. . . food freedom is a constant struggle A review of 2013 shows we are at a pivotal moment regarding our food supply, currently under serious assault by the biotech industry and Big Agriculture. Our access to nutritious food has been in a long-term downtrend. Compared to even 50 years ago, we now have to eat twice as many vegetables to get the same amount of calcium, four times the amount of carrots to get the same magnesium and twenty times the amount of carrots to get the same amount of zinc. Modern farming techniques that have depleted our soils, as well as picking produce before it is ripe to be shipped long distances, have greatly reduced nutritional content. And then there are processed foods, fast foods and fake foods, all of which have lost even more nutrition while toxins have been added. The age of pesticides began in 1939 when Swiss chemist Paul Muller discovered that DDT could kill a wide range of insect pests inexpensively, greatly boosting crop yields worldwide.…

Question:  There has been a lot in the news lately about Vitamin E and its link to prostate cancer. However, you recommend it for individuals with cancer. Why is this? C. K. – Ashland, OR Answer: Rest assured that the vitamin E you get from Beyond Health will help to prevent cancer, not cause it. The news items about vitamin E causing prostate cancer referred to a particular study using a synthetic form of vitamin E. This study, conducted under the auspices of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2011, was looking at the potential benefits of vitamin E and selenium for preventing prostate cancer. It was terminated when researchers found 400 IU of vitamin E daily was actually increasing the risk of prostate cancer. But what form of vitamin E were these scientists using? The wrong kind! Synthetic alpha tocopherol acetate! Gazillions of taxpayer dollars are spent on meaningless studies like this that u…

. . . you just have to do it longer Brisk walking, especially through beautiful terrain with a good friend, is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Many of us would prefer it to more vigorous forms of exercise, but doubt it is as beneficial. However a new study comparing data on the 15,945 participants in the National Walkers’ Health Study with data on the 33,060 participants in the National Runners’ Health Study II found something surprising. Both of these large studies followed men and women who were healthy at the beginning of the study for about 6 years looking for possible risk reductions for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and coronary heart disease. Significant risk reductions were found for all of these potential problems, . . . and they were essentially the same whether people walked or ran! The catch was that walkers took more time to spend the same amount of energy or cover the same distance, and these were the crucial elements in deriving the health bene…

. . . here’s why staying informed is the best approach for staying healthy As we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day this coming week, we thought it fitting to recognize the importance of freedoms when making health care choices. When most people think of Martin Luther King, Jr., they think civil rights. Known for his efforts in fighting racial inequalities—like segregation, work inequalities, ineligibility to vote, among others—among African Americans during the 50’s and 60’s, King actually advocated peaceably for the basic rights of all minorities.. But King’s life of activism goes well beyond civil equalities. At his core, Martin Luther King Jr. stood for the rights of all people to live life free of oppressive institutions, governance, and ideals. And to make choices about their life—including their own health—as they see fit. King could easily have been referring to our own government’s unjust assault on both the food and supplement industries. As well as their reckle…

. . . but it’s never too late to start reversing repair deficits Although I feel better now in my mid-seventies than I did in my forties, I want to continue to thrive for many more years to come. So I thought it was time to study old age and see what I might be up against. The result is my new book on aging, Never Feel Old Again, which was published in October 2013. The good news, and the major message of this book, is that the kind of aging that’s common today involving disability, frailty, pain, dependence, fatigue and pill-popping for a host of chronic degenerative diseases is entirely preventable. You can be vital, able-bodied, independent, pain and disease-free, and energetic until the day you die. As long as the body gets the right raw materials and is protected from toxins, it is a self-repairing organism. However, when it doesn’t get what it needs, repair deficits accumulate. If they’re allowed to accumulate year after year, by the time you hit old age you’re in seriou…

. . . years of research show indoor air quality is a serious threat to your family’s health Scientists have warned for years that outdoor air is contaminated with harmful pollutants. Indeed, dozens of the most dangerous chemicals—from vehicles, power plants, homes, manufacturing and agricultural facilities, dust, and forest fires—are systematically spewed into the air we breathe. While extensive research and effective public policy have helped reduce outdoor air pollution in the US compared to the rest of the world, these toxins are still causing significant health issues here and abroad. In fact, numerous studies suggest air pollution contributes to respiratory disease, childhood asthma, lung dysfunction, heart disease, cancer, and even premature death. And now—after previously classifying numerous individual air pollutants as carcinogenic—the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has finally concluded that outdoor air pollution as a whole is a carcinogen (can…

. . . proof there’s a strong connection between heart health and brain function Dozens of studies in recent years have suggested a close connection between heart health and brain function. Now, two newer studies appear to confirm that link. Published recently in the journal Neurology, researchers found that both hardened arteries and high blood sugar are closely associated with changes in the brain regarding memory. This is encouraging news for seniors. It shows that changing to a heart-healthy lifestyle—using foods, exercise, stress reduction techniques, and more—also benefits brain health. And that could mean less risk for Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Stiffer arteries linked to increased brain plaques At the beginning of the first study, University of Pittsburgh scientists scanned the brains of volunteers, who were aged 83-96 and showing no signs of dementia. These scans recorded the levels of beta-amyloid plaques—a substance previously associated with Alzh…

. . . nutrients work as a team, and all are needed for health In all the excitement about glucosamine and MSM for arthritis, it’s important not to forget that nutrients work as a team.  No matter what part of the body you’re talking about, all the vitamins and minerals are needed for good health and function. According to United States Department of Agriculture data, 4 out of 5 Americans are deficient in magnesium. Magnesium deficiency is a major contributor to our epidemic of chronic and degenerative disease, including arrhythmia, chronic fatigue, depression, fibromyalgia, heart disease, and osteoporosis . . . and now a new report links it with osteoarthritis of the knee. Researchers at the University of North Carolina x-rayed the knees of 2,112 men and women aged 45 or older and also assessed how much magnesium they were getting in their diets. Almost 40% of these men and women showed evidence of osteoarthritis of the knee. Among Caucasians, those who got the least amount of…

. . . Sweat is a beautiful thing! A lot of people don’t like to sweat.  Women may feel it’s unladylike; it’s certainly spoiled many a carefully styled hairdo. Then there’s the possibility of body odor, and just feeling wet or damp. But sweat is a beautiful thing, and here’s why. It’s one of your main avenues for eliminating toxins, and scientists are even studying its natural antibiotic components in hopes of finding a remedy for superbugs that have become resistant to conventional antibiotics. Sweating is simply one of the best things you can do to support your immune system! One of the benefits you get from exercise is sweating, but you can amplify those benefits many times over with nary a huff nor puff by simply luxuriating in an infrared sauna. Infrared rays penetrate deeply into the tissues, encouraging cells to yield up hard to get at stored fat-soluble toxins that are then eliminated in sweat. These healthful rays also stimulate circulation: your heart beats faster,…

. . . can be an act of self-love, as long as you don’t force it Science has validated that feeling and expressing gratitude may be one of the simplest and best ways to improve our health and general well-being. It's all too easy to pay attention to what we don't like about our situation, what we want and don't have, what limits us and worries us. But research has found that focusing on, and being grateful for, the good things in our lives can make us healthier, happier, less stressed, and more effective at solving problems. Disease symptoms have become less intense. Sleep is improved, and this is associated with having more positive than negative thoughts before hitting the pillow. Gratitude helps to build relationships with others. Acknowledging people for the contributions they make to your life creates a positive context in which to deal with any problems that come up. However, like all good things, gratitude can be misused. As therapist Ken Page points out, we can begin…

. . . more centenarians per capita than anywhere else on earth In making decisions about our own diet and lifestyle, it would probably be wise to take some hints from a culture that boasts more centenarians per capita than anywhere else on earth. Many people on the island of Okinawa, off the coast of Japan, follow a traditional diet and way of life that makes them among the happiest, healthiest, and longest-lived people alive today. There’s a very worthwhile documentary called “Happy.” It interviews social scientists who’ve been studying happiness and travels the earth to find examples of truly happy cultures, trying to answer the question “what makes human beings happy?” (Hint: the common assumptions that lots of money, beautiful appearance and status can make us happy turn out to be wrong!)  One group that brims over with joy in the film are the Okinawans, both young and old, who have a strong sense of community and a simple diet and way of life (they grow food and then they ea…

. . . new study could prove it helps prevent or reverse symptoms of dementia Recent data estimates 5.4 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. Plus another 30 million across the globe. Chances are, you know someone who has this dreaded disease, or are worried that you might be a likely candidate for Alzheimer’s. You can go here to read more on why Alzheimer’s is on the rise. But today, there’s reason for hope. A new study is underway to test the affects of coconut oil on volunteers with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. University of South Florida researchers know the stakes are high. In fact, previous studies at the USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute using other treatment options have come up empty. But while nothing currently exists that can cure or slow down the progression of the disease, Dr. Mary Newport and fellow researchers have reason to feel optimistic. A compelling case study on Alzheimer’s Mary’s husband, Steve, has been battling Alzheimer’s…

. . . could this be the most powerful nutrient for preventing neurodegenerative diseases? In anti-aging circles, acetyl L-carnitine (ALC) has been the subject of much discussion. With many so-called diseases of aging reaching epidemic proportions, we’re not surprised. We’ve previously written on the powerful healing effects of this brain “food”. Including its ability to neutralize up to 70% of the dangerous advanced glycation end products (AGEs) inside the body, including the brain. Plus, multiple studies show it’s effective in protecting your cells against age-related diseases like obesity, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, stroke, diabetes…to name just a few. As a powerful natural antioxidant, it fights against the harmful effects of alcohol, dangerous excitotoxins, environmental stress, nutrient deficiencies, prescription and recreational drugs, and more. So what exactly is ALC? Acetyl L-carnitine is one of several forms of carnitine hard at work in the body, especially the…

. . . in 2013 Beyond Health introduced two new important antioxidant formulas Beyond Health is proud of two new products we introduced this year, Age Defense Formula and Carotene Formula. Both of them supply critical antioxidants, which are needed today more than ever before in history. Oxidation is a major cause of aging and disease. One way to understand it is to think of a rusty fender. The rust occurs because of a chemical reaction with oxygen. Many chemical reactions in our bodies use oxygen and produce oxidation. This would cause our bodies to “rust” away if it weren’t for antioxidants – chemicals that stop the oxidizing process from doing damage. Our bodies make some antioxidants, but we also need to get ample antioxidants from our diet. We’ve always needed antioxidants, but today the need has skyrocketed. Not only has the antioxidant content in our food declined, but our polluted environment has vastly increased the need, so virtually everyone is dealing with two big p…

. . . new study shows how your brain flushes itself of toxic waste while sleeping Wish you had an extra hour or two of sleep every night? If so, you’re not alone. Recent statistics from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show 50-70 million US adults don’t get an adequate amount of good quality sleep. Yet with increasing sleep deprivation, Americans pay a heavy price. Those surveyed reported significant problems with memory and concentration. So much so, that it adversely affects their relationships, commuting for work or pleasure, handling of finances, and job performance. In fact, lack of sleep is increasingly being blamed for car crashes, workplace accidents, marital problems, as well as a variety of health issues including depression, weight gain, diabetes, hypertension, increased mortality, skin aging, and more. Just how serious is it? We’ve already warned about the negative impact of insomnia on health and safety. And even though Americans admit…

. . . you may be putting your health at risk by buying counterfeit nutritional products from third party sellers Word is out that Amazon.com is selling counterfeit nutritional supplements to unsuspecting customers. As reported by NaturalNews.com, third-party sellers have hijacked Amazon in three big ways by: Selling counterfeit dietary supplements under the guise of brand name manufacturers’ products. These fraudulent companies repeatedly and successfully sell numerous fake nutritional products. How? By unlawfully using the copyrighted or patented names of popular supplement companies and their products to market their counterfeit formulas. Receiving a high user rating from Amazon for its fake products. These counterfeit operations exploit the customer’s trust when Amazon unknowingly assigns their products high star ratings. Customers assume these fake products are rated on use. But in fact, Amazon has a policy of assigning the same high-star rating to ALL products it belie…

. . . new study shows how quickly the brain benefits from physical exercise You’ve heard before that an ongoing exercise routine is good for your overall health. In fact, years of research show physical exercise lowers your risk for developing heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer, and other diseases related to aging. Even cognitive skills—like memory, decision-making, visuospatial, and processing speed—benefit from consistent aerobic exercise. And if you exercise, you learn faster, remember more, and think clearer. The bottom line…exercise benefits the brain. Yet previous studies focused on the effects of longer-term (>6 months) fitness training. For seniors, maybe you’re starting to feel the effects of physical and cognitive decline. The prospect of taking months—even years—to benefit from regular exercise isn’t much of a motivator for getting started. Exercise works quickly to stop declining cognitive function due to aging Now, a new aging study from the Cente…

. . . recent study investigates the possible link between sleep deprivation and skin aging Chronic sleep deprivation has reached epidemic proportions worldwide. In the U.S. alone, estimates suggest up to 70 million adults are sleep deprived. We’ve already revealed a number of ways poor sleep adversely affects our lives, from relationships and safety to commuting in traffic and job performance. Plus, multiple studies have linked a lack of good quality sleep to significant health problems…including cancer, obesity, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, depression, and immune suppression. Here too, we show some of the most common causes of insomnia and how kids are especially vulnerable to sleep deprivation. Now, scientists say lack of sleep affects our skin health, making us look older than our years. Previously, scientists have shown that getting adequate restful sleep is critical in building and repairing the body’s immune and physiological systems. While our skin protects us fr…