Jennifer Wider graduated from Princeton University in 1994 with B.A. in the humanities. She received her medical degree from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in 1999. During medical school, she interned at a CBS local news affiliate and 20/20 in New York City. Jennifer worked as a senior editor at Medscape/CBS HealthWatch out of medical school. She has had many publications in newspapers, magazines and websites across the country and has been a guest on CBS News, National Public Radio and various cable channels. Jennifer was formerly the managing editor of the health channel at iVillage.com and currently reports on health and medical issues for the Society for Women's Health Research. As well, she is co-author of The Savvy Woman Patient.

Jennifer Wider--

Are you exhausted? Do you have pain all over but can’t figure out what’s wrong? If so, you may be suffering from fibromyalgia, a chronic condition that causes exhaustion, sleep disturbances and diffuse pain in your muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Fibromyalgia patients experience a range of symptoms of varying intensities that increase and decrease over time and often resemble other conditions. For years, because of their complex nature and a lack of research on the condition, many doctors misdiagnosed fibromyalgia symptoms or dismissed them as being in the patient’s head. Even today, it is estimated to take an average of five years for a fibromyalgia patient to get an accurate diagnosis. There is no laboratory test available to diagnose fibromyalgia. Doctors must rely on patient histories, self-reported symptoms, a physical examination and an accurate manual tender point examination. To receive a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, a patient must experience widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body for a minimum duration of three months and experience tenderness or pain in at least 11 of the 18 specified tender points when pressure is applied. Fibromyalgia may affect as much as 3-6 percent of the U.S. population. It is more common in women than in men, but the reasons for this difference are unclear. “There are various theories, depending on which research you're looking at, but nothing absolutely definitive has come forward yet,” says Elisabeth Deffner, executive editor of Fibromyalgia AWARE, a publication of the National Fibromyalgia Association in Anaheim, Calif. Researchers are examining hormones, immune system differences, brain chemistry and genetics, among other areas, to shed light on the sex differences. Although the cause of fibromyalgia is currently unknown, many researchers hypothesize that the symptoms result from “central sensitization.” According to this idea, sufferers of fibromyalgia have a heightened sensitivity in the brain to pain signals and as a result, have a lower pain threshold.  As time goes on, the brain's pain receptors become conditioned to remember pain and potentially overreact to the brain's chemical signals or neurotransmitters. In other word, people with fibromyalgia may experience pain in stronger ways than others who don't have the condition. Aside from predominantly affecting women, there are several risk factors for fibromyalgia: Age: the condition usually occurs in people between the ages of 20-60 years, although cases have been reported in children and elderly people.  Some research studies have noted peaks around age 35. Family History: studies have shown that having a relative with fibromyalgia may put you at higher risk for developing the disorder. Other Rheumatic Diseases: a person who has other rheumatic diseases including rheumatoid arthritis and lupus may be more likely to develop fibromyalgia than those who do not have a rheumatic disease. Stress: although controversial, certain studies suggest that people who have had difficult or stressful past experiences may be at risk of developing fibromyalgia.  Because the causes of fibromyalgia are not clear and no cure exists, the goal of treating fibromyalgia is to control symptoms and minimize discomfort. “Practitioners must diagnose and treat co-morbidities of fibromyalgia,” said Shanda Shribbs, Executive Director of the National Fibromyalgia Research Association in Salem, Ore. “Untreated restless legs, sleep apnea and upper airway resistance syndrome can have a dramatic impact on sleep and fatigue. Other conditions such as cervical cord compression, irritable bowel syndrome and myofascial pain syndrome are frequent co-morbidities which should be considered and treated when they are present.” Common medications for treating fibromyalgia pain include analgesics (including NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), muscle relaxants and anti-seizure drugs. Medications to ease sleep disturbances include: anti-depressants and short-term use of sleeping pills. Some doctors recommend combining medication with therapy to help patients learn to techniques to cope with stress, which can exacerbate or trigger pain symptoms. Some patients have found relief through alternative treatments including: acupuncture and massage therapy. May 12 is Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, a national health observance to raise awareness about the condition. For more information about fibromyalgia, you can contact: National Fibromyalgia Research Association Web site: http://www.nfra.net/ Phone: 503-315-7257 National Fibromyalgia Association Web site: http://www.fmaware.org/ Phone: 714-921-0150 On May 1, the Society for Women’s Health Research hosted a live online moderated discussion with Patrick B. Wood, M.D., a leading researcher working to improve understanding and treatment of fibromyalgia. You can view the transcript of this discussion in the archives: http://live.womenshealthresearch.org/ More From Jennifer Wider-- National Women's Health Week Urges Women To Take Charge of Their Health Organ Donation: A Crisis Among Minorities

Certified nutritionist and New York Times best-selling author Brenda Watson is among today’s leading authorities on natural digestive care, optimum nutrition, and internal cleansing and detoxification. A PBS mainstay and national media presence, Brenda is dedicated to helping people everywhere achieve vibrant, lasting health. The Detox Strategy: Vibrant Health in 5 Easy Steps has just been released --March, 2008.

Brenda Watson--

Ah, summer. Time to get outdoors and melt away the winter chill. Time to break out the flip-flops and hit the beach. To pack up the picnic basket and head to the park. Time to… to… ah… ah-CHOO! Uh-oh, not again. The dreaded summer cold. And just when you thought you had left behind the sniffling, sneezing, days of tissue-filled frustration. But not this year, no sir. This year you’re ready for those pesky germs and their penchant for runny noses.

Your secret: the power of probiotics.

Probiotics are the beneficial bacteria in your gut that keep harmful pathogens from moving in and making themselves at home. In fact, studies have shown that these microscopic organisms help maintain a healthy balance of good/neutral bacteria to harmful bacteria in the digestive tract (about 80/20, respectively). This is especially important when you consider that more than 70% of your immune system is located in your digestive tract, and when that favorable balance is upset, your health can suffer as a result.

In studies probiotics have been shown to enhance immune function and help prevent illness—especially during peak cold and flu seasons—but as powerful as they may be, factors such as diet, stress, and illness can diminish their numbers and disturb an otherwise healthy intestinal environment; repeated antibiotic use can also be detrimental. Although their intended purpose is to get rid of harmful bacteria, antibiotics typically wipe out existing good bacteria as well. This allows unhealthy bacteria to flourish in the gut and may lead to intestinal issues such as diarrhea and constipation. For this reason, it may be best to think twice before phoning the doctor at the first sign of a seasonal sniffle.

Multitasking Microflora
In addition to their role in boosting immunity, probiotics may offer a multitude of benefits for the whole body. Because of their prevalence in a healthy digestive tract, research indicates that they may help prevent Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Inflammatory Bowel Disease. For women, specific strains of microflora may help support vaginal and urinary tract health, thus preventing the discomfort of a yeast or urinary tract infection.

Infants and young children may also benefit from taking a daily probiotic supplement to help boost immunity and prevent recurring illness. Supplying additional good bacteria throughout the early years may also help prevent the onset of allergies in children and adolescents, since they have been shown to help support the intestinal lining by prohibiting allergens from entering the digestive tract.

Bring on the Bifido
Many of us are familiar nowadays with acidophilus, but in reality this strain of Lactobacilli—the most prevalent good bacteria in a healthy small intestine—is just one of many probiotic strains shown to boost immunity and support overall health. Look for a daily probiotic supplement that also includes a high Bifidobacteria count. Bifidobacteria are the most prevalent good bacteria in a healthy large intestine, and research has shown that a combination of both types of bacteria is most effective at supporting overall digestive and immune health.

Smooth Sailing
Similar to their winter siblings, many summer colds are caused by viruses and often produce unpleasant symptoms such as a sore throat, persistent cough, nasal congestion and sinus pressure, as well as the occasional headache or fever. The only difference this season is that you know what to do before the sniffling even starts: Stock up on probiotics and send your summer cold packing.

Do You Need Probiotics?

Drink Kefir For Better Immunity and Digestion

Banish The Burn of Stomach Acid

Sandeep Jauhar is a cardiologist and the director of the Heart Failure Program at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. He writes regularly for The New York Times and The New England Journal of Medicine. Intern: A Doctor's Initiation is his first book. Information about the book is available at www.sandeepjauhar.com.

Guest Blogger Sandeep Jauhar--

One of the reasons I’m fascinated by cardiology is that even though the heart appears to be a relatively straightforward pump, there are still many complex, mysterious diseases that can afflict it. One is Syndrome X, in which patients with seemingly normal coronary arteries experience classic angina. Another is the Brugada syndrome, in which young, seemingly healthy people experience sudden cardiac death.

The Brugada syndrome is especially fascinating. Caused by a genetic defect in heart cells, it is now believed to be responsible for as many as 12 percent of all sudden deaths and roughly 20 percent of deaths in patients with structurally normal hearts.

Most victims are men who die in their sleep. Once patients develop symptoms -- unexplained fainting is the most common -- there is a 50-50 chance they will die within 10 years if left untreated. Currently, the only effective treatment is an implantable defibrillator.

“The typical patient is 40 years old, in the best moment of his life, very active, very productive, with no previous history of anything, and all of a sudden one night he never wakes up,” said Dr. Ramon Brugada, who is director of molecular genetics at the Masonic Medical Research Laboratory in Utica, N.Y.

The number of diagnosed cases of Brugada syndrome has grown exponentially over the past decade. In Southeast Asia, where the disease is endemic, it is the most common cause of death of men under 40, after motor vehicle accidents. Recent data suggest that it affects 2 percent of the population in some areas. Although the disease usually strikes in early middle age, cases have been reported in babies only a few days old. Dr. Charles Antzelevitch, director of the Masonic laboratory, where much of the research on the syndrome has been done, estimated that one American in 5,000 might be at risk for sudden death from the disease.

The disease has a history steeped in mythology. In 1960, Dr. Gonzalo Aponte, a pathologist at the Naval Hospital in Guam, wrote a paper describing 11 cases of young Filipino men who had died in their sleep. The manner of their deaths was strangely similar. The victims moaned, gasped for breath and thrashed about violently. Then they died.

Aponte performed autopsies but found nothing to explain the deaths: no trauma, no drug overdose, no significant heart or internal-organ abnormalities. He soon learned that sudden death of apparently healthy men was not uncommon in the Philippines.
Villagers called it bangungot, the Tagalog word for nightmares. The syndrome was described in a Philippine medical journal as far back as 1917. “Such ‘deadly dreams’ are well known among the lay people, many of whom view them with sullen respect, if not frank terror,” Dr. Aponte wrote.

Bangungot, though known by different names, is widespread throughout Southeast Asia. In Thailand it is called lai-tai and is estimated to kill one of every 2,500 young men annually in some areas. “Widow ghosts” take men away in the dead of night, according to local legends, and the men have been known to disguise themselves as women at bedtime to protect themselves.

In Japan the syndrome is called pok-kuri. In 1982 Japanese doctors wrote in the journal Lancet that every year several hundred men, apparently healthy, had been found dead in bed in Tokyo.

In the late 1970's, the disease first came to the attention of public health authorities in the United States. In December 1981, the Centers for Disease Control reported 38 cases of unexplained sudden death in 11 states among Southeast Asian immigrants, including 25 among the Hmong, from the Laotian highlands. Thirty-seven victims were men, and all apparently died of cardiac arrest while sleeping. “The deaths reported here share several features that suggest they may constitute a distinct syndrome,” the report said. It was named sudden unexplained death syndrome, or SUDS, and was quickly recognized as a leading cause of death among young men from Southeast Asia.

In 1986 the first case of SUDS—though it wasn’t recognized as such at the time—was seen in Europe by a cardiologist named Pedro Brugada, an arrhythmia specialist working in The Netherlands. When Dr. Brugada examined his patient’s E.K.G., he saw a pattern that he had never seen before. It was very unusual, shaped almost like a shark’s fin.

In 1992, after collecting 8 of these unusual E.K.G.’s, Dr. Brugada and his younger brother Josep published their results in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. They called the condition “a new clinical entity.” Later, it was dubbed the “Brugada syndrome.” It and SUDS were soon shown to be the same disease.

In the late 1990's an international consortium of scientists led by Dr. Antzelevitch and the Brugada brothers set out to discover the genetic basis of the disease. The scientists identified patients in three families and isolated DNA from their white blood cells. Then they sequenced the DNA, focusing on three genes that are known to influence the electrical activity of the heart.

They found a mutation in one of these genes (called SCN5a), which controls the flow of sodium ions into heart cells. When the gene was sequenced in 200 control patients, none had the mutation.

On the basis of these and other observations, the scientists concluded that a “loss-of-function” mutation in the SCN5a gene was responsible for the deadly arrhythmias in the Brugada syndrome. SCN5a mutations have now been found in other sudden-death syndromes, including sudden infant death, or SIDS.

Unlike most heart rhythm disorders, those that accompany Brugada are set off by a slow heartbeat, explaining why the deaths usually occur at night. Whether physical activity is beneficial, harmful or neither remains unknown.

Now, patients receive implantable defibrillators, the only effective treatment. Sewn under the skin of the upper chest with wires passing through veins directly into the heart, defibrillators monitor the heartbeat and automatically apply an electrical shock if it degenerates into something dangerous.

Experts say that most cases of Brugada go undiagnosed. “We're not doing enough to uncover these arrhythmias at an early age,” Dr. Antzelevitch said. In Japan, he added, children typically have three EKG's by age 18. In Italy EKG screening is mandatory for all newborns and for children playing competitive sports.

In the United States, he said, the screening for the Brugada syndrome and other heart diseases should be performed by the early teenage years. “The sooner you get it, the more likely you are to catch something before it becomes a problem.”

More From Sandeep Jauhar:

A Doctor's House Call Leaves a Lasting Impression

A Doctor Shortage in the United States?

Certified nutritionist and New York Times best-selling author Brenda Watson is among today’s leading authorities on natural digestive care, optimum nutrition, and internal cleansing and detoxification. A PBS mainstay and national media presence, Brenda is dedicated to helping people everywhere achieve vibrant, lasting health. The Detox Strategy: Vibrant Health in 5 Easy Steps has just been released --March, 2008.

Brenda Watson--

Chances are when you hear the words “spring cleaning” you think about things like getting rid of the clutter in your closets or finally getting to those unpacked boxes in the garage. But there’s another side of spring cleaning that’s just as important, and it has to do with tidying up your internal environment. Adopting a detox-friendly lifestyle can make all the difference when it comes to looking and feeling your best every day, and it includes choosing the right internal cleansing formula that best suits your individual needs.

Cleansing 101

First-time cleansers should look for a detoxification formula that incorporates whole herbs rather than concentrated herbal extracts, as they typically have a milder effect on the body. This type of cleanse will often include both a morning and an evening formula and may last up to two weeks.

Ingredients such as parsley leaf, artichoke leaf, blessed thistle and turmeric root support and stimulate the organs and organ systems used to funnel health-threatening toxins out of the body, specifically the lungs, liver, lymphatic system, kidneys, skin, blood and bowel (or colon). Herbs such as buckthorn bark and rhubarb root may also be included to help stimulate elimination through the bowel, and ginger root, peppermint and cumin seed may be present to assist with healthy digestion. The enzyme cellulase may also be added to help break down the cell wall of the whole herbs in the formulation.

When Time is of the Essence

Nowadays many of us lead hectic lifestyles that keep us constantly on the go. Such individuals may prefer a more rapid cleanse, often a week-long program designed for maximum efficiency. Ingredients such as amino acids (protein building blocks that help the body regenerate tissue) and milk thistle may be added to support healthy liver function, as the liver is often considered the primary detoxification organ.

Additional elements of a rapid detoxification program may include a soluble fiber source, such as acacia, that works to absorb toxins in the digestive tract and eliminate them through the bowel. This type of cleanse may also contain magnesium hydroxide, a mineral that helps hydrate the bowel, as well as herbs such as marshmallow root and slippery elm, which help protect the large intestine from irritation.

Experience Counts

Experienced cleansers looking for a deeper, more prolonged detoxification experience may benefit from a month-long program that cleanses the colon and simultaneously supports the cleansing organs and organ systems. In these formulas, herbs to be taken at the beginning of the day should include dandelion root (a diuretic), milk thistle seed (for liver support) and turmeric root (a powerful antioxidant). In the evening, herbal extracts including cape aloe and rhubarb root are suitable for stimulating healthy bowel function.

Another alternative for those who adhere to ‘green living’ principles is a cleanse that utilizes a blend of organically grown herbs and fiber. This type of detoxification program may include detoxification herbs such as burdock root, garlic bulb and yellow dock, which contains natural chemicals that help destroy harmful bacteria and act as antioxidants. It may also include an organic fiber source to help speed toxins out of the digestive tract. Marshmallow root is also important to stimulate peristalsis (the natural muscle contractions that move food through the intestines).

A Cleaner, Healthier You

Though it may be a while before you get around to dusting the knick-knacks or tossing out old magazines, spring is the perfect time to begin cleaning up the way you live from the inside out. Talk to your natural health practitioner about choosing the right cleansing formula for your lifestyle, and start reaping the benefits of a cleaner, healthier you.

More From Brenda Watson:

A Healthier Diet, A Healthier You

Are Toxins Taking A Toll On Your Health?

Certified nutritionist and New York Times best-selling author Brenda Watson is among today’s leading authorities on natural digestive care, optimum nutrition, and internal cleansing and detoxification. A PBS mainstay and national media presence, Brenda is dedicated to helping people everywhere achieve vibrant, lasting health. The Detox Strategy: Vibrant Health in 5 Easy Steps has just been released --March, 2008.

Brenda Watson--

Better nutrition is the first step toward improving your overall health, and it begins with eating fresh, whole foods—foods in their natural state that have not been commercially processed. This may sound simple, but making healthy choices has become increasingly more difficult in today’s fast-food world. Start by adding more high-fiber fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds to your diet, and always pay attention to how your food is prepared.

Plan Ahead

Meal planning and time management are key components of adopting healthier eating habits. It helps to first review your lifestyle and determine how you can integrate more healthy foods into your daily meals. Try to plan meals for one week prior to visiting the market, and when possible, plan lunches for you and your family ahead of time. Ideally, meal planning for the coming week should be done on the weekend or on a day off. Selections should be written down for better organization and planning, and grocery shopping should be a part of your weekly routine.

Get into the habit of washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly before storing them to save time during the week, and if your weekly meal plan includes dining out, select only those restaurants that offer healthy options. Discarding unhealthy foods from your refrigerator and pantry is also an important step toward following a healthier diet. Eliminate sugary foods and beverages, as well as heavily processed snacks and pre-packaged meals.

Go Organic

Choose fresh, whole foods as often as possible, as they have not undergone any harsh procedures meant to extend their shelf life or alter their flavor or appearance. Such food processing techniques involve the application of heat, which destroys beneficial digestive enzymes, as well as much-needed vitamins and minerals.

Organically grown fruits and vegetables are recommended when making the transition from processed foods to whole foods. Such foods have not been treated with harmful pesticides or herbicides which may lead to poor health if allowed to accumulate in the body. Be sure to wash organic produce in either hydrogen peroxide or a special vegetable wash solution to avoid parasites. Organic meat and dairy products are also recommended, since many farm animals today are treated with antibiotics and hormones to accelerate the growth process.

When choosing packaged grains, it is best to select those that are not refined. Choose brown rice over white rice, and try adding some less familiar but highly nourishing whole grains such as millet, buckwheat, teff, quinoa, amaranth, spelt, bulgur wheat and barley. Many of these are available in bulk form at your local supermarket or natural food stores. Opt for organic grains whenever possible.

Read Labels

Finally, be sure to read labels and avoid foods that contain artificial sweeteners, chemical preservatives, and unhealthy fats such as partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. This manmade oil, found in commercial peanut butter, margarine and most baked goods, has been associated with numerous health problems. A good thing to keep in mind when reviewing your food labels is that if you can’t pronounce it, you probably don’t need it. In other words, the simpler the better—and better for you.

Easy Does It

When it comes to making better choices about what you eat and drink, there’s no time like the present, but that doesn’t mean you have to completely alter your way of life starting today. Begin gradually by replacing one or two unhealthy habits each week with smarter, healthier choices, and pretty soon you’ll notice the difference in the way you look and feel.

Juice Your Way to Optimum Health

Do You Need Probiotics?

Are Toxins Taking a Toll on Your Health?

Guest Blogger Rocky Lang--

It was six and a half years ago when my ex-wife called me from a summer trip with our daughters Nikki and Erica.  She told me that Nikki, who was ten at the time, was rushed to the hospital and had been diagnosed with type-one diabetes. My ex is a doctor, calm and cool, but I heard panic in her voice. She insisted I get on a plane immediately and indicated Nikki’s blood sugars were so high that her life was in danger.

Nikki is now 16 and a half and is an amazing person, singer and musician with a bright future. She sang at The Monterey Jazz Festival last year and has a CD out called Time Has Stopped, which is available on Itunes. Through Nikki’s determination to not let her disease stand in the way of her dreams, she inspired me to get deeply involved in creating products and writing books that would empower children living with diabetes.

I am a film producer, writer and director. Never in a million years did I ever think I would be creating lunch boxes, backpacks, and purses that were specially designed for kids with diabetes. I wanted them to have functional and cool accessories that didn’t have a medical look to them. The Courage Bag is one such item named for the courage I see in my daughter. Then, the other shoe dropped, and my ex-wife Jeannie had a daughter with her new husband named Lara. Lara was diagnosed with diabetes at 18 months old. To see a toddler need to have shots and finger pokes multiple times a day is heart breaking. The psycho-social toll is huge because a child doesn't understand why her mother and father are hurting her with shots and needles.

I am not a clinician, I am not a researcher, and I don’t have millions of dollars, so I wrote a children’s book for Lara called LARA TAKES CHARGE. It is an empowering simple book that lets kids know that they are as normal and as capable as anyone else as long as they manage their blood sugars. I am happy to say that book is in the hands over of 15,000 families, hospitals and libraries.

Recently the American Diabetes Association approached me. They wanted to honor me as a “Father of the Year." At first I declined because there are many other fathers much more deserving than I am and I’ve never been an award oriented guy anyway. I do what I do because I love my kids and want to help other families as well. After repeated attempts by the ADA, which I find to have a wonderful bunch of people working for them and to be a worthwhile organization, I accepted the honor. I did so in the hopes that I can inspire other fathers to get engaged in their children’s lives and to see that even with diabetes and other chronic diseases, the beacon of hope remains bright as long as we empower our children to be strong and pursue their dreams.

Related: Confessions of Emergency Room Doctors

              Are You Insulin Resistant?

              The Real Cure For Type 2 Diabetes

Dr. Carolyn Dean is Medical Director of VidaCosta Spa el Puente, President of VidaCosta Academy and Wellness Laboratory, a Medical Doctor and Naturopathic Doctor, author and coauthor of 13 print books and 2 eBooks. Proficient in both conventional and alternative medicine Dr. Dean offers Customized Consultations for Health by Phone. Her website is www.carolyndean.com.

Guest Blogger Carolyn Dean--

When a new ‘epidemic’ emerges or the flu season seems out of control, people can have two distinct reactions. They will either focus on killing the germs because they lack confidence in their body’s ability to protect them or try harder to keep their body healthy so it can do its job to keep us healthy. It’s the age-old dichotomy of blaming the germ versus blaming the toxic tissue. Our toxic bodies can be so burdened from within that they can’t mount a defense against external foreign invaders. And to make things more complex, antibiotic overuse in both humans and animals has led to superbugs that take every advantage of our weakened tissues.

Good soil in the human body means pristine flesh with an unburdened immune system. Can we say that describes the average body today? Not by a long shot can anyone claim uncontaminated flesh.

Mining for heavy metals and analyzing chemicals in human tissue unearths dozens if not hundreds of different chemicals. In the past two decades, every time a body of water is measured for toxins, researchers are shocked at the number of drugs and chemicals represented. Even high school kids doing science projects can find chemicals in their tap water. The most recent report on drugged drinking water has finally broken through the glass ceiling of concern. A March 9, 2008 Associated Press headline read, “AP Probe Found Drugs in Drinking Water."

Springs, wells, and watershed areas are also at risk making every drop of water you drink potentially contaminated with chemicals. It’s nice to hear that the levels for each drug are very low, but what of the witches brew when a hundred drugs can add up to a hefty dose of a new superdrug.

The immune system is vigilant against foreign chemicals and microbial invasion, but when overloaded it produces inflammatory products that can add to the problem. A mechanical reaction to toxins is the simple solution of diluting the chemicals with accumulated fluid producing swelling and edema. Storage of toxins in fatty tissue is another solution. However, if you are toxic and try to lose weight, when fat breaks down and releases stored chemicals into the blood stream you can feel nauseous, weak, and just plain toxic and your diet goes out the window. 

Why has it taken so long to warn the public of the danger lurking in our water supply? The burden of guilt might lie at the feet of the medical industry whose self-imposed mandate is to diagnose disease and treat symptoms with drugs. Since there cannot be a drug solution for a drug problem, we won’t find the answer coming from pharmaceutical industry or the medical establishment.

Since there is no drug solution to chemicals building up in our bodies from food, water, and even air, we are on our own. My recommendations include an organic diet, organic, food-based supplements, angstrom sized minerals, mercury-free fish oils, a gentle exercise program, saunas, clay baths, and magnesium oil baths. To clean up the environment “Just say no to chemicals.” You can find simple and safe advice and non-drug solutions for over 134 illnesses in my new eBook, VidaCosta Good Health Encyclopaedia available at www.hallmarkebooks.com.

More From Carolyn Dean:
A Life Saving Mineral--Magnesium

Drug Cocktails Possibly Lead To Death

Franklin House, M.D., a co-author of The 30-Day Diabetes Miracle, has served as President and Chairman of the Board of Lifestyle Center of America. In 1981, he was a founding member, and later served as chairman, of Canvasback Missions, Inc., In 1978, he co-founded Metroplex Hospital in Killeen, Texas, and served as its chief of staff for multiple terms. In 1972, he co-founded a long-term nursing care company, House/Cross Associates.

Dr. House has served as chief of staff for three years at Big Bend Regional Medical Center Hospital in Alpine, Texas and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army for two years as Captain Medical Officer in 1965. In 1965, he founded House Medical Clinic, which grew to an 11-physician multispecialty medical clinic, in Killeen, Texas. For 30 years he served as the Federal Aviation Administration Medical Examiner.

Guest Blogger Franklin House--

Insulin Resistance, I predict will be receiving increasing attention in health related websites from now on. It has been a topic of increasing interest in research and medical circles for the past twenty years. What we call Insulin Resistance (IR) here is known as Syndrome X and Metabolic Syndrome in other venues. It is a topic with wide ramifications concerning health and thus its discussion here.

Insulin is a word we usually associate with Diabetes. Insulin is a hormone produced by a small organ tucked behind the stomach called the pancreas. Insulin is vital to life and is responsible for ushering food energy (glucose) into cells.

As glucose enters the blood stream from the digestive tract the pancreas perceives both the quantity of energy in the food and the speed with which it is accumulating in the blood. Specialized cells in the pancreas (beta cells) respond by supplying an appropriate quantity of insulin for the body’s cells to take in the energy and do their work.

In the development of Insulin Resistance two variables are at play…speed and quantity.

First speed: Certain foods when eaten convert to sugar rapidly and can be measured as blood sugar almost instantly; others do so more slowly. Foods that are low in fiber (highly processed items such as sugar and white flour in all its manifestations) trigger overproduction of insulin (known as hyperinsulinemia).

Second quantity: If the quantity of energy (calories) contained in a meal exceeds the body’s energy demand it is stored as fat.

Insulin resistance occurs when our cells repeatedly encounter the effects of excessive insulin…they become resistant. Insulin is a growth hormone and in excess causes weight gain. Other not so delightful effects of insulin excess include “large blood vessel damage;" thus the increased probability of strokes and heart attacks in those with insulin resistance especially diabetes sufferers. IR is associated with many other conditions such as certain cancers, certain cases of infertility, high blood pressure and even Alzheimer’s disease

Type 2 Diabetes is caused by insulin resistance. The sequence is as follows. First our food and activity choices result in excess insulin production. During this phase weight gain is common. Ultimately the body’s ability to use and store excess energy is exceeded. Energy in the form of sugar begins to accumulate in the blood and a fasting blood sugar level of 126 mg% is reached at which point Diabetes Type 2 is diagnosed.

In our book, The 30 Day Diabetes Miracle, we discuss IR and its reversal. The trick is to supply the body with superior nutrition without excessive calories. Scientific studies indicate that the best way to achieve those two goals is a “plant-based diet” accompanied by physical activity that can be accomplished by anyone regardless of physical limitation.

Plant foods:

• Avoid the excessive fat and protein load of most animal source foods.
• Contain fiber which temporarily binds food energy and delivers that energy to the pancreas slowly over time thus avoiding both insulin and blood sugar spikes.
• Contain fiber which provides a sense of fullness and hunger satisfaction without excess calories.
• Contain no hydrogenated and minimal saturated fats that are blamed with clogging our arteries and adding to our waist size.

Related: The Real Cure For Type 2 Diabetes

               Pancreatic Cancer Will Cause Diabetes

Suzy Cohen, R. Ph., author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist, is a licensed pharmacist with almost 20 years of clinical experience who writes a nationally syndicated column through Tribune Media Services in Chicago, appearing in the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, the Sacramento Bee, and the Denver Post among others. A former spokesperson for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, Suzy believes that the mind, body, and spirit are all connected. She offers a free weekly newsletter at her DearPharmacist website.

Guest Blogger Suzy Cohen--

QUESTION: I have had stomach problems for years with gas, bloating and heartburn. I am still not feeling well, despite taking Maalox, Zantac, Prilosec OTC and Nexium. How do all these medications work, and do you have other tips? – J.M., Madison, Wisconsin

ANSWER: Here’s how medication works:

Antacids: These sop up the acid in your stomach kind of like a sponge. They work quickly like when that Chicken Enchilada revisits you at 4am. Every medicine cabinet should stock an antacid like Mylanta, Maalox, Riopan or Tums.

H2 Blockers: These reduce the amount of acid your body makes. They take more time to kick in, but work longer than antacids. The two most popular meds include Zantac (ranitidine) and Pepcid AC (famotidine).

Proton Pump Inhibitors: These drugs suppress acid 24/7 in people with peptic ulcer disease, Barrett’s esophagus, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and gastric tumors. Prilosec OTC (omeprazole) is sold over-the-counter, giving access to anyone. These drugs require prescription: Prevacid, Aciphex and Nexium.

But do we need a pill to eat? This mindset has been hammered into us thanks to aggressive marketing campaigns and television commercials. I assure you, there are great ways to improve gut integrity, and we should be more focused on this, rather than on shutting down acid. You need acid to digest your food, do you realize that?! Many people who take acid blockers, may be acid deficient (digestive acids are sold as betaine hydrochloride or trimethylglycine or TMG).

Here are other great ways to restore health:

Probiotics: Replenish the friendly camp of beneficial organisms in your gut and crowd out disease-causing bacteria or yeast. These help you digest food so it may contribute to weight loss, stop the gas, and lower your risk for urinary tract or yeast infections. Quality supplements like Culturelle contain a well-studied and proven organism called Lactobacillus GG. Other good brands contain L. acidophilus, L. sporogenes and bifidobacterium. Florastor contains a friendly yeast probiotic which is great for kids and adults, especially when taking antibiotics. It may prevent diarrhea and cramping.

Enzymes: These are chemicals naturally found in fresh, raw fruits and veggies which help you break down your meals. Lipase is an enzyme which breaks down fat; amylase breaks down carbs and lactase breaks down dairy foods. I recommend Digest because it is plant-derived (Enzymedica) and take it with every meal. Another choice is pancreatin enzymes, especially for those with cystic fibrosis; enzymes relieve burping, bloating, gas, heartburn, abdominal pain and help with allergies...maybe even cancer.

L-glutamine: A natural amino acid which nourishes and protects your gut lining. It helps all digestive disorders including Crohn’s, Celiac, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and ulcerative colitis. It seems to soothe and heal ulcers by stimulating the production of healing ‘mucoproteins.’ Amazingly, L-glutamine might curb your crave for alcohol. Supplements provide a pure and easy way to get beneficial amounts. Dosage: L-glutamine 1000 – 2000 mg twice daily (capsules or powders are perfect).

Did You Know?

The bacteria commonly found in yogurt (Lactobacillus bulgaricus) is not that helpful because it can’t survive the acid in your stomach and it’s not native to the human gut.

(This information is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Suzy Cohen is the author of “The 24-Hour Pharmacist.” For more information, visit www.DearPharmacist.com)

© 2008 Suzy Cohen, RPh.

Related: Use Caution When Stopping Your Medication

              Strontium May Strengthen Your Bones

              Drink Kefir For Better Immunity and Digestion

Stuart A. Seale, M.D., board-certified family physician and co-author of The 30-Day Diabetes Miracle, has helped thousands of patients over the past quarter century. He serves as the medical director for Ardmore Institute of Health, and is the medical director, physician, and educator for Lifestyle Center of America’s Stopping Diabetes ProgramTM in Sedona, Arizona. He conducts an advanced wellness and healthy lifestyle workshop called The Well ExperienceTM, and also maintains a private, mobile medical practice, Room Calls Sedona. Dr. Seale has also received the 3-year AMA Physician Recognition Award eight times, most recently in 2007.

Guest Blogger Stuart Seale--

Type 2 diabetes is sweeping this country like a tidal wave of tsunami proportions. Currently 21 million Americans, 1 out of every 15, suffer from this disease and its deadly complications. But the worst is yet to come. The Centers for Disease Control has predicted that 1 out of every 3 Caucasian children that is 8 years old today, will develop type 2 diabetes. The numbers are even more grim for African-American, Native-American, or Hispanic-American children – for them the odds are 1 out of every 2 will become type 2 diabetic during their lifetime. With the current economic cost of diabetes at 174 billion dollars per year (twice that of the Iraq war), and with a death toll of 300,000 Americans per year as a direct result of diabetes, there are some very ominous economic, social, and physical handwritings on the wall regarding our future existence as a society. It is also no wonder that any hint of a “cure” for type 2 diabetes would be welcomed with open arms.

A recent Science Daily web article had the bold headline “Diabetes May Be Disorder of Upper Intestine: Surgery May Correct It.” The article was citing a recent study published in the journal Diabetes Care, touting the benefits of intestinal bypass surgery, and the observation that type 2 diabetes is often reversed after such procedures are performed. The study’s lead author, Dr. Francesco Rubino, was quoted as saying, “When we bypass the duodenum and jejunum, we are bypassing what may be the source of the problem.” He goes on to say, “There is in fact, growing evidence, that diabetes surgery can be effective even for patients who are only slightly obese or just overweight.” And finally, “The lesson we have learned with diabetes surgery is that diabetes is not always a chronic and relentless disease, where the only possible treatment goal is just the control of hyperglycemia and minimization of the risk of complications. Gastrointestinal surgery offers the possibility of complete disease remission. This is a major shift in the way we consider treatment goals for diabetes. It is unprecedented in the history of the disease.”

So, intestinal bypass surgery is the new-found cure for type 2 diabetes, according to Dr. Rubino. Oh, really? May I correctly assume, therefore, that the explosion of type 2 diabetes is really due to some developmental fluke of nature, causing up to 1 out of every 2 children born in the year 2000 to have their upper intestinal tract not connected properly, thus requiring intestinal bypass surgery? Or that those who are merely overweight or mildly obese are really just suffering from a deficiency – that of not having had enough major surgery performed upon them? I do agree with Dr. Rubino’s statement that “diabetes is not always a chronic and relentless disease, where the only possible treatment goal is just the control of hyperglycemia and minimization of the risk of complications.” However, while intestinal bypass surgery offers some interesting data as to how intestinal hormones play a role in type 2 diabetes, to infer that an intestinal abnormality is the cause of the disease, and therefore surgery is the cure, is fundamentally wrong.

Quite simply, and this is sometimes difficult to acknowledge, the cause for type 2 diabetes is behavior – the choices one makes, primarily in the areas of nutrition and physical activity. When you choose to put too much of the wrong kinds of foods into your mouth, and also choose to be sedentary instead of active, you bring about metabolic change in your body that leads to the development of type 2 diabetes. You gain weight, develop insulin resistance, and the pancreas is forced to work overtime. Eventually the pancreas can’t keep up with the burden of continual excessive energy flooding the body, in the form of blood sugar, and type 2 diabetes ensues. The traditional treatment for diabetes has involved the use of medications and/or insulin in an attempt to lower the blood sugar levels – but this only addresses this particular symptom of diabetes. It does nothing to change the underlying cause of type 2 diabetes – improper behaviors that have created insulin resistance, and resultant high blood sugar. What Dr. Rubino is also failing to recognize, is that intestinal bypass surgery does nothing to change the underlying behaviors that have led to the disease, and it therefore represents no more of a cure than does traditional treatment with medications.

So, what is the real cure for type 2 diabetes, if not medications, insulin, or intestinal surgery? This is where the really good news comes in - the cure is you. That’s right, you