He had cancer, 7 lumps on his leg. He also had terrible breath, was overweight, had diarrhea, and he shed like crazy.

I adopted three dogs recently, one from the Fulton County Animal Shelter, and two from an individual who was advised to put one of them down.

Dayton, rescued from the animal shelter, is part pit bull, part Labrador. He is a dog with a lot of spunk and the attention span of a gnat, but he sure is a lot of fun. When I first got him he shed like crazy, had skin diseases, a nasty cough, bloody gums, and the worst doggy breath I have ever had the misfortune to smell.

Molly was severely overweight and had bleeding gums, staff infected skin rashes, ear mites, and just all kinds of parasites everywhere. She was contagious and really nasty. Oh, and of course, she shed like crazy (not just fur either). She is part Husky, German Sheppard, and chow. She’s a quite an obedient dog that has lots of love to share (Too much love! She keeps humping the other dogs! And she’s a female?!?!?!).

Rudy is part Beagle, and Dalmatian, and some kind of pointer (I am told). He is a people pleaser, always wanting to make people happy. He had cancer, 7 lumps on his leg. He also had terrible breath, was overweight (though not as much as Molly), had diarrhea, and (you may have guessed) he shed like crazy.

I put them all on the same diet. I found an organic dry dog food with meat as its main ingredient (no soy, corn, wheat, or animal bi-products). To every bowl of dried food I added an oil supplement 3-6-9 blend, Shillington, Body Balance (you can also make your own, see the recipe here), Total Nutrition Powder (I made my own, but it’s time consuming. You can get it from Dr. Shillington.), a lot of organic garlic powder, Nordic Naturals Cod Liver Oil, systemic enzymes, digestive enzymes, a tablespoon or two of coconut oil, and two raw eggs. I also added garlic, and increased garlic as they got used to it. I’ve read all about how garlic may be bad for dogs (and humans) but not in my experience. None of them were crazy about the dog food at first. The food would sit for hours before they would eat just enough to get rid of their hunger pains. But now, just two months later, they lick every bit of Total Nutrition Powder off the bowl. In fact, you should have seen the look I got today when I didn’t have time to feed them with all the good stuff. They were begging for food and it was getting late and I was so busy, I just poured some dry food in their bowls. They looked at me like I lost my mind. Four hours later the food was still sitting there and they are waiting to be properly fed.

In addition, for the first week, I gave them calcium and magnesium via this trick (used the leftover eggs in their food), Homemade Calcium and Magnesium.

It’s not just the eggs they love (though they do love the eggs). I have fed them with all of the other ingredients when I ran out of eggs and they still ate every bite.

Rudy’s cancer is almost completely gone. There is still one lump. It is much softer and getting smaller every day. It was a major battle to get rid of Molly’s ear mites, but they are gone, too. All of their other ailments are gone. Molly has dropped so much weight (I did restrict her food intake) that she has a lot of loose skin, but it is tightening up and she is vibrant and playful, a far cry from her old lethargic personality.

They shed so much less!!! They all get an itch every now and then, a flea no doubt, but we’ve had no infestations.

Did you know that our digestive system is not so different from a dog? Sure there are some differences, but how many times have you heard “people food is bad for dogs”? No worse than it is for rats, cats, bears, or humans! If people with cancer or any other “incurable” disease ate the exact same diet as my dogs, I bet they would return to health. You’re maybe thinking, “Eating dog food? Gross!” Well, yeah, maybe, but it sure isn’t as gross as the conventional meat you eat from restaurants and grocery stores. THAT’S WHAT’S DISGUSTING!

The man who had Rudy and Molly is of a conventional mind. He was buying them the most expensive dog food the vet had to offer and wondering why he kept having to take them to see the vet. This dog food was nothing but fillers like wheat and soy, along with overly processed diseased meat and meat by-products thrown in. I’m sure the high prices were justified by dumping in every single chemically, artificially produced vitamin and mineral ever printed in a study for dogs.

It wasn’t doing them any good, obviously. But now they are happy, healthy, vibrant, and looking very fit.

Oh, and I’m sure there is probably some law against saying I can cure cancer in a dog. So I won’t say it. Even though Rudy had had one tumor removed and declared malignant and his vet wanted to put him down when the “cancer” returned with a vengeance, we’ll do what we’re forced to do when discussing the human recovery from non-conventional means and say the dog is recovering from what was an obvious misdiagnosis. We know the truth. So does Rudy.

Update: I’ve had a lot more dogs and helped them heal a lot of diseases and then found them new homes. This is very similar to what I feed my dogs nowadays, along with Total Nutrition Formula (purchase here, or make it yourself). I don’t use all the other supplements anymore, but they are below under “recommended Supplements.”

Update: I kept a husky. I don’t have any other dogs and I focus my healing on humans now. She’s very healthy with an amazing coat. I feed her raw free-range beef, a raw egg, and a variety of vegetable scraps, as well as other leftovers from our food like quinoa and brown rice. She gets a pound of beef a day. Every now and then I will throw in total nutrtion. She’s been on this diet for years and she looks amazing. Never a single problem.

Recommended Supplements:

• Oil supplement 3-6-9 blend
• Shillington’s Body Balance
• Shillington’s  Total Nutrition Powder
• Systemic enzymes
• Digestive enzymes

Further Reading:

• Foods, Vitamins, and Herbs that Kill Cancer
• Cure Cancer Naturally
• Gluten, Candida, Leaky Gut Syndrome, and Autoimmune Diseases

Loose Skin

Dr. Tim O’Shea,

I lost a lot of weight. I have loose skin. It was recommended that I take a systemic enzyme. I am also considering taking the collagen supplement you recommend. I have been told that systemic enzymes somehow eat foreign protein. Is this true and will they cancel each other out?

~ Sean

DR. TIM O’SHEA: For some collagen products that’s true, but the one that I sell at thedoctorwithin.com (Hydrolyzed Collagen Protein Hydrate) one is completely bioavailable. You must do it for two months every day to see the good effect. For more information check out thedoctorwithin.com/collagen.

Something in Common with Francis

Dear Raymond Francis,

I’ve read your book, Never Be Sick Again, and was astonished by how similar our stories are. I too had my immune system collapse, and suffered from many environmental sensitivities (though not as severe as yours). Through diet and naturopathic medicine I have recovered much of my health. One thing I discovered was a severe sensitivity to gluten. Do you believe that I can reverse my inability to digest gluten when I completely restore my health?

~ Carol

RAYMOND FRANCIS ANSWERS: It is impossible to predict if gluten sensitivity can be reversed in a particular person. Whether this can happen depends on too many individual factors, including genetic makeup. That being said, I have observed numerous people overcome gluten sensitivity by rebuilding their immunity, and very importantly, rebuilding the integrity of their gut tissue. Damaged gut tissue and leaky gut are a sure-fire prescription for food allergies. Repairing gut tissue with diet, stress reduction, and supplements will often make food allergies and gluten sensitivity go away. At the very least, as you improve your health, your sensitivity will be reduced, and it will take exposure to higher amounts of the allergen to get a reaction.

Receding Gums

I have a problem with receding gums. My dentist says I need to have surgery. Is there a way I can fix this with naturopathic medicine?

~ Sara

DR. SHILLINGTON ANSWERS: Absolutely! My “Tooth & Gum” Formula works wonders in this area. Below is a success story for you to read. The stuff IS AMAZING!!!

All the best,

Doc (Ian Shillington)

Success Story: When I moved to Clearwater in October 1997, I had advanced periodontal disease. Very deep pockets existed in all of my teeth and I had been told by 3 dentists that I would lose all of my upper teeth and at least 4 of my lower teeth. In December, my friend Valorie gave me the Tooth & Gum formula to use on my gums. At the time I had a very deep and painful abscess in my upper gums extending into my sinus cavity. I swished one dropperful of Tooth and Gum formula around in my mouth and within 20 minutes the pain (that large doses of pain medication would not handle) was gone! I used the formula in this manner for the next couple of days along with Echinacea and the abscess was gone within 3 days. Daily over the next couple of months, I diluted the tooth and gum formula and used the water-pick. This was all in an effort to save some of the lower teeth. I still expected to lose all of the upper teeth and at least 4 of the lower ones.

When I went to the dentist in April 1998 to have a final evaluation and get the necessary teeth extracted, we discovered that all the pockets in the lower teeth had shrunk from 7, 8 and 9 mm back to the depth of about 3½ mm and I was able to keep all of my bottom teeth. Additionally I was able to keep 4 teeth on the top, save myself $1500, and now eat the raw veggies which I love. I was astounded!! So was my dentist. In a nutshell this tooth and gum product tightened my gums, restored the bone loss and returned the above mentioned teeth and surrounding gums to a healthy state. All the best,

Mary O – WA

Fingernails

A few years ago I noticed ridges in my fingernails from root to tip. Then my thumbnails thickened. They break in chunks. What causes this, and what can I do to reverse it?

~ Janie

RYAN HARRISON, MA: Many women spend a good deal of time and money on their nails. Unfortunately, cosmetic care isn’t necessarily the best way to keep your nails healthy. In fact, nail polish itself can actually remove the natural fat found in nails, leading to brittleness.

Keratin is the component responsible for a nail’s firmness and if a person is experiencing nail brittleness or splitting, a deficiency of keratin is typically the underlying cause. This deficiency can be caused by malnutrition, malabsorption, or a metabolic defect such as low stomach acid. Your body will synthesize keratin, but you need to be sure you’re giving it the nutrients it needs to do so. These include calcium, molybdenum, sulfur, and zinc. Increase your intake of whole grains, organic dairy products, legumes, and toxin-free fish to ensure you’re getting these nutrients. Get an extra nail-healthy boost of the vitamin biotin from brewer’s yeast, saltwater fish and soybeans, as well.

Another way to increase your nail-enhancing mineral intake is to make and drink a tea made from nettle leaves, horsetail herb, chamomile, and yarrow flowers. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 tbsp of a mixture of these herbs. Let it steep for 15 minutes and then drink 1 cup up to 3 times, daily. Finally, be sure that you are caring for your nails in an appropriate manner. Filing your nails is gentler than clipping, but don’t exert too much pressure when filing. And never push back your cuticles with a hard or sharp object, which may cause the nail to develop grooves or break off faster. Instead, oil or soak your cuticles and push them back gently with your fingertips.

Sensitive Teeth

I have very sensitive teeth. I can’t eat cold foods at all. What’s wrong with my teeth and what can I do? I take calcium supplements, and I do eat veggies and drink milk. Can I still be low on calcium?

~ Patricia

RYAN HARRISON, MA: Sensitive teeth can have several causes. Most commonly, as a person’s gum line recedes, the roots of teeth can end up exposed. These roots can be very sensitive to hot and/or cold or to pressure. Another cause is the exposure of a tooth’s root when the tooth’s enamel is broken, cracked, or chipped. Finally, as with many other health issues, there can also be an emotional or psychological component; the pain manifests in the teeth, but really starts somewhere else.

For teeth that are sensitive due to receding gums or pores in the tooth itself, most dentists prescribe a toothpaste that contains potassium nitrate, which fills pores and helps numb the pain. Unfortunately, like many other components of standard dental care, potassium nitrate is a toxic chemical. Its MSDS registration lists it as “harmful if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin” and states that it “causes irritation to skin, eyes and [the] respiratory tract.” Is this really something you want to put in your mouth, where chemicals are quickly and easily absorbed through oral membranes?

More natural approaches to calming sensitive teeth include herbal, nutritional, and energetic recommendations. As far as herbs go, you might find a blend of nervine (nerve-calming) herbs to be very helpful. Capsules containing equal parts of herbs such as lavender, hops, valerian, chamomile, and skullcap, when taken regularly, can help decrease pain and soothe irritated nerves. Be careful, however, in your dosage and usage of these herbs. They can also have sedative effects. Check with a knowledgeable herbalist before starting any herbal regimen.

There is anecdotal evidence to suggest that tooth enamel can be “rebuilt” – a process referred to as “remineralization” – if the proper steps are followed. In large part, this requires adherence to some dietary instructions that reduce the acidity of saliva while also introducing foods and/or supplements high in calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D.

Additionally, some essential oils such as myrrh, clove, and goldenseal may be used to help cleanse the mouth and safely reduce pain. Speak with a qualified naturopath to determine what would work best for you.

Finally, I would suggest that your first step be approaching the issue from a psychological angle. While it may seem strange, it’s well proven that a person’s state of mind can affect her physical wellbeing. And though we are making great strides in understanding the mind’s relationship with the body, it’s still pretty hard to tell when a physical ailment is (or isn’t) caused by some kind of mental/emotional stressor. There’s a very powerful, efficient, and surprisingly simple energetic technique that helps alleviate a host of physical conditions by removing mental/emotional charges called EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques). It has an impressive track record for calming the body and mind and reversing even deep-seated complaints, sometimes within minutes. A professional EFT practitioner will be able to help you explore this possibility.

Email your questions to questions [at] organicmail.net. Questions may be edited for clarity or length.

If you were to leave a kernel of spelt, hard red winter wheat, rye, barley, or any other grain on your dining room table for the next five years, it wouldn’t rot or decompose. Grains were found  in the pyramids. Not only were they intact after two thousand years, but when water was added, some of the kernels grew. There is a reason why grains don’t easily decompose. Grains, seeds, tree nuts, and most beans, contain a live, biochemical agent called an enzyme inhibitor. Enzyme inhibitors stop enzyme activity until the right conditions exist for germination. This is nature’s way of preserving the life force in a seed so it can reproduce.

Foods with enzyme inhibitors are very difficult to digest, and they slow down the naturally occurring enzyme activity in your body. Every time you eat regular pasta, bread, cake, cereal, and all other grain products, or nuts, seeds and beans, you are slowing down the communication processes throughout your entire body and suppressing your body’s ability to function at peak performance. Ingesting enzyme inhibitors causes obesity, lethargy, gas, bloating, high blood pressure, gastrointestinal difficulties, an enlarged pancreas, diabetes, destruction of the body’s own natural production of enzymes, and an overall general condition of poor health.

Enzyme inhibitors make meat protein more difficult to utilize, while causing animal fats to concentrate, and cholesterol and triglyceride levels to rise.

So does this mean we should eliminate all of these foods because they’re bad for us? Absolutely not! All we have to do is to prepare them correctly to release the enzyme inhibitors. Once the enzyme inhibitors are gone, grains, seeds, tree nuts, and beans are some of the most perfect foods. They are very high in assimilable amino acids (proteins) and extremely rich in the exact kinds of enzymes
our bodies need to keep us in good physical condition.

So, how do you get rid of enzyme inhibitors? The answer is simple. Sprouting! Water unlocks enzyme inhibitors. Soaking these foods in water sends them into “sprout mode” and starts the germination process.

Put sunflower seeds in a sprouting jar, add water, and let them soak. Empty the water at the end of 8 hours and place the jar out of direct sunlight. Prop it at a 45 degree angle so it can drain. Rinse your seeds twice during the next 12 to 16 hours. To allow for air circulation, be sure the seeds do not cover more than half of the jar lid. After 24 hours, drain your seeds well and spread them on unbleached paper towels on a cookie sheet and let them dry. The enzyme inhibitors will be gone and your seeds will be bursting with flavor!

Sprouting not only eliminates enzyme inhibitors, it also turns acidic grains, nuts and seeds into alkaline foods.

Only eat breads and pasta made from sprouted grains. Soak and sprout your seeds, nuts, and beans. A great book with charts on germination times for various foods is Dining in the Raw by Rita Romano.

Recommended Supplements:

• Systemic Enzymes
• Digestive Enzymes

Human glyoxalase I. Two zinc ions that are needed for the enzyme to catalyze its reaction are shown as purple spheres, and an enzyme inhibitor called S-hexylglutathione is shown as a space-filling model, filling the two active sites.

There are several different kinds of enzymes. The ones I focus on typically are digestive enzymes and systemic enzymes.

Digestive enzymes like hydrochloric acid and pepsin are the primary things you need in your stomach to help digest proteins and minerals. They also help to sterilize the stomach and kill parasites, bacteria, mold, micro spores, etc. Ideally your stomach is the only place in your body that’s acidic, and it should be extremely acidic. After the mouth the stomach is the beginning of all chemical and digestive reactions in your body. You need all the atomic energy in there to break up the molecules and to get things ready and assembled for digestion. If you put protein like meat in water it will just set there; it won’t break down. Put the same protein in a strong hydrochloric acid and it will dissolve relatively quickly, and that’s what you want to have happen. You want things to dissolve relatively quickly. You don’t want food just sitting there rotting in your stomach. That’s the reason you need to avoid drinking fluids during your meals. They will dilute the acids. As you can imagine, taking antacids while you are trying to digest foods pretty much puts a stop to everything.

Digestive enzymes work in the stomach to digest food, while quality systemic enzymes are enterically coated to prevent contact with the stomach acid. This way they pass through the stomach into the intestines where they are absorbed by the body.

We are born with the ability to produce a certain amount of systemic enzymes. Systemic enzymes fight
inflammation, fibrosis (scar tissue), and viruses; modulate the immune system; and cleanse the blood. These enzymes are a kind of scavenger hunter. They go after foreign protein, things that shouldn’t be there. They’ll go after scar tissue, a cyst, bacteria, parasites, viruses. Virtually anything that doesn’t belong in your body is like food to these enzymes. We’ve even seen systemic enzymes kill heartworms in cats. And when you are young you can bump into things, fall, scratch yourself, and your body healed easily, and quickly, often not leaving a scar when you thought it would. You
didn’t have aches or pains, you healed so easily. But as they get older, the typical person does not ingest enough systemic enzymes and the body realizes it’s running out of them. So it begins to ration them, because if you completely run out, you can’t survive. Three days after you run out of enzymes you are dead. Your body always needs enough in reserve for the unexpected.

So you get into your 20’s and you don’t heal as quickly. You get into your thirties and you notice you scar more easily. You may even be developing permanent aches and pains. The reason you are running out of
these enzymes and not replenishing them is because you are not doing what you used to do, what all other animals do in nature, you aren’t eating living things.

When you pick an apple off of a tree, you get enzymes. When you eat an apple fallen from the tree a few days ago, you’re getting fewer enzymes. If you eat an apple off the shelf at the grocery store, well, you get the idea. It’s not rotten, it may have everything else you need, but the enzymes are gone.

Fish eat other fish, giraffes eat leaves, lions eat living prey, and we eat dead food. And we don’t heal like we should and we don’t digest our food like we should. We need these enzymes.

In Germany and Japan, two countries with the best healthcare in the world, you would be given systemic enzymes for almost any treatment. If you had kidney problems, they would include these enzymes in your treatment. If you were in an auto accident driving on the autobahn and sustained a spinal cord injury they would give you a retention enema with the equivalent of about 300 enzyme capsules to save you from major damage and reduce the possibility of major paralysis.

Dr. Kelly recommends Betaine HCl and Pepsin from Thorne for digestive enzymes and Vitälzym X for systemic enzymes.

Our contributor, Dr. Shillington, tells us there are more enzymes in one papaya seed than in a whole store-bought enzyme capsule. The papaya seed also has all the nutrients necessary for almost instant assimilation.

Spread the seeds of an organic papaya (must be organic) on a wax paper covered plate or cookie sheet. Let them dry out for atleast a week. (If you have a food dehydrator it will take a few days). Then put them in a salt or pepper mill (or crush with a mortar pestle). Just grind them over your food as you would fresh pepper. In fact, papaya seeds are a bit spicy and taste similar to pepper, so they are an excellent substitute.

Fresh pineapple is another great source for enzymes. Buy one and eat it. Your body will thank you for days.

Enzymes in Food

Did you know your body is converting enzymes into other different enzymes all the time? By eating fresh, organic pineapple and organic papaya seeds, you’ll get all the enzymes you need, and your body will know how to convert
these enzymes into the ones it needs most.

Recommended Supplements:

• Systemic Enzymes
• Digestive Enzymes

One of the most commonly asked questions we receive at OLM is, “What one thing can I do to be healthier?” A diet of primarily raw fresh vegetables and fruits is the foundation for good health. If you are not as healthy as you would like to be, there is nothing more important. Even if you smoke, or don’t eat organic, and/or don’t exercise, adopting a raw food diet is still our first recommendation. We even recommend eating a raw food diet before we recommend supplements.

This takes people by surprise, especially since I own a supplement store. I have plenty of supplements on hand for acute health issues and first aid, but I only take Total Nutrition Formula, SF722, and systemic enzymes regularly.

There is a lot of controversy as to whether or not eating 100% raw is healthy. We do believe that a 100% raw food diet can be very healthy if done right with enough variety. If you are interested in eating 100% raw this article can help you get started. We also recommend you get to know Raw Chef Dan (see next article). But we recommend going at least 80% raw for practical reasons. And, if you cut out junk food completely (this includes “organic” junk food) and make sure that two of your three daily meals as well as any and all snacks are raw fresh fruits and vegetables (1:4 ratio), you will achieve a significantly higher level of health. For many people, eating this way rids the body of disease and ailments. For individuals who have led a toxic lifestyle for too long, more help is needed to restore the body to health.

People often point to the fact that there is not enough variety in a raw food diet to maintain good health. If a raw food diet to you means carrot sticks, celery and apples, then you’re right. My daily routine consists of a salad for breakfast and sometimes for lunch and/or dinner. On the days I do not have two salads, I have a smoothie. How do I get variety if I eat almost the same thing every day? Each of my salads contains at least 10 different kinds of vegetables. I get more nutrition in one salad than most people get in a whole week, maybe a month. My smoothies are nothing to scoff at, either. One salad and/or smoothie and I know I am set for the day. I must admit I do still love to eat, so I actually eat too much. Though I also work out pretty heavily on a regular basis, I imagine I could do better with about half the calories I consume.

My Daily Salad

Want to know how to make an incredible salad? Here are the main ingredients for my salad:

• Spinach
• Arugula
• Collard Greens
• Spring mix
• Dandelion
• Leeks
• Red onions
• Red cabbage
• Red bell pepper
• Rainbow chard
• Beet greens
• Grated beet root
• Graded carrots
• Graded zucchini
• Cucumbers
• Cilantro
• Pomegranate (seed)
• Raisins
• Sesame seeds
• Ground papaya seeds
• Avocado

I also throw in chick peas, a three bean salad combination, and/or some raw sheep cheese I get at my local farmers’ market. I always put two to three soft boiled eggs in my salad. Obviously I am not a vegan, but if you are, this salad is good enough without the cheese and eggs. The salad is also great with chicken or steak.

Update: Now I don’t do the cheese. I don’t do meat either. I still eat eggs, but am very considerate of where and how they are sourced. The avocado makes it so I don’t miss the cheese. But, for those who are not vegan, and concerned about getting enough calories, add what you want. Just please make sure all animal products were as humanely treated and healthy as possible.

There are tons of recipes for raw and healthy salad dressings. I love my own creation.

My Balsamic Salad Dressing Recipe

To make my salad dressing, I start with equal parts oil and vinegar (keep in mind that both olive oil and balsamic vinegar have a lot of imitators).

• 3/4 cup of flax seed oil
• 1/4 cup of coconut oil
• 1/2 cup of balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar
• 6 tablespoons turmeric
• 1 table spoon basil
• Two teaspoons unrefined sea salt
• Two teaspoons fresh ground pepper
• Two tablespoons Dijon mustard

Do it all to taste if you want, but stay heavy on the turmeric; it’s very good for you, and it’s the most important ingredient to this recipe.

This salad dressing will have even the pickiest kids eating vegetables. It’s very versatile. Use it as a dip, a marinade, or whatever. It’s amazing.

Obviously this is not a 100% raw salad. But it’s mostly raw and very healthy. If you want to adopt a 100% raw food diet then find a great raw salad dressing and skip the peas, beans, eggs, and cheese. It’ll be healthier that way too.

Super Antioxidant Smoothie

I don’t have a smoothie every day. For health, nothing beats a great salad. But I do crave smoothies a few times a week.

• 1 cup apple juice
• 1 cup fresh berries
• ½ pomegranate (seeds)
• 1 raw egg (organic only!)
• ½ banana
• 1 large kale leaf
• 2 tablespoons nutrition powder (see below)
• 1 tablespoon Udo’s Oil with DHA

Nutrition Powder

Total Nutrition Formula, is the best nutritional support available. You can also make your own.  I don’t do smoothies everyday (salads are better), but when ever I do, I add my nutrition powder.

Conclusion

It takes time to adapt to a healthy lifestyle. I don’t spend much on groceries, but that’s because I’ve learned where and how to shop for the best deals. Local organic farmers’ markets are the best places to get the healthiest produce for a fraction of the cost you would spend at a conventional grocery store. It used to take me a lot of time to make smoothies and salads but I’ve learned to make them very quickly. I still spend more time than most preparing food, but health is my priority, my hobby, my most important investment. I’ll take the time.

The holidays are here—a time for family, friends, food, and, unfortunately, sickness. Colds and flus are common, and everyone blames them on the colder weather. But many alternative health care practitioners say the weather has nothing to do with germs, since germs are everywhere at all times. Some go so far as to say that you can’t “catch” a cold. Try telling that to a mom who just put her child in preschool or daycare. Too often the whole family will fight one infection after another.

You can “catch” a cold. They are certainly contagious. And while germs are everywhere at all times, I believe it is true that when your body is subjected to a significant climate change and other stress factors (such as in-laws visiting for Thanksgiving, or a tight budget and a Christmas shopping list), your immune system can become vulnerable. And if your immune system is vulnerable, you are more likely to “catch” something if you come in contact with a high concentration of a virus or bacteria.

There are many factors involved in getting sick. But one of those factors is always a lack of nutrition and/or an accumulation of toxins (and the two are typically one and the same). I will not get sick this holiday season. I also doubt very much that Dr. Kelly, Dr. Shillington, Eric Harr, or most of our other regular contributors will “catch” anything, either. While my opinion does differ from that of many alternative health care practitioners with regard to the issue of weather changes, I’m sure we agree you have to have the right breeding ground—a compromised immune system.

An easy way to compromise your immune system (the most common way, especially this time a year) is to eat candy, desserts, processed and refined foods, and to drink alcohol.

I will certainly partake in many of the holiday traditions which include eating and drinking some foods and beverages that are not good for me, but I will limit them. I will choose carefully, and most importantly, I will listen to my body. When you are eating something bad for you, you can feel it in your mouth and your throat and then in your stomach. You will feel the first signs of sickness in your throat and sinuses. Your sense of smell will heighten and everything will smell stale, and that’s when you can really tell if something is not good for you. Right before you get sick, your body will let you know if it doesn’t want something. Don’t ignore it.

I will also have echinacea and Total Tonic on hand at all times, and I will have Bio-gest and Vitälzym (digestive enzymes and systemic enzymes). I will also be sure to continue to get optimal amounts of nutrition from both the foods I eat and my multivitamin/mineral supplementation.

Health is not so much a goal as it is a series of choices that one makes while carefully listening to the body.

Sincerely,

Michael Edwards

Editor in Chief