10 ways to successfully prevent Cancer from home

By Dr. Mercola Cancer is the disease Americans fear most,1 and understandably so since it’s responsible for nearly one out of every four deaths in the US.2 Adding to its stigma, cancer diagnosis and treatment are the moneymakers in this industry – and also the focus of most government-funded cancer campaigns. Comparatively little is done in the way of prevention education, leaving many feeling powerless against this potentially deadly disease – as though all you can do is cross your fingers and hope you don’t become one of the quickly growing cancer statistics. What a relief it should be to learn that prevention strategies not only exist, but also are remarkably effective at lowering your risk of most types of cancer. Cancer Prevention: 10 Top Tips “More than half of all cancer deaths could be prevented by making healthy choices like not smoking, staying at a healthy weight, eating right, keeping active, and getting recommended screening tests.”3 This quote is taken directly from the American Cancer Society, and it should be eye-opening and empowering if you’re not yet aware that cancer prevention starts, first and foremost, with you and, as the featured article explains, your home.4 1. Optimize Your Vitamin D If you want to slash your risk of cancer, it's essential that you spend adequate time in the sun or a safe tanning bed, or if that’s not possible supplement with proper amounts of vitamin D3. It’s been definitively proven using data from more than 100 countries that the higher the solar UVB, the lower the incidence of 15 different types of cancer, including:5 Bladder Breast Cervical Colon Endometrial Esophageal Gastric Lung Ovarian Pancreatic Rectal Renal Vulvar Hodgkin's lymphoma Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma The most important factor is your vitamin D serum level. In order to help prevent a wide variety of diseases and health ailments, including cancer, your vitamin D level needs to be between 50 and 70 ng/ml year-round. Vitamin D from sun exposure or a safe tanning bed is the BEST way to optimize your vitamin D levels. Just be cautious about the length of your exposure. You only need enough exposure to have your skin turn the lightest shade of pink. Once you reach this point your body will not make any additional vitamin D due to its self-regulating mechanism. Any additional exposure will only cause harm and damage to your skin. If you’re taking oral vitamin D, you also need to make sure you’re taking vitamin K2 as well, as K2 deficiency is actually what produces the symptoms of vitamin D toxicity, which includes inappropriate calcification that can lead to hardening of your arteries. To learn more, please see my previous article: What You Need to Know About Vitamin K2, D and Calcium. If you take oral vitamin D and have cancer, it would be very prudent to monitor your vitamin D blood levels regularly. 2. Avoid Eating Excess Protein Most of us eat far too much protein. Consider reducing your protein levels to one gram per kilogram of lean body weight unless you are in competitive athletics or are pregnant. It would be unusual for most adults to need more than 100 grams of protein and most likely need close to half that amount. This may come as a surprise, as we’ve been told for decades how important protein is for your health, but the truth is that excessive protein intake can have a great impact on cancer growth. The mTOR pathway is short for mammalian target of rapamycin. This pathway is ancient but relatively recently appreciated and has only been known for less than 20 years. Odds are very high your doctor was never taught this in medical school and isn't even aware of it. Many new cancer drugs are actually being targeted to use this pathway. Drugs using this pathway have also been given to animals to radically extend their lifespan. But you don't have to use drugs to get this pathway to work for you. You can “biohack” your body by restricting your protein intake and replacing the decreased protein with healthy fats; this will provide virtually identical benefits as these dangerous and expensive drugs. For most people, reducing your protein levels to one gram per kilogram of lean body weight means restricting protein intake from 35 to 75 grams. Pregnant women and those working out extensively need about 25% more protein, though. Further, when you reduce protein you need to replace it with other calories, specifically high-quality fats such as avocados, butter, coconut oil, olives, olive oil, nuts and eggs. 3. Eat Living Foods with Amazing Health Benefits Sprouts are a “super” food that many overlook. In addition to their nutritional profile, sprouts are also easy to grow on your own. I started sprouting seeds in ball jars 10 to 15 years ago. A Care2 article published last year6 listed 10 reasons for eating sprouts, including the following. You can see my recent article that extols their benefits. I should be providing a more comprehensive report in the near future. •Sprouts can contain up to 100 times more enzymes than raw fruits and vegetables, allowing your body to extract more vitamins, minerals, amino acids and essential fats from the foods you eat •Both the quality of the protein and the fiber content of beans, nuts, seeds and grains improves when sprouted •The content of vitamins and essential fatty acids also increase dramatically during the sprouting process. For example, depending on the sprout, the nutrient content can increase as much as 30 times the original value within just a few days of sprouting. Sunflower seed and pea sprouts tend to top the list of all the seeds that you can sprout and are typically each about 30 times more nutritious than organic vegetables you can even harvest in your backyard garden •During sprouting, minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, bind to protein, making them more bioavailable •Sprouts are the ultimate locally grown food, and can easily be grown in your own kitchen, so you know exactly what you’re eating. And since they’re very inexpensive, cost is no excuse for avoiding them 4. Simplify Your Cleaning Supplies My top list of cancer prevention strategies has always included reducing your exposure to environmental toxins like household chemical cleaners. While it is very difficult to prove that a person's exposure to household cleaners over the course of 10, 20 or 30 years is what caused their cancer diagnosis, it is well known that commonly used household chemicals do, in fact, cause cancer, along with other serious health effects like reproductive and developmental problems in developing children. Research has found, for instance, that breast cancer risk is twice as high among women who report the most use of cleaning products and air fresheners, compared to those who rarely use such products.7 Mold and mildew cleaners and air fresheners have shown the greatest correlation with breast cancer. Some of the chemicals of greatest concern that you'll want to avoid include: Synthetic musks Phthalates 1,4-diclorobenzene Terpenes Benzene Styrene Phenol Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) Formaldehyde Petroleum solvents Butyl cellosolve Triclosan (antibacterial) Fortunately, it’s simple to replace toxic commercial cleansers with safer options. One of the best non-toxic disinfectants is plain soap and water. You can use this for washing your hands, your body and for other household cleaning. Another all-purpose cleaner that works great for kitchen counters, cutting boards and bathrooms is 3% hydrogen peroxide and vinegar. You can also keep your home very fresh and clean by making your own natural cleaning products using items you probably already have around your home. Some more tips for making simple and effective all-natural cleansers: •Use baking soda mixed with apple cider vinegar to clean drains and bathtubs, or sprinkle baking soda along with a few drops of lavender oil or tea tree oil (which have antibacterial qualities) as a simple scrub for your bathroom or kitchen. •Vinegar can be used to clean almost anything in your home. Try it mixed with liquid castile soap, essential oils and water to clean floors, windows, bathrooms and kitchens. It can even be used as a natural fabric softener. •Hydrogen peroxide is safer to use than chlorine bleach for disinfecting and whitening. •Vodka is a disinfectant that can remove red wine stains, kill wasps and bees and refresh upholstery (put it into a mister and simply spray on the fabric). For a great video on how to use these ingredients and other tips for cleaning your home without hazardous chemicals, please review the article How to Keep Your Home Clean Naturally. The free eBook Toxic Free8 also has 70 recipes for a toxic-free home that are worth checking out. 5. Use Greener Beauty Products When cleaning up your lifestyle you may be tempted to start with your diet (which is a good place to start), but your personal care products are also important to address. Putting chemicals on your skin is actually far worse than ingesting them, because when you eat something everything must go to your liver before entering your blood stream, providing your body an opportunity to detoxify substances that could be harmful. When you put chemicals on your skin however, they're absorbed straight into your bloodstream without filtering of any kind, so the toxic chemicals from toiletries and beauty products are largely going into your blood, lymphatic system and then directly into your internal organs. There are literally thousands of chemicals used in personal care products, and only a tiny fraction of them have ever been tested for safety. According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, nearly 900 of the chemicals used in cosmetics are known to be toxic. It's impossible to list them all, but some of the most common culprits to avoid include: Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) Musks Mercury Paraben 1,4-Dioxane Lead Phthalates, including dibutyl phthalate (DBP), dimethyl phthalate (DMP), and diethyl phthalate (DEP) Mineral Oil, Paraffin, and Petrolatum Nano particles Antibacterials Hydroquinone Formaldehyde When it comes to personal care products, I like to use this rule -- if you wouldn’t eat it, don't put it on your body. Ideally, you'll want to look for the USDA's verified Organic seal. I also highly recommend using the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database,9 where you can look up a wide variety of products and brands to find out what they're really made of, and whether or not they're safe. You can also make your own personal care products, using simple all-natural ingredients that many of you may already have in your home Our Nourishing Roots has a recipe for a watermelon face mask that you can try,10 and here are a few of my recommendations: •All-natural moisturizers -- Pure emu oil is a great alternative to facial- and body moisturizers and lotions, as is pure coconut oil. It’s a fantastic moisturizer and a potent source of the beneficial fat lauric acid. •All-natural acne fighter -- Rubbing just a drop of oregano oil on a breakout can speed up the healing and prevent unsightly scarring (remember to wash your hands thoroughly afterward). •All-natural deodorant – Plain soap and water works fine. If you still need further help then try a pinch of baking soda mixed into water as an effective all-day deodorant. 6. Ditch Your Non-Stick Cookware About 70 percent of the cookware sold in the US contains a non-stick coating that contains PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and other perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), which are used to make grease-resistant food packaging and stain-resistant clothing as well. Even though there are many names, if the item in question is "non-stick" or "stain/grease resistant," it will generally have some type of fluoride-impregnated coating that is best avoided. It's well documented that when non-stick pans are heated the coating begins breaking down, releasing toxins into the air in your kitchen. When the pan reaches 680 degrees F (which takes about three to five minutes of heating), at least six toxic gases are released. At 1,000 degrees F, the coatings on your cookware break down into a chemical warfare agent known as PFIB. Research has revealed that these toxins can accumulate in your blood at an alarming rate and may lead to chronic disease like cancer over time. You can keep your exposure as low as possible by avoiding (or getting rid of) products that contain PFCs. This includes: Non-stick cookware (choose either ceramic or glass instead) Microwave popcorn Packaging for greasy foods (including paper and cardboard packaging) Stain-proof clothing Flame retardants and products that contain them Stain-resistant carpeting, and fabric stain protectors 7. Drink Clear Pure Water If you receive municipal water that is treated with chlorine or chloramines, toxic disinfection byproducts (DBPs) form when these disinfectants react with natural organic matter like decaying vegetation in the source water. DBPs are over 10,000 times more toxic than chlorine, and out of all the other toxins and contaminants present in your water, such as fluoride and miscellaneous pharmaceutical drugs, DBPs are likely the absolute worst of the bunch. Already, it’s known that trihalomethanes (THMs), one of the most common DBPs, are Cancer Group B carcinogens, meaning they’ve been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals. They’ve also been linked to reproductive problems in both animals and humans, such as spontaneous abortion, stillbirths, and congenital malformations, even at lower levels. A whole-house filtration system is your best choice to remove chlorine, chloramine, ammonia, DBPs and other contaminants from all of your water sources (bath, shower and tap). If you don’t have the resources for a whole-house filtration system at this time, there are a couple of other tricks you can try. At FindaSpring.com you can identify local springs where you can get pure, chloramine-free drinking water for a minimal cost. You can also try:11 •Adding fruit, such as slices of peeled orange, to a 1-gallon water pitcher, which will help neutralize chloramine in about 30 minutes •Dissolving a 1,000-mg vitamin C tablet into your bath water, which will neutralize the chloramine in an average-size bathtub 8. Choose Organic and Locally Grown Food Many pesticides and herbicides are potentially carcinogenic, and you may be exposed to them when you eat conventionally grown produce and animal products. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers 60 percent of herbicides, 90 percent of fungicides, and 30 percent of insecticides to be carcinogenic, and most are also damaging to your nervous system as well. Some of the pesticides/herbicides classified as probable or possible human carcinogens by the EPA include: Chlordane Heptachlor Tetrachlorvinphos Carbaryl Propoxur Lindane Dichlorvos Phosmet Permethrin The answer, of course, is to opt for organically grown produce and organically raised, pastured animal products, which are raised without chemicals and other potentially cancer-causing products, like rBGH (a genetically engineered growth hormone commonly found in milk). It's well known that conventionally grown fruits and vegetables are often tainted with unacceptable levels of pesticide residues, but you're also exposed when you eat animal products. Animals raised in confined animal feeding operations (CAFO's) eat feed full of pesticides, and these toxins accumulate in their flesh and fat over the course of their lifetimes. When you eat factory-farmed meat, you then ingest these accumulated pesticides. As for fresh produce, certain fruits and vegetables tend to be far more contaminated than others, simply because they're more susceptible to various infestations and therefore sprayed more heavily. Some foods are also more "absorbent," with thin, tender skins. Such foods would be high on your list for buying organic. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) produces an annual shopper's guide to pesticides in produce12 that you can download. It lists the produce with the highest and lowest levels of pesticide residue, which can help save you money if you can't afford to buy everything organic. Choosing organically raised animal products is potentially even more important, however, as animal products tend to bioaccumulate toxins from their pesticide-laced feed, concentrating them to far higher concentrations than are typically present in vegetables. Fermented foods can be helpful here as well, as some of the beneficial bacteria produced in fermented foods have been found to help detoxify organophosphorus insecticide. A 2009 study13 showed that during the fermentation of kimchi, the insecticide degraded rapidly until day 3, and had degraded completely by day 9. Four lactic acid bacteria were identified as being responsible for the effect, so regularly consuming fermented foods (or alternatively a high-quality probiotic) may help you buffer some of the damage that pesticide exposures can cause. 9. Skip the Canned Foods Avoiding canned foods is perhaps your best way to avoid bisphenol-A (BPA) – an endocrine-disrupting chemical linked to cancer and reproductive and fetal development problems, among other health issues. Though BPA is a widely used component of plastic containers, it’s also found in food packaging and the inner lining of cans. Research from the Harvard School of Public Health14 revealed that canned foods and beverages can increase your BPA levels by a staggering 1,000 percent in a mere five days! The lead researcher noted that given this finding, canned goods may be an even greater contribution to your BPA levels than plastics. Here are 10 tips to help reduce your exposure to BPA around the house: Only use glass baby bottles and dishes for your baby Use glass, ceramic, or stainless steel travel coffee mugs rather than plastic or Styrofoam coffee cups Get rid of your plastic dishes and cups, and replace them with glass varieties Avoid using plastic wrap (and never microwave anything covered in it) Give your baby natural fabric toys instead of plastic ones If you opt to use plastic kitchenware, at least get rid of the older, scratched-up varieties, avoid putting them in the dishwasher, and don't wash them with harsh detergents, as these things can cause more chemicals to leach into your food Store your food and beverages in glass containers Avoid using bottled water; filter your own using a reverse osmosis filter instead IF you choose to use a microwave, don't microwave food in a plastic container Before allowing a dental sealant to be applied to your, or your children's, teeth, ask your dentist to verify that it does not contain BPA 10. Ditch Your Microwave If you microwave your food in plastic containers, it can hasten the rate at which potentially cancer-causing chemicals can leach into your food. Additionally, microwaving creates new compounds that are not found in humans or in nature, called radiolytic compounds. We don't yet know what these compounds are doing to your body. In addition to the violent frictional heat effects, called thermic effects, there are also athermic effects, which are poorly understood because they are not as easily measured. It is these athermic effects that are suspected to be responsible for much of the deformation and degradation of cells and molecules.15 As an example, microwaves are used in the field of gene-altering technology to weaken cell membranes. Scientists use microwaves to actually break cells apart. Impaired cells then become easy prey for viruses, fungi and other microorganisms. You really CAN survive sans microwave—people are living quite happily without one, believe it or not. You just have to make a few small lifestyle adjustments, such as: •Plan ahead. Take your dinner out of the freezer that morning or the night before so you don't end up having to scramble to defrost a 5-pound chunk of beef two hours before dinnertime. •Make soups and stews in bulk, and then freeze them in gallon-sized freezer bags or other containers. An hour before meal time, just take one out and defrost it in a sink of water until it's thawed enough to slip into a pot, then reheat it on the stove. •A toaster oven makes a GREAT faux-microwave for heating up leftovers! Keep it at a low temperature — like 200-250 degrees F — and gently warm a plate of food over the course of 20-30 minutes. Another great alternative is a convection oven. •Prepare your meals in advance so that you always have a good meal available on those days when you're too busy or too tired to cook. •Try eating more organic raw foods. This is one of the best ways to improve your health over the long run. I found a great way to replace all my harmful cleaners, laundry products, personal hygiene products, air fresheners, skin care and cosmetics by Visit us at www.conncectingfromhome.com/optimumhealthsolutions

Is there a connection between Root Canals and Cancer?

ROOT CANALS AND CANCER By Bill Henderson, Author, “Cancer-Free” My latest career is helping people heal their cancers. At 79, this is a wonderful blessing for me. In fact, it is the most fulfilling thing I’ve done in my life and I’ve done lots of things. After researching cancer for the last 12 years, writing three books and 147 newsletters on natural cancer healing and recording 170 of my “How to Live Cancer-Free” radio shows, I feel I’ve learned a lot. However, I’ve learned the most from talking to over 3,200 people on the phone (all over the world) about their cancers. I feel compelled to get one particular message to you. Two facts have jumped out at me from those many phone calls. They are simply: 1) The most common cause of all cancers is root canal-filled teeth and other dental toxins; and 2) Until a cancer patient gets rid of the root canal-filled teeth and the other dental toxins, they don’t get well. You can take those two facts to the bank, folks. Why is this the first time you’ve heard about this (unless you’ve been reading what I’ve written, heard my radio show or talked to me on the phone)? Well, I’ll tell you. Doctors know nothing about this. I’ve asked each of the 3,200 cancer patients I’ve talked to on the phone the same question: “Has your cancer doctor ever talked to you about your dental history?” The answer, every time, is “No.” But even more significant, 99.5% of dentists are ignorant of the two facts above about cancer and root canals…or, they are “in denial” about it, like their dental professional societies, because of the fear of liability. If you knew what I know (and am about to share with you) about root canals and the degenerative conditions they cause, you would be tempted to sue the dentist who did yours, and you’d be perfectly justified. Believe me the American Dental Association (ADA) knows this. They have a large staff of full-time lawyers whose mission apparently is to keep suppressed the connection between dental work and health. A small cadre of dentists has courageously schooled themselves in how to detect and treat root canal problems. These are not the “mercury-free” or “holistic” dentists you see advertised in the Yellow Pages. In fact, this small group operates “under the radar” because of the persecution their brave compadres have suffered at the hands of the dental societies and State Dental Boards. I know of 36 or so of these wonderfully qualified and brave dentists. Their names have been given to me by cancer survivors who have taken my advice and addressed their root canal problems. These ladies and gentlemen are competent to help you. There are about 10 or so others worldwide who are capable of dealing with this problem. This number of 46 or so dentists is out of the 160,000 dentists and 7,400 endodontists (root canal specialists) in the U.S. alone. Many people postpone getting their jaw evaluated by one of these competent dentists. It is common to procrastinate on dental work. It is costly, usually not covered by insurance, and often painful. This procrastination or ignorance has cost millions of people their lives. If possible, I want to help you avoid that fate. First, let me explain why I feel this is Priority One if you have cancer. ROOT CANAL FACTS Over 50,000,000 (50 million) teeth are “saved” in the U.S. alone every year by having a “root canal” done on them. This common name for this treatment is really a misnomer. The root canal in a tooth is the portion in the center of the tooth that goes down into the roots (usually two roots – sometimes three or even four). When a “root canal” is done by the dentist, he/she removes the nerve in the center of the tooth and the pulp which surrounds it. This nerve and pulp goes all the way down from under the “crown” of the tooth to the end of the roots in the jaw. This is usually done because the decay has penetrated the center of the tooth and a “normal” filling is impossible because it would press on the nerve and be incredibly painful. The “root canal” process itself has a reputation for being quite painful. When the nerve and pulp of the tooth is removed by this procedure, it is replaced with an inert substance – usually the rubber-like “gutta percha.” The dentist attempts to sterilize the tooth before the gutta percha is inserted in the “root canal.” The object is to cut off the normal circulation of bacteria through the tooth and make it permanently sterile. Unfortunately, this never works. I say “attempts to sterilize the tooth” because it has been proven that this is impossible. The tooth becomes a dead piece of bone in the jaw. The bacteria which were in the millions of tiny “tubules” in the dentin of the tooth (the portion between the enamel and the root canal) mutate into “anaerobic” bacteria. These are bacteria which do not require oxygen. Every root canal-filled tooth has them. No exceptions. They occur because of the structure of the root canal filling. It is impossible to eliminate them and they are 1,000 times more toxic than any other bacteria. In fact, the toxins they put out are in the form of a gas called “thio-ethers” which can easily migrate through the enamel of the tooth and down through the roots into the bloodstream. These toxins travel throughout the body, as do many of the bacteria themselves. These are responsible for most chronic degenerative conditions…not just cancer, but rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, lupus, ALS, diabetes….you name it. EVIDENCE The evidence of what I’ve told you above is overwhelming. Here are some examples. Ø Dr. Weston Price, beginning in 1903, led a study by 60 prominent dentists. Their mission was to find a safe way to perform a root canal filling. In 1923, they submitted their 1,174 pages of research to the American Dental Association (ADA). The team’s conclusion: there is no safe way to do a root canal filling. Why, you ask, are 50 million of these done every year in the U.S. 87 years later? And why are they done exactly the same way they were in Dr. Price’s time? Well, it is mind boggling, but I’ll tell you. A key assumption of Dr. Weston Price’s team was something called “focal infection.” This just means that an infection somewhere in your body (your mouth, for example) can affect organs distant from it. This concept is taught in all medical schools now and has been for many years. At the time, however, it was controversial. The conservative heads of the ADA rejected Dr. Price’s team’s conclusions because they did not believe in the “focal infection” concept. You’ll find Dr. Price’s research summarized in a book called “Root Canal Cover-Up” by Dr. George Meinig, D.D.S., F.A.C.D. Dr. Meinig passed away in 2008. He was a prominent endodontist (root canal specialist). After he retired in 1993 from 50 years of practice, he discovered Dr. Price’s 1923 research report. He was horrified when he considered the thousands of people whose health he had ruined in his 50 years of practice by doing root canal fillings. As a “mea culpa,” Dr. Meinig wrote the “Root Canal Cover-Up” book and spent the last 15 years of his life trying to get his message out to people about how deadly root canal-filled teeth are. Here’s what Dr. Hal Huggins (see below) says about Dr. Weston Price’s research: “Dr. Weston Price and Mayo’s Clinic of 1910 to 1920 described finding bacterial growth in root canals that could be transferred into animals and create the same diseases the donor human had in from 80 to 100% of the animals. Heart disease, in particular, could be transferred 100% of the time. His research has since been suppressed by the various Dental Associations in the United States.” Ø Dr. Hal Huggins, D.D.S. had his dental license taken away by the ADA in 1993. He had become too vocal and visible on the issue of the deadly nature of mercury amalgam fillings. Dr. Huggins was not particularly concerned. He had already begun his second career of researching dental toxins. He has discovered 82 different types of unique anaerobic bacteria which originate only in the mouth. Autopsies of people who died of “heart disease” have found 30 of these types of bacteria in the hearts of these people. They could have originated only in the mouth. From 1994 through 2000, Dr. Huggins with Dr. Thomas Levy, a cardiologist M.D., attempted to replicate the research done by Dr. Price but with more sophisticated testing techniques. Dr. Levy told me in 2007 when I interviewed him on my web talk radio show that he and Dr. Huggins had studied “over 5,000” recently removed root canal-filled teeth. Every one of them was taken to the lab and tested. Dr. Levy said that every single one had toxins coming out of it “more toxic than botulism.” Dr. Huggins has trained about 80 dentists on the protocol that should be used to “clean up your jaw.” He told me recently that he refers people to “only 6” of them. You will find several articles by Dr. Huggins on the subject of root canals and other dental toxins at http://www.terfinfo.com. Ø Dr. Josef Issels M.D. was a famous German cancer doctor. For 40 years, from 1947 until his retirement in 1987, Dr. Issels treated thousands of cancer patients. He is credited with being a “world renowned pioneer of integrative cancer treatment.” In 1993, he called Dr. Hal Huggins. In his broken English, Dr. Issels complimented Dr. Huggins for “picking up the torch” and trying to get the message about dental toxins to more people. Dr. Issels said that in his 40 years of treating cancer patients, 97% of them had root canal-filled teeth. Dr. Issels insisted that they get these teeth removed before he began their cancer treatment. Ø Dr. Thomas Rau, M.D. is the head of the Paracelsus Cancer Clinic in Switzerland. This clinic has been one of Europe’s most prominent cancer treatment centers since 1957. For some 20 years, they have had, as part of their intake procedure for new patients, review of their jaws by the dental section of the clinic. Any root canal fillings are removed before any cancer treatment is started. In 2004, Dr. Rau became curious about the prevalence of root canal-filled teeth in his clinic’s breast cancer patients. He examined the records of the last 150 women who had been admitted to his clinic. He found that 147 of them (98.5%) had one or more root canal-filled teeth on the same meridian (Chinese meridian system) as the original breast cancer tumor. Ø Dr. Robert Kulacz, D.D. S. is (was) a prominent dentist in New York. Why do I say “is (was)?” Because in 2002, Dr. Kulacz published, along with Dr. Thomas Levy M.D., a great book called “The Roots of Disease: Connecting Dentistry and Medicine.” It is available on Amazon.com. It is the best book I’ve found on the subject of root canals and other dental toxins. Dr. Kulacz describes in detail the many people whose health he restored by freeing them of their dental toxin problems. The primary theme of the book is stated in the Introduction: “It is our opinion that the evidence clearly shows that many, if not most, significant diseases get their start in the dentist’s chair.” Why the “is (was)?” Well, you can imagine how popular Dr. Kulacz became with the conventional dental community after this book was published. He was harassed and threatened to the point that he had to change his name and take his family underground. He abandoned his dental practice and took up another profession. Get the book! Ø Dr. Dawn Ewing, N.D. is the Executive Director of the International Academy of Biological Dentistry and Medicine (IABDM). For a list of the practitioners who belong to this organization who practice near you, go to their website, http://www.IABDM.org. Dr. Ewing has put together a 30-minute DVD describing with color pictures the most common dental toxin problems – root canal-filled teeth and cavitations. You can get a copy of this DVD from her for $10, including the shipping. All you have to do is send her an e-mail at: drdawn@drdawn.net. Tell her I sent you and she’ll know what DVD you want and she’ll tell you where to send the $10. She describes the root canal filling with an analogy. She says that if a surgeon took your smashed finger, cleaned out all the flesh and bone in it and stuffed it with straw, it would be a similarly ridiculous procedure to stuffing gutta percha in a dead piece of tooth bone in your jaw. She calls root canal fillings “taxidermy.” Dr. Ewing has also prepared a list of questions she recommends you use to qualify a dentist before you spend any money on him/her. Ask her for it. Bill Henderson is the author of three books on natural cancer treatment. You can learn more about him at his website http://www.Beating-Cancer-Gently.com. He is available for telephone “coaching” if you feel you need it after you read his “Cancer-Free” book. We further recommend replacing your laundry products, household cleaners, personal hygiene products, skin care products and cosmetics with a safer version Free of Harmful Carcinogens that cause Cancer. Visit us at www.connectingfromhome.com/optimumhealthsolutions

Why make deap breathing part of your Resolutions of this New Year!

Breathing: Basic How-To's forestwaterfall At the very center of our being is rhythmic movement, a cyclic expansion and contraction that is both in our body and outside it, that is both in our mind and in our body, that is both in our consciousness and not in it. Breath is the essence of being, and in all aspects of the universe we can see the same rhythmic pattern of expansion and contraction, whether in the alternating cycles of day and night, waking and sleeping, high and low tides, or seasonal growth and decay. Oscillation between two phases exists at every level of reality, even up to the scale of the observable universe itself, which is presently in expansion but will at some point contract back to the original, unimaginable point that is everything and nothing, completing one cosmic breath. Breathing is a natural object of meditation. By putting attention on your breath, you will change your state of consciousness, begin to relax, and detach from ordinary awareness. Many systems of meditation use focus on breath as the main technique. In the Buddhist and yogic traditions are many examples of people who reached enlightenment by doing nothing other than paying attention to the rising and falling of their own breath. In this sort of meditation you can try to experience the dimensionless point between inbreath and outbreath and to glimpse enlightenment in that space. You can come to know reality itself as an eternal oscillation between being and nonbeing. All this is possible from experiencing breath, which is the mystery of being unfolding right in front of our noses, connecting us to the universal rhythm. If today you can be aware of breathing for 10 seconds more than you were yesterday, you will have taken a measurable step toward enlightenment, will have expanded your consciousness, furthered communication between mind and body, become a little more whole, and so improved your health. While diet and exercise are important, they are not the sole determinants of health. People who eat excellent diets and exercise faithfully are not always healthy, but the likelihood of being a healthy person who does not breathe well is slim. When learning how to breathe, begin by closing your eyes for a few minutes. Practice moving your breath. Keep your back straight. Begin with a deep, audible sigh, then quietly inhale and see how slow, deep, quiet and regular you can make your breathing and still have it feel perfectly comfortable. You should feel that you are getting enough air with no sense of not getting enough air. Do this for at least eight breaths, then open your eyes and breathe normally. This is a simple exercise but an effective one, and you should do it whenever you can. Next, pay attention to your exhalation. If you watch people breathe, you will see that most of them use effort to inhale but none to exhale. Exhalation is usually passive and takes less time than inhalation. When you breathe this way, you do not move nearly as much air in and out of your lungs as you can. The more air you move, the healthier you will be, because the functioning of all systems of the body depends on delivery of oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide. To get more air into your lungs, concentrate on getting more air out of them by attending to exhalation. At the end of a normal breath try squeezing more air out. You will be using your intercostal muscles to do this, and you will feel the effort as they compress the rib cage. Try to make your exhalation as long or even slightly longer than inhalation. Whenever you think of it, practice this technique of extending exhalation and developing your intercostal muscles. I recommend taking high quality vitamin and mineral program, especially during this cold and flu season along with pre and pro-biotics, such as the program I take all at wholesale. Why take inferior quality with a light dusting of nutrients that do absolutely nothing with very little absorption and pay retail. Visit www.Connectingfromhome.com/optimumhealthsolutions for a briefing and then contact me for further info getting a complete overview online. I'll show you how to save a ton of money like I did and get access to your own wholesale shopping club

How gut Bacteria can make you Fat or Slim

How Gut Bacteria Can Make You Fat – Or Slim Your body is a host to a universe of microorganisms. Bacteria, fungi, and viruses live on – and in – every inch of your body. Trillions of bacteria live in your gut alone. In fact, these bacteria actually outnumber the human cells of your body by ten to one. But there’s no reason to get nervous. This is actually a good thing. Make friends with the critters within As you might expect, these tiny organisms have a big impact on your body’s functions. In fact, some biologists consider the gut microbiota (the term used to describe a population of microbes in the human body) to be another organ – just like your brain, pancreas, or liver. Because so many of these critters live in your digestive system, they are key players in your metabolism. “There are more bugs in our gut than there are cells in our bodies, so it’s not very difficult to imagine that they would have a profound impact on metabolic balance and metabolic activity,” says Christopher Newgard, a metabolism researcher at North Carolina’s Duke University. Scientists have yet to identify all the species of bacteria in our gut. Nor do they completely understand how they interact with our metabolism – and, in turn, influence metabolic conditions such as obesity and diabetes. But this is a hot area of research for microbiologists. For instance, the ambitious Human Microbiome Project exists purely to analyze the role of the microbiome in our health. As a recent New York Times article reports: The microbiome should be thought of as a “garden we tend” rather than a frightening invasion. Are microbes the cause of metabolic syndrome? Researchers at the University of Maryland set out to identify the links between these microbes and obesity. They studied the gut microbes of 310 adult members of the Amish community. (They chose the Amish because their community is genetically closed and its members share very similar lifestyles, reducing the number of factors that might influence health differences among them.) The Maryland researchers discovered that 22 bacterial species and 4 specific groups of bacteria were either positively or negatively correlated with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, insulin resistance, and diabetes – a cluster of medical conditions collectively known as metabolic syndrome. The researchers concluded that having too few or too many of these particular gut microbes seems to contribute to obesity, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, and certain cancers. Can gut bacteria make us fat or slim? This study adds to an ever-growing body of knowledge about gut bacteria and metabolism. Previous research has shown, for example, that certain bacteria are more populous in the obese (both mice and humans), whereas other bacteria are prevalent in lean mice and people. Moreover, the researchers found that the bacterial composition in the gut can improve or worsen insulin resistance (both in mice and humans). In addition, scientists have found that the bacterial strains in obese and insulin-resistant people can trigger chronic, low-grade inflammation. Long-term inflammation can damage healthy tissues and lead to a variety of chronic diseases – such as Type 2 diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and many others. How modern life upsets gut flora: The modern Western lifestyle – and the health problems which arise from it – shed light on the changing relationship between our bodies and our microbiota. Writer Lauren Gravitz notes in the journal Nature: “Humans and the microbiome … have co-evolved for millennia. But lately we have been messing with the delicate balance between our flora and ourselves by eating more fats and sugars, by washing with antibacterial soap, and by taking antibiotics at the faintest hint of infection. This shift in behavior has coincided with an increase in the incidence of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, both of which are rising at a pace that cannot be down to genetics alone.” The health of your microbial population depends on a number of factors, including your environment. While there isn’t much you can do about the dietary, sanitary, and medical habits of the people around you, you can do plenty to promote your own good gut health. Here are just a few suggestions… Avoid sugar and other refined carbohydrates, which cause detrimental changes in gut flora and contribute to metabolic syndrome. Don’t use antibacterial soaps or other antibacterial household products. These kill the good bugs along with the bad ones inside you – as do antibiotics! Take them only when your illness truly calls for them. Increase your consumption of prebiotic and probiotic foods. Ample research shows that both of these food categories can improve gut health and reverse metabolic symptoms. What are “prebiotics”? Prebiotics are foods and ingredients which stimulate the growth and/or activity of beneficial bacteria in your digestive system. The top 10 prebiotic foods are: raw chicory root raw Jerusalem artichoke raw dandelion greens raw garlic raw leek raw or cooked onion raw asparagus raw wheat bran raw banana flax seed In addition, consume more foods that contain probiotics or “beneficial bacteria.” Some simple sources of probiotics are fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir, miso, sauerkraut, pickles, tempeh, kimchi, and kombucha tea. For help in choosing gut-healthy yogurt, see my article “Not All Yogurts Are Created Equal.” For instructions on making your own delicious, healthful, and inexpensive yogurt, see “Better Yogurt Than You Could Ever Buy.” How do you keep your digestive system healthy? What is your experience with prebiotic and probiotic foods? Do you have some favorites? Do you take a probiotic supplement? Please share your thoughts, tips and favorites here, so we all can benefit from them. Happy eating and good health to you – and to your trillions of inhabitants! Take care of your digestive health is one of the major things you can do to contribute to a healthy disease free body. I personally eat pro biotic foods as much as possible and take a supplement with 10 billion of live cultures in my monthly program as well as a fiber drink before bed which I purchased wholesale through a shopping club. Patented nutrition guaranteed to work with a government stamp to prove it-very hard to find in natural supplements. What good is cheaper if you don't absorb it and it doesn't do the job? Check out connectingfromhome.com/kjsolutions Better Yogurt Than You Could Ever Buy! Did you know that yogurt has been prized for its healing powers for over 4,000 years? Some version of it exists in every culture on the planet. And countries that consume the most tend to have the most impressive health statistics. Remember the extraordinarily high population of 100-year-olds of the Russian Steppes who attributed their remarkable longevity to this fermented superfood? People the world over prize yogurt, although they may not fully realize why. Certainly it’s unique flavor is appealing — as well as the way it can fit in to every meal: Breakfasts, snacks, sauces and dips. But it’s more than that. Ancient cultures recognized a healthful effect from eating yogurt, and it became embedded in their cuisine. Scientists today recognize that yogurt’s health-power lies in the “live” bacteria (called probiotics – literally “for life”) that transform it into a powerhouse of health and healing. Numerous studies confirm yogurt’s astounding anti-inflammatory properties, which are therapeutic in treating a variety of medical conditions from arthritis and cancer to diabetes. Call In the Reinforcements! Eating live yogurt regularly is like sending in the cavalry to reinforce the beneficial bacteria in our GI tracts. These good bugs keep the “bad guy” bacteria (such as eColi, salmonella, listeria, campylobacte and clostridium perfringens) responsible for food poisoning and other health problems from overwhelming your body. In fact, your GI tract is home to more than 500 species of bacteria — about 100 trillion in number! These good bacteria are waging war 24/7 against the infectious microbes and viruses that want to colonize your body and make you sick and weak. In addition, beneficial bacteria aid digestion, boost your immune system and help make calcium available for bone strength, enhance weight-loss and encourage heart health. Even people who are lactose intolerant (currently about 50 million Americans who lack the enzyme needed to digest the milk sugar, lactose) benefit from eating yogurt without the typical gas and cramping that result from consuming unfermented dairy products. This is a huge plus, because lactose intolerance prevents many folks from getting the diary-based calcium that contributes to strong bones and healthy joints. But Store-Bought Yogurt Is “Spoiled” Yogurt Commercial yogurt (the kind advertised on TV) is another story. It’s about as healthful as a candy bar. Here’s why. Big yogurt manufacturers begin with milk from inhumanely raised cows. It’s also loaded with bovine growth hormone (bGH), which has been linked to several human cancers, as well as antibiotic residues. After inoculating this unfriendly milk with friendly bacteria, some brands heat (pasteurize) it to extend the yogurt’s shelf life — and actually kill the beneficial bacteria in the process! Go figure? Then they add goopy fruit, artificial sweeteners, preservatives and thickening agents, all of which add calories, carbs and known carcinogens. Finally, the yogurt is stuck in a carcinogenic plastic container, and you get to pay almost a dollar for a 6-ounce serving of unhealthy “food.” Don’t even waste your money on widely advertised brands of yogurt like Dannon, Yoplait and others. They’re all produced in the same way. But what about the organic, non-bGH antibiotic-free brands such as Nancy’s, Stoneyfield or Brown Cow? A 32-oz tub of Stoneyfield plain yogurt costs $2.99. And Brown Cow is priced at $3.69. So if you eat an 8-oz. serving daily (as you should to control your weight, strengthen your bones and build your immunity) your yearly cost will be $272 to $336! How to Get the Best Yogurt on Earth for Half-Price — or Less! Today, I’m going to show you how you to save that money by making your own yogurt. It’s easy, fast and fun. And your live yogurt will cost less than half the price of those upscale brands sold at Whole Foods and health food stores. Never again will you go without yogurt! Getting started. Although you can buy specialty yogurt-makers (some people are “gadget freaks”), I’ve found that using either a thermos bottle or a small beverage cooler is the cheapest, easiest way to achieve sure success with no fuss. To get started, you’ll need: 1 quart organic low-fat milk or organic soy milk (purchase by the gallon to save money) yogurt starter (see below) cooking thermometer 2-quart sauce pan 2 quart jars with lids bath towel Thermos bottle or a small picnic cooler. So Let’s Make Yogurt! First, be sure your pots and utensils are very clean, because kitchen microbes can interfere with the yogurt’s bacteria growth. Next, like bread yeast, you’ll need a “starter” of the right bacteria cultures to get the yogurt going. My favorite yogurt starter is Probiotic Acidophilus by American Health. It comes in a brown bottle and is kept refrigerated in the Vitamin section of your supermarket or local health food. You’ll pay $12 for 30 tablespoons. (I keep mine in the fridge and eat a tablespoon straight from the bottle when my digestive system needs an extra boost.) One tablespoon of the acidophilus starter is all you need. I also tried the Yogourmet starter, priced at $8 for a package of three starters. This product was totally acceptable. It has milk powder and three strains of bacteria. The end result was a nice thick and tangy yogurt that was a little firmer than the other types. The cheapest starter of all (under $1) is a cup of good quality organic yogurt with “live active cultures” printed on the label. Look for specific bacteria that fight inflammation, such as the Lactobacillus strains and Propionibacterium. This method tends to produce yogurt that’s a bit runny, but adding 1/3-cup powdered milk with the starter thickens the yogurt nicely. You’ll only have to purchase a starter once because your homemade yogurt will provide you with a continuous supply of starter. One cup will breed the next batch. Ready, Set, Multiply! Here’s all you have to do: 1. Heat 3/4-quart of organic, non-bGH milk in a saucepan to 170-180 degrees. 2. Turn off the heat and let the milk cool to 108-112 degrees. 3. Add the starter and stir. 4. Pour cultured milk into a thermos or a quart jar (see instructions below). 5. Let sit 4-8 hours, or until thickened. Do not bump, move or otherwise disturb! 6. Refrigerate. The Thermos Method Once the starter has been added to the milk, pour it into a wide-mouth, quart-size Thermos bottle. Cap it, wrap the thermos in a kitchen towel and set it in a warm place. When the yogurt has thickened (4-8 hours), transfer it to a glass jar or plastic container and store in the fridge. This is the easiest method by far. The Cooler Method After adding the starter to the warm milk, pour the mixture into a quart jar and set it in the cooler. Fill a second quart jar with boiling water, and nestle it right up against the yogurt. Cap the jars, cover them with towels and close the cooler. When the yogurt has thickened (4-8 hours), put it in the fridge. This method works well for bigger batches. For a double batch, mix two quarts of milk and two cups of starter and pour the mixture into two glass quart jars. Fill two more quart jars with boiling water and nestle them in the cooler, right next to the yogurt jars. Top with a towel, and close the cooler. For the Insatiably Curious I can never follow instructions unless I know why I’m supposed to do something a certain way. For those stricken with a similar affliction, here’s the explanation: Heating the milk to just below boiling kills off any “bad” bacteria that might interfere with the good bugs. Cooling the milk to 108-112 degrees brings the temperature into a range that will help the good bacteria multiply. Any warmer, and you’ll destroy the friendly bugs. Any chillier, and they’ll be shivering so much they won’t procreate. I say “do not disturb” because any rocking of the container interferes with the bacteria setting up and thickening the milk. So position the container in a place that’s easy to access. Avoid jostling it while checking for progress. Yummy Yogurt! My tests found that this simple method result in yogurt with a tangy, complex flavor. This yogurt has a slightly tart bite and is creamier than store-bought brands, but still sturdy enough when making a sauce or dip. Adding the acidophilus gives it a sharper taste, while adding powdered milk mellows the tang and thicken the yogurt. Experiment on your own to get it just as you like it. Once you have created a yogurt you prefer, you can use it to start your next batch. After a few tries, you’ll easily master the art of yogurt-making. To make a richer, thicker Greek yogurt. Pour the yogurt into a muslin cloth hanging over a bowl. A probiotic-rich liquid will drain off. Don’t waste it! Drink it — or add it to juices or smoothies. Scrape the Greek yogurt from the cloth after two hours and refrigerate. Yogurt will keep for at least a week in the fridge. Remember to reserve one cup of your last batch to start your next batch. Consume at least one cup of yogurt daily and resupply your stash every few days so you don’t run out. Here’s a photo of my favorite breakfast. I eat it every morning without fail. I start with a bowl of fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries), mix in a cup of yogurt, sprinkle generously with ground flaxseed and a dash of cinnamon. This keeps me going until mid-afternoon (I rarely eat lunch) because it’s loaded with fiber. You won’t get this much taste and nutrition from a bowl of Cheerios! An Arthritis Healing Superfood In addition to helping me control my weight, the berries contain natural pain-relieving compounds, anti-inflammatory and joint-healing properties that soothe my arthritis. (For more about my personal drug-free arthritis program, seewww.arthritishealingbook.com). I was diagnosed with Stage 3 (bone-on-bone) osteoarthritis six years ago and told I’d need joint replacement surgery. But my program has kept me completely pain-free and off of drugs. I’m fully active and in the best shape of my life. When my orthopedic surgeon compared this year’s x-rays to those he took last year, he was surprised to find new cartilage in my joints! Yogurt Is So Versatile Another reason to keep a steady supply of yogurt on hand is its versatility. I use it in place of sour cream in tacos and burritos or instead of mayonnaise in spreads for sandwiches or wraps. Combine equal parts yogurt and pureed nonfat cottage cheese to make a base for dishes like macaroni and cheese. You can also use this to replace ricotta in lasagna or make a cream sauce with fresh herbs to go over grilled fish or chicken. Here’s a recipe for a delicious salmon burger that uses citrus yogurt dressing instead of mayonnaise: http://myhealingkitchen.com/recipes/joint-soothing-salmon-burger-with-citrus-dressing-and-chayote-salad/ One Response to “Better Yogurt Than You Could Ever Buy!”

Health Benefits of Epsom Salt Bath

By: Melissa Breyer, Care2 Most of us know about the importance of iron and calcium for our bodies, but what about magnesium? It is the second most abundant element in human cells and the fourth most important positively charged ion in the body. It helps the body regulate over 325 enzymes and plays an important role in organizing many bodily functions, like muscle control, electrical impulses, energy production and the elimination of harmful toxins. Most of us are deficient in magnesium, so I’m going to put on my wise-granny hat on here and tell you this: soaking in a bath with Epsom salt, which is high in magnesium, is one of the easiest ways to get a boost. According to the National Academy of Sciences, American’s magnesium deficiency helps to account for high rates of heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, arthritis and joint pain, digestive maladies, stress-related illnesses, chronic fatigue and a number of other ailments. Who knew?! Our magnesium levels have dropped by half in the last century due to changes in agriculture and diet. Industrial farming has depleted magnesium from soil and the typical American diet contains much less magnesium than that of our forefathers. And in fact, the modern American diet with its fat, sugar, salt and protein actually works to speed up the depletion of magnesium from our bodies. Another factor in decreased magnesium levels has been our focus on getting enough calcium. It’s a delicate dance–calcium depletes magnesium yet calcium functions best when enough magnesium is present. Studies indicate that taking a calcium supplement without enough magnesium can increase the shortage of both nutrients. Researchers have found that many Americans have five times as much calcium as magnesium in their bodies, although the proper ratio for optimum absorption of both minerals is two to one. With such widespread magnesium deficiency one might think that magnesium supplements would be called upon, but studies show that magnesium is not easily absorbed through the digestive tract. The presence of specific foods or drugs, certain medical conditions, and the chemistry of a person’s stomach acid can render magnesium supplements ineffective. This brings us to Epsom salt. Known scientifically as hydrated magnesium sulfate, Epsom salt is rich in both magnesium and sulfate. While both magnesium and sulfate can be poorly absorbed through the stomach, studies show increased magnesium levels from soaking in a bath enriched with Epsom salt! Magnesium and sulfate are both easily absorbed through the skin. Sulfates play an important role in the formation of brain tissue, joint proteins and the proteins that line the walls of the digestive tract. They stimulate the pancreas to generate digestive enzymes and are thought to help detoxify the body of medicines and environmental contaminants. Researchers and physicians suggest these health benefits from proper magnesium and sulfate levels, as listed on the web site of the Epsom Salt Industry Council: Improved heart and circulatory health, reducing irregular heartbeats, preventing hardening of the arteries, reducing blood clots and lowering blood pressure. Improved ability for the body to use insulin, reducing the incidence or severity of diabetes. Flushed toxins and heavy metals from the cells, easing muscle pain and helping the body to eliminate harmful substances. Improved nerve function by electrolyte regulation. Also, calcium is the main conductor for electrical current in the body, and magnesium is necessary to maintain proper calcium levels in the blood. Relieved stress. Excess adrenaline and stress are believed to drain magnesium, a natural stress reliever, from the body. Magnesium is necessary for the body to bind adequate amounts of serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical within the brain that creates a feeling of well being and relaxation. Reduced inflammation to relieve pain and muscle cramps. Improved oxygen use. Improved absorption of nutrients. Improved formation of joint proteins, brain tissue and mucin proteins. Prevention or easing of migraine headaches. All this from a bath? Hurray! While there are many different brands of Epsom salt, they are all the same product chemically, and can be found at most drug stores. Add two cups of Epsom salt and soak for at least 12 minutes. Do this three times weekly. If you are pregnant or have any health concerns, please check with your doctor before using Epsom salts.

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Why You Want to Avoid Using Chemical Disinfectants

Why You Want to Avoid Using Chemical Disinfectants

chemical disinfectantsChemicals used to kill bacteria could be making them stronger. Low levels of biocides, which are used in disinfectants and antiseptics to kill microbes, can make the potentially lethal bacterium Staphylococcus aureus remove toxic chemicals more efficiently, potentially making it resistant to being killed by some antibiotics.

Biocides are commonly used in cleaning hospitals and home environments, sterilizing medical equipment and decontaminating skin before surgery. At the correct strength, biocides kill bacteria and other microbes. But if lower levels are used, the bacteria can survive and become resistant to treatment.

Researchers exposed S. aureus taken from the blood of patients to low concentrations of several biocides. Exposure to low concentrations of a variety of biocides resulted in the appearance of resistant mutants.
Sources:

* Science Daily October 6, 2008

* Microbiology October 2008, 154; 3144-3153


What You Should Know About UVA and UVB Rays

Ultraviolet light from the sun comes in two main wavelengths – UVA and UVB. It’s important for you to understand the difference between them, and your risk factors from each.
Find Out More

Dr. Mercola Dr. Mercola's Comments:
The invention of chemical disinfectants is credited to Joseph Lister, an English surgeon who, back in the late 19th century, used carbolic acid to soak surgical dressings.

This dramatically reduced the number of post-surgical infections, and spurred the eventual widespread use of such disinfectants in hospitals. In case you’re wondering, the mouthwash Listerine was also named after Joseph Lister.

Disinfectants are indeed a necessity in the operating room and in hospitals. But they’re also a classic example of a good thing gone bad. Nowadays many people go on cleaning frenzies in their own homes, using disinfectants on their kitchen countertops, bathrooms, floors and even in their laundry.

And while disinfectant soap may be a good idea before surgery, there’s no need to use it every time you wash your hands or your body.

The Risk of Chemical Disinfectants

When disinfectants are used in low levels, researchers found that they actually make certain bacteria stronger and resistant to antibiotic treatment. This is true even in hospital settings, and certainly applies to the low-level disinfectants many use around their homes.

While building up antibiotic-resistance and thereby contributing to the creation of superbugs, chemical disinfectants disrupt the balance of bacteria, both good and bad, in your home, making it much easier for the bad bacteria to flourish.

Meanwhile, the chemicals themselves are toxic in their own right. For instance Lister’s carbolic acid, now known as phenol, is a common main ingredient in household detergents like Lysol, Pine-Sol and Spic-n-Span. It’s also found in mouthwash.

Phenol is toxic and people who are hypersensitive can experience serious side effects at very low levels. Studies have linked phenols to:

• Damage to your respiratory and circulatory systems
• Heart damage
• Respiratory problems
• Damage to your liver, kidneys and eyes
• Nonyl phenol ethoxylate, a common ingredient in laundry detergents and all-purpose cleaners, is banned in Europe, and biodegrades slowly into even more toxic compounds

Other chemicals found in household disinfectants include:

• Formaldehyde, found in spray and wick deodorizers, which is a suspected carcinogen
• Petroleum solvents in floor cleaners may damage mucous membranes
• Butyl cellosolve, found in many all-purpose and window cleaners, may damage your kidneys, bone marrow, liver and nervous system
• Triclosan, the active ingredient in most antibacterial products, not only kills bacteria, it also has been shown to kill human cells

Are You Disinfecting Your Way to Poor Health?

In an ironic twist, while you’re disinfecting your home to keep your family safe, you may actually be causing them harm.

If a child is raised in an environment doused in disinfectant soaps and cleansers, given antibiotics that kill off all of the good and bad bacteria in their gut, and kept away from the natural dirt, germs, viruses and other grime of childhood, they are not able to build up resistance to disease, and they are vulnerable to illnesses later in life.

This theory, known as the hygiene hypothesis, is likely one reason why many allergies and immune-system diseases have doubled, tripled or even quadrupled in the last few decades.

For instance research has shown that 10 percent of children born into families who used cleaning products such as bleach and carpet cleaners were twice as likely to battle wheezing problems than those who were exposed to cleaning products the least.

Keeping Your Home Clean, Safely

I strongly encourage you to think about ditching all of your chemical disinfectants, including your antibacterial soaps, laundry detergents and bath and kitchen cleansers, in favor of more natural alternatives.

Why?

Because no study has shown that a vigorous program of home disinfection leads to a reduction of illness in a family. Yet, studies have shown that disinfectants can cause you and your family harm.

For those times when you need to do a bit of cleansing, one of the best non-toxic disinfectants is simple soap and water. You can use this for washing your hands, your body and for other household cleansing. Another all-purpose cleanser that works great for kitchen counters, cutting boards and bathrooms is 3% hydrogen peroxide and vinegar.

Simply put each liquid into a separate spray bottle, then spray the surface with one, followed by the other.

In tests run at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, pairing the two mists killed virtually all Salmonella, Shigella, and E. coli bacteria on heavily contaminated food and surfaces when used in this fashion, making this spray combination more effective at killing these potentially lethal bacteria than chlorine bleach or any commercially available kitchen cleaner.

The best results came from using one mist right after the other -- it is 10 times more effective than using either spray by itself and more effective than mixing the vinegar and hydrogen peroxide in one sprayer.

Sunlight is another powerful disinfectant, and drying your laundry in the sun is one of the best ways to save energy and wind up with fresh, clean linens and clothing.

So there’s really no need to expose your family to dangerous chemical disinfectants. As an added bonus aside from the health benefits, using this type of natural homemade cleanser is much less expensive than commercial varieties.

FOR THOSE THAT DON'T WANT TO FUSS, I use very effective, nice smelling natural cleaners that really work and get them wholesale. Contact me for more info on the wholesale shopping club I belong too and save money. Email me at optimumhealthsolutions4u@gmail.com visit www.connectingfromhome.com/optimumhealthsolutions for a complete online overview

WHAT YOUR BODY IS TRYING TO TELL YOU - SYMPTOMS YOU SHOULD NOT AVOID

By Catherine Guthrie, Experience Life The body is a magnificent machine. When things go awry, it generally doesn’t just shut down without warning, like an incandescent light bulb popping its filament. Instead it sends us little signals (think of them as gentle biological taps on the shoulder) letting us know that something is amiss. “Physical signs and symptoms are ways your body tries to alert you to deeper imbalances,” says Elson M. Haas, MD, a San Rafael, Calif., physician with a natural-medicine approach and author of Staying Healthy with Nutrition (Celestial Arts, 2006). “Taking the time to decipher the body’s codes is always better than simply popping a pill and hoping the symptoms just go away. Ideally, we want to get to the causes of problems, not just suppress the end result of ill health.” But interpreting the body’s quirky Morse code requires a deep level of body awareness that, like any skill, takes time and practice to perfect. To that end, we recruited a handful of the country’s leading integrative health practitioners to help identify nine of the most common conditions underlying frequent, and sometimes mysterious, symptoms. Read on to clue into your body’s messages. You’re drinking too much diet soda… One likely signal: Headaches Background: Artificial sweeteners, particularly aspartame (found in Nutrasweet and Equal), can trigger headaches, even migraines. At highest risk are people with a genetic disorder called phenylketonuria (or PKU for short); they lack the enzyme needed to metabolize a substance (phenylalanine) that is created when the body breaks down aspartame. But even those without the genetic disorder may find that drinking diet soda results in brain fog or headache. Why? Animal studies have shown aspartame to be a potent neurotoxin, at least in young rats. I’m concerned about whether aspartame might cause nerve damage in humans, as well — or at least disrupt the nerve signaling that enables the brain to register satiety,” says Sharon Fowler, MPH, a faculty associate at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio who studies the health effects of artificial sweetener use. One of the prime suspects is the methanol in aspartame, which is broken down into formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. People who are sensitive to formaldehyde may experience headaches after ingesting aspartame. Other signals: Intense cravings for sweet or salty foods, inability to focus, irritability How to respond: When the urge for diet soda strikes, Kathie Swift, MS, RD, LDN, chief nutrition adviser for the online-based sites MyFoodMyHealth and My Foundation Diet, suggests drinking sparkling water flavored with a splash of 100 percent fruit juice and a squeeze of lime. You’ve got candida overgrowth… One likely signal: Itchy ears, throat or mucus membranes Background: The average American downs nearly 150 pounds of sugar and high-fructose corn syrup a year, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. And if you’re eating anywhere near that much sugar, you may have more than just a sweet tooth — your body may be hosting an unhealthy overgrowth of Candida albicans. A small amount of this common, yeast like fungus living in the gut is OK when its numbers are kept in check by healthy flora. But when an intestinal imbalance allows it to run amok, it acts like kudzu, colonizing everything in its path. Among its favorite environs are the body’s warm, dark nooks and crannies, such as between the toes, under the breasts and, yes, in the ears. As it infiltrates, it irritates and inflames the skin, leading to the telltale signs of itching and redness. Other signals: Mood swings, fatigue, weak immune system, weight gain, frequent yeast infections How to respond: If you think you have candida overgrowth, the quickest fix is to starve the little buggers. Candida flourish in the presence of both refined and unrefined sugar, such as fresh fruit, dried fruit and fruit juice. Cutting off their food supply can bring their numbers back to a healthy level. They also love refined flour products and anything fermented, such as alcohol and soy, so if you have a serious overgrowth, you may need to cut out all of the above for a number of consecutive weeks. You’re dehydrated… One likely signal: Chapped lips Background: Lips are a reflection of the health and hydration of the entire body. “If you are well hydrated, then your lips will be well hydrated,” says Elizabeth Lipski, PhD, clinical nutritionist and author of Digestive Wellness (McGraw-Hill, 2004). Less water in the body means less moisture for the skin– the body’s largest organ. The delicate tissue of the lips is extra sensitive to drought. “If you are constantly using lip balm or lip gloss to sooth chapped lips, it’s a sign you need to drink up,” says Lipski. Other signals: Headaches, infrequent urination, dark yellow or smelly urine, dry skin, slow turgor (meaning that if you pinch the skin on the back of your hand, it doesn’t snap right back into place). Although the aging process slows turgor down somewhat, even in older adults it still should return to normal within a second or two. How to respond: Drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day can be intimidating, says Swift, so if you’re not able to quaff that amount, you can still get hydrated by sipping herbal tea and working additional servings of fruits and vegetables into your daily diet. “The transition to a more whole-foods diet puts us on autopilot to get more water because they are naturally high in moisture,” says Swift. And, make sure to include whole foods that are rich in essential fatty acids, such as nuts and seeds, avocados, and anchovies and sardines, which help maintain healthy cell membranes and hold in moisture. You’re not getting enough fiber… One likely signal: Constipation Background: Constipation is the clearest indicator of the body’s need for more fiber. “Our hunter-gatherer ancestors ate up to 100 grams of fiber a day and had an average stool weight of 2 pounds,” says Mark Hyman, MD, the editor of Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine and author of The UltraSimple Diet (Pocket Books, 2007). “Today, the average American eats less than 8 grams of fiber a day, and the average bowel movement is a puny 4 ounces.” That’s a problem, he says, because the bowels are key to the body’s elimination process. When traffic is backed up, toxins from the bowel leach back into the body and can cause a multitude of inflammation-based health problems in everything from your digestion and skin to your heart and brain. They can also disrupt hormonal balance and immunity. The bottom line, Hyman says: “If stools are hard and hard to pass, you’ve got a problem.” Other signals: Frequent hunger pangs, energy slumps, digestive trouble, skin problems, inflammatory conditions How to respond: Eat more legumes, vegetables, fruits and whole grains. All are chock-full of fiber and other nutrients, making them natural go-to foods. Getting the recommended 35 to 40 grams of fiber a day not only improves bowel health, but it also lowers the risk of diabetes and heart disease, says Andrew Weil, MD, director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine of the College of Medicine at the University of Arizona in Tucson. If you want other ways to sneak extra roughage into your day, Swift suggests sprinkling rice-bran fiber on salads or oatmeal. She likes rice-bran fiber because it’s gluten-free and has been shown to help eliminate toxins, such as PCBs. Another one of her favorite fiber boosters is a seasoning she makes out of crushed pumpkin seeds, ground flax meal, sesame seeds, kelp flakes and sea salt — basically, a riff on gomasio, which is used as a salt alternative in Japanese cuisine. Put it in a wrap, sprinkle over brown rice or use to garnish soups, she says. “The nuts, seeds and ocean veggies are a nutrient- and fiber-licous powerhouse.” (Keep it in the fridge to lengthen its lifespan.) You have a B-vitamin deficiency… One likely signal: Cracks at the corners of the mouth Background: “You see nutritional deficiencies first in those tissues that turn over the quickest, such as the tongue and lips,” says Lipski. Studies show that cracks or sores that appear at the corners of the mouth (a.k.a. cheilitis) may be a sign that your body isn’t getting enough B vitamins. “Deficiencies of one or more of the B vitamins may occur fairly easily,” notes Haas, “especially with diets that include substantial amounts of refined and processed food, sugar or alcohol.” Other signals: Anemia, low energy, fatigue, skin problems, dark circles under the eyes How to respond: Your best bet is eating a whole-foods diet and prioritizing foods high in B vitamins. The richest dietary source of B vitamins is found in brewer’s yeast or nutritional yeast (although, if you have candida issues, you’ll want to skip those). Other solid picks include wheat germ, whole grains, legumes, egg yolks, sweet potatoes, salmon, red meat, liver and poultry. Taking a good B-complex vitamin supplement can also be helpful (particularly if you’re a vegetarian). Under the care of a nutritionally inclined health professional, you may also be prescribed a supplement for a specific B vitamin (or even given a vitamin B-12 shot) to help correct a significant deficiency. But be careful mixing up your own B-vitamin cocktails. When taken in excess and out of balance with other B’s, certain B vitamins can wind up leaching nutrients out of your system. That’s why emphasizing B-rich foods should be your first priority. You’re eating something that doesn’t agree with you… One likely signal: Eczema Background: First a little background about food intolerances. When the body doesn’t tolerate a food well, ingesting that food creates a chronic, low-level irritation or inflammation in the gut. Over time, with regular exposure, the irritation worsens and creates fissures in the spaces between the cells. (Picture the walls of the gut, once tightly knitted together, looking more like an old afghan.) These holes allow bacteria and their toxins, as well as incompletely digested proteins and fats, to “leak” out of the gut and into the bloodstream. Called leaky gut syndrome (or increased intestinal permeability), this condition sets the stage for myriad health problems, including rashes and skin problems, like eczema. The skin is the body’s largest elimination organ, notes Lipski, so it’s not surprising that it comes under assault when toxins careen through the bloodstream. “A skin rash or eczema is a sign that the body is trying to slough out these toxins,” she says. “It’s trying to eliminate the problem the best way it knows how. Other signals: Gas, bloating, fatigue, sinus congestion, foggy thinking How to respond: An elimination diet is the best way to pinpoint the offending food. “Start with one or two foods you suspect,” says Swift, who prefers to call this the “illumination diet” because its focus is on “illuminating your health.” Don’t know where to start? Foods that are most likely to wreak havoc on the gut include wheat and gluten-containing products, dairy products, sugar, soy, eggs, corn and yeast. If you’re uber-motivated, take Haas’s advice and go off what he calls “the big five” for a week: wheat, dairy, sugar, caffeine and alcohol. “It’s not easy to do”, he admits, “but you’re guaranteed to learn a lot about your body’s signals.” You might also consider keeping a food journal. Spend a week or two writing down what you eat and how your body feels in the minutes, hours and days afterward (e.g., an hour after you eat dairy, you feel bloated). “It’s about pattern and symptom recognition and connecting the dots,” says Swift, which in turn helps you decide which foods to eliminate first. You’re drinking too much caffeine… One likely signal: Fatigue Background: “Caffeine goes to an already low energy bank account and tries to lend it a little extra energy for the short term,” says Haas. “But it’s getting that energy from your own stores, meaning you have less and less on reserve, leaving you less able to generate your own energy on an ongoing basis.” Caffeine works by stimulating the central nervous system. Specifically, the chemical gooses the adrenal glands into releasing hormones — namely cortisol and adrenaline that tell the body to go faster. The short-term result can be increased focus and better hand-eye coordination. But overdo caffeine on a regular basis and, eventually, the central nervous system runs out of gas. “If you don’t restore yourself with sleep, nutrients and relaxation, you’ll quickly get into a cycle of whipping a weakened horse,” says Haas. Other signals: Jitters, agitation, insomnia, heartbeat irregularities, frequent urination How to respond: Weil advises limiting your daily dose of caffeine to less than 300 milligrams (mg). As a reference, a 12-ounce cup of Starbucks brewed coffee packs 260 mg of caffeine, while a 12-ounce Americano (two shots of the coffee chain’s espresso added to hot water) contains 150 mg. A 12-ounce cup of black tea, on the other hand, contains roughly 100 mg and green tea only 50 mg. “If you’re going to indulge,” advises Swift, “think about the quality of the source. Are you drinking green tea or a chemical-laden energy drink? What’s a healthy amount for you? Most people know what amount their system can handle,” she says. In the meantime, support your adrenal glands with B vitamins (especially B5/pantothenic acid), vitamin C and licorice. Also, fuel up on healthy, whole foods that boost and maintain your energy. You’re low on stomach acid… One likely signal: Burping and indigestion Background: If you’re low on stomach acid, your body won’t digest foods efficiently, especially dense foods like fats and proteins. When food sits in the stomach, so does the air you naturally swallow when you eat. The air has only two options — get pushed down the digestive tract with food or catch the next flight up the esophagus and out the mouth. The longer food loiters in the stomach, the more likely you’ll burp. Other signals: Gastric reflux, weak immune system, cracked fingernails, chronic infections, gas How to respond: Boost the first phase of digestion by becoming a more “sensory-based eater,” says Swift. “That means enjoy the sight and smell of the meal before you dig in so that your gut has time to release digestive factors, such as hydrochloric acid, in anticipation of a meal.” Then, eat more mindfully. Chew your food so that it’s easier for the gut to digest, especially proteins and fats. If you still feel like your food sits in your stomach like a rock, Haas recommends trying digestive enzymes, which can help you better digest your food. For example, he says, you might try a product called betaine hydrochloride with pepsin (a time-released protein digestant), found at health-food stores. Hydrochloric acid is the main ingredient in stomach acid. By taking it as a supplement, you’re basically giving your stomach a head start, especially with proteins and fats, which are the hardest food stuffs to digest, meaning they require more stomach acids than carbs. After you begin eating a meal with protein and fat, for instance, take one capsule. See how you feel after a couple of meals. If you feel OK, you can try two capsules and gradually increase to three or four. If you have any sensation of burning or acid indigestion, cut back to a level where you didn’t experience any negative side effects. You’re short on good flora… One likely signal: Frequent colds Background: The immune system‘s command center is housed inside the gut. “An ecological imbalance of organisms in the gut means the body can’t defend itself against unfriendly microbes,” says Swift. “The result is we get sick a lot.” Ironically, says Hyman, it’s often medicine, such as antibiotics, that wipe out the gut’s supply of good bacteria. “When we wipe them out again and again with antibiotics and then eat a poor diet, it’s a disaster for the gut.” That, in turn, can spell trouble for the rest of the body. Other signals: Intestinal gas, bloating, loose stools or constipation, vaginal yeast infections, urinary tract infections, skin rash, athlete’s foot, nail fungus How to respond: The experts agree that one of the easiest (and most delicious) ways to restore the gut’s healthy flora is to eat more foods rich in good bacteria, such as miso, sauerkraut, kombucha (a fermented Japanese tea), yogurt that contains live bacteria, and kefir (a fermented milk drink). “The gut houses 5 pounds of beneficial bacteria,” notes Haas. “We have to feed this stuff.” If you think your gut needs more than food can deliver, Weil recommends taking a daily probiotic that contains Lactobacillus GG or Bacillus coagulans (BC-30). Although many of the body’s messages can be decoded with a little guesswork and a lot of active listening, it’s important to remember that some of these same symptoms can be signs of more serious illnesses. If, after a couple of weeks of self-care, things don’t improve or resolve, it’s best to consult a health-care professional. “A chronic ache or pain is an invitation to stop and take a look at your life,” says Lipski. “Your body is telling you it’s time to make a change. Respect its request and odds are you’ll be heading off a greater health issue down the pike.” More Than One Way to Heal A multipronged approach to health-care — seeking advice from both alternative medicine practitioners as well as Western doctors — can help you decode your body’s warning signals before they cascade into something more serious. Western medicine has many strengths: stamping out infections; treating emergencies, like heart attacks; and swooping in with trauma care after an accident or disaster. But when a condition is hard to diagnose, or is chronic or nagging, like poor digestion, insomnia or general fatigue, going outside the doctor’s office may be your best bet. “Most medical-school curriculum focuses on acute care and doesn’t adequately train for chronic health issues — which constitute the most common troubles for most of the patients they see,” says Elizabeth Lipski, PhD, CCN, and author of Digestive Wellness (McGraw-Hill, 2004). As both a medical doctor and a naturopath, Elson M. Haas has a foot in each world. He tends to agree with Lipski’s take, and he also sees limitations in the way that Western medical practitioners typically try to snuff out the body’s attempts to heal. “Many symptoms, such as sinus congestion, allergies and excess mucus, are ways it’s trying to rid itself of excess toxins,” he says. “Western medicine tries to control these symptoms, by suppressing the fever or drying up the congestion, instead of supporting the body’s natural means of elimination and detoxification.” Alternative practitioners come in many forms. In addition to your primary care physician, consider seeing a chiropractor or osteopath if your condition is skeletal; a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner for hormone imbalances; or a naturopath for overall wellness, digestive, immunity and dietary advice. All of these modalities have regulating organizations that provide lists of qualified practitioners. Source: www.care2.com/greenliving...

DISPELLING THE DISEASE MYTH

By: Thomas Lodi MD Integrative Oncologist Thomas Lodi MD, says “Cancer is not a disease. Cancer is the body’s extraordinary effort to keep you alive!” What is cancer? You ask. Well first of all let’s say what it’s not. It’s not a thing, it’s not something you inherited, and it’s not something you caught. It’s a process, it’s a dance; it is the body’s extraordinary effort to keep us alive. Now at first that sounds strange but it’s really not. I want you to consider something, because what you need to consider now is not just cancer. Cancer falls into a category called diseases and the first thing we have to do is remove the myth of diseases. If I go in to see a doctor and he takes my blood pressure and my blood pressure is, by whatever current standards, considered elevated, and let’s say this happens on three separate occasions, the doctor will tell me, “You have high blood pressure. We have to lower it because here is all the data that shows that people with this disease have a higher incidence of stroke and heart attack, etc.” Okay sounds logical. So I buy into this myth and I start taking a drug that is going to lower my blood pressure. Have I solved the underlying cause? What studies now show is that when people follow this course of action they are much more susceptible to getting all kinds of cancers. People given anti- hypertensive medications for a long time, have a higher-incidence of cancer in all organs. Let’s look again at high blood pressure. The real reason I have elevated blood pressure is not because my body has made a mistake. The body being part of nature always acts out of absolute wisdom. So the focus of the doctor and the question he or she should be asking is not “how do we lower your blood pressure?” but rather the question should be “why would this body that only does things out of wisdom, why would it elevate your blood pressure?” Well the blood pressure is elevated because the arteries are blocked. Because of my lifestyle I’ve accumulated deposits in my arteries, and my body knows that if I’m going to stay alive I’ve got to get blood to all the organs of my body, and so in it’s innate wisdom it increases pressure to get blood and oxygen to all the system. So is that a problem? No, it’s saving my life: It’s keeping me alive! So the answer is not to artificially via a pharmaceutical product dilate those arteries and lower the blood pressure, because I’m not accomplishing anything long-lasting with that approach. And I’m also removing what the body knew needed to happen for survival. You see, high blood pressure is not a disease; it’s the body’s effort to keep us alive. The real problem is the plugging of the arteries. And this is the true cause of any so-called disease and the root of what needs to be addressed. In the same manner let’s look at diabetes. It is not a disease, it’s not an entity, it’s not something you inherit; it’s something you develop. In fact it turns out that all these conditions are really, and can almost always be classified as eating disorders! At our clinic, it takes us two to three weeks for someone who has been diagnosed as diabetic to normalize their blood sugar and get their fasting insulin’s down to normal. That happens, and it happens without drugs! And in fact it can’t happen with drugs. So it’s not a disease, again it’s an eating disorder because we do this just by changing the person’s diet. So again, as a doctor what I want to tell you is: Address the root cause. I think the analogy that works best for people to gain a clear understanding of this is this one: Imagine that you are driving in your car on a long drive and a red blinking light comes on your dashboard. Do you reach into your glove compartment, grab a hammer, smash the light and go on back to driving? Did you clear that problem? No, actually you didn’t. Down the road the car is going to break down. And that’s what happens with the body as well. That’s what I learned to do as an MD when I went to medical school and residency. As MD’s we learned how to smash those lights in the dashboard so you don’t notice them. And that doesn’t ultimately work. And that’s what the current paradigm does with cancer. So what we’ve done is that we’re naming the processes that the body is engaged in to save us as a disease. The whole paradigm is wrong. And since that entire paradigm is wrong, if you work within that paradigm you cannot ultimately achieve your goal. And your goal is not to get rid of these symptoms; your goal is to be restored to health. That’s what you’re looking for. What I want people to understand first of all is that cancer is not a disease. It’s the damage your body is doing to maintain your life and what you need to do is to modify your biochemistry, which starts in your mind and ends in your colon. There are all sorts of ways of going about this. One of them is to monitor what you eat and what you don’t defecate. If we can change all that, then what we are calling disease will no longer be required because the body is not out to harm us; our body is our best friend. And a best friend has certain requirement, that’s all. So take care of those requirements and the body will just be restored to health. Source Link: www.StopMakingCancer.com

Replace those unhealthy Oils in your kitchen with Healthier Choices

Here's the Smarter Oil Alternative I Recommend to Replace Those Other Oils in Your Kitchen"


I have profiled and even offered some very good brands of coconut oil in the past. Because I believe that it is so beneficial for you, I have been dedicated to staying on top of current coconut oil research. I want to make sure you have peace of mind, knowing I'm recommending and offering you the absolute best coconut oil that exists.

That's why I'm excited to make available to you a product that I personally feel is superior to all other leading brands: Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. A recent survey that we conducted showed customers raving about this product, and they prefer it hands down ,over any other oils. (You'll see why shortly.)

But first, to understand how a fat can help you with your overall health, and even your weight loss program, you first need to take a little trip with me.

So let's drift back in time, well over 50 years ago...

World War II is Long Over -- You Can Have Your Coconut Oil Again!

During World War II, the Japanese military occupied the Philippines and other South Pacific islands, where bloody battles were being fought.

The once-plentiful supply of coconut oil was effectively cut off from the United States.

Although coconut oil had been popular both as a cooking oil and ingredient in numerous food products, the occupation continued to interrupt the supply for several long years as the war slowly dragged on.

Enter good old American ingenuity (in this case, not so good for your health).

Manufacturers began to develop alternative sources of cooking oils, and the polyunsaturated oils phase was born. By the time the war was over, there was a lot of money at stake in the promotion of these polyunsaturated vegetable oils.

By the end of the 1950's, public opinion had turned totally against saturated fats like butter (and coconut oil). Saturated fats were blamed for raising cholesterol, and cholesterol was now viewed as the evil enemy, the culprit responsible for the steep rise in heart disease.

Butter, eggs and coconut oil were out.

The new vegetable oils were in... and erroneously touted as "heart-healthy."

Coconut oil continued to be demonized by the vegetable oil industry throughout the ensuing decades. Adding insult to injury, the soybean industry began to condemn the use of tropical oils, particularly coconut oil.

And I'm sure you realize the reason why -- competition... and millions and millions of dollars.

Unfortunately, the tropical oil industry, centered in poorer nations like the Philippines and Indonesia, could not afford to counter the negative propaganda spread by rich American industrial conglomerates.

Science and good health took a back seat to profits, as they have on more than one occasion...

The Hidden Truth About Coconut Oil

The truth about coconut oil is obvious to anyone who has studied the health of those who live in traditional tropical cultures, where coconut has been a nutritious diet staple for thousands of years.

Back in the 1930's, a dentist named Dr. Weston Price traveled throughout the South Pacific, examining traditional diets and their effect on dental and overall health. He found that those eating diets high in coconut products were healthy and trim, despite the high fat concentration in their diet.

Similarly, in 1981, researchers studied populations of two Polynesian atolls. Coconut was the chief source of caloric energy in both groups. The results, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, demonstrated that both populations exhibited positive vascular health. There was no evidence that the high saturated fat intake had a harmful effect in these populations.

Coconut Oil -- Your Smart Alternative to Those Other Oils






Those living in tropical populations who follow traditional diets high in coconut oil and coconut products enjoy overall good health.


So, now that you have heard the history behind coconut oil's unfortunate "fall from grace", you should also know today's good news: coconut oil is finally beginning to get the respect it deserves as a smart alternative to other oils.

The many benefits of coconut oil are finally reaching the mainstream.

Benefits like:
Promoting your heart health
Promoting weight loss when and if you need it
Supporting your immune system health
Supporting a healthy metabolism
Providing you with an immediate energy source
Helping to keep your skin healthy and youthful looking
Supporting the proper functioning of your thyroid gland

users of Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil:
Gained peace of mind knowing they were making the smartest oil choice
Loved the taste and the enhanced flavor added to their food
Embraced the improvement made to their skin when used as a lotion

With all of these fantastic perks from pure coconut oil, it probably won't surprise you to...

Peek Inside My Pantry to See the Only Oil I Cook With




Customer testominial


I have been using the virgin coconut oil for 3 years now in all of my cooking and it is just wonderful!! I love how it cooks and the nice flavor it adds to all food. Since using the coconut oil and the health/life suggestions, I have felt better than ever. I credit all the healthful tips and my healthy lifestyle to having a great pregnancy and birth experience during the past year. I have shared the benefits of the coconut oil to my whole family, friends, and coworkers. They are now all users of the coconut oil!!"

- Sharon H. ; Seattle, WA



I must confess...

If you could peek inside my pantry, you would find two oils that I use in food preparation.

The first, extra-virgin olive oil, is a better monounsaturated fat. It works great as a salad dressing.

However, it is not the best oil to cook with. Due to its chemical structure, cooking makes it susceptible to oxidative damage.

And polyunsaturated fats, which include common vegetable oils such as corn, soy, safflower, sunflower and canola, are absolutely the worst oils to use in cooking. These omega-6 oils are highly susceptible to heat damage because of all the double bonds they have.

I strongly urge you to throw out those omega-6 vegetable oils in your cabinets. Why?
Reason #1: Most people believe that frying creates trans fats. That is not the major problem, in my opinion. Although some are created, they are relatively minor. There are FAR more toxic chemicals produced by frying omega-6 oils than trans fats.

Frying destroys the antioxidants in oils and as such oxidizes the oils. This causes cross-linking, cyclization, double-bond shifts, fragmentation and polymerization of oils that cause far more damage than trans fats.

Reason #2: They contribute to the overabundance of omega-6 fats in your diet, and the imbalance of the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio. As you know from my extensive writing on this subject, I believe that excessive consumption of omega-6 fats contributes to many health concerns.

There is only one oil that is stable enough to resist heat-induced damage, while it also helps you promote heart health, maintain normal cholesterol levels and even supports weight loss -- coconut oil.

So, whenever you need an oil to cook with, use coconut oil instead of butter, olive oil, vegetable oil, margarine, or any other type of oil called for in recipes. Even though I don't fully recommend frying foods, if you must fry, by all means use coconut oil -- it's your smartest choice.

Curiously, coconut oil contains the most saturated fat of all edible oils. We continue to be inundated by media portrayals of saturated fats as dangerous, but now you know better. And now you should have more peace of mind, knowing that you're making the right choice by using great-tasting Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil.

Coconut Oil Is Not Just For Cooking & Eating -- Your Skin Likes It, Too!




Customer testominial


"I am a male who has always been under weight. I have tried for years to bulk up, eating everything in sight and more than most anyone around. Friends have told me that I'm lucky to be able to eat like a pig, and not be fat. But most everyone will know that eating everything is not smart and can lead to health problems later in life. So as I begin to learn about a healthy diet and live smarter my weight fell off even more. My being small in my line of work has it's own problems. I just didn't have the power of larger people. I also found my self always COLD, and difficult to get warm. The Virgin Coconut Oil is solving both problems; my weight is coming on to a healthy level and I'm not cold as much any more. The Coconut products have been a wonderful addition to my diet. Thanks for the great info and Oils."

- Kent P. ; Preston, ID



The benefits of Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil don't stop in your kitchen. For decades, professional massage therapists have used pure coconut oil to knead away tight stressed muscles.

However, you don't have to be a professional massage therapist to gain the skin and tissue support benefits of coconut oil. Feel free to use this high-quality coconut oil as you would any lotion.

Coconut oil is ideal for skin care. It helps protect your skin from the aging effects of free radicals, and can help improve the appearance of skin with its anti-aging benefits.

In fact, physiologist and biochemist Ray Peat, Ph.D. considers coconut oil to be an antioxidant, due to its stability and resistance to oxidation and free radical formation. Plus, he feels it reduces our need for the antioxidant protection of vitamin E.

Like Dr. Peat, many experts believe coconut oil may help restore more youthful-looking skin. When coconut oil is absorbed into the skin and connective tissues, it helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by helping to keep connective tissues strong and supple.

Coconut oil will not only bring temporary benefits to the skin, but it will aid in restoring your skin's youthful appearance. The coconut oil will aid in exfoliating the outer layer of dead skin cells, making the skin smoother. It also penetrates into the deeper layers of the skin to strengthen the underlying tissues.

Responders to the Mercola.com survey provided remarkable feedback on how Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil supported healthy skin, including:
Smoothing and moisturizing effects
Promoted skin elasticity
Convenient eye make-up remover
Use in shaving applications

Surprise! Coconut Oil Is Also Good For Your Heart...

FACT: Heart disease is the #1 cause of death in the U.S. And heart disease is often a silent killer. The first sign of cardiovascular disease is commonly a heart attack, and sadly, over one third of heart attacks are fatal.

And despite the propaganda, the truth is this: it is UNSATURATED fats that are primarily involved in heart disease, not the saturated fats, as you have been led to believe. As you saw earlier, countries that subsist on a coconut-based diet appear to enjoy good heart health.

The U.S. Department of Health and the FDA estimate that artificially hydrogenated trans-fats -- the type found in fast food, processed foods and your favorite pastries -- are ultimately responsible for a huge number of fatal heart attacks every year. These dangerous unsaturated fats are the ones you should ban from your diet, not naturally pure coconut oil, which is a better alternative because it contains very few fats with highly perishable double bonds -- and also has NO TRANS-FATS.

Plus, those commonly-used polyunsaturated fats encourage the formation of blood clots by increasing platelet stickiness. Coconut oil helps to promote normal platelet function.

A Fat Is A Fat... Or Is It?






Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is 100% organic, made from fresh-picked coconuts, and contains no chemical additives or trans-fats.


All fats are not equal.

And just so we're clear, the terms "fats" and "oils" are often used interchangeably, but fat is more correctly considered solid at room temperature, while oils are liquid. But what's really important is the structure.

The unique health benefits of coconut oil are directly related to its chemical structure, or more precisely, the length of its fatty acid chains.

Coconut oil is comprised of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), also called medium-chain triglycerides or MCTs.

Coconut oil is nature's richest source of these healthy MCFAs.

By contrast, most common vegetable or seed oils are comprised of long chain fatty acids (LCFAs), also known as long-chain triglycerides or LCTs.

There are several reasons to explain why these long-chain fatty acids are not as healthy for you as the MCFAs in coconut oil:
LCFAs are difficult for the body to break down -- they must be packaged with lipoproteins or carrier proteins and require special enzymes for digestion.
LCFAs put more strain on the pancreas, the liver and the entire digestive system.
LCFAs are predominantly stored in the body as fat. (That's why most people buy into the myth that fats are automatically "fattening".)
LCFAs can be deposited within arteries in lipid forms such as cholesterol.

On the other hand, however, the MCFAs in coconut oil are more health-promoting, because:
MCFAs are smaller. They permeate cell membranes easily, and do not require lipoproteins or special enzymes to be utilized effectively by your body.
MCFAs are easily digested, thus putting less strain on your digestive system. This is especially important for those of you with digestive or metabolic concerns.
MCFAs are sent directly to your liver, where they are immediately converted into energy rather than being stored as fat.
MCFAs in coconut oil can actually help stimulate your body's metabolism, leading to weight loss.

Coconut Oil Is the Dieter's Best Friend




Customer testominial


"We use it inside our bodies and OUT! That's right. Every day, my husband takes one tablespoon of the Coconut Oil with his morning meal. I use it on my face and neck! Try that with your face creams, 'margarine', etc. Can't do it! It's great for a moisturizer and adds a glow to my skin that no other product can do. Results? Less wrinkles, softer, smoother skin with a silky feeling. Just a little goes a long way. My husband swears by the coconut oil too, taken internally. He feels so much better and attributes it to the coconut oil. We both love the volume discount [we always buy the 6lb. container because it stores well without refrigeration]. Cost wise, it's a bargain compared to moisturizers, face creams, body lotions. Plus it has NO artificial ingredients, NO 'additives', NO multi-syllable 'stuff' added, just natural pure coconut oil!"

- Linda G. ;Rockmart, GA



If you live in the United States, you have a 55% chance of being overweight.

And, by now, I'm sure you're aware that obesity affects your quality of life and is linked to many health concerns.

One of the best benefits of coconut oil lies in its ability to help stimulate your metabolism.

Back in the 1940s, farmers found out about this effect by accident when they tried using inexpensive coconut oil to fatten their livestock.

It didn't work!

Instead, coconut oil made the animals lean, active and hungry.

Now, I'm certainly not comparing you to a farm animal...

However, many animal and human research studies have demonstrated that replacing LCFAs with MCFAs results in both decreased body weight and reduced fat deposition.

So, by changing the fats in your diet from the unsaturated long-chain fatty acids found in vegetable or seed oils to the MCFAs in coconut oil, along with following an exercise plan, you may find yourself gradually losing those unnecessary pounds.
The reasons are simple:
1.The long-chain fats nearly always go to fat storage, while the MCFAs are burned for energy
2.Since coconut oil helps to stimulate your metabolism, you may burn more calories each day, helping to accelerate weight loss (and probably your activity and energy level, too)






Outside of mother's milk, pure coconut oil is nature's most plentiful source of lauric acid.


Mercola.com survey respondents provided many examples of how coconut oil got them started optimizing their weight. Here are a few excerpts:
"I lost about 24 pounds in 6-8 weeks"
"I wasn't really overweight to begin with but I have lost some of my excess belly fat"
"In conjunction with exercise and eliminating most starches from my diet, I have lost 45 pounds over the past 5 months"
"I have been losing weight and body fat"
"Besides the good taste, my weight seems to have stabilized"

Coconut oil has often been compared to carbohydrates in its ability to be "burned" for energy. However, since insulin is not involved in the process of digesting the MCFAs in coconut oil, you won't get those carb-related spikes in your blood sugar level. This is especially good news for those of you concerned about maintaining normal blood sugar levels.

In fact, the ability of MCFAs to be easily digested, to help stimulate the metabolism and be turned into energy has entered the sports arena. Several studies have now shown that MCFAs enhance physical or athletic performance.

Additionally, research has demonstrated that, due to its metabolic effect, coconut oil increases the activity of the thyroid. And you've probably heard that a sluggish thyroid is one reason why some people are unable to lose weight, no matter what they do.

Besides weight loss, there are other advantages to boosting your metabolic rate. Your healing process accelerates. Cell regeneration increases to replace old cells, and your immune system functions better overall.

Coconut Oil's Natural "Miracle" Ingredient: Lauric Acid

Yes, it's true.

Nature still has a few miracles up her sleeve.

You've probably heard that breast milk is jam-packed with nutrients and disease-fighting ingredients that help keep babies healthy.

Well, incredibly, coconut oil contains one of the same compounds -- lauric acid -- found in mother's milk! And lauric acid is the predominant type of MCFA found in coconut oil.

Fortunately for our health, lauric acid in both breast milk and coconut oil transforms when consumed into a substance called monolaurin, the actual compound responsible for helping to strengthen the immune system.

Skeptical? So were a lot of scientists, who've proceeded to test the heck out of this substance.

In fact, a great volume of research has been done establishing the ability of lauric acid to enhance immunity.

What researchers found was that this medium-chain fatty acid derivative actually disrupts the lipid (or fatty) membranes of the offending organisms.

The lauric acid in coconut oil is one effortless way to help strengthen your immune system.

And, unlike the usual lauric acid content of 42-49% in many coconut oil brands, Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil contains a whopping 57% of lauric acid.

If all this wasn't enough, coconut oil has even more tricks up its sleeve.

Why You Must Be Choosy About Your Brand of Coconut Oil

As you may know, there is a very wide variety in coconut oil due to factors such as the manufacturing process used to make the oil, the age and type of coconuts, and other issues that impact the quality, effectiveness and healthiness of your coconut oil.

Meeting such high standards is no small feat, but you should not settle for anything less if you want to experience all the health benefits of coconut oil. (If you are currently using or considering another brand, please make sure it meets the requirements below.)

The only reason Mercola.com is now offering Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is that we made sure that it meets all these requirements of a better coconut oil, including:



Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil



Certified organic by USDA standards
No refining
No chemicals added (including hexane)
No bleaching
No deodorization
No hydrogenation
Made from traditional coconut palms only, no hybrid or genetically modified (GMO) varieties
Made from fresh coconuts, not the dried "copra" used in cheap oils
Made without heat processing


Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is made from fresh coconuts -- opened less than 48 hours after they are picked from the trees. These coconuts are grown and processed organically, without potentially harmful fertilizers, additives or chemical solvents.






Adding Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil to your pet's diet is one of the smartest things you can do to enhance your pet's life.


In contrast, most commercial coconut oils are made from copra, the dried up meat from coconuts. Using the cheaper copra-grade coconut means that the oil extracted may not be sanitary, and, in my opinion, it is not suitable for human consumption.

It must not be refined or purified. In fact, this type of inferior coconut oil is called RBD -- refined, bleached and deodorized.

Mass-producing coconut oil in this manner typically uses nutrient-removing heat, chemical solvents, bleaching agents and sometimes even hydrogenating processes, which can create trans fats.

Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is made without heat processing. The fresh coconuts are first cold pressed to make a coconut emulsion. After being chilled to help pull out the oils, the milk goes through a centrifuge, where the pure oil spins away from the water layer. This results in a pure and natural, organic, unrefined and highly stable coconut oil.

Additionally, blindfolded taste tests confirm this coconut oil to have a fresh and mild, light coconut flavor -- and to consistently beat out other brands in taste. And of course, laboratory analysis continues to confirm the high quality of this extra virgin coconut oil.

Even More Reasons to Replace Those Other Oils With Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

The use of coconut oil is one of the smartest dietary measures I recommend.

The medium-chain fats in coconut oil are considered so nutritious that they have been used in baby formulas, and in hospitals to feed the critically ill, those on tube feeding, and those with digestive problems.

Coconut oil is exceptionally helpful for pregnant women, nursing moms, the elderly, those concerned about digestive health, athletes (even weekend warriors), and those of you who just want to enhance your overall health.

No guilt. No cholesterol. No trans-fats. No downside. Only your peace of mind.

The light, non-greasy taste of Fresh Shores Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is so delicious, you'll want to use it nearly every time you cook. Just to get you started, here are a few things you can do with your coconut oil:
Whenever you fry, stir-fry or sauté veggies, eggs, poultry, fish or whatever, use coconut oil for a health-conscious light flavor
Toss some coconut oil into your smoothies or juiced drinks for a burst of lauric acid
Make your own mayonnaise with coconut oil
Use it on your salads for a tropical flair
Try it on popcorn instead of butter

NOW Is the Best Time to Order Your Own Extra Virgin Coconut Oil!