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…

. . . 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…

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…

Dr. Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organization, has a grim prognosis for our future: “Antimicrobial resistance is on the rise . . . [As antibiotics lose their effectiveness a] post-antibiotic era means, in effect, an end to modern medicine as we know it. Things as common as strep throat or a child’s scratched knee could once again kill. Some sophisticated interventions, like hip replacements, organ transplants, cancer chemotherapy, and care of preterm infants, would become far more difficult or even too dangerous to undertake.”Well, we aren’t as gloomy about a post-antibiotic era. For all the good they’ve done, antibiotics as we’ve known them have done a whole lot of damage to almost everyone’s intestinal probiotic population, harming immunity and paving the way for all kinds of disease. We need different kinds of antibiotics that don’t indiscriminately kill good and helpful microbes along with the bad, and that the bad bugs won’t build resistance to. Fortunately,…

Spina bifida. Asperger’s syndrome. Tourette’s. Bipolar disorder. Organic brain dysfunction. Stillbirths. Miscarriages. Cancer. . . . could all these be caused by the water you use and drink every day? Alarmingly, the answer is yes!Most public drinking water is less toxic than it was at the marine corps base at Camp Lejeune, in Jacksonville, North Carolina, when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared it a Superfund clean-up site in 1989. But Lejeune’s problems may not be as atypical as you’d think.This past August, the Veterans Administration was required by law to reimburse members of the military and their dependents that lived so much as a month at Camp Lejeune from 1957-1987 and suffered problems like those above as a result of using and drinking Lejeune’s polluted tap water. Total costs are anticipated to be almost $4 billion over the next ten years. Civilian workers may be entitled to additional benefits under a different law.. . . tap water is a major source of toxici…

It seems like every day scientists discover more ways in which eating whole, unprocessed food prevents disease. For example, researchers at the University of Illinois recently found that when they fed the fiber pectin (found in whole fruit, especially apples, citrus and plums) to mice, it greatly increased the mice’s ability to respond to an immune challenge. In other studies, getting adequate dietary fiber has been shown to lower cholesterol as well as the risk of heart disease, diabetes, diverticulosis and obesity, and to protect against cancer through a variety of mechanisms, including providing food for beneficial bacteria in the gut. In one study, women who increased their fiber intake to 30-35 grams a day and maintained it for a year reported 60% less constipation and 30% less heartburn.Yet the modern diet minimizes whole foods that provide fiber – fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains, beans and legumes. As a result, although the U.S. Institute of Medicine recommends 28-35 gra…

More and more consumers have become worried about Bisphenol A, a hormone-disrupting chemical found in food packaging and cash register and credit card receipts. However, many products labeled "BPA-Free" contain alternatives that may not be any safer.BPA is a dangerous toxin, and almost all Americans have detectable levels in their bodies. Hormones work at very small dose levels. Amounts of BPA that are too small to detect by standard analytical methods may still cause damaging biological effects. Hundreds of studies have linked BPA with cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, low thyroid, reproductive issues and more. BPA exposure is especially risky during pregnancy and in early childhood. As a result, certain BPA applications have been banned by various state and local governments in the US, and businesses have begun offering BPA-free alternatives.But a study published in Environmental Health Perspectives last year found that of 455 plastic products tested, both BPA-containing and…

With the 4th of July right around the corner and increasing assault on many of our health freedoms, it’s not always easy to know which health considerations we face matter most in preventing and eliminating disease. With that, we’re highlighting four of the most critical health decisions facing Americans today, as well as ways you can free yourself from the grip of our modern medical and food industries’ failed solutions for healthy living. “Mandated” vaccinations. We’ve said before how vaccinations are one of conventional medicine’s greatest blunders. High amounts of mercury and aluminum provide no health benefits, only brain damage, depressed immunity, autoimmune syndromes, and more.Free yourself by…researching the risks associated with vaccinations. For your convenience, we’ll continue to set the record straight on the dangers of vaccinations for both kids and adults. After you understand the serious nature of these risks, you’ll be ready to exempt yourself from participati…

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…

. . . 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…

Product Overview Acetyl-L-carnitine maintains and improves brain function. It energizes and rejuvenates brain cells. It's been called "brain superfuel!" It improves learning ability, reaction time, accuracy, mental performance, verbal fluency, attention, memory, and even your mood! It facilitates repair of brain cells damaged by poor nutrition, stress, toxins and trauma. Many people report less confusion, brain fog, enhanced alertness and focus, and feeling mentally sharper within hours of taking it. It slows the rate of deterioration in Alzheimer's disease and significantly improves mental functioning in those who suffer from this illness. A host of scientific studies have shown that acetyl-l-carnitine prevents age-related cognitive decline through various mechanisms at dosages of 1-3 grams a day. A meta-analysis of 21 studies found a cumulative effect, suggesting that long-term use may provide the greatest benefit.Complimentary Supplements Because it's naturally found in th…

IntroductionLet’s face it. Even when the stress of the holidays end, stress continues to be a major aspect of modern life at any time of the year, and those who learn to deal with stress effectively enjoy a huge advantage. Developing resilience and stress-resistance, although no small feat, is possible by taking a pro-active approach to cultivating physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.A program of regular exercise is central to such an approach. Unfortunately, committing to regular exercise is challenging, and only a minority sticks with it over time. Maybe looking at the ways that exercise promotes stress-resistance will strengthen your resolve to begin a program of regular exercise or stick with one you’ve already begun.According to Timothy Church, exercise researcher and professor of preventive medicine at Louisiana State University, when you exercise, your nervous system makes a shift from the sympathetic mode (the stressful mode) to the parasympathetic mode (the restf…

Remember what recess felt like when you were young? That moment when we were finally allowed to run free on the playground? The body hungers for movement just as much as it hungers for food and thirsts for water. We hunger for movement because it is a need -- as essential as any nutrient.Yet after a certain age we begin to think of exercise as a chore – as something we’re supposed to do because it’s good for us. What a set-up for hating it and for good intentions that come to naught!The only way I’ve found to stick with a program of regular exercise is to find something I enjoy doing. Because of my busy schedule, it’s got to be something that doesn’t take up much time and that I can do at home. For me, rebounding fits that bill. Fifteen minutes in the morning wakes me up for the day, and another fifteen minutes at the end of my workday releases any accumulated tension.What’s rebounding? Simply bouncing or jogging up and down on a specially constructed trampoline called a rebounder. It…

. . . new research finds connection between a healthy gut and cruciferous greensA startling discovery has, in the words of one of the researchers involved, “thrown open a completely new way of looking at gut biology.” Certain immune cells that protect the digestive tract from bad bacteria may be controlled by green, cruciferous vegetables in the diet.Dr. Gabrielle Belz and her colleagues have found that a gene called T-bet is responsible for the production of these gut-protective immune cells, called innate lymphoid cells (ILCs). The T-bet gene, in turn, is influenced by both bacteria in our gut and by what we eat. Specifically, proteins in green, cruciferous vegetables (like broccoli, beet greens, chard, watercress, bok choy, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and kale) apparently switch the T-bet gene on and may also assist it in producing ILCs.ILCs can be found in the digestive tract lining, where they can certainly be very handy. ILCs help maintain a healthy gut by promoting the good gut m…

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…

“Hello all...I will be answering your questions regarding health and supplements. Please feel free to send any questions you may have to questions@beyondhealth.com. Over the upcoming months, I will try to answer as many of these as possible.”  Question: I am taking St. John’s Wort for depression. Are there any downsides to doing this?M.P. — Delray Beach, FLAnswer: St. John’s Wort has been well studied and it is effective in treating depression. Regarding downsides, the one you should be most concerned with, especially living in Florida, is it makes your skin more sensitive to the sun. So be careful of getting more than a little sun. It is also not good to take this herb with prescription drugs as it can interfere with their metabolism and make them even more toxic.Your best bet is to stop being depressed by getting on a good diet, getting off of sugar, taking our Basic Wellness Kit, getting adequate sunlight, and exercising. This will take care of most depression. Be…

. . . five of the biggest drug industry lies debunkedRecent media accounts condemning the integrity of supplements are nothing new.The FDA, Big Pharma, and their cronies in the news media have spent years making sure you—the consumer—remain confused and frustrated about using supplements for preventing and reversing disease.So, we decided to expose five of the most blatant lies told by the drug industry. These cover-ups, half-truths, and untruths covertly inflate the benefits of prescription drugs and downplay the value of nutritional supplements. We hope you see through their big lies long enough to restore your faith in the integrity of supplements…and your health.BIG LIE #1. Drug industry claims ‘no conflict of interest’. The FDA and Big Pharma have repeatedly teamed up in clinical trials to condemn life-enhancing supplements. Yet, they push through approval of dangerous—but very profitable—prescription drugs. How? By appointing former drug industry executives to FDA advisory commit…