Attributable to the Standard American Diet (SAD), Americans take 1st prize for leading the world in colon cancer. Surprised? You shouldn’t be, considering that the average American diet consists of food (if we can even call it that) that would be considered nutritionally unfit for rats; fiberless, nutritionally vacuous foods, clogging up our most vital method of eliminating toxic waste from our body. In a perfectly functioning colon, you should be having a bowel movement anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour after every major meal, yet the vast majority of us only average about one every two to three days. And what is more, is that many Americans seem to be under the false pretense that this is perfectly normal! It is bad enough what Americans put into their bodies in the first place, but to have the byproduct of this junk sit in the colon for days on end—bad news.

Waste and toxins that accumulate and lay idly in the colon are slowly absorbed into the blood stream, in addition to putting pressure on neighboring organs, and these issues can manifest themselves throughout the body in a seemingly endless array of negative health effects—from back pains and migraines, to high cholesterol and cancer—never underestimate how poor elimination can impact your health.

While cleansing your colon is a multifaceted subject that requires more coverage than a simple mention in our “Top Ten,” there are a variety of herbal formulas available for maintainence and deep cleaning of your colon. Most effective formulas contain a combination of ingredients such as; flax seed, psyllium husks, slippery elm bark, marshmallow root, peppermint leaf, uva ursi, fennel, licorice root, apple pectin, bentonite clay, and activated charcoal. Herbal formulas are the least expensive way to cleanse your colon, but herbal colonics can also work wonders for those of you looking to go the distance. Above all folks, do your research. For every great herbal product out there, there are twenty more that are total garbage.

				Fact One: It is medically accepted that we absorb a large amount of what we put on our skin. Fact Two: The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently analyzed close to 3000 chemicals used in personal care products, of which close to 1/3 were found to be toxic. Many of these chemicals were linked to reproductive harm, biological mutation, cancer, allergic reactions, hormone disruption, and more... Fact Three: The FDA (nor any other governmental organization) DOES NOT require approval or safety testing of any new chemical put into personal care products.

What does this mean to you? The stakes are high. Our world is polluted enough—why self subject yourself to thousands of chemicals, and with no one taking responsibility for the safety of them? And, with the rise of consumer awareness, manufacturers are becoming more creative with ingredients; toxic additives are cleverly disguised, the use of the word organic is blatantly abused—and the government turns a blind eye to all of it. Bottom line, if you can’t pronounce it, it probably doesn’t belong on your body. Not sure what to look for? Search Environmental Working Group for all the latest info on the toxic sespool known as the cosmetic industry, or take at look at what we believe to be the top ten chemical offenders in personal care products.

Considered the ultimate raw food, freshly pressed live juices are incomparable with respect to the nutritional impact upon your body. I wrote an article a while back called Juicing Your Way to Radiant Health, and my opinion has not changed, in that I thoroughly believe juicing to be the ticket to optimal health—if you aren’t doing it already, you should be.

Fresh, live, organic vegetable juices provide a vast array of delicate micronutrients and minerals to the body, and more specifically, ones that are bio-available and easily assimilated. One of the most important aspects to consider with regards to juicing, is that the majority of Americans have compromised digestive systems from a history of sub-par food choices, and juicing effectively balances this shortcoming due to the fact it is already in liquid form and ready for absorption. And, as some of our readers have asked previously, the answer is NO, store bought juices do not offer the same benefits. Fresh, live juices lose much of their value within hours after you make it (which is why they should be consumed immediately), let alone to have it sit on a store shelf for days or even weeks. This is in addition to the fact that most if not all store bought juices are pasteurized (heated to high temperatures), effectively destroying every last bit of value.

Don’t own a juicer and not sure what one to buy? The great “Juicer Roundup” article is in the works...but, for all those who are curious, the Omega 8005 is what adorns my own countertop.

I hate to state the obvious, but exercise is a must. Most common answer: “But I just don’t have time!” Well, the short answer to that would be “Make time!” Exercise plays a foundational role in any integral health program, with known benefits far to extensive to list—quite simply, exercise enhances and refines just about every biological process you can shake a stick at. In fact, take all the money you would spend on herbal supplements and multi vitamins—and invest in a pair of comfy athletic shoes, because the return on exercise for your overall health is beyond compare.

Don’t like running? Try walking. Not a walker? Take a yoga class. The point is this—do something that you enjoy, because experience tells us that the average person won’t keep up a program that they don’t like to do, especially when it is accomplished through self discipline. Whatever it is, make sure you get your heart rate up for at least 30 minutes per day. And, if for whatever reason you are unable to move about, read our article on far infrared saunas, as it is the next best thing to good old-fashioned exercise

“Let food be thy medicine, and medicine by thy food.”
-Hippocrates

Admittingly, the use of the word “food” is thrown about here with reckless abandon, as processed foods, are not actually foods. They could plausibly be considered food in the sense that they enter our mouths whereupon we chew and swallow, but just because we eat it, does not make it so. Processed foods are simply foods that have been altered from their natural state (e.g. raw wheat that has been mechanically separated, milled, bleached, heated, and preserved), and the further they are from their natural state, the more processed it is, and hence the worse it is for your body.

The biochemical structure and nutrient composition of raw foods in their natural state (e.g. an orange) is quite delicate to say the least. Processing and cooking food creates an unnatural substance, where nutrients, enzymes, amino acids, vitamins, and fiber (what makes food, food) have been degraded and altered to the point of non-existence. What is left is a nutritionally vacuous, life-sucking substance that has no place in the human body.

Raw foods (e.g. veggies, fruits, nuts, etc...) are truly “medicine” in every sense of the word, as they provide your body with the nutrition and sustenance to heal itself. I don’t think a box of Ritz crackers with an 8 year shelf life is what Hippocrates had in mind.

Generally speaking, aging men and women invariably affected by declining and imbalanced levels of hormones—and yet it is crucial to maintaining optimal health. Many men age 40 and over often have too much estrogen and too little testosterone, whereas women often possess highly imbalanced levels of estrogen and progesterone. These imbalances affect the body negatively, manifesting themselves through mood and anxiety disorders, lack of libido, and a slew of other problems you certainly should not have to deal with.

Although the restoration of youthful hormone balance is critical to the healthier new you, and thus an integral part of our “Top Ten,” it is much more complex than the scope of this paragraph. First steps would necessitate an assessment of your hormone levels (via blood test) and from there one could make an informed decision. There are herbal, as well as natural phytomedicinal and bio-identical plant based therapies available, but above all, do your own research. And, avoid ALL synthetic and animal derived hormones (e.g. premarin, which is derived from pregnant horse urine) as they are an abomination and extremely risky.

Luckily, nature has provided us with a select group of specific botanicals that are so nutritionally dense and jam-packed with life giving nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, that they have earned the title of being “super foods.” Unlike conventional vitamin and mineral supplements, where the majority of the nutrient value is derived from sources that are NOT easily assimilated by the body (if at all), “super foods” are easily digested, where nutrients are absorbed and transported into the bloodstream to be made available to your body. Because, as has been pointed out in prior articles, it isn’t about how much you take, but about how much your body can absorb! So what are our “super food” picks? Our top three favorites are chlorella, spirulina, and a combination of barley, wheat, alfalfa and kamut grasses. Ok, so maybe that was more than three. There are several manufacturers out there that sell blends of these superfoods, so be sure to shop around! Regular consumption of these nutrient packed wonders will translate to better health in no time.

Americans seem to be under the common misconception that “fat” is something that should be avoided at all costs. Maybe it is due to media influence, or maybe it is because the word “fat” has such a negative connotation attached to it; either way, the result is that an overwhelming majority of Americans simply do not get enough good fats in their diet. Conversely, these very same Americans consume an inordinate amount of inferior fats, upsetting the delicate balance of cell membranes within the body, as well as hormone-like substances known as prostaglandins.

This imbalance occurs due to excessive over-consumption of omega-6 fats from sub-par oils (particularly canola, soy bean, and safflower oil), and an inadequate intake of omega-3 and omega-9 fats. In addition, the most important long-chain fatty acids, known as EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), and GLA (gamma-linolenic acid), are almost always neglected through the Standard American Diet (SAD).

Early signs of deficiency in essential fatty acids can range from dry skin, cracked nails, and dull hair, to fatigue, depression, and weakened immune system; long term deficiency can result in cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, nervous system disorders, and a slew of other problems.

So where can you get the good fats your body needs? Cold pressed flax oil, borage oil, evening primrose oil, and arctic cod liver oil are your best options for supplying your body with a rich source of healthy fats, and in turn, a healthier new you.

According to ancient healers, the liver was regarded to be the seat of all life and emotion. And yet, the majority of us tend to undervalue how crucial the liver is in maintaining ones health. Pharmaceuticals, alcohol, tobacco, and environmental pollutants, coupled with the incessantly destructive eating habits of most individuals, all serve to overwork and congest the liver to the point where it is no longer efficient. If the liver ceases completely, we die—but, if we slowly choke our liver so that it can no longer perform as it should, we still die, just slower! More specifically, this “slow death” can be characterized by the vast array of degenerative diseases that plague our society. Our bodies are exceptionally well versed at eliminating what can cause us harm, but when we clog our elimination channels so that our organs can no longer function properly—sickness and disease will surely ensue. With the liver filtering close to 600 gallons of blood each day (not to mention a slew of other functions), it is critical that its efficiency doesn’t skip a beat.

There are a number of herbs and botanicals that are effective at detoxifying the liver and regenerating optimal function, such as; red clover blossom, chaparral, burdock root, dandelion root, licorice root, turmeric root, milk thistle, artichoke leaf, reishi mushroom, shitake mushroom, and others. However, despite how effective these botanicals may be, the healthiest thing you can do for your liver is to avoid the things that choke the life from your liver in the first place.