The U.S. Healthcare System is in serious CRISIS as evidenced by the ever-increasing “Epidemic” of Chronic Degenerative Illness. While American Politicians “constantly and enthusiastically” talk, superficially of course, about Health Care Reform, the COST of American medicine is racing wildly out of control, approaching $1 trillion annually. We must realize that medicine in the U.S. has unfortunately become a trillion dollar “industry” that focuses on Disease Management and Crisis Intervention. Furthermore, we need to face America’s shocking, appalling, shameful Health Statistics that rank below other Western nations in many key health indices including: high cancer rates (especially lung, breast, and prostate), poor cardiovascular health (heart attacks, strokes, and high blood pressure), below average life expectancy, poor infant mortality rates, and an epidemic of Chronic Degenerative Diseases. When I was in medical school some 23 years ago, I knew that something was missing when I raised my hand in class one day and began discussing vitamin C and other lifestyle, dietary, and nutritional techniques (to treat disease as an alternative to just suppressing the symptoms with drugs) and got seriously ridiculed and criticized and actually got asked by the Dean of Medicine --- why I was in Medical School??? Well, 23 years later it is apparent that a preventive medicine vision is on the cutting edge of the best healing medicine available.
Today, many people are praying to find an open-minded, wholistic, nutritionally-oriented health professional because they are “sick and tired” drugs, hospitals, surgery, and limited thinking. Furthermore, many studies reveal that 65% of our health is entirely related to our lifestyle ( i.e. diet, seat belts, mental attitude, exercise, relationships), 21% due to environmental factors (i.e. pollution, socioeconomic, climatic), and only 14% due to genetics and health care (hospitals, drugs, doctors, etc.). Therefore, this tells us that, “You are in control of Your Health,” which depends on mostly Lifestyle (65%) and Environment (21%)! Finally, it is my contention that the prevailing evidence reveals that: “Improper lifestyle, lack of exercise, sleep deprivation, faulty dietary habits, environmental pollution, yeast/candida/parasite infestations, misuse/overuse of medications, vitamin/mineral/ nutrient deficiencies and unbalanced mental/emotional states are (86%) MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS to HEALTH PROBLEMS!” Please, my friends, don’t wait until you are stricken with this U.S. Epidemic of Chronic Degenerative Illnesses... just “look” at the STATISTICS because you or I could be next if we remain uninformed and passive.
Cardiovascular (Heart and Artery) FACTS:
#1 Killer in America 1.5 million heart attacks per year
1 million deaths annually
more than 500,000 bypass surgeries performed annually at $55,000 each
more than 500,000 angioplasties performed annually at $15,000 each
total cost = $259 billion annually
Cancer FACTS:
#2 Killer in America
50% of U.S. Citizens will get CANCER by age 75
1/5 of males get prostate cancer, being 37% higher in African Americans
1/9 of females get breast cancer
U.S. leads the WORLD in women’s lung cancer · over 150 different documented types of cancer
conventional “modern” methods of cancer treatments (including chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery) have a dismal “cure” rate of 7-14%. And if we remove the very rare occurring types of cancer (e.g. Hodgkins and Lymphoma) this “cure” rate drops to even further to 5-7%!!! ·
total cost = $200 billion annually
While it is apparent that cardiovascular illness and cancer consume almost half ($500 billion!!!) of the healthcare bill in America, let’s review America’s scorecard on the current not so well-publicized epidemic of chronic disease: ·
50% of Americans develop heart and artery disease
· 50% of Americans develop cancer
· 40% of Americans experience back problems
· 40% of American women develop uterine fibroids
· 30% of Americans experience Alzheimers/Dementia
· 15% of Americans develop arthritis
· 12% of Americans develop asthma and hay fever
· 6% of Americans develop diabetes
· 7% of Americans experience serious depression
Also, let’s not forget the #1 disease group in America which is digestive disorders (including: constipation, indigestion, Chron’s disease, colitis, diverticulitis, gastric reflex, hemorrhoids, irritable, bowel syndrome, ulcers). The list of our modern day chronic degenerative diseases is virtually endless.... bladder infections, bronchitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, colds/flu, eczema, headaches, hepatitis, herpes, HIV, impotency, multiple sclerosis, PMS, prostatitis, vaginitis, etc.,
and so on....
While our current “health care” system has not fared well as evidenced in the aforementioned modern day illnesses plaguing Americans, we must nonetheless continue to hold a strong vision of “health care reform” that goes far beyond mere disease management, suppressing symptoms, and crisis intervention. We need to realize that true health care reform in America must take a more broad, open-minded perspective which combines the “best” of both traditional-classical medicine and holistic preventive techniques. What we are talking about is a new era of medicine and healing that realizes it’s not a particular school of thought but “disease” that is the enemy, so that whether it be drugs or acupuncture or surgery or herbs or meditation or vibrational medicine or some combination of these or other therapeutics.... Yes, all these particular therapeutics used for healing may have varying degrees of efficacy, credibility, and usefulness depending on the given set of circumstances. Why not blend the best of all healing techniques available around the world to maximize health in America. Well, I’m here to tell you that a combination of medical and alternative wholistic approaches we are talking about today are the medicine of the future.... so, let the future begin now!!!
To delve further into this topic of the causes and cures of disease, please for the next few minutes consider the following questions:
1. What are the “root causes” of the Western epidemic of chronic degenerative illnesses?
2. What responsibility do you have for your own quantity and quality of life?
3. Are there really good alternatives to drugs? (Answer: Yes, many times).
4. Is it really necessary when I get older, that I be on 5-6 different medications and have several major
surgeries?
5. What fundamental biological mechanisms cause chronic disease and can these be retarded or reversed?
(Answer: Yes, many times and the earlier you start the better and easier it is!)
6. What nutrients and lifestyle factors reduce chronic disease?
7. What about proper sleep, sex, outlook, exercise, meditation, digestion.... How much can these prevent
or reverse chronic disease?
8. How can we reduce or eliminate free radical damage from being such a formidable contributor to chronic
disease?
9. What role does our TOXIC environment, stress, immune system deficiencies, and nutritional
inadequacies play in chronic disease? (Answer: A big role!)
As a scientist and physician, and for the record, I must tell you that we are talking about a body of
knowledge that indeed does have it’s technical names as follows:
Life Extension Medicine
Free Radical Molecular Medicine
· Clinical Nutritional Biochemistry
· Applied Toxicology and Immunology
· Preventive and Environmental Medicine
· Psychoneuroimmunology
Now, if you will time travel with me for a moment, let us pause to review the historical perspective to further our understanding of the causes of disease and death in the Western World as follows:
Stone Age
· Main cause of death: Eaten by animals
· Life span: 20 years
3000 BC - 1840
· Main cause of disease and death: Contagious diseases, the plague, smallpox, malaria
· Life expectancy: 20-40 years
1840 - 1950
· Main cause of disease and death: Infectious disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer
· Life expectancy: 40-60 years
1950 - 2000+
· Main cause of disease and death: Chronic disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer
· Life expectancy: 75 years.
What we learn from this chronology is that:
· We no longer have to be worried about being eaten by animals!
· We no longer have to be worried about catching the bubonic plague, malaria, or smallpox!
· We no longer have to be worried about an infection killing us (due to antibiotics)!
But what we do have to seriously consider is chronic disease.... We are currently in the chronic disease ERA, which includes cardiovascular disease, cancer, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, autoimmune diseases, Alzheimer’s, etc. While chronic diseases are more subtle (than being eaten by animals) and develop over many years, they are just as deadly and moreover steal away the quality of life. So, now the million-dollar question that remains is, What are the scientific origins of chronic disease??? and How is it that our human organism, which is really brilliant at healing, and repairing seems to fall prey to these deadly, debilitating, chronic diseases? What impedes our bodies natural repairing, and rejuvenation methods?
Now, in order to answer these question, I want us to take a brief look at what’s called free radicals, which most simply put is the fundamental scientific cause of all chronic illnesses. The truth is that if we could control free radicals in our bodies, we could minimize chronic disease.... so, what are free radicals?.... Simply put, these are atoms with an absent and unpaired electron in its outer shell; which means they’re unstable. Which really means that free radicals in our bodies act like a bullet that damages cells, damages our DNA (which are the genetic messages that instruct our cells in proper functioning), and damages cell membranes, finally causing aging and chronic disease. This science of free radicals is a growing science, not yet taught in medical school curriculum, but is a tremendous part of cutting edge science discussed, explored, and researched thoroughly in scientific journals. I want you right now to take time to hear me when I tell you that it is oh so very common for the STATUS QUO “way of doing something” to lag behind the truth or a better way of handling things.... whether it’s government policies, slavery, the earth being flat.... you and I know that throughout time big SYSTEMS are always the last to accept change or a new or improved way of doing things.... so, what else is new??? Finally, the bottom line is that this free radical molecular science and medicine has as its underpinnings the lifestyle, nutrition, diet, environmental cleanliness, cleansing and detoxification, and all other holistic, preventive, and/or alternative methods are designed to prevent and reverse the U.S. epidemic of free radical damage that has lead to our chronic degenerative disease.
The final question to ask is if all this knowledge is available to us on the cause and cures of disease, why doesn’t our health care system work harder at integrating all legitimate healing techniques to improve health and save lives? The answer is uncomfortable, but as follows: We need to realize how much medical doctors are programmed and even brainwashed to push drugs, suppress SYMPTOMS, zap it, burn it, nuke it, poison it, and/or put people in hospitals. Medical doctors receive no training in diet, nutrition, and other holistic healing arts.
We need to realize that the multi-billion dollar greedy, profit-hungry pharmaceutical companies are generating new drugs daily, so they can patent them, control them, and charge outrageous prices.
We need to realize how the AMA, FDA, EPA, pharmaceutical companies, and strong lobbying interests (tobacco, alcohol, cattle, pesticide, fast food, etc.), and megabuck “keep the beds full” hospitals are actually controlling the government and media by suppressing and censoring information and alternate approaches that can help heal your body and avoid illness. Finally, I now offer you my attempt at a completely panoramic view of what an effective holistic, preventive, reformed health care system must consider.
From over 23 years of patient care, I observed 15 ROOT CAUSES of DISEASE that are common and underlying this Western, modern, industrialized way of life here in the U.S. Furthermore, I have found that by identifying these root causes and implementing appropriate treatment and therapeutics, patients have had a remarkable response and greatly increase the quantity and quality of their lives.
These 15 Root Causes of Disease are as follows:
1. Chronic constipation and toxic bowel
2. Lack of good physical exercise (internal and external)
3. Poor digestion, absorption, and assimilation
4. American dietary hazards
5. Lack of live “uncooked” food in the diet 6. Vitamin, mineral, and nutrient deficiencies
7. Food allergies
8. Candida (yeast), pathogens, and parasites
9. Poor water drinking habits
10. Liver weakness, insufficiency, overactivity, or toxicity
11. Environmental pollution (chemicals and heavy metals)
12. Psychoneuroimmunology (the mind-body connection)
13. Adrenal stress syndrome
14. Sleeping dysfunction
15. Infectious diseases: bacterial and viral
1. Chronic Constipation and Toxic Bowel
Studies reveal that 80% of Americans have colons that are constipated and toxic. These backed-up toxic wastes in our colon are reabsorbed through the bowel wall into the bloodstream, then become deposited in our body tissue. This toxic buildup in our bodies due to a sluggish colon is probably the single largest contributor to chronic degenerative illnesses.
Keys to Colon Health include: cleansing and detoxification (enemas, colonics, herbal cleansing, fasting), favorable/friendly bacteria (acidophilus), adequate fiber/bulk/roughage, adequate drinking of “pure” water, eating sufficient enzyme-rich raw food (fruits!!!, salads, sprouts, raw vegetables).
2. Physical Exercise (Internal and External)
You must understand that another fundamental ROOT CAUSE of illness, poor healthy, and vitality is lack of physical exercise; where we’ve become so sedentary and passive in the form of TV, car, radio, movies, where we sit at home, sit at work, sit to be entertained.... so much so that there is very little chance for good exercise. Please, you should understand that our grandparents and more distant ancestors walked 5 to 10 miles a day and worked out in the farms and fields, as a lot of physical activity was part of their everyday life. While Americans are very “familiar” with the common exercises for physical fitness, we typically still do not get adequate activity. Obviously, some good exercises are: walking, swimming, weight training, calisthenics, heavy continuous dancing, aerobics, etc. Physical activity and movement are so vital to maintaining health. In a nutshell they:
· increase muscle mass
· increase oxygenation of the cells
· promote the elimination of toxins through sweating
· move waste products through the lymphatic vessels
· help return used blood through the veins (which have no muscles or pump of their own)
· stimulate immune function
· improve memory and cognitive function
· strengthen bones
· improve bowel function
· speed the burning of fat
· and many other functions
However, let us by no means forget the internal exercises so commonly omitted by the Western approach to fitness. You must have a healthy balance between external and internal exercise. Internal exercise is more concerned with building the chi or prana also known as the Universal Life Force Energy.... Many people burn themselves out by only doing “external” exercises to relieve stress. Yes, friends, we must not omit internal exercises which are equally important such as: hatha yoga (where we have sustained breathing exercises and physical postures), kundalini yoga (breath meditation with movement), tai chi, advanced deep breathing techniques, xi gong (which is meditation or raja yoga), martial arts, tantra yoga (where sexual energy and experience are carefully trained and utilized to develop spiritual energy and experiences). These “internal” exercises are tremendous stress relievers and promote inner calm, peace, as well as vitality. These “internal” exercises also promote growth, maturity, and spirituality.
3. Poor Digestion, Absorption, and Assimilation
The fact is, that almost “all” Americans experience universal indigestion as being “normal,” “expected,” and “unavoidable.” It’s almost as if here in America we have been put under a mass hypnotism where experiencing digestive disorders is a custom, a tradition, a part of our culture, and therefore it must be good, accepted, and somehow “ordained by God”.... I am here to tell you that mankind has never, in all of history, adopted and continued a more “harmful” custom than accepting digestive disorders as the “norm.” In America, we certainly take for granted eating, so much so that we will: eat anything, at any time, at any place, in any situation, and eat in any food combination, thus resulting in bothersome and many times serious, digestive problems. Foods eaten by mankind are chemically complex and need to be properly broken down into microscopic nutrients, which then absorbed through the intestinal walls and transported through the blood to nourish our body tissues. Regardless of how wholesome the food you are eating may be, you must digest, absorb, assimilate, and metabolize it in order to receive the nutritional benefit that will prevent and/or chronic degenerative illness.
Keys to Good Digestion are: food combining rules, proper chewing, not overeating, not drinking with meals, eating at the right times, eating in a relaxed atmosphere, eating fresh live raw foods (fruits and vegetables) daily, digestive herbals, fiber in the diet, proper exercise, and ridding the body of yeast overgrowth, parasites, viral/ bacterial infestations.
4. American Dietary Hazards
Dietary health hazards are so common today in the restaurants, grocery stores, and homes across America that there is no question that they have serious causative link to cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and virtually all chronic diseases.
Dietary hazards include: refined carbohydrates, sugar, caffeine, soft drinks, salt, milk products, overconsumption of any fats, saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, partially hydrogenated oils, food additives (artificial colorings/flavorings/sweeteners/preservatives, sulfites, BHT, BVG, BHA, MSG, sodium nitrates/nitrites, antibiotics, hormones, etc. and so on --- there are literally thousands!!!), heavy metals (lead, arsenic, and cadmium from our polluted environment).
Solutions: eat “whole” foods diet · eat as much organic food as possible shop at health food stores where you will find employees and owners brimming with healthy food choices shop at farmer’s markets that have a wide assortment of fresh and/or organic produce, meats, eggs, and fish · read and analyze labels (if you don’t know what it is or can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it!) · eat freshly prepared food, avoid as much as possible canned, frozen, boxed, or “packaged” food that has been “processed” · read, study, take classes, subscribe to newsletters, educate yourself: don’t let the media control your mind; think for yourself.
5. Lack of Raw Live “Uncooked” Food in the Diet Mankind is the only animal on the planet that “cooks” his food.
For millions of years humans (and animals) have evolved magnificently without stoves, ovens, microwaves, and crock pots. Our ancestors did not eat dead, frozen, bottled, boxed, bagged, preserved, processed, refined, overly seasoned food. They ate fresh raw live fruits, vegetables, and yes, “raw” meat. Eating a more raw foods diet will: increase your energy, improve digestion, avoid intestinal toxicity, reduce obesity/colds/flu/hair loss, increase sexual potency, reduce greatly your chance of contracting the American epidemic of chronic disease!!!
Raw food preparation is an art and science: read, study, experiment, take classes, and enjoy.
6. Vitamin, Mineral, and Nutrient Deficiencies
Unfortunately, while a large “quantity” of food available for consumption in America, the “quality” of the food is highly inferior to the food of our recent and more distant ancestors. Why is the food of today’s Western world so depleted??? Answer: Because of enormous proliferation of fast food, junk food, food processing, and agri-business. · Every second Americans purchase 200-300 fast food burgers.
·
8 out of 10 of the top selling grocery store items are basically unhealthy including:
Coke Classic
Pepsi
Coffee
Cheese
Junk Food
Cigarettes
Beer
“Diet” Coke·
Finally, the average American “annual” intake of low nutrient, unhealthy food consists of:
756 doughnuts
60 pounds cakes and cookies
23 gallons ice cream
7 pounds potato chips
22 pounds candy
200 sticks gum
365 servings soda pop
90 pounds of fat
134 pounds refined sugar
· Moreover, much of today’s food supply is empty calories because agri-business (which is eliminating the “true farmer”) grows our food in devitaminized, demineralized, polluted, and overused soil. The fact is, studies reveal that Americans consume 70% less RDA-level nutrients (A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, C, calcium, iron, and magnesium) than is recommended to prevent widespread degenerative disease.... that is why there is so much widespread chronic degenerative disease (e.g. especially cancers, heart, and artery diseases). · We also cannot neglect micro/trace minerals, phytochemicals, bioflavonoids, isoflavonoids, other important nutrients that was naturally in our ancestors diet and lacking in ours.
To Avoid Nutritional Deficiencies:
Eat whole foods, eat fresh raw foods, eat organic foods, shop health food stores and fresh food farmers markets, take vitamin/mineral/nutritional/herbal supplements. Advanced laboratory cutting-edge testing can also evaluate nutritional deficiencies.
7. Food Allergies
Studies indicate that at least 60% of Americans suffer from adverse reactions to food that cause or complicate a health problem. Many health practitioners find that food allergies are the leading cause of many “undiagnosed” symptoms. There are two types of food allergies, making diagnosis difficult. The traditional type, called immediate onset, is characterized by reactions that develop minutes after ingesting only a tiny amount of the allergenic food. Reactions are predictable and typically involve the airway, gastrointestinal tract, and skin.
Far more common, but harder to diagnose, are delayed-onset food allergies. These develop after 2 to 48 hours and are dependent on the amount and preparation of food eaten. Delayed-onset food allergies cause various responses from asthma to ulcers, and aren’t always predictable or easily linked to the offending food. As few as 3 or as many as 20 foods may be involved. Food allergies have been directly linked to all kinds of digestive disorders, fatigue, hyperactivity, depression, addictions, arthritis, infectious, hives, rashes, headaches, asthma, bronchitis, and ultimately chronic illnesses.
Common food allergies are: milk, corn, wheat, eggs, yeast, food additives.... although you can be allergic to almost any food. Furthermore, there are definitive blood tests that will determine your allergic reactions to 150 or more common foods.
8. Candida (Yeast), Intestinal Pathogenic Bacteria, and Parasites
Digestive problems are the #1 complaint, the #1 most misdiagnosed, and the #1 most mistreated group of illnesses in America. I can’t tell you how many patients have had upper GI series, endoscopies, barium enemas, colonoscopies, flexible sigmoidoscopies, motility studies, and all kinds of blood tests --- to be told “You are fine” (according to the test, of course). However “you” continue to experience awful digestive dysfunction and related complications. Many times the root cause of digestive disorders which may be underlying many chronic illnesses is closely linked to candida (yeast), intestinal bacterial infections, or parasites.
Candida (yeast) a is common problem in America resulting from use of: antibiotics, corticosteroids, acne drugs, birth control pills, and consuming poor diet, sugar, alcohol, and refined carbohydrates, etc.
An example of pathogenic (i.e. disease causing) bacterial infections is Helicobacter pyloris which is a bacteria that has been unequivocally linked to gastritis and peptic ulcer diseases.
Parasites are experienced by an estimated 40% of U.S. citizens due to: ease and frequency of world-wide travel, importing of food, immigration, and America’s own sanitation problems that we hear about in the news all too frequently. Almost all diseases have a very significant connection to candida, pathogens, or parasites resulting in digestive dysfunction including: acid indigestion, acne, auto immune disorders, cancer, chronic diarrhea, colitis, constipation, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, eczema, food allergies, gas and bloating, headaches, hemorrhoids, HIV, impaired immunity, irritable bowel syndrome, nausea, nervousness, recurring colds/flu, and stomach ulcers. A successful program in overcoming candida, pathogens, or parasites includes:
Killing the intestinal invaders with herbals, nutritional supplements, antibiotics, and antivirals (if necessary), etc.
Cleansing and detoxifying the entire gastrointestinal system with fiber, colonics, and herbal implants.
Strengthening the digestive tract and entire synergistic intestinal organ system by good diet, water drinking, digestive enzymes, and friendly bacteria.
Rebuilding your weakened immune system.
9. Poor Water Drinking Habits
Most people that come into my office do not drink adequate amounts of “pure” water. Also, many people confuse drinking other liquids as being a replacement for drinking at least 8 glasses of water daily. Water is one of the most frequently overlooked nutrients on many diets, perhaps because it isn’t thought of as a nutrient. Yet water is vital to good health. Virtually all body functions require water. Digestion, absorption, circulation, excretion, the transport of nutrients, building tissue, and maintaining body temperature would all be impossible without water. Almost every living cell in your body depends on water to perform its functions. Water is also our body’s most abundant ingredient. It accounts for about 60% of total body weight, and if it were bottled, would fill 40 to 50 quarts. Many illnesses have a “water drinking” problem component including: urinary tract infections, constipation, toxicity, dehydration, kidney dysfunction, heavy metal poisoning, bacteria infections, obesity, chronic fatigue, liver dysfunction, and may be an underlying contributing factor in practically any chronic disease.
10. Liver Weakness, Insufficiency, Overactivity, or Toxicity
First of all, let us understand that your liver is probably the most significant internal organ in trying to stabilize and regain health in any chronic health problem or degenerative disease.
Truly, an impaired liver can result in or greatly contribute to an unlimited number of disorders or diseases including: cancers of all kinds, arteriosclerosis (resulting in heart and artery diseases), skin disorders of all kinds, environmental sensitivities, allergies of all kinds, hepatitis, hormone imbalances, inflammatory joint disease, neurological diseases, fibromyalgia, anemia, and chronic fatigue syndrome to name a few.
What is the Liver? What Does it Do?
· The liver weighs 3-4 pounds and is the largest internal organ
· The liver is our body’s master filter and detoxification center · Your liver produces bile to digest and assimilate fats and lubricate intestinal walls
· Your liver produces and assimilates hormones and detoxifies your body of unwanted or excess hormones (such as estrogen)
· Your liver plays a key role in:
· blood formation
· defending our bodies against infection and/or toxic overload
· Any substance absorbed by your body must first pass through your liver. Your liver will either accept, reject, neutralize, or transform it.
In fact, science tells us that the liver is responsible for over 3000 different functions in our bodies.
How to Detoxify and Heal the Liver: green juice with apple, carrot/apple juice, wheat grass juice/enemas, coffee enemas, fresh vegetables and fruits and salads, desiccated liver caps, B12 injections, glutathione supplementation, liver detox herbal tea, herbs to cleanse liver (milk thistle, dandelion root, and barberry), acupuncture, probiotics, exercise, good sleep patterns, proper food combining, limit oils - use only cold-pressed vegetable oils, all types of sprouts, vegetable broth, fresh lemon water, raw cultured vegetables, liquid chlorophyll, and eliminate/limit fast food, fried food, junk food, sugar, refined flour. Your last meal of the day should be a light one.
11. Environmental Pollution
Prior to the 1800's and the Industrial Revolution, there was basically no environmental pollution to speak of, and most noteworthy, very little chronic disease to worry about.
Since environmental pollution is largely unseen, tolerated, not well publicized and basically ignored, much of the public is unfortunately uninformed so I urge you to consider the following:
· Did you know that we currently dump 50 million metric tons of toxic chemicals directly into the environment each year?
· Did you know that the average American diet includes at least 5000 artificial additives each year?
· Are we silly enough to believe that the insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides widely overused and laced throughout our vegetable and fruit food supplies are not killing us?
· There is growing evidence of a link between aluminum in our body and the increase in Alzheimer’s disease. · Heavy metals that are being constantly dumped into our environment such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury are being linked and are a root-causative factor in cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic fatigue, gastrointestinal disorders to name a few.
· Water purification and the bottled water industry is growing by leaps and bounds --- why? Because people realize that tap water is not safe to drink.
· Why is it that the Japanese recycle 75-80% of the garbage and we here in America recycle only 25% ? How many landfills can the U.S. take?
How to Guard Yourself Against Environmental Pollution
Awareness, education, recycle, liver and bowel detoxification, exercise, eat organic, high fiber, low fat, fasting, pure water, health food stores and restaurants, hot saunas, etc.
Call to Action to Protect Your Environment:
· Voice your concerns about environmental pollution to companies, corporations, and manufacturers. Express these same concerns to store owners selling unsafe, untested products and food stuffs. Your purchasing power can send a clear message.
· Write appropriate federal agencies:
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
FDA (Food and Drug Administration)
· Write letters and make phone calls to your elected officials. Urge them to support bills and pass laws to improve, emphasize, and ensure public health and the health of the environment. Elected officials know that for every phone call and letter received, there are thousands of other Americans who feel the same way. Write the President, Congressperson, and your Senator.
· Finally, join consumer groups and organizations that focus on environmental public-interest issues. These independent, non-profit organizations will keep you abreast of ongoing efforts and will give you a voice through their educational, legislative, and direct action programs. Your financial support, time, and expertise can help play a critical role in the success of these organizations.
12. Psychoneuroimmunology (the Mind-Body Connection)
Psychoneuroimmunology is a growing body of science which has made a definitive connection between the tremendous role that the spirit, mind, and emotions play in regaining, maintaining, and/or building physical health and well-being.... Let me make it clear - hear and now - that as powerful as conventional modern medicine may be and as powerful as nutrition, diet, herbs, supplements, and other therapeutic approaches may be, we should understand that a lasting prevention, improvement, and cure of almost any illness is most deeply and fundamentally rooted in emotional, mental, and spiritual states of health.
As a wholistic, preventive medical doctor moving into the 21st century, I encourage you to realize that true health is really not found in a hospital, a bottle of pills, or a doctor’s office, or even a health food store, but health has its fundamental root and beginnings in the mind, spirit, and emotions.... There are even many unhappy and unhealthy vegetarians or exercise enthusiasts. The truth is that we must learn to balance and blend and unite our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual selves in an all out effort to truly love ourselves on all levels! Psychoneuroimmunology Techniques: prayer, meditation, yoga, unselfishness, giving, touching, hugging, massage, loving yourself, loving others, support groups, inner peace, spiritual realizations, laughter therapy, discharging negative emotions, master mind groups, professional personal counseling, reading ‘daily’ spiritual writings, exercise (internal and external), facing and solving co-dependency issues, releasing judgement of yourself and others, resolving and/or letting go of toxic relationship, and releasing fear, anger, hatred, contempt, criticism, and condemnation. 13. Adrenal Stress Syndrome
It is estimated that 75% of all medical complaints are stress-related obviously including: ulcers, indigestion, headaches, cancer, heart attacks, obesity, insomnia, sexual dysfunction, depression, skin diseases, sore on.
Furthermore, stress has had an enormous effect on our economy by greatly contributing to the enormous $1 trillion dollar health care budget, decreasing work productivity, absenteeism, lateness at work, burnout, personnel turnover, alcoholism, severe overuse and abuse of prescription, over-the-counter and illegal drugs, premature employee disability, and even stress-related deaths.
Adrenal Health Aids: DHEA, licorice, ginseng, vitamin C, magnesium, B vitamins, tyrosine, exercise, stress management, natural light, yoga, meditation, etc.
There is a simple laboratory saliva test that can measure whether your adrenals are over-stressed.
14. Sleeping Dysfunction
80 million Americans suffer from serious sleep deprivation. Let’s understand that healthful sleep is probably the single most activity we do (or don’t do) to maintain good health. It is a time to regenerate our immune system, give our internal organs a rest, and dream our frustrations away. Furthermore, research has shown that sleep deprivation will result in colds, flu, and all sorts of viral infections. Well documented studies reveal that sleep disorders have a devastating effect on the immune system, as indicated in lab tests showing greatly diminished blood levels of fighter cells, antibodies, B-cells, etc.
So, if you can’t sleep, experience frequent night awakenings, wake up too early, can’t go back to sleep, or your sleep is not restful --- I want you to know that: · 50% of the American adult population suffers from sleep deprivation
· there are over 80 different types of sleep disorders
· collectively, sleep disorders are the #1 health problem in America.
Lifestyle factors to Aid Sleep: avoid too much: nicotine, coffee, sugar, stress, anxiety, constipation, indigestion. Do exercise, meditate, yoga, deep breathing, prayer, reading. Establish a fixed sleep schedule. Good sleep posture and mechanics and bedding. Avoid nocturnal low blood sugar.
Sleep Aids: melatonin, tryptophan, valerian, vitamin E, magnesium, calcium, B6, herbs (passion flower, hops, skull cap, chamomile), herbal sleep teas.
16. Infectious Disease: Bacterial and Viral
Infectious diseases are a major problem in America. The advent of antibiotics and anti-viral medications by modern medicine has certainly saved millions of lives, although these drugs are highly abused, misused, and overused. Nonetheless, if you have a severe infection that is life-threatening, prudent use of antibiotics is wise.
Good, basic, modern medical intervention should not be overlooked in a good overall health regime, especially in time of a serious health crisis.
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