My wife and I always take our kids with us when we go grocery shopping. It gives us the opportunity to teach them how to recognize sneaky labeling and deceptive brand names, and how to pick the best foods for a healthy meal.
We show them how to read labels so they don’t get ensnared in grocery store fat traps. We teach them to look for things like high fructose corn syrup, MSG, dextrose, and sucrose. And we explain how to avoid the hormone smashers that evaporate muscles. These include many sports drinks, juices, and flavored teas with words related to “health” or “nutrition” in their names.
Then we help them select a healthy balance of the right foods. We let our kids pick out their own veggies, which gets them excited about eating them. We also let them help prepare their meals – and that gets them even more excited about healthy eating.
Including your kids in your weekly shopping trip will help them realize how important healthy natural foods are to their bodies. In my family, health is wealth. And in this, we are abundant!
[Ed. Note: Shane Ellison's entire career has been dedicated to the study of molecules - how they give life and how they take from it. He was a two-time recipient of the prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Grant for his research in biochemistry and physiology. He is a bestselling author, holds a master's degree in organic chemistry, and has first-hand experience in drug design. Take advantage of his knowledge and insights to look and feel your best in 90 days.]
My wife recently competed in the Arnold Amateur Figure Competition – the largest competition of its kind in the world. This is like a beauty contest in a bikini. Women are judged on their muscular physique and posing.
A 30-year-old mom of two, she swept the competition! (And the women she was competing against were 21- to 25-year-old non-moms.) What is her secret to staying lean and muscular? For one thing, she sticks to five essential foods:
These five fat-burners are staples in her diet. Why are they so critical to keeping the fat off? You see, unlike men, women are very sensitive to the fat-storing hormone insulin. (It’s because they have lower testosterone levels.) These five foods help keep insulin – and blood sugar - low, therefore helping to keep fat off.
These foods are also rich in healthy fats, which help us stay fuller longer, thereby warding off binge eating and snacks.
[Ed. Note: Shane Ellison's entire career has been dedicated to the study of molecules - how they give life and how they take from it. He was a two-time recipient of the prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Grant for his research in biochemistry and physiology. He is a bestselling author, holds a master's degree in organic chemistry, and has first-hand experience in drug design. Take advantage of his knowledge and insights to look and feel your best in 90 days.]
I’m pretty selective about what I eat. Nothing is more important to maintain good health and a slim physique than proper diet. Most of us agree on that. The argument usually arises when we attempt to define “proper diet.” Some insist on a vegetarian diet, while others proclaim meat to be a necessary staple. Which is it? And how can we know?
I question everything (even my wife’s cooking after seven years of perfect cuisine). And instead of accepting anyone’s opinion about matters related to my health – no matter how famous they are or how many books they’ve sold – I look to biochemistry for my answers.
One of the main factors to consider with your diet is the relative amount of glycation that occurs when you eat various foods. Glycation – a biochemical change that’s associated with aging – is a result of excess glucose (sugar) in the blood. Aside from causing unsightly wrinkles and age spots, it can destroy muscles, joints, and the cardiovascular system. A simple blood test is used to measure it.
In a paper titled “Would carnosine or a carnivorous diet help suppress aging and associated pathologies?”- published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences – scientists found that vegetarians have more glycation than meat eaters. The reason? Vegetarian diets lack some important anti-glycation compounds. These include carnosine, a full spectrum of B vitamins, and acetyl-L-carnitine.
Vegetables, of course, provide tons of other nutritive compounds, notably those with anti-cancer properties. Therefore, I recommend eating both veggies (organic) and meat (grass-fed), locally produced whenever possible. Maintaining a good balance of vegetables and meat will help you slow the aging process… and stay lean.
[Ed. Note: Shane Ellison's entire career has been dedicated to the study of molecules - how they give life and how they take from it. He was a two-time recipient of the prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Grant for his research in biochemistry and physiology. He is a bestselling author, holds a master's degree in organic chemistry, and has first-hand experience in drug design. Take advantage of his knowledge and insights to look and feel your best in 90 days.]
In 2006, I sent out a nationwide media release insisting that Oprah’s fat-loss methods – which included walking as her primary exercise – were actually making her fat. Even worse, they were making the millions of Americans following her lead fat too.
Fact is, if you want lean, sexy muscle (at any age), walking is not sufficient exercise.
Sure, walking is better than no exercise at all. But it’s not going to help you burn the fat you need to burn in order to feel great and get noticed. Nobody ever walked themselves out of the Fat Cow Hall of Fame. I didn’t… and neither has Oprah.
When it comes to exercise, the old adage holds true: “No pain, no gain.” Why? Because you need to force the body to produce a family of fat-burning, beer-belly-melting compounds known as catecholamines. When released, these weapons of fat destruction bind metabolic receptors on the outer membrane of fat cells, causing them to be eradicated via thermogenesis and lypolysis. (That’s just a fancy way to say that the fat cells are being demolished.)
Getting rid of fat with exercise happens only when you attain 60 to 80 percent of your max heart rate. If you’ve forgotten how to do the calculation, here it is: 220 minus your age times .60 equals your maximum target heart rate.
Exercise by the numbers, and watch the numbers plummet on your scale too.
[Ed. Note: Shane Ellison's entire career has been dedicated to the study of molecules - how they give life and how they take from it. He was a two-time recipient of the prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Grant for his research in biochemistry and physiology. He is a bestselling author, holds a master's degree in organic chemistry, and has first-hand experience in drug design. Take advantage of his knowledge and insights to look and feel your best in 90 days.]
Corporations are great at keeping secrets. Take Coke, for instance. Coca-Cola is more than 120 years old – and only seven people in the company’s history have known the Coke formula. Then there’s drug giant Eli Lilly. While working as an organic chemist, I was appalled to learn how they methodically kept natural remedies from the watchful eye of the media… remedies that included effective cancer fighters.
Periwinkle, for example, had long been used by practitioners of folk medicine in Madagascar. When Eli Lilly looked closely at the medicinal properties of the plant, they identified about 70 different alkaloids – and they made an unexpected discovery: Periwinkle was effective in treating leukemia, as well as a variety of other cancers.
Remission rates were as high as 50 percent when patients used periwinkle extracts. Despite that evidence, Eli Lilly ended its long-term studies of the plant itself and focused on making more profitable synthetic copycat drugs.
To date, Eli Lilly’s scientists have replicated only two of the 70 anti-cancer compounds found in periwinkle. Unfortunately, the synthetics don’t replicate the highly sought-after remission rates of their nutritive parents.
The final story on periwinkle – according to Big Pharma – is that it’s poisonous (even though its extracts have been used for hundreds of years in Madagascar). If Eli Lilly is half as good as Coke at keeping secrets, this potential natural cancer cure will forever remain under the pharmaceutical drug rug, along with many other less profitable, natural cures.
The lesson: Be wary of what you hear from Big Pharma. Choosing natural treatments is almost always your best, first defense against declining health.
[Ed. Note: Shane Ellison's entire career has been dedicated to the study of molecules - how they give life and how they take from it. He was a two-time recipient of the prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Grant for his research in biochemistry and physiology. He is a bestselling author, holds a master's degree in organic chemistry, and has firsthand experience in drug design. Take advantage of his knowledge and insights to look and feel your best in 90 days.]
It’s finally here – the wonder cure that Americans have been waiting for. It’s called acai. Whether you are a member of The Fat Cow Hall of Fame, being ravaged by high blood sugar, or being overcome with cancer, you’re being told that acai is your key to optimal health and longevity. If you believe this, the Oprah and Dr. Oz marketing noose is already around your neck.
Acai berries are great. But acai drinks and other acai products are loaded with sugar – natural and otherwise. Remember your mom telling you to avoid sugar?
Most people don’t do it. The average American chokes down a whopping 160 pounds per year. A healthy human body can’t take more than 10 or 15 pounds annually.
Acai products are marketed as super-antioxidants.Cinnamon is light years ahead when it comes to antioxidant content, but you can get that for pennies on the acai dollar at your local grocery store – which is why marketers aren’t telling you about it.
Acai products do contain a negligible amount of anthocyanidins, natural substances that can be a huge asset to your cardiovascular system. But you can obtain quadruple the amount – for pennies on the acai dollar – from a big organic salad or bilberry (an over-the-counter nutritional supplement).
Still, neither cinnamon nor bilberry is a wonder cure. Nothing can overcome America’s addiction to bad habits, especially wanton sugar consumption. Want a real wonder cure? Remove the marketing noose and abandon sugar.
[Ed. Note: Shane Ellison's entire career has been dedicated to the study of molecules - how they give life and how they take from it. He was a two-time recipient of the prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Grant for his research in biochemistry and physiology. He is a bestselling author, holds a master's degree in organic chemistry, and has first-hand experience in drug design.Take advantage of his knowledge and insights to look and feel your best in 90 days.]
It’s been seven years since I’ve had a soda. But there was a time when I was ravenous for Mountain Dew. It was cold, it was fizzy, and it tasted damn good. Whether I was slaving away in the lab, poring over science journals in the library, or even teaching organic chemistry, nothing stopped me from drinking it. I was hooked. Little did I know, I had developed a biochemical addiction to the sugar in Mountain Dew that could have led me to an early grave.
Do you have an addiction to sugary sodas? If so, pay careful attention. I’ll reveal what you need to do to save your health.
In a study comparing the addictive properties of sweeteners, sugar proved more addictive than cocaine. When consumed, sugar increases serotonin levels within the brain. This increases the production of endorphins. Like drugs, these brain chemicals trigger opioid receptors, thereby eliciting the sensation of happiness. This artificial increase in serotonin levels causes the body to down-regulate its natural production and release of serotonin. Addiction begins to creep in.
Serotonin is responsible for controlling mood and appetite. Without serotonin, a person gets depressed and craves more sugar. This forges an emotional bond between happiness and sugar (or soda sweetened with sugar). Sugar addicts become dependent on it to increase serotonin and therefore make them feel happy. That explains why, no matter what I was doing, I would drop it to get my Mountain Dew fix! By leveraging this biochemical addiction, soda manufacturers are making a fortune.
The problem with sugar addiction is that it leads to obesity and Type II diabetes. Not only was I an honorary member of The Fat Cow Hall of Fame (I weighed 205 lbs with 30 percent body fat; off soda today, I’m 170 lbs with 10 percent body fat), I was boosting my blood sugar to dangerous levels. One soda per day increases your risk of diabetes by 85 percent, which can reduce your lifespan by 11 to 20 years.
The addiction can be totally overcome in about three weeks. To do it, you need plenty of exercise and sunshine, along with L-tryptophan from grass-fed beef and whey isolate. Natural sweeteners like stevia and agave can help you ease off the soda (use them to make a natural soda from sparkling water and lime), as can herbal teas (like Yerba Mate).
[Ed. Note: Shane Ellison's (www.thepeopleschemist.com) entire career has been dedicated to the study of molecules - how they give life and how they take from it. He was a two-time recipient of the prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Grant for his research in biochemistry and physiology. He is a bestselling author, holds a master's degree in organic chemistry, and has firsthand experience in drug design. Take advantage of his knowledge and insights to look and feel your best in 90 days.]
When they’re 65 years old, most of your friends will be sitting idle in an old folks home, counting the weeks by the number of times they play bingo. But not you. If you learn how to boost one single enzyme in your body, you can defy aging the easy way. You’ll be traveling the world, maybe parachuting for the first time or perhaps starting a highly profitable business.
That enzyme is telomerase.
Telomerase acts as a shield for your genetic blueprint – DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). It protects it from getting shorter and older. The more telomerase you have, the healthier and stronger you are.
One of the best ways to preserve or enhance your body’s telomerase production – and your functional lifespan – is to limit your food consumption to three meals per day. This helps to optimize your “hormonal intelligence” – which, in turn, preserves the enzymes that shield DNA from premature aging.
The trick to limiting your food consumption is to eat foods that are not only satisfying but also have a minor effect on the output of insulin (the fat-storing hormone). This would include avocados, grass-fed beef, coconut oil, seeds, nuts, and eggs.
[Ed. Note: Shane Ellison's (www.thepeopleschemist.com) entire career has been dedicated to the study of molecules - how they give life and how they take from it. He was a two-time recipient of the prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Grant for his research in biochemistry and physiology. He is a bestselling author, holds a master's degree in organic chemistry, and has first-hand experience in drug design. Take advantage of his knowledge and insights to look and feel your best in 90 days.]
Like most of us these days, Stan has been focusing on work, work, and more work. Doing so has kept him out of the gym and eating for convenience rather than health. He’s been taking in more calories than he uses, and now his doctor tells him his triglyceride level is too high.
A high triglyceride level (usually anything over 200 mg/dL) is simply the result of an energy imbalance within your body. Rather than fat and glucose (sugar) being utilized, they float aimlessly in the blood.
Since metabolism likes to be as tidy as possible, it packages unused fat and sugar into a storage molecule known as a triglyceride. Once merged, triglycerides are then stuffed into your belly, your muscles, or even your liver.
With high triglycerides, Stan risks obesity, Type II diabetes, and heart disease. In one fell swoop, his doctor prescribed a round of cholesterol-lowering drugs, anti-diabetic meds, and, for safe measure, blood pressure drugs.
Since Stan reads the headlines while sipping his sugary cup of joe, he knows these drugs aren’t his best option. Instead, he chose to follow my natural recommendations.
The natural enemy of triglycerides is a hormone known as glucagon. High triglyceride levels are usually accompanied by high insulin. Insulin stores fat while smothering glucagon production. Bring it back to the surface, and glucagon will smash triglycerides, as well as all the medical complications that accompany them.
Second, start supplementing with a teaspoon of psyllium husk and about 300mg of alpha-lipoic acid daily. This will slow the absorption of calories and speed up sugar metabolism, reversing your body’s energy imbalance.
To get over an illness as quickly as possible, they need plenty of sleep. But a hacking cough or stuffy nose can prevent them from getting enough shuteye. To solve this problem, you might consider valerian root. (That’s what I give my kids.) This plant provides a mouthful of sedative compounds that help kids sleep soundly and without interruption.
[Ed. Note: Shane Ellison is a two-time recipient of the prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Grant for his research in biochemistry and physiology and is a best-selling author. He holds a master's degree in organic chemistry and has firsthand experience in drug design. Get the benefit of his knowledge and insight with his no-BS practical guide to living young naturally without dangerous, prescription drugs.
My kids understand that I don’t give out medication easily. The use of any drug -prescription or otherwise – can mean unpleasant side effects, needless expense, and even life-threatening injury. So, to avoid all that, I prefer to protect my kids by giving them two nutritional supplements that have proven to be safe and effective at warding off illness, especially in the winter.
Vitamin C. I’m not talking about synthetic, Franken-chemical vitamin C supplements. Synthetic versions of this vitamin are usually inferior, because the body doesn’t assimilate them well. Nor do they confer the myriad of benefits that natural Vitamin C can provide. Stick with the natural kind, loaded with ascorbic acid and an array of synergizing bioflavonoid molecules. The best natural sources are fresh grapefruits and oranges.
Cod liver oil. Taking 100 percent natural cod liver oil is a morning ritual in my house. Most companies distill their cod liver oil and then add back pharmaceutical-grade vitamins D, E, and A. But not the company I use - Nordic Naturals.
Both of these nutrients have proven to be non-toxic, with absolutely zero addictive properties. You can feel comfortable giving them to your kids (and taking them yourself) to boost immunity.
[Ed. Note: Shane Ellison is a two-time recipient of the prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Grant for his research in biochemistry and physiology and is a best-selling author. He holds a master's degree in organic chemistry and has firsthand experience in drug design. Get the benefit of his knowledge and insight with his no-BS practical guide to living young naturally without dangerous, prescription drugs.
Each of us comes equipped with an amazing pair of optical wonders. Even the Hubble telescope, which looks far out into distant galaxies, pales in comparison to the technology of the eye.
For many, vision fails as they get older. But despite what you may have been led to believe, this is not an inevitable part of aging.
Whether it’s the result of macular degeneration, cataracts, or glaucoma, vision loss is usually the result of not having enough “dye in your eye.” This “dye” not only helps you interpret the world around you, it also contains vitally important antioxidants that protect visual anatomy.
Just as there are many different colors of crayons, there are different types of eye dyes. These pigments fall into a chemical category known as xanthophylls – and cannot be preserved without proper nutrition.
You must get xanthophylls from your diet. Fortunately, food sources of xanthophylls are easy to find. Just load up on eggs, kale, spinach, turnip greens, collard greens, romaine lettuce, broccoli, zucchini, corn, garden peas, Brussels sprouts, and liver.
[Ed. Note: Shane Ellison is a two-time recipient of the prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Grant for his research in biochemistry and physiology, and is a best-selling author. He holds a master's degree in organic chemistry and has firsthand experience in drug design. Get the benefit of his knowledge and insight with his no-BS practical guide to living young naturally without dangerous, prescription drugs.
You know by now that there are “good” fats and “bad” fats. And you’ve probably heard that small amounts of omega-6 fatty acids from seeds and plants are essential for your body. When combined with omega-3 fatty acids from fish, omega-6s appear to play an integral role in maintaining health. Together, these two fats can help regulate brain development, energy production, and immune function, and control inflammation.
However, large quantities of omega-6s promote oxidative stress by disabling the body’s second defense against cancer: the antioxidant. Adding insult to injury, they increase inflammation within skin cells. And inflammation can be a driving force behind the growth of skin cancer and its ability to spread to nearby tissues and organs.
This omega-6 threat did not exist 100 years ago. Our ancestors consumed only small quantities of omega-6 in the form of whole corn, seeds, and legumes. Their ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 was about 1:1. Today, a large segment of the population consumes a ratio of at least 20:1.
The omega-6 overdose exists thanks to the advent of technology – chemical extraction methods, to be exact. Instead of getting omega-6 in its natural state – from plants and seeds – our primary sources are now plant and seed oils (corn, safflower, and sunflower). A single tablespoon of omega-6-laden corn oil is derived from a whopping 12 to 18 ears of corn.
The ideal ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids has not yet been determined. One thing is certain, the overdose of omega-6 manifests into poor health as well as dry, brittle skin that predisposes us to skin cancer.
The best thing you can do to protect against skin cancer is rid your diet of omega-6-laden plant and seed oils while consuming more protective omega-3 fatty acids.
[Ed. Note: Shane Ellison is a two-time recipient of the prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Grant for his research in biochemistry and physiology and is a best-selling author. He holds a master's degree in organic chemistry and has firsthand experience in drug design. Get the benefit of his knowledge and insight with his no-BS practical guide to living young naturally without dangerous, prescription drugs.
A new study on heart health is touting statin drugs as the best thing since the iPod. But before you head off to your doctor asking for a prescription, let’s take a closer look at the facts.
The JUPITER (Justification for the Use of Statins in Prevention: an Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin) study is not a clinical trial. It’s a ruse to promote drugs as vitamins. Dr. Timothy J. Gardner, president of the American Heart Association, was so excited by the study that he insisted, “this one is pretty clearly a winner for statin therapy.”
TheNew York Times gave us the infomercial, scripted response of, “Taking the statin Crestor, also known as rosuvastatin, slashed the risk of heart attack by more than half according to the JUPITER results.”
But most popular media missed the truth. Here are three important points that you need to know:
Crestor’s maker – AstraZeneca – funded the study. When a company pays for a study, they pay for the interpretation of results, which always involves statistical trickery. Cardiovascular events were reduced by a paltry but absolute 0.9 percent with Crestor use. Using a few tricks of the statistics trade, this bland number was converted into the more lucrative “relative risk reduction” of 53 percent.
Dr. Mark Hlatky of Stanford told the New England Journal of Medicine that “absolute differences in risk are more clinically important than relative reductions in risk in deciding whether to recommend drug therapy, since the absolute benefits of treatment must be large enough to justify the associated risks and costs.”
It would cost beaucoup bucks to follow JUPITER’s recommended Crestor protocol. The drug giant stands to pocket an estimated $500,000 per patient (over a patient’s lifetime), courtesy of insurance companies, if the drug is used as recommended by the study.
Crestor users risk the particularly nasty side effects of liver failure, rhabdomyolysis, diabetes, and more. This, in itself, is a great reason to say no to Crestor: It’s a seriously expensive way to get sick.
I’ve said it before – you don’t need drugs to be healthy. For a healthy cardiovascular system, take hawthorn and folic acid, both available at Walmart.
[Ed. Note: Shane Ellison is a two-time recipient of the prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Grant for his research in biochemistry and physiology and is a best-selling author. He holds a master's degree in organic chemistry and has firsthand experience in drug design. Get the benefit of his knowledge and insight with his no-BS, practical guide to living young naturally without dangerous, prescription drugs.
Whether it’s simple forgetfulness or the all-out scourge of Alzheimer’s, the loss of mental acuity as we age ruins quality of life. To the surprise of most, studies show that this decline can be slowed or even prevented with the energizing combo of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) and acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR).
In addition to boosting ATP within the brain, ALCAR increases neurotransmitters like acetylcholine while protecting neurons from oxidative stress. This makes the ALA/ALCAR combo a potent weapon against Alzheimer’s induced memory loss. In fact, I’d choose it over the commonly used medications, which are known technically as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEs).
Little is known about what causes Alzheimer’s, but all sufferers appear to have low levels of acetylcholine. Using AChEs, the drug industry attempts to increase this essential brain chemical by preventing the breakdown of acetylcholine within the brain. Theoretically, this would enhance or preserve memory. But if there is little or no acetylcholine to preserve, the drugs are useless. Perhaps that is why they have only marginal benefits – benefits that do not outweigh their immense risks.
Believe it or not, AChEs are synthetic copycats of naturally occurring poisons and venoms! Their use is rationalized by the “a lot kills, a little cures” mentality. But evidence doesn’t support this. Research consistently shows users to suffer short-term side effects, including diarrhea, anorexia, vomiting, and tremors. Long-term side effects include kidney damage and even cancer.
Where these drugs fail, the energizing ALA/ALCAR combo succeeds.
Once ingested, both ALA and ALCAR pass the blood-brain barrier to nourish brain cells, thereby helping them manufacture more acetylcholine – to preserve and restore life’s most precious memories as we age.
Pure forms of ALA and ALCAR can be purchased from Wal-Mart for about $15 per month. About 200 mg of ALA with 2 to 3 grams of ALCAR daily have proven wildly effective.
[Ed. Note: Alzheimer's is a legitimate concern. But if you take a few simple measures, you can protect your health and live a longer, more satisfying life.
Most people are confused about whether those prescription drugs or supplements they're taking are REALLY good for their health. Author and organic chemist Shane Ellison can help you clear up your confusion with his Foundational Health Education program. Learn more here.]
Sugar isn’t always what you think it is. These days, most of it has been replaced with an impostor.
Known as high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), this synthetic sweetener masquerades as being natural and healthy. But a chemical reaction discovered in 1914 by the French chemist Louis Camille Maillard proves otherwise. Every time you consume the corn syrup, it acts as wrinkle fertilizer, courtesy of “glycation” – the process by which sugars like HFCS bind to amino acids in the bloodstream and become Advanced Glycation End (AGE) products. This class of toxins has been linked to inflammation, insulin resistance, diabetes, vascular and kidney disease, and Alzheimer’s.
Hardly natural, HFCS is made in a lab. Corn syrup is chemically altered in such a way that it becomes “high-fructose” corn syrup.” This leads to a much higher rate of AGE production than occurs with plain old sugar. As sure as night follows day, AGE products bind to collagen, causing it to get twisted and tangled. This shows up as age spots, wrinkles, and everything else that makes skin look old and crumbly.
So steer clear of HFCS. Instead, opt for stevia or erythritol.
[Ed. Note: With tricky substances like HFCS lurking everywhere you turn, it can be hard to stay healthy. But if you take a few simple measures, you can protect your health and live a longer, more satisfying life.
Health expert Shane Ellison simplifies complex health issues while revealing the supplements and lifestyle habits that can help you beat today's pandemic killers. Want to learn how to overcome obesity, heart disease, and even cancer? Discover the latest natural cures? Read more here.]
I’m no health saint. Every now and then I do something really dumb. It’s rare, but I’ve been known to drink too much wine or beer and even indulge in the occasional cigar. All of these are toxic. As a rogue chemist-turned-consumer-health-advocate, I’m not proud of imbibing. However, it’s my choice. And that’s the point. Exposing yourself to toxins should be a choice. But modern day society rarely allows this.
Many people are unknowingly poisoning themselves with man-made industrial toxins. The gender-bender known as triclosan is one example – and it makes my toxic indulgences seem as harmless as apple juice.
Triclosan is used in a nauseating array of household products, including toothpastes, soaps, and lotions. Synthesized over 30 years ago, it was once thought to be a safe and effective antibiotic. But results from a recent UC Davis study have sounded the triclosan alarm.
Researchers discovered that it accumulates in the body – even when applied topically – to eventually disrupt hormone activity. The study found that triclosan throws our thyroid and sex hormones out of whack, potentially leading to obesity, infertility, cancer, and age acceleration. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found that 75 percent of people from a random sample were positive for triclosan.
There appear to be laws that protect us from such toxic exposure, but appearances can be deceiving. In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act. It requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to determine safe levels of toxins in drinking water and over-the-counter products like toothpastes and soaps. These levels are called Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLG). None of them are enforceable. That’s why the gender-bending triclosan was recently approved for use in over 140 household products despite its real and present danger!
The best way to avoid this and many other toxins is to choose organic. Natural soaps and the safe antibiotic zinc oxide work as well as triclosan at beating infection. And neither of them can accidentally poison you.
[Ed. Note: With tricky substances like triclosan lurking everywhere you turn, it’s not easy to stay healthy. But if you take a few simple measures, you can protect your health and live a longer, more satisfying life.
Health expert Shane Ellison simplifies the complex, and teaches you how the right supplements and lifestyle habits can help you beat today’s pandemic killers. Learn how to overcome obesity, heart disease, and even cancer – and discover the latest natural cures – with Shane’s Foundational Health Education program.
I love to spend money. Whether it’s buying books for my child, a lift ticket for a day of snowboarding, or date night with my wife, I get great satisfaction out of spending money on products, services, and activities that I perceive as having value.
But more than spending, I enjoy investing. Wise investing allowed me to escape an arduous nine-to-five career with one of the world’s largest drug providers. And making wise investments in my health – in the foods I eat and the activities I engage in – has been one of the most important things I’ve ever done.
The fact is, your health is an investment. Possibly the best investment you will ever make. If you invest in it now, you will see big returns in the future. If you don’t, it could cost you big time down the line.
According to a recent report by CNN Money, “The retirement health tab can run between $64,000 and $122,000 for a 65-year-old man whose former employer pays his insurance premiums, and between $86,000 and $140,000 for a woman of the same age. For retirees who don’t have access to an employer-offered plan, the costs – mostly for prescription drugs – run even higher.”
In addition to exorbitant drug expenses, most adult Americans have one foot in the grave. Obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer are at an all-time high. And it’s expected to get worse. The Journal of the American Medical Association predicted that one in three born in the year 2000 will succumb to Type II diabetes, which is simply a “gateway” disease to all the pandemic killers. This rampant sickness is being met with an arsenal of cholesterol-lowering drugs, blood pressure meds, anti-depressants, and hypoglycemics. None have been proven to increase lifespan. They are toxic and ineffective, yet, they are continually pushed upon us… for one reason: financial gain.
Health doesn’t have to be so damn expensive or risky. Science proves it. Mother Nature provides three cardiovascular cures that cost next to nothing. Combined, they can help you overcome a weakening heart and even Type II diabetes.
Low-Cost Cardiovascular Cure #1: Psyllium Husk
Psyllium husk is a soluble fiber, meaning it is an indigestible, complex carbohydrate. Once consumed, it undergoes fermentation in the large intestine, yielding a broad range of heart-healthy benefits, most notably the control of appetite, blood sugar, and insulin.
A pooled analysis of 10 studies of dietary fiber intake in the U.S. and Europe found that each 10 grams/day increase in total dietary fiber was associated with a 14 percent decrease in the risk of coronary events, and a 24 percent decrease in deaths from coronary heart disease.
Psyllium husk is one of my favorite supplements because of its ability to help control blood glucose. Excess glucose in the bloodstream can become “oxidized.” This oxidation leads to a change in the molecular structure of the glucose – causing what is known as advanced glycation end products (AGE products). Like a knife carving clay, AGE products scar arterial walls. The scarring results in plaque buildup and excess blood clotting. This mechanism is why diabetics have a 4.5 times increase of suffering from heart attack and stroke relative to non-diabetics.
Go to your local health food store and purchase psyllium husk. In the bulk aisle, psyllium can be purchased for about $3 per month.
Low-Cost Cardiovascular Cure #2: B Vitamins
B vitamins are required for proper functioning of the brain, nervous system, and the formation of blood. They are also involved in the metabolism of every cell of the human body, especially for proper DNA synthesis and regulation, but also for fatty acid synthesis and energy production. Harvard researchers writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association stated that women could cut their risk of heart disease by half with daily consumption of B vitamins.
B vitamins are responsible for igniting a chemical cascade within the body known as methylation. This process rids the arteries of the damaging molecule known as homocysteine. The lower your levels of homocysteine, the less risk you have of suffering from cardiovascular disease.
Start supplementing with B vitamins today. A daily B vitamin supplement should cost no more than $10 per month.
Low-Cost Cardiovascular Cure #3: Flavonoids
Flavonoids are plant-derived pigments. More than 4,000 have been studied for their cardiovascular and anti-cancer benefits. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported a 20 percent decrease in heart disease mortality risk among those who consumed at least 7.5 mg daily.
Flavonoids preserve the cardiovascular system and heart through three major actions: improving blood flow in order to enhance oxygen and nutrient delivery throughout the 100,000 miles of adult veins, arteries and capillaries… preventing the formation of artery-scarring, oxidized LDL… and relaxing the coronary arteries to prevent high blood pressure.
Make sure your shopping cart is loaded with foods that are packed with flavonoids. The best sources of flavonoids are broccoli, hawthorn, grapeseed extract, black tea, citrus fruits, and organic dark chocolate.
Using these three cardiovascular cures rather than drugs to preserve health is a wise investment. It could potentially save you $64,000 in drug costs. What could you do with an extra $64,000 and good health? For me, it means more education for my kids, snowboarding, and date nights in exotic places around the world.
[Ed. Note: Protecting your health for the long run doesn't have to be expensive or complicated. In fact, you can stay healthy and live a longer, more satisfying life just by taking a few simple measures.
Want to learn more insider health secrets from an ex-drug chemist? Want to be energized while boosting lean sexy muscle at any age - without hard-core willpower? Shane Ellison has been a featured expert and author for the world's most popular health and fitness magazines, including OnFitness and Women's Health. A pharmaceutical insider, his Foundational Health Education program serves as the no-BS, practical guide to living young naturally without dangerous, prescription drugs!]
Everyone has cancer. Johns Hopkins recently reminded us of this fact while studying how most of us beat cancer’s deadly outcome: the immune system. When it identifies a cancerous cell, it attacks and eliminates it from the body. But every now and then, this system gets hoodwinked by rogue cancer cells.
Rogue cancer cells have the ability to become invisible and, therefore, overcome our immune-system defenses. This superpower of theirs helps them invade other regions of the body. Internally, we become a playground for cancerous infection and disease. Slow death ensues.
To beat rogue cancer cells, you need to eliminate their ability to become invisible to your immune system. What keeps cancer cells out of sight? Trophoblast cells. You can expose cancer for what it is by boosting your pancreatic enzymes. Pancreatic enzymes eliminate trophoblast cells and thus reveal to your “immunity radar” any underlying cancer cells for eventual eradication.
Several natural medicines that attack trophoblast cells have been identified. The most effective are flavonoids found in broccoli, whey isolate, B-17 from the apricot seed, and curcumin.
Considering their aggressive attack on invisible cancer cells, boosting pancreatic enzymes should be a daily habit for anyone who wants to ward off the everyday occurrence of cancer.
[Ed. Note: Cancer is a legitimate concern. But if you take a few simple measures, you can protect your health and live a longer, more satisfying life.
Most people are confused about what it means to be healthy... or whether those prescription drugs or supplements are REALLY good for their health. Author and organic chemist Shane Ellison can help you clear up the confusion with his Foundational Health Education program. Learn more here.]
Diet pills are publicized by appealing to our desire to believe that we can be slim and sexy without effort. This trickery is fueled by contrived "before and after photos," paid-for celebrities, and fake endorsements from steroid-ridden bodybuilders.
Don’t be fooled.
The over-the-counter diet pill Alli is proving to be a big fat scam, just like its commercial predecessor Xenical. Both trade names represent the same drug: orlistat. Once ingested, the drug blocks the absorption of dietary fat intake – both good and bad fats. The activity of the drug only results in about a 5 percent loss of total body weight. Simultaneously, it puts users at risk for decreased absorption of essential, fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, K, and beta-carotene. But there’s one more icky side effect that most people aren’t aware of until it’s too late.
Alli may go down in history as the most "embarrassing" – or at least the most revolting – diet pill in history. While leaching essential vitamins from the body, it also causes users to "poop their pants." Its maker, GlaxoSmithKline, suggests that users "wear dark pants or bring a change of clothes to work."
Skipping one soda per day, or maybe even just looking at a gym, would prove more effective and less risky than using Alli – and you wouldn’t have to carry a diaper to work.
Attempting to lose weight by blocking or avoiding fat is futile. That’s because eating fat in general doesnot make you fat. Eating unhealthy fat does. Healthy fats (from seeds, nuts, grass-fed beef, avocados, fish, and coconut oil) are essential for proper growth, development, and maintenance of good health. These vital fat sources provide your body with energy without causing you to gain weight. In sharp contrast to the bad trans-fats, carbohydrates, and even protein, healthy fat tells your body to burn fat (via lypolysis and thermogenesis), while making you feel fuller quicker – preventing you from eating yourself into the Fat Cow Hall of Fame.
So stay away from fat-blocking diet pills. And eat healthy fats to stay lean.
[Ed. Note: Diet pills are a "quick-fix" solution to losing weight that doesn't work. But with the guidance of ETR's health experts, you will discover lifestyle changes you can make that really will burn fat and build muscle. Get the details here.
My wife and I are unconventional parents. We didn’t vaccinate our children. They don’t go to public school. We don’t let them drink their weight in soda. And we make them eat their sunscreen. Before you report me to Child Protective Services, let me assure you that I’m not talking about the conventional, synthetic sunblock that is loaded with poisons. I’m talking about edible sunblock in the form of carotenoids.
Carotenoids are members of a family of nutrients that protect plants and animals from excess sunshine. Just like melanin, they are colorful molecules that reflect UV rays. About 700 different types of carotenoids have been identified. Each of the pigments functions as Mother Nature’s sunblock. When humans ingest carotenoids, they are deposited into the skin to prevent sunburn and (ultimately) oxidative stress, which can lead to cancer.
Leading sources of carotenoids are eggs, spirulina, chlorella, dark-green leafy vegetables (kale, collards, and spinach), and yellow-orange fruits and vegetables (apricots, cantaloupe, carrots, sweet potatoes, yams, and squash). The recommended daily intake of carotenoids is 100 to 200 grams per day of these foods.
The most potent carotenoid is a red pigment found in algae, salmon, trout, shrimp, and lobsters. It is known as astaxanthin. The algae are normally green. But when subjected to sunshine, they produce the red pigment naturally. Once ingested, astaxanthin is 1,000 times more effective at protecting skin from UV damage than other carotenoids.
Edible sunblock is your first line of defense against sunburn, cancer, and prematurely aging skin. So make sure you pack plenty of carotenoids in your kids’ lunchboxes this summer.
[Ed. Note: Getting more sunshine is just one way you can improve your health. With advice from best-selling author and organic chemist Shane Ellison, you can prevent or reverse health disasters like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. To learn how to feel better and live healthier, click here.
And get expert advice on how to get in shape, lose weight, and improve your overall health with ETR's free health e-letter. Sign up here.]
Though my wife and I have very different parenting styles, one of the things we agree on is this: Give the kids lots of sun exposure and never slather chemical sunscreen on them. Here are three reasons why:
Sunscreen blocks the production of melanin (the pigment causing a protective tan to form), resulting in a higher risk of skin cancer.
Sunscreen blocks the production of vitamin D. A deficiency of vitamin D weakens the immune system and increases the risk of heart disease and cancer. In children especially, vitamin D deficiency is also correlated with tooth decay and crooked teeth.
Many of the chemicals found in sunscreens are actually carcinogenic (cancer causing) and estrogenic. If you see any of the following ingredients, steer clear: benzophenones (dixoybenzone, oxybenzone), PABA and PABA esters (ethyl dihydroxy propyl PAB, glyceryl PABA, p-aminobenzoic acid, padimate-O or octyl dimethyl PABA), cinnamates (cinoxate, ethylhexyl p-methoxycinnamate, octocrylene, octyl methoxycinnamate), salicylates (ethylhexyl salicylate, homosalate, octyl salicylate), Digalloyl trioleate, Menthyl anthranilate, and Avobenzone.
Contrary to what sunscreen manufacturers wish you to believe, sunshine is not a death ray. It is a healing ray. Here are four main benefits of sun exposure:
1. It boosts neuropeptides that elevate mood and regulate appetite.
2. It reduces the risk of the deadly skin cancer melanoma and 16 other types of cancer.
3. It reduces the risk of osteoporosis and increases bone density as a result of enhanced "mineralization."
4. It increases sex drive. Not that I want my kids’ libido to be rockin’, but this is good info for the dad who needs to get his bedroom energy back.
Note that I am not suggesting that you or your kids should ever get sunburned. You can definitely get too much of a good thing. Cover up with clothing to block the sun and go indoors if your skin is getting pink. There are also several natural sunscreens on the market. The best one I have found is a brand called UV Naturals, which is made with green tea extract, bees wax, vitamin E, and grape seed oil. Not only does it protect your skin from excess sun exposure, it also helps your skin look and feel younger. I tested it on my kids recently in Florida. Worked perfectly.
[Ed. Note: Getting more sunshine is just one way you can improve your health. For 5 more ways to experience vibrant health without prescription drugs, follow this link.
You can get "People's Chemist" Shane Ellison's advice on how to live young naturally with ETR's free health e-letter. Sign up here.]
It’s frustrating to watch obese people suffer in the gym and receive absolutely no benefit for their efforts. Eventually, they give up. But it doesn’t have to be like that. In fact, if they learn how to use one miracle substance properly, they could go to the gym less and have a lot more to show for it – including mega fat loss and lean, sexy muscle.
That miracle substance is sunshine! Proper sun exposure plays a crucial role in ensuring that your body responds to exercise. It helps by increasing insulin sensitivity. The primary mechanism involved is the production of a neuropeptide known as MSH (melanocyte stimulating hormone) and vitamin D. Combined, these "youthanizing" biochemicals help lower levels of the fat-storing hormone insulin. And sunshine is the only thing that can force our bodies to produce them in the right quantity and ratio.
Insulin inhibits the release of the fat-burning compounds known as catecholamines. Lower insulin levels during exercise also guarantee a boost in the age-defying hormones HGH, testosterone, and IGF-1. Which means that, without sunshine, you could be wasting valuable time in the gym. Working out with high insulin levels would be like trying to fight cancer while being exposed to Agent Orange.
Proper sun exposure simply means that you expose 80 percent of your body to direct sunlight for 20 to 40 minutes every other day. Make this happen and you’ll enjoy rewarding workouts met with fat loss and muscle gain.
[Ed. Note: You may have been under the mistaken impression that sun exposure is bad for you. Shane "The People's Chemist" Ellison debunks this and other health myths - and gives real answers to real health problems - in his Foundational Health Education package. Learn the details here.]
Nuts and seeds like cashews, pistachios, and walnuts often get a bad rap for their high fat and calorie content. Yet, as you know from reading Early to Rise, they are among the best foods for igniting metabolism and controlling hunger. Even better than that, nuts and seeds can help protect against three major diseases.
Unlike sugary snacks, nuts and seeds do not spike blood sugar or the fat-storing hormone insulin. Why is this important? As insulin surges into the blood, it removes two anti-aging substances – growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor. Worse, excess blood levels of insulin lead to obesity, heart disease, and Type II diabetes. So choosing snacks – like nuts and seeds – that keep your insulin in check can actually help ward off these three health disasters
One minute you are enjoying a stroll in the park, and the next you feel as if an elephant just stepped on you. It’s a premature heart attack or stroke, the result of a blockage from a blood clot and inflammation, usually within the coronary arteries.
Millions of Americans are choking down blood pressure meds (beta-blockers like Lopressor and Toprol-XL) and aspirin (or the deadly Plavix) to avoid this death sentence. At the same time, they are putting themselves at risk for side effects like lethargy, obesity, heart disease, internal bleeding, and even cancer.
But preventing heart attack and stroke doesn’t have to be risky. One safe and inexpensive supplement can keep your blood healthy and control your blood pressure. And you don’t need a prescription to get it. Heart attack and stroke can be delayed – and even stopped – naturally, for about $8 a month at Wal-Mart.
Hawthorn. Used for thousands of years, it has proven to be a safe and effective method for ensuring healthy blood and arteries. It destroys potentially deadly blood clots on contact. Hawthorn works by preventing excess platelet aggregation while releasing pressure from the cardiovascular system. Studying these benefits of hawthorn, the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy showed that it could successfully be used to treat heart failure, hypertension, angina, and arrhythmias. And, most exciting, u sers won’t suffer from nasty side effects. As a bonus, they’ll protect their wallets from Big Pharma. Plavix costs about $100 a month; hawthorn costs $8.
It’s important to make sure there are no fillers – like dextrose (sugar) – in your hawthorn supplement. Make sure any hawthorn you purchase has been confirmed for purity with a Certificate of Analysis (COA). You can request a COA directly from the manufacturer of any supplement – for free.
"Amino acids," I answered, while choking down a handful of "horse pills."
"Amino acids?" My father stared at my skinny 14-year-old body, slack-jawed.
"Yeah, amino acids. These are the building blocks of life. I’ve been reading about it," I said, pointing to my pile of muscle magazines on the floor. "This is how I’m going to get buff and smart."
"Oh." My dad was visibly dumbfounded. I could tell he was wondering how it was that the family doctor had never mentioned any of this.
Twenty years later, many people are still clueless about the importance of consuming enough amino acids. This simple dietary addition can boost lean body mass. And having increased muscle has all sorts of benefits. For example, it can:
ward off diabetes
boost immunity
maximize energy
accelerate metabolism (saving you from developing unsightly belly fat)
prevent osteoporosis
The absolute best source of amino acids is whey isolate. As long as it doesn’t contain adulterants like sugar and artificial flavors, anyone at any age can benefit from its muscle-building effects.
Health Benefits of Whey Protein Isolate
Researchers from the School of Biomedical Sciences reviewed all previous studies done with elderly people who suffered from the muscle-wasting disease sarcopenia and then supplemented with whey isolate. By taking about 45 grams of whey isolate per day, these people were able to drastically increase their muscle mass and strength and reverse the disease.
To get your hands on muscle-building amino acids, purchase Whey Advanced. It contains vitamin C and calcium, and is flavored with stevia. It has zero sugars or artificial flavors. You can mix it in a shake or simply stir it into water.
If you could make one simple change in your diet to help you melt fat, sleep better, and improve your memory … wouldn’t you do it? What if that same simple dietary change could increase your energy, conquer depression, save your eyesight, restore your mental alertness, get your bedroom energy rockin’, and increase your lifespan?
This may sound too good to be true. But it’s not. And you don’t have to take drugs. Nor do you have to try some newfangled experimental supplements. Or stop eating. Or even give up the foods you love.
It’s as simple as reducing the amount of sugar you eat.
This is not a trick. I said you don’t have to give up the foods you love. And that includes sweets. You can actually give up sugar and keep your sweet tooth happy. This is the greatest health secret of all time. And I’m gonna teach you how to incorporate it into your life.
Before I tell you how, I want you to know just why you should give up sugar.
It’s not just because of all the aforementioned benefits. It’s because sugar can have serious health consequences.
Have you ever been plagued by hard-to-diagnose health problems? You know something is wrong, but your doctor can’t seem to figure out what’s causing them? You…
can’t lose weight, no matter how hard you exercise or diet
feel depressed, even though you’re typically a happy person
can’t get a solid night’s sleep
feel sluggish at work
lack mental focus
have lost your libido
suffer from rising blood pressure
Well, it’s not all in your head. It could be your sugar addiction.
My six-year-old can recite all the dangers of sucrose (table sugar) in a matter of two minutes. She can also warn you of the risks associated with those artificial sweeteners in pretty packets. And because she still likes to get her "sweet fix," she can tell you which natural sweeteners are best to use in tea, cookies, and cake. Not bad, considering that the self-appointed custodians of our health – physicians – are totally clueless about the sweetener epidemic that is sabotaging us.
If a first grader can master the problems with sugar and understand how to choose the right alternatives, you can too.
We all have the need to get a sweet fix. It’s part of our biological makeup. When consumed, sweets elicit a chemical cascade of events that lead to the triggering of feel-good receptors within the brain. If this happens repeatedly, an emotional bond between happiness and sugar is formed. We become fully dependent on sweets.
Sugar addiction is best illustrated by children who break down with temper tantrums if not given sugar, women who consume chocolate in times of stress, and men who suck down soda to make it through the "afternoon blues." In a study comparing the addictive properties of sweeteners, saccharin and sucrose proved more addictive than cocaine!
The irony is that your body doesn’t actually need any sugar. What you do need is glucose for energy. And you can obtain it from fruit and vegetables.
If left unchecked, an addiction to sweets spikes blood sugar and the fat-storing hormone insulin, disrupts satiety (causing users to overeat), and gives rise to age-accelerating molecules known as AGE products (advanced glycation end products). These aging molecules are responsible for causing wrinkles and age-related blindness, as well as premature heart attacks and stroke.
Over time, "sweetener addiction" leads to the hard-to-diagnose symptoms listed above, and a host of dreaded diseases like insulin resistance, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. To avoid the sabotage, you must understand how to get your sweet fix without becoming addicted.
Years ago, people didn’t eat much sugar – as little as 10-15 pounds per year. And their health was much better for it. As time passed and sugar production became easier, people gave into their sweet cravings and began to overindulge. Today, the average consumption of sugar is a whopping 160 pounds! It’s suicide in slow motion. Sugar addicts eliminate 11-20 years from their lifespan.
Few people realize how much sugar they are putting into their body. They are simply giving into an addiction while slowly ruining their health. To judge whether or not you are at risk, read your food labels for one day and count how many grams of sugar you are eating. Insert that number into my People’s Chemist Death by Sugar Calculator. Watch as the graph calculates how many pounds of sugar you are stuffing into your mouth annually.
But that doesn’t mean you should replace sucrose with artificial sweeteners to get your sweet fix. Artificial sweeteners are nothing more than drugs in disguise. Splenda is a perfect example.
Splenda contains the drug sucralose. Invented in a pesticide lab, this chemical is 600 times sweeter than sugar. To make sucralose, chlorine is used. Chlorine has a split personality. It can be harmless or it can be life threatening. In combo with sodium, chlorine forms a harmless ionic bond to yield table salt. When used with carbon, the chlorine atom in sucralose forms a covalent bond. The end result is deadly organochlorine, known simply as RNFOC (a Really Nasty Form of Chlorine). Unlike ionic bonds, covalently bound chlorines are a big no-no for the human body. They yield insecticides, pesticides, and herbicides – not something you want in your sports drink or your child’s lunchbox.
Think aspartame (Equal, Nutrasweet) is safe? Think again. As an organic chemistry teaching assistant, I taught my students how to identify the active ingredients in soda using a technique known as TLC (Thin Layer Chromatography). The byproducts of sodas containing aspartame are all known poisons (that would slowly kill you): methanol, phenylalanine, and aspartic acid. I never saw my students with a diet soda after that.
Choosing which natural sweetener to use depends on which one tastes best to you. Agave nectar usually wins. It stimulates taste buds exactly the same way sucrose does. But unlike common table sugar, very little of its active ingredient – inulin – is absorbed. Therefore, you are protected from the dangers of sugar addiction.
As a "nectar," agave is a bit harder to bake with. This is where erythritol wins.
All natural sweeteners are known to help control appetite, keep insulin and blood sugar low, and prevent the formation of AGE products. None of them are addicting, nor will they diminish your lifespan.
Getting your sweet fix doesn’t have to be deadly. If you learn to gauge your sugar intake with The People’s Chemist Death by Sugar Calculator and start using natural sweeteners, you won’t be plagued by hard-to-diagnose health problems. And you’ll have more years to enjoy life and those you love.
One of the consequences of being "one nation under drugs" is that we’re exposed to toxic, prescription drug metabolites via our tap water.
Drug giant Merck recently warned: "There’s no doubt about it, pharmaceuticals are being detected in the environment and there is genuine concern that these compounds, in the small concentrations that they’re at, could be causing impacts to human health and aquatic organisms." To wit, officials in Philadelphia have identified 56 pharmaceuticals or byproducts in tap water. These included pain meds, cholesterol-lowering drugs, birth control pills, antidepressants, and blood pressure meds. None of them belong in little Johnny’s "sippy cup."
Don’t expect your city to be any different. The federal government doesn’t require any testing or safety limits for drugs in tap water. But you can protect yourself with the right water filter.
The market is flooded with water filters – microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, electrodialysis reversal, membrane bioreactors, and combinations of membranes in series. At the recent conference on Wastewater Reclamation and Reuse for Sustainability, reverse osmosis filters proved most effective at removing all pollutants, including pharmaceuticals. Looking for the most user-friendly and economic filter, I found the RioFlow Complete 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis System. For about $180, you can rest assured that you are doing everything you can to keep your body free and clear of "other people’s drugs."
[Ed. Note: Shane Ellison (www.thepeopleschemist.com) is an author, organic chemist, and contributor to ETR's free natural health newsletter. He is a two-time recipient of the prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Grant for his research in biochemistry and physiology. An internationally recognized authority on therapeutic nutrition, he is the founder of The AM-PM Fat Loss Discovery package. Click here to learn more.]
I’ve been called a lot of things. Science Nerd… Professor… and Cholesterol-Lowering Drug Nazi are among those that can be mentioned here. The only one I’ll admit to is being a Cholesterol-Lowering Drug Nazi.
Cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins) amass billions of dollars each year pretending to be a safe and effective way to protect against heart disease. Yet science shows that these drugs represent a clear and present danger to your health. In addition to lowering cholesterol, they elicit some really nasty side effects. Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS) is just one of them.
ALS occurs when cells of the nervous system (brain and spinal chord) become inactive. This can be caused by many cellular dysfunctions. But it’s usually from a protein entanglement within the nerve cell. Once tangled, these cells can no longer pass electrical messages through the body, resulting in a loss of voluntary muscle control. As time passes, muscle wasting (a Science Nerd would call it "atrophy") develops. Victims of ALS usually die from the inability to breathe when muscle loss has reached an extreme.
The national average of those who suffer from ALS is a mere .0005 percent. But – sit down for this one – among those who reported suffering from "drug-induced ALS," nearly a third were using cholesterol-lowering drugs! Apparently, this class of drugs can "tangle" something known as "tau proteins."
But protecting yourself from premature heart disease does not mean you have to put yourself at risk of wiping out your nervous system. You can do it with four simple tactics: Minimize your sugar intake, take part in interval training, maintain healthy vitamin D levels by spending time in the sun, and supplement with fish oil to boost your omega-3 levels.
[Ed. Note: Shane Ellison (www.thepeopleschemist.com) is an author, organic chemist, and contributor to ETR's free natural health newsletter. He is a two-time recipient of the prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Grant for his research in biochemistry and physiology. An internationally recognized authority on therapeutic nutrition, he is the founder of The AM-PM Fat Loss Discovery package. Click here to learn more.]
You gotta love your liver. It’s the chief organ responsible for allowing you to "toss a few back" and enjoy your wine buzz without getting sick. It also protects you from many toxins. Unfortunately, it’s not invincible. When the liver is bombarded with too many toxins, it gets hard and stops working.
Cirrhosis of the liver is one of the 10 leading causes of death in the U.S…. and it goes virtually unnoticed. So does its simple cure… which you can find on the shelf at your local drugstore: milk thistle.
Milk thistle – which has many anti-aging properties – is in the daisy family. It is able to bind to the squishy membrane of our cells and form a protective "shield" from such things as alcohol, environmental pollutants, poisonous mushrooms, and prescription drugs. Research published in the scientific journal Hepatology Research indicates that milk thistle can be used successfully to treat not only cirrhosis but also hepatitis (liver inflammation and dysfunction) caused by viral infection and excess alcohol consumption.
Big Pharma has been trying to identify and design a molecular copycat that mimics milk thistle’s healing molecules. To date, they have failed. But that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from the natural source. This powerful liver protector is fairly easy to find. You can buy it at RiteAid, on Amazon.com, and at Wal-Mart. You’ll pay only about $6 for a month’s supply.
[Ed. Note: Shane Ellison (www.thepeopleschemist.com) is an author, organic chemist, and contributor to ETR's free natural health newsletter. He is a two-time recipient of the prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Grant for his work in biochemistry and physiology. An internationally recognized authority on therapeutic nutrition, he is the founder of The AM-PM Fat Loss Discovery package. Click here to learn more.]
Too Many Sales Can Be a Bad Thing!?! You’ve poured your heart and soul into your product and marketing plan – and it’s a hit! But your website just can’t handle the traffic, and it crashes after a few hundred orders. That’s thousands of dollars in lost revenue. But you can prevent that tragedy with one quick, easy, and cheap online tool…
Learn to Manage Risk Like the Pros You can’t take the risk out of investing – it’s just part of the game. But you can take away the fear that leads to so many bad decisions – and lost profits. Charles Newcastle’s four-step “profit removal” system can take the fear out of the equation and help your investments soar.
