Question:   I have been taking a beta carotene supplement and I just read that a study showed that people who take beta carotene have a higher incidence of cancer.  Is this true?  I'd like to know what you think. K. E. – Macon, GA Answer:  There were actually two studies, in 1994 and 1996, which I am aware of that demonstrated a higher incidence of cancer in those taking beta carotene supplements.  I think the studies were well done, but there are lots of ifs, ands, and buts that muddy the water so that the conclusions can confuse people. Beta carotene is one of a family of compounds known as carotenoids.  Carotenoids are yellow, orange, and red pigments that are abundant in plants and fruits.  For example, the orange pigment in carrots is from beta carotene.  Carotenoids are known for their anti-oxidant properties, and they are known as the dietary source of Pro Vitamin A.  Vitamin A is necessary for normal metabolism and growth and it is important for vision and immune syste…

Question:   I have been suffering one infection after another.  Can you tell me how to boost my immunity? C. D. – Sausalito, CA Answer:  First of all, get out and get some sunshine.  The sun is a powerful immune system builder.  One of your problems may be that you are vitamin D deficient.  Even in the San Francisco Bay Area, there isn’t enough UVB in the winter to sustain vitamin D levels.  You should have your doctor measure your blood 25 (OH) D level. You must be sure to eat a good diet and supplement with high-quality nutrients.  Eat a mostly plant-based diet that is 75 percent or more raw food by volume. Sprouts and green vegetables are balanced and nourishing choices. Drink freshly made vegetable juices twice a day.  Be sure to drink pure water as regular tap water is toxic and immunosuppressive.  Use the Beyond Health Reverse Osmosis System for economical high-quality water.  Get on the Beyond Health Ultimate Wellness Kit and the Immune Support Kit.  Go to bowel toleran…

Question: I have tremendous allergic rhinitis.  I am congested most of the time.  I eat healthy, use supplementation, and exercise.  I live in a polluted city, but in a green area, outside of the center of the city.  What could be wrong? – Internet Answer:   I have had much success in helping myself and others to eliminate allergies.  First and foremost, you need to strengthen your immune system and reduce inflammation.  Implementing the lifestyle suggestions in my books is vital to your success.  Elimination of sugar, wheat, processed oils and dairy/excessive animal proteins (the Big Four) must occur.  You will need to replace these with fresh produce and other whole foods, including good oils like coconut, olive, flax and fish oils.  In addition, you need to take our pure and biologically active Multi-Vitamin and powdered Vitamin C to bowel tolerance along with our Immune Support Kit.  You will need large amounts of these until your immune competence has been restored. I sug…

Question: I have been hearing recently that calcium supplements can harm you by forming calcium deposits in your brain and arteries.  Is this true? – Internet Answer:   Yes, it is true if you use the wrong kind of calcium.  That’s why we use only organic calcium in our supplements.  Beyond Health’s calcium is reacted with organic acids to produce molecules are identical to the calcium found in produce – organic calcium.  Most calcium supplements are dangerous, because it is rare to find supplements with calcium that is an organic form, as ours is. The body doesn’t know how to handle the inorganic calcium, and it can easily be deposited where it shouldn’t be, like in the arteries.  The body does know how to handle the organic form, including getting rid of it if there is too much. Our position is that deposition of calcium in the soft tissue is caused by faulty calcium metabolism.  Here are some of the things that can cause faulty calcium metabolism: Using a poor form of…

Question: Is there a safe way to treat menopausal hot flashes? – C. S. – Topeka, KS Answer:   There are a number of approaches to reduce hot flashes, but the most simple, inexpensive and least complicated is to do regular meditation.  In other words, get your stress levels down every day.  Another technique is electro acupuncture.  You can purchase your own electro acupuncture devise and learn how and where to apply it. Both of these techniques have been proven effective in studies.  A 2007 study at University Hospital in Linkoping, Sweden found that both techniques, when used together, provided a significant reduction in hot flashes, as compared to the placebo group.…

Question: Is it safe to take human growth hormone? – B.T. – Roswell, GA Answer:   Human growth hormone (HGH) is highly advertised and a popular-selling product. HGH is produced by the anterior pituitary gland in the brain.  It promotes tissue repair, cell regeneration in the bones, muscles and vital organs, and supports the immune system in combating infection and disease.  As we age, our HGH levels decline to a fraction of the levels of our youth.  Many in modern medicine believe that supplementing our diets with HGH is an effective way to avoid the diseases and conditions associated with aging and improve vitality and appearance. Buyers are told the HGH will improve immune, brain and heart function, boost energy, remove wrinkles and help shed body fat.  I don’t buy it!  If you want to increase HGH in your body, moderate exercise will double it and vigorous exercise will triple it.  Playing games with hormones is not recommended.  The chemistry is too complex and you have no…

Question:  I have been told that avocados are not good for you because they contain too much fat. I would like to know what you think. E. W. — Sacramento, CA Answer:  There is this obsession with avoiding fats. Fats are good for you. The body needs them. What is bad for you is the processed fats and oils sold in our supermarkets and used as ingredients in all kinds of make-believe foods including breakfast cereals. These processed fats and oils are toxins, while real fats and oils are nutrients. Avocados are an excellent and healthy fruit and are perfectly safe to eat, especially if you purchase the organic ones. Avocados are also high in vitamin E and contain generous amounts of lutein, which prevents against cataracts and macular degeneration.…

Question: What’s the best way to wash fresh fruits and vegetables? S. P. – Chapin, SC Answer: In truth, there is a lot of contaminated food out there and some people even soak their produce in Clorox. I do not do this and do not recommend it. From both a practical and a scientific viewpoint, the thing to do is to peel a fresh fruit or vegetable, such as an apple or a carrot that can be peeled. For foods that cannot be peeled, washing under running water for a minute or two will go a long way reducing both bacterial and chemical contamination. For foods like lettuce, remove the outer layers and wash the leaves separately. There is no perfect way to do this, but the above is something anyone can do; nothing special is needed.…

Question: Are eggs good to eat? G. F. – Fairfax, CA Answer: Eggs are an excellent source of many essential nutrients, and can safely be included in a good diet. For many years, eggs have been falsely maligned by our medical establishment, thus cutting people off from a good source of nutrition. The reason for this has been the assumption that the cholesterol in eggs would somehow contribute to heart disease. In truth, there is very little connection between blood cholesterol levels and cholesterol in the diet, and there was never any reason to believe so in the first place. In point of fact, a study in the October 2000 Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that people who ate four eggs per week had lower cholesterol levels than those eating only one egg per week. Eggs are a good source of protein. Two eggs will supply about 50 percent of the average person’s daily need for protein. Physically active people have higher protein requirements, often twice as much, so…

Question: Whenever I am stressed, I crave sugar. I was wondering if this is normal, and if there is something I can do about it. E. T. – Orlando, FL Answer: First about your cravings, there is plenty of science to explain what you experience, and it is common. Stress releases hormones called glucocorticoids. Glucocorticoids in turn cause an increase in insulin, and insulin instructs cells to take up sugar. This causes blood sugar levels to drop, creating a need to rebalance blood sugar, hence your cravings. There is also another dimension to your sugar cravings. Eating sugar increases the neurochemicals serotonin and dopamine. Both of these create a sense of calm. They are feel-good chemicals. Dopamine has been associated with addiction because it taps into the body’s pleasure/reward system, and this helps to explain why people become addicted to sugar. Finally, as to what you can do about it, learning to control stress is critical. Medication, relaxation techniques and exe…

Question: I am 69 years old and have recently developed numbness and tingling in my hands and feet. I am also experiencing problems with my sense of balance and memory. My doctor says I am in good health for my age and this is happening because I am getting older. After reading Never Be Sick Again, I know better than to believe that. I was wondering what you think B. M. - Ashville, NC Answer: As you know from reading my book, there is only one disease and only two causes of disease. There are a number of possibilities to explain your problem, including the toxic side effects of a variety of prescription drugs. If you are on drugs, work with your doctor to get off these dangerous toxins. Assuming you are not on drugs, what you are experiencing is not uncommon in older people. This is why your doctor thinks it is the result of normal aging. In reality, it is very often the result of B vitamin deficiency. Get on the Beyond Health Ultimate Wellness kit plus B-12/Folate Formula which…

Question: I am concerned about Alzheimer’s disease, and I read that curcumin can prevent Alzheimer’s. I was wondering if that is true and if I should be taking it? P. H. - Dublin, NH Answer: What you read is correct. Recent studies have discovered that curcumin reduces the amyloid protein plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Curcumin reduced the accumulation of amyloid deposits in animal brains injected with amyloid, and reduced the loss of proteins in the spaces between brain cells. By reducing the loss of protein in synapses, curcumin helps maintain memory. Curcumin also appears to act as an anti-inflammatory, which reduces inflammation in neurologic tissue, protecting it from oxidative damage. India has the lowest rate of Alzheimer’s in the world. It is not a coincidence that the Indians have a high consumption of curry which contains turmeric, the source of curcumin. I take curcumin every day myself, and I recommend it to you. It not only protects against Alzheimer…

Question: Can you give me any advice on preventing hair loss? D. G. - San Francisco, CA Answer: Hair loss is a complex issue involving everything from genes to hormones to deficiency and toxicity. Each case has to be looked at separately, so it is difficult to give universal advice. However, there is a 2006 study that is worthy to note. Some hair loss appears to result from iron deficiency, and the iron deficiency appears to result from a deficiency of folate and vitamin B12. I have heard stories of people being able to safely regrow hair by taking folate and B12 supplements. At the doses they are using, taking 3 or 4 B-12/Folate Formulas per day would be sufficient for those people who would be responsive to this approach. Another issue regarding hair loss is the toxicity of most commercial shampoos. Most shampoo contains sodium lauryl sulfate. This toxin will cause hair loss in some people. Also be aware that low thyroid function can cause hair loss. Have your thyroid levels ch…

Question: I have read Dr. Francis’ books and understand the information about vaccinations. However, would you please address the Hepatitis B shot? My school is asking that I get the vaccination and I want to know specifically the problems for and against getting the shot. S. E. - Internet Answer:  The Hepatitis B shot is no different from other vaccinations in terms of its damage to the immune system and introduction into the body of a variety of toxins. It has been linked specifically with autoimmune and neurological illnesses like rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, seizures, encephalitis, etc. It is difficult to make the case for the shot. Hepatitis B is not a widespread problem except among IV drug users and those with multiple sexual partners, as it is most often transmitted through the blood. I take it you are an adult who works in a school. Hepatitis B is rare among children. The vaccine does protect some people against getting Hepatitis B, but the risks are too…

Question: : I have a six-year-old son who has just tested positive for a skin TB test. I am not happy with the antibiotic treatment recommended by the doctor, and I am looking for other options. Do you have any suggestions? S. S. – Fort Lauderdale, FL Answer: First you have to determine if any treatment is needed. The skin reaction could be a false positive and no treatment is required. The first thing to do is ask for a blood test. Ask to have a MELISA test. If the test is negative, there is no need for further action. If the test is positive, then you need to look further. If there is an active infection, then there are a variety of treatments available that do not involve dangerous prescription drugs like antibiotics. Vitamin C is always essential, and treatment with intravenous vitamin C would be one option to consider. Another option is vitamin D. A study in Indonesia cured 100 percent of the patients, with several forms of active tuberculosis, by using 10,000 IU per day…

Question: Winter is coming.  I am sure this is when people will be in the need for vitamin D.  What do you recommend people should take every day? L. O. — Baltimore, MD Answer:  People should take the amount they need. The health benefits of vitamin D are growing as more research is published, and more experts are recommending higher doses. I advise that people should ask their doctor to measure their 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels and then keep their serum vitamin D at the high end of normal. Supplement with whatever amount is necessary to achieve this. A new study out of China showed that 94 percent of people between the ages of fifty and seventy were deficient in vitamin D. Research published in a recent Journal of Nutrition recommends an intake of 2100 and 3100 International Units(IUs) per day during the winter months. The anti-cancer properties of vitamin D appear to click in at daily doses of about 1,100 IUs. The current official recommendation is 200 IUs per day for those…

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…

Question:  I heard that taking too much calcium is dangerous because it will settle in the soft tissues and organs. Is this true? What makes Beyond Health’s Bone Mineral Formula different? S. C. – Snowflake, AZ Answer: For years now, women have been encouraged to load up on cheap, synthetic forms of calcium as “the” way to build strong bones and prevent osteoporosis. But preventing osteoporosis is a complex task (see “Boning Up on Osteoporosis”), and taking calcium in the wrong form and without a whole team of supporting nutrients is a recipe for disaster. Calcium will not be incorporated into bone without vitamins D and K. If it’s not going into the bones, where will it go? The wrong places, such as arteries (arterial calcification) and joints (osteoarthritis). This is especially the case with inorganic forms of calcium – the kind of calcium found in most supplements. If you’re taking calcium in an organic form – the form found in Beyond Health supplements – your body will ge…