Sounds cool and macho.

Regarding Malaria:
Research shows that malaria can be killed and prevented quite well through artemesinin. Even the World Health Organization is recommending the use of artemisinin-based combination therapies.

A supplement that I recommend taking to areas with malaria, and many other unwanted organisms, is ParaBiotic by Biogenesis: 

• Why? Because ParaBiotic contains a broad mix of very potent anti-bacterial/viral and parasitic herbs. Some of my professors at Bastyr also recommended it to patients who were traveling in areas with Malaria. 
• It is pretty strong – adults: take as directed on the label. Kids aged 6 and above take ½ the adult dose. Kids younger than 6, talk with your naturopathic doctor.
• Make sure you drink plenty of filtered water.

Regarding Traveler's Diarrhea:
Supporting the immune system and digestive system's integrity is needed to reduce incidence of Traveler's Diarrhea. 

ProBiota 12 is a high potency probiotic that I developed. Consider taking 1 capsule after dinner each evening. ProBiota 12 can handle being in the sun for a few months and still maintain plenty of viable bacteria. It was evaluated in the lab at different temperatures.

Probiotics help fend off harmful bacteria which commonly 'ride' on foods and water. Taking a high potency probiotic such as ProBiota 12, significantly helps reduce the likelihood of invasion by these unwanted organisms.

PreGestion by Seeking Health: Why? Increasing stomach acid during meals and in general helps kill microbes in the gut. Make sure to take 1 capsule WITH a meal to help prevent incidental bacterial exposure like E Coli.

NOTE: If you ever get Traveler’s Diarrhea (your risk is significantly less if you take ProBiota 12, PreGestion and ParaBiotic), I have found that this combination is highly effective and will wipe out most critters quickly:

1. Take 6 capsules of ProBiota every 2 hours or take ½ teaspoon of ProBiota 12 Powder
2. Take 4 capsules of ParaBiotic
3. Take a large ‘swig’ of Herbal Melange 
4. With every meal, take 1-2 capsules of PreGestion

MAKE SURE TO CHECK HERBAL MELANGE in your baggage. You cannot carry it on the airplane – it is too large a container of liquid.

• Adults should consider taking Optimal Multivitamin by Seeking Health. As indicated on the label.
• Kids aged 4 and up should consider taking Kid's Optimal Multivitamin by Seeking Health. If they cannot swallow pills, open the vegetarian capsules and mix in some food or drink.

Vitamin D: get in the sun – everyone – 20 minutes a day WITHOUT sunscreen – morning preferred before too hot and sun too strong. This way you get your vitamin D for free. Then put on sunscreen. Have arms, face, legs and shoulders ideally exposed to the sun.

Before you get on the plane, all should take multivitamins, probiotics and vitamin D to support the immune system during the flight. I always do this for my family.

Reduce the toxic burden from flying by taking N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine before, during and after the flight. N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine is important due to the jet fuel exposure in the cabin. 70% and more of the air breathed in the cabins is recycled from the engines so we are all breathing plenty of exhaust during flight.

I and my family take about ½ dropper of Liquid Vitamin D the day of flight. This stimulates the immune system quite effectively.

If you need a good tasting Vitamin C that the kids will enjoy mixing in their water (which may taste bad down there), consider mixing a teaspoon of Optimal Vitamin C once a day or so. It will make their water taste quite good – and keep their immunity up to snuff.

Have an excellent time! Send me some photos!

My wife and three boys are now in the vast countryside of Russia visiting my wife’s side of the family. Lovely place out there – I typically go but this year staying back as working on some big projects that require a lot of focus and attention.

If anything goes down while in Africa, diarrhea, etc, do email me. I may be able to get you out of trouble. That reminds me:

NOTE: Do not take PreGestion with ProBiota 12. Make sure to take PreGestion with MEALS and ProBiota 12 AFTER dinner – say 15 minutes after dinner or so is ideal – but anytime after dinner is fine – just far enough away from taking PreGestion (about 30 minutes away is fine)

I’ve been to many countries but Africa – not yet. Some day!

Safe Travels!!

In health,

Dr Ben

PS - Careful…inquire where you are staying if they’ve sprayed DDT. If they have, find a different place to stay. Half life of DDT is very very long and not easy to get out of the body.

For the fungus it is on my back ,shoulder chest and a bit on neck and I am worried. it used to be reddish when stressed and now it is more whilte patches and it is not so pretty. The dermatologist had it looked at and confirmed it is tinea versicolor but nothing really helps so thank you for letting me know what you think about it and if you have heard good things about this.Also reducing stress and sugar i understand ...

Keep me posted on your thoughts and experience about this product please and people who had great results.
 
Anything that depresses the immune system combined with humidity increases the likelihood of tinea versicolor.
 
Key nutrients to improve your skin health and reduce tinea versicolor:

• Saprox topically – which you have.
• Shower filter – to increase the health of your skin and reduce oil production causing improved tinea versicolor habitat
• ProBiota 12 Powder – taking ½ teaspoon after dinner daily for two months then switching to
• ProBIota 12 capsules – taking 1 capsule after dinner daily.

Both probiotics are key to improving immunity and reducing habitat for yeast & other fungi internally

• Biotin 5 – take 1 capsule AM and PM with or without food to increase skin health.
• Eat protein snacks every two hours to balance blood sugar which reduces binging and sugar cravings. Helps every time – significantly.
• Magnesium Plus – take 2 capsules AM and PM for one month then reduce to 2 capsules at night to help reduce stress, improve mood and outlook.
• Vitamin D3 – take at least 2,000 IU a day to 6,000 IU a day to increase your D3 levels.
• Make sure you change your shirt frequently – keep it dry. Wear breathable clothing.
• Avoid any creams or lotions on your skin.
• Optimal Multivitamin – take 3 capsules with breakfast and 3 at lunch and 2 around 3 pm with a snack. This will help your skin healing, reduce stress, improve immune function and overall health.

 
These suggestions of nutritional and lifestyle changes will greatly improve your skin, outlook on life and make your tinea versicolor a thing of the past.
 
It takes more than Saprox to get rid of Tinea versicolor. Don’t get me wrong, it helps tremendously for surface treatment, but those affected with tinea versicolor have to understand that the root cause is much deeper than the skin’s surface and it appears that you understand this – which is great.
 
Keep me posted.
 
I look forward to good news.

Thank you Doctor for all your info.

My homeopath is putting me on a regimen of great vitamins too as I have bladder ( urethra symtoms ) relapse due to stress and now also insomnia due to worry of relapse ,the snake biting its tail.

Thank you I ll start with the saprox combined with the vitamins and things she will recommend and buy from you too. Thank you .

I also need to eat more proteins you are right. I tend to eat sugar when stressed , and it does not help. I will keep you posted i promise, thank you for being so kind.

Also do I apply it 2 times a day on skin? back chest and neck? Thanks a lot!
 
Apply 2x/day – AM and PM. Insomnia can be due to lack of protein intake, high sugar diets and low magnesium.
 
Bladder issues can be due to yeast overgrowth and high sugar intake.
 
Look forward to the good news.


Thank you Doctor,
 
My bladder problem, without infection is always when I am under heavy stress ) urethritis... and the more I worry about it and then I cant sleep because I worry and so starts the vicious cycle of fear of symptoms ,adrenaline fear adrenaline fear but I do agree that also getting support with supplements works well,I relapse under stress and worriness, i am a chronic worrier and I am reading alot of books on mindbody connection such as Dr Sarno and Tms if you know and Dr Weekes( hope and help for your nerves ) I know that low magnesium is also the culprit for nerves so my homeopath will give me thrusday a great multivitamins for women in their 40s and magnesium too .I am waiting to get your sulfur thing for tinea versicolor and plan to buy later on the shower thingy for chlorine.

Also i am taking now vitamins d3, drink more water and will get my multivitamin from my homeopath but magnesium.She ordered it before i saw your website but will continue to order it with you later.  I hope the sufur works.I also cut down on sugar starting today and eat more fruits ,veggies and proteins.What a work but worth it and I will keep you posted in 2,3 weeks after I apply the product.

Should I put it on my hair? is that necessary? I heard dermatologists mention that but they dont know as you do....
 
Thanks for all your time Dr Ben I sure will pass on your name and website

You can put the sulfuric mud in your hair but I wouldn’t – it may dry it out too much.

Instead, ensure you use the shower filter and take Biotin 5 to ensure protection. Biotin is very effective for scalp problems.
 
Hello Dr Ben,
 
I just wanted to let you know that I just got the saprox yesterday and started applying it on my back chest and neck as I have the fungus there.I will order another bottle of yours since I want to do it for at least 15 days and more ...
I saw my homeopath yesterday and she gave me all the vitamins and after seeing your web she told me how great you seem and will also recommend your website to people so we both want to thank you.I am also going to order the shower filter.'
My doctor wants me to start a diet ( i am not fat ,but for the reasons you mention) as I have stress ( and urethra tension being treated also with an homeopathic approach).The diet is higher in protein as you said. Hard for me to start the morning with proteins and a good breakfast but I am doing it . As you say, treating outside but inside too. I am also entering pre menopause so the vitamins she gave me have all the things you mentioned and other things for also perimenopause . So yes it is a change but I need to adress all the issues inside and outside and manage my stress an my thoughts which contribute to stress
I want to thank you most of all for all your time Doctor and I wish to help others by also giving your website( my best friend has toenail fungus so I will pass on the info on what I read ,I think saprox might work too.... lets see or the beer treatment you mention with other things in it...
Thanks again I will send you an email soon to keep you posted on my progress!
I wish you heath and the best!
You are a kind doctor

Great to hear you are in good hands with your homeopath!
 
If you do not usually have much appetite in the morning, that is due to sluggish digestion.
 
Talk with your homoepath about drinking a mixture of this before each meal to stimulate digestion and increase hunger:

• 1 to 2 teaspoons of Apple Cider vinegar
• Juice from a lemon wedge
• ½ cup water

 
Sip this mixture – slowly. Once you feel warmth in your stomach. Stop. Then proceed to eat once your appetite arrives – and it will shortly.
 
You’ll also notice improved bowel movements.
 
Look forward to hearing good progress!
 
Thank you for the referrals – and thank you to your homeopath also. Referrals are the best compliment!
 
Best,
Dr Ben

Thank you Dr Ben
I will forward your email to my homeopath, she is well informed and told me you know alot.
I started changing my diet and eat protein in the morning. Not easy but I do it ,and drink water throughout the day and vitamins and the whole protocol and religiously appling the mud on back chext stomach neck and arms.... where I have spots.
I like it, at times it stings where the spots were reddish and visible so I think it is working .It has been 2 days only and today I am going to your website for another bottle and the shower filter.  I really want to see results and need to be patient.

I have a question if you dont mind.

On my back the spots are white, at times pretty big but my skin is not that white. more olive but medium olive. Will the white spots remain and I have to retan later on? I am going for a month in Italy where it will be hot in the summer and I can avoid the sun but let me know what is best, I STILL HAVE 1 month 1/2 before I go but I dont want to get worse .... any suggestions ? on my shoulders those spots are visible but it seems like it is the pigmentation so hey look whiter, hard to tell .On my stomach they llok roung and reddish so therse i know are not healed.... and it is tinea versicolor as it was lloked at 6 months ago and tested by the dermato.

So I refused to take the tablets for liver anyway, totally agree with you! Thanks again and yes I do want to post pix when I am healed. Just wonder if I have to tan again or not . I don't mind avoiding the sun.

Do avoid the sun until the tinea versicolor spots are gone. The topical clay you are applying will kill the fungus. After 14 days, you may get into the sun again – but begin slowly.

It is the skin’s color which protects the skin from the sun’s potentially harmful UV rays.

The fungus destroys skin pigmentation – the melanin. They release a chemical that does that.

Once the fungus is gone, the chemical stops being released.

Once the chemical is no longer killing the melanocytes (melanin producing cells), your melanin will come back in time.

In order to speed this process up, Biotin 5 by Seeking Health is useful as biotin increases melanin production.  You might be interested in reading this

Vitamin C, zinc, selenium, vitamin D and vitamin A are all important in skin healing as well.
A quality multivitamin will supply a lot of these.

You will need to take at least 2,000 to 5,000 IU of Vitamin D3 a day. One capsule of Vitamin D3 5,000 IU by Seeking Health is good as well as Vitamin D360 Drops by Seeking Health. One drop = 2,000 IU which is very potent and inexpensive. Both D3’s are very pure – no garbage in the capsule or liquid.

Probiotics, beneficial bacteria, also produce biotin. Thus, it makes sense that those who have low beneficial bacteria in their digestive systems are potentially low in biotin as well. Not having enough beneficial probiotic microorganisms in the intestines also make one susceptible to overgrowth of yeast, which depresses the immune system. Decreased immunity combined with low biotin-production is a perfect combination for tinea versicolor.

Thus, one should take ProBiota 12 Powder at ½ teaspoon after dinner for a month and then switch to ProBiota 12 capsules and take 1 capsule after dinner on going.

From digestive system to skin health – all united.

Best,
Dr Ben

The potential issue with chemo is that it is an oxidative treatment and Lypospheric Vitamin C is an antioxidant.

Now – I am a huge proponent of natural cancer treatments but I also support standard treatments when people believe in them and when the natural approach is not working.

I think it is ok to take Lypo C – it is simply a matter of timing. Best not to take it within a couple days before or after chemo – but likely can take it other times. Again – talk this over with your doctor.  I wish I could provide more information than that.

On another note:

• With Chemo, one needs to take L-Glutamine, Folinic acid
• Also need Pectasol
• Check estrogen levels
• Check heavy metals (after chemo) and get them out

HomocysteX by Seeking Health is useful to take as it provides a high quality form of Folate and other B vitamins that reduce homocysteine levels.

HomocysteX provides nutrients mentioned in this research.

Given that chemo depletes folate, it is very important to restore the levels.

Glutamine protects your intestines against the chemo so you can absorb your nutrients, not get mouth ulcers or digestive pains.

Consider taking 10 grams (2 scoops) three times a day in a large glass of filtered water between meals.

Research conducted about reducing side effects of chemotherapy with l-Glutamine here.

Pectasol Modified Citrus Pectin helps prevent metastases, read more here.

I highly recommend doing a phone consult with Dr David Wood at the Trinity Health Clinic.  He is well versed in cancer and I refer people to him often. He has helped a friend of mine recently with breast cancer. She is doing well.

I hope this informaiton helps you.

Best,
Dr Ben

Jeanne Achterberg, Ph.D. came to my medical school last Friday - a small woman with graying hairs and slightly funky clothing. Her appearance was not strikingly powerful. Yet when she stepped up to the podium and began speaking, all eyes were focused on her. She is an eloquent speaker with much to say.

When asked "why do research on imagery as imagery has been used successfully for centuries?" she stated: "I am a scientist in a scientifically driven society. Yes imagery works and we know it works. Science simply backfills what we already know. If we want to change how medicine operates, we must prove that these other options are effective."

She is with all the big wigs of medicine and those who currently shape it: 'Andy' Weil as she calls him, federal government health committees and world famous healers. Interesting mixture...

She stated that 60% of cancer patients are able to look back 16 months and locate a significant life stressor that may have triggered their cancer. She also stated that within 5 years of retirement, many people become ill and die as life loses focus, direction and meaning. Some women become ill when the kids move out of the house for good (I cannot understand that one as my mother was ecstatic!)

So if one can pinpoint a significant stressor in their life which leads to a worsening of their health, then there must be a way in order to reverse that. If we can cause disease manifesting in our bodies, then why cannot we manifest health????

That is a huge statement and one I find extremely powerful. We experience this every day; We see a policeman in our rearview mirrors and get a sick feeling in our gut. We get stressed at work leading to a migraine headache. Someone yells at us and we lose our appetite.

So why cannot we embrace someone and reduce blood pressure? Why cannot we meditate and lose the migraine headache? Why cannot we imagine our immune systems embracing cancer and remove it?

Well - we can. Our ability to perceive allows us to obtain health...and obtain illness.

Imagine this: Your significant other dies. You retire one year later. Your kids are moved out. Two years down the road, you are diagnosed with cancer of your bone marrow. Kids visit you every now and then and bring you flowers. You sit in a nursing home eating, drinking and conversing with folks believing that their last moments are near.

The cancer moves fast and involves many organs. You have no desires. You have no desire to live. Cancer moves on and the treatments only make you feel more ill.

Along comes Jeanne Achterberg, Ph.D. She spends an afternoon with you. This is what she might say and do to help you use the power of imagery:

What I'd like you to do is dive inside you bone marrow and find the cancer. What does it look like? How did it get there? Go inside yourself and see. Close your eyes and go.

You're afraid but you do it. Moments later you open your eyes widely and say you don't want to do that again.

What did you see?

"I saw angry women."

What were they doing?

"They were yelling at me."  So this patient wanted to go to counseling and find out more. The counselor asks:

What do you think will quiet the angry yelling women inside your bone marrow?

"A man."

What type of man?

"Well, there is this brute guy who really knows how to handle angry women. He is a fine orator and women respect him."

Ok. So what does this brute do? How will he go inside your bone marrow and talk with the angry women?

"He won't talk with them. He will embrace them until they stop yelling."

That sounds great. Now go inside your bone marrow and have Brute embrace the angry women.

Now isn't that powerful? Another powerful imagery tool is to draw. For example, the patient might be instructed to draw the cancer, draw the body's immune system fighting the cancer, draw the treatment fighting the cancer.

Those three images together speak volumes of how motivated the patient is to live. This simple tool shows with 100% accuracy patients who will die within 2 months. This has been researched.

For example, a patient drew a mountain range for the cancer. Then they drew fish for the immune system. Those two don't flow well together. The patient was told this and desired some assistance. It is then the counselor may step in and help strengthen the patient's imagery.

Cool.

I need to learn these tools and apply them to my patients. Finding the cause of the cancer and treating the cause is the treatment. Pouring chemicals down a throat or in a vein will not treat the cause. If harmful emotions played a part in causing the cancer, they must be addressed. Chemicals don't remove harmful emotions. We do.

In health,

Dr Ben

• Magnesium stearate
• Vegetable stearate
• Stearic acid
• Potentially others

The stearates and stearic acid encircle the powdered nutrients allowing them to slide.

To me, the issue is that magnesium stearate, in any of its forms, is used simply to lubricate the manufacturer’s machines.   A fat is a fat is a fat. Magnesium stearate = vegetable stearate = stearic acid.

Magnesium stearate, again, in any form, is a fat and may potentially impede absorption of the nutrients you are intending to absorb.

Fats are not easy to digest for many people – especially those without healthy stomach acid secretion, without a gall bladder or with a dysfunctional gall bladder.

People who may not be getting full absorption of nutrients by taking supplements with magnesium stearate in any form are:

• people taking antacids
• experiencing stress
• people with helicobactor pylori
• people often having anxious mindset or eating in a hurry
• without a gall bladder or with liver dysfunction
• people with nutrient deficiencies preventing the formation of stomach acid and/or bile

Thus, I think that vegetable stearate is still an unfavorable ingredient to have in any supplement or vitamin.

If the goal is to enhance the health of the individual, then companies should not use stearates. There are other ‘flow agents’ that do not impede absorption or are actually beneficial to the individual. These are the ‘flow agents’ I prefer: amino acids, cellulose, sand (as silicon dioxide).

This is why I formulate all my Seeking Health supplements without magnesium stearate, stearic acid or vegetable stearate.

Hope this helps you.

In health,
Dr Ben

Radioactive Fallout: Can Nutritional Supplements Help?

A Personal Viewpoint by Damien Downing, M.D.

(OMNS, May 10, 2011) The Fukushima nuclear accident has already been described as "the largest accidental release of radiation we have ever seen" and it's not over yet.

Already, radioactive plutonium, strontium and iodine have reached the continental USA.

So should we worry? And, what can we do about it?

When the earthquake and tsunami hit north-east Japan on 11th March, itdisabled all the multiple safety mechanisms at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Fires started in three of the six reactors, and 24 hours later a large hydrogen explosion caused the collapse of part of the structure. From then on, radioactive material would have been released to the atmosphere. This is reasonable to assume, despite the usual assurances from the operators, TEPCO, and the Japan Atomic Energy Agency. Six days later, after all, traces of radioactive material were detected in Washington State [2] and then right down to California. This material can only have reached the USA by the airborne route.

Fukushima is now off the media map, replaced by dramatic political events. Contrast this with the coverage that was given to the Chernobyl disaster. Perhaps at that time there was a sense that the destruction of a nuclear power plant in the Ukraine was a metaphor for the failure of the Soviet Union. But Fukushima is, or will eventually prove to be, a far worse disaster. It is one that will be underplayed. The world is committed to nuclear power, and we will not be shown its true dangers. Do not expect to be told the whole truth when reading reassuring statements from industry or governments. Fukushima is affecting us all.

Radioactive elements released from Fukushima include plutonium, strontium, cesium and iodine. Ten days after the tsunami, Japanese scientists reported increased radioactive cesium and iodine in seawater offshore of Fukushima, andthey rapidly reached levels "more than 1 million times higher than previously existed." [3] More serious radiation levels are likely in the USA when this polluted seawater reaches the west coast, which is estimated to take from 18 months to 3 years.

More serious? Why?

Because:

• there will be radioactive elements that are ingested or absorbed by people, animals and plants
• they will biomagnify, concentrating up the food chain, as do all pollutants
• they won't go away; once inside us they will stay there

There are two different kinds of radiation: external, when you are exposed to radiation sources around you (the Fukushima clean-up workers are currently getting a lot of that), but which stops when you are no longer near the source; and internal, when a source of radiation gets into your body and stays there. This is much more serious because you are constantly exposed for much longer.Former Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko was killed in London that way in 2006- by being given, probably swallowing in a beverage, some highly radioactivepolonium. Traces of the same polonium were found on some airline seats, butnobody seems to have been harmed by sitting in them.

You may already have been exposed to (mostly-) depleted uranium back in 2003. Despite official denials, it does seem to be true that increases in uranium were detected in Berkshire, England nine days after the start of Shock and Awe [4]. To get there it must have traveled across the whole of the USA.

By the time it reaches the continental USA the radiation from Fukushima will be very spread out, so individual doses will be very small. But they will be on top of the radiation to which we are all exposed already: from X-rays, from flying at 30.000 feet, from radon in the ground, and on top of all our other toxic exposures such as mercury, pesticides and thousands of other chemicals. This is the "Who killed Julius Caesar?" phenomenon; the answer is at least 23 people, stabbing him at least 36 times. None of them could have been proved to have caused his death, but they all contributed to it. All the poisons to which we are exposed add up to harm us, too.

Epidemiologist Dr. Steven Wing makes the useful point that whether a dose of radiation is spread thickly across just a few thousand people, or much more thinly across tens of millions, around the same number of cancers will result. So although the increase in individual risk from Fukushima is likely to be tiny for any individual in the USA, it will still amount to a major public health problem.

The Chernobyl nuclear disaster certainly caused thousands of premature deaths in a sweep across northern Europe, and may have caused more than a million deaths [5]. But Fukushima is worse in several ways;

• At Chernobyl there were only 180 tons of nuclear fuel on-site, whereas at Fukushima there are thousands of tons.
• Chernobyl is 250 miles from the nearest sea, but Fukushima is on the coast. Already the radiation released to sea from there is 10 to 100 times worse than Chernobyl.
• Chernobyl was sealed into a "sarcophagus," although too late to prevent some airborne release. Fukushima is and will likely continue releasing radiation into the sea for some time. Best case scenarios (from the nuclear industry, of course) are saying it will take nine months to shut the reactors down and seal them. Skeptics say that you truly cannot "seal" a reactor with concrete, because the radioactive material will then go downwards, into the soil and the water table, and end up in the sea anyway.

You may say; "Surely the government has this all in hand?" Well, the strangething is that the EPA is set to revise its Protective Action Guides - the levels of radiation that it deems safe for us to be exposed to, from food,water, air or soil. Some of the upper limits are rising more than 1,000-fold,into the "will definitely give cancer to some people" zone. You can read more about this here [6], which also gives useful email addresses in case you want to express your views to the EPA. I know it looks like another one of "those" websites, but this is corroborated many times over elsewhere.

The European Union has moved fast to respond; on March 25 EU Regulation 297/2011 [7] came into force. Although this looks like a sensible precaution, requiring testing of foods from affected areas of Japan for radioactivity, it in fact introduces upper limits for radioactivity that are significantly higher than previous ones. Baffling.

What can you do?

For each radionuclide there is a different risk and a different set of measures. The US Department of Homeland Security funded a guidelines paper in 2006 [8].

Radioactive iodine-131 For this threat, we take regular iodine, to minimize the amount of the bad stuff that gets taken up by the thyroid. Various forms, such as potassium iodide, do work, but only if given before or within 12 hours of exposure. And, since I-131 has a half-life of 8 days, by the time it gets from Fukushima to the USA there won't be much radioactivity left. So don't worry about that one.

Uranium (half-life: thousands of years) is there in Fukushima in large quantities in the fuel rods. No reports of it being found in the environment yet, but there's plenty of time. And even depleted (non-radioactive) uranium is a highly toxic heavy metal, and one to which anybody who served in Gulf I or II, or in Bosnia or Kosovo, has probably been exposed. So a Fukushima exposure would just add to that toxicity. For uranium there are protocols worked out by the US military. Large doses of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda, in the orange box) minimize the damage caused by uranium and encourage its excretion in the kidneys. You can buy bicarb in bulk for less than a dollar per pound. It is certainly worth stocking up on. You can absorb it through the skin, so a good fistful in a warm bath, which you sit in for 15-20 minutes, is the simplest way to take it in.

Cesium-137 has a half-life of 30 years, and like uranium is still a toxic metal even when not radioactive. The US government stockpiles the chemical Prussian Blue for removing cesium. [9] Prussian Blue is ferric ferrocyanide - Fe7(CN)18 plus a load of water. It is not absorbed from the gut;it can only trap cesium (and also thallium) as it is recycled through the bileto gut to blood again. It works by cutting the biological half-life (time toget rid of half the total body burden) from about 80 days to 25. But that would still take 3 months to bring the level below 10% of starting, which is plenty of time to do harm. Prussian Blue was used in photography before we went digital, so there might be some left in your garage. Leave it there and DO NOT try this at home. Prussian Blue contains cyanide, a strong poison.

Plutonium: When uranium is used in a reactor it converts to plutonium, which is a big worry. Plutonium is extremely dangerous. It is estimated that 1 gram could kill ten million people. This is what CDC has tosay [10]:

Because it emits alpha particles, plutonium is most dangerous when inhaled. When plutonium particles are inhaled, they lodge in the lung tissue. The alpha particles can kill lung cells, which causes scarring of the lungs, leading to further lung disease and cancer. Plutonium can enter the bloodstream from the lungs and travel to the kidneys, meaning that the blood and the kidneys will be exposed to alpha particles. Once plutonium circulates through the body, it concentrates in the bones, liver, and spleen, exposing these organs to alpha particles. Plutonium that is ingested from contaminated food or water does not pose a serious threat to humans because the stomach does not absorb plutonium easily and so it passes out of the body in the feces.

What can you do about it? There are no grounds for thinking iodine or bicarbonate will work. The medical recommendation at present is DTPA, which is a version of EDTA - a chelating agent, specific to transuranic elements.

In each of the above exposures, of course you should get to a doctor, fast,and get the appropriate treatment. But an exposure coming from Fukushima is likely to be a dirty mix of any or all of these, so we need some universal measures. There are three worthwhile ones, all of which you can do for yourself:

Antioxidant vitamins

It's easy to get down the health store and buy some bottles of these, and in these circumstances an overdose is the last thing to worry about. While the shelves are full of nutritional and herbal products that might help, my personal advice would be to take;

Vitamin C (the body's main water-soluble antioxidant) approximately 3,000 to 5,000 milligrams, three times daily; option to combine water-soluble and oil-based forms.

Vitamin E (the main fat-soluble antioxidant) mixed tocopherols and tocotrienols, around 400 IU, once daily.

R Lipoic Acid (operates in both water and lipid compartments, spares both vitamins C and E) 100-plus mg, three times daily.

Glutathione

This amino acid is known to chelate certain minerals, but there's no evidence that it works on radioactive ones. Some experts say nothing does. However, it's a crucial antioxidant, which will protect against radiation damage and help to mop up the toxic molecules produced. Take loads; say 1,000 mg three times daily. And because it can be tricky to absorb, consider using the oil-based version that you rub into your skin.

Phosphatidylcholine

If you turned up in the ER in an eastern bloc country with acute radiation exposure, they would give you a IV shot of phosphatidylcholine. It is found in egg yolk, organ meats, and lecithin supplements and is easily absorbed into our membranes as a phospholipid. There are no human experiments I know of,thankfully, but this is backed up by some doctors:

Ionizing radiation first disturbs the phospholipid metabolism, then provokes severe inflammatory reactions, and finally leads to death.... The survival of rats exposed to lethal doses of radiation was clearly prolonged with phospholipid supplementation. [11]

You can get liquid or capsules; take at least a tablespoon or equivalentdaily, with food.

If you've got the time, it's wise to build all of these up slowly, or they may give you loose bowels for a few days. If you haven't got the time, you have bigger things to worry about.

References and Links:

1. Ken Buesseler, marine radiochemist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution;

http://articles.cnn.com/2011-04-26/opinion/buesseler.fukushima.radiation_1_radioactive-contaminants-chernobyl-nuclear-plant-waters?_s=PM:OPINION

2. http://www.epa.gov/japan2011/

3.http://ex-skf.blogspot.com/2011/03/fukushima-i-nuke-plant-radioactive.html

4. http://blog.imva.info/medicine/danger-concern-sanity

5. Yablokov AV. Mortality after the Chernobyl catastrophe. Ann N Y Acad Sci.2009 Nov;1181:192-216.

6.http://www.collapsenet.com/free-resources/collapsenet-public-access/item/723-fallout

7.http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2011:080:0005:0008:EN:PDF

8. http://www.acnmonline.org/docs/MMRSManual-Carol_Marcus.pdf

9. http://www.remm.nlm.gov/prussianblue.htm

10. http://emergency.cdc.gov/radiation/isotopes/plutonium.asp

11. Gundermann KJ. The "Essential" Phospholipids as a Membrane Therapeutic.Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Szczecin, Poland, 1993.

Additional Information Online:

http://web.me.com/mr21/iv-therapy/Radiation_English.html

http://media.iv-therapy.jp/?p=642

http://www.doctoryourself.com/fallout.html

Nutritional Medicine is Orthomolecular Medicine

Orthomolecular medicine uses safe, effective nutritional therapy to fight illness. For more information: http://www.orthomolecular.org

The peer-reviewed Orthomolecular Medicine News Service is a non-profit and non-commercial informational resource. To subscribe to OMNS, click here.

Perfect Detox Smoothie Mix
I will provide you the ingredients soon but before I do that, it is important that you understand a few things:

• Did you know that Spring is the best time to detox?
• Did you know that if you detox incorrectly, you make yourself feel worse?
• Did you know that most detox and cleansing programs are absolute garbage and possibly dangerous?
• Did you know that most doctors absolutely fail to understand how to detox their patients?
• Did you know that feeling bad while detoxing is a sign you are not doing it right?
• Did you know that you should feel awesome while detoxing!?

As a naturopathic physician specializing in Environmental medicine and Disease Prevention, detoxification is a passion of mine.

There is no way I can provide all the things you need to know here in order to detoxify properly and safely without a physician; but what I can do is get you started safely.

The key to detoxing safely is to start by limiting your exposures.

For only Two Weeks, I'd like you to do these things - just two weeks! That is only 14 days! If you find you 'cheated' part way through this detox, then simply restart the clock.
Believe me, I had to restart four times on my first detox. Every time I restarted, however, it was easier and easier to complete the 14 days.

1. Stop eating processed foods. Yes..that means cook and...make the Perfect Detox Smoothie!
2. Stop using fragrances
3. Only use natural soaps and cleaners
4. Eat organic or grow your own food
5. Buy organic in bulk food sections to save yourself a ton of money
6. Drink filtered water and herbal teas only. No coffee if you can and no sodas.
7. Don't read or watch the News as most news is negative and causes inflammation in your body
8. Stop the fast food
9. Cease restaurant dining altogether!
10. Avoid sugar
11. Avoid wheat
12. Avoid dairy
13. Avoid nuts
14. Eat steamed vegetables, soups, broths, stews
15. Quinoa is a great grain to eat.
16. Eat grass fed or wild beef, chicken, eggs, lamb, fish
17. Eat fresh fruits
18. Deep breathing when you remember
19. Go for some walks
20. Sleep 8 hours a night

It is vital that you have at least one bowel movement a day in order to clear out the toxins.

Drink this each morning upon waking up:

• In a half a cup of water, add 2 teaspoons of Apple Cider Vinegar
• Squeeze the juice from one lemon wedge
• Sip slowly.

Why? It stimulates a bowel movement and it stimulates your digestion getting you ready to absorb all the nutrients from your Perfect Detox Smoothie!

Go check your email, read a book, brush your teeth. In a few moments, you likely will experience the urge to have a bowel movement. Listen to it and do it.

Now you are ready to begin mixing your Perfect Detox Smoothie.

To start your day off easily, packed with nutrition your body needs to begin detoxing, make the Perfect Detox Smoothie!

• Into a blender, add 3 cups of filtered water
• 1 scoop of BioCleanse Plus Powder
• 1 cup of frozen wild blueberries
• 1/2 cup of frozen wild or organic raspberries
• 1 tablespoon of Body Balance Oil
• 1 tablespoon of Chia Seeds
• 1 scoop of L Glutamine
• Mix well

Why is this the Perfect Detox Smoothie Mix?

1. It supports both parts of your liver: Phase 1 and Phase 2 (BioCleanse Plus Powder)
2. It heals your small intestine lining preventing toxins from penetrating through (L Glutamine)
3. It binds toxins released into your digestive system (Chia Seeds)
4. It protects your brain and cells from toxins (Body Balance Oil)
5. It uses pure water (water filter)
6. It is high in antioxidants and fiber (berries and chia seeds)
7. It is not too strong (only 1 scoop of BioCleanse Plus Powder)

This will last you until lunch typically or nearly so. If you find you are hungry between this and lunch, have a snack such as salad with Tahini dressing (fantastic taste).
Sprinkle more Chia Seeds on your salad and BodyBalance Oil (it tastes like salad dressing!) for increased protection from mobilized toxins.

Make sure you drink plenty of filtered water throughout the day. This is key to flush out the toxins your body is mobilizing from your fat, liver and tissues.

This does not mean buy bottled water in plastic. It does not mean drink tap water. It means drink filtered water out of a glass container or use a stainless steel water bottle.

For lunch, have some form of protein, vegetable and filtered water. This will have you feeling great.

If you can hack it, make another Perfect Detox Smoothie around 2 PM.

After 7 days of doing this, continue to make the smoothie, the only change you make is adding 2 scoops of BioCleanse Plus Powder to your smoothie in the morning and at 2 PM.

If you feel a headache, tired or weird:

1. Drink more filtered water
2. Skip drinking the Perfect Detox Smoothie once.
3. Deep breathing
4. Eat some Chia Seeds
5. Drink 1 tablespoon of Body Balance Oil with some food

At the end of two weeks, you will feel awesome. The key is to try and maintain some of the steps (1 through 20) on a daily basis!

Also make the Perfect Detox Smoothie at least once a week as maintenance. Why? Because, we are constantly bombarded by chemicals in our food, water, air, office, home and elsewhere thus it is important that we continue to detox daily in some form or another.

Want to enhance your Detox?

1. Sauna daily for 1 hour at about 110 degrees F. Make sure you replenish with electroytes
2. Take 2 capsules of BioCleanse Capsules with your AM smoothie and afternoon smoothie.
3. At the end of the first week, eat only fresh vegetables and fruits.
4. Have three Perfect Detox Smoothies a day to provide adequate protein intake.
5. Take 1/2 teaspoon of ProBiota 12 Powder daily after dinner. These beneficial bacteria bind toxins.

You may experience symptoms that you don't like but they are highly favorable:

• You now have increased under arm odor (get into a sauna and that will lessen)
• Your skin is breaking out (get into a sauna to detox faster)
• Your breath is foul. (use a tongue scraper)
• You are more thirsty and in need of water more often. (drink!)

What you need to do now:

1. Obtain the suggested products above - for the standard Detox Smoothie Mix or the Enhanced Version.
2. If you don't have it yet, add the HealthE Membership to your cart so save 10% on this order.
3. Print out the 20 Steps and post them on your bathroom mirror, on your fridge
4. Prepare meal plan for lunch and dinner
5. Go shopping for whole foods
6. Get psyched up!
7. Tell your partner or roommates about it so they either get on board or don't eat their processed greasy food in front of you.

Any questions - any at all - post below. We will respond to you!

The ingredients will likely sell out pretty quickly so get your ingredients now. Not to worry as we will order more but if you are gung-ho on wanting to feel great, then buy them now to avoid backorders.

In health,

Dr Ben

Reminder!
HealthE Member? Log into your account and you automically save 10% off today from the retail price.
Not yet a HealthE Member? Become a HealthE Member today and get 10% off your entire purchase of non-sale items!

For ferrtin, I recommend Ultra-Hematinic. It contains a very gentle yet effective formula for low iron.

Have her take 1 capsule with breakfast and 1 at dinner.

For stomach pain after meals, consider having her take:
PreGestion: Take 1 capsule with a meal. If she still notices symptoms after her meal, she should take 2 capsules. The more she eats, the more capsules she should take. Start low and work up as needed. Do not exceed 3 capsules per meal. Again, start with 1 capsule.

Pro-Digestion Intenstive: have her take 1 capsule for smaller meals and 2 capsules with larger meals.

Both PreGestion and Pro-Digestion help break down, digest and allow her body to absorb the nutrients from her food.

ProBiota 12 capsules: have her take 2 capsules after dinner. Do this on an ongoing basis. This helps restore her benefitical bacteria to her digestive system. This is especially important for her long term health, immune support and digestive wellness.

These four products should help quite a bit.

If your mother has pain after eating fats, she should consider taking Taurine. At meals containing fat, take 1 to 2 capsules.

If you notice her stomach pain is worse after eating anything with wheat or dairy products, she should discontinue eating these products for two weeks and see how her digestion and stomach pain is. Many people do not do well with wheat these days due to the gluten.

In health,
Dr Ben

Hello -

Iron levels need to checked by your midwife or physician.

Levels should stay within the normal range. If you are supplementing with 30 mg of Iron a day, that should be fine unless you have an iron-storage condition such as hemochromatosis.

Best,
Dr Ben

Most tablets irritate because they do not break down easily. They simply sit and sit - especially in individuals with low stomach acid, acid reflux, taking antacids, or stressed.
 
I have seen x-rays where a tablet has made it all the way down to the person's lower sigmoid colon completely intact. This is very common - especially with calcium tablets.
 
If a vitamin or supplement sits in one area of the stomach or digestive tract, it can feel like it is burning or 'stuck'.
 
We have teeth because we need to chew our food and allow our bodies to absorb nutrients from smaller pieces of food or vitamins.
 
I do not believe in tablets of any sort which is why my company, Seeking Health, does not have any vitamins or minerals available in tablet form.
 
A side-note, one should never take a calcium supplement by itself. Research findings demonstrate that calcium taken without any nutrients supporting its absoprtion (vitamin K, silica, vitamin D3, magnesium, boron) cause the calcium to remain in the blood stream vs getting to the bone. Excess calcium in the blood facilities hardening of the arteries. So - never take a calcium supplement without these additional nutrients.
 
When a calcium supplement contains these other nutrients, they are safe to take as the calcium does what it is supposed to do: gets absorbed and goes into your bone and cells.

With a fatty meal, I recommend the addition of Taurine.
 
Taurine is a key component of bile which is made by the liver and goes into the gall bladder. Bile is released when there is fat in a meal. It is best to support the organ which makes the enzymes to digest fat rather then simply giving enzymes.
 
Many are taurine deficient and replenishing taurine stores is easy.
 
Simply take 1 capsule of Taurine with a meal containing fat. This should benefit your fat-digesting abilities immensely.
 
I do not recommend increasing the dose of Pro-Digestion given your sensitivity to strong enzymes.
 
This way, you can help nourish your liver and maintain a healthy amount of enzymes.
 
Best,
Dr Ben

Any of our probiotics will make the trip. They can withstand warm temperatures for some time, in fact:
Any ProBiota probiotic will maintain or exceed label potency for a year if kept refrigerated.  If kept at average room temperature, they will remain potent for 4-6 months.  At higher temperatures (86 F), they will maintain potency for about 2 months.  These claims are verified by independent, real-time viability tests.

I do recommend shipping FedEx International Priority or USPS Priority International to make the trip faster.

I recommend the ProBiota 12 Powder. This is most cost effective and easiest for your twins to take. It tastes great so they likely won't have issues with taste.

For your twins:

• After dinner, give them each about a half full 1/4 teaspoon. You may sprinkle it their last bite of food or you can put directly into their mouth. I always put directly into my child's mouth. It has become routine for us so they expect it and enjoy it.  
• Do this until they are 6 years old. Once they are 6, you may switch them to taking 1 capsule of ProBiota 12 after dinner. This may be easiest for them. You may also continue giving a half-full 1/4 teaspoon.
• A half-full 1/4 teaspoon provides about 25 billion beneficial bacteria which is a healthy amount.

For you:

• After dinner, take 1/4 teaspoon of ProBiota 12 Powder. Do this for one week.
• After one week, take 1/2 teaspoon of ProBiota 12 Powder after dinner. Do this for two months.
• Mix 2 scoops of ProBiota Immune into a bit of applesauce or something tasty. Stay on this continually as it supports healthy bacteria in your digestive system which are key in reducing autoimmune symptoms.
• To repair your digestive systems lining, I highly recommend taking 2 scoops of L-Glutamine mixed in 8 ounces of water 1 hour before breakfast and also 1 hour after dinner or before sleep. Taking L-Glutamine between meals allows it to be more readily absorbed by your intestines thereby obtaining the full healing benefit.
• Eliminate wheat from your diet completely. This is a tall order but one I highly recommend. To understand why and how to do it, read The Paleo Solution by Robb Wolf.
• If you can eliminate dairy from your diet as well, do so. Again, this is explained in the Paleo Solution by Robb Wolf.

Do keep in touch with me how you are doing. We can make some changes to these recommendations when needed.

In health,
Dr Ben

 
I am not a fan of colloidal silver. I do not agree with ingesting heavy metals such as this to increase activity of our bodies. I rather use nutrients which the body recognizes and utilizes naturally.
 
Boosting white blood cells is needed when they are low. Too high is not good.
 
Vitamin C is great.
 
Apple cider vinegar is an excellent digestive aid but not sure if it affects white blood cell count.
 
Vitamin B6 is good - make sure it is a quality B6.  This article may be of some interest.
 
A quality multivitamin is a good idea to support overall immunity and not imbalance a specific nutrient.
 
I suggest you consider:
Lypospheric Vitamin C
Optimal Multivitamin
Magnesium Plus
 
 
Combined, these should support increasing your white blood cells.
 
In health,
Dr Ben

In order for Lactase Drops to work effectively, the food item must contain lactose.

Let's start with the lactose-containing foods in your question:
Cottage Cheese or any lactose containing food: In order to eat cottage cheese, place 3 to 5 drops of Lactase Drops directly on your first spoonful of cottage cheese. Chew well and swallow. Proceed to enjoy your cottage cheese!

The amount needed depends on your severity of lactose intolerance. Our Lactase Drops have 1960 lactase units per 7 drops. We are making a new batch right now which will have 2000 lactase units per 5 drops. The potency will increase from 280 units per drop to 400 per drop. 

Milk: You may do the same with the milk as with the cottage cheese and that is adding 5 to 7 drops of Lactase Drops in a small amount of milk and drink. Then proceed to drink the rest of the milk. People find that they tolerate the milk better if they add the Lactase Drops to a container of milk, let it sit 24 hours and then drink. I suspect these people are more lactose intolerant and have lower levels of stomach acid.

Eggs and Broccoli: These Foods do not have Lactose
Eggs: true eggs and not an egg substitute, are lactose free thereby contain no lactose. Lactase Drops would not benefit anyone who is allergic to eggs or cannot digest the proteins in eggs very well.

Egg substitutes may have dairy in them. If they do, then simply place 2 to 4 drops of Lactase Drops on your first bite of eggs and you're good to go.

If someone is allergic to eggs or otherwise intolerant to them, it is advised to avoid them completely.

If someone just does not digest eggs very well at all, then one will need to improve their digestion.

Improving digestion requires enhanching stomach acid and increasing secretion of pancreatic enzymes. Enhancing bile from the liver's gall bladder is needed when one eats meals containing fat.

1. Stomach acid can be enhanced with PreGestion by Seeking Health. Take 1 capsule of PreGestion with a meal to help breakdown the food allowing one to absorb it.

How to tell if you need stomach acid?

• Do you have a low appetite?
• Do you belch after meals?
• Do you bloat after meals?
• Are you sensitive to a ton of different foods?
• Does eating a meal that is dense in protein, such as meat, feel like a lead brick in your stomach?
• You used to be able to digest anything but now as you have aged, you cannot eat like you used to?
• Do you suffer from constipation?

If you answered YES to any of the questions above, then PreGestion by Seeking Health is worth trying during meals. Start with one capsule of PreGestion during a meal. If no benefit, try taking two capsules during the next meal you eat. If still not benefit, try three capsules during the next meal. The larger the meal, the more capsules of PreGestion you need.

Do not exceed taking 3 capsules at once of PreGestion. One may take 3 capsules of PreGestion three times a day with a meal. It is not needed typically to take PreGestion with a snack.

2. Pancreatic enzymes and Salivary enzymes can be enhanced with Pro-Digestion Intensive by Seeking Health. Taking 2 capsules of Pro-Digestion Intensive during a meal helps breakdown lactose, carbohydrates, gluten, casein, protein, and vegetable fibers and plant cell walls.

How to tell if you need to increase salivary enzymes or pancreatic enzymes?

• Do you get gas and bloating after meals?
• Does eating carbohydrates make you not feel well after a meal?
• After eating salads, you don't feel well?
• Do you feel distended after meals?
• Do you suffer from alternating diarrhea and constipation?

 If you answered YES to any of the questions above, then Pro-Digestion Intensive is worth giving a shot during mealtime. Take two capsules during mealtime.

So, in summary:

1. Lactase Drops will help you digest the lactose in cottage cheese

2. PreGestion will help digest the eggs and cottage cheese.

3. Pro-Digestion Intensive will help digest the eggs and broccoli.

To enhance overall digestion, support more than 70% of your immune system, help prevent absorption of toxins, help prevent the buildup and proliferation of yeast and to increase your vitamin B and vitamin K levels, consider ProBiota 12 by Seeking Health.

ProBiota 12 contains 50 billion beneficial bacteria across 12 strains in a base of a prebiotic. All are protected against stomach acid with a natural polysaccharide and will be delivered to their proper location within your digestive system.

If you have not taken an effective probiotic, take 1/2 teaspoon of ProBiota 12 Powder each night after dinner. Then once that bottle is gone, switch to taking 1 capsule of ProBiota 12 by Seeking Health after dinner. Do this every night regularly. The importance of probiotics is vast and I am finding probiotics to be as important as an effective multivitamin.

Questions? Thoughts? Comments? Please do ask below.

In health,

Dr Ben

What are some preventative and recuperative methods for the Flu?

How to prevent the flu?
It is possible to prevent the flu though some simple, yet highly effective, lifestyle, dietary and supplement methods. Not only is possible to prevent the flu using these three methods, it is possible to help prevent colds, general fatigue and other common illnesses.

How to Prevent the Flu using Lifestyle Methods

1. Ensure proper sleep. If you cannot sleep well, this must be improved. Taking magnesium and vitamin B6 before sleep has helped many. Magnesium Plus contains both in a good amount. Also eating a protein snack before bed helps many as well if the issue is waking up in the middle of the night.
2. Engage in some form of active activity: aerobic and weight training are both excellent.
3. Reduce stress as stress reduces immune function
4. Rebounding is an excellent way to exercise, have fun and reduce stress. Myself and my kids are witness to this daily as we have a rebounder in our living room.
5. Eat every two hours to balance blood sugar as high blood sugar and elevated cortisol weakens immunity
6. Maintain a clean environment which is free of mold, musty carpets, polluted air and chemicals in general.
7. Be happy. Watch comedy, hang out with friends, play sports, read books, write, whatever you enjoy - do.

How to Prevent the Flu using Dietary Methods

1. Have some form of protein with each meal. Protein balances blood sugar and eating frequencly reduces the urge to binge on sugar which shuts down your immune system.
2. Chew. Chew. Chew. Chewing your food is what helps your body assimilate the nutrients from food. Simply eating nutritious foods is not enough as your body has to absorb the nutrients from them. So chew.
3. Limit the amount of drinks you have during meals as too much fluid in your stomach dilutes stomach acid and pancreatic enzymes thereby reducing the ability for your body to absorb nutrients.
4. Eat foods which are brightly colored as they contain high amount of antioxidants. Blueberries, kale, raspberries, sweet potatoes (with the skin) are some excellent choices.
5. Sugar, refined foods and processed foods have little to no nutrient content. These foods simply are easy to grab and fill up the void in the stomach. They also make you 'feel good' but nutritionally, they deplete you setting you up for the flu, colds, sinus infections and other common illnesses.
6. Whole food meals are ideal. The more you cook, the better you'll feel and the more you will be able to prevent the flu and overcome it quickly.

How to Prevent the Flu using Vitamins and Supplements

1. Vitamin D3: It is interesting to note that the flu and colds are common when the sun is not out that much. During the darker months, adults should take 5,000 IU of Vitamin D3 a day and kids should take 1,000 IU of vitamin D3 for every 50 pounds of body weight.
2. Glutathione: Ensuring that your body has adequate levels of glutathione is paramount. Healthy lungs, kidneys, liver and brain have high levels of glutathione; people with the flu, lung conditions, smokers or chronically ill have low glutathione levels. Increase glutathione levels by taking N-acetyl-l-cysteine. Taking supplements containing glutathione are very expensive and not that effective as the glutathione can break down if it not bound in lyposomes. Lyposomal glutathione is effective at increasing glutathione levels as is lyposomal vitamin C. However, I find that the most effective and least expensive method to increase glutathione is via n-acetyl-l-cysteine. Ensure that you take n-acetyl-l-cysteine with a large glass of water.
3. Probiotics for Adults and Kids over 3 yrs old: Given that 70% of our immune system comes from the beneficial bacteria in our digestive tract, it is imperative that we maintain these bacteria. If one takes or has taken antibiotics, the amount of beneficial bacteria is very low causing one to be susceptible to getting the flu and getting the cold. Even if one has not had antibiotics, the amount of beneficial bacteria are low as most beneficial bacteria are transient and temporarily reside in our digestive tract. This is why it is important to constantly replenish beneficial bacteria in high amounts. Taking a probiotic with 1 billion or 5 billion beneficial bacteria does nothing. One needs a minimum of 25 billion, in my opinion, to make a difference. Why so many? Our digestive tract has over a trillion bacteria in it. The ratio then is apparently slanted to non-beneficial bacteria if one is not taking multiple strains and billions of bacteria. I recommend taking one to two capsules of the multiple strain probiotic, ProBiota 12, after dinner. Always take probiotics with a meal and after dinner is the best time.
4. Probiotics for Infants and Toddlers under 3 years old: The same benefits apply to infants and toddlers; however, the importance is even greater as infants are born with nearly sterile digestive systems making them highly susceptible to flus, colds and yeast infections. Give your child at least 1/4 teaspoon of ProBiota Infant daily after breastfeeding or a meal.

Following the methods described here, one can easily increase their ability to prevent the flu, prevent colds and get over the flu and cold quickly.

The only things I would like to add:
If you get a fever with your flu, make sure you only eat broths and vegetable juices. Eating heavy meals such as meats, beans and nuts are too hard to digest. This takes away from your body allowing it to overcome the flu and cold.

If you have a lot of diarrhea or vomiting with your flu, ensure you are getting plenty of electrolytes otherwise you will get dizzy, fall down or head to the ER possibly.

Do post your comments, thoughts and questions below.

What do you find helps you prevent the flu, prevent the cold or overcome it? Did the above suggestions help you? Please comment.

In health,

Dr Ben

Dr Ben, My friend recently tore his ACL (not completely), is there anything aside from surgery that would help him heal? Also, would a torn MCL be similar?

Given his age, associated conditions and desired time to heal, there may be non-surgical treatments for ACL tears.

I advise him to seek advice from a naturopathic physician who specializes in sports medicine. If he asks a surgeon, surgery will be the answer.

Some non-surgical treatment alternatives which may help heal his partially torn ACL or MCL:

1. He will need to wear a brace as determined by his doctor
2. Limit side to side movements along with knee rotation; only move the leg forward and backward.
3. Do Contrast Hydrotherapy on the Knee
4. Take ligament support supplements as directed by his doctor.
5. Consider MBT shoes once the ACL ligament has healed. The MBT shoe will increase his knee strength.
6. Do physical therapy as prescribed by his doctor.

These suggestions for non-surgical treatment for a parital ACL tear may prove useful for him.  In the instance of a torn MCL, number 2 is very important.  Be very careful not to strain your knee medially (inward towards the other knee) or laterally (towards the outside) and not to rotate the joint.

Do post comments, questions and updates on how he is doing.

In health,

Dr Ben