A Vitamin B12 Story: Extraordinary Healing—and Institutional Resistance This is a good-news/bad-news story. The Good News As reported by investigative journalist Lynne McTaggart in The Optimist, a physician in England—originally from India—has spent more than forty years quietly achieving what most consider impossible. Joseph Chandy became widely known for reversing severe depression in hundreds of patients—and, remarkably, for producing dramatic improvements in patients with multiple sclerosis and chronic fatigue syndrome. In a 2006 BBC segment, former MS patients described standing up from wheelchairs after treatment. His “miraculous” therapy? Vitamin B12 injections. Why This Worked Dr. Chandy recognized something foundational early in his career:one of the two true causes of disease is nutrient deficiency. As Raymond Francis wrote as far back as 2003: Proper nutrition is the single most important factor in preventing and reversing depression. F…

Calcium: From “Magic Bullet” to Scapegoat—and Back to Science Once celebrated as the superstar solution for osteoporosis, calcium has recently fallen from grace. It’s now routinely criticized—or outright vilified—by both conventional and alternative health commentators. Vitamin C researcher Thomas E. Levy, MD, even titled a book Death by Calcium! So how did one of the most essential minerals in human physiology—and one that most Americans, especially the elderly, are deficient in—end up with such a bad reputation? How Calcium Lost Its Halo The calcium controversy began when it was promoted as a standalone “magic bullet” for osteoporosis. The logic was simple: Weak bones? Take more calcium. When that approach didn’t deliver the expected results, experts added vitamin D: Take calcium with vitamin D. This worked slightly better—but still not well enough. Why? Because calcium never works alone. Calcium Is a Team…

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH): Inevitable—or Preventable? By age 80, approximately 90% of men have an enlarged prostate, medically referred to as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In conventional medicine, BPH is now widely regarded as an almost inevitable consequence of aging. At Beyond Health, we don’t accept inevitability as destiny. Understanding BPH and Its Risks The prostate gland surrounds the urethra. As it enlarges, it can compress the urethral channel, leading to lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) that range from mildly annoying to severely debilitating. Common symptoms include: Weak or interrupted urine stream Difficulty starting or stopping urination A feeling of incomplete bladder emptying Dribbling Frequent urination, especially at night Urgency or sudden need to urinate Burning or pain during urination Over time, irritation and damage to the urethral lining can increase the risk of urinary tract infections. If left unaddressed, progre…

Taming the “Wanting Mind”: How to Break the Cycle of Cravings Have you ever stood in front of an open refrigerator, knowing you want something but not knowing what? You scan the shelves, land on that leftover chocolate cake, and eat it. Maybe all of it. And yet afterward, you still feel unsatisfied only now you’re also uncomfortable, guilty, and frustrated. According to psychotherapist and mindfulness teacher Sasha T. Loring, author of Eating with Fierce Kindness, this experience is a classic example of what she calls “the wanting mind.” The wanting mind is a state of fundamental dissatisfaction a restless sense that something is missing, even when our basic needs have already been met. It’s this state that often drives cravings. Where Cravings Come From Cravings can arise for many reasons: Food sensitivities or allergies Lack of sleep Nutrient deficiencies Stress or emotional overwhelm But Loring points out that cravings aren’t only…

Vitamin C: The Molecule That Changed Everything Ever since it saved his life, Raymond Francis has regarded vitamin C—when it’s the right kind—as the most powerful and indispensable nutrient for human health. Long before Beyond Health existed, Raymond wasn’t planning for the future. In truth, he wasn’t sure he had one. He was gravely ill—near death—when he called his brother Bernie, who flew across the country expecting the worst. What Bernie found was alarming. Raymond was emaciated, barely conscious, and drifting in and out of awareness. What happened next would change everything. Bernie had brought a book he’d recently heard about: Anatomy of an Illness by Norman Cousins. Cousins is best known for using laughter to help reverse a supposedly incurable disease—but less well known is that high-dose vitamin C, administered intravenously, was a cornerstone of his recovery. Too weak and discouraged to laugh, Raymond was willing to try w…

Strong Bones for the Long Haul If you plan to live to a ripe old age, you’ll want your bones to be good for the long haul. Unfortunately, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, nearly half of Americans over age 50 are “cruisin’ for a bruisin’”—at risk for fractures due to either osteoporosis (severely weakened bones) or low bone density (a milder but still dangerous loss of bone strength). Some osteoporosis risk factors are beyond our control—age, gender (women have about four times the risk of men), genetics, small body frame, and certain ethnic traits. But even with these risks, healthy bones can be built and maintained for life with the right care. Last week we covered supplementation—using a complete team of nutrients with Beyond Health’s Bone Mineral Formula, a high-quality multi, and individualized vitamin C and D. But even more fundamental than supplements is diet, particularly when it comes to acid-alkaline balan…

Struggling to Maintain a Meditation Practice? You’re Not Alone Have you ever tried to establish a regular meditation practice—only to find it hard to sustain over time? You’re in good company. And the solution may be simpler than you think: don’t do it alone. Just as workout partners, classes, and accountability groups help people stick with exercise, community support can make all the difference in building a meditation habit. New habits require repetition, structure, and encouragement—and meditation is no exception. One of the biggest obstacles to consistency isn’t motivation or discipline—it’s lack of social reinforcement. Even if you’ve read about meditation’s benefits for stress reduction, emotional balance, immune function, and overall health—and even if you’ve felt those benefits yourself—it’s easy to lose momentum if the people around you are uninterested or dismissive. Over time, that quiet dis…

Essential Fatty Acids: The Missing Link in Children’s Health When we think about what fuels health, we usually focus on vitamins, minerals, fiber, and the foods or supplements that supply them. Yet—especially when it comes to children’s health—one critical nutrient category is often overlooked: essential fatty acids (EFAs). In writing recently about our newly formulated Kids Mega Multi, we emphasized that all children should be on a high-quality multivitamin and a reliable source of essential fatty acids. This recommendation is rooted in decades of nutritional science—and the data are increasingly concerning. Why EFAs Matter So Much for Children Both adults and children are commonly deficient in EFAs, particularly the omega-3 fatty acids EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)—two fats that are foundational for neurological, cognitive, and visual development. DHA alone makes up 30–60% of the retina, making it indispensable f…

How Your Gut Bacteria Shape Stress, Anxiety, and Emotional Resilience Over the past two decades, research into the gut microbiome the roughly 3½–4 pounds of microscopic organisms living primarily in the colon has exploded. What scientists are discovering is profound: Your gut bacteria don’t just influence digestion they directly affect how you handle stress, anxiety, and emotional pressure. In the face of the COVID era and its ongoing uncertainties, stress resilience the ability to adapt, recover, and stay emotionally balanced has never been more important. At Beyond Health, we’ve long recommended classic stress-reduction practices such as meditation, exercise, time in nature, and restorative sleep. These are all valuable. But research now shows there’s another, often overlooked pillar of emotional resilience: A healthy population of beneficial bacteria in your gut. The Gut Brain Axis: A Two-Way Communication Highway There is a complex, bidirectional com…

Whey Protein: Not Just for Muscles—But for Immunity, Longevity, and Healthy Aging Much has been written about whey protein as a recovery tool for athletes, bodybuilders, and gym enthusiasts. But whey’s true value extends far beyond muscle repair. Emerging research highlights whey protein as a powerful ally for immune resilience, metabolic health, and healthy aging—benefits that matter to everyone, not just those lifting weights. Is Whey “Dairy”? Clearing Up a Common Misunderstanding Resistance to whey protein often comes from individuals who are allergic or sensitive to dairy. What’s not widely understood is that whey protein is not the same as dairy. Milk contains two primary proteins: Casein (≈80%) Whey (≈20%) Whey exists in the liquid portion of milk. During cheese production, the solid curds become cheese, while the liquid whey separates. (That liquid you sometimes see floating on top of yogurt? That’s whey.) Historically…

Building Strong Bones Is a Lifelong Project Preventing osteoporosis in old age should begin early. We build up our bone stores during childhood and young adulthood, reaching peak bone mass in our thirties. From that point forward, bone loss gradually begins. Bone is not static tissue. It is living, dynamic, and constantly renewed through a process called bone remodeling. Over roughly ten years, the adult skeleton is completely replaced in tiny sections. First, bone-resorbing cells called osteoclasts break down old bone; then bone-building cells called osteoblasts lay down new bone in its place. Sometime in our thirties, bone breakdown begins to outpace bone formation. That’s why the more bone we build early in life—through good nutrition and weight-bearing exercise—the better our odds of maintaining strong bones later on. But here’s the encouraging part: because bone is continually remodeled, improvement is possible at any age. Even people in their seventies and…

Fruits and Vegetables: The Foundation of Vitality Colorful, fresh fruits and vegetables do far more than decorate our plates. They help us feel lighter, clearer, and more energized, while quietly supporting nearly every system in the body. A large body of research shows that diets rich in fruits and vegetables help: Maintain healthy acid–alkaline balance Reduce chronic inflammation Support detoxification pathways Provide essential fiber Strengthen immune function In short, they create the internal environment in which health thrives. The Real Challenge: Getting Enough The problem for most people isn’t knowing that fruits and vegetables are healthy—it’s finding realistic ways to eat enough of them consistently. General recommendations suggest: 1½–2 cups of fruit per day 2–3 cups of vegetables per day For optimal benefits, a more ambitious (but achievable) goal is: Two pieces of fruit daily About 5 cups of vegetables per d…

Could SIBO Be Behind Your Digestive Symptoms? Are you bothered by abdominal bloating, gas, flatulence, belching, or an irritable bowel—constipation alternating with diarrhea, or perhaps predominantly one or the other? If so, you may be dealing with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), a now well-recognized but still frequently overlooked form of intestinal dysbiosis. What Is SIBO? You may already be familiar with one form of dysbiosis, in which yeast (such as Candida) or harmful bacteria overgrow in the intestines and crowd out beneficial organisms. SIBO is different. SIBO occurs specifically in the small intestine—the approximately 20-foot-long, tightly coiled digestive tube that connects the stomach to the colon. Under healthy conditions, the small intestine contains relatively few bacteria compared to the colon. When bacteria or other microorganisms that normally reside there begin to proliferate excessively, a pathological imbalance develops. This overgrowth i…

Why Sitting Is the New Smoking — and How “Exercise Snacks” Can Undo the Damage More people than ever are working from home and ordering what they need online, tethering us more closely to our computers. Americans were already sitting too much—but now it’s reached a new level. While sitting itself isn’t inherently bad, sitting in the same chair for hours at a time quietly alters body chemistry in harmful ways. Prolonged sitting increases: Insulin resistance Blood sugar Triglycerides These changes are linked to heart disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, dementia, cancer, and even earlier death. That’s why prolonged sitting has earned the nickname: “The new smoking.” Why One Workout a Day Isn’t Enough Many people try to counteract long sitting hours with a daily walk, run, or gym session. While these are beneficial—and we absolutely support them—they do not fully undo the damage caused by uninterru…

How Gut Bacteria Influence Blood Pressure (And Why Salt Isn’t the Whole Story) As scientists continue to study the trillions of microorganisms living in our intestines—collectively known as the gut microbiome—it’s becoming clear that this 3–5 pound ecosystem of bacteria plays a central role in nearly every aspect of human health. In fact, some researchers now believe the microbiome may be more influential than our genes in determining health or disease. One of the most surprising discoveries in recent years is the microbiome’s direct involvement in blood pressure regulation. Salt, Blood Pressure, and the Microbiome Connection It’s long been known that excessive salt intake is associated with high blood pressure. What’s new is how salt appears to exert its effects. Salt Alters Gut Bacteria—and Blood Pressure Follows A landmark 2017 study found that when mice and humans consumed excess salt, beneficial gut bacteria declined while pro…

GMO Foods, Gut Health, and the Hidden Pathway to Chronic Illness Since the publication of his best-selling book Seeds of Deception: Exposing Industry and Government Lies about the Safety of the Genetically Engineered Foods You’re Eating, Jeffrey M. Smith has emerged as one of the most prominent voices calling for a global reassessment—and potential halt—of genetically engineered (GE) food technology. Through his organization, the Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT), Smith has documented thousands of anecdotal reports from individuals whose health improved after eliminating genetically modified (GM) foods from their diets, often on the recommendation of their healthcare providers. Some people reported improvements within days; for others, benefits unfolded gradually over four to six weeks. Reported Health Improvements After Removing GM Foods To date, more than 3,000 individuals have reported improvement in 28 different conditions, including: Digestive disorde…

Sugar, Immunity, and the Sweetener Trap If you’ve been around Beyond Health for any length of time, you know that strong immunity begins with staying away from sugar. That’s not ideology—it’s biochemistry. Sugar undermines immune function in two distinct and well-documented ways. How Sugar Weakens Immunity 1. Sugar Blocks Vitamin C Entry Into Immune Cells Glucose (blood sugar) and vitamin C use the same transport pathways to enter cells. Immune cells cannot function without vitamin C—and during an infection, their requirement for vitamin C can increase ten-fold or more. But if glucose levels are elevated, vitamin C is crowded out at the cellular level. The result?An artificial, functional vitamin C deficiency, even if you’re taking supplements. This is one of the primary reasons sugar intake is so damaging during periods of immune stress. 2. Sugar Disrupts Blood Sugar and Oxygen Delivery Large swings in blood sugar—sharp spikes followed by cr…

Polyphenols: Nature’s Master Defenders for Cellular Health Polyphenols are powerful antioxidant compounds found in plant foods, and their benefits for human health are remarkably broad. As potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, polyphenols help protect against virtually every chronic disease by addressing its root drivers: oxidative stress, inflammation, immune imbalance, and cellular damage. Because modern diets are consistently low in polyphenols, we recommend strategic supplementation with one of our quercetin formulas—Quercetin Pro or Cell Repair Formula—to ensure adequate intake of these essential compounds. Tea: A Simple, Powerful Polyphenol Habit Another excellent way to increase your polyphenol intake is by making green or white tea a daily habit. Both green and white tea come from the same plant leaves, but white tea undergoes less processing, allowing it to retain: Higher polyphenol content Lower caffeine levels More calming L-theanine This ma…