Read portions of our archived newsletters (excludes Lou's introductory notes, dated seminar listing, and seasonal specials):

Books/Magazines to Read:

Body Ecology Diet by Donna Gates - The BED establishes and nourishes the growth of beneficial microorganisms in the digestive tract. This 'microscopic militia' serves as your body's key line of defense against disease-causing unfriendly microbes.

The Raw Food Detox Diet: The Five-Step Plan For Vibrant Health And Maximum Weight Loss by Natalia Rose. This is a simple, proven five-level diet plan to safely make the transition to eating raw foods, and to detoxify and achieve a perfect body no matter how you eat now.

Living Cuisine by Renee Loux Underkoffler: A complete guide to eating and living raw with more than 300 irresistible gourmet recipes. Raw foods have gone gourmet.

Simple Cleanse by Jerry Lee Hutchens suggests a weekend cleanse that can clear out chemicals, promote better elimination, and help your intestines absorb nutrients. Based on organic fruit and vegetable juices, he states that black cherry, grape, apple, and cabbage are best for healing the colon and flushing out mucus. (Let’s Live magazine, April 2006)

Drink to Your Health by Anne McIntyre - delicious juices, teas, soups and smoothies that help you look and feel great! These luscious and easy-to-prepare recipes will help lift your spirits as well as recover from a wide range of illnesses and ailments.

In his book Fasting and Eating for Health, Dr. Joel Fuhrman describes the detox symptoms with which his fasting patients frequently have to contend. Detox symptoms are mileposts on the road to better health.

The virtues of a mostly raw plant-based diet are very well explained in T. Colin Campbell’s book “The China Study and Joel Fuhrman, M.D.’s book “Eat to Live”. For more, see: ww.therawfoodsite.com/reading.htm

Victoria Boutenko is a prolific writer in the raw food arena. Check out “12 Steps to Raw Foods”, “Raw Family”, and her newest release “Green for Life”. She explains the connection between alkalinity, health, and fresh raw greens. It also includes tested recipes for green smoothies.

I recently read two articles (suggested by a client) in The Sun (May 2006). The first was titled Lost in the Supermarket (subtitled: On How The Food Industry Has Changed The Way We Eat). It was an interview with Michael Pollan, the author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma. (The second article was an excerpt from this book). I highly recommend both articles; bet the book will be good, too!

Frank McCoy, M.D. in The Fast Way to Health - “As fasting is undertaken with the object of giving the body a chance to cure itself, it can be used in some form in the treatment of every acute or chronic disorder. I do not know of a disease where fasting is contra-indicated.”

The ultimate guide to internal cleansing has been around for years; but now one book has become even better - 2! Cleanse & Purify Thyself (Book One and Book Two) by Richard Anderson, N.D. (The Doctors’ Prescription for Healthy Living, Vol.10, #4)

The Healing Power of Flax by Herb Joiner-Bey, N.D. celebrates nature’s richest source of (good) Omega-3s. Contains 101 appetizing recipes to make the transition to flax-smart eating easy and enjoyable. (The Doctors’ Prescription for Healthy Living, Vol.10, #4)

The Water Prescription: For Health, Vitality, and Rejuvenation by Christopher Vasey, N.D. offers readers a useful guide to why water is essential to health, how much we should drink, and ways to re-hydrate the body, remove toxins, and restore vital minerals. (Taste of Life, June 2006)

Heard on NPR on June 9th, 2006 -- An interview with Marion Nestle about her new book called What To Eat: An Aisle-by-Aisle Guide to Savvy Food Choices and Good Eating. The author’s basic principles for a good diet are summed up in 16 words: “Eat less, move more, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, and go easy on junk food.”

Diet for a Poisoned Planet: How to Choose Safe Foods for You and Your Family by David Steinman is being revised and will be released in 2007. Overall, the author reports that “things have gotten worse. There are more pesticides in foods than ever before.” Buy Organic when possible!

If you have IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), you might want to read 25 Natural Ways to Relieve Irritable Bowel Syndrome by James Scala, PhD. (Energy Times, Feb. 2006)

Allow more time for your bowel movements; don’t rush them.  The bowel is very sensitive and responds to lack of routine, travel, stress, trauma, and emotional upsets.  Understanding your mind/body/bowel connection and then taking steps to remedy the situation can help keep you healthy and regular. This and many more topics are included in The New Detox Diet and Staying Healthy with the Seasons by Dr. Elson Haas.

12 Steps to Raw Foods: How to End Your Addiction to Cooked Food by Victoria Boutenko is a 12 step approach to give up cooked food. 37 raw food recipes included.

For those of you who have read and perhaps tried the 10 day Master Cleanser (by Stanley Burroughs), there is now more information available regarding the cleanse and its effects. A client directed me to a new book by Peter Glickman called Lose Weight, Have More Energy, & Be Happier in 10 Days. He also has a very informative website: www.themastercleanse.com.

Two other clients mentioned Kevin Trudeau’s book Natural Cures That ‘They’ Don’t Want You to Know About.  It is advertised on TV with infomercials, I understand.  Books such as these make people think and take control of their decisions concerning their health.  Website: www.naturalcures.com has a subscription price for newsletters, etc.

You Are What You Eat by Gillian McKeith, Ph.D. includes a list of the ‘10 Sexiest Foods‘: Sauerkraut (enzymes), Strawberries (antioxidants), Sprouts (enzymes), Blueberries (B vitamins), Pumpkin Seeds (essential fatty acids), Avocados (monounsaturated fats), Cinnamon (stimulates the brain), Ginger (improves circulation), Parsley (B12 and improved adrenal function), and Brown Rice (B vitamins and improves digestion). (GreatLife June 2005)          

Notes & Tidbits:

The Great American Plague: BOWEL DISEASE
What causes 100% of Americans to end up with Bowel Disease? The vast majority of all colon disease and colon cancer is caused by constipation. The toxic waste in our colon, instead of being regularly eliminated once or more daily, just sits in our bellies for days. Slowly it starts to poison us (in many ways). But, what causes this constipation? The answer is simple: the typical average American lifestyle. Fast food, meat eating, obesity, junk food, and sugar/soft drinks. The average American stores from 10 - 12 pounds of fecal waste in their colon, which is NOT healthy. (Dr. Schulze’s brochure, March 2006)

AARP (Sept/Oct 2006) has an article called Live Longer Diet…No specific diet mentioned here, but rather some great information about “calorie restriction”(a JAMA published study). The author prefers to think of “caloric selection“, suggesting the importance of eating many antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, nuts and flaxseed. Free radicals can naturally be reduced when we take in less food. And, skipping a meal here and there (periodic fasting) is suggested. Five foods that can add years to your life are: spirulina; cranberries, blueberries, blackberries; leafy greens (kale/spinach); almonds and walnuts; flaxseed.

Decrease the chance of traveler’s diarrhea by using probiotics (such as acidophilus on a daily basis). Use a fiber supplement or magnesium, drink plenty of water, and consume charcoal capsules if the probiotic isn’t enough. Avoid refined foods and dairy! (The Herbal Pharmacist, Summer 2006)

Probiotics attach themselves to the intestinal wall and produce a mildly acidic environment that curbs the growth of harmful, disease-causing bacteria. Probiotics strengthen the immune system, neutralize toxins, normalize bowel movements, help alleviate allergies and skin problems, and may prevent yeast and other fungal infections. (The Doctor’s Prescription for Healthy Living)

“Nutritional Approaches for Acid Indigestion” is the title of an article from July’s New Life Journal. Indigestion is caused or aggravated by poor eating habits such as eating irregularly, too much or too rapidly, not chewing food enough, eating when anxious, or eating the wrong food combinations. There are many kitchen spices that are helpful in assisting the digestive system. Ginger is helpful to the stomach, intestines, and circulation. Caraway is excellent aid to digestion. Rosemary is useful for indigestion and gas. Organic apple cider vinegar (not pasteurized or filtered) contains many enzymes. It stimulates digestion if taken 5 minutes before meals. Miso (fermented soy) is a preliminary digestive aid since it contains a number of valuable bacteria.

Astonishing fact: The average U.S. consumer eats around 19 pounds of apples a year, or about one apple per week!!

How to Detoxify: Things you can do to stay cleaner on the inside include: not smoking, avoiding excessive medications, limiting alcohol consumption, eating organic foods, exercising regularly, fasting periodically, and using a whole body internal cleanse. (brochure from Nature’s Way Thisilyn Cleanse Internal Detox Formulas)

The body’s production of certain digestive enzymes slows down with age (proteases, lipases, and amylases). An autodigestive enzyme supplement would typically contain all of these. If you’re a healthy person with minor digestive problems, some research suggests that tablets, rather than capsules, may work best. (Remedies magazine, April 2006)

Taking your salivary pH: Take your pH first thing in the morning before you take a drink or eat anything, and before you exercise or brush your teeth.

“And we have made of ourselves living cesspools, and driven doctors to invent names for our diseases.” Plato

Where do you get the biggest bang for your organic-food buck? Fruits and vegetables. USDA data reported the highest pesticide residue in apples, nectarines, peaches, pears, and strawberries. BUY ORGANIC! (AARP magazine, May/June 2006)

“I believe weight gain is a result of accumulated toxins. It's been shown that the body protects itself from toxins that are too numerous for the liver to handle by putting them into fat cells. That's…why people who go back to eating the Standard American Diet… immediately regain any weight they lose on any diet…. The better your diet afterwards, the less weight you put back on.” (Peter Glickman, The Master Cleanse & Raw Food Newsletter, 9/4/06)

“…fasting [promotes] introspection which often results in heightened self awareness - …a new understanding which often helps a faster to develop new values and priorities….” Herbert Shelton, M.D., who treated more than 30,000 patients with fasting. (The Master Cleanse & Raw Food Newsletter, 6/5/06)

Visit Dr. Lindsey Duncan, N.D.’s website at www.genesistoday.com to find two great pages under the heading: health tools. One page is titled “Acid/Alkaline Dietary Tips“, and the other is called “12 Golden Rules”. (The Doctors’ Prescription for Healthy Living, Vol.10, #4)

Check out Ask the Doctor, featuring Decker Weiss, NMD, at www.ATDonline.org for great information about multiple topics. I looked up two: Safe, Natural, Effective Cleansing (detoxification topic) and Fiber and Health (with information about a chewable fiber tablet). But, you can look up many more! (Ask the Doctor flyer)

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer worldwide with an estimated 80% of cases attributable to diet. Regular eaters of processed or red meat are up to 50% more likely to develop colon cancer than individuals who avoid these foods altogether. Recent research examined what it is about red meat consumption that increases colorectal cancer risk. Individuals on a high red meat diet (15 ounces) had significantly higher colon levels of N-nitrosocompounds -- compounds that can alter DNA and increase the risk of developing colon cancer. A better diet is to eat high fiber with your high meat diet; the best diet is to choose a vegetarian diet. (The Cancer Project News, Spring 2006 or www.cancerproject.org)

Summer potlucks coming up? Eat strategically! Variety can be dangerous -- the more there is, the more you want to try. Take full portions of the vegetable dishes and one forkful of everything else. Set an example with the dish you take -- go for quality rather than quantity. Get the best produce available and stick to delicious but simple recipes. (Natural Awakenings magazine, December 2005)

“Therapeutic fasting is not a mystical or magical cure. It works because the body has within it the capacity to heal when the obstacles to healing are removed. Health is the normal state.” Joel Fuhrman, M.D., Fasting and Eating for Health

Most consumers are still new to the idea of probiotics, a key to inner body harmony. Probiotics are the beneficial bacteria the body needs for digestion, nutrient assimilation, maintaining alkalinity and many other health processes. They synthesize certain vitamins and short-chain fatty acids to support a healthy intestinal lining that in turn deprives unwelcome microorganisms of both space and nutrients. (The Doctors’ Prescription for Healthy Living, Vol.10, #5)

Who can benefit from Aloe Vera? Anybody taking painkillers ought to ingest aloe vera to help protect the lining of the stomach from the damaging effects of medications. Be sure to buy whole leaf juice concentrates with no water or sulfites added. (The Doctors’ Prescription for Healthy Living, Vol.10, #5)

My clients love the newly designed, practical HealthStep ™.  It is great for putting the body in a “squat“ position on the toilet, which aids in optimal colon elimination. Look at the new design at www.healthstep.com. It is now available for purchase in my office! Just $65 (+ tax), but its value is PRICELESS!

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) is a nonprofit organization that promotes preventive medicine, conducts clinical research, and encourages higher standards for ethics, and effectiveness in research. Some great articles to be found at their website: www.pcrm.org

Strategies for Healthy Digestion:  Eat Slowly - Savor your food; Eat Well - Lots of fiber & Organic; Drink plenty of water - half your body weight in ounces; Avoid Stress - stress affects assimilation of your food; Get Enough Exercise - at least 30 minutes 3 times a week; Supplement Your Diet - digestive enzymes, probiotics, and fiber are important additions. (Source Naturals brochure)

Fiber has emerged as the superstar of the nutritional world.  Studies have shown it can detoxify the colon of carcinogenic substances, thereby reducing the risk of colon cancer, decrease serum cholesterol, suppress the appetite, lower blood sugar, reduce weight, alleviate irritable bowel syndrome, prevent diverticulitis, and promote regularity. Fiber also nourishes the good bacteria that inhabit a healthy gastrointestinal tract and plays a role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease.  (Vitamin Research News, August 2004)

Ten Best Cleansing Foods: They include fiber and antioxidants. Choose organic, of course! 1. Small Red Beans (dried), 2. Wild Blueberries, 3. Red Kidney Beans, 4. Pinto Beans,5. Blueberries (cultivated), 6. Cranberries, 7. Artichokes (cooked), 8. Blackberries,9. Prunes, 10. Raspberries.  (Essential Cleansing, Vol. 1; this magazine is available free at EarthFare in the health & herbs department)

Some of the greatest healers of all time recommend internal cleansing before embarking on any type of health building program in order to attain optimum results. Educate yourself on the benefits of internal cleansing and how it can increase energy levels.  (Nutritional Newsletter from Nature’s Secret)

Enzymes turn the food we eat into energy and unlock this energy for use in the body.  Three primary groups of enzymes: metabolic, digestive, and food enzymes.  Metabolic enzymes run your body.  Digestive enzymes digest your food.  Our bodies naturally produce both digestive and metabolic enzymes.  Food enzymes are naturally present in all raw foods.  Everyone is born with a certain “enzyme potential” which represents the limited number of enzymes that our bodies can produce in a lifetime.  To bolster our body’s natural enzyme potential, we need to eat enzyme-rich raw foods and supplement our diet with plant enzymes.  (Transformation Enzyme Corporation brochure) Plant enzymes are able to survive a broader range of pH differences and provide a wider range of activity throughout the gastrointestinal tract. (Ask The Doctor brochure, also see www.ATDonline.org)

Probiotic bacteria need to be ingested regularly for their health-promoting effects to persist. (Ask The Doctor brochure)

A client told me about the Six Week Body Makeover System.  In checking out how it works (I don’t watch the infomercials), a website called www.dietbites.com gave a review and summarized by saying it “may be an effective mode of achieving weight loss”.  Success was reported by many dieters. But the great news here is that there is this website that reviews ALL those diets out there, plus recipes, tips, charts, articles. Check it out!

FIVE STEPS TO BETTER DIGESTION (from GreatLife, July 2005):    

1. Chew slowly; saliva is loaded with amylase, as starch-digesting enzyme.
2. Avoid antacids; most people have insufficient stomach acid, and a digestive enzyme might be more helpful.
3. Don’t drink while eating; fluids can dilute stomach acid and all the digestive enzymes.
4. Eat in a relaxed environment, sitting down; you need to be calm and relaxed for the digestive juices to kick in optimally.
5. Vary your diet, include high-fiber fruits and vegetables, whole grains, as well as protein and healthy fats.