How executive greed ruins lives and kills people

Greed. What else can explain the sociopathic behavior of drug company executives? Remember, a “company” is an inanimate thing that only does good or harm because the people in charge tell it to. In the past, pharmaceutical companies have been fined millions of dollars for bad behavior. However, given the gigantic profits of the companies, those fines are a minor cost of doing business. Companies cannot be sent to jail. But, finally, there may be some accountability for the real villains, the executives.

In May 2019 a federal court found the head of a drug company and 4 of his associates guilty of racketeering. According to an article by NPR, the execs had bribed doctors to prescribe unneeded addicting opiates and then lie to insurance companies. These guys may wear Armani suits, but because tens of thousands of Americans die each year from opioid use, I think they are in a class with mass murders. Let’s hope they don’t appeal their way out of going to jail and that it sends a strong message to their peers. (Maybe add the pharmaceutical company Bayer to this category. It owns Monsanto which makes Roundup and bullies farmers into using it and the matching GMO seeds. Courts are making Monsanto pay billions in settlements for cancer claims. But, what about the millions of folks worldwide who are slowly being poisoned and cannot connect the dots?)

Drug company executive greed is also doing damage to our personal budgets. According to an article by CNN, “A coalition of 44 states filed a lawsuit alleging that 20 major drug manufacturers conspired to artificially inflate and manipulate the prices of more than 100 generic drugs.” Generics are supposed to save us from the name brand drugs whose prices continue to go up in the US. (Most are a fraction of the price they are sold for in other countries. Why charge more here? Again, because of greed. And because they can!)

In some cases, medications don’t just dent the bank, they break it. In fact, CNCB sites the statistic that medical costs are the cause for two thirds of people who file for bankruptcy. Some drugs (which may only offer a few months more of what is a by then miserable existence) can cost upwards of $1,000,000 a year. And don’t buy that phony argument that drug prices have to be high to fund drug research into new drugs. (The new ones may be no better than the ones they replace, but do provide a profitable fresh patent.)

According to an interesting report by The Atlantic, researchers compared prices of the top 20 best-selling drugs in the United States with the prices of the same medications in Europe and Canada. (Keep in mind that the drug companies are making a profit there as well.) They found that “the cumulative revenue from the price difference on just these 20 drugs more than covers all the drug research and development costs conducted by all the drug companies throughout the world—and then some.” All drug research cost about $80 billion a year. And the drug companies paid for that from the top 20 drugs with $40 billion profit left over. The companies also overcharge for hundreds of other drugs. We have to remember that these guys are not public servants—they are business tycoons.

Greed, greed, greed. If I sound angry, it is because I am. Another time I will review some drug safety facts that further motivate me to find guests who can provide safer natural alternatives.

Your gut can give you a headache

If your belly hurts, you will probably see what is going on with your gut. However, if your head hurts, your gut might be the last thing you think of. You might simply accept headaches as a fact of life and suppress the pain with medication. Who can blame you? Afterall, the head is so far away from the gut and that is the way mainstream medical care approaches most health problems—prescribe a medication aimed at where it hurts. Headaches, even migraines are a good example, but surprisingly, lots of conditions and diseases start in the gut.  

About 13 percent of men and 33 percent of women will regularly experience migraine headaches. Science cannot tell us exactly how migraines are caused. However, several studies suggest that migraines are an inflammatory disorder that may be associated with inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders like the “leaky gut syndrome”. For example, a 2014 study published in the medical journal “Frontiers in Neurology”, concluded that people who have the type of inflammatory bowel conditions with associated increased intestinal permeability, often had a two to three times higher risk of suffering from migraines.

As shown in these crude diagrams, the intestinal mucus membrane serves two functions. One, because of protrusions called “villi” and “micro-villi”, it has a huge surface area for absorbing nutrients. It is also a barrier that protects the blood circulation from intestinal contents which do not belong elsewhere in the body. If, as shown in the leaky gut diagram, the intestinal mucosa becomes permeable with gaps in this barrier, harmful substances can pass unhindered into the bloodstream. As a result, the immune system will react with inflammatory and allergic processes causing pain and degeneration in remote parts of the body. In addition to intestinal symptoms and migraines, this can lead to a variety of other problems such as autoimmune diseases, arthritis and sleeping disorders. As you can imagine, when the gut lining is damaged and the villi are degraded, nutritional absorption is greatly reduced. That in turn makes it harder for the body to deal with the harmful things being absorbed. Several common factors can cause a leaky gut: an unhealthy diet, stress, the intake of antibiotics, mycosis [fungus overgrowth], viruses and chemo therapy.

Diagnosis of leaky gut is possible through a simple stool test. Unfortunately, traditional check-ups at the doctor’s office often ignore the gut entirely or, at best, include very superficial stool tests. To heal, you must know what you are dealing with and for that, it is important to make sure the right markers are tested.

Tests detection to detect leaky gut should at least contain the following factors: Alpha-1-Antitrypsin (it reflects the permeability of the gut during inflammatory processes); Secretory IgA (it is an immune protein which reacts anti-inflammatory); and Zonulin (it is a protein molecule which helps with the regulation of tight junctions between cells in your intestinal wall). It is best to choose a test that also analyzes the intestinal flora [bacterial] balance and checks for yeasts [fungus]. A more comprehensive analysis not only shows if leaky gut is present, but also the reasons behind the condition so you and your doctor will know where to begin the gut renovation.

Note that the diagnosis test can either be done by a medical practitioner or through an at-home stool test. Find more information on the leaky gut syndrome and stool diagnosis on www.verisana.com. I arranged for our listeners to save 5% on any test by using the code HBN185. By the way, they will try to connect you with a doctor that knows what to do with the tests.

No matter if you have tests done or not, it surely will help the health of your gut to regularly take Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics.

References:

Saskia van Hemert et al., “Migraine Associated with Gastrointestinal Disorders: Review of the Literature and Clinical Implications”, Frontiers, November 2014.

Dr. Shahram Lavasani et al., “Intestinal barrier damage in multiple sclerosis”, ScienceDaily, September 2014 

Fasano, Alessio, and Terez Shea-Donohue. “Mechanisms of disease: the role of intestinal barrier function in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal autoimmune diseases.” Nature clinical practice Gastroenterology & Hepatology 2.9 (2005): 416-422.

Hollander, Daniel. “Intestinal permeability, leaky gut, and intestinal disorders.” Current gastroenterology reports 1.5 (1999): 410-416.

Sderholm, Johan D., and Mary H. Perdue. “II. Stress and intestinal barrier function.” American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology 280.1 (2001): G7-G13

Lisa Richards. “How Are Leaky Gut Syndrome And Candida Linked?” The candida d

The ultimate in personalization of health testing

The graphic above has 120 dots which represent the number of points on the female body (fewer on men) that are tested with the regulation thermography system. The precise measurements of skin reactions to temperature changes reveals the status of organs and systems. Those readings are then displayed in the form of graphs with priorities. 

Michelle’s real life story demonstrates the power of this type of thermography if you take action on the information:

“Before going to the Thermography Center of Dallas, I was on ADHD medication, thyroid medication, allergy pills, and an albuterol inhaler twice a day.

I had my first Thermogram late August 2018. The results were shocking. Especially because I was an active 30 year old, in great physical shape, who just “got tired” more easily than I cared to admit. My results showed that my heart was having problems; my kidneys were severely under-functioning; my body was highly acidic; I wasn’t able to cleanse properly; I had heavy metal toxicity; severe lymphatic issues; food intolerances; a severe sinus problem; high breast risk factors; and even a lot of dental toxicity.

I decided to take the leap and work with the practitioners at the Thermography Center of Dallas in hopes of reversing the my college days had apparently taken on me – You’re telling me that cheese and Triscuits are not a normal dinner…? It started off with 9 weeks of eating only steamed vegetables and protein plus drinking 75-90 oz of hot reverse osmosis water daily. Nothing in the water, no lemon or tea, just plain hot water. Fortunately, it was Fall going on Winter, so the constant warmth actually became very enjoyable and I still sip hot water all day every day, even now. An added unexpected benefit of the hot water was that my energy levels increased when I added it to my daily regimen. I felt so much more hydrated than if I had chugged a bottle of water or drank cold water. Something about the hot water is both soothing and energy-stabilizing at the same time. Honestly, I challenge anyone reading this to try it for yourself. Do an experiment where you fill a Yeti or thermal cup up with hot reverse osmosis water and sip it throughout the day, for one entire week. See how you feel. Why not?

Eating steamed veggies was even harder. As someone who grew up in a virtually veggie-free household where Bagel Bites were a daily staple, I jumped into this without the first clue how to make squash taste edible to my processed food altered taste buds. And honestly, I’m still learning. But the challenge was 110% worth the results!

When I did my second Thermogram 6 months later, the results definitely reflected all the changes I had made. My second Thermogram revealed that I no longer had any heart risks; my kidneys were functioning normally again; I had cleansed my body of heavy metal toxicity; my lymphatic system had improved; I have no more food intolerance or sinus problems; my body pH is back in balance. I got rid of the dental toxicity, and even decreased my breast risk factors by over 21%.

I still have several things I can work on, but I am excited and confident to tackle them head on knowing that with the guidance of the Thermography Center of Dallas, I can restore my own body and health in a natural, safe and very effective way!

-Michelle E., 31 year old female

See Michelle’s actual charts at this link. Although people travel long distances to visit The Thermography Center of Dallas, they may be able to direct you to a provider near you.

Which toxin will be the straw?

Which will be the one toxic “straw” that literally breaks the camel’s back…or gives it cancer or a heart attack or Alzheimer’s?

When a tanker truck of chemicals overturns or there is a chemical plant explosion or more rarely a high profile industrial chemical contamination of a food, the authorities (government and professionals) show real concern. However, they seem unconcerned that there are tens of thousands of chemicals in the air, food, water and commercial products to which we are exposed every single day. These toxins gradually accumulate in our cells and wreak havoc on normal cellular processes.

You’ve likely seen reports of animals that no longer reproduce normally and there is a mountain of evidence in the medical literature that toxins harm humans in numerous ways…causing cancer, birth defects and infertility as examples. Recently, a tiny bit of attention is being paid to the fact that chemicals can also damage our probiotic organisms that perform so many crucial functions for us. 

Those two paragraphs are the opening in my recently updated Toxins page in this website’s Library. In it, I go on to give important information about Lead, Fluoride, Mercury, Pesticides / Weed killers, BPA, Smoking and Radiation. There are also a bunch of great resources on those topics and more.

REgenerate the tissues that time and trauma DEgenerate

CLICK HERE to view the Achieve Vitality website. For a valuable complimentary consultation anywhere in the lower 48 states, call (800) 507-6509

COVID-19 NEWS: Stem cell therapy being studied at the university of Miami for the virus because of good news about that from Israel and China. Read more.

Mainstream medicine in the US is the world’s best at saving lives in an emergency! However, sadly, those brilliant physicians are neither trained in how to slow our gradual age-related slide into poor health nor in how to reverse damage and degeneration and to resist infectious disease using the body’s own impressive machinery.

When the problem is Bone-on-Bone Knee or a Bum Hip, conventional medicine is happy to install a new synthetic joint. That will hopefully last a few years, but at what cost in risk, pain, rehab time and co-pays?. Back trouble? Steroid injections are often the first step offered, but those can worsen the underlying problem. Another option for joints is a series of gel injections, but those sometimes don’t go to exactly the right spot and are a temporary fix. Hyaluronic acid shots are not without risk too. The next step is to take out the scalpel and perform what too often becomes only the first of a series of back surgeries. (Data shows that 84% of people are still in pain years after the first surgery.)

If the problem is neurological, e.g. Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, Traumatic Brain Injury or Cerebral Palsy, the usual method is medication to make the worst of the symptoms tolerable. (It is a clue to where I’m headed that those exact conditions are case studies listed in the book, Umbilical Cord Stem Cell Therapy that was written by 2 doctors.) 

If a patient’s concern is aging, the entrenched system is happy to pat us on the head and provide a pharmaceutical for every pain, complaint and errant blood test along the way. Of course, as well all know, if we’ve ever listened to the audio of a TV drug commercial, ALL medications have side effects. The drug side effects are sometimes deadly and at the least routinely generate the need for other prescriptions for the new complaints.

What if there was a therapy for ALL of those problems discussed above that was effective, fast, safe, long-lasting, easy and very nearly painless? Well, God provided exactly that! The same awesome power that built the body before birth and repaired it in our youth (stem cells) can be supplemented to put our various parts and systems back in proper working order. That might seem a bit too good to be true, but I can assure you that it is real and science proves it. If you did not hear the show August 3, 2018, I highly recommend that you listen to it. You will hear astonishing recovery stories from a debilitating back problem, bone on bone knees, Parkinson’s, kidney failure and even stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. (If stem cells can get our immune system to defeat that horrible issue, we shouldn’t be surprised that stem cells can also resolve scary viral infections. Since stem cells target any area with damage and/or inflammation, regeneration of shoulder problems, elbow problems and meniscus tears have become routine.You might ask, if that is really possible, why hasn’t my doctor recommended stem cells? That’s because breakthroughs often take 40 years to become common in medical practice (e.g. folic acid to prevent a type of birth defect). Change from current dogma is just naturally slow.  And, worse yet, if we are talking about something natural for a disease (think vitamins and herbs for instance), it can take even longer because pharmaceutical companies will pull out all the stops to slow any competing approach. Those very smart and well-funded giant companies are now firmly in control of medical schools, medical journals and the regulators at both national and state levels. Their billions in advertising also influence the media, so they are very effective at casting serious doubt on anything they don’t profit from.

In preparing this post, I borrowed another book (heavy and $295!) called MSC—Clinical Evidence Leading Medicine’s Next Frontier, Mesenchymal Stem Cells. The leading edge of that “frontier” is already available to us. I’ve seen and personally experienced the mind-blowing improvements stem cells can make. However, not all types of stem cells are the same and you probably have questions. Here are some of the answers:

• How do they work? It seems that having responded to distress signals from tissues, the stem cells then may encourage other cells into repair action. They can also become whatever type of cell is needed.
• Will they help MY problem? That’s the main question isn’t it? The most common uses (with great results) are for knees, back, Achilles tendon and other issues involving ligaments, tendons and bones. On the government science database, pubmed.gov, you can read through thousands of papers on umbilical stem cells and find encouraging studies for example on cardiovascular disease, diabetes as well as both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. For structural issues, I think it is smart to have a good chiropractor make sure everything is where it is supposed to be. You don’t want to have to do stem cells again because you failed to fix a misalignment that was causing recurring damage. If the problem is in the brain (e.g. trauma, stroke, depression or anxiety for example) I’d recommend giving the Body Light Pad a try along with stem cells.

If you have a complaint caused by degeneration or trauma even to nerve tissue, the answer is still likely “yes” it will help. However, the doctors I know and trust to provide stem cells do not treat any “diagnosis” using them. Although stem cells can be injected very close to a trouble spot, the cells are actually smarter than we are. They respond to distress calls from cells (inflammation is an example) and may go wherever they are the most needed in the body. That is why I get an infusion of stem cells periodically just to nip any problems of aging in the bud. That is also why I think that it sometimes takes longer than the usual few weeks for people to see the specific regeneration that brought them in…the cells might have been busy repairing something even more important. Listen to this 30 minute interview with experts on Stem Cells.

• How will I know? First get a consultation. I have worked it out with the network I use to provide you with a consultation at no cost if you mention Healthy by Nature. It can be done by phone. Call (800) 507-6509 from anywhere in the country and they will tell you the nearest location. (Doctors interested in offering this method can also call the same number.) If you can get to the DFW area, Dr. Brunk will even comp your x-rays if needed, again if you mention HBN.
• What is the best type? From my investigation it seems clear that stem cells from human umbilical cords are far and away the most effective, least expensive and safest. Those umbilical cords are often claimed by the mother at birth and stored for her future use. Those that are not would otherwise become medical waste. The umbilical cords are tightly controlled by what is the equivalent of blood banks. The source that seems to have the most careful quality control and density of cells extracted from the cords is called “Infiniti Matrix”.
• Is it expensive and does insurance cover it? It is hard to answer that question because budgets vary. It is a tremendous value if the procedure gives you your life back! Some clinics charge outrageous prices. (Especially those that harvest your own tired old stem cells with invasive and scary liposuction or bone marrow extractions.) The type and providers I recommend may be no more costly than the co-pay would be for some of the surgical procedures that would be the mainstream alternative. It is unlikely that insurance will cover any stem cell procedure because they like to stay in the good graces of big pharma. (If they were smart, they would!)
• Why don’t we already have enough stem cells? When we are born, we are endowed with an enormous number of stem cells. That is because they are needed to build tissues and organs of all types and help us grow. Unfortunately, as we age like so many other systems, their numbers decline…more rapidly if we have not been kind to our body. When older, we have a harder time rebounding from stresses and injury. By the time we are age 80, we only have 1% as many stem cells as we did at birth!
• Is the procedure FDA approved? The FDA has approved some stem cell procedures for certain types of cancers. On the other hand, they have sent warning letters to some fringe operators like clinics that injected a different type of material right into the eyeball. (Yikes! I would never recommend that.) Otherwise, they have neither approved or disapproved of what I am suggesting here. Hopefully, all providers of Human Umbilical Cord Stem Cell Therapy will be as careful as my folks are and not give the FDA a reason to weigh in.(It is a topic for another day, but the importance of FDA approval is greatly exaggerated. E.g. almost a third of the drugs they approve have not been shown to work.)
• Does it hurt? Not in my experience. It is a very small needle I hardly notice.
• Is there any concern about rejection, allergy or introduction of DNA from others? Not with human umbilical cord stem cells processed properly. I would not say the same is true of all other sources.

Nature is a fabulous healer, but sometimes we should give her a helping hand. Again to find a provider near you, call (800) 507-6509. For big savings and extra support, let them know you heard about them from Martie Whittekin, CCN or Healthy by Nature. To participate in a weekly webinar CLICK HERE. For a free e-book, CLICK HERE.

“Pick your poison”

That phrase was originally used in bars in reference to selecting a cocktail. But, it has expanded to cover any equally bad choices. (By the way, the straws in the photos are an environmental problem.)

First the sugar side of the story. Humans have zero nutritional need for added sugar. And, as you have heard, sugar is bad for our health. The evidence continues to grow. One recent study showed that those who consumed 25% of their calories from added sugars were TWICE as likely to die of heart disease within 15 years as those who “only” got 10% from added sugar. (That is still a lot!) Those most likely to hit that scary 25% level are people who look for “low fat” foods and consume soft drinks or sweet coffee drinks (which can be worse). There are several reasons that low fat foods are a problem. First, sugar is added to them to make up for the loss of flavor. Also, the foods are not as satisfying and so more is eaten. And, the now sugary foods tend to be addictive. Although it is possible to overdo natural sugar (fruit juices are especially problematic), the added sugars are worse. In January 2020, the FDA will require food labels to list the two types of sugar separately.

Artificial sweetener alternatives. For some time, research has shown that artificial sweeteners have a negative association with heart health, type 2 diabetes and changes to our good intestinal bacteria. A recent study showed that women who drank the equivalent of two 12-ounce cans or more a day of diet sodas were 23% more likely to have a stroke. Earlier studies showed that men are also at stroke risk. One study showed that high intake of diet drinks by pregnant women was linked to a 78% increased risk of delivering babies too early.

Neither type of soft drink is good for brain health according to the science.

Read more about various artificial sweeteners in my article on the subject. (You will see the first paragraph of this blog as an introduction.)

What is a better choice? WATER! (Listen in May for a powerful interview on Fluoridation.) 

What we should eat—SIMPLIFIED

Research clearly shows that a “bad diet” will shorten your life and likely make final years unpleasant. But, it is easy to be confused about what is a “good diet” with so many eating plans being promoted. Since we are all busy, I will present my thoughts on the subject so briefly that you will get the most important part even if you don’t make it past the first paragraph. Michael Pollan, author of In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto said “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” That is a good start. I would clarify that when he says “food” he means something that your great grandmother would recognize as such…going back to nature’s original plan. Mostly “plants” to me means we need a lot more vegetables than most of us are getting. I would add that most people should greatly reduce their intake of refined grains and try to eliminate added sugar and that certainly includes soft drinks and the sugary coffee concoctions. Oh, and if you still have an old “food pyramid” hanging around, put that in the trash.

After that, you can get fancy depending on your special health needs and philosophy. If you want to follow an eating plan that has a name, The Mediterranean Diet as described by the Mayo Clinic (which they will tell you is not pizza and spaghetti) has a lot of scientific backing. It is a plan that is not hard to follow because of the variety and flavors. In their description they say to add olive oil and I agree. But, I don’t think you have to eliminate butter. Look at the French. They eat a lot of it and are healthier than Americans. Mayo also suggest using herbs instead of salt. Herbs and spices are very healthful, but overly restricting salt is not ideal for everyone. And the beans the diet recommends don’t work for all of us. (They may be better tolerated if they are cooked in a pressure cooker.)

Many diets like the low-carb, Paleo and Keto restrict carbohydrates. None of them should keep you from eating copious amounts of green vegetables. Although most studies favor the low carb way, especially for weight loss, the science on them is confusing. That’s because some people do skimp on vegetables or overdo protein or get too much red meat which contains iron that can be an aging factor. Many of the negatives studies on low carb don’t distinguish between pasture-raised meats and the stock yard variety with its hormones, toxins and antibiotics. They often don’t even separate smoked and cured meats which are not as healthful. I recently wrote in defense of fats. Part 1 and Part 2.

Dr. Gundry’s Plant Paradox diet would have you give up what are otherwise healthful plant foods because they contain “lectins”. Sherry Rogers, MD says lectins are not a problem if your gut bacteria are in balance and your gut lining is healed. On the other hand, overdoing lectins may add to leaky gut.

Vegetarian / Vegan. Keep in mind that you could eat nothing but Twinkies and call yourself a vegetarian. Some people on a balanced diet of vegetarian foods do fine. (I am not one of them.) Vegans can take the idea to what is too often an unhealthy extreme. Lierre Keith, author of The Vegetarian Myth: Food, Justice, and Sustainability, is a reformed militant vegan. She had to give that up to regain her health. Her book exposes a lot of the widely held yet misguided ideas about animal foods.

Since we are each different, you can make up your own, e.g. the “John Doe Diet”. You might start with a base of a low carb diet with loads of vegetables. Make most proteins from wild fish and pasture-raised meats and eggs. Then, assuming you aren’t working on a major weight loss goal or a yeast overgrowth, add modest amounts of antioxidant and nutrient rich foods such as true whole grains (not brown colored white bread with some bran on top), fruits that aren’t very sweet (e.g. berries and green apples), and fermented whole fat dairy (it fares well in studies).  Many people are gluten-sensitive, so they should perhaps avoid wheat, rye and barley. If there is a special treat that you love but which breaks all the rules…have it once in a while and slowly savor it so that the feeling lasts a long time.

Do the “experts” forget that the head is attached to the body?

What causes Anxiety, Depression, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s? Here is a wacky thought—maybe it has something to do with what we do to the rest of the body. That stands to reason because the head has no independent source of fuel, oxygen, nutrients or detoxifying circulation. Obviously, we can benefit or hurt brain performance by how we treat the body. And yet, it seems that most of the research is trying to find a pharmaceutical or even high tech surgical intervention to fix the problems. Little work is done on prevention. For those of us who want to keep our brains functioning until the very end, here is some food for thought:

• What we eat. Most of us have noticed being in a better mood when we are eat and drink healthful things. A hangover is a clear example of the reverse effect. Alzheimer’s is being called “Diabetes of the Brain”. So, avoiding the starchy, sugary foods that lead to diabetes is probably a good idea. This article will shed some light on how to do that. Foods high in omega-3 fats (e.g. fish) help with depression.
• Antioxidant Supplements. Even the best diet these days is missing critical nutrients because of degradation in farming practices. Supplements not only fill in the blank spots, but can also go beyond that to be protective. Antioxidants are of primary interest. For example, vitamin C and E supplementation has been shown to reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Scientific paper. I recommend Formula 216 for the vitamin C and Famil-E for the E.
• Vitamin D. Vitamin D has a reputation for helping bones, but that is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Science is excited about D’s role in depression and other brain-related issues. Scientific article.
• Vitamin B₁₂. While all the B vitamins are involved in nervous system function, vitamin B₁₂ deficiency is notoriously associated being misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, depression, and other mental illnesses. (Taking heartburn drugs is one way people make themselves deficient.) Click here to see my favorite book on B₁₂.
• Minerals. All minerals affect the brain at least indirectly. Magnesium is of special interest because of the research done on it in the treatment of depression and anxiety. While psych medications have scary side effects, magnesium has important benefits throughout the body.
• Herbal and other. Green tea has been shown supportive of brain health. Resveratrol unlocks blood vessels in the brain and may restore some memories. Read Bill Sardi’s impressive article. For depression, you might also check out St. John’s Wort, SAMe and Rhodiola.
• Exercise. This item could easily be number one because so many studies link movement to brain health. My article lists 16 Reasons to Exercise.
• Toxicants in our food, air and water get into the brain and cause trouble. Antioxidants are one way to help with their effects, but better yet, let’s not allow the poisons to get in the brain. The far-infrared sauna is one way to lower body burden of toxins. Don’t you feel happier at the beach or near a waterfall? Part of the reason is that those locations are high in negative ions. Generate your own negative ions and clean your air with an Ionbox.
• Gut bacteria. What do the intestines have to do with the brain? A whole bunch. There is a direct gut/brain communications channel. For example, an overgrowth of yeast in the gut can cause depression and boggy brain. You have probably heard us talk about “leaky gut”. When a person has that problem they most likely also have a leaky blood/brain barrier which allows toxins in. Feed your good bacteria lots of fiber and vegetables and supplement with Ohhira’s Probiotics.
• Light therapy. I’m a fan of the Brain Light Pro for improving circulation in the brain. That should have a positive effect on all aspects of brain function and for me includes relaxation, sleep and clearer thinking.

Notice a trend? It all matters and there is more! I interviewed Dr. Bob Martin about suicide. Dr. Bob listed the following items that improve mental health: regular exercise, sunlight, family support, staying off both prescription and illegal drugs, community service, reading, staying away from negative influences, taking vacation, going to church, and having a pet. The National Suicide Lifeline is 800.273.8255.

I’d like to rewrite some headlines

You may have heard me say “why wasn’t THAT news on the front page of the paper?” (Or the TV news or your phone news feed or whatever.) I think that all the time! It seems that what makes health news is mainly what supports a big money interest or best protects the establishment. There is very little fresh thinking, investigative reporting, consideration of alternate views or any rightfully skeptical challenge to whatever drivel is spewed out from press releases and medical journals.

Medical journals used to be trustworthy. Now, many studies and whistle blowers confirm that they have been corrupted by pharmaceutical money. We must use common sense and keep a historical perspective because, as it turns out, there are many ways even well-intentioned studies can miss the mark. Dr. Ronald Hoffman wrote an excellent piece, “13 reasons why most health studies are wrong.” (In more recent work he has increased that number to 15.)

Here are some recent headlines and indented, my alternate version:

“350 Die – Congress holds hearings on the Boeing 737 Max”  Two recent crashes of that type plane caused tragic fatalities. For sure, the feds better button up the holes in the safety approval process. But, just for comparison with my point below, on a yearly basis, those deaths average fewer than 1 per day.

“Well over 1,000 die per day from pharmaceutical side effects and medical errors.” The numbers are staggering when we add up documented deaths from the side effects of drugs given in the hospital, side effects of meds taken at home, medical errors, hospital-acquired infections, and so on. And then there is the growing problem of errors in pharmacies because of under-staffing. How about you look into that, Congress? And review the actual literature on natural remedies instead of just taking the AMA’s word for it that there is no proof of effectiveness. Time for a lot more investment in prevention which is the only real solution to the disease care crisis.

“Cancer patient awarded millions” It is good news that the courts are compensating select victims and punishing Monsanto (now owned by Bayer) for the cancer-causing effects of their weed killer, Roundup. We can hope the patient lives to see the money after the inevitable delays and appeal of the verdict.

“All citizens being poisoned with Roundup” The smart (but, In my opinion, movie-plot-worthy evil) chemical giant, Monsanto has made their weed killer and the associated GMO crops so ubiquitous, that traces of Roundup are found all over the grocery store now. Eat organic as much as you can and avoid GMO crops.

 “FDA approves drug for treatment of postpartum depression”  This medicine costs $34,000, for treatment, requires hospitalization and has potentially deadly side effects.

“Nutrients and natural therapies for postpartum depression”  A study showed that the mineral magnesium was superior to medication for depression. And it has hundreds of fringe benefits. There are many natural remedies for depression after childbirth. And the report on the new drug said it acts like something from progesterone…so why not use natural progesterone cream ($25)?

 “Subscription creep” This was about how folks gradually accumulate more streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime and how those prices keep going up. (People only have so much disposable income and I hope that doesn’t cut into their nutrition budgets.)

“Prescription creep” I’d love to see more attention in the media to the fact that especially seniors are being prescribed an unreasonable number of drugs which ALL have side effects and have not been studied together. Too often drugs are from specialists who do not compare notes with the patient’s other doctors and do not give the person a clue when to stop the med. Read this story if you think the government can’t get pretty pushy about giving medications whether you want them or not. (Armed Arizona police busted into a home to grab an un-vaccinated child that they thought should have gone to the emergency room for treatment. Oops, the child’s fever had broken after the visit to the doctor and there was no need.)

Clues to Cravings

Does a food or beverage seem to control you?

This list may provide clues to the cause and remedy. Which describe you?

You stay hungry even between meals and especially crave starchy or sugary foods.

Possible causes: Eating too many carbs and not enough fats can throw leptin (an appetite and metabolism regulating hormone) out of whack. When we eat fat, that sends a signal to the brain that we are satisfied. When we eat refined carbohydrates, that spikes our blood sugar and sends a primal survival message that we are trying to store fat…so we crave more food. Being thirsty can be confused with being hungry.

What to do: Cut way back on refined carbohydrates as well as starchy and sweet foods. Read my blogs on the topic, Part 1 and Part 2. Drink a sufficient amount of clean water every day.

You crave starchy or sugary foods even when not necessarily hungry.

Possible cause: Candida yeast overgrowth. You might have an imbalance of friendly vs unfriendly critters in the intestinal track.  Yeasts may have gotten out of hand and may be ordering their “lunch” by sending out chemical messengers to make you crave their favorite food.

What to do: Take this Yeast Questionnaire. If you get a worrisome score, Read this article.

You eat frequently, need an afternoon nap or crave a soda at 4 pm just to keep up your energy and alertness.

Possible cause: Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar). Suspect this issue if before meals, you start to feel tired, blue, headachy, nervous or lightheaded and find that a soft drink, sugar or alcohol lifts you back to “normal”. This is a survival mechanism at work. The brain can’t function without a steady supply of blood sugar.

What to do: Eat more protein and fat, less starch and sugar. (See the two items just above.) A supplement like Now Glucose Metabolic Support may help you better handle the blood sugar and break bad habits. 

You need to chew ice or crave salty foods, chalk or clay.

Possible cause: The body is trying to balance electrolytes or needs minerals. Chewing ice, chalk or clay is called “Pica” and is common during pregnancy when the fetus is consuming mom’s minerals.

What to do: Avoid refined and processed foods. Eat mineral-rich whole foods, particularly vegetables. Take an excellent multivitamin such as Molecular Multi with a substantial amount of well absorbed zinc. Add a magnesium supplement because no multi has enough of this bulky mineral. Persons younger than middle age might think about calcium too. Unless you have high blood pressure that goes down when you limit salt, make sure you are getting enough sodium. The body need it and uses the chloride part of sodium chloride to make stomach acid that is needed for digestion and protection from pathogens.

You feel you must eat peanuts or some other special food every day.

Possible cause: You are having an allergic/addictive reaction. You need a “fix” of something the body reacts badly to and yet now depends upon.

What to do: Avoiding the item for 10 days often clears the system. If the craving persists, have your allergies checked out by a doctor of environmental medicine.

You crave “comfort foods” when under stress.

Possible cause: If it is just sweet and starchy foods, see the first 3 items above. If it is more like pot roast, that may remind you of pleasant Sundays when you were a kid and felt safe.

What to do: Try to find a healthful version of the food you crave. Work on the stress with exercise, meditation, magnesium, lavender oil, etc. 

You “deserve” a sweet treat when you’ve done something good or are celebrating.

Possible cause: Maybe you were rewarded with sweets when you were little, setting up an unhealthy association.

What to do: Make a list of non-food rewards and build new associations. 

You always have popcorn (or some such) on Friday nights or cereal, a bagel, donuts or pancakes for breakfast.

Possible cause: Habit.

What to do: If the food is good for you, no biggie.  Otherwise, find a healthier substitute and build a new habit. Breakfast doesn’t have to be something on the IHOP menu. Other cultures have quite a different idea about what breakfast can be.  Why not a hard-boiled egg or leftovers from dinner last night?

You drink more alcohol than you think you should.

Possible cause: Sometimes it is habits and the people you hang out with. But, if it isn’t that, consider that the root cause might be one of the nutritional issues above. (Alcohol depletes vitamin B₁ and Magnesium, so especially replace those.) Spiritual emptiness and emotional hurt can also facilitate alcohol dependence.

What to do: Read this article. Consider church support, counseling, and/or joining a 12 step program. If you don’t know where to start, go to www.CVOA.org or  Google Alcholics Anonymous