Diet, Exercise Better Than Vitamins in Promoting Health

Harvard men's health watch is telling everyone how dangerous vitamin supplements are. Unfortunately they are not kidding!

Please know that although we have our references to try to refute these statements, your patient's families will be hearing this stuff.

While it was once hoped that supplements of folic acid could help reduce colon cancer, new research has shown that taking more than the minimum daily requirement would be harmful. Simon says other studies underscore the downside to dietary supplements, which are unregulated in the United States. "The most striking example is beta carotene, which we used to be very hopeful about, but actually increases the risk of lung cancer in smokers. Vitamin E increases the risk of second head-neck cancers in people who have been successfully treated for a first malignancy."

The truth is that the folic acid most get in supplements is not the natural form that is called 5'MTHFR (Metafolin by Merck of Germany) and since it is over $12,000 a Kilogram it is not in most supplements. Read more...

Constipation May Lead to Other Problems

A very private health problem, it turns out, is associated with potentially significant and costly complications. Read more

Anxious About Anodized Aluminum?

I know that anodized aluminum is less likely to corrode into food, but I'm not comfortable using it. Is anodized aluminum safe for cookware? Read more

Dietary Aid Helps Kidney Patients Stay Safe

(HealthDay News) -- Too much dietary intake of phosphorus can be dangerous for people with kidney disease, but a new educational aid helps patients reduce the risk, a U.S. study finds.

Patients with moderate to severe kidney disease have difficulty excreting phosphorus, which can lead to a buildup of the chemical. Elevated blood levels of phosphorus (hyperphosphatemia) increase the risk of illness and death. Patients with kidney disease are advised to limit their intake of foods that are naturally high in phosphorus, such as meats, dairy products, whole grains and nuts. But phosphorus-containing additives are increasingly being added to processed and fast foods, according to background information in the study.

It included 279 end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients with elevated serum (blood) levels of phosphorus (greater than 5.5 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). Some of the patients (145) received education on avoiding foods with phosphorus additives when purchasing groceries or going to fast-food restaurants, while the remainder (134) continued to receive usual care.

At the start of the study, the average serum phosphorus level was 7.2 mg/dL in the intervention group and 7.1 mg/dL in the control group. After three months, those levels declined by 1.0 mg/dL in the intervention group and by 0.4 mg/dL in the control group. Patients in the intervention group were also much more likely to read ingredient lists and nutrition facts labels on food products.

The study was published in the Feb. 11 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

"The 0.6 mg/dL larger decline in average phosphorus level among intervention participants compared with control participants corresponds to a 5 percent to 15 percent reduction in relative mortality risk in observational studies," wrote a team led by Catherine Sullivan, of MetroHealth Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

"Our findings raise the possibility that typical intakes of processed and fast foods contribute to the persistent hyperphosphatemia, cardiovascular events, and bone disease observed among patients with ESRD. Our results have important implications for patients, clinicians, researchers, and policy makers," the study authors wrote. "Patients with ESRD and clinicians should learn about both naturally occurring phosphorus and phosphorus-containing additives, and patients should limit their total phosphorus intake to 800 to 1,000 milligrams per day as recommended by practice guidelines."

They added that researchers should focus on developing improved methods of preventing and treating hyperphosphatemia, and policy makers should consider ways to tackle the problem, such as mandatory listing of phosphorus content on nutrition labels.

More information
The U.S. National Kidney Disease Education Program has more about kidney disease.

Why Would Anyone Go on a Gluten-Free Diet if He Didn’t Have To?

By Sean Kelley

123rf/Health

For the last few years, the number of Americans going on gluten-free diets has increased. It make sense: Doctors are diagnosing more people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.
But a strange thing is happening: People who don’t have either condition are cutting gluten out of their diet in an effort to lose weight and cleanse their system. And that could lead to health problems—and even weight gain. Read More

Food Phosphates Might Spur Lung Cancer

(HealthDay News) — A diet rich in the inorganic phosphates found in many natural and processed foods accelerated the growth of lung cancers in rats, South Korean researchers report.

“Our study suggests that dietary regulation of inorganic phosphates may be critical for lung cancer treatment as well as prevention,” Myung-Haing Cho, lead author of a report in the first January issue of American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, said in a statement. Read More

The Appropriate Use of ElectroDermal Screening

Dr. WIlliam LaValley talks with Dr. Mercola about the appropriate use of ElectroDermal Screening.

Is It Morally Wrong to Eat Animals?

By Andrea Useem

At an annual conference for religion journalists last month, I saw a film that radically altered the way I look at eating meat. At the end of a long and boring speech, which I mostly ignored, Wayne Pacelle, the president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), showed the film Eating Mercifully, which snapped me right to attention.

The clips of pregnant pigs confined to iron cages, a cow being pushed off the back of a truck, and male chicks suffocated to death by the thousands made me feel sick; something about the animals’ helpless dependence reminded me of my own children.

What really affected me, however, was the portrait of Elaine West, a conservative Christian who runs a farm-animal sanctuary in Florida. When she first learned how animals are treated on factory farms, West said she was “so ashamed as a Christian [that] I was supporting that kind of horrific abuse and cruelty.” Read More

Show Toxins the Door!

You could be taking in more toxins than you realize -- through pesticides on your foods, by eating unhealthy convenience food loaded with preservatives, drinking chlorinated water, smoking or alcohol use, auto exhaust and other environmental pollutants, the skin care products you use, and your own metabolic wastes.

The Dangers of Plastic Bags

Help solve a global problem by giving up this one little convenience.

Weekends Tough on the Diet

(HealthDay News) -- Anyone who has avoided Monday morning weigh-ins knows this unalterable truth: Weekends are not a dieter's friend.

Now, researchers have some science to back up dieters' complaints about weekends being their undoing: Most people do eat more on the weekend, even when they're trying to lose weight.

"Weekend indulgences can wreak havoc on weight control, either causing our weight to increase or if we are following a diet to lose weight, can hinder our weight loss efforts," said study author Susan Racette, an assistant professor at Washington University in St. Louis. The research was published online recently in the journal Obesity.

Racette and her colleagues followed 48 men and women for a year, trying to determine the effects of weekends on weight loss efforts.

They assigned the participants, who ranged from being healthy weight to being nearly obese, to one of three groups: The controls did not change diet or activity levels; the calorie-restriction group reduced intake by 20 percent, and the physical activity group increased physical activity every day by 20 percent. Participants kept food diaries and wore devices to measure activity.

But even before the intervention started, Racette gathered data -- on daily weight, food intake and physical activity -- and found that the weekends were for indulging.

"At baseline, before they were supposed to be following a diet or exercise plan, we found on weekends, people gained weight," she said. During the week, the weight would decline. But the weekend effect was strong. "If you translate it out to a year, it could have increased weight by 9 pounds."

Before the intervention, participants ate an average of 2,257 calories on Saturday compared to just 2,021 during the week. But the average activity on weekends overall didn't differ much from average weekday activities. So, it was the food, not the lack of activity, that was to blame, Racette said.

Racette monitored the participants for a year after they started the intervention, and the weekend indulgences continued. The calorie restriction group stopped losing weight on weekends, while the physical activity group gained slightly (about .17 pounds). There were not significant weight changes in the controls on weekends.

Weekend indulgences help explain the slower-than-expected weight loss of many dieters, Racette said. "There is less structure on the weekend for a lot of people, and that can wreak havoc," she said. "A little indulgence turns into a big indulgence. Being vigilant on the weekends is really important for people either trying to lose weight or maintain a weight loss," she said.

More information
For more on dieting, American Dietetic Association.

Health Tip: Don't Overdo Fast Food

(HealthDay News) -- Fast food is a tempting option for hungry people on the run. But eating it too often or downing too much can wreak havoc on your health and waistline.

Keep these tips in mind when considering fast food, provided by the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

• Fast foods are often high in calories, fat, sugar and salt.


• Many fast foods are cooked with high-calorie fats and butters.


• Fast food choices tend to lack fresh fruits and vegetables.


• The large portion sizes offered can encourage overeating.


• Many fast food restaurants have begun publishing nutritional information about their foods. In other cases, it is available on request. This information can help you better plan what you order.

Raw Food Liver Cleanse - Day 3

Long-term raw foodists Angela Stokes and Matt Monarch experience Day 3 of a 4 Day Juice Fast Liver Cleanse.

Colon cleansing

Bowel movements are the basis of your health. If you don't have at least 1 bowel movement per day, you are already walking your way toward disease. Man's body has not changed very much in the past several thousand years... however man's diet has certainly changed a lot. All the refined sugar, white flour, hormone/antibiotics-filled meats we constantly ingest constitute an assault on our bodies. We are continuously violating our bodies by eating terrible foods. Colon cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S.

So, all congestion and toxins must be removed, and it must begin with cleansing of the bowel.

One of the most frequent bowel problems that people experience today is constipation.

A constipated system is one in which the transition time of toxic wastes is slow. The longer the "transit time," the longer the toxic waste matter sits in our bowel, which allows them to putrefy, ferment and possibly be reabsorbed. The longer your body is exposed to putrefying food in your intestines, the greater the risk of developing disease. Even with one bowel movement per day, you will still have at least three meals worth of waste matter putrefying in your colon at all times.

Disease usually begins with a toxic bowel. Those having fewer bowel movements are harboring a potentially fertile breeding ground for serious diseases. Infrequent or poor quality bowel movements over an extended period of time may be very hazardous to your health.

A Proper Colon Cleansing Program Removes the Mucoid Plaque From the Colon.

Lemon Drink for your Master Cleanse

LEMON DRINK for your Master Cleanse - you need:
2 tablespoons FRESH squeezed lemon or lime juice (approx. 1/2 lemon)
2 tablespoons genuine organic maple syrup, Grade B (the darker the better)*
1/10 teaspoon (a small pinch!) cayenne pepper, gradually increase (the more BTUs the better)
300 - 500 ccm (10-14 oz) pure water

In a 300ccm (10-ounce) glass (to allow for 227ccm and mixing room): 2 tablespoons fresh (and organic, if possible) lemon or lime juice (absolutely no canned or frozen juice). 2 tablespoons real (and organic, if possible) grade B or C maple syrup. (Don't use Grade A maple syrup or maple-flavored syrup.

They are over-refined, which means that they are mostly refined sugars and lack essential minerals.) A small pinch of cayenne pepper (to taste). Spring or purified water, between room temperature and medium hot (but not cold) – fill to 1/4 liter (8 oz). Mix all the ingredients by thoroughly stirring or shaking, and drink.

Or, in two 1 liter bottles: Juice of 3 lemons, divided equally between the two bottles (about 85ccm or 3 oz per bottle) An equal quantity of grade B or C maple syrup in each bottle (about 85 ccm or 3 oz per bottle) A pinch of cayenne in each bottle Spring or purified water (fill bottles to the top) Mix all the ingredients by thoroughly shaking; then drink throughout the day.

Use fresh lemons or limes only, never canned or frozen lemon juice. Use organic and vine ripened when possible. Also, mix your lemonade fresh just before drinking. Don't mix it up in the morning for the whole day. You can, however, squeeze your lemons in the morning and measure out the 2 tablespoons when needed.

SALT WATER FLUSH:
Drink an oral salt water enema upon arising. To do this, add 2 level teaspoons of uniodized sea salt to a quart of lukewarm water (the one-quart juice bottles in which most organic juices come work very well). Shake well, then drink the entire quart. It's also good to massage the colon as well. Make sure you use uniodized sea salt; regular or iodized salt will not have the same beneficial effect. This oral enema will flush out your entire digestive tract and colon from top to bottom, usually within an hour, prompting you to eliminate several times, clearing out the plaque and debris from the walls, and the parasites that have been living there.

Lemonade Drink:
Drink the lemonade mix every 1 to 2 hours. Take no other food, but do be sure to drink plenty of purified water in addition to the lemonade drink. Drink as much of this lemonade as you want, but make sure that you drink at least twelve 1/4 liter (8 oz) glasses. The lemonade contains all the vitamins and minerals you need. This can be combined with supplements for colon cleansing such as Bentonite or Psyllium Seeds.

You don't have to start your fast on the morning of the first day. You can begin later in the day, even if you've already eaten. Once you begin, however, eat nothing more while you're on the fast. It's also a good idea to read Stanley Burrough's book, The Master Cleanser. Note: Diabetics, refer to the special instructions on page 19 of The Master Cleanser.

Note: Bentonite is the only product known to remove plaque from the walls of the intestine and colon. The plaque in your stool will look like egg shells on the outside of the bentonite "gel." Bentonite works most effectively when the colon is empty of food. It grabs the plaque which has been loosened by the lemon juice and the resting/fasting process. The salt water enema pushes out the bentonite gel and the plaque and debris that is stuck to it and in it. The salt water further cleanses the walls as it passes through, resulting in shiny clean walls.

Herbal Laxative:
Each evening you can drink an herbal laxative tea to help with elimination, do this right before bed time.

GOING OFF LEMONADE FAST
Burroughs recommends a minimum of 10 days on this. You can safely do 40 days or more.

First Day: Start with 4 oz. [1/8 liter] fresh squeezed orange juice mixed with 4 oz. water. If it goes well, drink several more 8 oz. [1/4 liter] glasses of fresh orange juice during the day. Sip slowly. Dilute with water if needed.

Second Day: Drink several 8 oz. [1/4 liter] glasses of orange juice during the day -- with extra water, if needed.

In the evening make a vegetable broth (no canned soup). Use seasonal leafy and root vegetables such as: beets and beet tops, turnips and turnip greens, kale, carrots, onions, parsley, celery, potatoes, okra, one or two inds of legumes, squash, beans, a little salt, cayenne pepper and dehydrated vegetables or veg. powder may be added for flavor (no MSG or hydrolyzed protein).
Cook lightly. Drink the broth, eating only a few bites of the vegetables.

Third Day: Orange juice in the morning. At noon have some more soup with some of the vegetables. No meat, fish, eggs, bread, pastries, tea, milk, or coffee. For Dinner, have the vegetables in the soup.

Fourth Day: Orange juice or lemon and maple syrup in the morning. Fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts for lunch. Salad or fruit for dinner.

Fifth Day: Eat normally but no junk food, dairy, tea, coffee, white flour or white rice, heavy animal proteins. If, after eating is resumed, distress or gas occurs, go back to the lemonade diet for a few days until the system is ready for food.

(Excerpt from "Healing for the Age of Enlightenment" by Stanley Burroughs -Stanley Burroughs Master Cleanse - available through Essential Science Publishing.)

10 Ways to Detoxify Your Body

Feeling sluggish or out of sync? Having skin problems, aches and pains, or digestive problems? Straying from your healthier habits lately? It might be time for a detox.

Practiced for centuries by many cultures around the world — including ayurvedic and Chinese medicine systems — detoxification is about resting, cleaning and nourishing the body from the inside out. By removing and eliminating toxins, then feeding your body with healthy nutrients, detoxifying can help protect you from disease and renew your ability to maintain optimum health.

"The body has its own natural healing system," says Peter Bennett, N.D., medical director of Helios Clinic in Victoria, B.C., and co-author with Stephen Barrie, N.D. and Sara Faye, of 7-Day Detox Miracle (Prima Health). "Detoxification enhances this system," he explains.

How Does Detoxification Work?
Basically, detoxification means cleaning the blood. It does this mainly by removing impurities from the blood in the liver, where toxins are processed for elimination. The body also eliminates toxins through the kidneys, intestines, lungs, lymph and skin. However, when this system is compromised, impurities aren't properly filtered and every cell in the body is adversely affected.
Continue reading >>

Related Video: Body Detox Techniques and Diet: How to Detox Your Body : Colon Cleansing for Body Detoxification

The Detox Diet

Learn About the Detox Diet

Detox, short for detoxification, is the removal of potentially toxic substances from the body. Although detox is primarily thought of as a treatment for alcohol or drug dependence, the term is also used to refer to diets, herbs, and other methods of removing environmental and dietary toxins from the body for general health.

This is a sample two-week detox diet plan to support detoxification by increasing elimination from the body, cleansing the colon, enhancing circulation to clear toxic substances, eliminating foods from the diet that require detoxification or are allergenic, and providing nutrients to support and protect the liver, the main organ involved in detoxification.

Step 1: The detox screening quizAccordint to alternative practitioners, a detox screening quiz can help you become more familiar with possible symptoms of toxicity.

Many holistic practitioners believe that people with adrenal fatigue, brought on by prolonged stress, should not try the detox diet until that condition is addressed.

Step 2: Learn the basics about detox diets

This article, Detox Basics, has necessary information about detox diets, including:
What is the detox diet?
Side effects and safety concerns
Health benefits
Criticisms of detox diets
Guidelines

Step 3: Find out what foods to eat and avoid on detox diets

Step 4: How a detox diet can be customized Ayurveda is the traditional medicine of India. Knowing your Ayurvedic "type" can help you learn what foods, according to Ayurveda, support an individual's health and what foods might detract from health. Try this simple quiz.

Step 5: Proper eliminationElimination of stools and urine is the body's primary method of getting rid of toxic substances. Especially important during a detox diet, regular bowel movements decrease the likelihood that toxins will be reabsorbed into the body.

Step 6: Sample detox diet menu Learn about a typical day's meals on a detox diet with this sample menu.

Step 7: Essential nutrients for detox supportThe liver requires certain nutrients in order to produce the enzymes and antioxidants needed for detoxification.

Step 8: The hypochlorhydria screening quizSome alternative practitioners believe that hypochlorhydria, also known as low stomach acid, may be involved in indigestion, food sensitivities, nutritional deficiency, bacterial overgrowth, yeast infections, weak hair, skin, and nails, and a host of other conditions. By the time people reach their 50's, many nutritionally-oriented doctors believe that many of their clients have hypochlorhydria. Step 9: What people drink on a detox diet

Step 10: Do you have positive or negative energy? Try this quick quiz, created for us by Judith Orloff, MD, to find out if you have positive energy or if you could use a mind/body detox. Dr. Orloff is a medical intuitive, psychiatrist, and assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at UCLA.

Dr. Judith Orloff's first step for creating positive energy. Read this excerpt from her best-selling book, Positive Energy, to learn how to create more positive energy in your life
Steps 11 through 16 of the detox diet plan are on the next page>>

What is a "Kidney Cleanse" ?

A Kidney cleanse is a procedure aimed at dissolving Kidney stones - stones formed inside kidneys.

Kidney cleanse can also be used for improving kidney health by flushing out toxins accumulated inside kidney tissues.

There are many different kinds of Kidney stones. Sometimes, it can take days to dissolve them, sometimes it can take months. Sometimes, water is enough, sometimes, you may need several different remedies.

Crystals form in urine from various salts that build up on the inner surfaces of the kidney. Eventually these crystals become large enough to form stones in the kidney (called nephrolithiasis).

Such salts may include calcium oxalate, uric acid, cystine, or xanthine. These salts can become extremely concentrated under certain circumstances: if the volume of urine is significantly reduced (chronic thirst and dehydration); or if abnormally high amounts of crystal-forming salts are present (infection). When concentration levels reach the point at which the salts no longer dissolve, they precipitate out and form crystals.

Stones may also form in the ureter or the bladder. The salts that form these stones are made up of combinations of minerals and other chemicals, some of which are derived from a person's diet.

more discussion: Forum· Addiction Forum · Ask the Doctors Forum · Ayurveda Forum · Ayurvedic & Thai Herbs Forum · Colon Cleansing Forum · Dental Forum · Diabetes Forum · Diet Forum · General Cleansing Forum · Hepatitis A, B. C Forum · Integrated Medicine Forum · Live Blood Analysis Forum · Ozone-Oxygen-Forum · pH - Alkaline - Acidity Forum · Weight Loss Forum

The Liver Flush

One of the more simple and popular cleansing techniques is known as the Liver Flush.

It is used for removing excess fatty acids and other toxic substances from the liver. A healthy liver can play a crucial role in contributing to the healing of the immune system as it is an important part of digestion and plays the main role in processing toxic and allergy-causing substances in the bloodstream.

The Liver Flush can be done at any time, but is commonly done in the Spring and Autumn.

i. Simple Liver Cleanse

The following herbal products can be used to assist in cleansing and rebuilding the liver. I use the formulas for three to four weeks.
- Hepato-Pure You can purchase this formula (made by Planetary Herbal Formulas) from your local natural food store or call Planetary Herbal Formulas 800-606-6226 for the nearest distributor. It contains Bupleurum (a chinese herb reknowned for liver cleansing), Wild Yam Root, Oregon Grape Root, Lycii Berry, Cyperus, Dandelion Root Extract, Dong Quai, Peony Alba, Ginger Root, Fennel Seed, Green Citrus Peel, Dandelion Root, Milk Thistle Seed Extract (83% Silymarin), Dong Quai Extract.

- DeLiver 1 and DeLiver 2
These two formulas can be purchased from Arise & Shine (602/293-1098).

DeLiver 1 contains Cholic acid, Deoxycholic acid, Taraxacum (Dandelion), Burdock Root, Rhubarb Root, Cynaris, Catalase.

DeLiver 2 is formulated for severe congestion of the liver.
- Liv Alive Caps
You can purchase this herbal formula from your local natural foods store or contact the manufacturer, Crystal Star Herbal Nutrition (209/532-6474), for the nearest distributor. The formula contains Beet Root, Oregon Grape Root, Dandelion Root, Wild Yam, Milk Thistle Seed, Yellow Dock Root, Ginkgo, Biloba, Wild Cherry, Licorice Root, Gotu Kola, Ginger Root, Barberry Bark, Choline, Inositol.

- Milk Thistle Seeds
Milk Thistle has a reputation of being the most powerful herb for healing and strengthening the liver. You can get a tincture or tablets of the powdered concentrate in most natural foods stores. Take approximately 150mg (3 tablets) / 3 times per day or 20 drops of tincture / 3 times per day. This can be done for a couple of weeks after performing a Liver Flush (see below) or taking a liver cleansing herbal formula for a few weeks. You can find out more about Milk Thistle by reading "Milk Thistle

-- The Liver Herb" by Christopher Hobbs, Botanica Press, c1992,

ii. Castor oil compress

A castor oil compress is usually performed every other day during the Liver Flush regimen. It is helpful in encouraging the liver to dump excess fats. Soak a piece of wool or flannel (or a baby's cotton diaper) in castor oil. Ring out the cloth so that it doesn't drip. Place over the liver area (on the right side, just under the ribcage). place a hot water bottle (purchase from a drug store), not an electric heating pad over the cloth. Then place a towel over the hot water bottle. Leave on for 1.5 hours, replacing the water when necessary so that the area is kept hot (but not too hot to stand). After removing the compress, spend 5 to 10 minutes rubbing small amounts of virgin olive oil into the liver area.

iii. Coffee Enema

A coffee enema is usually used as a *part* of a cleansing program in order to encourage the liver to dump large amounts of toxins. You may wish to try this technique *once or twice* when you are performing the Liver Flush, Gallbladder Flush or GI Tract cleanse. Do not use this technique obsessively, just on occassion when performing a cleanse. You can get a coffee enema instruction sheet for free from Arise & Shine.

iv. Liver Flush

The following Liver Flush instructions are based upon Christopher Hobbs' suggestions in his book, "Foundations of Health: The Liver and Digestive Herbal." For 10 days you do the following:

1. In the morning after a little exercise (e.g., short walk, yoga, breathing exercises, etc.), drink the liver flush mixture (see below).

2. After drinking the liver flush mixture, drink two cups of herbal tea designed to cleanse the liver. Alternatively, take one of the liver cleansing formulas listed above as directed.

3. Follow a healthy, natural foods diet during the rest of the day. Also, remembering to breath deeping, using the diaphram, can be helpful. A light abdominal massage once per day can also be helpful.

4. Take (or continue taking) one of the liver cleansing formulas listed above for two to three more weeks.

5. Take Milk Thistle and Red Beet Crystals (see above) for a few weeks after finishing the liver cleanse. This will help the process of rebuilding the liver. 6. Optional and helpful - Perform the Castor oil compress every other day. - Perform one coffee enema during the cleanse. - Perform abdominal massage every other day. Liver flush mixture

Mix freshly sqeezed citrus juices together (e.g., orange, grapefruit). Mix in as much freshly sqeezed lemon (or lime) as possible. The more sour the taste, the better the cleanse. Add 1-2 cloves of fresh-sqeezed garlic. Add a small amount of ginger root juice (grate the ginger and sqeeze the resultant fibers to obtain ginger juice). Finally, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil (use the expensive stuff from a natural foods stores). Shake or blend and drink. Cleansing herbal tea

Example 1 - "Puri-Tea" from Brigitte Mars (herbalist in Colorado) Peppermint, red clover, fennel, licorice, cleavers, dandelion, Oregon grape root, burdock root, butternut bark, chickweed, parsley root, nettles. You should be able to find something similar at your local natural foods store.

Example 2 - Fennel Seed (1 part), Fenugreek (1 part), Flax Seed (1 part), Licorice Root (1/4 part), Burdock (1/4 part), Peppermint (1 part). Simmer all herbs except the peppermint for 20 minutes. Add 1 part peppermint and let the tea steep for 10 minutes. Use approximately 1 ounce (wt.) of total dried tea per pint of water. See the following books for more information on healing the liver:

i. Foundations of Health: The Liver and Digestive Herbal by Christopher Hobbs Botanica Press, c1992

ii. Natural Liver Therapy by Christopher Hobbs Botanica Press, c1993 (3rd revision) This book contains alot of good information on restoring the health of the liver as well as many natural remedies.

Rebuilding & Strengthening

1. Milk Thistle Seeds (see above)

2. Herbal Formula such as Hepato-Pure from Planetary Herbal Formulas (see above).

3. Building a healthy population of beneficial bacteria in the intestines is very helpful for preventing the building of toxins which can overwork the liver. Regularly eating fermented foods (if tolerable) or taking a probiotic suppliment can be very helpful in doing this. See the "Probiotics" section of the "Food & Nutrition" chapter for more information.

4. Abdominal Massage once per day.

5. Deep breathing exercises and yogic breathing exercises (see "Yoga" chapter and "Emotional Healing" chapter for Hendricks Breathing Exercises).

6. Healthy diet without dairy.

7. See "Natural Liver Therapy" by Christopher Hobbs for additional tips.

Carb Intake, Obesity Tied to Rise in Esophageal Cancers

(HealthDay News) -- There may be a link between rising rates of carbohydrate intake and obesity and the increasing number of esophageal cancer cases in the United States, a new study says.

Researchers noted that cases of esophageal cancer increased from 300,000 in 1973 to 2.1 million in 2001, which closely mirrors increases in carbohydrate intake and obesity over the same time.

Obesity is a major risk factor for many types of cancer, and a diet high in calories from refined carbohydrates is a common contributor to obesity, the researchers noted. They also said no other studied nutrients were found to correlate with esophageal cancer rates.

"If we can reverse the trends in refined carbohydrate intake and obesity in the U.S., we may be able to reduce the incidence of esophageal cancer," study senior author Dr. Li Li, an assistant professor in the department of family medicine and the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center at Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Health System, said in a prepared statement.

The study was published in a recent issue of The American Journal of Gastroenterology.
The causes of esophageal cancer are largely unknown, and despite recent advances, patients with this type of cancer have a poor prognosis. The five-year survival rate is less than 20 percent.

More information
The American Cancer Society has more about esophageal cancer.