Vital Votes - Natural Health Articles by Dr. Joseph Mercola

Health Care Costs Threaten American Businesses

Dr. Mercola — Tue, 13 May 2008 11:58:20 GMT

Rising health care costs may be putting American businesses at a disadvantage compared to firms overseas, according to a new study.

In the U.S. health care system, 60 percent of all residents are covered by employer-sponsored health insurance. This may increase the risk that the U.S. will lose good jobs to companies in other countries.

U.S. firms spent twice as much on health care in 2005 as their foreign competitors. U.S. companies spent $2.38 per hour for every American worker making $18 an hour. In contrast, firms in Canada, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom and France spent only 96 cents each hour for a worker making $20 per hour.

The average worker contribution for family health insurance has also increased by a staggering 102 percent since 2000.

U.S. Government Tries to Stop Mad Cow Testing

Dr. Mercola — Tue, 13 May 2008 11:58:14 GMT

The Bush administration has urged a federal appeals court to stop meatpackers from testing all their animals for mad cow disease. A skeptical judge questioned whether the government has that authority.

The government is seeking to reverse a lower court ruling allowing Kansas-based Creekstone Farms Premium Beef to conduct more comprehensive testing in order to satisfy demand from overseas customers.

Less than one percent of slaughtered cows are tested for the disease under Agriculture Department guidelines. The agency argued that widespread testing could result in a false positive that would scare consumers.

Creekstone attorney Russell Frye contended that the agency has no authority to prevent companies from using additional tests to reassure customers.

Larger meatpackers have opposed Creekstone's desire to use wider testing out of fear that consumer pressure would force them to begin testing all animals too. Increased testing would raise the price of meat by a few cents per pound.

Acrylamide Raises Kidney Cancer Risk

Dr. Mercola — Tue, 13 May 2008 11:58:10 GMT

Large amounts of acrylamide, a chemical found in French fries, cakes, and snacks, can raise the risk of kidney cancer, especially in smokers.

Studies of the chemical have been ongoing since 1994, when the chemical was classified as a probable human carcinogen. In 2002, Swedish scientists found that the chemical was present in carbohydrate-rich foods produced at high temperatures.

New research followed more than 120,000 men and women, for more than 13 years. Those who took in the most acrylamide had a 59 percent higher risk of kidney cancer than those consuming the least.

Have Drug Ads Gone Too Far?

Dr. Mercola — Tue, 13 May 2008 11:58:05 GMT

According to lawmakers and the American Medical Association, drug makers have been deceptively marketing their products to the public.

The AMA suggested that a moratorium be placed on ads for newly approved drugs until doctors are educated and regulators have signed off on the messages. Representative Bart Stupak said Congress should consider new restrictions on ads.

Drug makers spent $5.4 billion last year on direct-to-consumer advertising. That represents a 500 percent increase since regulatory rules changed a decade ago, allowing drug makers to more easily air commercials. Lawmakers are arguing that the ads gloss over risks, and may cause he overprescription of expensive medicines.

New Zealand is the only country other than the U.S. that allows drug ads on television.

Profound Thoughts About Relationships And Patience

Dr. Mercola — Tue, 13 May 2008 11:57:56 GMT

The book "Take Your Time -- Finding Balance in a Hurried World," by Eknath Easwaran, contains the following passage:

"Most relationships begin to fall apart through disagreements, and disagreements are not settled by argumentation and logic. They are resolved -- or, more accurately, dissolved -- through patience. Without patience you start retaliating, and the other person gets more upset and retaliates too. Instead of retaliating with a curt reply, slow down and refrain from answering immediately. As soon as you can manage it, try a smile and a sympathetic word.

"So much of the richness of life is to be found in companionship that I can not stress strongly enough how important it is to heal bonds that have weakened and to bring freshness back to relationships that have grown stale."

This is very true. What’s more, the less you try to force things, the faster they seem to happen. The more you try to force things, the longer you usually wait for results.

You might want to ask yourself the following questions, and trust your first responses:

What am I pushing to happen right now?

With whom do I tend to be most impatient?

In recognizing my impatience, can I become more patient with this individual?

In what other areas of my life will increased patience serve me?

What action is required in my life at this time?

It's Wrong to Rob Parents of Choice

Dr. Mercola — Tue, 13 May 2008 11:57:51 GMT

According to British Labour MP Mary Creagh, children who have not received all their vaccinations should not be allowed to start school.

Public confidence in vaccination, and in the MMR vaccine combination in particular, has fallen after research raised the possibility that the injection may be linked to an increased risk of autism.

Many parents have argued that Creagh’s proposed measure would take away their ability to make judgments regarding their children’s health.

Your Metabolism Isn't to Blame for Your Weight

Dr. Mercola — Tue, 13 May 2008 11:57:49 GMT

If you’ve been blaming a slow metabolism for your weight problems, think again.

The EPA Doesn't Care if You Drink Rocket Fuel

Dr. Mercola — Mon, 12 May 2008 12:14:11 GMT

An EPA official has said that there is a “distinct possibility” the agency won’t take action to rid drinking water of the toxic rocket fuel ingredient perchlorate, which has contaminated water supplies around the U.S. Perchlorate has been found in at least 395 sites in 35 states.

Democratic senators called that unacceptable, arguing that states and local communities shouldn’t have to bear the expense of cleansing their drinking water.

The toxin interferes with thyroid function and poses developmental health risks, especially to fetuses.

Will Success Destroy Organic Foods?

Dr. Mercola — Mon, 12 May 2008 12:14:02 GMT

Organic foods may be becoming a victim of their own success. Production can no longer keep up with demand, and many are saying that the initial ideals of clean, natural and healthy produce have been sacrificed for profit.

In Europe, many fruits, vegetables and honey must now be imported from places as far away as Turkey and Latin America. For many, the organic philosophy is a profession of faith in a healthy lifestyle that respects the environment -- a view that does not jibe well with tomatoes flown from Chile, generating pollution in the process.

For Wolfgang Gutberlet, head of the German supermarket chain Tegut: "Organic is not just the lack of toxic elements, it is something that looks at the entire production process." Organic products sold in supermarkets, he argued, may not be suitable for purists.

Obesity Can Destroy Your Mind

Dr. Mercola — Mon, 12 May 2008 12:13:58 GMT

Obesity may increase your risk of dementia. An analysis of published obesity and dementia follow-up studies over the past two decades shows a consistent relationship between the two diseases.

Preventing obesity in children could therefore play a major role in reducing the number of dementia patients, and those with other commonly associated illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease, by up to 20 percent in the United States.

The findings come from a systematic review of 10 previously published studies that examined the relationships between dementia or its subtypes and various measures of body fat. Based on a pooled analysis, baseline obesity increased the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by 80 percent on average. Being underweight also increases the risk of dementia and its subtypes.

Is Your Doctor as Healthy as You Are?

Dr. Mercola — Mon, 12 May 2008 12:13:55 GMT

Should you seek out doctors who are physically active?

Dr. Ronald Davis, president of the American Medical Association, thinks that may be wise. He cites a study by Dr. Erica Frank, which seemed to show that doctors who are physically active are also more likely to provide meaningful advice on exercise.

Doctors who are athletes are less likely to give untoward advice, such as saying that running destroys the knees or that you need an electrocardiogram before you can exercise. Athletic doctors are also less likely to tell an active person who is injured or ill to stop exercising.

Five Principles That Can Heal Virtually Any Illness, Part 1

Dr. Mercola — Mon, 12 May 2008 12:13:49 GMT

In this first video of a three part series, Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt explains the first two levels of The Five Levels of Healing.

The Five Levels of Healing are based on a healing model developed some 12,000 years ago. It has been the influence for Tibetan medicine, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), as well as Ayurvedic medicine. At its core, the model simply states that you are not just your physical body. You are also surrounded and penetrated by four other invisible energy bodies.

The first level is your physical body; the basis of your physical structure and your biochemistry. You can perceive this first level with your five senses. However, there's more to your physical body than meets the eye, which Dr. Klinghardt explains in fascinating detail in this video.

The second level is your energy body, which surrounds your physical body and where the forces of physics play out. Your energy body helps regulate your physical body.

Don't miss Part 2 of this series, which will be posted next week, in which Dr. Klinghardt reviews the third level of the Five Levels of Healing.

The last part of this series, Part 3 (which goes over the fourth and fifth levels), will follow in two weeks.

Reasons to Work Out That Have Nothing to Do With a Sexy Bod

Dr. Mercola — Mon, 12 May 2008 12:13:38 GMT

Motivation can be the greatest challenge in developing a permanent exercise habit. Vanity is one of the most common motivators, but it isn’t a great one for many people. When you associate exercise with rewards beyond physical appearance, you may find yourself hitting the gym far more often.

Here are some powerful reasons to work out that have nothing to do with looking good.

Testosterone

For men especially, when you lift weights and gradually increase the level of resistance, your muscles produce testosterone, giving you the energy, stamina, and aggressiveness you need to take on the world.

Clarity and Concentration

An active body has been linked to an active mind. The more consistently you exercise, the less prone you’ll be to grogginess and lapses in concentration.

Reflection

Exercise is a time to let your mind unwind while your body does the work.

Enjoyment

There are many enjoyable ways to exercise, such as going for a run or bike ride along a beautiful route.

Cleansing

Sweating regularly through exercises removes toxins.

Better Sleep

Studies have shown that exercise improves sleep.

Longer Life

People who exercise regularly live longer and stay healthier into old age.

Stress Relief

Exercise has also been shown to reduce stress.

Superior Strength and Endurance

By exercising regularly, you’ll be better able to live and act, and in the event of an emergency, seize the moment.

Self Confidence

The sum of all these benefits is self confidence. Self confidence drives success, so its value can’t be underestimated.

Should the Birth-Control Patch be Pulled From the Market?

Dr. Mercola — Mon, 12 May 2008 12:13:31 GMT

The consumer advocacy group Public Citizen has petitioned the U.S. government to pull the birth-control patch off the market, saying that it is far riskier than the pill.

Warnings about the Ortho-Evra weekly patch have escalated since a 2005 investigation found patch users face higher rates of life-threatening blood clots than women who take birth-control pills. Demand has dropped from about 9.9 million prescriptions filled in 2004 to 2.7 million filled in 2007.

Some studies suggest patch users have twice the risk of clots in the legs and lungs as women who use the pill, because patients on the patch absorb up to 60 percent more estrogen.

New Anti-Obesity Drugs Can Stunt Kids' Brains

Dr. Mercola — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:27:42 GMT

A study found that cannabinoid receptor antagonists, a relatively new class of weight loss drugs, stunted the brains of juvenile mice. It is possible that such drugs could have similar effects on human children.

Several new anti-obesity treatments, including Merck's taranabant and rimonabant -- sold in Europe as Acomplia -- reduce appetite by blocking the brain's cannabinoid receptors. But they also have disturbing side effects that are only now becoming apparent.

Other researchers have found that cannabinoid receptor blockers interfere with neural connectivity in rat brains -- a phenomenon associated with depression in humans. The FDA has so far refused to approve Acomplia because it appears to cause anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts.

Nitrates in Vegetables Protect You Against Gastric Ulcers

Dr. Mercola — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:27:39 GMT

Fruits and vegetables that are rich in nitrates can protect your stomach from damage. The nitrates are converted into nitrites by the bacteria in your mouth, and then subsequently transformed into biologically active nitric oxide in the stomach.

That means that antibacterial mouthwashes can also be harmful for the stomach.

Nitrate-rich vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, radishes and beetroot activate the mucous membranes' own protective mechanisms, reducing the risk of problems such as gastric ulcers.

Charges Dropped Against Doctor in Case of Autistic Boy's Death

Dr. Mercola — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:27:35 GMT

Criminal charges have been dropped against a doctor accused of causing the death of a 5-year-old autistic boy.

Dr. Roy Kerry was using chelation therapy on Abubakar Tariq Nadama in 2005. Chelation is an approved treatment for acute heavy metal poisoning; some believe it is a promising treatment for autism, but the FDA and CDC do not agree.

The CDC claimed that the boy was given a synthetic amino acid called Disodium EDTA instead of Calcium Disodium EDTA. Kerry's attorney, Al Lindsay, denied that the use of the drug was an incorrect choice, that it was administered improperly, and that it caused the boy’s death. Lindsay said the boy died of a lack of oxygen to the brain, which was caused by a heart problem not associated with the drug.

Kerry still faces a civil lawsuit by the boy's parents.

Workouts Sculpt Heart As Well As Muscles

Dr. Mercola — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:27:31 GMT

Exercise can cause structural changes in the heart -- and the changes can vary depending on the type of exercise.

Researchers found that endurance athletes showed an increase in the size of both their left and right ventricles after 90 days of team training. However, athletes who only did strength training had excessive growth in their left ventricles, but no change at all in their right ventricle size.

In addition, the ability of the left ventricle to fully relax between beats was enhanced in the endurance athletes, but it worsened in the strength trainers.

It is possible that this could point the way towards tailored recommendations for rehabilitation and recreational exercise for people with heart problems.

A Controversial Cancer Treatment in Cancun

Dr. Mercola — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:27:25 GMT

Some Americans are going to Mexico for a prostate cancer treatment that is unobtainable in the United States, even though it was developed in the U.S. and is legal nearly everywhere else in the world.

The treatment is called HIFU, or high intensity focused ultrasound. It literally burns away cancerous cells using focused ultrasound waves. Europe, Canada, Japan, Mexico and many other countries have accepted the science behind HIFU, but the U.S. FDA has demanded lengthy scientific trials before approving the technology.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer found in U.S. men, and it is usually treated with surgery, radiation or hormone injections. All of these options have devastating potential side-effects on urinary and erectile function.

Beat the Monday Blues

Dr. Mercola — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:27:19 GMT

Monday! So full of newness and excitement. Don’t feel the same way? Then maybe you’re doing it wrong. Here are some ways to help you beat the Monday Blues:

Wear your best clothes or the cheeriest color from your wardrobe. You’d be surprised how much they affect the way you feel about yourself.

Treat yourself in the morning. Sit down and eat. Enjoy your food.

Complete as much work possible on Friday. You’ll have less work to worry about on Monday.

Listen to happy songs -- a tune can affect your mood.

Dance. Just move your body! Jog in place, stretch, or do yoga. You’ll feel less lethargic.

Laugh and smile. Some research says that even the thought of laughing raises your endorphin level.

Choose to feel happy. Being happy is a choice, so choose happiness.

For more suggestions, click the link below!

How to Fuel Your Idea Machine

Dr. Mercola — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:27:10 GMT

If you believe you don’t need ideas, think again. Not everyone is an artist, but everyone must be creative; it’s a necessity when you face life problems on a day-to-day basis. Solving problems is the application of creativity to reality.

Reading books, fiction and non-fiction, fuels your idea machine. You can’t create ideas without input. Life experiences and memories are your starter inputs, but non-fiction books allow you to branch out into the experiences of others, and fiction allows you to reach the realm of experiences nobody ever had.

Escaping into a book is a fantastic way to cope with a stressful life and lower your blood pressure for a while. It allows you to de-stress without actually turning your brain off. Your mind can be stimulated and rejuvenated at the same time.

And with books, your mind has to create the visuals and sounds all on its own. If you swap out just one of your regular television shows for regular fiction reading, then you can exercise your creativity on a more regular basis.

Chemical-Free Strategies to Trick Yourself Out of the Blues

Dr. Mercola — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:01:22 GMT

Serious depression calls for treatment. But if all you need is some help rising above life’s little letdowns, you might be able to manipulate your mood with these quick mental fakeouts.

Put on a blue shirt

Blue is generally relaxing, while orange is the biggest irritant.

Pause your mental TiVo

Stop what you’re doing, close your eyes, and quickly count to ten while strongly pressing your right thumb and forefinger together. Now do the same with your left hand. Repeat this five times. This will clear your mind.

Recruit an anger buddy

Find a thick-skinned friend who’ll let you verbally assault him when the situation warrants. Make sure you’re willing to return the favor. Make sure the tirade is brief, private, and somewhat controlled.

Fabricate a smile

Grin. According to experts, people who are manipulated into smiling report feeling better instantly -- going through the motions can trigger the emotions.

Clean your room

Most people don’t’ realize how much clutter causes stress. Pick clothes off the floor, remove glasses from the coffee table, make your bed.

Climb the stairway to heaven

Music has been shown to reduce stress and have a positive effect on health.

Order Chinese

According to recent research, ginger and broccoli may temporarily help relieve depression.

Dot your eyes

Draw two dots an inch or so apart on a piece of white paper. Stare at the space between them with an out-of-focus gaze until they merge. Release and repeat three times.

Sniff a lemon

Nice smells such as fresh fruit, a looming thunderstorm, or just-mowed grass can turn your beat around.

Chop till you drop

Cook something from scratch. You are now in touch with your primal self; destroying and creating at the same time is the ultimate mood lifter.

Good News About Big Bottoms

Dr. Mercola — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:01:17 GMT

A type of fat that accumulates around the hips and bottom may actually offer some protection against diabetes.

Subcutaneous fat, or fat that collects under the skin, helps to improve sensitivity to the hormone insulin, which regulates blood sugar. Mice that got transplants of this type of fat lost weight and their fat cells shrank.

Researchers have known for some time that fat that collects in your abdomen -- known as visceral fat -- can raise your risk of diabetes and heart disease. People with pear-shaped bodies are less prone to these disorders. It seems that their fat may be actively protecting them from metabolic disease.

Salmon Numbers Plummet

Dr. Mercola — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:01:12 GMT

Hundreds of thousands of fall Chinook salmon normally return to the Sacramento River every year to spawn. This year, however, scientists estimate that fewer than 60,000 adult Chinook will make it back to the Sacramento River.

This is far below the level needed to sustain the population.

Although the reasons for the sudden decline are not completely understood, scientists have suggested that changes in ocean conditions, including unfavorable shifts in ocean temperature and food sources for juvenile salmon, may be in part responsible.

Staying Out of Sun Proven to Increase Depression

Dr. Mercola — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:01:05 GMT

Older people with low blood levels of vitamin D and high blood levels of parathyroid hormone are more likely to be depressed, according to a new report. It remains unclear whether these are causes or consequences of depression.

Past studies have linked altered levels of vitamin D and parathyroid hormone with depression, but the relationship has never before been studied systematically. Researchers examined more than 1200 men and women aged 65 to 95.

Nearly 40 percent of the men and 57 percent of women had low levels of vitamin D in their blood; vitamin D levels averaged 14 percent lower among the 195 people suffering from depression. Blood levels of parathyroid hormone, which increase with vitamin D deficiency, were 5 percent higher in people with minor depression and 33 percent higher in those with major depression.

QA: Are You Taking the Right Type of Omega-3 Fats?

Duane from Reston, Virginia — Mon, 21 May 2007 23:34:35 GMT

Q: In your opinion is chia seed and effective source of omega-3? How does it compare with an animal source, such as krill oil? If it compares favorably, would you consider offering it? if not familiar with chia seed, see https://www.chiaseedandoil.com/faqs.htm

A:

This is Dr. Mercola, welcoming you to another Question & Answer Video Update. Today, we have an important question from Duane from Reston, Virginia, who asks about the difference between chia seeds and Krill Oil as sources of omega-3 fats. Certainly, almost all of you have heard about, and understand, the enormous benefits omega-3 fats play in our lives, especially related to prevention of degenerative diseases and staying optimally healthy. Each and every one of us need a regular source of omega-3 fats, and if we don't get them in our diet, we'll suffer severe health consequences. So, that's the first important point to understand.

Now, we get into the subtleties of how to apply this nutritional principle. Interestingly, chia seeds are quite similar to flax seeds and hemp seeds. Chia seeds, which come primarily from South America, have been used for ages and are a very beneficial source of omega-3 fats. Like flax seed, they also have water-soluble fiber, and because of this, when you place flax or chia in water, they turn into a gelatinous consistency. The water-soluble fiber provides additional benefits, namely lowering amounts of hormones such as estrogen, and reducing the risk of certain cancers, such as breast and prostate cancer.

So flax and chia seeds are highly beneficial, and ideally, should be complemented with animal-based sources of omega-3 fats; it's not that you should have one or the other, rather, ideally, you should have both. But if you're going to rely on one or the other, you're far better off using an animal-based omega-3 source.

As far as flax and chia seeds, flax is easier to find than chia. One simple way to get chia seeds is to enjoy our Cocoa Cassava bars, a high-energy bar available on our site, a great alternative to snacking on unhealthy foods. This bar, of course, contains chia seeds, an excellent source of omega-3 fats and beneficial fiber.

I'll explain the distinction. In the plant-based omega-3's, there is a lower level, 18-carbon fatty acid called ALA, alpha linolenic acid, that provides the source of omega-3 fats. But in the animal-based type, you have higher levels, which is the 20-carbon chain, EPA, and the 22-carbon chain, DHA. The DHA is the one that's primarily in our brains, and you really need quite a bit of it.

You'll run into problems if you supplement exclusively with DHA or EPA. You really need the whole spectrum of fatty acids because each are important. Your body requires all of them.

Let's cover some of the basics. If you use only plant-based, 18-carbon fatty acid, then your body has to upregulate, or convert, those into EPA. If you happen to have conditions associated with high insulin levels, the enzyme needed for this conversion is impaired, thereby inhibiting optimal conversion of fatty acids; probably less than 1-2% will be converted to the higher order fats like EPA and DHA. So, be careful about this.

How do you know if you have high insulin levels? Well, there are conditions that are typically associated with elevated insulin, such as overweight, high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure or diabetes, and about 85% of our population have these. So, make sure that you get animal-based omega-3 fats.

Regarding the plant sources, the most common one is flax seed. If you use this, be sure it's fresh. You certainly may take it in oil form, but ideally, you'll want to get it from fresh, organic flax seeds, grind a few tablespoons fresh in a little coffee grinder and use it in your meals. That's really the best way. Flax seed oil is highly perishable and will easily oxidize once exposed to air, leading to rancid fatty acids, which you'll want to avoid, as they're quite unhealthy.

Another way to get animal-based omega-3's is with fish. Of course, most fish are contaminated with mercury and other pollutants, which is why you'll want to select high-quality supplements. Fish oil is one. Another animal-based source is Krill Oil, recently recommended for a number of reasons, one of which is, there's a far more easily- replenished supply of krill. There is great concern over dwindling numbers of ocean fish, which are being rapidly depleted, so will not be sufficient to provide our population with the needed amount of beneficial fatty acids. The alternative is to use a more readily-replenished supply such as Krill Oil, one of the most common ocean-food sources.

A key advantage to using krill is its clinical efficacy. It's attached to a phosphate bond, which increases absorption; so you need less of it, and it's taken up by the brain much more readily. Additionally, it's digested more easily, without the burping commonly associated with fish oils.

There's also an antioxidant in krill, which actually serves to protect these highly-perishable fatty acids; so, there's less likelihood of rancidity.

I'd like to thank Duane for his great question by sending him a bottle of Krill oil. Remember, simple basic information like this will help you take control of your health. Keep in mind the importance of a regular source of omega-3 fats. Please make sure you identify one and make sure you and your family are taking it regularly, as it's such an important way to stay health and to take control of your health.

QA: How to Tell if You're at Risk for Sudden Death

Anthony from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida — Sun, 06 May 2007 21:03:31 GMT

Q: Often we read about a man around age 50 falling over dead from Sudden Cardiac Death Syndrome. This is the “one step” heart attack when the decedent’s heart suffers a severe arrhythmia, causing death in seconds, even if the deceased led a healthy life. I have learned from you that a properly balanced level of Omega-3 fats, and sufficient hydration, are essential to normal heart rhythm, but is there is anything else a man can do to protect himself from this seemingly unpredictable deadly event?

A:

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Great question. Your point about hydration really refers more to OVER hydration as noticed in a number of people who drank too much during endurance events. However, the number one symptom of heart disease is sudden death so it would be great to have some reliable indicators.

From my perspective there are three VERY powerful predictors. If these are normal, the likelihood of dying from heart disease is extremely unlikely

The predictors are all lab tests

First is a fasting insulin level which should be below 5, but ideally below 3.

Second would be your ration of HDL to choleserol. If you divide your fasting HDL level by your cholesterol you simply get a percentage of your cholesterol that is good. This is independent of your total cholesterol. Ideally it should be over 30%, but the higher the better. I have seen it as high as 60% in some but if yours is in the teens it is bad news but if it is in the single digits, you are a heat attack waiting to happen.

Lastly would be ferritin levels which are an indication of hidden iron.

Video Transcript:

Dr. Mercola here. I want to welcome you to another question and answer video update. As I was preparing for today's video, I noticed that there were many people who had asked questions that were already answered on the site. Apparently, were not yet aware that I've been doing this work on the site for over ten years, and that there are over 100,000 pages of free information they can access just by going to the link at the top of the page. There, they'll find a text box where they can write their question, click "Search", and then receive a list of articles relative to that topic I've written over the last ten years. They're ranked by Google, to present the most appropriate first.

But let's get onto today's question. The first one comes from Joe from Savannah, Georgia. Joe tells us he's economically strapped, and he has a question about the use of Radical Fruits and Krill Oil, and wonders which one he should use.

Well, I believe that one of the most important things that we all need are a source of omega 3 fats. Ideally, that should be primarily from animals, though we can certainly supplement that with some plant-derived omega 3's. Most benefits come from DHA/EPA, as I've mentioned in many of my articles.

If you're not going to go through the relatively-expensive source of finding a clean source of fish, usually from the Artic or Alaska, then it's going to be critical to find another good, high-quality source of omega-3 fats. My personal preference is krill oil. So that would be something that should be taken on a regular basis.

Radical Fruits is also another great product. However, it's not as important as the omega 3. It's very safe to take the Radical Fruits every day, and probably ideal. But if the economics of it are challenging, you can just restrict the use of the Radical Fruits to immediately before you exercise, especially intensive exercise, because that's going to decrease the production of free radicals. That's exactly what I do myself.

Now, the next question comes to us from Anthony from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, and he asks a very good question about sudden death from heart disease. The most common symptom of heart disease is sudden death. Yes, indeed. This is a challenge that many of us need to be concerned about. Anthony had asked if there is anything other than omega 3 fats and water that might be useful to help prevent death.

In my experience, there are three simple lab tests, and we do these tests on every person who comes into our clinic, because I think they're really vital, not only as a step for protecting against heart disease, but against cancer as well.

The first test, probably the most important, is one for fasting insulin levels, which should be below 5. If it's over 5, you've got a problem. If it's over 10, you have a serious problem. Ideally, you'd want it below 3. So, that's clearly a goal for you.

The second one is going to be very important also, and this is not your total cholesterol, but your ratio of good-to-total cholesterol. That ratio is so important. I like to use it as a percentage of the total cholesterol. You can do the inverse, which will work too. This seems to be more the convention. But I've become accustomed to doing it that way. So if you simply divide your total cholesterol into your HDL, you'll get the percentage of your HDL that is present.

Ideally, that number should be over 30%, somewhere between 25% and 30%. If your HDL percentage is in the teens, you have a serious problem. If it is in the single digits, you are a heart attack waiting to happen, and you need to aggressively address that.

Now remember, you are not looking to change or modify this through the use of drugs. I've written extensively about how you can do this simply through changing your food intake. Now, this is good for well over 90% of the people who have been told they have high cholesterol. There is a very small minority of people who have a genetic problem. In my practice of over 15,000 patients, I've had to put only 5 people on cholesterol-lowering drugs, such as the statins. Most nearly everyone else does not need them.

Five or six years ago, I learned a hidden, or stealth, way to screen for heart disease, and that is addressing sources of hidden iron in your blood. If you're a menstruating woman, with monthly cycles, this is probably not an issue. But if you're a postmenopausal woman or a male, there is a tendency to accumulate iron over time, and iron is a very potent oxidative stress, and when it accumulates to a high level, it can clearly and easily accelerate the risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease.

So, ideally, you want to measure a blood protein called, "ferritin", which is a transport carrier for iron; this should ideally be between 20 and 80. If it's above 80, you've got a problem, and ideally, you should lower your iron level. The simplest and easiest way is to not supplement with iron, and also, to donate your blood. Now, if for whatever reason, you are unable to donate your blood, you can have your doctor write a prescription for a therapeutic phlebotomy (blood draw), and that will easily lower it back into a safe range.

One of the other hidden sources of heart disease is simply vitamin D deficiency. And I'm not talking about the vitamin D you swallow. I'm talking about having as much skin exposed to the sun as possible, to raise your levels of vitamin D up. For most people watching this video, we're approaching summer, and you can do that. So you clearly want to have adequately-high vitamin D levels. If you have a low vitamin D level, which is a 25-hydroxy-D level below 20, you are at high risk, not only for heart disease, but for cancer.

So, you've learned of four tests that you can use to help clearly identify your cardiac risk. If these four tests are normal, your risk for developing heart disease is very, very low.

As a thank you to Joe and Anthony for their questions, I'm sending them a few bottles of Krill Oil, and hopefully, help get them on the path, making sure that they have enough good omega 3 in their systems. So, thanks for the great questions.

QA: Supplements

Joseph from Savannah, Georgia — Sun, 06 May 2007 20:50:17 GMT

Q: I am torn about what is the best to take as far as your supplements. I can't afford all of them, but which is better overall: Radical Fruits, or Krill Oil? Is it safe to take all of them every day together if I could? Please help. Thanks!

A: They are all safe to take, but if you only took one of them a good source of omega-3 fats would be the best so I would recommend krill oil. Radical Fruits can be used every day but if you need to economize you can only take it immediately prior to when you do vigorous exercise as that is when many of the free radicals will be generated.

QA: When Should You Use Conventional Medicine?

Dr. Sopchak from Kirksville, Missouri — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 13:52:57 GMT

Q: I am a second year medical Student in an Osteopathic institution. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the conventional medical educational system as you see it? What items that I am learning should I put stock in and which should I take with a grain of salt?

A:

Great question as the answer has very broad implications. Conventional medicine, I really don't think it is at all appropriate to call it traditional medicine as that would imply that the model has been around for centuries and that simply is not the case at all.

Conventional is far more appropriate a term as it is what is typically being practiced today and has been for about the last century when the AMA in the US, with the help of the drug companies, help to squash the true traditional medicine, which today is frequently referred to as alternative medicine. My favorite term for this type of practice though is natural medicine as it is a system based on thousands of years of empirical data that relies on the assumption that your body has an innate and intrinsic healing ability if it is given what it needs and exposure to toxic influences are minimized.

Getting back to your question, conventional medicine certainly has is place. I believe its most appropriate if restricted to two areas, one is diagnosis and the other is the treatment of acute trauma. The use of blood tests, diagnostic imaging and pathological evaluation can provide a very useful tool to rule out serious illness that can easily be overlooked by well intentioned natural medical practitioners.

So I would learn very well the diagnostic tools that you will learn in school as they will serve you will. Where you will need to exercise extreme caution is believing the treatment recommendations. You can be virtually 100% guaranteed that the model has been flawed by massive conflict of interests at the highest level. Virtually all conventional physicians are unaware, as I was when I was in the system, that they have been seriously brainwashed by the multinational drug corporations.

Drugs are virtually never the long-term answer to any medical problem. They can provide short-term relief when addressing the underlying cause of the problem.

Once you understand that you can teach your patients this so they can use you appropriately as a health coach to guide them in their process of taking control of their own health.

QA: Cancer risks due to long-term Vitamin D deficiency

Julie from Winters, California — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 01:14:39 GMT

Q: Hello Dr. Mercola, I have a vitamin D deficiency that went undiagnosed for 10 years, which led to osteomalacia. Thanks to one of your articles I read on Mercola.com last fall, I became aware of the symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency, asked my doctor to test me, and I am now in recovery, with my D levels within normal range. My question is, do the elevated cancer risks disappear when Vitamin D levels are optimized or is there a lasting effect? Thank you, Julie Ries Winters, CA

A:

Learn How to Ask Your Own Question

I am delighted that the information I posted was able to help you. Please remember that vitamin D is not only a potent prevention of cancer but it also treats cancer. Some of the hottest cancer research right now is developing vitamin D analogs to treat certain cancers.

They are working on analogs because they can't sell the real vitamin D for a profit.

But the main point is that once you get your vitamin D levels in the healthy range (ideally from sunshine not oral vitamin D) then any malignant cells that may have developed should rapidly reverse assuming you have the other 12 cancer factors in place that I have previously addressed.

The Other Two Questions Addressed in This Video:

UVB Blocking Sunglasses & Vitamin D

Night Lights for Children

QA: Milk Options

Dr. Hill from Wyomissing, Pennsylvania — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 01:08:43 GMT

Q: What is the best cow's milk alternative?

A: Pure water

QA: Night Lights for Children

Carolyn from Minden, Nevada — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 01:07:54 GMT

Q: What is available that is safe to be used in children's rooms at night in lieu of the traditional night light? My nephews/nieces and grandchildren are "into" night lights" and the parents cannot just do away with them easily.

A:

Learn How to Ask Your Own Question

There is no safe light for children. We were never designed to be exposed to light at night. Prior to 100 years ago the only way that would happen was through some type of fire which is still a relatively minor light.

It is best for your child to sleep in darkness and teach them how to navigate at night without any light

If for some reason this is not possible you could use an LED light that they can turn on and use to light the way. However, this is absolutely not my primary recommendation which is to avoid the use of all lights at night to maximize melatonin production.

The Other Two Questions Addressed in This Video:

UVB Blocking Sunglasses & Vitamin D
Cancer Risks Due to Long Term Vitamin D Deficiency

QA: UVB Blocking Sunglasses & Vitamin D

kirk from victor, New York — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 00:33:51 GMT

Q: Dr. Mercola, If we get our vitamin D from the sun, and most of that through our eyes- Will my UVB blocking sunglasses ('Eagle Eyes' they are awesome) inhibit my vitamin absorption? I am a 37 yr old millwright mechanic with 5 children and 2 grandchildren, and I really appreciate your news letters. I am hoping your advice will give me more time with my family. Thank you sir for your endeavors. Kirk Klug from Victor New York

A:

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Learn How to Ask Your Own Question

Last week's video on the relationship between sun exposure and cancer was our most popular video ever. We had more than 100,000 views and would have had more but all the traffic crashed our servers. Good problem to have as more people are getting the truth so they can Take Control of Their Health.

If you haven't watched the cancer video yet please do.

The UVB blocking sunglasses will NOT interfere with you absorbing vitamin D. Vitamin D is produced from cholesterol that is your skin and then it is absorbed from your skin into your bloodstream. So if you are swimming you can certainly get a sun burn but you will not absorb very much vitamin D as the water will instantly wash it off.

Also if you use sunblock you are blocking the UVB that will cause your skin to produce vitamin D.

But even though the UVB blocking sunglasses will not interfere with vitamin D formation I do believe they should be avoided. First of all I don't advise that you wear sunglasses in the first place as they block some of the 1500 wavelengths that are essential to health. It is important for these different radiation levels reach your retina as that is a direct extension of your brain and is an incredible brain nutrient.

About the only time that wearing sunglasses is appropriate is when you are skiing or on the ocean when there is simply so much sunshine that you need to block it out.

Having said that you need to have common sense. You don't want to be staring at the sun and you want to have reasonable sun exposure. It is just like Goldilocks, you want just the right dose, not too little and not too much. That amount varies for nearly everyone based on a variety of factors, such as age, sex, time of year, cloud cover, latitude, altitude, antioxidant levels and many other factors.

The Other Two Questions Addressed in This Video:

Cancer Risks Due to Long Term Vitamin D Deficiency

Night Lights for Children

QA: What Do You Recommend For a Detox?

Marneka from Akron, Ohio — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 01:45:26 GMT

Q: Dr. Mercola what is the best way to detox and totally cleanse your system of toxins?

A:

Great question.

The very first step in a detox program is to make sure you are eating a healthy diet. My favorite approach is Metabolic typing as if factors in a person's genetic makeup.

The next step is to make sure you are exercising sufficiently. Whatever exercise you perform you will want to make sure it has your body sweating as this will actually allow you to excrete many toxins through your sweat.

You could use infrared saunas if exercise were not possible, but it is my feeling that exercise is superior. I purchased a six person infrared sauna many years ago but never use it as it seemed exercise was more time efficient for me.

You will want to make sure you are drinking clean water on a regular basis as that will be another key to helping your body maintain its healthy state after you perform a cleanse.

With respect to cleansing my new favorite is New Start and Gentle Cleansing and I am going to give Manneka a free bottle for asking the question. I like it because it is relatively quick to do and is all natural with no synthetic ingredients and very reasonably priced. It also has chlorella and organic cilantro which have both been associated with the ability to effectively remove heavy metals like mercury from your body.

But the key is to absolutely not rely on the cleanse as the detox. It is a great aid but will be virtually useless unless you are following a good overall health program.

Important Point Not Mentioned In Video

PLEASE do not start a detox if you are very sick. You need to start your healthy lifestyle FIRST, before you start a detox so you have a reserve that your body can draw on to allow your liver to do its job properly.

If you fail to do this you can easily overwhelm your liver's ability to process these toxic substances that are being eliminated and you will become VERY sick and wish you had never done the detox. I have seen this many times so please use some caution here.

QA: Every Pregnant Woman Needs to Know This

Anna from Buffalo Grove, Illinois — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Q: What is it Hepatitis B? Why children in the above grades need Hep B shots? How save it for them, pros and cons. Alternative ways of pervention from Hep B. Thank you,

A:

Learn How to Ask Your Own Q&A

Hepatitis B is a rare, mainly blood-transmitted disease. infection that primarily affects the liver and can progress into a chronic infection that can result in cirrhosis that may lead to liver cancer.

Hepatitis B is largely transmitted through exposure to bodily fluids containing the virus. There are only a few ways that you can get this infection:

Unprotected sexual contact
Blood transfusions
Reuse of contaminated needles and syringes
Vertical transmission from mother to child

Every single one of these risk factors is easily preventable without the use of vaccines. However five years ago the US government made the outrageous and inexcusable recommendation to have all infants immunized with hepatitis B vaccine.

Why Are We Giving Vaccine at Birth to Helpless Infants?

The only possible justification is to prevent the transmission from an infected mother to her child but this is FAR easier and less expensive to do by screening mothers and giving those at risk the vaccine. We screen all mothers already for a variety of conditions, why can’t we add another one?

Instead of using common sense we are mandating this vaccine to ALL children. In the hope that when they get older and actually have the opportunity to engage in risky behaviors that they will be protected.

Well guess what?

In over half the kids the immune protection lasts less than seven years which is well before these kids will need any possible benefits of the vaccine.

Some Hepatitis B Vaccines Still Have Mercury

Aside from the question of whether or not it is appropirate to give infants this vaccine, today, over 8 years after federal agencies advised vaccine manufacturers to remove mercury from their vaccines, some still contain them.

ActHIB, HibTITER in single-dose vials, and PedvaxHIB do not contain thimerosal as a preservative. However, PRP-T (ActHIB) reconstituted with DTaP (Tripedia) to form TriHIBit STILL contain organic mercury.

Does This Make ANY Sense???

Physicians Are Harming 4,000 Children to Protect One From Hepatitis B Complications

Even if a child does become infected with hepatitis B what is the problem? Just how serious is it? Will they die just as surely as if they came down with pancreatic cancer?

Hardly.

The numbers speak for themselves. Only one in 100 who get this infection will run the risk of ANY serious illness.

So just how serious is an infection with Hepatitis B?

Please remember Hepatitis B is a rare, mainly blood-transmitted disease.

Far less than 100 children under the age of 1 become infected with hepatitis B. Since there are about 4 million children born in the US every year this works out to about one child in every 200 births that develop hepatitis B. As you will see below this number is actually far lower as only 1% of these children develop serious complications or about 4 or 5 kids.

The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) reported over 2,000 total reports of adverse reactions from hepatitis B vaccine in the 0-1 age group, with over 50 deaths reported. Here is the kicker, it is well recognized that this is only about 10% of the actual cases. So if you multiply this by 10 you have 20,000 injured infants from the vaccine.

So as a result of all these immunizations physicians are harming 20,000 infants to protect 5 from serious problems.

Why Is This Being Done??

Simple answer - - Money and Greed

Merck is the company that makes the hepatitis B vaccine. Remember Merck? They are the ones that are defending thousands of lawsuits for killing over 60,000 people for Vioxx. They are earning a cool $1 billion dollars per year from selling this vaccine.

Guess you have to pay those Vioxx lawsuits some way.

Some Physicians Understand the Truth

Am I the only doctor that feels this way?

Absolutely not. There are many independent physicians who share my belief but I am a member of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS). This is a group of over 10,000 US medical doctors (MDs and DOs), and most of us have reached the conclusion that the head of the organization, Dr. Jane Orient, has about this issue.

To the extent that the physician simply complies without making an independent evaluation of the appropriateness of the vaccine for each patient, he is abdicating his responsibility under the Oath of Hippocrates to:

"prescribe regimen for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone." .

AAPS opposes federal mandates for vaccines, on principle, on the grounds that they are:

An unconstitutional expansion of the power of the federal government.

An unconstitutional delegation of power to a public-private partnership.

An unconstitutional and destructive intrusion into the patient-physician and parent-child relationships.

A violation of the Nuremberg Code in that they force individuals to have medical treatment against their will, or to participate in the functional equivalent of a vast experiment without fully informed consent.

A violation of rights to free speech and to the practice of one's religion (which may require one to keep oaths).

AAPS would specifically oppose the campaign for universal immunization against hepatitis B, even if the above did not apply, because the safety of the vaccine is in question.

What Can You Do?

Please tell every pregnant woman you know who about this issue. They need to know the facts BEFORE they are in the hospital and have time to make an informed objective decision. If they are still convinced their child needs hepatitis B vaccine, beg them to make sure their child does not receive the vaccine as a newborn. Delay the vaccine until they really are at a possible risk, like late adolescence.

I am not asking much here. Only some compassion for the helpless. If you have ever seen the agony of families who are struggling with caring for brain injured children you will know what I mean.

I have shown dozens of times in this newsletter, drugs that are thought to be safe are pulled from the market after they have killed dozens or hundreds of people. I am hopeful that hepatitis B vaccinations in newborns will be stopped. Medical science will have to recognize the truth sooner or later.

Folks, drug deaths pale in comparison to the devastation in lost lives that is resulting from implementation of this hepatitis B recommendation.

You can play a large role here. Most of all us did not have a chance to make a difference in the 9/11 tragedy, but nearly everyone of us can help protect the precious brain cells of a newborn.

Act Now - - There is Not a Moment to Spare!!

Contact every pregnant woman you know immediately. Save a life.

God Bless you in your efforts to protect the future of our civilization.

QA: Is Veganism Healthy?

Lena from Detoit, Michigan — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 19:59:28 GMT

Q: I've been a vegan for over 8yrs. now, but still have the taste for fish. If I start eating fish will it hurt my digestive system, or will it be ok to eat the fish? Just start slow at first and go from there what is your opinion?

A: First of all let's be clear what a vegan is. it is NOT another term for a vegetarian. It is a specific subset of vegetarians who, for whatever reason, have chosen to exclude ALL animal products.

To me this is an absolute prescription for disaster. There is absolutely no basis in science to support this radical position. If a person chooses to be a vegan for moral or religious reasons that could certainly not be argued but it still will not prevent them for suffering the consequences of choosing to avoid all animal protein.

One of the most common problems are permanent neurological complications, like blindness, from a vitamin B12 deficiency. One could take supplements for this but this is not as good as consuming the real deal.

Most vegans I have seen are terribly unhealthy. There are some people who absolutely designed to be vegetarians but even carb types require animal protein. This could be something as simple as fish, eggs or dairy.

So my warning to ALL vegans is to seriously reexamine why you are destroying your body by your food choices and get back on some animal protein ASAP. Remember that nearly ALL of the reported problems with consuming animal protein or meat is because it was cooked. Virtually all of these problems can be eliminated if you consume healthy animal protein sources uncooked.

QA: Do Microwave Ovens Harm Plates?

Deborah from Laguna Beach, California — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 07:30:52 GMT

Q: I use a microwave oven to warm plates for 30 seconds before serving food on them. Is there reason to believe that this would be harmful to the food placed on them?

A: No problem here. Microwaves only damage food or fluid that you actually consume. It does not harm objects that store the food unless you are cooking a plastic plate that actually melts into the food. Most dinner plates are relatively inert, especially if they are glass or ceramic.

QA: How Do You Find a Good Physician?

rita from san jose, California — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 07:26:56 GMT

Q: Dr. Mercola. I'm looking for a Natural/Holistic Medicine Physician in San Jose, CA area, can you advise?

A:

First of all one of the characteristics of a good doctor is that they will listen to your concerns and provide you with hope and inspiration. They need to understand that their ability to inspire and motivate you is one of the most powerful tools they have.

This is a question that I get quite often. It is important to know that I am not a very social animal and do not circulate widely around the country to know the best clinicians out there. However even if I were the most social person in the country I would still not be able to answer this question consistently.

HOWEVER, I do hope to develop a system that allows our community to identify the good doctors. We have two dozen full time software developers currently and I am in the process of tripling that number in a year as our revenues increase. This will allow us to develop programs that will allow the community to provide the best recommendation.

Of course there are many legal issues we need to work through, but I do hope to have that system in place in the next 1-2 years.

What can you do in the meantime?

My recommendation would be to contact your local health food store and obtain a recommendation from a number of the employees. I would find out when the manager and other employees would be there and make it a point to return at that time or call the store. Typically people interested in health will come into that store and share their experiences with the store employees so that is the best way to find what your local community has voted as the best.

My only caution is that there are very few MDs and DOs that understand natural medicine. If you find a good one consider yourself blessed. Alternatively naturopaths and chiropractors have excellent training programs and for all but the serious of illnesses they are typically a far better choice. If you are still taking medications it would be best to find someone with a license and training that will allow you to carefully wean off of them and replace natural lifestyle options to address the underlying cause.

Many naturopaths or NDs have this training but only if they went to a four year ND medical school. There are only five, Bastyr, Southwest, National, the Canadian College. and Connecticut. So if you are seeing an ND and are on drugs it would be best to find a graduate of these schools as they have the most comprehensive training. Actually the minority of NDs are from these schools so be careful if you are taking medications.

QA: Why Is There a Microwave in Lucy's Kitchen?

Dr. Mercola from Schaumburg, Illinois — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 07:04:01 GMT

Q: Some of our readers have asked the question, "Why there was a microwave in our cooking expert, Lucy Locke's, kitchen?"

A: Although she doesn't use it for herself and understands the concerns with using it she keeps it for a practical matter. This was recorded prior to realizing though that microwaves can be used to sanitize your kitchen sponges by putting them wet in the microwave for two minutes.

QA: Is there a Vet Like Dr. Mercola?

Stephanie from — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 06:31:46 GMT

Q: Is there anyone you can recommend that has as much information as you do about humans in the animal world: horses, cats, dogs? Animals are having very similar health issues as humans and would like to know the correct way to care for them as well as us.

A: Great question. In the last year I became aware of a Dr. Martin Goldstein.
He wrote a book The Nature of Animal Healing : The Definitive Holistic Medicine Guide to Caring for Your Dog and Cat, that is available on Amazon. We share very similar perspectives on health and I will likely have him as a guest columnist in the future.

QA: Arrogant Doctors Can Kill You

Carol from Royse City, Texas — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 06:22:51 GMT

Q: I have Type 2 Diabetes. At yearly appointment with my Endocrinologist, I mentioned that I was using coconut oil. Without any discussion, he responded with the statement, "It's bad for your heart" and left the room rather quickly. Up until this, I had respected his advice on most subjects. How can I feel good about continuing to use coconut oil and not feel as though I am doing damage to my heart?

A: Ultimately YOU are responsible for your health, not me, not your doctor, YOU.

You need to research the question, not rely on me. I have provided a great place to start. I would suggest going to the library and searching the Internet and read a few books and see what conclusion you reach.

I suspect you will find that your doctor did you a great service and you will seen realize he is a typical arrogant clueless professional who is likely providing you with equally inane advice on how to treat your problem.

I have written extensively about type two diabetes. It is curable, 100% remission is just about everyone. One of the easiest problems in the world to address.

Your doctor hasn't a clue. Find a new one who understands health before he provides another script for you that will likely contribute to your premature demise.

QA: Stevia's Safety

Barbara from Ellijay, Georgia — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 06:06:07 GMT

Q: Dr. Mehmet Oz, who I admire for bringing in alternative medicine to his practice, wrote in his book "You on a Diet" a comparison of artificial sweetners. In it, he advocated not using Stevia because of studies linking it to sterility. He also recommended all the bad ones: Splenda, Aspertame, etc. I respect his opinions on most things, and since I'm past menopause, the sterility issue is moot for me, but what is your take on this? I hadn't heard of this issue before.

A:

Dr. Oz does cite one of the few studies that were ever done that support that position. However, stevia is a noncaloric herb, native to Paraguay, that has been used as a sweetener for over 1500 years in South America. I would call that a MAJOR clue that it is safe.

While Japanese manufacturers have used stevia since the early 1970s to sweeten pickles and other foods, the FDA has turned down three industry requests to use stevia in foods in the U.S. Stevia has been the subject of searches and seizures, trade complaints, and embargoes on importation. Supporters of stevia assert that FDA actions regarding stevia amount to a restraint to trade designed to benefit the artificial sweetener industry.

The FDA’s treatment of petitions to approve stevia is quite interesting in light of their historically generous attitude toward synthetic chemical sweeteners. The general tone of the FDA is that stevia is an unsafe substance until proven otherwise. Artificial sweeteners, as you have seen, are in contrast generally viewed as benign chemical compounds that are considered safe until someone shows them data to the contrary. Stevia is guilty until proven innocent; artificial sweeteners are innocent until proven guilty.

I am seriously disappointed in Dr. Oz's approach in accepting the FDA review of stevia, but even MORE disappointed in his ignorance in believing that aspartame is safe and actually advising people to use this dangerous substance. It is obvious he has never examined the evidence. Pity.

I carefully reviewed this topic for several years and wrote Sweet Deception that summarizes my findings on sweeteners. I encourage you to read a copy.

QA: How to Stop Coffee?

Debbie from Twin Falls, Idaho — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 05:56:29 GMT

Q: What do you personally replace a cup of coffee with in the morning ? I like like the ritual of drinking something while I read the paper. I love my organic decaf with half and half in the morning. It is a simple pleasure for me. I have tried EFT to get rid of the craving and I still want it! When I first wake up, I drink a large glass of water--- but then I want my decaf! What do you personally drink in the morning?

A: Personally it is not a problem for me. I don't think I have consumed an entire cup of coffee my entire life. So it is not a personal problem at all.

However I realize it is a problem for many. EFT will likely work, but NOT when you self-treat. You are making a VERY common mistake and I will likely do a video on it in the future. If you have a serious health problem or a health challenge that does not improve with EFT self-treatment then it is time to move on to professional assistance.

If you need more guidance in learning this technique, I recommend reviewing a list of guidelines and practitioners compiled by Dr. Patricia Carrington.

Alternatively you could try organic tea for a partial solution. When you are following the Take Control of Your Health program and getting enough sleep and exercise you should nod need to use a stimulant drug for energy.

QA: Do Ionic Foot Baths Work?

Tiffany from Puyallup, Washington — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 05:31:36 GMT

Q: I know a lot of people that are trying the ionic foot baths for detoxing- but I don't see how they could possibly work for what they are claiming to do. But I am having a very hard time finding out anything about them since most people that tell you anything about them are selling them. I have been told that it will remove mercury - well if that's the case what are they doing with the water after the bath? they can't just dump it down the drain if it has mercury in it can they?

A: I personally know some excellent clinicians who claim that their patients have received tremendous benefits from these types of treatments. I did try them in my clinic a few years ago, in fact even purchased a bit of equipment so we could easily do it, but I was not impressed with the results.

Even if they did work please understand that they are part of a COMPREHENSIVE program to address the underlying cause. If your child has autism and mercury or vaccines are an issue it is imperative that great attention to the diet is given.

I have treated many hundreds of autistic children with a fair amount of success. My experience is a major improvement is made when they are removed from grains and follow a protein type metabolic typing program. It has been my experience that most autistic children tend to be protein types.

Most of the autistic children I have seen came in on a casein (milk) and gluten (wheat free) diet. While this helps many, FAR more can be done with diet. Most of the time these kids actually benefit from milk but ONLY raw dairy.

Additionally many are on rice, corn, and potatoes as alternative grains and that simply worsens them in my experience. I would find an experienced metabolic typing clinician or take the test on our site as it has a one month coverage of unlimited questions.

QA: What Are Healthiest Eggs?

Kristin from Temecula, California — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 05:00:24 GMT

Q: Which eggs are healthier, organic free-range or non-organic, fertile eggs?

A: There is quite a bit of confusion about eggs. One of the most important characteristics are that they are free range. Farming truly free-range eggs from out-doors chickens is much more expensive and labor-intensive than the factory-farmed eggs in the supermarket. Free range is FAR more of an important characteristic than fertile eggs.

Other marketing scams to beware of are "vegetarian eggs" or even omega-3 eggs. The omega-3 that is typically fed chickens can come from poor sources like canola, but even if it was from flax, it is still not as good as EPA and DHA from fish oils. It is very easy to add krill or fish oil to your diet so it just isn't necessary to have omega-3 in your eggs.

Jessica Prentice from the Westin Price Foundation recently elaborated on the differences:

The vast majority of eggs in this country are produced by large corporations that may subcontract production out to farmers who used to be independent, but now live in a system that one rancher likened to indentured servitude. Male chicks are immediately killed, sometimes ground up into pet food. Female chicks may have a worse fate: beaks burned or sliced off to keep them from pecking each other to death; fed a standardized, horrible, commercial feed laced with antibiotics (and most likely, GMO's); housed in crowded buildings with no access to sunlight or the outdoors; force-molted by food-deprivation to increase egg production; and then killed when production begins to fall-off even slightly.

These hens are so over-bred, so confined, and so sedentary during their short miserable lives that they don't have use of their legs or wings. The eggs are sold by these corporation for rock-bottom prices that don't begin to reflect the true costs of production. In some cases, yolks are dyed to make them yellow -- a color that is natural when the chicken spends time in the sunlight.

Unfortunately, many of the eggs sold in natural groceries as 'free-range' are only a little better (if any) than this scenario. There is currently no regulation whatsoever of the term 'free-range' when it comes to eggs. The national organic standards do require that organic eggs come from chickens that have some access to the outdoors, but there is no minimum requirement for how much access. The recent fast-tracking of a stipulation that meat can be sold as organic even if the animal was fed non-organic feed shows the vulnerability of these kinds of standards to corruption by agribusiness corporations.

So, BE CAUTIOUS when you purchase "free range" eggs from the store. Ideally you want to purchase them directly from the farmer. Fortunately this is relatively easy to do all you need to do is ask around your local health food stores and they should be able to connect you with a source. This is definitely one case were local is far better.

QA: Can Vitamins REALLY Kill You?

Karen from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 04:38:43 GMT

Q: The news is focusing on a new study that shows supplement use and antioxidants in general are bad for us because the body becomes "too comfortable" and "forgets" how to fight against oxidants. What do you think about these headlines/the study?

A: Mainstream media has been very quick on the uptake with sensational headlines the most extreme of which reads, “Vitamins Can Kill You”.

The impact of these headlines on already baffled, blitzed and confused consumers currently, based on research, using these vitamins to support and maintain good health

At issue in this case, is study published in JAMA that is a meta-analysis, another examination of previously published research. As is the case with any meta-analysis, selection of included (and excluded) studies becomes quite important, with industry arguing that the researcher’s criteria predisposed the analysis to the ultimate results.

Many of the treatment trials had limitations, including the expectation that a simple antioxidant vitamin could be expected to overturn serious illness, such as cancer or heart disease. These trials likely statistically skewed the results.

In the simplest of terms: the JAMA paper is a carefully crafted example of meta-assassination. The JAMA authors disregarded countless studies that would have altered their conclusion. Additionally, combining secondary prevention and primary prevention trials and then making conclusions for the entire population is an unsound scientific approach,

Another consistent observation made of the study results, was the fact that many of the studies involved, not a normal healthy population where vitamin supplementation is suggested to preserve good health, but rather diseased populations with a variety of health issues.

But I believe the most serious fly in the ointment is the source of the antioxidant vitamins as the authors argue that their analysis and conclusions are based on synthetic antioxidants and "should not be translated to potential effects of fruits and vegetables".

The authors disregarded a fundamental physiological fact: Oxidative stress must be countered by antioxidant activity in vivo for the human body to maintain its normal function and remain healthy. We need fruits and vegetables. This should be a clarion call if you use supplements to consider switching to natural based supplmeents. Especially ones that are based on volumes of new research, like the one I recently introduced, Radical Fruits, that is based on WHOLE FOOD, not synthetic supplements.

QA: Alkaline Water Filters

Amanda from Thornlie, Australia — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 07:22:53 GMT

Q: You recommend water filters, but which type do you consider to be the best? Other health professionals are now saying that reverse osmosis filters create "dead" water because they remove helpful minerals as well as contaminants and heavy metals. What are your views on this and on alkaline ionized water?

A: There is much confusion on this issue. R/O is NOT dead water. That more accurately describes distilled water. I do not advocate distilled water or alkaline water filters which typically run $1000 or so.

R/O is what I personally use and recommend. I am currently completing a research project to offer one for sale on our site as this has been a common request for many years. Hope to have it by this summer.

QA: Optimal Wellness Center is Outside of Chicago

Bombonica from Chicago, Illinois — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 07:19:50 GMT

Q: Dr. Mercola. I'm looking for a Natural/Holistic Medicine PHYSICIAN in Chicago area, can you please very much help-me?

A: This is a no brainer. You can visit my clinic which is in Schaumburg, a northwest suburb of Chicago. I don't see patients any more but I have a wonderful staff that I have trained over the years and they have a firm grasp of natural medicine principles. We have helped many tens of thousands of people recover their health.

QA: Bioidentical Hormones

Elizabeth from Winder, GA — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 07:16:30 GMT

Q: Since bioidentical hormones have a form a soy in them, should they be avoided?

A: There is an amazing amount of confusion about this issue. Please realize soy is NOT a toxic poison that needs to be avoided at all costs. Fermented soy is actually a health food.

Soy is typically only a problem when it is consumed as a FOOD. When it used in products like soy lecithin or in hormones, the only problem it would pose if you were allergic to it and soy allergies are not that common.

So if you need bioidentical hormones, receiving them from soy is not an issue.

QA: Low Linolenic Acid Soybean Oil.

john from manchester, Missouri — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 06:50:26 GMT

Q: Have you heard of low-lin soybean oil. I heard about in on the U.S. farm report on tv. It is touted as a replacement for trans fat. They stated that it producces as oil with a long shelf life. They said it will be the most grown soy oil in the U.S. thand macliesh.

A: Does not appear that you have read the site very much for if you have you will know I have mentioned in hundreds of different articles that vegetables are to be avoided as they are loaded with omega-6 and most Americans have an excess of this fast.

Additionally soy is the #1 genetically modified produced plant in the US and it is LOADED with pesticides because it is resistant to Round Up. So soy is saturated with Round Up during its growth phase to kill the weeds. Ultimately high residues are left on the plant and they slowly kill you.

Your choice but I would never knowingly consume soy oil

Additionally there are many other reasons to avoid unfermented soy that are listed on the site.

QA: Emulsifiers

Mary from Lower Hutt, New Zealand — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 06:21:43 GMT

Q: Hi Dr Mercola, Would you please tell me if emulsifiers are okay? I looked on an ice cream container and it said it had emulsifier 477 and 471. I looked through google and found the European Food Emulsifiers Association who say that there is nothing wrong with them. Do you agree or is it just the same old things of "avoid processed foods"? Thanks, Mary.

A: Mary, you have to think BIG picture. You are concerned about details that are virtually irrelevant with respect to the other ingredients. Nearly all ice cream is loaded with sugar that will cause your body FAR more harm than the emulsifiers you are concerned with.

Additionally the ice cream is PASTEURIZED milk. If you don't know why you need to avoid that please review my site.

QA: Glass Ionomer Material for Dental Material

Esther from Te Puke, New Zealand — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 06:18:54 GMT

Q: I've search all over the net & cannot find information regarding Glass Ionomer for dental fillings & possible side effects to the body. My son has been advised that he is needs fillings & they want to use this. Is this safe, the information his school dental clinic has given advises "the material has a beneficial fluoride release". This makes me worry. Dental care is free in NZ but amalgam & ionomer are the only free fillings they use.

A: Glass ionomer is not perfect but it is FAR better than putting toxic mercury in your child's tooth. Go with the glass.

QA: Vaccine video

Dr. White from Traverse City, Michigan — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 01:57:23 GMT

Q: Dr. Mercola, I would first like to tell you that your web site has been a valuable tool for both my patients and myself. I always look forward to reading your e-mails. For your time and dedication I would like to thank you. My question is, how can I get a copy of the video on the truth about vaccinations that was in one of your e-mails this past week. I would love to be able to use it for public education in my community health talks. Thank you, Dr. Brandon White

A: Thanks for your kind words.

For ANY of our videos you can simply download the file and burn it to a CD or DVD and play it on a computer. You can use a projector to display it to your audience.

QA: Gallstones

Olena from Newcastle, Utah — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 00:50:15 GMT

Q: I have been having intermittent right side pain. I first noticed it about a year ago while jogging. I would have to completely stop until it went away. This past Christmas I had sharp pains in the right that would come and go. I still get the pains on occasion and have noticed a dull ache just under my ribs on the right. What do you think? Is there a diet that would prevent gallstones if that is what it is?

A: Abdominal pains can be a sign of something serious. I think you should seek a consultation with a knowledeable health care professional.

QA: Dental Malpractice

Katrina from Sparta, North Carolina — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 06:43:17 GMT

Q: I went to the dentist and he filled the wrong tooth! What can be done when dentists do something like this that harms a perfectly good tooth and you are still left with the tooth that has the cavity? I feel like I should never go to the dentist again!

A: It really depends on the dentist. All professionals are human and not infalliable. If he made an honest mistake it might be worth it to give him a second chance, especially if you have good raport with him.

However, if the dentist is not willing to make amends for the error or has a hsitory of this than you can report him to the state medical licensing board for review.

QA: Why Is It Important to Go to Bed Early

kim from kokomo, Indiana — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 14:58:12 GMT

Q: I want to be a morning person!, but have always fought my body that wants to go to bed late and get up late, and get about 10 hrs sleep. If I go to bed earlier, I seem to need more. Morning is when sleep feels the best, and arising early hurts, and hard it's to function, but at night I am fresh and ready for a project. My Grandma has always been the same too. How do I get less sleep and wake up earlier. (I currently nurse through the night too.)

A: Ideally, a person should sleep during the hours of darkness and wake up naturally when the sun rises. The further you move into the Northern Hemisphere the more difficult that plan becomes, of course.

There have been many studies completed that show that sleeping before midnight is very important. Sleeping during the hours before midnight are twice as important as the number of hours after midnight, due to the synchronizing of the meridians of the body and various organ systems.

Sleeping less than 6-8 hrs will create problems with your insulin levels. Try to sleep in complete darkness, as any light will disrupt your sleep.

Related Articles:

Secrets to a Good Night's Sleep

Too Little Sleep May Accelerate Aging

QA: What Can You Use As a Skin Moisturizer?

shane from moorpark, United States — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 11:51:12 GMT

Q: What do you do for body lotion, most lotions have soybean products in them? Would it be just as hazardous to use those lotions as it is to eat soy?

A: The safest moisturizer that I recommend is pure coconut oil. It is inexpensive and all natural - the important point that needs to be understood is that anything applied to the skin is absorbed by the body and processed through the organs.

Think twice before you apply any topical lotions or moisturizers to your skin as the substance will be absorbed by your body!

Related Articles:

The Truth About Coconut Oil