Dr. Holtorf  of the Holtorf Medical Group posted a question and answer session online from his interview with an international news network.  Here is a quote from his suggestions to prevent viruses and infections. Use the link in the footnote to read the full article.

Natural ways to prevent an infection include vitamin D 5000-15,000 per day (best to check levels), zinc 50 mg/day, vitamin C 3000 mg/day, licorice root extract and miataki mushroom D-fraction. There are good combination products available (Virunex, Immunostim). Nasal colloidal silver can be very effective. It is very safe, and no virus has ever been shown to develop resistance to silver. (1)

Dr. Joseph Mercola is also a strong advocate of optimizing your vitamin D levels, not just for flu prevention but daily health. It is also one of the least expensive ways to be proactive.

He makes 2 strong statements advocating vitamin D:

-Optimizing your vitamin D levels is the absolute best strategy for avoiding infections of all kinds.
-Vitamin D deficiency is the most likely true culprit behind seasonal flu, not the flu virus itself. (2)

Here are his 2 suggested standards for vitamin D supplements:

1. He strongly suggests that you have your vitamin D levels monitored to confirm that they are at a therapeutic level, which is between 50-65 ng/ml.
2. If you are coming down with flu-like symptoms and have not been on vitamin D, take doses of 50,000 units a day for three days to treat acute infection. (2) [Notice this amount is for acute infection. Dr. Cannell says 5,000 units per day is an appropriate amount to maintain good health.]

Here are 8 Other Daily Health Practices to Build a Strong Immune System and Prevent the Flu. These are excerpts from Dr. Mercola’s newsletter. See the footnote for the full article.

Avoid sugar and processed foods-  Sugar decreases the function of your immune system almost immediately.
Get sufficient rest.
Effectively address stress.
Exercise-  Exercise increases your circulation and blood flow throughout your body. When the parts of your immune system have better circulated, your immune system has a better chance of stopping an illness before it spreads
Take a good source of animal-based omega-3 essential fats-  Dr. Mercola prefers krill oil. It is also vitally important to avoid damaged omega-6 oils like the trans fats found in most processed foods.
Wash your hands-  Use a simple chemical-free soap.
Eat garlic regularly-  Garlic works like a broad-spectrum antibiotic against bacteria, virus, and protozoa in the body.
Avoid hospitals and vaccines-  Dr. Mercola recommends staying away from hospitals unless you’re having an emergency during this flu season. (2)

Here are a couple of video clipe by other notable doctors on the benefits of increasing your vitamin D for flu prevention.

Use this link to hear Dr. Joe Prendergast explain why vitamin D is better than any vaccine and increases the immune system by 3-5 times as well as share testimonials of its amazing effect in reducing cancer.

Use this link to hear Dr. John Cannell on how 5000 units of vitamin D a day improves health, fight flu viruses, and destroy even encapsulated virus cells, bacteria, and fungus.

You may also want to check these prior posts on Building Your Immune System and Flu Prevention.

Immune System Boosters – 7 ways to boost your immune system

Flu Prevention – Virus blocker we use and other site’s suggestions.

Superfoods Boost Overall Health – Improve your health for a few dollars a day be adding superfoods into your diet.

1. Dr. Kent Holtorf’s questions and answer on swine flu. 
2. Dr. Mercola’s flu prevention methods. 

Natural virus blockers are an effective way to prevent the flu from taking hold.

Last winter, when the some severe flu strains were taking over large regions of the US, we had stayed pretty flu free all season. Toward the end of the season, I evidently caught the strain from a coughing cashier and stopped by the health food store to buy extra vitamin C and see what else they had available. They had a huge display of a product called, Blockade. The store reps said that they had been selling a good deal of the product and people were bringing back good reports, so I decided to give it a try. If you recall, last winter’s strain of flu was holding on for 2-3 weeks at a time. I was significantly better in 24 hrs. and completely over it within 48 hrs.

Blockade is an all herbal virus blocker.

According to the write-up, viruses reproduce in the human body after entering human cells, as opposed to infections in the blood stream which can be treated with antibiotics. Since viruses reproduce within the cells, antibiotics do not work on them. The bioactives in Blockade coat the viruses and prevent them from attaching to and entering human cells. Since the viruses cannot reproduce, the illness does not progress. Laboratory studies have shown a 100% success rate in keeping the flu virus from entering cells. Blockade is sold as lozenges. I believe that I paid about $6 for a pack of 7 lozenges. A pack of 14 is also available. It is very important to follow the directions; the lozenges are not to be chewed or dissolved like a cough drop. You are to hold the lozenge under your tongue and let it dissolve all the way so it is absorbed immediately into your bloodstream, rather than going through your digestive system. If you have taken many health food supplements, you will be familiar with doing the same thing with liquid vitamins.

We found Blockade at our local Vitamin Shoppe (chain store); my relatives bought it at their local health food store. You can also find it at many places online by searching Blockade with Virabloc.   GNC has also started carrying their own version of a virus blocker, which we have found to be very effective.

Echinacea is often used as an immune system booster.

Studies show it can lessen the duration and severity of a cold, especially if taken as soon as the cold begins to develop. In capsule form, they recommend 900 mg to 4.5 grams per day. In liquid extract, 3-9 milliliters is recommended. People allergic to ragweed may be allergic to Echinacea. (GreenWise, Dec 04, p. 11)

Elderberry has been used as a cold and flu remedy for centuries.

One study found that people taking elderberry recovered from the flu in 3 days as opposed to 6 without it. They recommend 3 t. per day of extract or 500 mg capsule 3 times a day. Prevention.com

WebMD has a list of 12 simple lifestyle changes to avoid flu and/or speed recovery.

Ginger Tea is said to bring relief from fever and chills.

Fever and head congestion can be relieved by making a tea of 1/3 t. of powdered ginger into a cup of hot water. (GreenWise, Dec 04, p. 11) I, personally, would mix honey into that to make it more flavorful.

Other Sites of Interest for Natural Flu Prevention-

You can find many sites for natural flu prevention. Two others I came across were Body and Fitness and
Organic Nutrition, both of which list herbs for various cold and flu prevention or symptoms.

Table of contents for The Easy Path to Body Detox

1. Beginning Steps to Detox Your Body
2. Removing Unsuspected Toxins from Your Household Part 2
3. Six Body Detox Ideas for a Safe, Easy Body Cleanse

Your body has a group of organs designed to effectively detox cleanse your body, flush out toxins, and heal itself. From this post, you can use these six body detox ideas to work with your body’s system for good health!

This is Part 3 of a 3 post series, “The Easy Path to Body Detox.” If you missed Parts 1 and 2, please click on the above links in the table of contents for this series. The post contains excerpts paraphrased from Dr. Don Colbert’s book, The Seven Pillars of Health. See the footnotes below for details on his book. (A)

I. Begin with These Tips to Detox Your Body by Drinking Healthier.

1. Drink the proper amount of water. Your weight x ½ = ounces water. For example, if you weight 200 lbs, 200 x ½ = 100 ounces of water per day to flush toxins out of your kidneys and liver.
2. Drink quality water. If you missed it, read this post for filtering your drinking water, Water Filter for Drinking Water,  (Also to reduce water toxins absorbed through the skin, read the post, Shower Filter for Pure Water )
3. Drink alkaline water. “Cells thrive in an alkaline environment but get constipated with toxins in an acidic environment.” (B) You can buy alkaline bottled water, but it is rather expensive, with brands such as Evamor, Avita, and Penta Water (The last is hexagonal water which is the best possible.) However, the most cost effective way to have alkaline drinking water is to use a product by pH Ion called pH Booster.  Use your own filtered water with this additive to make about 25 gallons of ionized water for less than $30.
4. Avoid soft drinks. They are low in pesticides, but contain too much sugar, or have aspartame which breaks down into wood alcohol (methynol).
5. Drink organic. Coffees, teas, and wines contain pesticides, wine and coffee being the highest. Drink organic brands and in moderation. (C)

II. Body Cleanse by Choosing Quality Food.

There are many reasons that toxins have found their way into our food, but here are a few that you may not have known. In 2004, rocket fuel spilled into the water supply of 20 states, including irrigation water. Pesticides used in animal feed gets stored in their body fat; when we eat meat, the toxins stored in the fat goes into our body fat, including the brain. Though some extremely toxic pesticides such as DDT and PCBs were banned in the US, main countries we import our food from still use these toxins on their crops.

In addition to those toxin sources, choosing processed food unwisely brings a host of chemical additives into your body, chemicals which are usually made from petroleum or tar products. Common toxic additives in processed foods are:

Synthetic dyes, flavoring agents, texturizers, humectants, ripening gases, chemical preservatives, emulsifiers, bleaching agents, and sugar substitutes.

To choose quality food, Dr. Colbert suggests:

1. Choose lean organic meats.
2. Choose low-fat organic dairy products.
3. Avoid sport-caught fish and shellfish.
4. Broil or bake your fish to drain off as much fat as possible.
5. Have a diet rich in organic fruits and vegetables.
6. Eat alkaline foods. (Click here to read a helpful list of alkaline foods, Balance pH with Alkaline Foods.
7. Avoid parasitic infections by learning to relax. You need to deal well with life’s stresses for your stomach to produce enough hydrochloric acid to combat parasites. (Click here to read a 3 part post on the effects of stress and how to deal effectively with it.  ) Those of us over 50 also should use digestive enzyme supplements. (D)

III. Improve Body Cleanse with Liver Health and Detox

The liver is your most important organ for body detox, cleansing both environmental toxins and those resulting from the body breaking down foods. Your liver needs to be fed to perform efficient detox.

These foods increase your liver’s ability to detox:

broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, kale, cauliflower, and wasabi (green paste served with sushi). Green foods such as cereal grasses, micro algae, plant greens, green vegetables, seaweed, and aqua greens are also beneficial.

These supplements are important for liver detox:

comprehensive multivitamin, milk thistle extract, grape seed extract, green tea, NAC, R-form DHLA, and curcumin. (E)

IV. A Healthy Colon Disposes of Your Body Toxins.

Many adults are constipated and do not even realize it. Bowel movements should take place 3 times a day, yet some adults only have 1 a week! Like a backed up septic system, toxins get absorbed back into the body without a healthy colon.

Follow these tips for your colon to eliminate the toxins sent to it by the liver:

1. Eat 25-30 grams of fiber per day.
2. High fiber fruits are apples, pears, and citrus.
3. High fiber vegetables are carrots, beans, lentils, legumes, and peas.
4. Whole grains are a good high fiber source. (F)

V. Your Skin is Your Largest Organ and Another Way to Body Cleanse from Toxins.

Clogged skin can lock toxins inside your body, stressing your liver and kidneys. Dr. Colbert recommends a simple process of dry brushing, using a loofah sponge or natural soft bristle brush. Make a routine of drying brushing before showering.

Dry Brush Process: Begin with the soles of your feet, working up your legs, torso, and arms, avoiding the face. Take about 5 minutes, brushing toward your heart to increase blood flow. Your skin will feel warmer due to increased circulation. (G)

VI. A Detox through Fasting Allows the Liver and Colon to Catch Up on Body Detox.

Fasting cleanses your body from built up chemicals, solvents, heavy metals, and pesticides, reviving you physically, mentally, and spiritually. Even the blood and lymphatic systems are detoxed through fasting.

Here are Dr. Colbert’s fasting tips:

1. Use fresh juiced organic fruits and vegetables instead of a water fast so that your body has an alkaline environment to detox.
2. Realize you may feel light-headed or foggy due to lower blood sugar and fat cell shrinkage.
3. Fast one day a month, or a few days per month at the most.
4. Do not overdo fasting, or you will lose muscle mass, slow down your metabolism, and compromise your immune system. (H)

A. Research is paraphrased from excerpts of The Seven Pillars of Health, Dr. Don Colbert. For more detailed reading, see his book, ISBN#1-59185-815-1
B. Quote is from “Where Toxins Come From,” p. 155
C. “Where Toxins Come From,” p. 155
D. “Where Toxins Come From,” p. 153-154
E. “It’s Time to Get Rid of Toxic Trash,” p. 166.
F. “It’s Time to Get Rid of Toxic Trash,” p. 167-168
G. “Dry brushing skin,” p.175
H. “Other Important Detoxifiers,” p.177

Table of contents for The Easy Path to Body Detox

1. Beginning Steps to Detox Your Body
2. Removing Unsuspected Toxins from Your Household Part 2
3. Six Body Detox Ideas for a Safe, Easy Body Cleanse

Reading Level: Gratifying

The air, household products, cosmetics, and even one’s teeth can be unsuspected sources of toxins, creating the need for body detox. The key to health is to be well informed and follow these easy steps.

In this post, we’ll cover how to detox cleanse your household by removing health risks in your household air, cleaning products, cosmetics, and teeth. The post contains excerpts paraphrased from Dr. Don Colbert’s book, The Seven Pillars of Health. See the footnotes below.

This is Part 2 of a 3 post series.   If you missed Part 1, “Beginning Steps to Detox Your Body,” please click here or use the above series link.  The third post will cover six ideas for an easy body cleanse.

Take These Simple Steps to Reduce Unsuspected Indoor Air Toxins

I do not think anyone would question the toxicity of the outdoor air we breathe. However, indoor air also has a negative effect due to chemical compounds used in construction, such as formaldehyde in carpets and pressed wood, cleaning products, second hand smoke, and paints. The chemicals are circulated throughout the house via the heating and air units.

Here are some quick tips from Dr. Colbert to help detox your indoor air:

1. Replace your air filter every month.
2. Clean your air ducts every 5 years.
3. Keep pets out of the bedroom.
4. Avoid air fresheners that are petroleum based or contain pesticides. Replace them with fragrance jars of dried botanicals or use an air freshener substitute of lemon spray or lavender essential oil. (A)
5. Unless you live near a busy road or seasonal pollen counts are high, daily open a door or window to let in fresher air.
6. Buy an air purifier for your bedroom, either a hepa filter or an ionizer. Consumer Reports recommends purifiers made by Friedrich, Kenmore, and Whirlpool.
7. Indoor plants help neutralize toxins. The best plants to fight pollution are peace lily, weeping fig, Boston fern, spider plant, mother-in-law tongue, and dracaena.
8. To lessen dust mites, consider replacing carpet with wood or tile. Also, buy hypoallergenic protective covers for your mattress and pillows and wash sheets weekly in hot water.
9. Reduce mold growth by repairing leaks and keeping outdoor plants at least 1-2 feet away from the house foundation. (B)

Cleaning Products can be Another Unsuspected Source of Toxins.

The chemicals in cleaning products which dissolve non-water soluble materials contain toxins which are absorbed into the body through contact with your skin.

Some common toxic household items are:

ammonia, bleach, glass cleaners, disinfectants, carpet cleaners, metal polish, furniture polish, stain removers, paint thinners, varnishes

Switching to natural cleaning products is another step to lessen the toxins in your environment and allow your body to detox:

Lemon Juice contains citric acid and can be used as a deodorizer, glass cleaner, and stain remover.

Vinegar contains acetic acid and will remove mineral deposits, grease, soap residue, mildew, and wax buildup. It can also be used as a glass cleaner. You can dilute it with water or use it straight. You can make an all-purpose cleaner using vinegar and salt mixture. (C)

Baking soda can also be used as straight as a non-abrasive cleanser, carpet deodorizer, and fabric softener. an all purpose cleaner by mixing 4 tablespoons to a quart of water.

Borax is a water soluble cleaner that inhibits mold and mildew.

Isopropyl alcohol is a safe disinfectant.

Seed-based mineral oil (not petroleum-based) is safe as a furniture polish or floor wax. (D)

If you must use a toxic cleaner, wear rubber gloves and work in a well ventilated area.

Heavy Metals are a Known Major Health Risk, But the Risk of Mercury Toxicity Can be Taking Place in Your Mouth.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry lists mercury as the third most toxic substance known to man. Amalgam or “silver” fillings are actually about 50% mercury. Before 1974, amalgam fillings slowly released mercury over a 30 year period. After 1974, the fillings release about 10mcg of mercury per day into the body, enough to cause health issues in 3-5 years. Hot food and drinks can increase the leaching of mercury. As the harm to the immune system occurs slowly, symptoms also increase slowly; people suffering with mercury poisoning usually say they feel poorly and weak all the time.

Consider these 2 steps to detox from mercury and other heavy metal poisonings.

1. Chlorophyll food supplements should be taken daily, such as wheat grass, barley grass, oat grass, and healthy algae. For more information on this, see Dr. Colbert’s other books, “What You Don’t Know May Be Killing You” and “Get Healthy Through Detox and Fasting.”
2. Consider having your amalgam fillings removed over time. Improper removal is dangerous. You need to have amalgam fillings removed in a proper, safe way by a biological dentist that is aware of the risks of mercury removal. Visit the website of the International College of Integrative Medicine to find a biological dentist at www.icimed.com (E)

Cosmetics are Also an Unsuspected Source of Toxins.

The wide variety of products we apply to our faces, hair, and skin can contain many harmful toxins. Even antiperspirants can contain toxins such as ammonia, formaldehyde, triclosan, and aluminum chorohydrate. The cosmetic industry is widely unregulated, with only 11% of the 10,500 ingredients assessed for safety. (F)

You have a choice for safer cosmetics.

The Environmental Working Group partnered with the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics to develop a free website with lists of safe cosmetics as well as a 0-10 rating for toxicity, 0 being the safest. Go to:
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/

If you click a category in the light blue banner across the top, such as makeup, skin care, hair care, etc., it will pull up a cosmetic listing for that topic starting with the safest products available.

Or, if you want to check on the safety of a product you are already using, go down about 3 inches below the eyeball graphic at the top of the page and you will see a search box labeled, “Search for a product, company, or ingredient.” Enter your product here. The closer to 0, the lower the hazardous rating for the product. (G)

Research is from excerpts of The Seven Pillars of Health, Dr. Don Colbert. For more detailed reading, see his book, ISBN#1-59185-815-1
(A) Where Toxins Come From, p. 152
(B) Other Important Detoxifiers, pp.176-177
(C) Unexpected Sources of Toxins pp. 159-161
(D) Other Important Detoxifiers, pp. 178-179
(E) Unexpected Sources of Toxins pp. 158-159
(F) http://www.safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=308
(G) Unexpected Source of Toxins, p. 161

Table of contents for The Easy Path to Body Detox

1. Beginning Steps to Detox Your Body
2. Removing Unsuspected Toxins from Your Household Part 2
3. Six Body Detox Ideas for a Safe, Easy Body Cleanse

Reading Level: Leisurely

As toxicity levels are daily increasing in our environments, now is the best time to start a detox cleanse of your body and surroundings.

Most people have given thought to a body cleanse and it is with good reason! More than 80,000 chemicals are registered for use within the US with about 2000 more being added each year. A report by the Environmental Working Group showed that the umbilical cords of 10 babies tested for an average of 287 toxins, 180 of which were carcinogenic. In North American alone, 80,000 metric tons of carcinogens are released into the air annually. Municipal water is polluted with more than 2,100 chemicals (1).

This post is the first of a 3 part series on detoxing your body.  Part 2 will cover removing unsuspected toxins from your household and Part 3 will focus on six easy ideas for a safe body cleanse.

Though we cannot completely avoid toxins, there are simple steps to reduce the toxins in both your body and environment.

Dr. Don Colbert, MD and author of The Seven Pillars of Health, compares not doing a detox cleanse to allowing the trash in your house to build up for weeks at a time. Avoiding it will not allow you to avoid the effects of it; but by taking out the house trash, your body becomes healthier and your environment a safer place. Similarly, when you do not take any steps to detoxing your body or environment, your body’s waste management system becomes overwhelmed by the toxins and is not able to function properly. Body detox allows your body’s natural systems for eliminating toxins to again begin functioning efficiently.

Here are excerpts of Dr. Colbert’s recommended steps for decreasing your exposure to toxins and beginning to cleanse your body. Please see the footnote for more information about his book.

1. Choose more organic food, including free range lean meats, and low-fat dairy.

2. Use pure spring water or filtered water. (Click  here for more information on Shower Filter for Pure Water and Water Filter for Drinking Water)

3. Breathe cleaner air by avoiding heavily polluted areas such as: walking/jogging along busy roads, waiting in airport terminal parking lots, breathing second hand smoke.

4. Wear rubber gloves when cleaning with harmful chemicals. Begin using natural cleaning alternatives.

5. Work with your doctor to reduce your medications, especially those hard on your liver.

6. Call your city’s waste management to find their safe disposal sites for toxic chemicals and clean your garage or shed of old paint, pesticides, and auto oil.

1. Statistics are from “Believe it or Not, You Are Probably Toxic,” p. 148, The Seven Pillars of Health, Dr. Don Colbert.  For more detailed reading, see his book, ISBN#1-59185-815-1

Table of contents for Breast Cancer Risk & Your Wardrobe

1. Breast Cancer and Your Wardrobe Choices Part 1
2. Breast Cancer and Your Wardrobe Choices Part 2

This is Part 2 of a two-part post; we’ll discuss Health Risks from Underwire Bras, Simple Wardrobe Changes for Better Health, and Relief for Fibrocystic Cysts.  In Part 1, we covered which wardrobe choices increase cancer risks and important study results. If you missed Part 1, use the series link above.

The Health Risks of Underwire Bras

According to Dr. Mercola, even though the underwire is plastic coated, there are long-term health risks involved by having that metal on your body. Underwire bras put continual pressure on vital lymphatic reflex points which are located below each breast. He says,

Below your breasts are two important neuro-lymphatic reflex points. The one below your right breast corresponds to your liver and gallbladder. The one below your left breast goes to your stomach. In addition, the metal wire can also act as an antenna attracting electromagnetic fields, which can also increase your risk of breast cancer.

Dr. Mercola quotes a study by John D. Andre, D.C., N.D., to describe the harm underwires do to these reflex points. Here is an excerpt:

These reflexes, like all acupuncture points, follow the Law of Stimulation. In the beginning of stimulating a point, it is stimulated – often causing an increase in associated function. Later on, this continued stimulation causes sedation of that point and a subsequent decrease in its associated function. It’s a mechanical thing. If a woman keeps the metal underwires on top of those reflex points, over time that WILL mess up the functioning of the associated circuits: Liver, gallbladder, and stomach. Bottom Line: It will likely make her sick; slowly and quietly. John D. Andre, D.C., N.D

Simple Wardrobe Changes for Better Health

The Best Option:

Dr Mercola recommends a wireless style for your greatest health improvements–

An even better option is to opt for a wireless style bra, which are now available in most brands, and for various levels of support. Sports bras and camisoles with a built-in shelf bra are other options that can work well, especially if your bust is on the smaller side.

Option for Those Needing Underwires:

He says that wearing metal needs to be avoided and recommends switching to a plastic wire instead of a metal one–

BraMakersSupply.com is one of the few companies that carry the whole range of plastic wire sizes and ship across the world. And at $2 per pair, protecting your long-term health couldn’t be much more affordable.

Other Helpful Resources for Breast Health and Relief of Fibrocystic Breasts

These two articles are sources I came across which you should find helpful:

A “must read” for anyone with breast pain and/or cysts is the article on Relieving Breast Pain by Woman-to-Woman.com. 

Carolyn Chambers has a long list of holistic helps, but of specific interest is her list of dietary changes, listed about half way down her webpage.  Click here for to read the Healing Diet.

The above excerpts are from Dr. Joseph Mercola’s email newsletter. Please use this link to read his full article.

Table of contents for Breast Cancer Risk & Your Wardrobe

1. Breast Cancer and Your Wardrobe Choices Part 1
2. Breast Cancer and Your Wardrobe Choices Part 2

What’s in your wardrobe? Studies are showing that the most popular style of bras hinder lymph node function, increasing breast cancer risk.

Ill-fitting bras, as well as the most popular style of bra, the metal underwire, increase your potential health risks. Lymph nodes, which purpose are to daily excrete toxins from your body, are unable to drain properly when tight-fitting bras or underwire bras consistently press on their reflex points.

Dr. Joseph Mercola recently sent out a newsletter with data from various doctors and researchers studying the effects of impaired lymph node drainage due to constrictive clothing. We are exposed to many dangerous toxins everyday that the body needs to eliminate. Dr. Mercola says that even the aluminum in antiperspirants is a dangerous toxin which the body needs to eliminate.

I’m categorizing below a few excerpts from this essential information related to breast cancer. Please use the newsletter link here or the one at the end of this post to read Dr. Mercola’s full article.

How do ill-fitting bras, underwire bras, and other constrictive clothing increase cancer risk as well as fibrocystic breasts?

Read the important medical findings from these 3 excerpts:

Over 85 percent of the lymph fluid flowing from the breast drains to the armpit lymph nodes. Most of the rest drains to the nodes along the breast bone. Bras and other external tight clothing can impede flow…as a result of cutting off lymphatic drainage, so that toxic chemicals are trapped in the breast. Dr. Michael Schacter, M.D, The Prevention and Complementary Treatment of Breast Cancer

Constricting bras have also been implicated in the rise of benign (non-cancerous) but often painful breast cysts and lumps. Dr. John McDougall, M.D., The McDougall Program for a Healthy Heart

After repeated bouts of inflammation, the breasts develop scar tissue in many places, and some of the milk ducts become plugged, forming cysts. Fibrocystic breast disease, not surprisingly, is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer. Edinburgh Breast Group, UK, Lancet May 1999

As a woman’s body is constantly changing throughout life, re-measuring should take place fairly often to ensure that your bra is not only comfortable, but a safe fit. Though many sites offer complex calculations, Dr. Mercola referred to a site by a company called Linda’s Bra School out of New York which automatically calculates your correct bra size after entering 2 simple measurements. Click here to use the bra size calculator on Linda’s site in her Bra Fitting Room.  Though it may sound unusual, proper fit is actually a serious health issue.

For over a thousand years, long before the realm of modern science, age old proverbs reminded people of the healing power of laughter, 

A rejoicing heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Prov. 17:22

Dr. Don Colbert shares that laughter is one of his prescriptions to patients who come to be placed on nutritional programs. He has discovered that when he asks patients how often they laugh, most cancer patients respond, “I never laugh.” He prescribes 10 belly laughs a day for his patients. (1)

Research has shown a wide variety of healing aspects from laughter:

Pain Relief - A study of patients recovering from surgery showed that the group which was allowed to choose the humorous movies they saw benefited the most from the laughter therapy and required fewer pain-killers compared with a control group that saw none at all. (2) Other research has also shown laughter to increase one’s pain threshold. (4)

Lower Blood Pressure - Laughter reduces the levels of stress hormones such as cortisol, epinephrine (adrenaline), and dopamine (4); stress hormones, on the other hand, increase the number of platelets, causing obstructions in the arteries and raising blood pressure. (3)

Relaxation Therapy and Improved Digestion - French neurologist Henri Rubenstein said that even one minute of laughter can give the body up to 45 minutes of therapeutic relaxation. It also stimulates appetite and digestion. (1)

Boosted Immune System - Laughter increases natural killer cells which destroy tumors and viruses, Gamma-interferon–a disease fighting protein, T-cells–a vital part of the immune system, and B-cells–which make disease-destroying antibodies. Laughter also increases salivary immunoglobulin A, which defends against infectious organisms entering the respiratory tract. (3)

Speedy Healing - French doctor Pierre Vachet, who studied the physiology of laughter, has concluded that laughter expands the blood vessels and sends more blood racing to the extremities. As it sends more oxygen to every cell in the body, it also serves to speed tissue healing and stabilize many body functions. (2)

Make it a point to daily experience the healing benefits of laughter.

E.E. Cummings said, “The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.” Since life is too valuable to be wasted, let us not waste a single day by letting it go by without frequent laughter.

If you feel you need help in developing the ability to laugh in your life, I actually found some beneficial info online at HelpGuide.org. It has 2 brief, practical articles to help you develop more laughter in your life, Bringing More Laughter into Your Life and Developing Your Sense of Humor.

1. Seven Pillars of Health, pg. 244, Dr. Don Colbert
2. Alternative Healing/Laughter, Indiadiets.com
3. Laughing Out Loud to Good Health, Library Think Quest
4. The Stress Management and Health Benefits of Laughter, Elizabeth Scott, M.S., About.com/Stress

It is obvious through the warnings on commercials or the fine print on labels that prescription drugs contain a wide variety of potential negative side effects. A large number of vitamins are made synthetically through a chemical process, rather than derived directly from plants. (1) [Links to research articles will be posted at the end of the post.] The more you can derive health benefits directly from the food you eat, the better off you will be.

Adding these key foods into your daily intake will help boost your immune system, lower cholesterol, as well as fight heart disease and various forms of cancer.

Tomatoes - Lycopene is a cancer-fighting antioxidant from tomatoes and other red fruits. Of all the carotenoids, lycopene is one of the most potent antioxidants; researchers have found a correlation between increasing the consumption of tomatoes and reducing the risk of cancer. (2) With most foods, the health benefits are lost through the heat of cooking. Lycopene is one of the few necessary substances that is more easily absorbed into the body after being cooked. Tomatoes can decrease your risk of bad cholesterol building up inside arteries (plaque formation) and help prevent future heart attacks. (3) In another study done over a 6 year period by Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health, the diets of more than 47,000 men were studied. Of 46 fruits and vegetables evaluated, only the tomato products showed a measurable relationship to reduce prostate cancer risk. (4)

Lemons - Easily boost your immune system by just squeezing a slice of lemon into your drinking water. Lemons are rich in vitamins, particularly vitamin C, having enough to boost your immune system or help fight off a cold. (5) I add lemon to every glass of water I drink during the day.

Water – More water than what most of us drink is necessary for the proper functioning of our bodies, including flushing out toxins. Up to 60 percent of the human body is water, the brain being composed of 70 percent water, and the lungs nearly 90 percent water. (6) Be sure to drink water that is as free of toxins as you can afford. (See my post on Water Filter for Drinking Water for info on clean drinking water in your home. ) To know how much water you should drink per day, take your weight in pounds, divide it by 2, and drink that many ounces. For example, a 200 lb. man should drink a minimum of 100 oz. of water per day.

Dark berries - Purple, red, and blue berries boost anti-oxidants as well as ward off UV damage. A landmark study shows that just one cup of berries provides all the disease-fighting antioxidants you need in a single day.This newest study used updated technology to assess antioxidant levels in more than 100 foods, including fruits, vegetables, cereals, breads, nuts, and spices. Blueberries, cranberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries ranked highest among the fruits studied. Wild blue berries had 10 times the USDA recommendation of antioxidants in 1 cup. (7)

I was reminded of this information while we were harvesting our purple muscadine grapes the past few weeks.  We enjoy stocking the freezer for the coming year with a variety of baked goods made with muscadines, as well as just eating them off the vine. One plant, about 6 years old, provides us with 5 to 6 tall stock pots of grapes, and that is with cutting the vine back to fit the arbor each spring. University studies have found that muscadine grapes are one of the richest sources of antioxidants in nature, having 40 times more antioxidants than any other fruit, with high concentrations of resveratrol and ellagic acid. (13)

Spices – B vitamins are the most difficult vitamin for our bodies to absorb. Spices can be one source for your B vitamins. The vitamin B-6 content of 42 spices was measured in duplicate using a microbiological assay. Relatively high sources were the red pepper spices such as chili, cayenne, and paprika, garlic, and certain leaves such as basil, bay leaf, dill weed, oregano, rosemary, sage, and tarragon. (8)

Honey – Honey has long been known to contain a large amount of anti-oxidants, as well as anti-inflammatory properties, and can easily be incorporated into your daily intake by substituting it for sugar in coffee, tea, oatmeal, on toast, etc. Be sure to buy an uncooked type. Honey also contains protein, vitamins and minerals, but no cholesterol. Darker honeys have more nutrients and antioxidants than light ones and the antioxidant levels vary with the flower type. Buckwheat flower honey has the highest antioxidants of any honey, clover is in the middle of the range. For allergy sufferers, eating locally grown honey can prevent seasonal allergies. Recent studies are now able to prove its as an antibacterial topical treatment for burns and ulcers. It also produces hydrogen peroxide, which generate highly reactive free radicals in the body, killing bacteria, further contributing to its antibacterial properties. (9)

Olive Oil – Omega 3 fatty acids are very publicized now as a necessary element for good health, of which olive oil is a good source. The beneficial health effects of olive oil are due to both its high content of monounsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants. Studies have shown that it lowers heart disease by lowering bad cholesterol and raising good cholesterol. Studies have also shown that it reduces the risk of colon cancer and gallstone formation by activating the secretion of bile and pancreatic hormones naturally. It has a beneficial effect on ulcers and gastritis, too. (10) It is important to not just eliminate harmful fats from the diet, but incorporate healthy ones. Increasing your intake of healthy fats also enables you to absorb more anti-oxidants from your food. 2 tablespoons daily is recommended for healthy cholesterol levels. I use light tasting olive oil (Lighter tasting will be specified on the label.), usually immediately before a snack or meal just to get the taste out of my mouth. Check the label to get a brand that is extra virgin oil and cold pressed, as this will be the least processed and retain the most health benefits.

Flax seed – This is another healthy source of plant-derived omega 3 fatty acid, similar to those found in fish such as salmon. Though we personally still eat wild caught fish, some doctors do not recommend fish at all as your omega 3 source due to problems with toxic mercury levels. Studies show flax seed lowering total cholesterol and the bad cholesterol levels, as well as helping to lower blood triglyceride and blood pressure. It may also keep platelets from becoming sticky therefore reducing the risk of a heart attack. Flax seed is also believed to reduce the risk of cancers, especially breast cancer. In addition, the oil from flax seed benefits those with Crohn’s disease and Colitis. (11) I buy a 14 oz. package of Spectrum Naturals Organic Ground Flax Seed at The Vitamin Shoppe (also online at vitaminshoppe.com) for about $5 US and take 1 tablespoon per day in cereal or oatmeal. For women who have trouble with fibrocystic breast disease, in addition to eliminating caffeine and toxins from the diet, adding flax seed to the your food intake helps to decrease cyst size and pain.

1 Click here for further reading on synthetic versus natural vitamins.

2 Lycopene info

3 Lycopene and heart attack prevention

4 Lycopene reduces prostate cancer

5 Lemon info

6 Water and the body

7 Dark Berries and antioxidants

8 Spices and B vitamins

9 Honey for burns and wounds
Honey and antioxidant rates

10 Olive Oil benefits

11 Flax Seed benefits

13 Muscadine grapes

There is a truthful old saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Simple, beneficial lifestyle changes, most of which we all realize we should be living anyway, are an easy, pleasant way to prevent years of unnecessary pain and suffering. This Prevention List contains excerpts of practical tips from Symptoms of Arthritis.com. Please use the link below to read their article in its entirety.

Lose Weight

Being overweight puts a strain on your knees, hips and the balls of your feet…You can continue to loss weight gradually in order to reduce your risk even further, but ten pounds is a good, attainable goal to start with. You can lose pounds by exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet.

Exercise

Exercise will help you maintain healthy muscle tone and keep weight at a proper level. Light exercise, like leisurely swimming, combats joint swelling and stiffness. Meet with a physical therapist or personal trainer and establish an exercise routine that focuses on strengthening your thigh muscles. After exercising, apply hot and cold therapies and be careful not to overdo it.

Healthy Diet

Proper nutrition aids the body in all of its functions. A healthy diet consists of a balanced proportion of vegetables, fruits and whole-grain products; sugar, salt [We use only sea salt] and saturated fat should be consumed in moderation.

Supplements

Consume the recommended daily allowance of vitamins and minerals. Vitamin E, in particular, has been known to help reduce arthritis-related joint pain. [Studies show] carotenoids, including beta-carotene and zeaxanthin found in fruits and vegetables, may reduce the risk of arthritis.

General Tips

• Shift positions regularly to distribute your body weight and reduce joint stiffness
• Talk to a physical therapist to learn how to perform activities without the excessive squatting and bending that damages cartilage.
• Warm up before an exercise session and cool down afterwards
• Rest well after strenuous activity
• Do light aerobics, as well as endurance, strengthening and range of motion exercises on a regular basis
• Practice good posture at all times
• Utilize safety equipment while exercising or playing sports
• Wear a protective brace or splint on previously injured areas
• Use a cane or walking stick as support (1)

A major factor in the prevention of arthritis is avoiding dehydration.

Being properly hydrated affects a large variety of health issues, as good hydration consistently removes toxins from the body. Toxin removal is important in the prevention of arthritis, but hydration is of specific importance in arthritis prevention due to the fact that cartilage is mostly water. [Click here to read the post on using inexpensive water filters to remove toxins.] Read these excerpts of an explanation of hydration and arthritis prevention from the web article, “What Causes Arthritis?”   Use the link below for the full article.

Using Water for Arthritis Prevention

The toxins can also become trapped in joints & cartilage producing pain. One reason to consider a water filter. As usual, arthritis prevention is easier than curing. So if possible, especially as you head into mature adulthood, make sure that you are fully hydrated.

[This is a great list on increasing your water intake.]

1. Drink ½ to 2/3 of your body weight in pounds, in ounces of water. Weigh 150 pounds, drink 75 to 100 ounces of water a day
2. Drink on an empty stomach whenever you can. Especially mornings, ½ hour before breakfast & 1 hour before meals
3. Add a ¼ tsp sea salt to every quart or two of water, while cutting back on table salt & processed foods.
4. Increase water intake gradually
5. Be patient. It may take weeks or months for your body to start to use the extra water. (2)

(1) Please click here to read the Prevention List in its entirety from Symptoms of Arthritis.com
(2) Please click here to read the What Causes Arthritis article in its entirety.