Dear THB Reader -

What do you want first? The good news or the bad?

The good news is, cancer deaths are declining. According to the American Cancer Society’s "Cancer Statistics, 2010" report, around 767,000 cancer deaths have been avoided since the 1990s.

The bad news? Cancer is still a big problem. American Cancer Society researchers estimate that some 569,490 people will die from cancer this year.

But there is also some better news. You can take positive action to drastically reduce your own cancer risk – without doctors, surgery, or expensive drugs.

Contributing Editor Starr Daubenmire has come up with a report all about the world’s strongest anti-cancer substance. It’s all-natural. It’s up to 1,000 times stronger than anything the medical or pharmaceutical industries have ever come up with. And if you make full use of it? You could cut your risk of cancer by 50%.

THB reader Clare S. said of Starr’s article, "I just want to thank you for letting me know the importance of [this substance]. I am lacking in this [substance] and I will endeavor to take it every single day now. My mother has cancer so I am so glad I read this article."

"This is incredible and at the same time fantastic," wrote Augustus. "This resource is free … and yet a lot of people die from various kinds of cancer. Thank you very much for this very important message."

Peter W. thought Starr’s article “was very informative … just printed it for my friend who has prostrate cancer and just hope it helps him."

It’s highly unlikely that you’ll hear about this anti-cancer substance from your doctor or anyone in the medical industry… So make sure you read Starr’s full article below.

And be sure to let us know what you think of it!

To Your Best Health,

To your health,

Ian Robinson,
Managing Editor, Total Health Breakthroughs

Cut Your Risk of Any Cancer in Half – Starting Today!

By Starr Daubenmire, Contributing Editor

The mainstream medical establishment doesn’t want you to know this… because they make so much money by keeping you in the dark…

But you can cut your risk of contracting any form of cancer in half – right now – with the information in this article.

Cancer is caused by stress – biological, psychological, chemical and physical stress. In modern times the stress has increased geometrically because of pollution, artificial foods and other factors.

But eons ago Nature created an antidote to stress – a natural hormone that stimulates the body’s immune system. If you make full use of this natural defense, studies show you can cut your risk of cancer in half.

I am talking about the world’s strongest anti-cancer hormone. In terms of prevention, it is probably a thousand times stronger than any substance that the medical and drug industry has ever come up with.

One very important – but largely ignored – study found that that 30% of all cancer deaths – which amounts to 2 million world-wide and 200,000 in the U.S. – could be prevented each year with higher levels of this hormone.

In addition to that:

• One study followed 400 postmenopausal women for four years and found that the group that had sufficient levels of this hormone had a 60% lower rate of all forms of cancer.
• Another study of 900 men found that the group that lacked this hormone had a 50% higher risk of cancer of the prostate.
• A third study found that people who have a high level of this hormone are 40% less likely to develop colon cancer..

Would you like to know what this hormone is?

Then sit back because this may surprise you.

The world’s most powerful anti-cancer hormone turns out to be something quite common: Vitamin D!

Surprised?

Don’t be. This is a scientific truth that the medical establishment consistently refuses to disclose.

They have even beclouded this truth by mis-naming the hormone. They call it a vitamin but it is not a vitamin at all.

Vitamin D is a hormone that you can get in modest doses from food and supplements, but most effectively from the sun.

That’s right. The sun is Nature’s primary stimulus for the creation of Vitamin D.

I’ll bet you have never heard that before.

If you are like most people you’ve heard that the sun is a bad thing. You have been told that it is the main cause of skin cancer.

But that is absolutely false and dangerously misleading.

I will explain why that is true later in this essay. I will also explain how the sun can stimulate all the Vitamin D your body needs. Plus you’ll learn why the media has spooked you into believing that you should avoid the sun.

Moreover, I’ll tell you why you should NEVER use conventional sun blocks…not on yourself or your children.

This is a report you must read.

Why has this information been kept from you? Maybe it’s because the healing energy of the sun is free.

When a cure like this is free, nobody stands to make a profit but you. So it is understandable that Big Pharma, Big Medical and Big Government – all of whom make billions every year off cancer – don’t want you to know.

Vitamin D Has Been Vilified by the Sunscreen Industry

Before sun block became popular in the 1960s, people believed that the sun was good for you. And for good reason. Our bodies respond positively to a natural amount of exposure to the sun. It makes us feel warm. It seems to “bake” out aches and pains. It even makes us look healthy.

Too much exposure to the sun, however, has the opposite effect. It causes us pain and discomfort. It makes us wish we hadn’t stayed out in the sun so long.

Sun block was created to prevent sunburn. And because it was effective in doing so, it caught on. So strongly in fact that it soon became a billion dollar industry.

With all those millions in profits, sun block makers funded studies. And those studies show a positive correlation between repeated sunburns and two non-lethal forms of skin cancer: basal cell and squamous cancers.

But none of these studies proved that the sun was the leading culprit in basal cell and squamous cancers. And none of them detected any relationship between sunburn and melanoma, which is the one cancer that kills.

Melanoma often appears between the toes and in other areas of the body where “the sun never shines.” If the sun were the leading cause of skin cancer, how could that be?

The studies that were funded by the sun block companies never bothered to answer these questions. Instead they lobbied the government to spread the word that the best way to prevent all forms of skin cancer (including melanoma) was to use sun block. And so the myth was born!Here are a few facts that you should know about sun block and skin cancer:

Sunscreen blocks your production of vitamin D –A sunscreen with an SPF of 8 reduces your ability to produce vitamin D by more than 95 percent. A sunscreen with an SPF of 15 reduces vitamin D production by more than 99 percent.

Lifeguards in Australia have the lowest rates of melanoma – In the February 2005 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute a study confirmed that exposure to the sun reduces the risk of skin cancer. Additional studies have shown that lifeguards in Australia have the lowest rates of melanoma.

Sunscreen does not block all the rays of the sun – Most sunscreens block only the UVB rays that burn your skin. They allow you to stay in the sun for hours without burning, while your skin soaks up the highly penetrating UVA radiation.

Unfortunately, most people believe that sunburn protection equals skin cancer protection. Actual evidence suggests to the contrary – that excessive exposure to non-burning UVA rays not blocked by common sunscreens induces skin cancers including the deadly melanoma variety.

Sunscreen contains several carcinogenic substances, some of which are activated by the sun! – one of the most common ingredients in commercial sunscreens is PABA, which can produce genetic mutations that can lead to cancer. The very thing that sunscreen sellers claim to protect you from. Even more incredibly, PABA is mostly inert until it becomes illuminated. Exposure to sunlight causes it to become carcinogenic. After exposure to UV radiation in sunlight, PABA or padimate-O attacks and damages DNA.

Sunscreen contains chemicals that mimic estrogen in the body – A Swiss study published in 2001 in Environmental Health Perspectives found five chemicals commonly in sunscreens that behave like estrogen. These five xenoestrogens are:

1. Octyl-1. dimethyl-PABA (OD-PABA)
2. Benzophenone-3 (Bp-3)
3. Homosalate (HMS)
4. Octyl-methoxycinnamate (OMC)
5. 4-methyl-benzylidene camphor (4-MBC)

So the result of the anti-sun campaign is this: more than half a million cases of cancer occur each year – that could have been prevented – if only a moderate exposure to sunlight had been allowed to provide normal levels of vitamin D.

Sunscreens are the Enemy, Not the Sun!

Thanks to modern day lifestyles and anti-sun propaganda message, an estimated 1 billion people worldwide are now deficient in Vitamin D. The situation is epidemic.

Not only will sunscreens NOT protect you from skin cancer, they will INCREASE your chances of getting all forms of cancer, including breast cancer, prostate cancer and lung cancer.

Optimal vitamin D levels are one of your best protections against any kind of cancer – and regular sun exposure (without sunscreen) is the best way to achieve it.

Protection by Design…

As a hormone, Vitamin D influences the entire body. Almost every type of human cell has receptors that respond to vitamin D. Which means your body is designed to make vitamin D from exposure to sunlight.

It doesn’t take a whole lot. Fifteen minutes a day or a half hour two or three times a week is enough exposure to create the Vitamin D that your body needs.  

And as long as you listen to your body’s natural messages, you will never have to worry about getting too much sun. What happens is this: depending on the amount of stress you are under, you may need just 2000 units of Vitamin D or 20,000. You can’t tell how much you need by taking your pulse or using some other artificial device. But you can tell simply by noticing that your skin feels like it has had enough.

When that happens it means your body is telling you that it has made the amount of Vitamin D that you need. Just get out of the sun at that moment and you won’t get sun burned and your immune system will be operating at full tilt.

Because vitamin D is fat soluble, it can be stored in the fatty tissues of the body. (That’s another reason it isn’t really a vitamin. It can be produced and stored naturally by the body.) But if, for some reason, a person can’t get out in the sun, he can and should supplement his intake of Vitamin D with natural foods and supplements.

How “ultra-violet” stacks up…

According to a leading vitamin D researcher, Dr. William Grant, vitamin D deficiencies cause 5 to 6 times more cancer deaths than any cancers due to excessive sun exposure.

Here’s why…

The sunlight produces two types of ultraviolet light: UV-A and UV-B.

UV-A has a longer wavelength. It is good for you. UV-B has a shorter wavelength and is bad.

Melanoma, the only type of skin cancer that can kill you, is caused by the longer wavelength ultraviolet A (UV-A).

UV-B rays stimulate Vitamin D and your immune system. They are the heroes of the cancer game. And the sun is the primary way your body gets UV-B rays.

Dr. Grant, a former NASA scientist, understood the benefit of UV-B waves. He knew that UV-B levels are measured geographically in the U.S. So he compared cancer maps with UV-B maps to see how levels of sun exposure related to cancer death rates.

What he found disproved the mythology that had been promoted for so many years by the sunscreen companies. His studies confirmed that the lower the sun exposure was, the higher the death rate was from common cancers. The final tally was this…

Premature cancer deaths due to vitamin D deficiency are 50-60,000 per year…compared to 9,800 who die of melanoma and skin cancer.

So a natural amount (15 to 30 minutes a day) of UV-B rays are healthy.

Getting the sunlight you need promotes the repair of damaged cells. This is important because damaged cells don’t repair themselves and don’t replicate. The more stress your body is subject too, the fewer healthy immune cells it has to fight cancer. Vitamin D reverses that process.

Vitamin D also helps prevent cancer cells from developing their own blood supply. This means it is harder for them to grow and spread. This suppresses metastasis.

The studies are clear about the benefits of Vitamin D and sunlight. But the government and mainstream medicine are not telling you what the studies have been saying. (Incidentally, the first study that showed the benefits of Vitamin D and sunlight dates back to an article on cancer mortality that was published in North America in 1941.)

So it’s not like the medical industry hasn’t known the facts. But they aren’t telling you. Is that because they are just plain stupid? Or might it have something to do with the billions of dollars that are made by sunscreen companies and skin doctors?

You don’t need to take a position on this question to benefit from the truth. Fear of the sun is nonsense. It is Nature’s best source of Vitamin D and Vitamin D is your body’s best protection against cancer.

If you would like to read more about the healthful benefits of the sun I can recommend this book: Your Best Health Under the Sun by Jon Herring Dr. Al Sears. Click here now for details…

He didn’t discover that cure overnight. It took 25 years of observation as a cardiac surgeon and over 5,000 heart surgeries to convince him of his findings. He dedicated his career to researching the most comprehensive studies and conducting his own cutting-edge research to find the truth.

In the second part of our exclusive interview with him, he reveals the truth behind heart disease. And even better… offers four critical steps to improve your heart health.

THB: Welcome back Dr. Lundell. Last week we talked a lot about inflammation. Can you please explain how inflammation is the real cause of heart disease?

Dr. Lundell: Inflammation is the real cause of heart disease because cholesterol would never be retained in the wall of the blood vessel and start causing plaque unless it was consumed by activated white blood cells. 

The white blood cells recognize it as an invader because it was either oxidized or changed by having a sugar molecule attached.  The biological and biochemical mechanisms demonstrating this have been well established.

THB: Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of all this. What is the connection between inflammation, obesity, and heart disease?

Dr. Lundell: To understand the connection between inflammation, obesity, heart disease and degenerative neurological disorders, and to prevent or reverse these conditions, we need to look at the factors that commonly cause chronic inflammation.

Chronic inflammation is our body’s response to chronic injuries, that is, small injuries that occur repeatedly and prevent healing from proceeding.

There’s no doubt that we live in a complicated environment with many chemicals and toxins that can injure us on a daily basis.  Some of these can be prevented and some cannot because we must live in our environment.

THB: What are the most common factors that damage heart health? And how can we prevent them?

Dr. Lundell: The four most common things that injure us repeatedly and can be changed easily are:

1) The excess consumption of simple carbohydrates and refined grains.

Every time we consume that delicious sweet roll loaded with sugar and flour we raise our blood sugar.  Every time we raise our blood sugar to high we injure the delicate lining of our blood vessels.  There is no more obvious or sad proof of this than to look at the patient who has type II diabetes that lose kidneys, vision, and limbs and die prematurely of heart disease.

2) The excess consumption of vegetable oils which contain large amounts of omega 6 free fatty acids.  We have been advised to avoid all animal fats and consume instead the supposedly healthy polyunsaturated fats from soybeans and corn.  We do need some omega 6, but unfortunately we are getting as much as 20-25 times more in our diets. These fatty acids are metabolized into chemicals that cause chronic inflammation. 

3) Deficiency in omega 3 three fatty acids from fish. Omega 3 is a very powerful natural anti inflammatory agent documented in extensive medical literature to reduce sudden death from heart attack; stabilize vulnerable plaque; and prevent and reduce Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological conditions.  Some 80% of the population of the United States is deficient in omega 3 because we do not eat enough fish or take fish oil supplements.

4) Oxidative stress.  This simply means the presence of more free radicals than antioxidants.  Oxidative stress has been clearly demonstrated to be detrimental to human health and is associated with multiple degenerative diseases, especially those of the brain and nerves, and is definitely associated with heart disease.

THB: How can we stop and reverse inflammation?

Dr. Lundell: To stop and reverse inflammation, we need to change our diets as mentioned above.  Increase our consumption of antioxidants especially those from colorful plants.  Protein is another critical building block that allows us to make our own antioxidants.

Coffee is the largest single source of antioxidants in the American diet. Since we drink so much of it, a high quality organic coffee such as Asantae Java, which has more antioxidants than any other, is a great choice.

We continually hurt ourselves by consuming added sugar and refined sugars in chips, cookies, baked goods, and other seemingly irresistible snacks we all seem to love. 

Avoid vegetable oils as much as possible especially those that are hydrogenated.  Recent Meta-analysis clearly demonstrates in very large studies that consumption of dietary cholesterol and saturated fats have no relationship to heart disease.

In Chapter 7 of my book, The Great Cholesterol Lie, there’s a list of essential nutrients and vitamins that work synergistically to combat inflammation.  Be sure to get pharmaceutical quality either locally or online. I created a product called HeartShot marketed by Asantae that is a once-daily drink containing all the items listed in the chapter with increased Vitamin D.  

THB: Do you have any final words of wisdom to share with our readers?

Dr. Lundell: This is a war, a battle of inflammation inside our bodies.  It’s a battle zone in our current culture and it’s a war of information that is fought by challenging incorrect philosophies that have made heart disease a terrible epidemic – one that should not exist in the first place.

There’s a cure for heart disease, but let me be clear: I cannot cure heart disease. Only you can. Anyone and everyone who follows the recommendations in my book will be able to save more lives than I ever could as a heart surgeon.

About Dr. Lundell: Dr. Dwight Lundell is the former Chief of Staff and Chief of Surgery at Banner Heart Hospital in Mesa, AZ. He is the founder of Healthy Humans Foundation and Chief Medical Advisor for Asantae. In 2003, Dr. Lundell made the most difficult decision of his 25 year surgical career. As traditional medicine continued to chase the cholesterol theory of heart disease, Dr. Lundell closed his surgical practice. He then devoted the rest of his life to speaking the truth that inflammation causes heart disease. By lowering inflammation, heart disease has a cure.

Dr. Lundell is the author of the world-wide bestselling book, The Great Cholesterol Lie. This book offers a revealing look at heart disease and the faulty theories of low-fat diets and cholesterol. He also reveals his clinically-tested recommendations for lowering inflammation that can prevent and reverse heart disease. Click here now to learn more.

[Editor’s Note: The best medicine might simply be good information. For almost every condition you could be suffering from, nature has provided a cure you should know about. Our mission at Natural Health Confidential is to find it, scientifically confirm it, and get it into your hands.

You will discover invaluable natural healing methods that make a real difference in your life and the lives of those you love.

You can find out more about “The Cure for Heart Disease” in the next edition of our monthly Natural Health Confidential newsletter. We review the latest research and findings and ask our experts if there is a “Cure for Heart Disease.”

Find out more about the dangers of statin medications, the case against cholesterol, and the true cause of heart disease… Discover easy, simple steps to treat heart disease without medications… Ways to overhaul your diet and lifestyle… and life saving nutritional supplements. All this and more in the upcoming issue of Natural Health Confidential.] If you aren’t already receiving this health advisory service, sign up here.

To your health,

Ian Robinson,
Managing Editor, Total Health Breakthroughs

But the drug has come under heavy scrutiny since a series of studies revealed that it increases the risk of stroke. The leading study was written by heart expert Dr. Steven Nissen in 2007. He’s the chairman of Cleveland Clinic’s department of cardiovascular medicine. He reviewed 40 studies related to the drug and uncovered a shocking truth: patients taking Avandia increased their risk of heart attack by 42 percent. His findings were later published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Following these studies, sales began to drop, plummeting to $520 million last year. As sales have fallen, claims linking Avandia to increased heart risk have risen. And now they’ve snowballed into literally thousands of lawsuits against Glaxo.

The FDA clearly has its own doubts about Avandia. Its own reviewer – David Graham – presented expert data analysis at the panel meeting. He estimated that 100,000 heart problems were caused by the drug. He told the panel that Avandia will “put you in a hospital or a cemetery.”

Conflicted Decision

Yet despite this, the FDA panel voted to keep the drug on the market.

“The committee vote is gravely disappointing,” says Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. It “raises questions as to whether the science was presented in an unbiased manner.”

Original study author Dr. Nissen attended the panel meeting. He believes that the panel data still confirms the risk of stroke. He says the panel had enough data to remove the drug.

Now, the decision was by no means unanimous. Twelve of the 33 members of the panel voted to eliminate the drug. Another 10 wanted ongoing supervision of the drug. And seven suggested stronger warning labels on it.

But the panel still gave Avandia the thumbs up.

Patterns of Approval

The same thing happened in 2007 when another FDA panel first reviewed Avandia. Dr. Nissen also attended that meeting.

He said at the time that “the FDA presented patient-level analysis at the meeting. This is far more accurate when you have access to patient data. The FDA confirmed a 40 percent increase in risk. Virtually identical to our findings.”

In 2007 the FDA voted keep Avandia on the market. The New England Journal of Medicine later printed a related article. The article was written by Dr. Clifford Rosen – the man who headed up the 2007 Avandia review panel.

In his article he said that Avandia was “a new wonder drug, approved prematurely and for the wrong reasons.” He noted the FDA was “a weakened and underfunded government agency subjected to pressure from industry.” He concluded that Avandia had “caused undue harm to patients.”

And certainly Glaxo seems to know something. The 2010 ruling comes one day after the drug maker agreed to pay out $460 million to settle thousands of lawsuits. Those suits claim that Avandia caused heart attacks.  Glaxo is quietly settling over 10,000 suits for $46,000 each.

Opting for the Safe Solution

Data suggests that Avandia may increase stroke risk. But the FDA approves it because it also does some good. That’s because it increases your sensitivity to insulin.

But THB panel expert Michael Cutler M.D. says there are many safer ways to do that.

“I was never taught any measures for my patients,” says Dr. Cutler, a board-certified physician with over 17 years of experience. “It baffles me that I couldn’t see the gap in my medical training. We did nothing to prevent diabetes.”

Many years have passed since Dr. Cutler graduated from med school. He’s spent years in practice since then. He’s also continued his own private research and learning. And he knows that modern medicine is missing the point.

“Conventional medicine today is still all about using drugs to lower blood sugar,” says Dr. Cutler. That’s “too late if you want to reverse the disease.”

The secret instead lies in what you eat. A healthy low-carb, low-sugar diet balances your blood sugar. And there are many tools to improve your diet.

For one thing, Dr. Cutler says herbs are a safe way fight diabetes. That’s because they can lower your blood sugar levels.

Your Herbal Path to Better Health

Dr. Cutler says herbal remedies can really make a difference to your health. They can work better than drugs and are a lot safer. The following seven herbs are backed up by solid scientific evidence in multiple studies. Dr. Cutler says these seven herbs will help control your blood sugar levels.

• Green tea.  It’s an old favorite and a good health promoter. One study reveals that green tea increases insulin activity. That’s thanks to its active ingredient, EGCG.

• Cinnamon.  Diabetes Care reports that cinnamon kicks up sugar metabolism. Sixty diabetics took a half teaspoon of cinnamon every day for 40 days. Researchers reported major drops in blood sugar levels.

• Ginseng root.  Several studies have tested Ginseng as a treatment for diabetes. One study showed a big drop in sugar versus placebo in Type II diabetes.

• Milk thistle.  Milk thistle cleanses the liver, which fights diabetes. Doses of over 1,500 mg increase bile flow and secretion. “This desired effect makes it the herb of choice for any liver-related diseases,” says Dr. Cutler.

• Devil’s claw.  Devil’s claw may have insulin-like elements. However, Dr. Cutler notes that research is ongoing.

• Bilberry.  Studies show that bilberry leaves also lower blood sugar levels. This is no news to country folk. They’ve been using it in “anti-diabetic” teas for years.

• Fenugreek.  A major study showed it greatly lowered blood sugar levels.

[Ed. Note: Michael Cutler, M.D. is a board-certified family physician. He has over 17 years of clinical experience. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University and Tulane Medical School. Dr. Cutler's practice focuses on solutions to health problems. He focuses on behavioral and nutritional medicine. For information, visit www.truehealth.com.]

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The Age-Defying Power of Antioxidants – Part Five

The Marvels of the “Miracle Mineral”

Antioxidants can help restore youth, replenish energy, and even improve heart health. But did you know that one mineral is so vital that deficiency doubles your chance of death? And guess what? Experts estimate that 80 percent of the population is exactly that.

That miracle mineral is magnesium.

The claim that magnesium deficiency doubles your chances of death is quite genuine. The finding came from a study published in The Journal of Intensive Care Medicine. But the conclusion comes as no surprise to leading experts in the field. They agree that magnesium is critical to long life and good health.

“Magnesium deficiency triggers 22 conditions,” says Dr. Carolyn Dean, M.D. As a magnesium expert, she should know. She has led medical research on the subject for over 30 years. She currently serves as the Medical Director of the Nutritional Magnesium Association and wrote The Magnesium Miracle.

Among the 22 conditions that magnesium deficiency can cause, she lists anxiety, diabetes, heart disease, and migraines. And she notes that “the introduction of magnesium can help alleviate these conditions.”

Dr. Mark Hyman – a Massachusetts physician who serves on the Board of Advisors of Georgetown University – also champions magnesium. “In my practice, this nutrient is one of my secret weapons against illness,” he says. “Yet [over] half of Americans are deficient in this nutrient and don’t know it.”

“I remember using magnesium when I worked in the emergency room,” says Dr. Hyman. “It was a critical ‘medication’ on the crash cart. If someone was dying of [an] irregular heart beat, we used intravenous magnesium. If pregnant women came in with seizures, we gave them high doses of magnesium.”

Benefits of Magnesium

Magnesium is an essential element of good health. It is responsible for over 300 enzyme reactions and is present in all bodily tissues. It’s a critical component in bones, muscle and brain. And your cells need it to make energy, stabilize membranes, and help muscles relax.

It can fight depression, fatigue, and even kidney disease. And it’s critical to many essential bodily functions. But let’s look more closely at just one area that it benefits.

According to Dr. Dean, a heart attack can injure us in many ways. Damages sustained during a heart attack can include:

• Blood clots which lead to blocked blood vessels
• Decreased blood flow as blood vessels go into spasm
• Extended heart damage as calcium floods the muscle

However, our “magic” mineral counters these effects. It naturally:

• Dilates blood vessels
• Prevents spasms in the heart muscle and blood vessel walls
• Fights the action of calcium, which increases spasms
• Helps dissolve blood clots
• Acts as an antioxidant against free radical formation

It also promotes good health in many other vital functions. And yet, you don’t often hear about. Which begs the question…

Why Is Magnesium Shut Out of “Big Medicine”?

If magnesium were man-made, chances are pharmaceutical companies everywhere would grab on to it and tout it as a wonder drug.

But instead, magnesium is an inexpensive mineral, found in nature. And big pharma isn’t interested in pushing something they can’t get a patent on.

“This mineral is ignored because it is not a drug,” says Dr. Hyman. “It is more powerful than drugs in many cases. That’s why we use it in hospitals for heart failure.”

Dr. Dean agrees. She believes big pharma has good reason to ignore it.

“Most of the funding for medical research comes from drug companies,” she says. “Magnesium is not a drug and will not be studied by drug companies. Except to try to disprove its action.”

But there’s another reason why magnesium doesn’t get enough credit.

“In our society, magnesium deficiency is a huge problem,” says Dr. Hyman. “By conservative standards of measurement (blood or serum magnesium levels), 65 percent of people admitted to the intensive care unit have magnesium deficiency.

“But this underestimates the problem. A serum magnesium level is the least sensitive way to detect a drop. So rates of magnesium deficiency could be even higher.”

And that’s bad news for good health. Magnesium deficiency has been linked to migraines, inflammation, and high CRP levels.

Reasons for Magnesium Deficiency

It’s a scientific fact that modern man is deficient in magnesium. One recent study concluded…

It is regrettable that deficiency of such an inexpensive, low-toxicity nutrient results in diseases that cause incalculable suffering throughout the world.

So why are we so deficient? What’s changed?

As is often the case, our own diets work against us. Highly processed foods contain little magnesium. Carb-rich foods like white flour and pasta have no magnesium at all. Neither does dairy.

Worse, many of the foods we do eat reduce our levels. Dr. Hyman says alcohol, salt, cola, and coffee all reduce magnesium. And our modern lifestyle does the same: stress, antibiotics, and diuretics decrease our levels too.

Another reason we have low levels is because it’s hard to absorb. Worse… our bodies lose it easily. That’s why it’s important to maintain our magnesium levels.

Maintain Your Magnesium Levels

There are three simple, common sense ways to do this:

1. Limit the foods that decrease your levels. That means cutting back on alcohol, coffee, and cola.
2. Learn how to handle stress in a new way. Active relaxation can make a difference.
3. Consult your doctor about what meds you are taking. Ask him if they cause magnesium loss.

Now you know how to maintain your levels. The next step is to increase your intake.

Rich Sources of Magnesium

Many foods are rich in magnesium. Good sources include almonds, cashews, walnuts, shrimp, green drinks, and leafy green vegetables.

Dr. Hyman suggests taking a supplement.  While the recommended daily amount is about 300 mg a day, he believes most of us get less than 200 mg. And he says that most people could benefit from as much as 400 to 1,000 mg a day.

Another good option for kicking up your levels are Epsom salts. Taking a hot bath in Espom salts (magnesium sulfate) helps reduce stress and allows easy absorption of magnesium.

Doctors Dean and Hyman suggest that magnesium citrate, glycinate taurate, and aspartate are the most easy to absorb. They caution against magnesium carbonate, sulfate, gluconate, and oxide because they are more difficult to absorb.

Dr. Hyman also notes that people with kidney or heart disease should consult a doctor to define safe levels.

To your health,

Ian Robinson,
Managing Editor, Total Health Breakthroughs

Conventional wisdom tells us that high cholesterol is the cause of heart disease. But Dr. Dwight Lundell is fighting to expose this dangerous mainstream myth.

Dr. Lundell is a pioneer and leading expert in this field. He has enjoyed a long and a distinguished career, leading his peers to new breakthroughs. He spent 25 years as a cardiovascular surgeon and performed over 5,000 heart surgeries.

His experience in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery includes certification by the American Board of Surgery, the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. He was a pioneer in “Off-Pump” heart surgery, reducing surgical complications and recovery times. He’s in the “Beating Heart Hall of Fame” and has been listed in Phoenix Magazine’s “Top Doctors” for 10 years.

He has been recognized by his peers as a leader and has served as Chief resident at the University of Arizona and Yale University Hospitals. He later served as Chief of Staff and Chief of Surgery.

He was also one of the founding partners of the Lutheran Heart Hospital which became the second largest heart hospital in the U.S.

Dr. Lundell recently agreed to grant us an in-depth and revealing interview about the pioneering work he is currently conducting. It’s our privilege and pleasure to share part one of that exclusive interview with you today.

THB: You are the author of a controversial heart-health book called The Great Cholesterol Lie. The book challenges conventional wisdom and accepted medical theories. What’s been the response to this book?

Dr. Lundell: The response to the book has been overwhelming.  I regularly correspond with people from around the world who are enjoying better health from the new understandings they gained from learning about inflammation and heart disease.

THB: That’s good to hear. It’s a seminal book that charts your professional journey as a cardiac surgeon. And, more importantly, reveals your gradual discovery of the true cause of heart disease.

If you could go back in time to when you were a young cardiac surgeon… what would you tell yourself and would you take a different path?

Dr. Lundell: I was dedicated to treating heart disease and passionate about saving lives.  It was my responsibility to provide patients with a second chance.

As a young cardiac surgeon in the 1980s coronary bypass operation was the only effective treatment for people afflicted with severe coronary artery disease.  So, as you can imagine, this was a very exciting time.  Our ability to help people increased and the risks of surgery decreased as techniques and technology improved.

The scientific consensus at that time was elevated cholesterol levels in the blood cause a gradual deposition of cholesterol in the lumen of the blood vessel so two treatment forces were obvious: lower the levels of cholesterol in the blood or do an operation to detour the blood around the accumulated plaque thus restoring flow and heart function.

Rather than looking at more effective ways to lower blood cholesterol, there was relatively little research going on as to what was causing plaque.  Everyone settled on the idea that it was as simple as controlling fat and cholesterol.

Then new research was in part driven by industry and not basic science.  As balloon angioplasty emerged as an alternative to open heart surgery, the companies that produce the balloons became concerned by high rates of re-stenosis.  They began funding studies to understand exactly what was happening biologically to cause the re-stenosis. (Re-stenosis means a re-narrowing of the artery after angioplasty or a stent has been inserted.)

This stimulated a lot of research and culminated in the seminal article published in 1999 in the New England Journal of Medicine announcing that “atherosclerosis [is] an inflammatory disease.”

THB: How did you discover that the true cause of heart disease was inflammation?

Dr. Lundell: I was excited to understand this new research because in the operating room I had observed the classic signs of inflammation around the coronary artery and was very disappointed that surgery, although effective at relieving symptoms and extending life, was not a cure for heart disease.

Many brilliant scientists and university centers continued to do more research that confirmed the basis for coronary disease was chronic inflammation.  Sadly the attention was all directed at finding a therapy rather than looking at the cause of chronic inflammation.

Research is hugely expensive and was largely funded by drug companies who were making billions of dollars from the prescriptions for statin drugs.

One of the many side effects of statin drugs is that they seem to have a mild anti- inflammatory effect.  Because of the size of the industry and how entrenched the cholesterol theory had become, the focus continues to be on treating everyone with statin drugs rather than understanding the cause and the ability to control chronic inflammation.

The makers of statin drugs have been so skillful at influencing science and controlling public policy that prescribing statins is the standard of care. Anyone questioning or disagreeing with these policies is labeled as a heretic and disregarded.

THB: Why were you so convinced inflammation was the culprit? You were so convinced that you made a major life – and career – change based on that conviction.

Dr. Lundell: I knew that I did not have enough influence to change any of the policies or practices from inside mainstream medicine. Taking a lesson from the drug makers with their direct to consumer advertising I decided to write the book and hopefully people would learn and make the changes needed to truly prevent and cure heart disease.

THB: You describe inflammation very powerfully in your book as a battleground. Can you give our readers an overview of what inflammation is?

Dr. Lundell: Inflammation truly is a battleground. For most of human history we died because of infection and trauma. Our immune system and our inflammatory systems are designed to aggressively respond to these two challenges.

If we get invaded by bacteria or injured in some way, our immune system recognizes the challenge and marshals all of the body’s resources to respond to defeat the invader and heal the wound.

We all have experienced the classic signs of inflammation: warmth, swelling, redness, and pain.  Acute inflammation is the response to acute injuries.  Chronic inflammation is the response to chronic smaller injuries and so we do not always get the four classic signs.

THB: You’ve taken the bold step to speak out against statin medications. But playing devil’s advocate for a moment… surely there are some situations when statin medications are effective?

Dr. Lundell: Statin medications have proven to be somewhat beneficial to a small group of people; that is a middle aged man with a previous heart attack. They have never been documented to benefit any woman of any age with any condition.  They have not been documented to help people who have not had a previous heart attack of any age or gender.

There may be some people who would take great offense at the previous paragraph – especially the makers of Crestor and cardiologists who support treating almost everyone with statin drugs.

They might quote the Jupiter study which was touted as proving Crestor would reduce heart attack rates by almost 50% in otherwise healthy people.  Happily, this month in The Archives of Internal Medicine, four peer reviewed articles gave a scathing rebuke to the Jupiter study – the methodology, the conflict of interest by most of the authors, the early termination of the study which almost always provides false results, and the conclusion that statin drugs were beneficial in this population of patients.  At last I am getting reinforcements!

THB: That’s a good point to make – and you make it well. So, if statin meds aren’t effective, why are they so dangerous?

Dr. Lundell: Statin drugs are dangerous not necessarily because of the side effects which can be disabling or fatal, but because they divert our attention from understanding and preventing heart disease and merely treat it with statins, allowing us to think that this is beneficial.

Even some of the foremost cardiologists in the country who have written extensively about inflammation as the true cause of heart disease offer no solutions except taking statin drugs.  $30,000,000,000 in worldwide sales of statin drugs has a lot to do with it.

In part two of our revealing interview, Dr. Lundell tells us why inflammation is the true cause of heart disease and offers critical solutions to prevent it. We also discover the four most common lifestyle factors that injure heart health and get expert guidance on how to improve it. All this and more in next Wednesday’s edition of Undercover.

About Dr. Lundell: Dr. Dwight Lundell is the past Chief of Staff and Chief of Surgery at Banner Heart Hospital, Mesa, AZ. He is the founder of Healthy Humans Foundation and Chief Medical Advisor for Asantae. In 2003, Dr. Lundell made the most difficult decision of his 25 year surgical career. As traditional medicine continued to chase the cholesterol theory of heart disease, Dr. Lundell closed his surgical practice. He then devoted the rest of his life to speaking the truth that inflammation causes heart disease. By lowering inflammation, heart disease has a cure.

Dr. Lundell is the author of the world-wide bestselling book, The Great Cholesterol Lie. This book is a revealing look at heart disease and the faulty theories of low-fat diets and cholesterol. He also reveals his clinically-tested recommendations for lowering inflammation that can prevent and reverse heart disease. Click here now to learn more.

To your health,

Ian Robinson,
Managing Editor, Total Health Breakthroughs

If You Don’t Have the “X Factor,” Antioxidants Aren’t Doing You Any Good

Blueberries. Pomegranate. Cranberries. Cherries.

Loads of research shows that antioxidants in fruits like these can help give you energy… keep your brain sharp and alert… and even keep skin looking young.

However, there is a big problem…

You can load up on antioxidants all you want… But they won’t do you a lick of good. Unless, that is, you have the “X Factor."

Made up of two nutrients, the “X Factor” is a component that unlocks your body’s ability to get the most out of antioxidants.  It can help enhance your health, boost your energy levels, and fight the signs of aging. Find out what it is – and how you can get it in a new blend of the most powerful anti-aging nutrients ever discovered – by reading on right here.

The Age-Defying Power of Antioxidants – Part Four

Enjoy the Energy of Childhood!

I went to the park the other day and was perplexed by what I saw. The park was full of people enjoying summer: couples sprawled against each other; boys riding bikes; girls out jogging; a serious-looking man reading a novel under the shade of a tree; and grandparents watching young ones run and play.

It’s a sight we’ve all seen many times: a simple sunny day in the park. It’s a scene we all accept as natural and normal.

But that day it struck me as odd.

There was something wrong with the picture. There was a pattern to it… young people being active, older people being sedentary. And I realized that a theme straight out of conventional wisdom was playing out in front of me… the acceptance that, as we get older, we slow down.

This struck me as particularly strange because of what I do each day. I spend my time researching scientific studies and talking to leading experts in the medical field. And from all that digging, I’ve found no reason that “old” should mean “tired” or “slow.”

In fact, I’ve uncovered multiple studies that show solid, scientific proof that antioxidants boost your energy. And one antioxidant in particular can give you child-like energy well into your 60s and beyond.

This compound adds a spring to your step and even enhances sports performance. In fact, it’s so reliable, world-class sports gurus use it. I’m talking about an antioxidant called quercetin.

Claim the Power of the Olympians

Quercetin is a safe and effective anti-inflammatory agent that boosts energy and the immune system. In fact, it even fuels the cells that power your muscles and brain.

“It’s so reliable; Olympians and serious exercisers are flocking to it for help during strenuous workouts,” says THB panel expert Dr. Al Sears. “It’s only recently that researchers discovered its power to boost energy.”

There’s plenty of research to support quercetin. One study showed that it boosted the timed trial performance of a famous cyclist team by 3.1 percent. No wonder quercetin is a favorite of world-famous cyclist Lance Armstrong!

But it doesn’t just make cyclists pedal faster… And it isn’t just good at enhancing sports performance. Studies show that it can work for regular people living everyday lives.

Quercetin has good applications for everyday usage, too. For instance, it can make the difference between springing through your day and slouching through it.

A study by the Arnold School of Health at the University of South Carolina showed that quercetin can really make a difference to all of us. The study showed that it increases energy and endurance in all active, healthy adults.

That’s because it’s a powerhouse antioxidant that effectively fights oxidative stress. It fights flu and boosts brain power and “tops up” all-around good health. That makes it a powerful antioxidant that you’ll want to incorporate into your diet.

An Apple a Day…

So where can you get quercetin and how much should you take? Dr. Sears offers advice and guidance on dosage and servings.

“For general health purposes, I recommend 15 to 40 mg per day,” he says. “And you can get it simply by eating a few servings a day of fruits and vegetables that are rich in quercetin.”

Quercetin occurs naturally in many foods. You can find it in good amounts in simple, everyday apples. But it’s also found in:

• Black Tea
• Broccoli
• Capers
• Cherries
• Citrus fruit
• Cranberries
• Leafy green vegetables
• Onions
• Raspberries
• Red grapes
• Red onions
• Tomatoes

You can also get quercetin from easy dietary supplements. Your local health food store should stock all-in-one supplements loaded with vitamins, minerals, and quercetin. But it’s important that you take the right amount.

“For peak performance, I suggest 500 mg twice a day,” says Dr. Sears. “For therapeutic purposes, you’ll need to take higher dosages, and only under professional supervision.”

Combine Antioxidants to Boost Benefits

You can maximize your energy levels by combining apples and raspberries with green tea. That’s because green tea also contains a powerful energy-boosting antioxidant.

People have known about the wide benefits of drinking green tea for years. It can support your immune system, fight aging, and promote healthy brain and liver function. But recent studies also show that it can boost energy and athletic performance.

One such study was published just this year by Maastricht University in the Netherlands. It revealed that catechins in green tea not only helped maintain weight, but also increased energy.

A second study from this year – conducted by the Waseda University in Japan – showed similar results. The study authors found that green tea does more than just enhance fat metabolism. They showed that it increases energy during exercise. And they came to one final simple conclusion: Exercise and green tea increase energy and fat burning levels.

The most up-to-date studies speak very clearly. Antioxidants can put that spring back in your step – no matter what your age is. Even better, they’ll deliver a whole host of other health benefits too. And you can claim all of these benefits by simply enjoying a bowl of cherries and a mug of green tea!

To your health,

Ian Robinson,
Managing Editor, Total Health Breakthroughs

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The Age-Defying Power of Antioxidants – Part Three

Wipe Away Wrinkles

The older you get, the more wrinkles you “earn.” That’s what conventional wisdom tells us.

But you don’t have to resign yourself to living with sagging, wrinkled skin for the rest of your life. In fact, there are people who are over 60 with absolutely wrinkle-free skin. My father has a close friend who’s well into his 60s and doesn’t look a day over 45. He’s been around so long that we call him “Uncle Jon.” But he’s never changed since the day I met him. His face is tan and free of lines. And he’s sharp and in shape.

Scientists have been trying to figure out why some people – like “Uncle Jon” – don’t seem to age like the rest of us. And there is emerging evidence that a class of proteins called sirtuins are the cause.

The evidence is clear: if you know how to activate your sirtuins, you too can turn back the clock.

Slowing the Hands of Time

Sirtuins send signals to our cells that work to combat the effects of aging. They slow down the process of cell death and give your body more time to repair DNA damage.

Studies show that the critical catalyst in this process is a compound known as resveratrol.

Resveratrol activates a gene that “turns on” our sirtuins. And once that’s activated, you don’t have to accept wrinkles. In fact, you can lose facial lines with each passing year. The trick is making sure your body gets the resveratrol it needs.

“Drinking red wine is one way to benefit from resveratrol,” says THB panel expert Dr. Al Sears. “I also recommend adding foods rich in resveratrol to your diet. It’s found in plums, grapes, blueberries, and cranberries.”

Resveratrol is an antioxidant which science shows beats the aging process like no other. If it were man-made, it would be a miracle drug. But it’s not… because it’s 100 percent natural. And it’s also safe and effective. In fact, a recent study shows it has 17 times more anti-aging power than man-made CoQ10.

Wave Goodbye to Crow’s Feet

Study after study show that resveratrol makes you look younger. Medical experts are keen to promote its age-defying properties. But resveratrol doesn’t just battle the aging process by activating sirtuins… it’s loaded with other anti-aging benefits.

So why can resveratrol turn back the clock so much better than man-made CoQ10? Because it is more effective at removing free radicals that damage skin cells. It’s those damaged skin cells which lead to wrinkles and dull skin. Not just that… it breaks down collagen to give your skin that healthy, youthful glow.

Dr. Richard Baxter – a board certified plastic surgeon and leader in the field – authored one study of resveratrol.

“A couple of years ago, I tested a skin care product containing resveratrol,” says Dr. Baxter. “Prevage had tested their formula against all other antioxidants out there: alpha lipoic acid, vitamins, you name it. Prevage announced that it was the strongest antioxidant on the market.”

However, Dr. Baxter and his team were convinced that “there [were] better antioxidants out there.” They began studying resveratrol in a series of tests. And their studies revealed some surprising results.

“Using a standard antioxidant test called ORAC we found that the resveratrol product was 17 times stronger,” he says. Dr. Baxter’s study blew those older claims out of the water. Resveratrol became the most effective antioxidant in the pack.

His findings also convinced him that natural foods are the best source of antioxidants. “It makes the most sense to just eat whole foods with antioxidants already in.”

He recommends the following foods as good sources of resveratrol:

• pigmented berries
• pomegranate juice
• acai
• red wine

Dr. Baxter’s study proved that resveratrol can help turn back the clock. And he recommends you begin that process by enjoying a glass of red wine!

Dr. Sears points out another easy way to get resveratrol… through supplements.

“A good dose is 10 mg per day,” says Dr. Sears. “It has never been associated with any worrisome side effects. You can take it any time of day, with or without food.”

Topical Benefits of Resveratrol

Further research shows something else: applying resveratrol directly to your skin speeds up its anti-aging effects.

“If you just take it as a supplement, you’re missing out on what it offers your skin,” says Dr. Al Sears. “Rub resveratrol directly on your face, and it quickly goes to work.”

Several studies support this idea. One study, conducted by the University of Wisconsin, showed that resveratrol protects your skin from daily aging.

“In this study, we evaluated the effects of resveratrol,” said study author Professor Nihal Ahmad. His findings “clearly suggest that resveratrol… is absorbed in the skin and activates a protective cascade. On the basis of our work, it is conceivable to design resveratrol skin-care products.”

A second study reinforced these findings. Its authors noted that topical resveratrol improves skin tone and reduces wrinkles.

A Topical Solution

So, science supports the age-defying properties of resveratrol. And a topical lotion may help deliver even better results.

“But you can’t just add resveratrol to a cream and then expect your skin to start looking younger,” says Dr. Sears.

He notes resveratrol has limited stability and water solubility. That’s a problem when applying it to skin. The trick is making a topical form that can be applied as a lotion.

And that just what Dr. Sears has done.

“After doing some research with ourWellness Research Foundation, I found a unique way around that,” he says. “We discovered a novel process that not only makes topical resveratrol usable, it makes its benefits more powerful.”

This new kind of resveratrol is called “metrabiotics resveratrol.” It goes deep into your skin and activates your body’s built-in skin rejuvenator. Dr. Sears has made it available to you in an easy lotion called Silk.

According to Dr. Sears, this new lotion really combats aging. It can reduce wrinkles, smooth lines, lift skin, and improve skin tone. And it can do all that quickly, safely, and effectively. If you’re interested in learning more, read on here.

To your health,

Ian Robinson,
Managing Editor, Total Health Breakthroughs

Building Healthy Hearts

Almost 70 percent of Americans have some sort of heart disease – but that doesn’t mean surgery should be your first response.

“It might surprise you to learn that nearly 85 percent of coronary bypass surgeries are done unnecessarily,” says THB panel expert Dr. Al Sears. “That’s why I’m always on the look out for credible and actionable alternative heart information.”

And you can learn about a major “credible and actionable alternative” right now. Small lifestyle changes can help you beat the odds and enjoy better heart health.

Antioxidants are your first step to protecting – or even restoring – your heart health. Leading doctors are proclaiming the power of antioxidants and there are dozens of studies that prove they promote good heart health. One landmark study even shows that a specific antioxidant may reverse one of the most lethal forms of heart disease.

What Are Antioxidants?

Antioxidants are powerful tools that fight heart disease. But to understand why you need them, you have to understand what oxidation means. It is a natural process which occurs during normal cell function.

Cells are damaged during oxidation and turn into free radicals. That starts a chain reaction which harms more cells and ends in disease. Those free radicals can lead to heart disease. Antioxidants fight free radicals.

“Studies prove antioxidants neutralize free radicals,” says Dr. A. J. Matthews. He specializes in damage caused by oxidation and runs a surgery in California.

A major study recently reviewed antioxidant levels in 100 foods. The study was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Berries were found to contain the most antioxidants. The best berries were blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, raspberries, and strawberries. In fact, blueberries beat out 39 other fruits and veggies in the antioxidant ratings. The study stated that just one cup of berries provides all the antioxidants you need to fight heart disease.

“Oxidation produces free radicals. These are unstable molecules that bind to healthy cells,” says Dr Al Sears. This damages “their delicate machinery, even killing them.” He notes that our bodies make our own antioxidants and also consume external antioxidants. This is how our bodies protect us from free radical damage.

However, we produce fewer antioxidants as we age. “This speeds cell death and facilitates aging,” says Dr. Sears. That’s why it’s so important to consume the antioxidants we need.

We’re going to review five antioxidants. These five antioxidants promote good heart health. The first on the list is Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10).

Antioxidant #1: CoQ10

We produce CoQ10 naturally and cannot survive without it. That’s because it creates energy which our cells use to exist.

Studies have shown that CoQ10 is an effective defense against congestive heart failure (CHF). CHF can be a lethal form of heart disease. Your heart fails to pump enough blood to meet your needs and this leads to fluid congestion. That can shut down your vital organs.

According to Dr. Sears, 20 percent of people with CHF die within one year. But there is good news: recent research says CoQ10 may reverse CHF.

Researchers gave 580 mg of ubiquinol CoQ10 to seven CHF patients. All were expected to die within 12 months. After the study, six of the seven patients lived. The one patient who died stopped taking CoQ10 during the tests.

“Taking this simple nutrient might make this deadly form of heart disease a thing of the past,” says Dr. Sears.

According to Dr. Sears, C0Q10 also successfully treats:

• heart disease
• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol

It’s not difficult to make CoQ10 a part of your daily diet. A great source of CoQ10 is organ meats from grass-fed animals. If you take CoQ10 in supplement form, Dr. Sears recommends 30 mg a day.

Antioxidant #2: Resveratrol

Resveratrol is a plant enzyme. Studies show that it thins blood, which reduces the risk of heart attack. Research also shows that it is an anti-inflammatory.

A British study revealed its second powerful heart benefit. “Resveratrol possess[es] anti-inflammatory properties,” confirms study author Dr. Mark Birrell.

Dr. Birrell is a lead researcher at Imperial College, London. He says that resveratrol will lead to “new therapies for the treatment of chronic inflammation.”

Inflammation is becoming a hot topic with visionary doctors who believe treating it may help us defeat heart disease.

“Inflammation is not a fancy medical term,” says Dr. Dwight Lundell. “It is just as you think… swelling, redness, and pain produced… as a reaction to injury.”

Dr. Lundell has performed over 5,000 heart surgeries. He became convinced of one thing during his 25 years as a cardiac surgeon: inflammation is the cause of heart disease.

“There was more to inflammation than suspected. It wasn’t just a side effect. It was the culprit; the cause of cardiac arrest.”

The good news, according to Dr. Lundell, is that “inflammation is easily treated without medication.”

Treating inflammation is all about simple lifestyle changes and eating the right foods to “cool the fire.” Studies show that resveratrol will help you do just that. And the best part is that it’s easy to find. Resveratrol is naturally abundant in grapes and berries.

Antioxidant #3: Pterostilbene

Pterostilbene is another powerful antioxidant. It is much like resveratrol. But tests show it works even better! That’s because it’s easier to absorb and stays in your body longer.

The study shows it balances cholesterol levels. In fact, it beat out all other antioxidants. It works in the same way as man-made drugs… but the study shows it actually works even better!

It lowers your bad cholesterol (LDL) and raises your good cholesterol (HDL).
“A low ratio [means] reduced heart disease,” says study author Agnes Rimando.
That means it’s easy to properly balance your cholesterol ratio today. That’s because pterestilbene is found in simple foods like blueberries and grapes.

Antioxidant #4: Potassium

Potassium is great for your heart: it reduces the risk of stroke and heart attack.

Studies show that potassium lowers blood pressure. In fact, researchers found that 800 mgs of potassium “significantly” lowered blood pressure.

Another study confirms this, further linking potassium to low blood pressure. The study authors concluded that potassium-rich diets equal lower blood pressure. They noted that low potassium diets equaled higher blood pressure. It’s a simple equation and one that will help you strengthen your heart health.

While potassium is great for heart health, doctors do urge caution about the amount you consume.

“Anyone who has kidney disease needs to be especially cautious,” says THB panel expert Dr. Joseph McCaffrey. He says they “shouldn’t add potassium to their diet without talking to their doctor.”

Potassium is found in many foods. Potassium rich foods include:

• bananas
• strawberries
• tomatoes
• grapefruit
• grass-fed beef
• wild-caught fish

Antioxidant #5: Lycopene

Lycopene is another antioxidant that will help your heart. It “protects heart health by neutralizing cholesterol oxidation,” says Dr. Sears. Specifically, it stops the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol and fights free radical damage. Lycopene is also easily absorbed.

“I recommend taking 20 mg of lycopene a day,” says Dr. Sears.

Again, that’s easy to do. You can find it in many food sources. Foods rich in lycopene include:

• tomatoes
• guava
• peppers
• watermelon
• pink grapefruit

That’s five different antioxidants that will strengthen your heart health. They all work differently but each will benefit your cardiac system. You can get them from different sources but one thing is clear: berries are a safe bet for essential antioxidants. Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries… start adding them to your breakfast today!

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The Age-Defying Power of Antioxidants – Part One

Berries Boost Brain Power

Our mental functions slow down as we age. Our focus weakens with each passing year. We lose memory clarity. That’s because oxidative stress ravages our mental systems across the decades. And our brains lose nutrients for prime function.

But antioxidants can help reverse this damage. The right combination of foods can replace the nutrients we lose. They can even prevent memory loss.

THB panel expert Dr. Al Sears says, “Feed your brain [what] it needs. You can maintain and even improve your brain function… no matter how old you are.”

You can find antioxidants in everyday food. Simple store-bought berries are a rich source. Studies show that blueberries “increase health and enhance cognitive function in aging.”

The first step to restoring brain power is simple. It can be as easy as adding fresh blueberries to your yogurt at breakfast time.

How Our Brains Age

Most experts agree about the cause of mental decline. Decline is caused by oxidative stress or free radical damage to the brain.

“There is strong evidence that oxidative stress participates in neurodegenerative diseases,” says Dr. M. M. Rahman, a researcher for Niigata University in Japan.

According to Dr. James A. Joseph, another expert on cognitive decline, “Ample research indicates that age-related neuronal decrements are the result of oxidative stress.”

Dr. Joseph has published several papers on cognitive decline. He also runs a research lab at Tufts University. "Oxidative stress and inflammation are the evil twins of brain aging," he says.

In 1999, Dr. Joseph published a landmark study on the subject in the Journal of Neuroscience. His study revealed that blueberries reversed mental aging. Dr. Joseph took four groups of rats and fed them a normal diet. Three of the groups were given strawberry, spinach, or blueberry extracts. Over the course of 18 weeks, he tested the rats for coordination and mental functioning.

The blueberry group performed best on the coordination tests. This group also showed improved neuron functioning. His research led him to nickname blueberries “brainberries.” He has since released several other studies on the subject.

The Science behind “Brainberries”

“Our previous study [showed] that rats given high antioxidant[s] retarded declines in cognitive function,” says Dr. Joseph.

Blueberries produce antioxidant effects. These limit cellular damage created by free radicals of oxygen. They block pathways by which oxidative stress damages cells.

Blueberries also function as anti-inflammatory agents to protect brain integrity.

Subsequent studies also discussed a further benefit of blueberries. They are rich in phytochemicals. 

“Antioxidant-rich foods reverse the course of [mental] aging,” says Dr. Joseph. They work on a molecular level. They signal pathways to turn vital genes on or off in brain cells. This makes brain cells respond to messages from other cells. They can also promote the growth of new nerve cells.

His findings are supported by several other independent studies. Dr. M. A. Papandreou conducted research for the University of Patras, Greece that examined the effect of blueberries on mental performance. His findings also “stress the critical impact of blueberries on brain function.”

Packing a Punch

It’s clear that blueberries are good for you. But they can be even better.

The trick is to eat them with certain foods.

These foods should be rich in fats. At the top of the list are walnuts and avocado. Walnuts are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. That makes blueberries and walnuts a powerful combination. These foods promote youthful flexibility in brain cell membranes.

Brain cell membrane flexibility is more important than it sounds. You see, every thought begins with a transaction across a brain cell membrane. These membranes are host to a wide array of receptors, which are the gateways to nerve cells.

However, receptors become less effective over time. Our membranes become rigid as we age. That’s why it’s important to eat foods that promote membrane flexibility.

"Polyphenols in berries and fatty acids in walnuts fluidize the cell membrane," says Dr. Joseph. "They make it responsive to a wide array of signals." This increases the efficiency of those transactions.

Walnuts have another good effect on brain health. They also block disease-causing inflammation in our cells. Recent research links inflammation to Alzheimer’s disease, so reducing inflammation is important to promote better mental function. It might even reverse Alzheimer’s disease.

"All this is reversible," says Dr. Joseph. “Adding walnuts and berries to the diet could delay the onset of the diseases of aging.”

Scheduling Your Brain Fuel

According to Elizabeth Somer, M.A., a registered dietitian with over 25 years of experience, breakfast is essential for a fast brain.

“Every food you choose is an opportunity to either nourish or neglect your health,” she says. “Choose health and you will be amazed how your body will repay you.”

She says that people who eat breakfast are more mentally alert. They remember more, react quicker, and are more creative. This first meal delivers fuel to the brain after fasting all night.

She also recommends a light lunch rich in protein, fruit and veggies. She advises stocking up on five to nine servings of fruits and veggies. That’s because they’re packed with antioxidants.

But you can also super-charge your brain by eating delicious snacks during the day. You can build these snacks around breakfast and lunch. A great way to go is to combine antioxidant-rich foods.

Combo Snacks Deliver Super Benefits

Dr. Joseph says there are many foods which help improve brain function. When combined they deliver a super antioxidant punch. "The effects of natural combinations such as walnuts and blueberries are powerful," he says.

These “trail-mix” combinations are easy and convenient. You can pack them and take them with you. So even on busy days you can get those all-important antioxidants.

Try a handful of blackberries and mix them with almonds. Wash them down with green tea. All three are packed with antioxidants.

Or, switch it up and go for strawberries and pecans. These are both rich in antioxidants. The best thing is antioxidants don’t just boost brain power. They promote overall good health.

To your health,

Ian Robinson,
Managing Editor, Total Health Breakthroughs

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Be Heart Smart: Lower Your Blood Pressure Today!

Taking pills may help to lower your blood pressure…

But they could also wind up giving you cancer. That’s according to a study published this month in the medical journal Lancet Oncology.

The study authors have linked angiotensin-receptor blockers, or ARBs, and cancer. Unsuspecting millions take these drugs to lower blood pressure and manage heart conditions.

“Millions of people are on these drugs and it can cause a lot of excess cancer worldwide,” Dr. Ilke Sipahi told the Washington Post. Dr. Sipahi is the lead author of the study.

Dr. Sipahi estimated that one person in every 105 taking the medications will get cancer.

It’s a shocking statistic and reinforces the urgent need to find healthy, natural ways to lower your blood pressure. Fortunately THB medical expert Dr. Joseph F. McCaffrey has safe and simple solutions to help you do just that.

Dangers of Taking Drugs

The link to cancer is just the most recent reason to be wary of drugs that lower blood pressure. These types of drugs will negatively impact your health in other ways. According to Dr. McCaffrey, common side effects include dizziness, electrolyte imbalance, impotence, and fatigue.

The good news is that drugs are not the only solution. You can lower your blood pressure with modest changes in your diet and lifestyle.

“The only side effect of this approach is increased overall health,” says Dr. McCaffrey.

Studies also support lifestyle changes as the best option for lowering blood pressure. A study published in 2006 revealed that diet, exercise, and relaxation were effective options for lowering blood pressure.

Tools to Lower Blood Pressure

Diet, exercise, and relaxation are powerful tools to help you balance your blood pressure. Let’s take a moment to see how those three options benefit your health.

Diet: Sodium is often blamed for high blood pressure.  But according to hypertension expert Dr. Michael Alderman, studies do not conclusively support low-salt diets. Dr. Alderman is an expert at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY. According to him, just lowering your salt intake may not lower your blood pressure.

What’s really important is the ratio of sodium to potassium that you consume. That’s because people with hypertension are often lacking in potassium.

“I’ve read recommendations suggesting that we should have five times more potassium than sodium in our diet,” says Dr. McCaffrey. “Someone eating a diet of processed and prepared foods easily reverses that ratio. They commonly take in two times more sodium than potassium. Clearly, most people need more potassium.”

When you think about potassium, you’ll often reach for a banana. Bananas contain a high quotient of potassium. However, they’re also high glycemic foods… and that means they will spike your blood sugar levels. That’s something you want to avoid because high blood sugar triggers insulin release and insulin builds body fat.

Instead, Dr. McCaffrey recommends tomato juice. One cup of tomato juice has the same 500 mg of potassium as a banana. And tomatoes are also rich in lycopenes – which promote better prostate health.

“If you add some potassium chloride salt substitute for taste, you’ll increase your potassium intake even more,” says Dr. McCaffrey. “Each ¼ teaspoon adds another 650 mg of potassium.”

Exercise: People who exercise enjoy many health benefits. You can expect weight loss, more energy, and an improved range of movement. However, exercise also reduces your blood pressure.

According to Dr. McCaffrey, researchers reviewed over 100 studies on the effect of cardiovascular exercise on blood pressure. The studies showed that regular cardio – including walking – lowered diastolic and systolic blood pressure by 5 mmHg.

“A healthy diet and an exercise program should be the foundation of your healthy blood pressure program,” says Dr. McCaffrey.

Relaxation: Relaxation and meditation can also lower your blood pressure. Dr. Herbert Benson studied the physical effects of meditation. He noted that meditation could decrease blood pressure.

“He was the first person to measure and report on the actual physiology of meditation,” says Dr. McCaffrey. “His initial studies were in the early 1970s. Since then, the results he observed have been confirmed and expanded hundreds of times.”

Meditation is a natural answer to lowering blood pressure. It also has many other stress-related benefits.

But diet, exercise, supplements, and meditation are effective solutions for controlling blood pressure naturally. All these recommendations won’t just lower your blood pressure. They will work together to improve your overall health.

[Ed. Note: Joseph F. McCaffrey, MD, FACS is a board-certified surgeon with extensive experience in alternative medicine, including certification as a HeartMath Trainer. His areas of expertise include mind-body interaction and cognitive restructuring. Dr. McCaffrey strives to help people attain their optimum level of vitality through attention to all aspects of wellness. For more information, click here.]