that prevents thyroid hormone from functioning normally, a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences indicates that triclosan hinders muscle contractions at the cellular level by impairing the flow of calcium into and out of the cells.Experimentation:A series of experiments in this and other studies have exposed mice, fish, minnows and human cardiac and skeletal muscle tissue to concentrations of triclosan similar to what the average person is exposed to daily. Results were similar throughout: muscles failed to contract pr…

. . . you betcha!When Raymond Francis’ book Never Be Fat Again was published in 2007, it was the first weight loss book we know of to treat toxins as a significant cause of obesity. The connection between chemical toxins and weight gain had already been reported in the scientific literature but was still unknown to most of us. In 2006, Dr. Bruce Blumberg of the University of California at Irvine coined the term “obesogen” after discovering that a chemical used in wood preservatives could cause pregnant mice to have fat baby mice – effects which persisted throughout their lives. Obesogens are chemicals that alter metabolism in favor of fat accumulation or impact hunger leading to overeating.In a report for the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy published this past July, Kathleen Schuler, MPH, reviewed recent research confirming the obesogenic nature of four common chemicals:Bisphenol A (BPA): Found in polycarbonate plastic (the kind of plastic used in large water bottles an…

The only thing that is constant is change ― Heraclitus We may not feel that different from day to day, but our bodies are constantly changing, breaking down old cells and tissues and replacing them with new cells and tissues.  Part of this constant change is self-repair. Have you ever marveled at how a cut or bruise heals, usually leaving no trace of injury, without your having to do a thing? But our bodies need two things from us to perform these miracles—good nutrition to supply the right raw materials, and protection from toxins. Lacking either, repairs can’t be made properly and instead of healing, the body begins to break down.   Inflammation is part of the repair process, and when repairs are complete, inflammation disappears.  But when repairs are incomplete, inflammation becomes chronic. It then causes chronic pain and further damage that elicits more inflammation in a vicious cycle. This is what happens in arthritic joints.  It isn’t “old a…

. . . and most Americans are extremely deficient in these fatsThere’s a lot more to optimal thyroid function than having enough thyroid hormone, and a recent study demonstrates this point. Rats supplemented with fish oil over about 3 months were compared with rats fed the same number of calories without fish oil. The fish oil-fed rats were leaner. They also had lower triglycerides and cholesterol. Although thyroid hormone levels were similar in the two groups, the activity of an enzyme involved in thermogenesis stimulated by thyroid hormone was higher in the fish oil group. Thus, fish oil optimizes the way thyroid hormone burns fat.In commenting on this study, Byron Richards, CCN, said it confirmed his clinical experience that fish oil, especially the DHA in fish oil, improves metabolism. He noted, however, that many times individuals need to get quite a lot before weight loss kicks in – sometimes as much as 2,000–3,000 milligrams of DHA a day. This is probably because most people eati…

You probably associate getting enough fiber—the non-digestible “roughage” we get from plant foods—with good elimination. You may also know that fiber helps maintain a healthy weight by filling you up so you eat fewer calories, or even that fiber helps to maintain good cholesterol levels. But how can eating fiber strengthen your immunity?The answer is that fiber nourishes the trillions of beneficial bacteria (probiotics) that live in our intestines, where they are a crucial part of our immune systems. Anywhere from 60-80% of immune system activity takes place in the intestines, where probiotics attack pathogens with powerful antimicrobial substances. These substances are often as powerful as the strongest antibiotic medications, but they don’t kill off good gut bacteria as is done by antibiotic drugs.According to Rachel Begun, MS, RDN, quoted in a recent issue of Environmental Nutrition, various aspects of modern life have altered gut microflora, damaging immunity and leading to signifi…

In fact, you may recall how we discredited their latest nonsense declaring multivitamins useless for preventing disease and confirmed the integrity of quality supplements for restoring health. Now, two researchers—collaborating with the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN)—set out to determine if supplement users are any healthier than non-users. Study shows supplement users make better health decisions This latest research published earlier this year in Nutrition Journal comes to us courtesy of Annette Dickinson, food science and nutrition consultant and professor at the University of Minnesota, and Douglas MacKay, VP of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs at the CRN. Citing recent studies and media accounts claiming supplements provide no preventative benefits against disease, these researchers wanted to see how consumer health choices related to their use of supplements. So, they conducted a large-scale analysis of previous research published in 20 separate peer-re…

. . . It's not nice to fool Mother Nature!Elizabeth Plourde, PhD, author of the book Sunscreens – Biohazard: Treat as Hazardous Waste, is on a campaign to expose the truth about sunscreens. Touted for protecting against cancer and photoaging (sun damage to skin), sunscreens, says Plourde, do the exact opposite. Since the introduction of sunscreens, the number of annual skin cancers has greatly increased, and damage done by sunscreens encourages the fine lines and wrinkles, sagging and loss of tone, dryness, and roughness that characterize skin aging.It’s not that radiation from the sun can’t potentially cause both cancer and photoaging. These can both be caused by the sun’s rays creating free radicals in the skin. But from time immemorial, Mother Nature has had that covered. Antioxidants protect against free radical damage, and Mother Nature has provided us with plenty of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables to consume. She’s also arranged for the sun’s rays to stimulate the conversi…

REPRINTED FROM BEYOND HEALTH® Newsby Raymond FrancisOverviewCholesterol does not cause heart disease. The French have the highest average cholesterol in Europe, around 250, but the lowest incidence of heart disease and half the heart attacks we have here in the U.S. In Crete, the home of the healthy Mediterranean diet, a 10-year study failed to find a single heart attack despite average cholesterol levels well over 200. There are as many heart attacks in people with cholesterol levels over 300 as those whose levels are under 200. Half of all heart attacks occur in people with normal cholesterol levels.Lowering cholesterol does not improve health outcomes. In those cases where cholesterol lowering drugs called statins appear to have had a beneficial effect, it is because they act as weak anti-inflammatories, and inflammation does cause heart disease. But there are much safer and more effective ways of addressing inflammation than using dangerous statin drugs.  Why then are more tha…

. . . healthy blood levels of vitamin D are important to both young and old. Vitamin D is one of many nutrients needed to keep muscles, joints and bones healthy. In fact a D deficiency can be a factor in a vast array of health problems ranging from diabetes to depression, to allergies and other immune system problems, to kidney or lung disease and neurological issues, to name but a few. Therefore it's not surprising that a recent study in The Journal of Gerontology found a 30% increased risk of mobility limitation and almost double the risk for mobility disability in older adults with low vitamin D levels. This study followed 2,000 men and women aged 70-79 for 6 years. At the beginning none had difficulty walking a quarter of a mile or climbing 10 stairs. But that changed considerably for many of the 36% with vitamin D levels measured at <30 ng/ml. Vitamin D deficiency is rampant, and both old and young (including children) are suffering the consequences. Experts believ…

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to release new data showing that various milk and water supply samples from across the US are testing increasingly high for radioactive elements such as Iodine-131, Cesium-134, and Cesium-137, all of which are being emitted from the ongoing Fukushima Daiichia nuclear fallout. As of April 10, 2011, 23 US water supplies have tested positive for radioactive Iodine-131, and worst of all, milk samples from at least three US locations have tested positive for Iodine-131 at levels exceeding EPA maximum containment levels (MCL). As far as the water supplies are concerned, it is important to note that the EPA is only testing for radioactive Iodine-131. There are no readings or data available for cesium, uranium, or plutonium -- all of which are being continuously emitted from Fukushima, as far as we know -- even though these elements are all much more deadly than Iodine-131. Beyond Health have precautions available to you. Please…

We appreciate our customers and the faith you have put in us and our products, and we’re showing our appreciation in two new ways.First, we’ve found a way to reduce shipping costs. For most of you, you’ll find you’re paying about half of what you were.Second, we’re now offering a 30-day money-back guarantee.  If you are dissatisfied with a product, just let us know within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.We do suggest, however, that you contact us first with any problems you’re having. For example, even though we include information which says to go slow in introducing new supplements, sometimes people still take what is too much for them, which can lead to a cleansing reaction that produces uncomfortable symptoms. This and other issues can often be easily resolved by calling or emailing us.In general, please also let us know if there is some way in which we can make using our website or ordering from us easier for you, or if you have any other suggestions or comments. We wel…

Proposition 37, the initiative to label GMOs in processed food which will appear on the ballot in California on November 6th, has revealed which food companies are for and against labeling. . . . a pretty sound tip-off on who is using GM ingredients in their products! Many of the companies making large financial contributions to the Monsanto-led campaign against labeling are the usual suspects, but some may come as a surprise: Odwalla KashiNaked (juice company)SilkR.W. KnudsenHorizon OrganicCascadian FarmsSanta Cruz OrganicWell, not too surprising if you know that Odwalla is now owned by Coca Cola; Kashi by Kellogg; Naked by Pepsi; Horizon Organic and Silk by Dean, Cascadian Farms by General Mills, and R.W. Knudsen and Santa Cruz Organic by Smucker’s. Many “natural” brands have been snapped up by huge food conglomerates; what that has meant to the integrity of the brand is anyone’s guess, but it doesn’t bode well.Because money donated to support or defeat a proposition…

Now I’ve got to the point where I think we can get almost complete control of cardiovascular disease, heart attacks and strokes by the proper use of vitamin C and lysine. If you are at risk of heart disease or if there is a history of heart disease in your family . . . or if you have had a mild heart attack yourself, then you had better be taking vitamin C and lysine. – Linus PaulingIn the US, heart disease causes 700,000 deaths each year—more than all forms of cancer combined.  Atherosclerosis, or “hardening of the arteries” causes most heart attacks and strokes and is found to some degree in almost everyone today, even babies. It doesn’t have to be this way.Dr. Linus Pauling proposed a solution: vitamin C . . .Thirty years ago, chemist Linus Pauling, two-time Nobel Prize winner and one of the great scientific minds of the 20th century, proposed that vitamin C deficiency is the major cause of atherosclerosis.Among its more than 300 functions in the human body, vitamin C helps the…

. . . diet alone reduces LDL 25 mg/dLCanadian researchers had a novel idea; why not see if eating a good diet could be just as effective at lowering high cholesterol as taking a drug!They took 351 participants with high levels of the "bad" cholesterol, LDL (average 171 mg/dL) off their statins and counseled them on diet instead. Those who incorporated high levels of plant sterols (also known as phytosterols), vegetable protein, fiber and nuts in their diets saw an average drop of over 13%, or 25 mg/dL in their LDL.Commenting on the study, Dr. Yunsheng Ma, University of Massachusetts nutrition and heart disease researcher, noted that diet is a powerful factor that it is too often ignored by people on statins who think medication will allow them to eat anything they want. Dr. Joan Sabate, head of nutrition at Loma Linda University, said, "For the majority . . . by changing the diet and their lifestyle they can establish good control of their cholesterol."The fact is if you're taki…

Patients living with Parkinson's disease (PD) may be steered toward levodopa to manage symptoms. Presently, levodopa remains the most common PD drug. However, as with many medications, levodopa can create nutrient deficiencies with serious side effects when taken over time, with decreasing amounts of vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 being among the concerns. What Is Parkinson's Disease? PD is a progressive neurological disease in which brain cells that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine gradually die off. Low levels of dopamine cause various movement and non-movement related dysfunctions. The drugs that treat PD either replace or enhance dopamine, and central among these drugs is levodopa. What Is Levodopa? Considered the strongest medication available for managing PD and Parkinson's-like symptoms, levodopa was introduced in the 1960s and is currently classified as a central nervous system agent. Once taken, levodopa is converted into dopamine in your body. It is usually combin…

Getting enough magnesium is a problem for most people in industrial societies, where soil depletion and food processing have stripped minerals, especially magnesium, from our food; and magnesium deficiency is showing up in all kinds of health problems, from heart disease to neurological and emotional problems, from chronic fatigue to diabetes, and more. But taking too much magnesium—or more specifically, taking more magnesium than you can absorb—can be a problem too. Magnesium that the body can’t absorb causes an osmotic pressure in the bowel that stimulates bowel movement, decreasing “transit time” (the time it takes food to travel from the mouth out through the anus) and causing loose stools and/or diarrhea. When food is rushed through the gut in this way, there isn’t enough time for the intestines to absorb nutrients adequately.  Such was the case for a chemistry professor who consulted renowned alternative health doctor Dr. Jonathan V. W…