If you use “antibacterial” soaps, you probably feel you have less chance of getting sick. And you’re not alone. Most people believe these soaps help prevent the spread of germs.But years of aggressive marketing and misinformation have shaped a false public perception of effectiveness for dozens of antibacterial products. In fact, mounting research shows antibacterial ingredients—like triclosan—aren’t any more effective than regular soap and water in preventing infections or the spread of bacteria.This has finally caught the attention of government health officials.Last month, FDA regulators—in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—proposed a new rule governing “antibacterial” personal care products. Up for consideration is whether manufacturers must show that their consumer products are as safe as and more effective than ordinary soap and water.Currently, this proposed rule is open for public debate thru mid-June, 2014. If eventually approved, those companies tha…

. . . do you know how and when to exercise to maximize its effectiveness?You’ve heard countless times that exercise is a key component of good health. In fact, the benefits of regular physical activity are staggering. Exercise has been shown to promote healing…enhance mood…boost immunity…improve sex…control weight…prevent disease…boost energy…improve circulation…promote restful sleep…reduce stress, and much more.Despite the many benefits, it’s hard enough to exercise on normal days. Throw in a holiday like Thanksgiving, and that’s reason enough for most people to demote their workout routine to the bottom of a long to-do list.Here’s how to make exercise feel easyIf you struggle getting back into the workout routine after a holiday of excess and inactivity, we’d like to offer a few tips for getting back on track. Even better, you’ll discover how to maximize your efforts so you’ll feel—and notice—results fast.So here ya go…some post-holiday exercise tips to make exercise feel easy.1.&nbs…

What’s your #1 resolution for 2013? Chances are it’s got something to do with health. Even if your resolutions don’t concern health, you’ve got to have enough energy and vitality to achieve them.Of course it’s important to eat well, exercise, and minimize toxins and stress, but if you’ve been struggling along without a high-quality supplement program, give yourself a break and at the very least try out our Basic Wellness Kit. We’ll even give you a discount to help you get started. My bet is you’ll begin to feel more vital and energetic by the end of the month, and your life will become just that much easier and more enjoyable.I’ll never forget a report we got from a man whose aging mother had become bedridden and totally dependent on others to take care of her. After a month or so on just our multi, she was up and about again, telling her relatives to go home, she didn’t need their help anymore.For best results, of course, you also need essential fatty acids to build healthy cell memb…

. . . 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…

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…

. . . 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…

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…

After more than two decades, the FDA is proposing sweeping changes to nutrition labels. First lady Michelle Obama—marking the fourth anniversary of her Let’s Move initiative to combat childhood obesity—joined the FDA in announcing the proposed changes from the White House. The agency said the label changes are meant to account for modern eating habits and reflect new nutrition research that links diet to chronic diseases, like obesity. Food label’s new look Check out this food label infographic by Karl Tate for LiveScience.com. It shows how the new label would: Display ‘calories’ (and ‘servings per container’) in larger, bolder font. Meant to quickly attract consumers’ attention, this change addresses the biggest factor driving obesity—excess calorie consumption. Update ‘serving size’ to reflect what people actually consume in one sitting. For example, a single serving of ice cream would increase from half a cup to a full cup. Products like bottled soda—typically consumed…

. . . ageless good looks comes from nurturing your skinOf course beautiful skin starts from within, but we can all benefit from helping nature along with a luxurious facial. It’s time once again to take advantage of our yearly Valentine's Day special on L’huile de Grace: an all-natural essential oil-based facial serum for both men and women that nourishes and protects skin like nothing else. Get some for the ones you love, and of course that includes yourself!L’huile de Grace (“the oil of grace”) is pure, raw nutrition for your skin, devoid of any harmful chemicals – a truly unique skin care product unlike anything you’ve ever used, designed to make you feel and look your radiant best.This rich facial oil uses herbs and essential oils renowned for healing and nourishing the skin while uplifting the spirit. Frankincense, for example, considered the holy anointing oil in the Middle East, was valued more than gold in ancient times for all-purpose healing and for stimulating and elevating…