Turmeric-Roasted Cauliflower

Shopping List: <ul> <li>1 head of cauliflower, cored and separated into 1-inch florets</li> <li>1 tsp coriander seeds</li> <li>1/2 tsp white peppercorns</li> <li>1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 tbsp minced garlic</li> <li>2 tsp ground turmeric</li> <li>1/2 tsp crushed red pepper salt to taste</li> <li>1 medium shallot, thinly sliced and separated into rings</li> <li>4 kumquats , seeded and chopped</li> <li>1/4 cup cilantro</li> </ul> 1.  Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a small skillet, toast the coriander seeds and peppercorns over moderately high heat until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Transfer to a spice grinder and let cool completely. Grind the spices to a powder and transfer to a small bowl. Stir in the olive oil, garlic, turmeric and crushed red pepper. 2.  On a large rimmed baking sheet, drizzle the cauliflower with the olive oil mixture and toss to coat. Season with salt and roast for 25 minutes, until the cauliflower is tender; scrape the cauliflower into a serving bowl. 3.  Add the shallot rings, kumquats and cilantro and toss well. Serve hot or warm. If served with wine, choose a sweet white, such as German riesling, to compliment the flavorful spices in this dish.  Enjoy! For information on the health benefits of turmeric and the First Do No Harm recommended turmeric supplement, please see <a href="http://fdnhhealth.com/articles/37-turmeric-supplement-for-cancer-prevention">"Reap the Benefits of Turmeric" article</a>. 2010-03-08T19:21:20Z While flipping through the latest copy of Food & Wine magazine, this gorgeous roasted cauliflower dish caught my eye! What a beautiful yellow hue the turmeric adds. Plus the warming spices contained in this recipe are an ideal compliment to the cool, wet weather of March. 38 1 turmeric roasted cauliflower Turmeric-Roasted Cauliflower

2010-03-08T19:24:24Z

Turmeric is thought to reduce the incidence of certain cancers along with reducing inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract and reducing risk of mental decline. Curcumin, considered the most bioactive and soothing portion of the herb tumeric, shows protective effects on the liver. It also inhibits the COX-II enzyme and is a powerful antioxidant. When taken alone, curcumin has very poor absorption, however black pepper has been found to increase absorption of curcumin by a factor of 1000! Interestingly, traditional Indian curry dishes contain black pepper. Our recommended turmeric supplement by Source Naturals contains a non-irritating black pepper extract, which can also increase absorption of related compounds found in other supplements. The Bioperine® contained in this supplement enhances the bioavailability of curcumin by a factor of 1000. At $9.75 per bottle of 50 tablets, this is definitely a supplement for the everyday lineup! Turmeric offers a different kind of protection than other antioxidants and is very safe to add to any nutraceutical regimen. <a href="http://fdnhhealth.com/products/114-turmeric-extract">Click here</a> to view this supplement on the First Do No Harm website. <a href="http://fdnhhealth.com/articles/38-turmeric-roasted-cauliflower">Click here</a> to view a delicious recipe for Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower. YUM! 2010-03-08T18:55:43Z Turmeric is a key ingredient found in many South Asian dishes, especially curries. It is known for the bright beautiful color and warm flavor that it brings to the table. But few people realize what powerful health benefits turmeric offers. 37 Turmeric is a powerful supplement for reducing inflammation and reducing risk of cancer. It should be taken with black pepper for optimal absorption. 1 turmeric supplement for cancer prevention Reap the Health Benefits of Turmeric

2010-03-08T19:26:34Z

The first stop is always the produce section. I buy a general selection of fruits and vegetables that my family and I can consume in a week. Seasonal fruits and berries are always on the staples list. Greens and vegetables such as summer squash, broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage are more perishable and are generally purchased in smaller amounts with plans to use them over the upcoming several days. Vegetables such as carrots, winter squash, onions, and sweet potatoes will keep for a while and I usually keep them on hand all of the time. Occasionally a seasonal or special vegetable will give me an idea for a specific meal. Next on my route is the bakery for fresh loaf of organic stone ground whole grain bread. Fresh meat and cheese are sometimes on the list. The remainder of my shopping trip is usually just replacing staples from the pantry and refrigerator such as pomegranate juice, 2% organic milk, soymilk, organic plain yogurt, free range eggs, organic peanut butter, bottled sauces and salsas of different varieties, whole grain cereal, tea bags, paper towels, dog food, etc. (Lately I been trying to feed my dog more fresh food or a can of wild salmon instead of the processed stuff). In winter I usually keep fresh frozen berries and vegetables in the freezer when fresh items are not available for a reasonable price. Notice that I do not have spent much time within the aisles of prepackaged food. My cart does not include cookies, processed crackers, or packaged meals of any type. Life can be practical, healthier, and even more comfortable without all of it. During the warmer months shopping trips include regular visits to local seafood markets and fruit and vegetable stands for locally grown produce. Shopping at local markets whenever you can is an important way to support your community. Mail order can be a practical way to obtain quality food for a reasonable price. Free range meats of different varieties are available online. My freezer always contains a large package of mixed nuts obtained from a reputable source instead of a local grocery. 2010-03-01T03:50:04Z My trips to the grocery would be best described as restocking trips. Sometimes I carry a list, but most of the time I have a fairly good idea of what I need in my head. Usually I go one to three times per week. 36 1 healthy grocery shopping Grocery Shopping Tips

2010-03-01T03:53:34Z

Shopping List: <ul> <li>Carrots, onions, zucchini, cabbage, and/or mushrooms (2-3 cups total)</li> <li>Olive Oil</li> <li>Minced garlic</li> <li>1 can organic crushed tomatoes (look for organic, fire roasted!)</li> <li>1 can dark kidney beans, rinsed</li> <li>1 can black beans, rinsed</li> <li>Spices include chili pepper, cayenne pepper, cumin</li> <li>Secret ingredient: 1 tablespoon cocoa powder</li> <li>Chopped prunes or sundried tomatoes are a nice addition</li> <li>Mashed tempeh and/or cauliflower are excellent thickeners</li> </ul> In a medium pot, saute chopped veggies and garlic in 1 to 2 tbsp. of olive oil. Cook until the carrots are tender. Mix in tomatoes, kidney beans, and black beans. Add in 3-4 tbsp. of seasonings (see above selection) plus a dash of salt. Simmer for about 10 minutes. Serve with whole grain bread and a salad. Enjoy!   2010-02-17T14:51:41Z There are almost an unlimited number of chili recipes and many of them can be made without meat. The following is a recipe for a rich and healthy chili that can be made in about 10 minutes. You won't miss the meat!  35 Delicious recipe for rich and healthy vegetarian chili with secret ingredient "cocoa powder" 1 easy veggie chili Easy Veggie Chili (with secret ingredient!)

2010-02-17T14:51:41Z

Normalizers, as you might expect, have the ability to normalize functions in the body. They balance hormones, enhance immune function, and generally resist the forces that cause disease. Effecters, on the other hand, have direct targeted effects at specific sites in the body. They are generally used to reduce symptoms directly and prevent catastrophic events. Thought the margins are not absolute, most of the commonly used herbal and vitamin-like therapies are normalizers and most synthetic drugs are effecters. Normalizers have the very desirable attribute of inducing healing. In terms of symptom reduction, it takes longer to be effective because healing is a gradual process. Normalizers have less direct potency, but are also much less toxic than most effecters. Because the potential for toxicity is very low, normalizers generally do not have to be dosed as carefully as effecters. Even so, standardized dosing is very important for optimal results in therapy. All of the supplements found on this website are primarily normalizers, though some have mild effecter properties, but not enough to be classified as true effecters. There are some herbs that would be specifically classified as effectors, but they are generally avoided by practitioners who use herbal therapies. It is not possible to achieve the narrow dose range necessary to keep them safe with herbal preparations. This can only be achieved with pharmaceutical grade dosing required for synthetic drugs. So, most true effecters are pharmaceuticals, as it should be. Pharmaceuticals do have great value, but they are not the only tools in the toolbox. Though they are highly potent, pharmaceuticals have relatively high potentials for toxicity and side effects. They should be used selectively and always in combination with normalizing therapy. In my practice I use both, with an overall average ratio of 75% normalizers to 25% effectors. Since shifting to this ratio years ago, my patients tend to have better overall outcomes and are more likely to enjoy the benefits of good health. 2010-02-15T19:50:33Z When trying to describe the broad spectrum of medicinal therapy, all the way from natural herbs up to synthetic pharmaceuticals, two descriptive, non-technical terms come to mind: “normalizers” and “effecters.” 34 Most vitamins and herbal supplements can be considered normalizers, while most synthetic drugs are effecters with very targeted effects on symptoms. 1 normalizers and effecters Normalizers vs. Effecters

2010-02-16T05:01:24Z

There is very little evidence that the synthetic vitamins found in the majority of multi-vitamins are beneficial. In fact, some studies even suggest that synthetically-derived vitamins and inorganic forms of minerals may actually do more harm than good. For a multi-vitamin to be effective, it should be composed of vitamins and minerals in natural forms that can be easily assimilated by the body. It should not be clouded with herbal ingredients or essential fatty acids, which always seem to be under-dosed and inappropriately placed when found within a multi-vitamin. After scrutinizing hundreds of multi-vitamins on the market, I have found only a limited number that may be worth considering. The multi-vitamin line that I have selected for the <a href="http://fdnhhealth.com/products?searchname=multi&searchproductcode=">First Do No Harm Multi-Vitamin</a> is manufactured under our private label by a company that sells exclusively to physicians. Of the few multi-vitamins on the market that met my standards for quality, this company offered the most competitive prices by far. Here are a few tips for evaulating the ingredients of your multi-vitamin: Vitamin A: though essential for many functions within the body, too much vitamin A is toxic. A multivitamin should not contain more than 10,000 units of vitamin A by itself. Children should not take vitamin A at all. Natural carotenes (such as beta-carotene) are converted to vitamin A in the body and are a safer route for supplementation. Vitamin B: B vitamins are easy to acquire through a healthy diet, but obtaining via a multivitamin is acceptable. B-vitamins are water soluble and toxicity with over-supplementation is rare. Strict vegetarians, individuals with gastrointestinal conditions or individuals having had a gastric bypass should receive extra supplements of B-12. Folate: Folic acid is not a naturally occurring folate in the human body. Though folic acid is accepted as the standard in most supplements, some experts suggest that naturally occurring folates are better assimilated by the body and therefore are superior for supplementation purposes. Folic acid is readily absorbed, but is an inactive form of folate that must be enzymatically converted to active folate within the body. This process happens more readily in some individuals than others. Vitamin C: extra vitamin C is important in times of stress, but an everyday supplement should not exceed 750mg. Vitamin D: becoming recognized as one of the most important vitamins for supplementation. A multivitamin should contain as least 400mg. Individuals over fifty, especially postmenopausal females should be getting at least a 1000mg a day total, depending on daily sun exposure. Vitamin E: there are eight different forms of vitamin E, all with different uses within the body. The “gamma” form is the most common in the heart. Loading up the body with one form, namely synthetic d-alpha tocopherol, as found in most supplements makes little sense. Look for mixed natural tocopherols in your multivitamin. Iodine: important for normal function of the thyroid gland. Recent evidence suggests a link between low iodine levels and breast cancer. Iron: should be an optional ingredient. Children and menstruating women need a reliable natural source of iron, but men and postmenopausal women generally should not take extra iron. Minerals: best assimilated by the body when found in organic forms, such as amino acid chelates, rather than the more commonly found inorganic forms (eating rocks is not the best way to get your daily minerals!). Calcium citrate/malate is recognized as the most easily absorbed form of calcium. Smaller amounts of calcium are required when this form is used. Herbal Ingredients: If your multivitamin gives you a “lift” shortly after taking it, it probably contains stimulants. Some herbal ingredients are beneficial, but companies often adulterate multivitamins with herbal stimulants that offer no health benefits, just to sell more vitamins. Even when herbal ingredients carry potential health benefits, they usually fit into a therapeutic category and may carry the potential for side effects. Requirements for herbal therapy must be individualized and the ingredients should be carefully scrutinized. In most cases, staying with a basic multivitamin as a primary supplement and adding therapeutic doses of herbals as concerns indicate is the best plan. For more information about the most effective daily supplements for your needs and to view the First Do No Harm multivitamin recommendations, please read through my <a href="http://fdnhhealth.com/groups?step=basic">Basic Essentials</a> recommendations.  2010-02-04T23:26:34Z Chances are, you are one of the millions of Americans taking a daily multi-vitamin. This is a smart move, as a daily multi-vitamin can provide an important “insurance policy“ against nutrient deficiencies and the metabolic imbalances associated with them. But— and this is an important BUT—not just any multivitamin will do! 33 For a multi-vitamin to be effective, it should be composed of vitamins and minerals in natural forms that can be easily assimilated by the body. 1 do no harm multivitamin Does Your Multi-Vitamin Pass the Test?

2010-02-04T23:37:55Z

Here are the details: <a href="http://www.charlestonhealthfair.com">Total Health Fair</a> will be held in Charleston SC on January 23-24.   <a href="http://www.healthchoicesmarketplace.com">Health Choices Marketplace</a> will be held in Raleigh NC on January 30-31.  First Do No Harm will be providing free supplement samples, Health First! giveaways, and valuable health tips and guidance. I will also be giving my signature lecture, The Seven Basic Causes of Disease, throughout the weekend.  If you have never met us in person or have an interest in learning more about our products, please come out and give us the opportunity to show you what we are all about! Hope to see you there!     2010-01-20T03:43:07Z If you will be in Charleston this weekend, or Raleigh the next, then you are in LUCK!  First Do No Harm Health Systems will have a booth at 2 upcoming health fairs.  Don't miss out on the fun, and please help us spread the word to make these events a success! 32 1 Come See First Do No Harm in Action!

2010-01-20T03:45:51Z

Substances defined as allergens are generally nontoxic to the majority of individuals, who lack sensitivity to that substance. In contrast, toxins are substances that cause harm to all living things, to one degree or another. Types of allergies and the degree of reactions vary widely. The most common allergic reactions occur to airborne substances such as dust, mold, pollen, and animal dander. Allergic reactions of the skin can be manifested directly (as with poison ivy) or can be a reflection of an internal allergic response (as in the case of a drug reaction or a bee sting). Typical symptoms of allergic reactions include watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, itching and swelling of the skin and mucous membranes. Severe reactions include difficulty breathing and shock. Onset of symptoms associated with an allergic reaction is immediate. Allergic reactions to foods can be severe, but true food allergies are not actually all that common. True food allergies must be differentiated from food sensitivities, which are relatively common. Food sensitivities are generally associated with gastrointestinal dysfunction and immune hyper-stimulation. Typically, multiple foods are involved. Unlike symptoms of true allergy which are immediate, symptoms of food sensitivities are highly variable, nonspecific and generally delayed for hours or even days from the time the food is consumed. Almost anything can cause an allergic reaction. Everyone has allergies to something. Mine is a most convenient allergy—contact of my skin with raw shrimp causes an immediate and intense allergic reaction with itching and swelling, but as long as someone else heads, peels, cleans, and cooks them for me, I can eat all I want. My son’s allergy is even more convenient— his reaction to poison ivy is severe enough to get him out of most of the yard work. In some rare individuals, allergies can be life-threatening. Even brief exposure can mean a trip to the hospital or death. For most individuals, however, allergies are a non-life-threatening irritation. In average people, allergies become a significant problem only when the immune system becomes dysfunctional. Other factors of disease including poor diet, toxins, stress and microbes can contribute to immune dysfunction. Immune dysfunction contributes to other disease processes such as atherosclerosis and arthritis—everything is interrelated. The obvious way to avoid an allergic reaction is to avoid the offending allergen, but when the immune system is in a hyper-reactive state, exposure to a single trigger can set off a cascade of reactions. Allergy testing can be beneficial for identifying specific allergens, but better health practices in general are beneficial for calming a hyper-stimulated immune system and reducing the intensity and frequency of allergic reactions. For specific recommendations on treating allergies and guidance towards quality nutraceuticals to help to calm inflammation, please visit the First Do No Harm Health <a href="http://fdnhhealth.com/groups/40-allergies-and-chronic-sinusitis">Allergies and Chronic Sinusitis health brief</a>. Nutraceutical supplements of high quality can be an effective way to boost the immune system and reduce inflammation, especially in individuals with a compromised immune system. 2010-01-14T04:33:09Z Allergens can be simply defined as substances that induce allergic reactions. Allergic reactions are hyper-reactive responses of the immune system, causing symptoms. People can have allergic reactions to many different substances. 31 llergic reactions are hyper-reactive responses of the immune system that affect only certain individuals. Quality nutraceutical supplements are an effective way to boost the immune system and reduce inflammation associated with allergies. 1 understanding allergies Understanding Allergic Reactions

2010-01-14T04:55:39Z

This means that people vary in their susceptibility to different diseases. One person may consume flour and sugar for a lifetime and never develop diabetes, while another with the same diet will be destined to be on insulin by age fifty. Some people develop heart disease from smoking cigarettes and others will develop emphysema. Still, the list of causes is the same. We each inherit a unique set of genes, different from any other set of genes that have ever existed (unless you are an identical twin, of course!). Our genes, however, are not perfect. They carry a mix of variations that have been passed down through the ages from all of our ancestors. Some of these “defects” may have actually been adaptations that worked very well for our ancient ancestors, but are of disadvantage in our modern world today. For example, individuals who rapidly absorb glucose and turn it into fat may have had ancestors who also had this trait and were, during lean times, resistant to starvation. Good or bad, our genes are the hand we draw and how we play that hand is up to us. Our genetic blueprint codes for all of the biochemical functions within the body. Because these functions are so remarkably complex, there is a significant amount of room for variability and error. Though we cannot change our genes, we can sometimes work around genetic defects. We all have adaptations in our genes that affect our risk of disease, but good habits can often overcome “bad genes.” On a basic level, nutritional modifications can alleviate the risk of disease by addressing the biochemical restrictions introduced by these genes. For example, most Native Americans have innate intolerance to high glucose diets. For thousands of years their ancestors existed on food containing almost no sugar or grain; however, this population of people has very high rates of diabetes when exposed to the average diets of today. Respect for their genetic history would suggest that this population should always follow a very low-sugar diet similar to that of their ancestors. Sometimes specific mutations occur in genes that affect the biochemistry of that individual. Some people are born with PKU disease, the inability to metabolize the amino acid phenylalanine. When exposed to dietary phenylalanine they develop neurological disturbances and epilepsy. Removal of dietary phenylalanine allows completely normal life. There are many other examples of similar types of genetic diseases that can be alleviated by understanding the genetic defect and others still that could be treated with nutritional changes if we better understood the underlying problem. Autism is a common affliction for which there is no known cure, but many patients respond positively to specific nutritional therapies. The strategy of being able to turn on, turn off, or bypass completely certain genes through dietary changes, nutritional supplements or specifically designed drug therapy is very interesting science. This is the future of medicine. Newer and more targeted drugs that act at the level of the gene, as opposed to blocking biochemical reactions to impede symptoms, offer a whole new avenue in the treatment of disease. In the future you may be able to walk into a clinic and have a blood test that defines your entire genetic profile; the risk for each disease laid out in black and white. Certainly knowing your personal risk of specific diseases would be beneficial, but if most diseases have the same origins, why wait until that information is available? No matter what our genetic background happens to be, the choices we make in life will determine how much we get out of life. We all have the choice of being healthy if we desire. At this point you may be adding up a mental list of factors that may be contributing to your personal risk of chronic disease—if not, you should be!  Everyone has a threshold for chronic disease, defined by exposure to the forces of disease and genetic makeup. Symptoms do not occur until that threshold is crossed. You may go for years without symptoms while cumulative damage is adding up, then, almost suddenly, symptoms occur—different symptoms, seemingly unrelated symptoms. You may find yourself searching for a diagnosis, but your ultimate health will depend on whether you search for causes. The above excerpt was taken from the "A New Style of Healthcare" chapter in my book, <a href="http://fdnhhealth.com/products/53-health-first-">Health First!</a>. This book was created as a resource for my patients and First Do No Harm Health readers who are eager to learn more about simple lifestyle changes that can improve their quality of life and dramatically reduce their risk of disease. It is my hope that you will consider this book as a resource for better understanding your health and take control of your own health today! 2010-01-09T17:20:25Z Anyone who has seen the size of an average medical textbook would be obligated to wonder how so many diseases could come from such a short list of causes. The answer lies in our genes: Our individual genetic blueprints are so diversely different that an almost infinite number of diseases can come from a lifetime of exposure to a limited number of stress factors. 30 All people vary in their susceptibility to different diseases due to individual genetic blueprints; however optimal health is available to anyone who wants it by paying attention to the causes of disease and responding with appropriate dietary modificatio 1 risk for disease genetics Genetics: The Deciding Factor

2010-01-09T17:34:29Z

Our energy fields can actually be sensed by certain gifted individuals and are the basis of several forms of traditional medicine. Acupuncture uses well-placed needles in the skin and tissues to affect these energy fields in a positive way to rid us of certain symptoms. Modern medicine studies our energy fields for diagnosis of certain problems. An EKG measures the dynamic energy fields produced by the heart to diagnose many types of cardiac malfunction. An EEG machine measures electrical waves produced by the brain. An instrument called an MRI measures the electromagnetic energy of tissues to produce a picture of our internal organs. This unique technology is able to do this without causing any known damage. MRI does not cause internal damage because electromagnetic energy is “non-ionizing.” In other words, radiation from electromagnetic sources does not have the ability to strike and damage the internal components of our cells. Even so, a very difficult question to answer is how much our own energy fields are affected by energy fields around us. Most of us now exist in an environment saturated with conflicting sources of electromagnetic energy such as computers, hair dryers, and other electrical devices. How many times have you felt “out of sorts” after sitting beside a computer all day? The magnitude of this problem is unknown and difficult to evaluate, but likely does play a role in disease. Other, more concerning forms of energy include X-rays, gamma rays, and UV rays. These types of radiation definitely have the ability to do damage to our tissues. Referred to as “ionizing” radiation, they act very much like free radicals. They have the ability to pass through the body and “hit” microscopic structures, causing damage. They also have the ability to create free radicals. Some forms of ionizing radiation such as X-rays and gamma rays can pass completely through the body, whereas, others such as UV radiation only pass “skin deep.” Exposure to some ionizing radiation is unavoidable. We are constantly exposed to “background” radiation from the depths of the universe and from the sun. The ionizing rays of the sun penetrate the skin and strike other molecules, generating free radicals. Free radical damage to cells and structures within the skin is a direct link to wrinkling, aging of the skin, and skin cancer. Sunscreen may be the best protection, but, surprisingly, anti-oxidants (from diet and from nutraceuticals) may be just as valuable. I once heard a story about a fellow who had a habit of consuming a large container of juiced carrots and vegetables every day. They say he had a strange orange glow about him, but he was able to cruise the entire Caribbean in a small sailboat without a drop of sunscreen. Exposure to some background radiation will always be unavoidable, but I wonder about how much effect nuclear testing and the use of nuclear reactors around the world have added to our daily exposure. As individuals we have very little say in the matter, but common sense would suggest that living within the vicinity of a nuclear power plant or a nuclear testing site would not be a wise choice. Supporting politicians who oppose nuclear testing also makes sense. Some ionizing radiation comes from the earth. Most of it fits into the category of background radiation, which we can do nothing about. One type that all homeowners should be aware of, however, is radon gas. This radioactive gas is emitted from the soil in some locations. The gas collects in basements and crawlspaces and can be a threat. Testing kits are commercially available and protecting yourself is a matter of installing a simple barrier. If you live in an area where radon gas is a problem, testing your home would be wise. Concern over sun exposure is not enough to compel me to forgo a life outdoors. As with all things in life, there is a good and a bad side to sun exposure. Exposure to the rays of the sun means exposure to ionizing radiation, but sun exposure is necessary for vitamin D production and is well-recognized for its value in cultivating an increased sense of wellbeing. Vitamin D is not only important for strong bones, but is vital for many functions within the body, including a properly functioning immune system. Wintertime colds and flu may be as much related to decreased production of vitamin D from lack of exposure to sunshine as to indoor confinement with other people. As for me, I will drink my carrot juice, eat vegetables regularly, take quality nutritional supplements, and have my days in the sun as often as I can get them. As we shun the sun and apply sunscreen liberally (sunscreen blocks as much as 95% of vitamin D production), America may be headed toward an epidemic of vitamin D deficiency. Many experts are recommending vitamin D levels at yearly physical exams, along with appropriate supplementation. The above excerpt was taken from the "A New Style of Healthcare" chapter in my book, <a href="http://fdnhhealth.com/products/53-health-first-">Health First!</a>. This book was created as a resource for my patients and First Do No Harm Health readers who are eager to learn more about simple lifestyle changes that can improve their quality of life and dramatically reduce their risk of disease. It is my hope that you will consider this book as a resource for better understanding your health and take control of your own health today! 2010-01-06T04:16:26Z E=MC2, the common equation that defines that all matter is made of energy. We are beings of energy—most specifically a type of energy called electromagnetic energy. 29 Radiation and sun exposure are common causes of disease, but prevention lies in healthy diet, quality antioxidant supplements, vitamin d nutraceuticals, and avoidance of electromagnetic energy sources. 1 disease prevention energy cause Disease Cause #7: Energy

2010-01-06T04:34:52Z

Modern antibiotics and vaccines have made inroads into cutting the loss of life, but this is chiefly in developed countries. The plague and the pox have given way to AIDS and influenza as causes of worldwide devastation. Gonorrhea, syphilis, and the common cold have never left us. Lyme disease is now widespread across North America and Europe. Interestingly, the most successful microbes are not the most lethal. Success in the microbe world is defined by the ability to propagate and flourish. Killing or severely disabling the host can be counterproductive. Take your average common cold virus. The virus infects, propagates rapidly, and quickly spreads to another host before the initial host’s immune system catches up with it. The minimally disabled host organism actively participates in viral spread. Cold viruses may be the most successful microbes on earth. Though the production of vaccines in the late nineteenth century and effective antibiotics in the mid-twentieth century can be recognized as major contributors to increased life expectancy, we can mainly thank government bureaucracies and social services for the improved health we enjoy today. Improved sanitation and health standards have done more to protect us from infectious disease than anything else has. As much as I hate to sign over a portion of my paycheck every month to Uncle Sam, the cost of this part of our “social good” is worth paying. A visit to a third world country is a real eye-opener. Well beyond the lack of funds to buy antibiotics and vaccines, the lack of sanitation and public health in third world countries translates into poor health for most of the population. Standards that we take for granted such as indoor plumbing, public restrooms, restaurant grading, and garbage collection are often rare. Health standards, in the way that we know them, do not exist. As a result, diseases such as cholera are still common. Tuberculosis and malaria are present now as much as ever before. In developed countries, microbes have seemingly taken a back seat to other causes of disease, but be assured, they are still there—seen and unseen. Microbes contribute to disease in ways that you would not expect. There is evidence that diseases like juvenile-onset diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and cervical cancer are initiated by viral infections and malfunctions in the immune system. Many cases of chronic fatigue syndrome have been found to have an association with a history of Lyme disease and other microbial illnesses. Some speculate that all autoimmune diseases may have microbial origins. Some of the most successful microbes are those that go unnoticed. Again, the goal of a successful microbe is not to kill or even severely disable the host. They propagate and flourish in the background, producing chemical substances that inhibit or control the immune system and neurological system, all the while remaining completely concealed. To us, these chemical substances are toxins and though they make us feel miserable, they may not significantly shorten our lifespan. At some point we may find that many diseases have roots to microbes that are presently concealed from our detection. As much as microbes can be the enemy, certain microbes are our allies in many ways. Favorable bacteria inhabiting our skin and internal passageways prevent infections from pathogenic microbes. We actually could not survive without the help of the normal flora of bacteria within our gastrointestinal tract. These bacteria aid in digestion, convert vitamins into active forms, and help us rid ourselves of toxins. Poor dietary habits and overuse of antibiotics can contribute to overgrowth of pathologic strains of bacteria in places where we depend on friendly bacteria. Toxins produced by abnormal bacteria not only cause problems in the gastrointestinal tract but also have effects that are far reaching. In understanding this connection, it is not surprising to find studies that link excessive antibiotic use to breast cancer. Even diseases such as depression and autism have links to bowel function altered by bacterial imbalances. There are two main strategies for preventing disease caused by microbial infections: avoiding exposure and maintaining a healthy immune system. Accumulated knowledge of how bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites function allows us a better chance to avoid crossing paths, but complete avoidance is, of course, impossible. Our best chance of staying healthy in a world dominated by microbes is to keep our defenses up. Free radicals, toxins, and excessive stress tax the immune system. Good nutrition, regular exercise, stress reduction, and quality nutritional supplements best support a healthy immune system. The above excerpt was taken from the "A New Style of Healthcare" chapter in my book, <a href="http://fdnhhealth.com/products/53-health-first-">Health First!</a>. This book was created as a resource for my patients and First Do No Harm Health readers who are eager to learn more about simple lifestyle changes that can improve their quality of life and dramatically reduce their risk of disease. It is my hope that you will consider this book as a resource for better understanding your health and take control of your own health today! 2010-01-01T04:25:22Z Microbes rule the world. They always have and they always will. Historically, infectious diseases have caused more death and devastation over the years than war and all of the other causes of disease combined. Even today, infectious diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. 28 Microbes are a major cause of disease. Protect against lyme disease and other microbial illnesses with good nutrition, stress reduction and quality nutritional supplements to support a healthy immune system. 1 disease cause microbes Disease Cause #6: Microbes

2010-01-01T04:57:52Z

First and foremost, staying at a healthy weight prevents undue stress on joints and ligaments. A healthy diet certainly contributes to maintaining healthy joints, ligaments, and bones. The right combination of dietary fats can actually decrease the inflammation of joints associated with arthritis. Exercise done appropriately with proper stretching ahead of time and practicing disciplines such as yoga lessen the effects of wear and tear on the body. Physical stress can tax the healing systems of the body as much as any other stress. Extremes in temperature can be quite debilitating. Excessive cold is something that few of us are threatened with today, but cold temperatures have been an ever present concern to those who have ventured toward the most northern and southern regions of the globe. I have always been fascinated with the story of Ernest Shackleton, who, in 1914, set out with a crew of 28 men on an attempt to cross the Antarctic continent by dogsled. Early on, their ship was trapped in an ice flow and crushed. The band of intrepid adventurers spent nine months moving with the ice flow until they escaped to desolate Elephant Island via three remaining lifeboats. Shackleton, with a crew of five men, sailed one of the lifeboats across 800 miles of inhospitable southern ocean to seek rescue. He survived the harrowing journey and returned months later to find all crew members alive. Shackleton’s adventure was one of a number of expeditions to the northern and southern poles that occurred during that time in history. What sets his experience apart was that the crew survived horrendous conditions for an astoundingly long period of time with no loss of life and minimal loss of limb. Different from other expeditions, they decided early on to supplement their food supply with seal blubber. Toward the end, this made up a large portion of their diet. Seal blubber contains very high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, and I, for one, believe that diet was a key factor in their survival. Their blood was like antifreeze! Today the harvest of seals is appropriately banned and seal blubber probably contains much higher levels of toxins than it did in 1914, but regularly consuming other sources of omega 3 fatty acids certainly makes sense for many health reasons. Most of us would rather be hot than cold, but extreme heat, especially dry heat can be quite threatening. Excessive heat and dehydration are becoming more of a concern as the world heats up. In 2003 Europe experienced the hottest summer on record. The loss of 35,000 lives could be attributed to either the heat itself or crop shortfalls associated with the drought. As the population of the world continues to expand and the atmosphere becomes hotter, severe heat waves and shortages of food production across the globe are something with which we will all have to contend. Trauma, another physical stress, affects all of us during our lifetimes to one degree or another, but is less of a threat than in days gone by. Before about 1920, trauma was a major contributor to decreased life expectancy. Today, trauma and accidents are minor factors. As much as I would like to attribute this shift to people having better sense, we owe it all to “big brother.” Rules, regulations, and government bureaucracies make us wear our seat belts, force manufacturers of automobiles and machines to make safer products, and in general, make our world a safer place. Even so, being ever careful and ever vigilant is a wise practice. The above excerpt was taken from the "A New Style of Healthcare" chapter in my book, <a href="http://fdnhhealth.com/products/53-health-first-">Health First!</a>. This book was created as a resource for my patients and First Do No Harm Health readers who are eager to learn more about simple lifestyle changes that can improve their quality of life and dramatically reduce their risk of disease. It is my hope that you will consider this book as a resource for better understanding your health and take control of your own health today! 2009-12-24T05:40:33Z Another type of stress that is part of day-to-day life is basic wear and tear. The daily grinding down of bones, joints, and teeth is to a certain extent unavoidable, but here again, there are ways to lessen some of the impact. 27 Healthy diet, good dietary fats, and exercise can lessen the effects of physical stress on the body and help to prevent disease and cancer. 1 disease prevention physical stress Disease Cause #5: Physical Stress

2009-12-24T05:51:10Z

It was the first day of summer when Mary returned with a chronic cough. She had been battling respiratory infections through the winter and spring, receiving numerous courses of antibiotics. With each course of antibiotics she would come down with a vaginal yeast infection and come to see me. “Why do I keep getting this stuff?” she complained. Her evaluation had so far had included a normal chest X-ray and a negative tuberculosis test. Allergies did not seem to be a factor and I could not ascertain that she had been exposed an unusual burden of toxins. Something was, however, having an adverse effect on her immune system and my next question brought out the reason. When asked how much she was sleeping, she answered, “about five hours on a good night.” Emotionally it had been a terrible year for her and she rated her stress level as being extremely high. When these issues were addressed her condition gradually began to improve. For simplification, we can think of the body as having an “alert mode” and a “healing mode.” Classically, the “alert mode” would be induced by a confrontation or threat such as having a dog run out in front of your car. With a surge of adrenaline, pulse quickens, eyes become wide, breathing rate increases, and muscles tense. All resources of the body are directed toward dealing with that threat. Other general maintenance functions, such as digesting food, normal immune functions, and daily maintenance and repair are placed on hold. Assuming the brakes work and the dog is fast, the threat passes, the mind relaxes, and the body goes back to normal affairs. In an average American life, however, confrontations of some sort are seemingly a minute-by-minute affair. We never get a break. Excessive daily stress constantly places us in alert mode and prevents day-to-day repair and maintenance from occurring. The link between stress and diseases such as hypertension, autoimmune diseases, atherosclerosis and even cancer should be obvious. With a stressful lifestyle, we unknowingly place normal gastrointestinal function at a level of low priority while at the same time bolting down unhealthy food on the run. Is it any wonder that drugs for gastro-intestinal maladies are some of the best-sellers on pharmacy shelves? The body is continually in the process of damage control and general maintenance, but it needs resources to do so. The energy and resources of the body are most devoted toward healing when they are not taxed in other ways. This “healing mode,” as I like to refer to it, occurs when the body and mind are completely relaxed. Healing occurs most intensely during deeper stages of sleep. As we age, chronic disruptions in hormonal systems prevent the body from relaxing properly and sleep becomes less efficient. Ironically, at a time in life when we would seem to need sleep the most, restful sleep is hard to gain. Learning tools to encourage spontaneous relaxation of the body and the mind become immensely important as we age. The above excerpt was taken from the "A New Style of Healthcare" chapter in my book, <a href="http://fdnhhealth.com/products/53-health-first-">Health First!</a>. This book was created as a resource for my patients and First Do No Harm Health readers who are eager to learn more about simple lifestyle changes that can improve their quality of life and dramatically reduce their risk of disease. It is my hope that you will consider this book as a resource for better understanding your health and take control of your own health today! 2009-12-17T21:33:10Z Day-to-day living causes a certain amount of emotional stress that is not detrimental from a health point of view. Stress can be a motivational factor that gets us going on to the next thing in life. Emotional stress only becomes a problem when it begins to rob the healing potential of the body. For many individuals this is every day. Well recognized as the root of anxiety and depression, emotional stress can aggravate virtually all disease processes. When patients ask if emotional stress could be playing a role in their particular problem, my answer is always a definitive “yes.” Understanding and managing stress is an important adjunct in the treatment of all diseases. 26 1 disease prevention emotional stress Disease Cause #4: Emotional Stress

2009-12-17T21:37:55Z

The prefix “mal” literally translates to mean “bad” and the types of “bad” nutrition that we suffer from result mainly from excesses rather than deficiencies. The average American diet contains gross excesses of sugar and abnormal fat. This shift in balance caused by excessive food processing occurs at the expense of fiber and nutrients found in natural foods that are so vital for optimal health. When it comes to food, you can almost think of it as being living or dead. Living food, as you would expect, appears in its original form—a stick of broccoli, a carrot or fresh shrimp. Living food provides for much more than a source of energy. Minerals, fiber, healthy fats, natural enzymes and all of the nutrients essential for good health can be found in forms that are easily and naturally assimilated by the body. These vital nutrients are hard to duplicate. A tasteless, hard pear, if left in the windowsill long enough, will ripen into a soft, sweet delicacy. During ripening, the deeper flesh is protected from oxidation by the tough outer skin. Ripening occurs as enzymes present in the fruit break down the hard tissue into sugar. When we consume the pear, natural enzymes aid digestion.  There are many types of enzymes present in different types of living food. Beyond digestion, the body has the ability to absorb certain enzymes for use in other ways. Enzymes that break down proteins, called proteases, have anti-inflammatory properties and may protect against atherosclerosis. Processed food is totally devoid of natural enzymes.  All the qualities that make living food desirable (highly absorbable nutrients, just the right balance of sugars and favorable fats, antioxidants and digestive enzymes) also make living food highly susceptible to spoilage. Food preservation, especially when it includes chemical preservatives, decreases the nutritional value of food. Living food is best when consumed at the peak of freshness. Fortunately, we live in a time when fresh food is more available than ever before. The average American diet contains little food that resembles its natural origins. Food that has been pounded, pulverized, over-cooked and over-processed could certainly be classified as dead. Dead food has no resemblance to the original food source and almost exclusively comes in a synthetically derived form—always with an over-abundance of starch, sugar and fat, designed only to appeal to our senses of smell and taste. If there are any significant nutrients present, they are usually synthetically derived additives that never match the nutrient potential of real food. Most often this type of food comes in a package or a box that is also designed to appeal to our senses. “Factory farms” and industrial food production could easily be targeted as the source of our dietary woes, but we can only blame ourselves. The commercial food industry only gives us what we want. We have a natural craving for foods that are high in sugar and fat because the immediate need for energy is preferential over other nutritional requirements. This is quite a change from how it has been for most of human history. For many thousands of years humans were relegated to a very high fiber, high nutrient, low energy diet—not by choice, but by availability.   With the advent of choice, our natural cravings pushed us to consume a diet very high in energy, but otherwise deficient in vital nutrients and fiber. Reliance on high-energy, processed foods is the root cause of the American epidemic of obesity that has evolved over the past fifty years. Excessive body fat is associated with increased risk of heart disease, increased wear and tear on joints and ligaments, increased risk of certain types of cancer and increased risk of chronic disease in general. Often “central” obesity is accompanied by an alarming collection of signs and symptoms including elevated fasting blood glucose, hypertension, decreased HDL cholesterol and increased blood triglycerides. This condition, referred to as insulin resistance syndrome, metabolic syndrome or syndrome X, now affects somewhere between 25% and 50% of the population. Obesity, once established, is not an easy problem to overcome. The first and most important goal in any successful weight-loss strategy is regaining lost health. Actual weight loss will occur gradually over time just by staying with good health practices. The weight loss process can be augmented with therapy designed to rectify hormonal imbalances and increase metabolism. Please see my <a href="http://fdnhhealth.com/groups/16-weight-loss">Weight Loss Health Brief</a> for further information. The shift in our food supply has occurred within a period of only a hundred years—almost overnight in relative terms, and certainly not enough time for the human body to adapt to such a drastic change. Though it is more convenient for a busy American lifestyle, the overall costs in terms of human health are enormous. Our total healthcare expenditure would be dramatically reduced if the American populace simply started making better food choices.<a name="Glucose"></a> An ideal diet should consist predominantly of whole vegetables and whole seeds (grains, nuts, and beans), followed by whole fruits and rounded out with a variety of free range meats, seafood, and carefully chosen oils.   Better choices in food slow the absorption of glucose, strengthen cell membranes, decrease inflammation, provide fiber for optimal digestion and toxin removal, and provide for optimal nutrients and minerals. Though most Americans are regularly making poor food choices, good food choices are more available than ever before. We are truly living in the “Golden age of food”—if you take the time to look for it. The above excerpt was taken from the "A New Style of Healthcare" chapter in my book, <a href="http://fdnhhealth.com/products/53-health-first-">Health First!</a>. This book was created as a resource for my patients and First Do No Harm Health readers who are eager to learn more about simple lifestyle changes that can improve their quality of life and dramatically reduce their risk of disease. It is my hope that you will consider this book as a resource for better understanding your health and take control of your own health today! 2009-12-12T22:25:28Z You can tell a lot about a person’s health just by examining what he or she eats. As much as the wrong foods can cause ill health, the right foods can be protective from damage resulting from other factors of disease. Ironically, here in one of the wealthiest countries on the planet, many (if not most) people are suffering from malnutrition. Not the protein-deficiency malnutrition found in the third world, but a form that is self-imposed. 25 Nutrition and healthy food advice for preventing disease. 1 disease prevention through nutrition Disease Cause #3: Poor Nutrition

2009-12-14T04:19:44Z

Off the coast of Nova Scotia lies Sable Island, an isolated sand spit created by eddies between the Labrador Current and the Gulf Stream. At this remote outpost, a weather station monitors climatic changes and airborne toxins. Recently, Cruising World magazine featured a sailing trip to Sable Island. These quotes from the article poignantly illustrate the degree of concern we face as a culture: “…on an island that seems so remote and pristine  were instruments measuring ever-increasing levels of industrial aerosols, chemical insecticides and herbicides, methane, carbon dioxide, and other human-generated carcinogens, pollutants, and greenhouse gases.” “Because of its location at the edge of the continent, Sable is in a unique location for making such measurements,” stated the keeper of the station. “When the winds are easterly, we measure only traces of these substances. But when they blow from the west, well, then many of the measurements go off the scale, and Sable might as well be at the end of a huge, continental sewer pipe.”   Initially, as man-made chemicals made their way into the air, the water, and across the surface of the land, it seemed the environment was like a huge sponge that could absorb it all, but eventually the level of toxins started to add up. We first saw it with fish kills along the coast and declining bird populations, but there is little doubt that toxins in the environment also contribute to human disease. In some respects we have become more “toxin aware” over the past fifty years, as open industrial waste-sites are less prevalent and many cities are making vigorous efforts to clean up their act, yet environmental toxins have become more pervasive than ever before. Our thirst for energy is high, and present regulations are not sufficient to protect the environment from pollutants released when millions of tons of coal are burned each year to produce electricity. Automobiles are designed to pollute less, but more people own cars and commute long distances. Chemical use in agriculture is still quite prevalent. Everything is made of plastic. Not only is the manufacture of plastics toxic, but plastics also leach toxins into the environment continually for a lifetime. Toxins of many varieties can be found in our food, in the water we drink and in the air we breathe…where we work, where we play, and in our homes.   Toxins have made their way into our environment insidiously. Rarely are concentrations of specific toxins high enough to be implicated in a specific disease process, yet common sense and a steadily rising cancer rate would suggest a cause for concern. We have come to accept toxins as being part of our everyday world, but our complacency means that the ever-increasing concentration of toxins in the environment is a real contributor to disease and adds up in ways that you would not expect. When humans living in industrial areas of the world are randomly tested for toxins, the findings are alarming. A stew of chemicals including styrene (found in Styrofoam, plastic containers and computers), trichloroethylene (dry cleaning), dioxins (bleaching agents), PFC’s (nonstick cookware), phthalates (plastic, vinyl, nail polish), PCB’s, pesticides, xylene (plastics) and many others are routinely discovered. When laboratory animals are subjected to these chemicals individually, cancers and terrible diseases result—imagine the effect if they are all mixed together.  (www.pollutioninpeople.org) It is now common knowledge that larger fish such as swordfish are contaminated with mercury, but have you ever considered why? Certainly the ocean is not saturated with mercury, but it has to come from somewhere. Surprisingly, for fish in the Atlantic Ocean, the source is coal-fired power plants on the North American continent. Coal is high in mercury. Mercury and many other pollutants carried in the smoke precipitate onto the land and are washed into estuaries by rain or precipitate directly onto the surface of the ocean. Micro-organisms take up the pollutants, and in turn, are eaten by larger animals. With each step up the food chain mercury is further concentrated in the animal’s tissues. The cycle continues until the highest concentrations are found in the largest animals in the ocean. This food chain phenomenon is not limited to fish. Many airborne pollutants end up in our water and food supply via this mechanism. Toxins accumulate in fatty tissues of all animals, including and especially humans.  Toxic heavy metals including aluminum, antimony, beryllium, bismuth, cadmium, lead, mercury, thallium, uranium are much more prevalent in the environment today than ever before. Mining brings these elements to the surface from deep in the earth. Living organisms, having never been exposed to these elements to any significant degree, are at significant risk. Illnesses in children associated with exposure to lead and birth defects in newborns associated high levels of mercury in humans are cause for grave concern. Warning about consumption of certain fish is now a standard part of pre-conceptual counseling.  We deal with a similar phenomenon in agriculture. Chemicals used in agriculture are certainly toxic to pests and their use in production of grains, vegetables, and fruit should be of concern, but because concentrations of pesticide residue are not high, regulatory agencies such as the FDA suggest that traces of man-made chemicals found in our produce are not enough to worry about….but should we worry? Most of the chemicals used in agriculture are fat soluble, and plants generally have very little fat. It is true that toxic chemicals mostly end up as a residue on the surface of the vegetable or present in small amounts within the oil-containing germ of grains. The actual measurable concentration of chemicals is low. Even so, environmental toxins found in our food are very real contributors to disease. The key to the concern lies in the fact that most toxic chemicals are fat soluble, and, even when consumed in minute amounts, these substances accumulate and concentrate within the fatty tissues of any living organism that consumes them.  The more fatty tissue, the higher the level of concern. Livestock and poultry fed a continuous diet of toxin-tainted grain, concentrate these subtle amounts of chemicals into their fatty tissues. Mostly confined to tight quarters with little ability to move around, these animals have a higher tendency to retain toxins. Hormones, which are also fat soluble, are widely used in this industry. The result is meat that is excessively fatty and may contain concerning levels of toxic chemicals. Often these chemicals are hormonally active. Humans, being right up there at the top of the food chain, in essence get a double dose of toxins when they consume meat from animals raised in this fashion.  Ever wonder about the association between breast cancer and consumption of red meat? Think about it: any toxins or hormonally active substances found in the fat of that nice juicy hamburger or steak are further concentrated in the fatty tissues of the individual consuming it. Hormonally sensitive breast tissue is predominantly fat and that’s where toxins may end up.  Most of the time the role toxins play in chronic disease is only a piece of the puzzle, but occasionally it can be a major factor. Not infrequently, I have been able to provide direction and hope to individuals with chronic disease just by asking questions that others had not asked. I can remember one patient who owned a cleaning business and was exposed to potent chlorinated chemicals on a daily basis. Chronic fatigue and chronic sinus infections had developed insidiously over several years. She had been through the gamut of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medications, and antihistamines with a progressively worsening condition. While seeing her for a routine exam, I suggested that avoiding chemical exposure was the only way she would ever get well. A complete lifestyle change is a tough recommendation, but after several years of no improvement, she finally sold the business. Once free of the toxins, her symptoms gradually resolved completely. There have been numerous patients since then: the farmer with chronic sinus abscesses who was regularly exposed to chemical pesticides; a manicurist who spent her days inhaling nail polish and could not get rid of vaginal yeast infections; and numerous patients with headaches and other odd complaints who work in retail businesses where the air is always saturated with the smell of plastic. None of them had had improvement with conventional medical therapy. Resolution of these problems could only be expected with removal of the inciting factors. We would all do well to be more “toxin aware,” as sometimes even the most obvious sources of toxins do not seem so obvious. Exposure to toxins is sometimes self-inflicted. Smoking cigarettes and chewing tobacco are at top on the list. Alcohol is definitely a toxin (admittedly, in moderate amounts this toxic effect seems to be balanced by other, beneficial ingredients in wine and beer.) It goes without saying that illicit street drugs are harmful. Though pharmaceuticals are delivered in non-toxic and often beneficial doses, most have the potential for toxicity. Many, if not most drugs poison enzymes in the body to achieve a desired result. All drugs have the potential for side effects. Many drugs have the potential for tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal syndromes. Ironically, many drugs used therapeutically for treatment of chronic disease are known to suppress the immune system, certainly not in keeping with an intended goal of therapy meant to improve health. Often the only difference between a beneficial drug and a toxin is the dose. Therapeutic medications have great value, but their potential for toxicity must be respected. Because toxins come from so many diverse sources, they exert their negative effects in different ways. All biochemical reactions within the body can be, in effect, “poisoned” by different toxins. Toxins can directly damage DNA. Some toxins generate free radicals or are free radicals themselves, increasing our burden of oxidative stress. This is a major factor in diseases such as atherosclerosis and arthritis. Many toxins derived from pesticides and plastics have the potential to mimic hormones in the human body, providing a direct link to hormonally active cancers such as breast, uterine and prostate. It is estimated that at least half of man-made toxins have the ability to affect hormone systems in the human body in some way.  Occasionally, as in the case of therapeutic drugs, these effects are desirable, but most often they are unwanted or harmful. Toxins tax the healing systems of the body and cause damage to the immune system allowing increased susceptibility to disease. The effects are subtle, but cumulative over time; measuring the exact contribution toxins make to disease is virtually impossible. Fortunately for us, the body does have the ability to eliminate toxins via a very sophisticated detoxification system. As we have come to know, most toxins are fat soluble. To be eliminated by the kidneys and intestinal tract they must be converted into water soluble substances. This process occurs almost exclusively in the liver. Eliminating toxins is dirty business. The detoxification process produces free radicals that over time cause damage to the cells of the liver. As we age, this affects not only our ability to remove toxins, but other functions of the liver as well.  Be kind to your liver. Become more “toxin aware” by minimizing everyday sources of toxins. Not smoking cigarettes and acquiring adequate protection from occupational exposure to toxins goes without saying. Regular consumption of antioxidants provided by a diet high in fresh vegetables and fruit helps protect liver function (see our <a href="http://fdnhhealth.com/products/13-berry-green">Berry Green supplement</a>). Vegetables from the cruciferous family such as cabbage and broccoli are especially protective of liver function (see our <a href="http://fdnhhealth.com/products?searchname=cruc&searchproductcode=">Cruciferous Vegetable Supplement</a>). Dietary fiber provided by vegetables, fruit and whole grains is essential for adequate toxin removal (see our <a href="http://fdnhhealth.com/products/122-fiber-3-organic-">Fiber Supplement</a>). Drinking plenty of water helps flush things through. Exercise facilitates removal of toxins via increased blood flow and sweat is a route of elimination for some toxins (see our <a href="http://fdnhhealth.com/products/7-milk-thistle-200">Milk Thistle supplement</a> for liver protection). Testing for a number of different types of toxins via hair samples or blood tests is available and can be considered by individuals with chronic disease or who have higher than average exposure. Testing for heavy metals is also available, but the testing is more complex. Individuals retain toxins differently depending upon the person’s genetics, liver function and amount of body fat. The above excerpt was taken from the "A New Style of Healthcare" chapter in my book, <a href="http://fdnhhealth.com/products/53-health-first-">Health First!</a>. This book was created as a resource for my patients and First Do No Harm Health readers who are eager to learn more about simple lifestyle changes that can improve their quality of life and dramatically reduce their risk of disease. It is my hope that you will consider this book as a resource for better understanding your health and take control of your own health today! 2009-12-07T03:59:45Z Though some substances considered toxic to humans occur in nature, our world is gradually becoming saturated by toxic substances created by man. The conveniences of modern life have come with a price. The evolution of an industrial society has brought with it the introduction of an unprecedented amount of man-made chemicals into the environment, all having at least some potential for toxicity. Most sources suggest the list of man-made chemicals now tops 200,000, the majority of which were non-existent one hundred years ago. 24 Our world is becoming saturated with man-made toxic substances with serious health implications including the rise of cancer. By becoming more aware of the environment what we eat, we may be able to limit the implications of toxins. 1 understanding toxin damage Disease Cause #2: Exposure to Toxins

2009-12-07T04:39:01Z

Take in a deep breath. About 20 percent of the air you just inhaled is composed of oxygen. Oxygen, a necessity of life that we sometimes take for granted, is actually a potently toxic substance. It is so toxic, in fact, that it took life on earth a couple of billion years to figure out how to use it in energy production. All living things derive energy by breaking down molecules containing hydrogen and carbon. Fat and sugar are examples of hydrocarbon molecules. When the chemical bonds of hydrocarbon molecules are broken, a small amount of energy is released. Production of energy from this basic chemical reaction was enough to get life started here on earth, but only allowed a marginal foothold. More energy was a necessity for life to truly thrive and oxygen was the key ingredient! Throwing oxygen into the mix was like throwing gasoline onto a fire; an organism could produce 10 times the amount of energy from the same amount of hydrocarbon. This little metabolic trick turned out to the the real key to the successs of life on earth... but it came with a price. In high school science class, you learned that plants use energy from the sun to make glucose and animal cells, in turn, can use glucose as a primary energy source or can turn it into fat for storage of energy. The basic chemical reaction of combining glucose or fat with oxygen to release energy with the end products of water and carbon dioxide completes one of the most important cycles of life. For this seemingly simple reaction to occur, the oxygen molecule must break apart into two very reactive components. These reactive components are "electron greedy" and pluck electrons off of molecules such as glucose. When exposed to these reactive components, the glucose molecule becomes unstable, and the chemical bonds are easily broken, thus releasing energy. The reactive oxygen components belong to a wider group of chemical substances generically referred to as "free radicals." Free radicals occur in most kinds of chemical reactions and, of course, there are many chemical reactions occuring in the human body at any given second. The fact that free radicals propel a chemical reaction in a forward direction is necessary for life to occur, but with any given reaction, there is always collateral damage. These reactive chemical substances steal electrons from other adjacent molecules, thus damaging and weakening vital components of a living cell. Within living cells, energy production is confined to small, oval-shaped structures called "mitochondria" that are strategically distributed throughout the cytoplasm. Think of them as microscopic power plants, constantly churning out raw energy. Free radicals are an obligatory biproduct of this intense energy production. Not being completely contained within the mitochondria, free radicals shoot off like sparks in every direction. Like microscopic firecrackers going off inside the cell, they have the propensity to damage all structures, including cell membrances, proteins that compose functional parts of the cell, and very importantly, our DNA. No structures, however, take more of the brunt of the damage than the mitochondria themselves.  A gradual decline in energy production by damaged mitochondira is one reason we slow down as we age. Though all cells of the body are exposed to the damaging effects of free radicals, some carry more of a burden than others. The cells of metabolically-active tissues require more energy and, therefore, have a higher propensity for damage. Everything from muscle atrophy as we grow older to dementia in the elderly is at least partially a result of damage by free radicals. This same process very likely contribuetes to hormonal damage as we age. Damage to our DNA from continual exposure to free radicals almost certainly plays a role in the development of cancer. Estimates suggest that the DNA within each cell in the body receives an average of 100 "hits" from free radicals each day! The good news is that our cells have very effective, innate repair mechanisms that have evolved over time. Enzymatic processes are constantly repairing breaks in DNA, repairing damaged machinery and filling in defects in cell membranes. These are the most basic healing functions of the body. Healing processes can, however, become overwhelmed by free radical production. Cell survival is very dependent on a diverse group of substances known as anti-oxidants. These chemicals have the ability to neutralize free radicals become they have an opportunity to damage vital elements of the cell. Cells have the ability to generate anti-oxidants, but dietary sources of anti-oxidants are also vitally important. Free radical production is not limited to the inside of cells. Other types of free radicals can be found within the body. Free radicals are actually generated by cells of the immune system to do away with offending substances and invaders. This process occurs in the bloodstream and spaces between cells. It is a vital part of the healing systems of the body. A certain amount of this "inflammatory process" is in our best interest, but an exaggerated inflammatory response is a root cause of many diseases, from arthritis to atherosclerosis. Free radicals can come directly from dietary sources. The most notorious of the dietary offenders, oxidized fat, is commonly found in processed food products of all types, processed meats, and food products that have become spoiled. Oxidized fats are especially concerning because they have the propensity to set off chain reactions in other fats, from cholesterol-containing lipoproteins in the bloodstream to cell membrances of all the cells in the body. In the constant tug-of-war between these opposing factors, damage from free radicals always holds a bit of an upper hand. This net balance in favor of free radical damage is termed oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a potent force of disease. Minimizing oxidative stress is the key to slowing the process of aging. Fortunately for us, there are lots of different types of anti-oxidants, both naturally occuring inside the body and available from dietary sources. Preventative Health Recommendation Regarding Oxidative Stress: Turning back our biological clock is impossible and oxidative stress is as much a part of life as breathing oxygen itself.  However the burden of oxidative stress can be influenced by choice of diet and how we live our lives. Fresh vegetables and fruit are loaded with anti-oxidants and can definitely shift the balance in our favor. Unfortunately, only a minority of Americans take advantage of this simple opportunity to protect themselves from this significant factor in aging and disease. Even worse, the average American diet actually contributes to oxidative stress. Fats and oils used in processed foods, refined using high heat and chemicals, can become potent free radicals. That hotdog may taste good, but the contents are potentially deadly!  For optimal health, take advantage of the enormous variety of different anti-oxidants that can be obtained from natural food sources. Also consider supplementation with quality anti-oxidant nutraceuticals. Please see the anti-oxidant section of the First Do No Harm <a href="http://fdnhhealth.com/groups?step=basic">Basic Essentials page</a> for more information regarding quality anti-oxidant supplements. The above excerpt was taken from the "A New Style of Healthcare" chapter in my book, <a href="http://fdnhhealth.com/products/53-health-first-">Health First!</a>. This book was created as a resource for people who are eager to learn more about simple lifestyle changes that can improve their quality of life and dramatically reduce their risk of disease. It is my hope that you will consider this book as a resource for better understanding your health and take control of your own health today! 2009-12-03T03:45:50Z Oxidative stress, a term unfamiliar to most people, is possibly the most significant overall factor in aging. The most ubiquitous factor of disease, oxidative stress, is continuously present in all living things and is definitely one to know about. So what is this peculiar-sounding term? The answer is right under your nose... 23 Free radical damage leads to oxidative stress, a major cause of disease. By minimizing oxidative stress through quality antioxidants and natural supplements, the aging process can be slowed and risk of diease dramatically reduced. 1 oxidative stress Disease Cause #1: Oxidative Stress

2009-12-07T04:30:22Z

When I was first exploring this concept, I came upon the last chapter of my 30-year-old biochemistry text (the part we never got to) which delineated the known causes of disease. With further reading and research, I have refined this list to include seven well-defined causes that are the roots of all disease: 1. Oxidative Stress: exposure to free radicals generated by metabolic processes and immune system function is the most important factor in aging. 2. Exposure to Toxins: sources suggest that upwards of 200,000 man-made chemicals have made thier way into the environment over the past 100 years. 3. Malnutrition: our food supply, characterized by excessive glucose and abnormal fat, is also profoundly deficient in nutrients and fiber. 4. Emotional Stress: emotional stress plays a role in most disease processes. 5. Physical Stress: basic wear and tear, cold and heat. 6. Microbes: bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa have been factors of disease since life began. 7. Radiation: both ionizing and non-ionizing radiation have adverse effects on tissues of the human body. GENETICS: the deciding factor. Because we all have genes that are unique, exposure to the same sets of risk factors results in different diseases for different individuals. What a radical concept! It implies that not only do all diseases have common causes, but they also have common roots in prevention and treatment. This profound bit of insight certainly begs the question: why does modern medicine seem to be ignoring this important information?  The answer lies in human nature itself. Treating disease by removing the causes requires effort, whereas taking a pill is a much easier way to control symptoms. Also, the causes of disease are very much a part of life itself and eliminating them would be impossible. Lessening their impact, however, is an option (one to which more of us should be paying attention!). Understanding these causative factors offers a unique opportunity to alter our destiny. We can, in essence, cut disease off at the pass just by making intelligent choices in the way we conduct our lives. Even when an absolute diagnosis seems elusive, identifying causative factors can open an avenue toward healing. Knowing everything is there to know about the causes of disease is not necessary, but a basic understanding of these factors does answer many questions that patients have about illness. Gaining this type of knowledge offers the patient control and alleviates fear. This, in itself, is a positive healing force.  Understanding basic information about the causes of disease is an absolute necessity for understanding health. Just as it would be unwise to enter a battle without obtaining intelligence information about the enemy, it would be unwise to try to improve your health without knowing about the forces working in opposition to that goal.  In my new book, Health First!, I have explained each of the above 7 causes in great detail and offer suggestions and natural remedies for preventing and overcoming disease.  Over the next couple of weeks, I will share a clip about each of the 7 causes of disease with followers of my First Do No Harm blog.  Stay tuned and take control of your own health today!  For more guidance on disease prevention and advice for achieving optimal health, please consider reading my book, <a href="http://fdnhhealth.com/products/53-health-first">Health First!</a>. 2009-12-01T21:49:40Z Many individuals, including some health care providers, have the misconception that the origins of most disease are difficult to define. They think that disease just "happens," and the best way to deal with it is by treating the symptoms. This is far from being the case, as all things that occur in the natural world have causes, including disease. 22 Understanding the causes of disease allows us to hedge our bets against cancer and other illnesses and lessen the impact of diease. 1 The Seven Basic Causes of Disease The Seven Basic Causes of Disease

2009-12-06T22:15:23Z

Holidays tend to be centered on times when there are plenty of healthy foods available, such as citrus fruit, pears, cranberries, and fresh nuts of many varieties. Try to keep the cookies and cakes to a minimum and be mindful of portion control and eating more slowly (but certianly do not let it get in the way of enjoying the food and company!). As long as celebratory feasting is reserved for a seasonal treat and is not a weekly indulgence, you should not get into trouble. A few tips for maintaining good health this holiday season: * Before you start nibbling at holiday parties, remember to ask yourself "Am I really hungry?" If you try hard enough, I promise you will find satisfaction in 2 cookies instead of 6. Also let your food digest before going back for seconds (or thirds!). * Avoid fast food completely! When packing for the airport or long road trip, remember to pack a bag of dried fruit and nuts to curb cravings during this busy time of year. Also keep healthy snacks around at work and home, especially on those days that christmas goodies may be so tempting. * Stay active! Take a walk on your lunch break. Opt for the stairs. Find a new project on the weekends. Don't let yourself get out of the habit of daily exercise during these holiday months! * Get plenty of sleep and practice meditation or yoga regularly. Don't let the holidays become a time of stress and worry! Enjoy the moments while setting aside time for your mind and body to keep up. Happy Thanksgiving and best wishes this holiday season from First Do No Harm Health Systems. 2009-11-26T04:38:41Z The act of sharing a celebratory meal with friends and family can be a health experience in itself. Holiday meals can be made to be healthy. Just the fact that people tend to cook fresh food is a step in the right direction! 21 Tips for maintaining healthy diet, exercise and meditation during the hectic holiday season. 1 healthy holiday tips Tips for Keeping Healthy this Holiday Season

2009-11-26T04:52:38Z

Shopping List: Tofu—phyto-estrogens Celery—contains apigenin, an important anti-cancer compound Cabbage—cruciferous Broccoli—cruciferous Carrots—antioxidants Onions—anti-cancer chemicals Red bell pepper—antioxidants Curry—contains turmeric, a potent anti-cancer substance Black pepper—enhances absorption of turmeric and other beneficial chemicals Sesame seeds—lignans Ginger—related to turmeric, potent anti-cancer compounds Garlic—reduces many diseases, including cancer Olive oil and sesame oil—both healthy oils for cooking   Cooking Directions: Prepare all ingredients beforehand and have ready. The key to a great stir fry is quick cooking without burning!  Burning creates carcinogens, which defeats the purpose of an "anti cancer' stir fry! Heat a wok pan on high heat and add oil when pan begins to warm. Cook tofu first and set aside. Then cook onions, peppers, and garlic. When this begins to brown, add remaining ingredients and cook until desired softness is reached. (TIP-- firm vegetables tend to retain more nutritional value) Add back in tofu and serve alone or over your favorite whole grain rice or pasta. Enjoy! This recipe is compliments of First Do No Harm Health Systems. Cheers to good health and happiness! 2009-11-23T05:04:30Z I bet you never knew that preventing cancer could be so delicious! Every ingredient in this recipe has a powerful anti-cancer component. 20 Stir fry recipe containing vegetables and spices with potent antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. 1 anti cancer stir fry recipe idea Delicious Stir Fry with Potent Anti-Cancer Components

2009-11-23T05:20:08Z

This recommendation comes as a shock to many women under forty who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, and leaves many women between 40 and 49 feeling defenseless. Conclusions of the task force are not, however, unfounded—mammograms every two years before age 40 and self-breast exams are not very effective screening tools and in many cases offer only false security.  Though the recommendations of the task force are understandable, they will not be accepted well by our society. The incidence of early-age breast cancer is on the rise and under present circumstances, mammograms and self-breast exams are all we’ve got. The cost of mammography is not unreasonable and the amount of radiation exposure is minimal, but to be able to pick up the more aggressive cancers that occur before age fifty, they should be performed yearly instead of every other year. Even so, the time has come to be proactive about reducing the incidence of breast cancer. Early age breast cancer is, for the most part, a preventable disease and breast cancer before the age of fifty should be uncommon. The incidence of breast cancer is on the rise because the causes associated with breast cancer have increased. Reduce the causes and the incidence of the disease will also decrease.  This seems like a simple solution to a complex problem, but the answer comes in a single word—estrogen.  Estrogen is the primary causative factor behind breast cancer and over the past hundred years we have become a very estrogen-dominant society. Women start having periods earlier in life and take fewer breaks from estrogen by becoming pregnant less often. Excessive fatty tissue, which has become a normal part of American life, contributes to higher estrogen levels. The average American diet that causes excessive fatty tissue contributes to increased estrogen in other ways. In our food and in the environment at large, the world has become saturated with synthetic chemicals, a large number which are very estrogenically active.  Though I wouldn’t suggest returning to the days when women spent most of their adult lives pregnant (I, for one, happen to like a society where women and men can exist as equals), there are ways to dramatically reduce estrogen and the effects of estrogen in the body. One of the most obvious ways is to eat better. Vegetables and beans, especially soybeans, contain plant compounds commonly called “phyto-estrogens” that partially block estrogen receptors. In Japan where the consumption of soy is very high, the incidence of breast cancer is very low. Beans and seeds also contain plant substances called “lignans” that block estrogen receptors. Flaxseeds contain the highest concentration of lignans and a couple of tablespoons of ground flax added to your oatmeal or yogurt each is day is another way to reduce breast cancer risk. Unlike natural phyto-estrogens which oppose estrogen dominance, synthetically-made chemicals are often highly estrogenic. Commonly called “xeno-estrogens”, man-made chemicals with estrogenic activity are very present in the environment and include everything from pesticides used in agriculture and homes to chemical residues inside plastic containers. Xeno-estrogens do contribute to breast cancer risk and learning to reduce exposure is prudent, but if you really want to stay ahead of cancer, you need to be kind to your liver. The liver is the main organ of detoxification and over an average lifetime of exposure to alcohol, pharmaceuticals and many other toxins, it takes a real beating. Many vegetables and herbal substances are not only protective of liver function, but also enhance the detoxification process. For xeno-estrogens, vegetables in the cruciferous family (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale) are particularly beneficial. Regular consumption of vegetables from this family expedites removal of estrogens and estrogen-like substances from the body and concomitantly reduces risk of hormonally-active cancers.  Benefits to be gained from the above measures are not limited to breast cancer and are not limited to women. Other hormonally-active cancers including uterine, cervical and prostate cancer in men are also reduced by following cancer-opposing practices. With just a little effort, the incidence of hormonally-active cancers could be reduced dramatically. Screening would still be necessary, but could be more targeted toward higher risk populations. Dr Rawls' recommended liver protection, flax seed lignan, and cruciferous vegetable supplements are all available on<a href="http://fdnhhealth.com/groups?step=basic"> Part 1: Basic Essentials</a> or <a href="http://fdnhhealth.com/groups?step=beyond">Part 2: A Step Beyond</a> portion of the First Do No Harm Health Systems website. These supplements can also be located using our <a href="http://fdnhhealth.com/products">search feature</a>. 2009-11-23T04:41:26Z This past week a government task force recommended that screening mammograms should not be started until after age fifty and only performed only at two year intervals. Self-breast exams were left off the list completely as part of effective screening. 19 Excessive estrogen is a primary causative factor behind breast cancer. In combination with a healthy diet, flax seed lignan, cruciferous vegetable, and liver protection suppelements can be very powerful in reducing risk of breast cancer. 1 breast cancer screening and prevention Thoughts on Breast Cancer Screening & Prevention

2009-11-23T04:56:52Z

Consider taking periodic vacations from news media. You will be surprised at how little you will miss! If you want to know more about the world, read a travel novel or National Geographic for a less sensational approach. Reading about history is reassuring; you will note that humans have not changed very much in all of recorded time and the world is probably no worse off than it has ever been. Making your world smaller extends to your relationships with other people. To some extent, you can choose who you allow on your island. Look for meaningful relationships that pick you up instead of dragging you down. Another part of creating your own island is having a positive outlook on life. Try to see the good in other people and overlook the bad. Remember that you are only human and others around you are the same. Tolerance is, indeed, one of the most important virtues we can achieve as human beings. Smile more often, even if you don't feel like it. Also remember that every day is not going to be a "great" day, but tomorrow could be the best yet. It is amazing how quickly life can turn around with the right outlook. For more stress relief tips and nutraceuticals for stress management from Dr. Rawls, please see the First Do No Harm Health Systems <a href="http://fdnhhealth.com/groups/10-anxiety-and-stress">page on Anxiety and Stress</a>. 2009-11-18T03:52:25Z A major strategy for stress relief is to "create your own island" by making your world smaller and simpler. So much of what comes through the news media is sensationalized and does not have a direct impact on your life. Filter your news intake if it tends to cause you anxiety. 18 Tips for reducing stress and anxiety by limiting sensational news, developing meaningful relationships, and having a positive outlook on life. 1 its a small world after all It's a Small World After All

2009-11-19T00:45:03Z

Indoles, chemicals found in all cruciferous vegetables, increase the ability of the liver to metabolize estrogen. This is favorable for reducing risk of breast and prostate cancer. Basil is an easy-to-grow herb of summer that boasts anti-viral, antioxidant, anti-microbial and anti-cancer qualities. Tahini, made from ground sesame seeds, adds flavor similar to peanut butter, but slightly more bitter. Sesame seeds are high in mono-unsaturated fat and lignans. Diets high in lignans, also found in high concentration in flax seeds, are associated with a decreased risk of both breast and prostate cancer. Tahini can be found in most any grocery and is one component of hummus. Shopping List: 1 chicken breast—chopped Bok choy—1 bunch, sliced (stalks and leaves) ½ sweet onion—chopped 2-3 carrots—sliced Fresh basil—minced Vegetable broth (or chicken) Tahini paste Rice vinegar Macadamia or other cooking oil Paprika Fresh or powdered ginger Mild curry paste Fresh cashew nuts Brown rice or brown rice pasta Easy Cooking Steps: Sauté the onions and chicken in cooking oil on medium-high heat until brown. Add a splash (1/4-1/2 cup) of broth and lower the heat to simmer. Add the bok choy, carrots and basil and cover. After simmered for 5 minutes add 1-3 tablespoons of tahini paste, a splash of rice vinegar, ½ teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon powdered ginger, 1 teaspoon mild curry paste and salt to taste. A swirl of agave nectar can be added for sweetness if desired. Simmer covered for another 5 minutes and then stir in cashew nuts. Serve over rice pasta or rice. Recipe compliments of First Do No Harm Health Systems. 2009-11-10T04:51:58Z This light and healthy dish features bok choy, basil and tahini. Bok choy, also known as Chinese cabbage, is rich in fiber, vitamin C, folate, beta-carotene and indoles. 17 This light dish features bok choy, which contains indoles and is favorable for reducing risk of breast and prostate cancer. 1 healthy basil chicken and bok choy Healthy Recipe Idea: Basil Chicken & Bok Choy

2009-11-19T21:14:23Z

Add in 12 teaspoons of refined sugar found in a large cup of sweet tea, car exhaust fumes and short tempers from waiting in line, to the refined flour, hydrogenated oils, nitrite preservatives and chemicals retained in meat byproducts and abnormal fats created by frying the baloney, and you have a perfect recipe for cancer. This, unfortunately, is characteristic of how many Americans live and eat every day. Traveling outside of the average American lifestyle and diet we can learn a lot from other cultures. In Japan, where consumption of meat is low and consumption of vegetables, fish and soy products is high, the rate of prostate and breast cancer is much lower than the U.S. In India, despite overcrowding, poor sanitation and high exposure to industrial pollution, the cancer rate is half that of America and interestingly, the rate of dementia is the lowest in the world. Very likely this is related to consumption of food spiced by curry. The average Indian consumes 1-2 grams of curry every day. Turmeric and ginger, commonly used in curries, are both are known for potent anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Tomatoes, olive oil and red wine found throughout the Mediterranean and closer to home, strict vegetarian diets practiced by Seventh Day Adventists are all associated with significantly reduced cancer risks. More than any other time in all of history we are truly living within the Garden of Eden, finding it is simple of matter of making the right choices. As much as some foods can do us harm, others can protect us. Fresh vegetables, fresh fruit (especially temperate fruits such as berries), spices and herbs are more available than ever before, and all of them contain substances that directly inhibit the processes leading to cancer. Better foods, a less stressful approach to life, avoidance of toxins and regular exercise are choices that most anyone in America has access to and can greatly reduce risk for cancer and other diseases. For guidance from Dr. Rawls on daily supplements for preventing cancer and other diseases, please refer to <a href="http://fdnhhealth.com/groups?step=basic">Step 1: Basic Essentials</a> on the First Do No Harm Health Systems website. 2009-11-04T17:01:10Z If you set about to create a diet that would induce cancer in the human body, the average American diet would be a good place to start. This morning on the way to work traffic was backed up behind cars waiting for the new item at a local fast-food restaurant— fried baloney biscuits. 16 Better foods, a less stressful approach to life, avoidance of toxins and regular exercise are choices that most anyone in America has access to and can greatly reduce risk for cancer and other diseases. 1 hedge your bets against cancer Hedge Your Best Against Cancer (Yes, Cancer!)

2009-11-19T21:22:04Z

Cancer is more threatening than any other disease process and despite all the money that has been poured into cancer research, the incidence of cancer is still on the rise. Early detection and better treatment protocols are improving survivability, but we are still not winning the war. We win the war only when no one gets cancer in the first place—prevention is the best strategy. While a zero cancer rate may not presently be within our grasp, dramatically reducing our current cancer rate certainly is. The factors that initiate or induce cancer within the human body are well defined. Damage caused by free-radicals occurring as a byproduct of cellular energy production, toxins, poor nutrition with excessive glucose and abnormal fats, immune dysfunction related to chronic stress, microbes, basic wear and tear and radiation sum up all the causes in brief. Reduce or oppose these factors and cancer is less likely to occur. Ironically, making better choices is not something that comes naturally. Instincts, honed over thousands of years of survival impel us to hoard all the sugar and fat we can get our hands on, eat as much as possible when food is available, store fat, rest whenever the opportunity presents, and react to all stress as if it was a saber-toothed tiger getting ready to pounce. Instinct has left us with no tools for dealing with unseen threats such as toxins or new strains of microbes. In essence, the world has changed so much in the past hundred years that our survival skills are outdated. In order to thrive in this new environment, new behavior must be learned. Overcoming outdated instinct is not an insurmountable challenge and there are great rewards for making the effort. Turning the tide against cancer is just one of them. Trading off the dominant taste of sweet for real flavor in food truly adds spice to life. A more relaxed lifestyle and regular exercise offers the reward of feeling well every day and the security of knowing that your risk of cancer and other diseases has been dramatically reduced. For guidance from Dr. Rawls on daily supplements for preventing cancer and other diseases, please refer to <a href="http://fdnhhealth.com/groups?step=basic">Step 1: Basic Essentials</a> on the First Do No Harm Health Systems website. 2009-11-04T03:44:13Z I’ve heard it said that cancer is cause for concern and everything else is just an inconvenience. To some extent this statement is very accurate. Cancer is the diagnosis that nobody wants. 15 The factors that induce cancer include damage caused by free radicals occurring as a byproduct of cellular energy production, toxins, poor nutrition with excessive glucose and abnormal fats, immune dysfunction related to chronic stress, microbes, basic we 1 cancer prevention Cancer: The Diagnosis that Nobody Wants

2009-11-19T21:20:42Z

While the historical myths associated with the proverbial “fountain of youth” abound, science has revealed legitimate practices, foods and therapies that are known to prolong life. While longevity and wellness would seem to go hand in hand, this is not always the case—it all depends on how you approach the miracle. Conventional medicine has chosen to place all of its faith in synthetic drugs and surgical technologies. The approach does work at a certain level, but this miracle comes with a clause. Synthetic medicines are generally designed to treat the manifestations of disease (symptoms, abnormal lab values), instead of correcting the underlying causes. Without correcting the underlying causes, disease progresses—medicines beget more medications, with all the associated side effects. And though life may be prolonged, the vigor of youth is not restored. Surgery may offer a slightly more attractive miracle, but does not restore normal function and comes with an exorbitant price tag. The United States spends, by a wide margin, more on healthcare than any country in the world, yet is presently ranked 37th in the world for the health potential of its citizens. A subset of “anti-aging” practitioners profess that hormone replacement is the miracle of youth. This group recognizes that hormones regulating many functions in the body decline with age and advocate artificially restoring all hormonal functions to youthful levels. While this does work with certain hormones (normal levels of thyroid hormone are essential for life and hormone replacement after menopause has shown benefit within a brief window of time), micromanaging all of the hormone systems of the body is extremely problematic. The inner workings of the human body are exceedingly complex and we just do not have enough knowledge to attempt what is being attempted. The best miracle is the one that should be the most intuitive. There are well-defined factors that cause aging and disease. Identify and reduce these factors and the remarkable and almost unlimited healing capacity of the body is unleashed, cumulative damage stops adding up and wellness occurs. Interestingly, this is the miracle that is the most cost-effective; preventing a disaster is always less expensive than cleaning one up. 2009-10-30T18:25:22Z The miracle of capturing the resiliency of youth well into later years has been pursued by practitioners of the healing arts and others since the beginning of mankind. 14 Doctor Rawls reveals the best anti-aging secret as preventing culmulative damage in the first place through natural therapies such as healthy diet, meditation, quality nutraceuticals and exercise. 1 anti aging natural therapies A Search for the "Fountain of Youth"

2009-11-18T04:39:01Z

We wanted to use an assortment of spices that would be different, but at the same time complement the squash. I took one squash for our dinner, such that we could be guinea pigs for spice combination. That same day I happened to pick up a new type of pasta made from whole grain corn and quinoa. It seemed to be the perfect match for the golden color and flavor of the squash! Fresh frozen soybeans and sweet onions made for a complete dish with adequate protein, healthy carbohydrates and healthy fats. The spices add an antioxidant, anti-cancer component. Shopping List: 1 steamed or baked acorn squash 1 cup steamed edamame (green soybeans) ½ sweet onion—chopped ½ cup raisins Vegetable broth Quinoa pasta ½-1 teaspoon mild curry paste Grated fresh ginger ¼- ½ teaspoon nutmeg ½-1 teaspoon pure cocoa powder Macadamia nut oil or other cooking oil 1-2 teaspoons of organic brown sugar Directions: Spoonful of fresh plain yogurt to add creaminess Salt to taste Bake or steam the squash until soft. Steaming peeled squash cut into small chucks is the faster method and works just as well for this dish. Steam the edamame (soybeans) for 3-4 minutes. Cook the pasta as per directions on the package. Sauté chopped onions in oil on medium to medium-high heat until brown. Mix in the squash, soybeans, spices and all other ingredients. Thin the mixture with vegetable broth and heat on low for several minutes. Serve over the pasta and ENJOY! Recipe compliments of First Do No Harm Health Systems. 2009-10-26T04:05:32Z My wife was baking acorn squash for her nutrition class. She teaches at the community college and each week tries to offer a sampling of healthy foods and new flavors the students may have never been exposed to. 13 1 Winter Squash and Edamame Pasta Healthy Recipe Idea: Winter Squash & Edamame Pasta

2009-11-19T21:18:19Z

Though we generally consider stress something to be tolerated, when stress becomes ominous, many people turn to drug therapy. Pharmaceuticals do work on a certain level, but drug therapy is associated with, well, “drug-like” effects and is often accompanied by side effects. If we were going to design the ideal substance for stress resistance it would not have the targeted effect of the drugs available today, but it would have an overall normalizing effect on all systems of the body. Fortunately, Mother Nature is way ahead of us; many natural substances already exist that fit this description. Collectively they are referred to as adaptogens. Adaptogens, by definition, are substances that have a very low potential for toxicity, do not have targeted effects on any one organ system, but have an overall balancing or normalizing effect on all the functional systems of the body. There are many natural substances from around the world that fit this definition and most have been used by humans for thousands of years. We know a lot about many of the adaptogens from several sources. Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine (traditional medicine in India) have been observing and recording the use of adaptogens for thousands of years. More recently, the Russians during the cold war conducted an extensive science experiment in search of substances that would increase human endurance and performance. Their scientific documentation of substances classified as adaptogens from around the world is quite extensive and thorough. Possibly the most well-known and studied adaptogen is ginseng. Ginseng is mildly stimulating, but unlike caffeine, invigorates production of energy in the body, instead of expending it. My favorite adaptogen is ashwagandha. Native to India and Africa, ashwagandha is derived from the root of a plant distantly related to the tomato. This mildly sedating adaptogen is particularly useful for unraveling hormonal imbalances associated with stress and menopause. Russian research, looking for adaptogens that occurred closer to home, defined eleuthero and rhodiola as having stress-relieving properties. Some herbs classified as adaptogens do have some preferential tendencies. Astragalus is known for its ability to stimulate the immune system. Schisandra has been associated with improved learning capacity and mental function. Licorice supports adrenal function. For just about any stress-related condition there are adaptogens and other supportive herbs that Mother Nature has provided to fit the need. For more on adaptogens for stress management, please see the First Do No Harm Health Systems <a href="../../../groups/10-anxiety-and-stress">page on Anxiety and Stress</a>. 2009-10-22T23:22:53Z Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could take something and become resistant to the effects of stress? Stress is something we all live with everyday and the hormonal derangements caused by chronic stress contribute to all chronic diseases and aging. 12 Adaptogens are substances that have a very low potential for toxicity, do not have targeted effects on any one organ system, and have an overall normalizing effect on all the functional systems of the body. 1 adaptogens Adaptogens for Stress Resistance

2009-11-19T00:46:37Z

Supposedly this heirloom rice was reserved for the emperors of China; but though it has origins in china, I felt it called for flavors of North Africa.  2 cups black rice—cooked 1 can black beans 1 stalk celery—sliced 1/3 onion—chopped Handful of raisins for sweetness ½ - 1 teaspoon cumin Splash of white wine Slivered almonds or cashews Handful of cheese—any white cheese (Romano, fresh parmesan, or Monterey jack) Sea salt to taste Olive oil Cook the black rice as per directions on the package in a 1 ½ - 2 quart pot. When cooked, the rice actually has a deep purple color and gives off a wonderful nutty aroma. Sauté celery and onions in olive oil. Add in cumin, salt, black beans, wine and simmer covered for several minutes. Mix this sautéed mixture in with the rice. Add in the raisins, almonds, and cheese. Serve with a steamed vegetable such as Swiss chard and a glass of white wine—a truly sophisticated meal that takes no time at all to prepare! Recipe compliments of First Do No Harm Health Systems. 2009-10-20T04:14:10Z Black rice sounds exotic enough that I had to try it. After minimal searching, I found it at a local grocery on the rice and pasta aisle. 11 Healthy recipe idea for black rice and black beans 1 black rice recipe idea Healthy Recipe Idea: Exotic Black Rice & Beans

2009-11-19T21:18:03Z

Made of clear glass, the powdered dust of white flour could be seen stuck to the inside the walls of one container, and the granular residue of sugar in the bottom of the other. Forgotten, it had been years since either one had been filled—other choices haven taken their place. The transition had not occurred overnight. In their time, these jars were each refilled every other week. But gradually healthier choices took precedence, and they were refilled less and less often. Oddly, when their absence was finally noticed, there was no sense of loss. My approach to food had changed so much that these items were no longer necessary. Learning to appreciate flavor over taste was a necessary part of the conversion. Taste is sensed by taste buds on the tongue and flavor is related to smell. For physiologic reasons, we tend to be driven by the taste of sweet more than any of the other tastes or by any flavors. We need the sugar glucose to survive, and therefore it dictates the priority of our food choices. Most natural foods contain little glucose and in days gone by, getting enough of it was an ever present concern. In present times of overabundance, however, we have the opposite problem. Excessive amounts of glucose found in refined sugar, high fructose corn syrup and processed starch is a major contributor to not only diabetes, but all health problems. Once I was able to get beyond the taste of sweet I began to experience the real flavor of food. Flavor comes not only from the food itself, but also from spices and seasonings that can be added in almost unlimited variety. Adding flavor is usually synonymous with adding health, because flavors in food and spices often represent disease-fighting chemicals. The most flavorful foods from around the world are generally the healthiest. Make effort to find flavor in your food. Leaving processed foods behind and learning to enjoy fresh whole foods and spices is the first and most important step toward a healthier lifestyle. 2009-10-19T16:28:04Z It’s peculiar how objects that are so much a part of an everyday life can gradually become unnoticed as life changes. The other day I was cleaning the kitchen counter and became aware of two large empty jars sitting in the shadows of a corner underneath cabinets. 10 1 empty jars Empty Jars

2009-10-19T16:28:04Z

Elevated cholesterol contributes to plaque formation, which in turn causes arterial stiffness, but elevated cholesterol is far from the sole cause of plaque formation. Many individuals with moderate elevations in cholesterol do not have significant plaque formation, and some people with normal cholesterol do have significant plaque formation. Therefore, the standard lipid panel, which measures only the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood, does not always provide sufficient data to warrant the use of statins and fully assess cardiovascular risk. More informed decisions can be made by combining this standard cholesterol test with other screening tools. Two such screening tools are omega-3 testing and pulse wave analysis, a measurement of arterial stiffness and central blood pressure. Preliminary research suggests that omega-3 testing shows promise. As a big believer in the benefits of fish oil, this measurement of the ratio of omega-3 fatty acids (‘good’ fat) to omega-6 fatty acids (‘bad’ fat) is one test that I would like to see go mainstream; the actual concentration of these important fatty acids in the body is valuable information. The essential omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil can block or reduce all factors that lead to plaque formation, and the degree of saturation of these fatty acids in the body not only appears to be a good predictor of heart attack and stroke but possibly also of cancer. Though most anyone can benefit from taking an omega-3 supplement, absorption is variable from person to person. Several labs offer omega-3 testing, although at this time the test is not completely standardized, and most insurance companies do not cover it. When more data becomes available, these factors may change. While a standard lipid panel and omega-3 testing do measure factors indicating risk for heart disease, neither test answers the million-dollar question: “What is the patient’s cardiovascular risk from the actual degree of arterial stiffness already present?” Performed with the SphygmoCor system, a measurement called pulse wave analysis answers this question by showing the physician and patient the effect of arterial stiffness on central blood pressure. Arterial stiffness is a direct measure of the degree of plaque formation. Central blood pressure, which is always different from blood pressure at the arm, is the pressure the heart and other organs actually experience. Providing data previously available only through monitoring with a catheter placed in the aorta, the pulse wave analysis is completely noninvasive and takes only minutes to perform, with results immediately available. Featured in hundreds of published studies, it is well established at major medical centers in the U.S. and Europe and is beginning to make its way into smaller communities.  The analysis is performed by pressing a sensor against the strongest pulse point on the patient’s wrist. The SphygmoCor system displays the pressure wave form as it exists in the ascending aorta (the large vessel leading from the heart) and also produces a wealth of data, including central blood pressure and numerous measurements of arterial stiffness. In short, the pulse wave analysis provides information that directly correlates to the risk of heart attack and stroke and enables physicians to make more informed treatment decisions. 2009-10-09T03:44:41Z Abnormal cholesterol levels present a real quandary for wellness-based physicians. Representing only one indicator of risk, cholesterol levels do not define the problem at the root of many heart attacks and strokes--  the degree of arterial stiffness (hardening of the arteries). 9 Omega-3 testing and pulse wave analysis can help to make more informed decisions of cardiovascular health by measuring arterial stiffness and central blood pressure. 1 the cholesterol conundrum The Cholesterol Conundrum

2009-11-18T04:28:13Z

The omega-3 fatty acids are concentrated up the food chain and therefore oily fish are the best source of these essential fats.  Omega-3 fatty acids found in land-based plants, chiefly from grasses and certain seeds, are different from marine omega-3 fatty acids and have different effects in the body. In days gone by we could have depended on the “food chain effect” for providing these important omega-3 fatty acids in meat sources, but livestock raised for food today no longer consume grasses. The corn and other grains they are fed contain high concentrations of another type of essential fatty acids called omega-6’s. Instead of reducing inflammation in the body, these fatty acids actually encourage inflammation. The best health solution for today includes eating a predominantly vegetarian diet, restricting meat only to “grass-fed,” and taking marine source and vegetable source omega-3 supplements—both are important. As I mentioned, the different essential fatty acids seem to have slightly different properties. In general, the marine source omega-3’s appear to be best for reducing inflammation in the vascular system and land-based source omega-3’s seem to be best for reducing inflammation in tissues. DHA from marine sources appears to be particularly important for normal brain development and brain health. EPA from marine sources helps lower triglycerides.  ALA, found in flax seed oil, has potent anti-inflammatory effects and also has anticoagulant effects (blood thinning), but has minimal effect on lowering cholesterol or blood triglycerides. GLA, found in evening primrose oil, black currant oil, and borage oil has anti-inflammatory properties, stimulates immune function and has anti-estrogen properties and anti-tumor properties.  (Some sources of borage oil have been found to contain trace amounts of a liver toxin called hexane. Always look for hexane-free sources of borage oil). I know this is all starting to sound like alphabet soup, but for optimal health, you need some of all of them. How much of each type depends on your age and health condition. Young people really benefit from having enough DHA on board and should consider a marine supplement weighted in that direction. Young women and women going through menopause gain benefit from the marine oils, but especially need GLA to moderate hormonal fluctuations. Individuals with signs of arthritis will find supplements high in GLA to be beneficial. Younger adults can generally get away with a lower dose supplement containing both marine and vegetable source oils, but individuals over fifty should consider both a full dose marine-source supplement and a full dose vegetable source supplement such as flax/evening primrose oil. For strict vegans wondering how to get those important marine source omega-3’s, there are DHA/EPA supplements made from algae. At First Do No Harm Health Systems, you will find a complete line of high quality essential fatty acid supplements to suit every age and every purpose. 2009-10-06T01:34:56Z So far we have focused on essential fatty acids found in fish, but there are several types of omega-3 fatty acids and they all actually originate from plant sources. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for animal life, but cannot be made by animals. The omega-3’s found in fish, DHA and EPA, are actually sourced from algae eaten by smaller marine animals that the fish consume. 8 ALA, found in flax seed oil, has potent anti-inflammatory and blood-thinning effects, and GLA, found in evening primrose oil, stimulates immune function and has anti-estrogen and anti-tumor properties. 1 omega 3 fatty acids Vegetable Source Omega-3’s

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Omega-3 fatty acids balance cell membranes, reduce inflammation, act as antioxidants and allow all functions in the body to occur more smoothly. Though following a diet high in sources of omega-3’s is a good choice, the benefits of these important fats are very dose dependent and most people are just not getting enough. The question is, how much is enough? Last winter I spent the better part of one rainy cold weekend reviewing fish oil literature to define the answer. Present recommendations from most sources suggest daily intake of 1000mg of omega-3 fatty acids for health maintenance and 2000-4000mg for therapeutic purposes such as lowering triglycerides or reducing plague formation in arteries. Notice the recommendations are for omega-3 fatty acids and not fish oil. Different fish, different fish oils and different fish oil supplements all contain variable amounts of omega-3’s. Your average off-the-shelf fish oil supplement with two capsules offering 1000mg of fish oil only contains 200-300mg of omega-3’s. This translates into taking 6-10 capsules per day for average health and double that for therapeutic purposes—add in allowance for frequent trips to the bathroom from the effect that much fish oil will have on the GI tract. The better choice is buying highly concentrated fish oil supplements providing at least 1200 of actual omega-3 fatty acids per 2 capsules. (Supplemental dosage should be adjusted in accordance to daily fish and shellfish intake.) A more specific way to answer the question of “how much” is by measuring the concentration of omega-3 fatty acids in your blood stream. This type of testing is still relatively new and is still being standardized, but it may someday be the definitive test for predicting risk of stroke and heart attack. Even so, the test does have value today. Absorption of fat is variable from person to person and testing can be beneficial for determining optimal dosage. The test is simple to perform and only requires a finger-stick with blood blotted on card and mailed to the lab. The average cost of the test is around $100. Coming soon to First Do No Harm Health Systems:  test kits for omega-3 testing alongside our premium Nordic Naturals fish oil products. In the meantime, quality kits are available for purchase at www.omegaquant.com. 2009-10-04T16:25:51Z If you decided to take one and only one supplement, the choice would have to be fish oil. Evidence strongly suggests that a special type of fats present in fish oil, called omega-3 fatty acids, lower the risk of not only heart disease and stroke, but all chronic diseases. 6 A special type of fats present in fish oil, called omega-3 fatty acids, lowers the risk of heart disease and stroke, balances cell membranes, reduces inflammation, acts as an antioxidant and allows all functions in the body to occur more smoothly. 1 fish oil The Straight Skinny on Fish Oil

2009-11-19T00:41:14Z

Early on, as I was adopting natural therapies into my practice I followed the same line of reasoning, trying to substitute a specific herb for a drug that was used to using.  It wasn’t until I shifted my approach for treating disease from a symptom-based point of view to a cause-and-effect point of view that I began to understand how herbal therapy really works.  Conventional medicine is symptom and diagnosis based.  The patient presents with symptoms, labs are obtained, and a diagnosis is derived from the accumulated data.  Drug therapy, defined by protocols associated with the diagnosis, is designed to reduce symptoms and return abnormal parameters back to normal.  The vast majority of drugs block specific enzymes or activate a specific set of receptors to achieve a specific desired result.  On a certain level, drug therapy works, but it does little to prevent progression of disease and side effects and long term toxicity are common.  Natural therapies, by contrast, approach treatment of disease by addressing causes instead of symptoms alone.  Like all things, disease does have specific causes and these causes can be defined.  Without going into great detail, the major categories of disease-causing factors include oxidative stress (exposure to free radicals), toxins, poor nutrition, microbes, stress and radiation.  Different symptoms (and different diseases) occur with cumulatively exposure to the same factors because we are each genetically different.  Reason would suggest that reducing the factors that cause disease, rather than just eliminating symptoms, would be the most efficient approach for overcoming illness…and this is exactly how herbal therapy works!  Virtually all herbs used for medicinal purposes possess anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and detoxification properties.  Many herbs are anti-mutagenic (anti-cancer).  Most herbs positively affect the immune system and balance the hormone systems of the body.  Even herbs that seem to work best on one certain organ system still include these general qualities.  It should be no surprise to find that herbal therapies, especially when combined with healthy diet and good health practices, can reduce or reverse any and all disease processes. The very qualities that make herbs so valuable also make them difficult to evaluate scientifically. Unlike pharmaceuticals, which generally contain only one active synthetic chemical, herbal medications typically contain many active chemicals and in some cases hundreds of active chemicals, generally all of which are beneficial. The plant synthesizes these vital substances for protection against oxidation, sunlight, microbes and other threats. In consuming the plant we gain the same protection, and humans have naturally been doing so for thousands of years. But having multiple chemicals with various actions confounds the targeted approach of science today. For this reason conventional medicine tends to leave these vital alternatives for healing on the sidelines in favor synthetic drug therapy. In making this choice, modern medicine is passing up on literally thousands of years of recorded use of plant-based therapies from cultures around the world. In fact, large scale observational studies may be the best way to evaluate natural therapies. When scientific scrutiny of today is carefully and appropriately applied, the value of this information is generally well supported. Though drug therapy does have important applications in certain situations, synthetic drugs can never possess the healing qualities of natural herbal therapies. The time has come for modern conventional medicine to leave bias and prejudices behind and embrace all therapies that may relieve illness and suffering.  It is my hope that this blog and the First Do No Harm Health website will become a valuable resource for those searching for natural remedies and preventative health information. 2009-10-01T21:38:29Z My father asked me the other day how it could be that single herbs could be applied to many different uses.  It was a logical question; throughout his career as a physician he had used synthetic drugs for very specific and targeted purposes. 5 Herbal therapies approach treatment of disease by addressing causes instead of symptoms alone. 1 herbal therapy The Gist of Herbal Medicine

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Our present strategy is not working and our priorities are obviously misaligned.  And despite the good intentions of people in high places, it is unlikely that government interventions will rectify the problem.  The time has come for personal accountability. Ironically, even in the face of a failing healthcare system, good health is available for anyone who wants it—now more than ever before.  A wealth of resources are available for stopping disease and cancer well before they occur.  Prevention of disease is not only cost effective, but also leads to a much higher quality of life. For several years, as a physician, I have been helping people find the way, but a private medical practice is somewhat limited in scope and can only reach so many people.  Through this website I hope to break through the confines of our conventional medical system and extend this knowledge to an even wider audience. By posting on this blog and website, you will provide me with valuable feedback and help to spread the message to others. I look forward to hearing from you and working together to improve the availability of good health for all. 2009-09-11T02:38:32Z Presently in the U.S. we spend twice as much on healthcare as we do on food, and while the expenditure on synthetic drugs and technology continues to rise, the incidence of chronic diseases and cancer is rising just as rapidly. 3 Preventative healthcare is the wave of the future and natural therapies are a key part of diease prevention and path to a higher quality of life. 1 optimal health Optimal Health is Closer than You May Think

2009-10-04T20:03:12Z