Dr. Mike’s Healthy Lifestyle Advice: Britney Spears Colon Cleanses?
Toxic singer Britney Spears is on a health kick. Not content with looking better on the outside, the 26-year-old wants to look good on the inside too and is having regular colon cleansing sessions at a clinic in Beverly Hills. A source at the clinic said: “Cleansing a few times a week gets rid of lingering stuff in the colon. Britney’s had the treatment before and says it makes her feel great, more upbeat and energetic.”
FACTS:
An occasional colon cleanse can ward off digestive problems and help treat existing ones. Even though the body naturally cleanses itself, many people (including myself) believe that a good colon cleanse can be very beneficial to one’s health.
The colon is responsible for all elimination of waste. All of the food that we consume ends up in our bowels, and what is unprocessed by the body can remain as waste by-products and toxins attracting parasites. When the colon is clean and healthy, we can experience an overall well-being. When the colon is congested with stagnant waste, poisons will back up into our system and pollute the internal environment, including all other organs such as liver and kidneys. This process is also called autointoxication or self-poisoning.
The truth is that our colon, for most of us, is in an unhealthy state, filled with mucoid plaque and toxins… plain and simple it’s just a complete mess. Our colon is clogged up, causing constipation, digestive problems, and more. How did we reach this state? By consuming unhealthy foods, selecting poor lifestyle choices and being exposed to environmental influences.
Mucoid plaque (also known as chronic feces) is created when the body produces mucus to protect itself from potentially toxic substances. Mucoid plaque acts as a health threat by reducing the absorption of nutrients, impairing digestion, providing a haven for parasitic microorganisms, acting as a reservoir of toxins, promoting the development of cancer, causing skin conditions and allergies, and reducing bowel transit time. The average person has 10-20 pounds of this toxic mucoid plaque in his/her intestines! That would be some easy weight loss, not? And healthy at the same time!
People with a healthy colon should have 1-2 relaxed bowel movements per day. If you do not, you may be experiencing problems with colon function, and you need to follow the advice below.
MYTHS:
Although there are many different colon cleanse home recipes and supplements available on the market today, many of them are expensive, unhealthy and have poor results. The cleanses that omit food and nutrients for longer than 3 days (and up to several weeks) are obviously very unhealthy. The ‘Lemon Detox Diet’ for example will cause nutrient deficiencies, muscle atrophy, and reduce metabolic rate.
CONCLUSION:
Many cleanses use a lot of the same ingredients. Psyllium seeds and husks, for instance, are frequently used because they are known to flush waste out of the colon effectively. Probiotics also turn up frequently in colon cleanse recipes and products because they help enhance the population of beneficial bacteria that live in a one’s gut. Many herbs are commonly found in colon cleanses as well, including aloe, fennel, garlic, prunes, pectin, ginger, licorice, kelp, senna, alginate, cascara sagrada, and goldenseal.
Although there are literally hundreds of colon cleansing home recipes and products available, some of the simple ones are often the effective ones. One of these simple and commonly used colon cleanse home programs is Dr. Mike’s Cheap 5-step Colon Cleanse Program:
My recommendation is to follow my personal protocol:
1. Mix equal parts of apple juice and spring water together (1/2 glass each) and add 1 tbsp. each of liquid bentonite clay, colofiber and psyllium husk seeds. These ingredients are all available at most health food stores. Mix until you get a thick substance and swallow. Follow up that concoction immediately with a mixture of 10 oz. spring water, 1 tbsp. honey and 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar. It’s that easy. Repeat the above procedure daily for 1 week initially, and then for 3 consecutive days, once every month.
2. I personally supplement with the Natural Visions’ Cleanse which contains most of the herbs mentioned above, which aid in cleansing the colon and the body. I recommend you use the supplement for 3 months and then be off the supplement for 3 months, and so on.
3. Increase your fiber intake and reduce your fat and sodium intake. Take at least 30 mg of fiber a day. Purchase natural fiber supplements, or increase your intake of fruits and vegetables. A high fiber diet eases constipation, helps with weight loss and reduces the risk of developing digestive problems.
4. Drink more pure water, at least the amount of ounces equaling half of your body weight in pounds (for example, if you weigh 150 pounds, you should drink a minimum of 75 ounces of pure water/day).
5. Perform a water cleanse once every 3 months. This is by far the most basic of all colon cleanses. Just drink water for 3 days…no caffeine, no alcohol, no food and no calories. Be careful not to over-hydrate or dehydrate. Spring water or purified water is your best choice.
The total cost to keep up with my recommendation will be less than $250 every 6 months. I’m sure it’s worth to keep your gut and intestines clean for that little money!
The Benefits of Colon Cleanse
• Increased Energy Levels
• Reduce Chronic Fatigue
• Weight Loss
• Get rid from Acne and other acute Skin problems
• Relief from Gas
• Reduced Stomach Pain & other GI/digestive problems
• Improved concentration
• Better absorption of vitamins and minerals from foods
• No Chronic constipation
• No bad Breath
Yours in Optimal Health,
Dr. Mike.
Resources: Colon cleanse Central, Colon Cleanse Zone, 3 day Colon cleanse.
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Dr. Mike’s Healthy Lifestyle Advice: Statin Drugs do NOT Lower Cholesterol!
We already discussed that cholesterol is NOT a deadly poison, but a vital substance! It’s the cholesterol-reducing drugs (or statins, as they’re called) that are the poison, and further more…recent facts show they even don’t work! High cholesterol can indicate a health problem BUT can be totally innocent by itself.
It’s true that heart disease is the #1 killer in the United States. And men over the age of 40 are particularly vulnerable. But, the big pharmaceutical companies (and even your doctor) won’t tell you that the majority of strokes and heart attacks have NOTHING to do with elevated cholesterol levels. Actually, recent reports from the American Heart Association indicate that more people with a low cholesterol die from a heart condition than people with high cholesterol levels; which is totally NOT a surprise! The fact that the majority of all strokes and heart attacks have absolutely nothing to do with elevated cholesterol levels is a guarded secret. It’s these statin drugs that are associated with major complications and side effects such as depletion of the body’s essential energy molecule coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which can lead to congestive heart failure, extreme muscle weakness, neurological disorders and even death. Cholesterol is a vital substance and the drugs prescribed to lower cholesterol are simply dangerous.
What about cancer? All statin drugs have been associated with causing or promoting cancer in experimental animals. This is especially important since millions of Americans have been advised to take these drugs for the rest of their lives. The results of one study were especially frightening: statin drugs produced significant suppression of vital immune cells called helper T-cells. These cells play a major role in protecting us against cancer and fungal, bacterial and viral infections. The immune suppression was so powerful that authors of the paper even suggested that statins might be used to prevent organ rejection in transplant patients. The drugs tested in this study included Lipitor, Mevacor and Pravachol. Chronic immune suppression in these millions of people would mean that a tremendous number would be at high risk of developing cancer, and those already having cancer would see tremendous growth and spread of their cancers.
Statins do not seem to benefit postmenopausal women, or anyone without a history of cardiovascular disease. Yet, doctors are prescribing statins for anyone with an elevated cholesterol, and also for all diabetics – no matter their cholesterol level.
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My own mother, who still resides in my home country of Belgium, was put on Lipitor about 2 years ago. I wasn’t aware of that, but she called and expressed pain and numbness in her legs. I tried to diagnose her over the phone and spent countless hours to figure it out…until I asked her: “De doctor heeft jou toch geen cholesterol-drugs voorgeschreven zeker?” Did you get that? I guess not! I talk Flemisch (a Dutch dialect spoken in the Northern part of Belgium) to my mother…anyway what I asked her was: “Your doctor did not prescribe you cholesterol-lowering drugs, did she?”. Well, she did. I advised my mother to discontinue the Lipitor immediately and within 3 days all her symptoms in her legs were gone. I also educated her on what to do naturally to treat the CAUSE of the high cholesterol, and more importantly on what to do to protect your heart. A Danish study found that those taking statin drugs long term were 4 to 14 times more likely to develop nerve degeneration leading to difficulty walking and painful extremities. Regardless, read the side-effect profile of these statins on your drug label and you’ll see.
Cholesterol is just a BIG HOAX!
How many of the 12 million Americans now taking these drugs for their heart health understand that they are just treating the symptoms and NOT the cause of high cholesterol?
Cholesterol-reducing drugs or statins are currently as common as aspirin, with commercials running non-stop on primetime TV. Drugs like Lipitor, Zocor, Pravachol, Crestor and Mevacor carry many serious health risks, including destruction of muscle, liver damage, increased risk of cancer, malformations at birth, and suppression of the immune system, just to name a few. Drug companies don’t want you to remember that statins like Baycol had to be pulled from the market due to multiple deaths.
Let’s face facts. If you or a loved one has been told you have elevated cholesterol or take cholesterol-lowering statins, invest 2 minutes out of your busy day and educate yourself, it will pay you a very healthy dividend.
FACTS:
- The whole cholesterol industry is a BIG HOAX. The “supposed” dangers of dietary cholesterol have been strongly exaggerated and one made sure that most people would test ‘positive’ for high cholesterol levels so the drugs could be prescribed and sold to almost everyone. Yes, that’s what happens when BIG money is involved!
- Statin drugs DON’T WORK anyway! The mainstream media can no longer ignore the mounting evidence that these drugs are not a panacea. One study found that for every hundred people taking statins for three years, only one death will be prevented. Other studies hint that the number is far higher – that up to 250 people would have to take statins for at least three years to prevent a single death! A recent publication even shows that one such drug, Vytorin, simply does not even work for its intended purpose; the reduction of artery plaque. You read that correctly – “does not work.”
- Having low cholesterol is not only bad for you, but can be just as dangerous, if not more so, than having elevated cholesterol levels.
- Cholesterol is only “bad” if it becomes oxidized . . . and how to prevent this dangerous reaction from happening in your bloodstream.
- Lowering cholesterol will NOT improve your health or prevent heart disease. However, simple changes to your diet can protect your heart much better than expensive statin drugs.
- Dietary cholesterol does NOT raise blood cholesterol and therefor does NOT cause hardening of your arteries (artherosclerosis), so please start eating your organic eggs again…they are one of the most nutritious food items available! For more info, read my article “The Chicken or the Egg?”
- It’s not eating eggs or foods with high dietary cholesterol that are the main problem; it’s the ‘bad’ foods that stimulate cholesterol production! Consuming ‘bad’ foods (processed, synthetic foods, trans-fats etc.) forces the liver to produce more cholesterol. Why? Because the cell membrane has to increase its fluidity in order to absorb and break down these ‘foreign’ substances. The production of cholesterol in our body actually increases when we consume less cholesterol. That’s also why cholesterol-diets have very limited result.
- Mental stress, body weight, diet and level of physical activity influence blood cholesterol. Genetics are NOT a primary indicator in cholesterol-health.
- Diet and exercise alone have limited results in lowering blood cholesterol. With the right nutrients, optimal LDL – HDL ratio’s can be obtained.
- Many doctors have no or little knowledge about nutrition, vitamins and natural medicine and blindly and mistakenly follow the advice of drug companies…at the expense of your health.
Achieve an optimal LDL-HDL ratio, naturally!
Avoid saturated fats and consume more oat bran, soy products, fresh garlic, and phytostyerol-rich foods such as olive oil, nuts, flax and other seeds, and beans which inhibit the body’s ability to absorb dietary cholesterol.
Take the following supplements (if you really want to lower your cholesterol levels):
Fish-oils, red yeast rice, Niacin (very effective in promoting healthy levels of cholesterol and Lp (a), another ‘toxic blood’ risk factor for heart disease), CoQ10 (supports healthy HDL and prevents excess oxidation of LDL), and Policosanol (derived from the wax of sugar cane, and very effective for lowering total cholesterol and LDL levels).
Note: neither niacin nor red yeast rice extract should be used if you have liver disease or elevated levels of liver enzymes. For these individuals, garlic, guggal preparations, or panthethine are recommended.
So, eat your eggs BUT STOP (or limit) the junk food, fried foods and bad fat intake; and take your supplements (because our food does not provide enough of the right nutrients to maintain a healthy ratio of LDL – HDL).
And if you want to protect your heart, you need to focus on eating heart-healthy foods and consume or supplement with specific nutrients. The most powerful and effective quantum nutritional supplements to support your cardio-vascular system and heart are the following:
Dr. Mike Recommends
Cardiocidin-ND™ (8 oz.) Nanized nutraceutical concentrate: supports the entire cardiovascular system, including healthy blood flow, circulation, blood pressure already within the normal range; also supports heart and artery health.
CircuZymeTM (535 mg.) 90 Vcaps, Advanced support for blood circulation and associated nerve, heart and arterial health; promotes healthy micro-circulation of blood to peripheral tissue, including the arms, legs, eyes, testicles, penis and other areas; support healthy male erectile function and the adaptive response.
Heart Complex, Q. (495 mg.) 30 Vcaps, Nutraceutical heart support formula; promotes heart and circulation support; often used with the HCL Detox Kit*
CoQ-QuinolTM (2 fl. oz.) The world’s only probiotic-generated, live source, fully-reduced CoQ-10H (ubiquinol; not oxidized), for maximum cell energy performance; outperforms common CoQ-10; quantum-state heart, nerve, brain and immune support*
Yours in Optimal Health,
Dr. Mike.
Resources:
Statin Drugs: Bad news gets worse; Newsmax – Monday, January 28, 2008 by Dr. Russelll Blaylock, MD.
Premier Research labs (www.prlabs.com)
Avoid saturated fats and consume more oat bran, soy products, fresh garlic, and phytostyerol-rich foods such as olive oil, nuts, flax and other seeds, and beans which inhibit the body’s ability to absorb dietary cholesterol.
Take the following supplements (if you really want to lower your cholesterol levels):
Fish-oils, red yeast rice, Niacin (very effective in promoting healthy levels of cholesterol and Lp (a), another ‘toxic blood’ risk factor for heart disease), CoQ10 (supports healthy HDL and prevents excess oxidation of LDL), and Policosanol (derived from the wax of sugar cane, and very effective for lowering total cholesterol and LDL levels).
Note: neither niacin nor red yeast rice extract should be used if you have liver disease or elevated levels of liver enzymes. For these individuals, garlic, guggal preparations, or panthethine are recommended.
So, eat your eggs BUT STOP (or limit) the junk food, fried foods and bad fat intake; and take your supplements (because our food does not provide enough of the right nutrients to maintain a healthy ratio of LDL – HDL).
And if you want to protect your heart, you need to focus on eating heart-healthy foods and consume or supplement with specific nutrients. The most powerful and effective quantum nutritional supplements to support your cardio-vascular system and heart are the following:
Cardiocidin-ND™ (8 oz.) Nanized nutraceutical concentrate: supports the entire cardiovascular system, including healthy blood flow, circulation, blood pressure already within the normal range; also supports heart and artery health.
CircuZymeTM (535 mg.) 90 Vcaps, Advanced support for blood circulation and associated nerve, heart and arterial health; promotes healthy micro-circulation of blood to peripheral tissue, including the arms, legs, eyes, testicles, penis and other areas; support healthy male erectile function and the adaptive response.
Heart Complex, Q. (495 mg.) 30 Vcaps, Nutraceutical heart support formula; promotes heart and circulation support; often used with the HCL Detox Kit*
CoQ-QuinolTM (2 fl. oz.) The world’s only probiotic-generated, live source, fully-reduced CoQ-10H (ubiquinol; not oxidized), for maximum cell energy performance; outperforms common CoQ-10; quantum-state heart, nerve, brain and immune support*
Yours in Optimal Health,
Dr. Mike.
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Dr. Mike’s Healthy Lifestyle Advice: Michael Jackson Mask
The Michael Jackson mask would sure look crazy and almost ridiculous for anyone to wear all the time, especially a world famous celebrity such as pop star Michael Jackson.
According to sources Michael Jackson had Vitiligo. Vitiligo is an acquired skin disease characterized by patches of un-pigmented skin (often surrounded by a heavily pigmented border). The disease destroys melanin and pigment production in the skin, and in extreme cases may cause sun allergies and may drastically increase the risk of skin cancers.
Dermatologists since his recent death in 2009 have came out and stated that there is no skin bleaching agent in this world that can lighten the skin as much as Michael Jackson’s skin; reinforcing the fact that it was a disease…or was it a result of his extensive facial plastic surgeries? We report, you decide!
But is that the true reason why Michael Jackson was wearing a face mask? Other sources report that Michael Jackson suffered from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). OCD is an anxiety disorder and is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Repetitive behaviors such as hand washing, counting, checking, or cleaning are often performed with the hope of preventing obsessive thoughts or making them go away. Michael Jackson may have been obsessed with germs or dirt, and therefore washed his hands over and over, and was wearing that face mask. Performing these so-called “rituals,” however, provides only temporary relief, and not performing them markedly increases anxiety.
So maybe Michael Jackson was just protecting himself from the common cold or flu…and that’s not totally crazy, is it? The average person catches between 2 to 4 colds a year and will come down with the flu at least once a year. With no cure in sight for colds or flu, current treatments (a ridiculous amount of prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and of course…the flu shots and vaccinations that DO NOT WORK and pose a health hazard themselves) can relieve symptoms or shorten the duration of those symptoms. But common sense tells all of us that we need to prevent catching a cold or flu by boosting our immune system and incorporating healthy eating practices.
I assume you would prefer not to wear a face mask like Michael Jackson all the time in order to prevent the flu or a common cold…I listed some easy tips and natural remedies to treat and prevent the common cold and flu:
1. There are 2 herbal remedies your medicine chest should never be without: Echinacea and Astragalus. Both of these natural medicines are powerful immune boosters that will help you to be more resilient all year round.
2. Zinc acetate lozenges will help reduce the length of a cold.
3. To alleviate a sore throat gargle 4 to 5 times a day with warm water and a teaspoon of salt.
4. Wash your hands regularly and when indicated with a chemical free soap to help prevent the virus from entering the nasal and oral cavities, or from spreading it to other people. Anti-bacterial soaps are totally unnecessary and do more harm than good. I personally recommend the Natural Visions’ soap which is handcrafted and all natural.
5. Increase your vitamin D intake. Vitamin D deficiency (lack of) is most likely the cause of getting the seasonal flu; less sunshine translates in less vitamin D and consequently less protection against infections. Therefore, optimizing vitamin D levels is probably the number one strategy to avoid any kind of infection. Have your vitamin D levels checked regularly and make sure your levels are at a therapeutic level, between 50-60 ng/ml.
6. Increase your vitamin C intake to 1,000 mg per day to help boost your immune system and shorten your cold. Try drinking fresh squeezed or organic orange juice or even better pineapple juice (it generally contains more vitamin C than orange juice).
7. Boost your immune system:
a. Supplement with Natural Visions Wellness Support, which boost the immune system on all 3 levels. This excellent supplement contains Vitamin C, Zinc, Echinacea, Olive Leaf, American Ginseng and other antioxidants to fight free radicals while enhancing our response to stress.
b. Increase your antioxidant intake with Natural Visions Mind™.
c. Balance your pH and relieve your body from its burden to constantly try and buffer your blood so it can keep your immune system up. Eat plenty of fruits & vegetables and/or supplement with the Natural Visions Soul™.
d. Supplement with omega-3 fish oils or krill.
e. Exercise moderately. I recommend 4 times 30 minutes/week.
8. Take a broad spectrum NATURAL antibiotic such as fresh, organic garlic and consume it regularly (unless you are allergic to garlic of course). Garlic will fight bacteria, viruses and fungi in the body.
9. Consume plenty of fluids. Choose water (squeeze some lemon or lime in it) and/or clear broth to prevent dehydration. Drink enough to have clear or pale yellow urine. You may also drink decaffeinated hot tea or honey, lemon and hot water mixed together.
10. Use a humidifier to keep nasal passages moist.
11. Get enough rest. Fatigue will only prolong the illness. Get more sleep than usual to help your body recover and help your immune system fight the infection (if any).
12. Avoid processed foods and junk food which are loaded with colorings, preservatives, pesticides, hormones, carcinogens, antibiotic residues etc. These food items destroy your immune system and consequently your body fails to fight viruses and illnesses. For more information, read my book “10 Things You Should Know…”
13. Don’t consume alcohol.
14. Avoid doctor’s offices and hospitals since they are the breeding grounds for flu bugs and infections of all kinds.
You may think after reading my tips that wearing a face mask like Michael Jackson may be the easier solution, and you’re probably right. However, a face mask will not improve your health and actually lowers your own immune system (no exposure to any kind of germs which puts your immune system to sleep), making you more susceptible to illness.
Yours in Optimal Health,
Dr. Mike
Resources: Web MD, Familyhealth, nutrition.com, National Institute of Mental Health – OCD, LewRockwell.com September 16, 2009, Mayoclinic.com
###
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10 Things You Should Know About Your Body
Dr. Mike’s Nutritional Health Advice: Avocado Nutrition Facts
Avocados are one of the most nutritional as well as healthy fruits you can eat.Wellness choices begin with proper nutrition, and the avocado is an excellent food source to achieve that goal. The avocado fruit, also known as the Alligator Pear, vegetable butter or butter pear, is light-green with a pear-like shape and has skin with a leather-like appearance. Avocados have a creamy, buttery texture and are popular in salads, salsas, soups, sandwiches, wraps, guacamole and various other dishes. Avocados are native to Central and South America where they have been cultivated for thousands of years.
Avocados are quite healthy for you because they are an excellent source of potassium, folate, iron, vitamin E, B-vitamins, fiber, and monounsaturated fatty acids. Just one avocado has the same amount of potassium as two or three bananas (but more calories, approximately 50 calories for 1/5 of a regular size avocado). The sodium and potassium in avocados keeps your body chemically balanced.
An avocado contains approximately 20% fat which is mostly why the avocado is a misunderstood fruit. However, the fat in avocados is ‘good fat’. Avocados contain extremely high amounts of unsaturated oil (second only to olives). The other oils include oleic acid and linoleic acid, which studies have shown may lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (this is of less importance since we already established that cholesterol is a big hoax). Avocados, due to their mono and polyunsaturated fat content, are therefore a healthy substitution for foods rich in saturated fat. Per serving, avocados have 3.5 grams of unsaturated fats, which are known to be important for normal growth and development of the central nervous system and brain. Furthermore, avocados are a perfectly digestible and slow burning fuel, making them ideal for replenishing nutrients for athletes.
Avocados are also loaded with essential micronutrients with nearly 20 vitamins, minerals and beneficial plant compounds necessary for a healthy and balanced diet. One-fifth of a medium avocado (1 oz) has 50 calories and contributes nearly 20 vitamins and minerals making it a good nutrient choice. The avocado’s smooth, creamy consistency makes it one of the first fresh fruits a baby can enjoy. A serving of avocado also contains 81 micrograms of the carotenoid lutein and 19 micrograms of beta-carotene, which some studies suggest may help maintain healthy eyes (lutein is concentrated in the macula of the eyes). Both are known to be powerful antioxidants. Avocados also contain 76 milligrams beta-sitosterol in a 3-oz serving of avocado. Beta-sitosterol is a natural plant sterol which may help maintain healthy cholesterol levels (which again is not that important).
Avocados act as a “nutrient booster” by enabling the body to absorb more fat-soluble nutrients, such as alpha- and beta-carotene as well as lutein, in foods that are eaten with the fruit.
Avocados and Heart Disease:
Avocados can help consumers meet the dietary guidelines of the American Heart Association, which are to eat a diet that is low to moderate in fat. The fats should be primarily unsaturated and low in saturated fat and cholesterol. The avocado is virtually the only fruit that has monounsaturated fat. Avocados help assist consumers in meeting a major dietary goal of reducing saturated fat in the diet, when they are consumed in place of saturated-fat containing foods.
When used instead of other fats, avocados contribute nearly 20 vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients and can be part of a calorie-reduced diet or weight loss program.
Spread and Dip Nutritional Comparison for Fresh Avocados:
Fresh avocado on sandwiches and toast or substituted as a spread in place of many other popular foods may help reduce dietary intake of calories, fat, saturated fat, sodium and cholesterol.
Looking for a twist on spreads and dips? A 1-ounce serving of fresh avocados contain 0mg of cholesterol, 0mg of sodium, 0.5g saturated fat. See the chart below for examples of how fresh avocados are a great substitute on sandwiches, toast or substituted as a spread in place of many other popular foods.
| Spread and Dip Nutritional Comparison | |||||
| Fresh Avocado |
Butter, salted |
Sour Cream, Cultured |
Cheddar Cheese |
Mayonnaise, with salt |
|
| Portion (1 ounce) |
2 Tbsp. or 2-3 Thin Slices |
2 Tbsp. | 2 Tbsp. | 1 Slice | 2 Tbsp. |
| Calories | 50 | 204 | 60 | 114 | 109 |
| Total Fat (g) | 4.5 | 23 | 6 | 9.4 | 9.4 |
| Sat Fat (g) | 0.5 | 14.6 | 3.7 | 6 | 1.4 |
| Cholesterol (mg) | 0 | 61 | 13 | 30 | 7 |
| Sodium (mg) | 0 | 164 | 15 | 176 | 199 |
Reference: USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 18 (2005) and FDA Food Labeling Guidelines for Voluntary Nutrition Labeling of Raw Fruits, Vegetable and Fish (Vol. 71, No. 159); Appendix C to Part 101 – Nutrition Facts for Raw Fruits and Vegetables (2006). Nutritional values are for the item listed only; not as consumed with other foods or ingredients.
Yours in Optimal Health,
Dr. Mike
Resource: California Avacodo commission
Dr. Mike’s Wellness Advice: Doctor Wrong?
Doctor wrong? When is the right time to disagree with your doctor? Here’s a list of signs to keep an eye on when you might think your doctor might not be giving you the best advice.
- When your doctor doesn’t take the time to listen to your concerns.
- When your doctor doesn’t perform an extensive examination.
- When your doctor prescribes medications without explaining why, what they are for, what the side-effects are and how much to take, and how long to take them for.
- When your doctor proposes a diagnostic test or medical test without explaining why, or without trying more conservative therapies first to treat your condition.
- When your doctor proposes an invasive procedure without discussing alternatives.
- When your doctor tries to dissuade you from getting a second opinion.
Yours in Optimal Health,
Dr. Mike
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Dr. Mike’s Wellness Advice: Natural Alternative Medicine
Natural alternative medicine use as a replacement for common synthetic drugs is something I strongly recommend to all my patients no matter what the ailment.
Drugs (prescription and OTC) or pharmaceuticals are synthetically manufactured medicines. The active ingredients in drugs are fake ‘copies’ from active ingredients found in nature (plants, herbs etc.).
What the drug companies forgot to take into account is that all plants and herbs in nature are complex. Many of them may contain poisons but at the same time they carry the anti-poison (just like poisonous animals). SO, by isolating a single active nutrient, side-effects are a sure thing!
Why not use the whole plant? Why not use the medicine that Mother Nature gave us? It would be much more effective, with all the beneficial plant-nutrients available; and side-effects would be almost non-existent!
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Well, drug companies cannot patent a plant or herb, and therefore no money can be made! I know, I simplified it; but it’s the truth!
What did we learn from this? There is a natural alternative to every single drug on the market; more effective and with much less possible adverse reactions. Oh! And probably much cheaper too, unless you have good insurance!
Yours in Optimal Health,
Dr. Mike
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Dr. Mike’s Wellness Advice: Cause of Disease
The causes of disease in general are hard to really pinpoint, however there are various factors that over the past century or so have encouraged and contributed to the increase and growth of a number of new diseases and sicknesses throughout the world. Sure, we live LONGER than we used to! Benjamin Franklin retired at age 40 because – back then – that was considered OLD. Today, people live to be 80, 90 and even 100. And maybe we have to thank the medical and technological advances over the last century. Diagnostic devices can detect disease early, powerful Drugs can KILL powerful Bugs and keep us alive…
But I’m making another observation. Although our genetics didn’t change, many more diseases developed and even our children have to cope with more and more conditions such as diabetes, obesity, allergies, ADD/ADHD, etc. Why is that?
Health vs. Disease
Everyone seems to be sick or get sick; everyone is diagnosed with one or more ‘diseases’ and nobody seems to be healthy anymore.
What is Health? Health is a state of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. OPTIMAL Health is a perfect balance of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being resulting in a disease-free body, mind & soul, with all bodily systems functioning in balance and harmony.
Optimal Health expresses itself:
1) Physically as an optimal body composition (ratio of body fat, lean muscle mass, water balance etc.) with a strong musculoskeletal system, plenty of energy reserve (no unexplained fatigue) and a healthy appearance (skin, complexion).
2) Mentally as a focused, organized, alert, problem-solving, positive thinking, and proactive human being FREE of confusion, loss of memory, lack of attention (ADD/ADHD).
3) Emotionally as a healthy balance between one’s emotions such a joy, fear, grief, anger, worry, expressed appropriately and under control.
4) Spiritually as peace with a ‘higher being’ or belief system; and using that believe system to guide one’s values and principles.
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When Body, Mind (mental & emotional aspects), and Soul (spiritual aspect) are balanced, optimal health is achieved! Therefore, the current ‘health’ system should be re-named ‘disease system’ because our entire ‘health’ system is based on disease, not? It’s about treating or masking symptoms, ignoring the underlying cause, prescribing drugs and prescribing more drugs to mask the side-effects of the other drugs; it’s about keeping us all alive as long as possible so more drugs can be sold! Sounds horrible, not? But think about it…is it not true?
Standard American Diet: S.A.D.
Yes, the Standard American Diet is SAD! I say “American” because I live in America, but this holds true for almost the entire world!
Our genetics have not changed BUT more and more diseases currently exist and affect more and more people worldwide, including our children. Why is that? I will answer that question, but first you need to KNOW the following about YOUR BODY:
- Your body is the MOST complex piece of machinery on planet earth! We easily can build and control a nuclear plant, sent a rocket ship into space and put a man on the moon; however we are far from figuring out the human body and its workings, and we have limited answers to most diseases.
- Your body CAN HEAL ITSELF, but it needs to be in BALANCE in order to do that! Your body is only in balance with all bodily systems and cells function optimally and in synergy.
- Your body continuously REBUILDS & RENEWS itself. All cells in your body replace themselves, some daily, some monthly, some every 90 days etc. In other words, every few months we are a totally ‘new’ person, and that – of course – is just pure physically speaking.
- In order for our body to rebuild and renew itself, and be in perfect balance, we need to provide our body with the right tools or ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS to do so! If you drive a BMW and continue to replace parts with second hand parts or parts from other brands such as Mercedes or Toyota, your BMW will eventually encounter some mechanical and functional problems, and will not be a ‘real’ BMW anymore, will it? It will be a MUTATION! Translated to health, it will be a degenerative disease or CANCER. Another great analogy is the compatibility issues of different brands of technical devices such as computers.
- The essential nutrients your body needs to rebuild, renew and balance itself are nutrients your body recognizes; these nutrients are the nutrients from MOTHER NATURE (natural foods, whole foods, plants, herbs, grasses, seaweed, fruits and vegetables). Your body is able to assimilate and utilize these nutrients. Synthetic, processed foods are not recognized by the body and the body has major difficulties to break these foods down in usable nutrients. It requires excessive amounts of calcium, potassium, enzymes, vitamins and minerals. In many cases, your body lacks these nutrients and is unable to break down these un-natural foods, and consequently is forced to store them.
- Our body’s health depends on the health of our cells. Every cell in our body (I believe there are about 3 trillion) has about 10, 000 receptors on its outer membrane. The RNA or messenger of each cell ‘tells’ the receptors continuously what the cell needs to function optimally and rebuild or renew itself. The receptors will ‘stick out their neck’ and scan the environment (extracellular fluid) to look for these necessary nutrients. Our S.A.D (Standard American Diet) does NOT provide our body with these essential nutrients and therefore the cells have to settle for less (synthetic, 2nd-hand parts). As a result, cells lose their ability to function properly and optimally, organs are affected, disease takes over, and degeneration and mutation occur. We fall apart. Luckily we have prescription drugs to provide a band-aid and keep things together…ha-ha!
- Conclusion: We have to provide our body with the ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS it needs to function optimally and stay in balance. How? Continue reading!
So, let’s answer this question: How come we have to cope with more and more disease?
First, the world population has grown out of proportion and there is not enough food from nature (whole foods) available to feed every mouth. Industrialization and commercialization have caused the mass-production of synthetic and processed foods, containing harmful preservatives, colorings and toxins which are foreign to the body and cause plenty of diseases, including but certainly not limited to allergies, immune-diseases, degenerative disease, cancers and more. At the same time, these synthetic, processed foods do NOT contain any nutritional value. In other words, our body does NOT get the nutrients it needs to function properly and renew itself. Our body continuously has to utilize useful nutrients like vitamins, minerals and enzymes to neutralize the harmful toxins we ingest.
In short,
WE DO NOT GET THE ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS FROM THE FOOD WE CONSUME, RESULTING IN DISEASE!
Yours In Optimal Health,
Dr. Mike
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Dr. Mike’s Wellness Advice: Supplements
Supplements are constantly being thrown at us from all angles, scientists and doctors alike often promote them as the solution to almost anyone’s dietary needs. There are so many products (miracle cures, secret potions, elixirs) that hit the marketplace every day; WHAT do we believe? Everyone has “the” product that will cure all ills. ALL have good “stories,” but NOT backed up by FACTS!
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Do We Need Supplements?
Yes, we do! And anyone who disagrees is totally NUTS, or is living in another time (before industrialization). We know that there’s too many of us on this small – so called blue – planet that loses all its green! Mass-production of food for the masses has depleted us from the nutrients we need. Sure, whole foods can give us all we need, but their availability is limited and even these whole foods lost much of their valuable nutrients prior to ingestion! Did you know that when you pick an apple from a tree, 50% of all the enzymes are DEAD within 30 minutes? So, how many LIVE nutrients remain in your whole foods and organic foods? Hard to say, but I’m sure you don’t get all the nutrients you need; it’s just impossible TODAY (unless you move your family to an untouched pristine area…maybe; good luck!). I’m not telling you not to buy whole foods and organic foods though. I buy them almost exclusively! Why? They are still a lot more nutritious than processed, synthetic foods; our body recognizes these ‘whole foods’ from nature and therefore is able to absorb them; and they are FREE of pesticides, harmful chemicals, toxins, colorings and preservatives. That alone is a GREAT reason to buy whole foods and organic foods!
BUT scientists finally agree: we DO need effective SUPPLEMENTS because we are UNABLE to obtain all necessary nutrients from our food!
Yours in Optimal Health,
Dr. Mike
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Dr. Mike’s Wellness Advice: How to Select a Doctor?
How to select a doctor is something that many people have trouble doing confidently for various reasons. First of all, diplomas and certificates don’t mean much! A track record is much more important. Talk to some of the doctor’s current patients and ask them about their experiences. Go online and look up your doctor; you may find some interesting blogs!
Make sure your doctor takes his/her time to listen to your concerns; and make sure he/she is truly listening! Is your doctor empathetic? Is your doctor truly concerned about your health or is he/she treating you like the next patient in-line, only wondering how much your insurance will pay?
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You need a doctor that is progressive and offers alternatives to drugs. Your doctor should be willing to work with you in eliminating some of the drugs you are currently taking by substituting those drugs with effective, natural medicines. A simple example is drugs to lower cholesterol. These drugs are totally unnecessary when a healthy nutrition plan and some quality supplements (fish oil, red yeast rice, niacin etc.) are introduced. Do they really work? Yes, they do! Want proof? Just have your cholesterol tested, put yourself on the supplements and re-test your cholesterol 3 months later. The results won’t lie! Maybe your doctor is not educated or experienced enough to help you, and that’s ok as long as he/she is willing to cooperate with a local health care professional who is knowledgeable about health and wellness such as another MD or DO, naturopathic physician, acupuncture physician, doctor of oriental medicine etc.
Yours in Optimal Health,
Dr. Mike
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Dr. Mike’s Wellness Advice: The Drug Industry
The drug industry is truly an industry of DEATH! I’m not pulling any punches. I just tell it like it is! The drug industry, which is supported indirectly by the government and also represented by a corrupt organization called the FDA, is a modern-day outrage. That’s of course just my opinion, and the opinion of most people who are awake, look at the facts and are not consumed by brainwashing of the masses…
Don’t get me wrong though: drugs are NECESSARY. I would not opt to fight pneumonia without penicillin nor would I like to undergo major surgery without anesthesia. BUT drugs are NOT the answer for most diseases and medical conditions, and CERTAINLY not the answer to HEALTH! High blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, pain, inflammation (such as in arthritis) and many more can be EASILY controlled without drugs and with a COMMON SENSE approach (read: nutrition and nature’s provisions).
However, common sense and healthy foods cannot be patented by drug companies! Drug companies use their 1-3 billion dollar/year marketing budget to ‘brainwash’ us and lead us to believe that it’s worth relieving some arthritis pain with a medication that can cause internal bleeding (which can lead to death), can lead to a stroke (which also can lead to death, and if not will leave you dependent on others), may cause dizziness and nausea, and intoxicate your liver and kidneys (arguably the most important organs in your body; and when they fail will again result in…yes, death). How many lives do you have? 3 in a computer game, I believe!
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So, sure we can blame the government, the drug companies and their lobbyists, the doctor who is at the mercy of these drug companies (or just doesn’t know better), the FDA who gladly approves KILLING drugs or allows harmful nutrients to be in our food (after receiving a blank check), BUT they CAN NOT CONTROL YOU! Only you can control what you eat and what you do. It’s time to REGAIN that control and REGAIN your Health!
Yours In Optimal Health,
Dr. Mike
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