The Sweet Habit That’s Quietly Draining Your Energy Sugar feels harmless. It’s in your coffee.Your “healthy” granola.Your salad dressing.Even your supplements. It delivers quick energy but what it takes in return is far greater. If you struggle with fatigue, cravings, weight gain, or mood swings, sugar may be the hidden driver. Let’s unpack the science and the smarter strategy. The Bittersweet Truth About Sugar 1. Energy Peaks & Valleys When you consume refined sugar, blood glucose rises rapidly.Insulin surges.Energy spikes. Then comes the crash. This rollercoaster: drains stamina increases irritability drives more cravings stresses adrenal function Repeated daily, this pattern disrupts metabolic stability and cellular energy production. 2. Weight Gain & Cravings Excess sugar: increases calorie intake without satiety promotes fat storage disrupts leptin and ghrelin (hunger hormones) drives insulin resistance The result? Persiste…

Essential Fatty Acids: The Missing Link in Children’s Health When we think about what fuels health, we usually focus on vitamins, minerals, fiber, and the foods or supplements that supply them. Yet—especially when it comes to children’s health—one critical nutrient category is often overlooked: essential fatty acids (EFAs). In writing recently about our newly formulated Kids Mega Multi, we emphasized that all children should be on a high-quality multivitamin and a reliable source of essential fatty acids. This recommendation is rooted in decades of nutritional science—and the data are increasingly concerning. Why EFAs Matter So Much for Children Both adults and children are commonly deficient in EFAs, particularly the omega-3 fatty acids EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)—two fats that are foundational for neurological, cognitive, and visual development. DHA alone makes up 30–60% of the retina, making it indispensable f…

Is the Water Coming From Your Tap Hard or Soft—and Does It Matter? We all know hydration is essential for health. But the quality of the water you drink, bathe in, and wash with matters too. By the time water travels from its natural source, through treatment facilities, municipal pipes, and finally into your home, its mineral content can change significantly. This is what determines whether your water is considered hard or soft. Here’s what you should know about hard water—and how it can affect your home and your body. What Is Hard Water? Hard water is water that contains higher concentrations of naturally occurring minerals, primarily calcium and magnesium. The more of these minerals present, the harder the water. Soft water, by contrast, contains lower levels of calcium and magnesium and often a higher sodium content, especially if it has been treated with a traditional water softener. Why Is Hard Water So Common? Hard water is found in homes and communities acro…

Whey Protein: Not Just for Muscles—But for Immunity, Longevity, and Healthy Aging Much has been written about whey protein as a recovery tool for athletes, bodybuilders, and gym enthusiasts. But whey’s true value extends far beyond muscle repair. Emerging research highlights whey protein as a powerful ally for immune resilience, metabolic health, and healthy aging—benefits that matter to everyone, not just those lifting weights. Is Whey “Dairy”? Clearing Up a Common Misunderstanding Resistance to whey protein often comes from individuals who are allergic or sensitive to dairy. What’s not widely understood is that whey protein is not the same as dairy. Milk contains two primary proteins: Casein (≈80%) Whey (≈20%) Whey exists in the liquid portion of milk. During cheese production, the solid curds become cheese, while the liquid whey separates. (That liquid you sometimes see floating on top of yogurt? That’s whey.) Historically…

Beauty Secrets from Polynesia Timeless Skin and Hair Care from Nature Traditional Polynesian women have long been admired for their smooth, resilient skin and thick, glossy hair—qualities that often persist well into old age. Their secret isn’t complicated or expensive. It’s coconut oil. Used both in the diet and as a topical treatment, coconut oil has been a foundational beauty practice across Pacific Island cultures for generations. In many cases, simple home use produces better results than costly salon treatments. Why Healthy Oils Matter for Skin Soft, supple skin depends on an adequate balance of healthy fats. In fact, chronically dry or dull skin is often a sign of fatty acid deficiency, not a lack of moisturizer. But the primary driver of visible skin aging is free radical damage. Free radicals: Damage collagen and connective tissue Reduce elasticity and firmness Contribute to discoloration and uneven tone Accelerate the formation of wrinkles and saggi…

Nutrition & Supplements for Athletic Performance and Injury Prevention As a serious athlete, your body is exposed to repeated physical stress. Training builds strength and resilience—but only if the body has the raw materials required to repair, adapt, and recover. Most sports injuries are not the result of bad luck. They occur when tissue demand exceeds nutrient supply. A well-nourished body: Tolerates higher training loads Recovers faster between sessions Resists overuse injuries Repairs damage efficiently when injuries do occur The challenge is that the modern diet rarely provides what an athletic body actually needs. Why Athletes Are Especially Vulnerable to Deficiency Exercise is profoundly beneficial—but it also increases nutrient turnover. Athletes lose or deplete: Minerals through sweat (especially magnesium) Amino acids used for tissue repair Antioxidants consumed during oxidative stress Electrolytes critical for neuromuscular function With…

Building Strong Bones Is a Lifelong Project Preventing osteoporosis in old age should begin early. We build up our bone stores during childhood and young adulthood, reaching peak bone mass in our thirties. From that point forward, bone loss gradually begins. Bone is not static tissue. It is living, dynamic, and constantly renewed through a process called bone remodeling. Over roughly ten years, the adult skeleton is completely replaced in tiny sections. First, bone-resorbing cells called osteoclasts break down old bone; then bone-building cells called osteoblasts lay down new bone in its place. Sometime in our thirties, bone breakdown begins to outpace bone formation. That’s why the more bone we build early in life—through good nutrition and weight-bearing exercise—the better our odds of maintaining strong bones later on. But here’s the encouraging part: because bone is continually remodeled, improvement is possible at any age. Even people in their seventies and…

Fruits and Vegetables: The Foundation of Vitality Colorful, fresh fruits and vegetables do far more than decorate our plates. They help us feel lighter, clearer, and more energized, while quietly supporting nearly every system in the body. A large body of research shows that diets rich in fruits and vegetables help: Maintain healthy acid–alkaline balance Reduce chronic inflammation Support detoxification pathways Provide essential fiber Strengthen immune function In short, they create the internal environment in which health thrives. The Real Challenge: Getting Enough The problem for most people isn’t knowing that fruits and vegetables are healthy—it’s finding realistic ways to eat enough of them consistently. General recommendations suggest: 1½–2 cups of fruit per day 2–3 cups of vegetables per day For optimal benefits, a more ambitious (but achievable) goal is: Two pieces of fruit daily About 5 cups of vegetables per d…

Coconut Oil: A Once-Maligned Fat Making a Well-Deserved Comeback For decades, coconut oil was unjustly maligned—pushed aside by poorly designed, misleading studies that lumped all saturated fats together and paved the way for widespread use of industrial seed oils like soybean oil. In hindsight, this shift has proven disastrous, contributing to an epidemic of metabolic dysfunction, inflammation, and chronic disease. As awareness grows around the health consequences of refined vegetable oils, coconut oil is reemerging as what it has always been: a stable, traditional fat with unique metabolic and antimicrobial properties that support energy, immune function, and overall health. A Fat with a Long History of Safe Use Coconut oil has been used safely for thousands of years, particularly in tropical cultures where it remains a dietary staple. These populations—despite consuming large amounts of saturated fat from coconut—historically show low rates of heart disease, cancer…

Could SIBO Be Behind Your Digestive Symptoms? Are you bothered by abdominal bloating, gas, flatulence, belching, or an irritable bowel—constipation alternating with diarrhea, or perhaps predominantly one or the other? If so, you may be dealing with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), a now well-recognized but still frequently overlooked form of intestinal dysbiosis. What Is SIBO? You may already be familiar with one form of dysbiosis, in which yeast (such as Candida) or harmful bacteria overgrow in the intestines and crowd out beneficial organisms. SIBO is different. SIBO occurs specifically in the small intestine—the approximately 20-foot-long, tightly coiled digestive tube that connects the stomach to the colon. Under healthy conditions, the small intestine contains relatively few bacteria compared to the colon. When bacteria or other microorganisms that normally reside there begin to proliferate excessively, a pathological imbalance develops. This overgrowth i…

Our Mission: Going Beyond Health At Beyond Health, our mission is simple—and radical: To help people go beyond health. Going beyond health means going beyond what most people have been taught to accept as “normal.” Redefining What It Means to Be Healthy Most people consider themselves healthy if they are functional—able to get out of bed, go to work or school, take care of family responsibilities, and squeeze in some enjoyment along the way. They may struggle with allergies, digestive problems, headaches, fatigue, stubborn weight gain, skin or hair issues, or frequent aches and pains. Often, these concerns are “managed” with over-the-counter remedies, yet the person still considers themselves healthy. As time goes on, medications are added to manage more serious conditions—arthritis, osteoporosis, diabetes, heart disease, cognitive decline. We’ve known people taking multiple prescriptions who still describe themselves as healthy. Eventua…

Beyond Health’s Vitamin D Supporting Immune and Respiratory Health Vitamin D plays a far broader role in human health than bone maintenance alone. In recent years, a growing body of research has highlighted its importance in immune regulation and inflammatory balance, particularly in the respiratory system. Multiple reviews of the medical literature have observed an association between low vitamin D status and impaired respiratory health. A 2010 study published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology reported that vitamin D deficiency was correlated with increased airway inflammation, reduced lung function, and poorer symptom control in individuals with asthma. How Vitamin D Supports Immune Balance Vitamin D appears to influence respiratory health through its effects on the immune system. Research suggests that adequate vitamin D levels help: Regulate inflammatory signaling Reduce the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines Support the production of anti-inflammato…

Why Sitting Is the New Smoking — and How “Exercise Snacks” Can Undo the Damage More people than ever are working from home and ordering what they need online, tethering us more closely to our computers. Americans were already sitting too much—but now it’s reached a new level. While sitting itself isn’t inherently bad, sitting in the same chair for hours at a time quietly alters body chemistry in harmful ways. Prolonged sitting increases: Insulin resistance Blood sugar Triglycerides These changes are linked to heart disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, dementia, cancer, and even earlier death. That’s why prolonged sitting has earned the nickname: “The new smoking.” Why One Workout a Day Isn’t Enough Many people try to counteract long sitting hours with a daily walk, run, or gym session. While these are beneficial—and we absolutely support them—they do not fully undo the damage caused by uninterru…

Taming the “Wanting Mind”: How to Break the Cycle of Cravings Have you ever stood in front of an open refrigerator, knowing you want something—but not knowing what? You scan the shelves, land on that leftover chocolate cake, and eat it. Maybe all of it. And yet afterward, you still feel unsatisfied—only now you’re also uncomfortable, guilty, and frustrated. According to psychotherapist and mindfulness teacher Sasha T. Loring, author of Eating with Fierce Kindness, this experience is a classic example of what she calls “the wanting mind.” The wanting mind is a state of fundamental dissatisfaction—a restless sense that something is missing, even when our basic needs have already been met. It’s this state that often drives cravings. Where Cravings Come From Cravings can arise for many reasons: Food sensitivities or allergies Lack of sleep Nutrient deficiencies Stress or emotional overwhelm But Loring points out that cravings…

The Secret to Green Drinks That Taste Amazing (Without Sugar Overload) Green drinks are one of the most powerful tools for supporting detoxification, energy, and cellular health. But there’s one problem most people run into: They taste terrible unless you add fruit. And fruit can spike blood sugar. The solution isn’t abandoning green drinks.It’s learning how to make them delicious without sugar. Why Green Drinks Matter for Cellular Health Green vegetables provide: alkalizing minerals chlorophyll compounds detox-supporting phytonutrients fiber for gut health antioxidants for cellular protection Consuming them in liquid form allows rapid absorption and efficient nutrient delivery — especially when digestion is compromised or nutrient demands are high. How to Improve Flavor Without Raising Blood Sugar You don’t need apples, bananas, or pineapple to make green drinks taste good. Instead, use low-glycemic flavor boosters: Flavor Enhancers lemon…

How Your Gut Bacteria Shape Stress, Anxiety, and Emotional Resilience Over the past two decades, research into the gut microbiome—the roughly 3½–4 pounds of microscopic organisms living primarily in the colon—has exploded. What scientists are discovering is profound: Your gut bacteria don’t just influence digestion—they directly affect how you handle stress, anxiety, and emotional pressure. In the face of the COVID era and its ongoing uncertainties, stress resilience—the ability to adapt, recover, and stay emotionally balanced—has never been more important. At Beyond Health, we’ve long recommended classic stress-reduction practices such as meditation, exercise, time in nature, and restorative sleep. These are all valuable. But research now shows there’s another, often overlooked pillar of emotional resilience: A healthy population of beneficial bacteria in your gut. The Gut–Brain Axis: A Two-Way Communication Highway T…

. . .  Stanford study claims no difference between conventional and organic – but don’t believe it! Do you fork over your hard-earned cash for organic versus conventional produce because you believe it’s healthier?  If so, you may have been dismayed by headlines announcing that a Stanford University review of almost 300 scientific studies found no difference between conventional and organic food in terms of either safety or nutrient value. Well, I’m here to tell you that there IS a difference: organic produce is higher in nutrients, much lower in toxins and well worth the added expense. The Stanford scientists’ findings are very much at odds with a growing consensus that pesticides in conventional agriculture are harmful, and that organic foods are far healthier. Even the President’s Cancer Panel, which is part of the National Cancer Institute, recommends eating organic food as one step to take in preventing cancer. Besides cancer, many other degenerative diseases, such as heart…

. . .  what they are and why you probably need more of them  One of the reasons fruits and vegetables are so healthy for us is that they supply lots of antioxidant chemicals. And these days, we can all use all the extra antioxidants we can get.  What exactly are antioxidants, and why do we need more of them now than ever? To understand antioxidants, it’s first necessary to understand free radicals. A free radical is an atom or molecule with one or more unpaired electrons.  Because electrons like to travel in pairs, unpaired electrons are chemically unstable.  They are apt to attack the nearest stable molecule and steal an electron from it, creating a new free radical from the previously stable molecule.  This process is called oxidation, and the best example of it outside the body is the formation of rust. Oxidation can initiate a chain reaction of molecules stealing electrons from each other that ends up damaging cells and body tissues, ultimately causing disease and aging. Whe…