A Simple Daily Routine to Keep the Doctor Away Hunched shoulders. A stiff neck. Aching wrists. Glazed eyes staring at a screen. These are not isolated complaints—they are the predictable consequences of spending long hours at a desk without movement. Over time, this pattern places cumulative stress on the spine, joints, muscles, and nervous system, often leading to chronic pain and reduced energy. The good news is that it doesn’t take much to reverse this trend. Research consistently shows that even short, daily bouts of movement can relieve common office-related problems—particularly neck, shoulder, wrist, and lower back discomfort—while improving overall energy, posture, and productivity. Why Movement Matters More Than You Think Prolonged sitting: Shortens and tightens muscles Restricts circulation Impairs posture and spinal alignment Increases fatigue and mental fog Daily movement restores circulation, reactivates postural muscles, and relieves the…

Why Steaming Vegetables Can Be Better Than Eating Them Raw Although we recommend eating most of the diet raw, research shows that steaming is the best cooking method for preserving nutrients—and in some cases, it can actually increase the availability of powerful protective compounds compared to eating vegetables raw. Cruciferous Vegetables, Cancer Protection, and a Key Enzyme Cruciferous vegetables—such as broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts—contain compounds called glucosinolates, which are strongly protective against cancer. Scientists suggest that 3–5 servings per week of cruciferous vegetables provide substantial cancer-protective benefits. For glucosinolates to become biologically active, they must interact with a plant enzyme called myrosinase. This interaction occurs when you chew raw vegetables, breaking down the cellulose walls that keep glucosinolates and myrosinase separated. The problem?Heat can destroy myrosinase—and most people don&r…

. . . diet is by far the most important factor in keeping your skin hydrated, smooth and supple In winter, we may go from icy cold winds outside to dry, forced air heat inside. Extreme temperatures – both hot and cold – dry the skin. Add age to the mix (as we age, our skin becomes less efficient at producing lubricating oils), and it’s not surprising that many people suffer from dry skin during the winter months. Dryness intensifies fine lines on your face, making you look older; the skin can feel rough and appear dull and flaky. In some people, skin dryness gets so bad that the outer skin layer becomes leathery and cracks, especially on hands and feet. Apart from being quite painful, these lesions compromise the skin’s barrier function, permitting entry to germs and other irritating substances, often leading to infections. Here are 8 ways to keep your skin soft, supple and well-hydrated, even during winter: 1.  First and foremost, consume enough healthy fat, especially ess…

The Tiny Seed With Massive Biological Impact If you could choose one simple food upgrade that supports digestion, metabolism, hormones, and cardiovascular health at the same time, flaxseed would be near the top of the list. Why? Because few foods deliver both major types of fiber + omega-3 fats + hormone-balancing compounds in one natural package. Fiber Power Comparison: Flaxseed vs Other Nuts & Seeds Flaxseed supplies about 9 grams of fiber per ounce nearly three times more than almonds, which provide about 3.3 grams. That alone makes flax one of the most efficient fiber sources available. Soluble vs Insoluble Fiber Why You Need Both There are two categories of fiber, and flaxseed provides generous amounts of each. Insoluble Fiber Benefits adds bulk to stool supports elimination reduces toxin reabsorption promotes digestive regularity Soluble Fiber Benefits feeds beneficial gut bacteria supports immune function helps regulate cholesterol promotes anti-infl…

We all know that physical fitness is a good thing. Fitness is associated with heart and lung health, good blood sugar control, and a longer, more productive and enjoyable life. But what does it actually mean, and what do you have to do to get and stay fit? Although some definitions of fitness also include muscle strength, flexibility and body composition, fitness usually refers to cardiovascular fitness, or aerobic capacity—the ability of your heart, lungs and circulatory system to supply oxygen-rich blood to muscles and organs and remove metabolic waste products during exercise. You can assess your own aerobic capacity to some extent by how winded you get climbing stairs, lifting heavy packages or running for a bus. A more scientific home test is given here. You can also go to a clinic or health spa and have it measured by exercising as hard and long as you can on a treadmill while your heart rate and breathing capacity are measured. According to studies done at the Cooper Inst…

Necessary for the function of more than 300 different enzymes, zinc is “essential for virtually all processes in the human body.” But even though Mother Nature wisely put a little zinc into most foods, it’s still easy to come up short. Known as the cold-fighting mineral, zinc is needed for every aspect of immune function. Zinc is also used in the synthesis and function of DNA and RNA, making it essential for reproduction and growth. It’s needed for neurological, eye, and heart health, and for healthy bones and glucose metabolism. Vitamin A can’t function without it. Zinc reduces inflammation and oxidative stress, supports detoxification, and plays roles in digestion, metabolism and protein synthesis. But like other minerals, zinc is significantly depleted in US soils: A carrot today may have 95% less zinc than a carrot grown sixty years ago. Phosphate fertilizers and sewage sludge used in conventional agriculture are also highly contaminated with cadmium, which competes with zin…

Not all food cravings lead to overeating. Your body can give you legitimate cues that certain nutrients are needed, or even that a certain food will fulfill an emotional need.  If you find that a reasonable amount of a desired food satisfies you, wonderful.  Eating one cookie may satisfy a sweet tooth. But if one cookie leads to another, and another, and then, “I can’t believe I ate the whole box,” that’s a problem. Although scientists look for characteristics that separate bingers from non-bingers, given enough stress, just about anyone is likely to turn to Haagen-Dazs.  However, though stress is unavoidable and unpredictable, here are ways you can strengthen your capacity to become “binge-resistant.” Get adequate nutrition. According to food addiction expert Julia Ross, MA, MFCC, dieting, which she calls “a euphemism for starvation,” is the major cause of food cravings and eating disorders. In Never Be Sick Again, Raymond Francis agrees.  He says anyone who…

Sitting Kills, Moving Heals is the title of a book by exercise physiologist Dr. Joan Vernikos. Her argument—one that has been confirmed by other scientists in a new field called “inactivity physiology” is not that sitting is necessarily bad for us; just that we spend far too much time doing it. The real problem is inactivity. Or put another way, it’s the absence of moving against gravity in a variety of ways throughout the day. Moving in opposition to gravity stimulates certain cell functions we need to be healthy, and we need to move frequently throughout the day. An hour at the gym after work won’t cut it. Dr. Vernikos became an expert on the physiological effects of gravity while working with NASA, where she observed the health-damaging effects of weightlessness on astronauts. Living in a gravity-free environment, she says, accelerates the aging process by about ten times. Changes in muscle and bone and other detrimental physiological changes that ordinarily occur in one ye…

It’s been called “the most effective, potent way that we can improve quality of life and duration of life.” If it were a drug, “it would likely be the most valuable pharmaceutical ever developed.” It isn’t a new supplement or super food, and best of all it’s free. It’s . . . exercise! In a recent issue of Time magazine, reporter Mandy Outlander explored the cutting edge of exercise research with various experts who have become increasingly excited about “exercise as medicine.” His own research prompted the rave reviews above from genetic metabolic neurologist Dr. Mark Tarnopolsky at McMaster University in Ontario. That exercise is good for us isn’t exactly news, but Dr. Tarnopolsky hopes that by pointing out all its wonderful rewards, he may motivate us enough to jump up out of our chairs and actually do it! Rewards being documented are both immediate and long-term. Right after a short exercise session, measurable results include improved mood, less arthritic and lower back pa…

What is a plant-based diet? There are different interpretations, but except for the vegan diet, which is exclusively plant, most plant-food diets are centered on plant foods, especially vegetables, using only small amounts of animal products as “condiments.” At Beyond Health, we recommend limiting animal proteins to 2-3 ounces a day, and not every day. Although on Thanksgiving, we enjoy organic turkey, we don’t overdo it. Instead, we make a feast of a beautiful salad with our delicious Beyond Health Olive Oil and Beyond Health Balsamic Vinegar and several favorite vegetable dishes. We then have a little turkey on the side. Here are two treasured vegetable recipes from our friend Bette Acuff, visual artist and artist-of-life, who brings beauty, balance and taste to all of her endeavors. CREAMY CAULIFLOWER SOUP WITH GREENS  1 tablespoon Beyond Health Olive Oil, plus more for drizzling 1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 cup) 4 cloves of garlic, chopped Selina…

Consuming enough magnesium is only half the battle. For our bodies to utilize it, magnesium needs to be absorbed and get into our cells. However, when you’re deficient in magnesium, you face a paradox.  Cells need magnesium to correct systemic acidity and activate an enzyme that allows them to take up magnesium! Fortunately Raymond Francis’ friend, scientist Russell Jaffe, MD, PhD, found a way around this problem, by combining magnesium with choline citrate, Dr. Jaffe estimates that most people who need magnesium need to take it with choline citrate to benefit from it. This would include about half the population and the majority of people who are chronically ill. So although you will get magnesium in our Beyond Health Multi and Bone Formula, and a little more in our Vitamin C powder or tablets, if you’re experiencing any of the symptoms above, we strongly recommend taking Beyond Health Magnesium with our Choline Citrate. Start with 1 capsule of magnesium and a teaspoon of…

It may seem like a simple mathematical equation:  One pound equals about 3,500 calories. If you want to lose one pound, you simply eat less and/or exercise more so that you consume 3,500 less calories than you’re burning. But the truth is more complex. Although if you eat less and exercise more, you can lose weight, most people who take this limited approach have a hard time and often wind up like our friend Debby who reported, “I exhausted myself losing five pounds, but they found me again!” As Raymond Francis says in Never Be Fat Again, overweight is a disease, a disease that can only be cured by normalizing body chemistry. This is done by permanently adopting a holistic lifestyle that supplies the body with all the nutrients it needs to be healthy, and eliminates toxins that interfere with good health. A body in optimal health sustains self-healing, self-regulating mechanisms that automatically shed excess pounds and then maintain a healthy weight. Regular exercise is…

Beyond Health exists for one purpose: to help you get healthy and stay healthy. We’re here with information, products and the enthusiasm that comes from seeing and experiencing the dramatic changes in health and well-being that are possible. (That’s why we call it “beyond” health: we help people go “beyond” what they previously thought possible.) What we need to complete the picture is you! Your participation and feedback allow us to continue to improve our service. So we’re inviting you, as 2017 begins, to consider us your partner on a journey toward becoming stronger, healthier and happier. Let us know how we’re doing in meeting your health needs. We’re available by phone or email, and we want to hear from you. Has a supplement helped you? We want to know! Or has it not lived up to your expectations. We want to know that too. Often a little counseling will solve the problem. Do you have a criticism, suggestion, or question? Althou…

Vitamin D Deficiency and the Rising Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Women Recent research from the Mayo Clinic has identified a concerning trend: rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is increasing among Caucasian women, and vitamin D deficiency appears to be a significant contributing factor. While rheumatoid arthritis is a complex autoimmune condition influenced by genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors, researchers noted that the most plausible explanation for the rising incidence is the increasing prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, particularly among women. Why Vitamin D Matters in Rheumatoid Arthritis Vitamin D plays a critical role in: Immune system regulation Inflammation control Bone and joint health Low vitamin D levels have been associated with increased autoimmune activity, which may help explain its link to rheumatoid arthritis. As vitamin D deficiency has become more common—due to indoor lifestyles, sun avoidance, and inadequate dietary intake—rates of im…

We each have a mighty force of trillions of tiny microorganisms—helpful bacteria and other microbes—living on our skin, in our digestive system, and in tissues throughout the body, that is constantly on guard to defend us against potentially invasive infectious disease-causing pathogens like viruses, yeasts, parasites and harmful bacteria. Discounted for many years by the medical establishment, scientists are now beginning to discover how much we depend on these “good bugs.” Not only do they synthesize vitamins and amino acids and help us to digest and absorb our food, they are also an indispensable part of our immune system. Before a pathogen—bacterial, viral, or fungal—can get into your bloodstream, where it can replicate and become increasingly virulent, it must first get past the formidable fortress created by your skin and mucus membranes. The skin isn’t just a physical barrier; it is an immune system organ, where immune cells and good bugs work together to conquer pot…

This month, it’s all about toxins. According to our founder, Raymond Francis, there is only one disease, malfunctioning cells, and only two reasons cells malfunction: either they don’t have the right materials to work with (deficiency) or they’re being disrupted with the wrong materials (toxins) that interfere with normal cell function.The barrage of manmade toxic chemicals we encounter today is unprecedented, and it’s taking a huge toll on our health.Though it’s still possible to be healthy for life, it takes knowledge and effort—avoiding as many toxins as you can, and using strategies to detoxify your body from those you can’t avoid.We’ve talked about detoxifying your home with air and water filters and recommended detoxing with frequent infrared saunas.But with all the fuss about environmental toxins, you might be surprised to learn that the most potent source of toxins for almost everyone today is digesting and metabolizing food!In making energy from food, the body produces loads o…

Pneumonia is an infection in the air sacs of the lungs. For anyone with a weakened immune system, it can be life-threatening.  This would include very young children, people with compromised immunity, and those older than 65 whose immune systems are in decline. For the elderly, pneumonia is the leading cause of death due to infectious disease. But here’s some great news for those on the far side of middle age.  A 2015 study found supplementing with vitamin E may give you the same resistance to pneumonia enjoyed by youngsters! As we age, our immune systems not only become less responsive, they make more mistakes. This overall decline is called “immunosenescence,” and it occurs in older animals as well as in older humans. The study compared young with old mice infected with the most common cause of pneumonia, the bacteria S. pneumoniae.  In both, immune cells were rushed to the lungs to address the infection. But in the older mice, this response was “overly exube…

Back to the Basics: Why Fresh Food Still Wins The foundation of real health has never changed. It starts with fresh, natural food—not trends, not gimmicks, not “latest breakthroughs,” but the way humans have eaten for generations. A truly health-supportive lifestyle is built on: Fresh fruits and vegetables Clean meats and seafood Whole, intact grains Natural, unprocessed foods No refined sugars.No refined flours.No processed oils.No preservatives or chemical additives. This way of eating may be the “latest craze” in popular culture—but at Beyond Health, we simply smile.It’s exactly what Raymond Francis has been teaching for years. This isn’t a diet.It’s how the body is designed to function. Eat Foods the Body Recognizes When food is fresh and minimally processed, the body knows what to do with it: Digest it efficiently Extract nutrients properly Maintain stable energy and metabolism Support detoxification and repa…