The act of learning can be defined as the development of new neural pathways. Children develop these pathways extremely rapidly because they are constantly learning new information and developing new skills.

In order to fuel this rapid development, children need a constant flow of energy.

The brain’s primary source of fuel is glucose. And the brain uses it’s fair share. It weighs two percent of our body weight yet uses twenty percent of circulating glucose.

Have you ever sat at a desk to do work that took some serious concentration and found yourself exhausted and hungry by the end? This is because the brain was working so hard and burning up glucose (blood sugar).

You could imagine the requirements of a child’s brain while attending a full day of activity-filled school.

It is vitally important to feed children low glycemic index foods and meals in order to optimize mental performance. This could literally change the course of their life.

Glycemic Index: a measure of the effects of carbohydrates on blood sugar levels.

Indications of Blood Sugar Problems

• Hyperactivity
• Low grades
• Inability to follow instructions
• “Acting out”
• Aggression towards other kids/adults
• Problems focusing

I believe one of the biggest issues for children is what they are eating for breakfast.

Breakfast sets up blood sugar levels for the entire day. If a child is fed a high glycemic index breakfast, they are sure to “crash” when they get to school. This can lead to the symptoms described above, and as a result, the related consequences. All because they didn’t have a proper breakfast.

In 2005 a study was published summarizing the results from 47 different studies. They concluded that “breakfast consumption may improve cognitive function related to memory, test grades, and school attendance”.

High Glycemic Index Breakfasts

Cereal and Milk: Cereals are usually high in sugar and are made with refined grains. On top of this, pasteurized milk is added, which is basically sugar water (lactose being the sugar present in milk). Skim milk is even worse because the fat has been removed.

Toast with jam: Most bread is refined, and jam is basically sugar. It is a combination that burns quickly and does not offer lasting energy.

Brain Supportive Breakfasts

Rolled oats with flax oil and maple syrup: Oats provide whole grain nutrition, while the flax oil brings down the glycemic index and the maple syrup makes it delicious. Nuts, seeds and fruit can be added as desired.

Protein shake: Protein shakes are fast, easy and you can add many great ingredients. Add and couple teaspoons of flax oil, hemp oil, or coconut oil to bring down the glycemic index.

Eggs: Eggs are a complete protein and offer the beneficial omega 3 fats. Always buy organic eggs.

Beware adults. The only difference between children and adults, is that as we age and mature, we develop more self-control. So we might experience the same blood sugar effects as children, but we have the skills to not exhibit similar behaviour (for the most part). Therefore, adults must control blood sugar levels too.

Choose your breakfasts wisely.

- Josh

Want to learn more about low glycemic index eating? My colleague Meghan Telpner offers an easy to use guide on Low Glycemic Eating. I highly recommend it!

References

Rampersaud, Gail C. et al. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. Volume 105, Issue 5 , Pages 743-760, May 2005

The top selling drug in the world is Pfizer’s cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor, at annual sales of about 14 Billion dollars (the “B” is not a typo).

We have been led to believe that cholesterol is the villain and should be controlled be any means.

Have you ever been at the scene of a fire? Have you noticed that every time there’s a fire, there are always these large red trucks there too. My conclusion is that these red trucks must be starting the fire.

Does this sound ridiculous? Well it is. Just about as ridiculous as treating high cholesterol with statins. Cholesterol is produced by our body (about 85%, the other 15% is consumed) to patch up damaged arterial linings, not to intentionally plug them up.

Once cholesterol is elevated, the damage has already been done by free radicals (free redials are molecules that circulate in our body looking to damage a tissue). Cholesterol is a downstream response, meaning that it is the effect, not the cause.

The most common side effects with statins is muscle pain and weakness. In serious cases, statins can cause permanent muscle damage. Statins may also increase liver enzymes in certain individuals.

The Alternative

Niacin (vitamin B3) therapy is one of the most effective scientifically proven treatment for high cholesterol. Niacin raises HDL (the “good” cholesterol), lowers LDL (the “bad” cholesterol) and triglycerides. When put face to face with cholesterol-lowering drugs, it is more effective at lowering cholesterol and more importantly, reducing the likelihood of a cardiac events.

The other highly effective natural treatment for high cholesterol is sterols. They are so good at lowering cholesterol that food manufactures are actually adding it to certain foods to make them therapeutic. In my opinion this is completely unnecessary and again not getting to the core of the problem.

Sterols compete with cholesterol (notice the root of the word cholesterol is “sterol”) for uptake in the small intestine. Thus, sterols block the absorption of cholesterol and it is then eliminated in our stool.

D = Dietary and E = Exercise

This is where the medical perspective and natural perspective intersect. We both recognize that diet is a huge factor in preventing CVD. Many deaths from CVD could have simply been prevented by following some basic dietary principles.

Dr. Dean Ornish is just one of many doctors that has proven that you can halt CVD in its tracks with diet and even reverse the disease process.

The unfortunate thing about the medical setup is that it is not organized to help people learn how to modify their diet and lifestyle. Thus, doctors don’t demand from their patients that they modify diet and lifestyle before drugs are prescribed. And patients, who are often just as guilty, are not interested in working to change their habits. They are more interested in a “quick fix”.

The Alternative

When working with a evidence-based clinical nutritionist, the emphasis is on diet and lifestyle modification. Even though supplements are safe, they are used as a last resort to help restore the bodies balance. Dietary modification and exercise adherence are always a priority.

Drugs are amazing therapeutic tools and can save lives when used appropriately. We need to have a paradigm shift in our standard of care and use riskier interventions as a last resort rather than a first line of therapy. Diet and lifestyle should always be the first interventions followed by supplements and then drugs and other medical interventions as a last resort.

With this new model, millions of lives could be saved every year and many people’s standard of living could be improved.

This change starts with you.

- Josh

This is a tragedy, because many of these deaths could easily be prevented by simple changes in one’s diet and lifestyle.

Currently, the standard of care for a patient who is showing signs and symptoms of heart disease is a fairly aggressive treatment of drugs, with little attention given to diet and exercise.

This treatment plan can be summarized by the acronym ABCDE. Lets examine what each of these letters represent and the possible alternatives for each.

A = Anti-platelet tharapy

The most common form of anti-platelet therapy currently prescribed is aspirin. Aspirin thins the blood and prevents platelets from clumping together. This prevents clots from forming and thus decreases risk of heart attack and stroke.

In more serious cases, stronger drugs such as Plavix might be used.

The danger with these drugs is that they can cause serious side effects. Aspirin causes gastric bleeding and can lead to ulcers if used over a period of time. While Plavix can cause hemmoraging, as it has a very small therapeutic range.

The Alternative

Fish oil (omega-3) is one of the best agents for thinning the blood and making it less sticky. It is ideal to use vitamin E along with omega-3 supplementation because vitamin E both has an anti-clotting effect and protects the volatile fish oils from going bad (oxidizing) in the body. Long-chain saturated fats and excessive cholesterol have the opposite effect and should thus be consumed in moderation.

B = Blood Pressure

Picture this…what if you had 2 hoses. One hose has a pressure control nozzle at the end and the other has nothing and flows freely. Which hose do you think would wear out quicker? Obviously the one with the nozzle. This is because there is more pressure against the walls of the hose. Everyone has seen a hose buckle out. It usually takes a large amount of duct tape to try and fix it, but it’s usually too late.

Our blood vessels are very similar to the hose. They can only take a certain amount of wear and tear before they fail us. This is why high blood pressure can be so damaging.

We have an internal repair system to maintain the integrity of the blood vessels. This system uses a very effective patching material called cholesterol (more on this in Part 2).

The two classes of drugs that are used to bring down blood pressure are ACE inhibitors and Beta-blockers. Some of the side-effects associated with using these drugs are dizziness, fatigue, weakness, headaches, persistent dry cough. They may exacerbate depressive symptoms, cause erectile dysfunction, and are associated with sleep disturbances, fatigue and lethargy.

The Alternative

A low-glycemic plant based, whole-food diet with minimal processed food is a sure way of maintaining a low blood pressure.

The most influential factor in most people with hypertension is the overconsumption of refined salt. Most people don’t realize that it’s not the salt on the table that they have to avoid, but the the salt in processed foods that really  makes a difference.

Processed food accounts for about 70% of human salt consumption. It used to enhance flavour and to stimulate “I bet you can’t eat just one” behaviour.

Two foods that have been shown to be highly effective at bringing down blood pressure are garlic and onions. These should be consumed daily to realize their therapeutic effect.

To get the most out of any vegetable from the Allium family (onions, shallots, garlic, chives, leek), chop it up and let it sit for about 10 minutes. This allows key components of the vegetable to be activated, and therefore the therapeutic potency is greatly enhanced.

Various supplements that might be considered for their blood pressure lowering effects are magnesium, grape seed extract, pomegranate, L-arginine, and vitamin D.

Check Back next tuesday for part 2.

- Josh

References

Gavras I, Gavras H. ‘Volume-expanded’ hypertension: the effect of fluid overload and the role of the sympathetic nervous system in salt-dependent hypertension. J Hypertens. 2012 Jan 5.

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/

He FJ and MacGregor GA. Reducing population salt intake worldwide: from evidence to implementation. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2010 Mar-Apr;52(5):363-82.

Ried K, Frank OR, Stocks NP, Fakler P, Sullivan T. Effect of garlic on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2008;8:13.

Robinson JG and Stone NJ. Antiatherosclerotic and antithrombotic effects of omega-3 fatty acids. Am J Cardiol. 2006 Aug 21;98(4A):39i-49i.

Shi Y et al. Dietary sodium intake among Canadian adults with and without hypertension. Chronic Dis Can. 2011 Mar;31(2):79-87.

How does acupuncture work to heal the body?

To answers this in very simple terms…Acupuncture stimulates a “relaxation response” in the body. Systemically it works by affecting the nervous system and through the activation of certain brain chemicals. Locally, the acupuncture needles can stimulate muscles to relax by affecting certain trigger points.

What conditions are you able to treat with acupuncture?

Acupuncture can treat so many things. We have points that can help decrease inflammation, improve circulation, and boost the immune system.

Most people know that it can help reduce pain, and muscle tension and thus is quite effective for headaches, fibromyalgia, shoulder pain, lower back pain and sports injuries. It is also wonderful for decreasing stress and in fact, treating anything that seems to be aggravated by stress such as insomnia, digestive disorders, and addictive behaviour. Finally, acupuncture works extremely well at regulating women’s menstrual cycles as well as treating menstrual cramps.  In fact, there is a lot of interest at the moment on the effects of acupuncture on female as well as male fertility.

How many treatments does it take to notice results?

From my experience, some people respond extremely quickly to acupuncture…they can experience results in even one treatment! However, I find that most “acute” injuries under 1 year old, can be resolved within 3-5 or 5-10 treatments.  I often have to see how well they respond to the first treatment in order to determine what bracket they fall under.

“Chronic” issues usually need more treatments.

With respect to fertility and menstrual issues, changes can be detected after 1 month but I usually like to see them regularly over a 3 month time period.

I really like getting people on an acupuncture maintenance program.  This just means getting a treatment once a month or every couple months even when there’s nothing really wrong.  That’s when you can really notice the more “long-term” effects of acupuncture.

People can start to notice that their overall mood has improved, they seem to handle stress better, their body seems looser and they don’t seem to suffer from as many physical or mental problems. Getting on a maintenance program allows you to experience the more “well-being” side of acupuncture.

Do you get acupuncture?

I myself get acupuncture 1x/month just for health maintenance.

David Liang is a Doctor of Acupuncture and graduated from the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego with a Masters of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine.  He practices in Toronto and integrates his experience in Chinese Medicine along with restorative yoga positions, and mindfulness meditation techniques to treat the body/mind, both functionally and posturally.

There are many factors we need consider in order to keep inflammation in check. My colleague Julie Daniluk recently published an amazing book that outlines these factors very clearly.

One of the most important factors, which I am going to focus on, is blood sugar control.

Many people don’t realize that controlling your blood sugar is critical for maintaining an anti-inflammatory state.

Refined sugar and flour, as well as other foods with a high glycemic index, jack up the levels of insulin, a hormone released by the pancreas. (Glycemic index is a scale, rating the speed at which a food increases blood sugar). Once released, insulin works to facilitate the movement of sugar into cells for energy. However, when high glycemic index foods are consumed there is a hyper-insulin response.

Assume you’re building a shed for a moment. You would probably buy long two-by-fours, so you could cut them to the appropriate size.

The body carries out a similar process with fats. There are certain fats (essential fats omega-3 and 6) that are used as raw materials to make either pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory compounds.

Omega-3 fats, which we hear so much about, can only be converted into anti-inflammatory compounds.

Omega-6 fats however, have a “Jekyl and Hyde” type personality. They can either convert into pro-inflammatory compounds or anti-inflammatory compounds.

Here’s the kicker. Insulin can control the fate of the omega-6 fatty acids.

When there are elevated levels of insulin due to a high glycemic index diet, omega-6 fatty acids are skewed toward a pro-inflammatory pathway, creating molecules called prostaglandins.

Pro-inflammatory prostaglandins not only increase inflammation, but they also increase clot formation, and blood pressure.

What Can I Do To Control Blood Sugar And Infalmmation?

The great thing about this whole process is that it can be reversed the second you start controlling your blood sugar and eating a low glycemic index diet.

Here are four things you can do at your next meal to lower the glycemic index of your diet and thus decrease inflammation:

1. Consume high fibre unrefined foods with every meal.
2. Make sure you include a good quality protein such as wild fish, tempeh, organic chicken, eggs, nuts and/or seeds with every meal.
3. Use fat to decrease the glycemic index of meals. Good fats to use are extra-virgin olive oil, flax oil, hemp oil, coconut oil, and chia oil.
4. Educate yourself on the glycemic index of foods. One of my favorite resources is WHfoods.org

Controlling blood sugar levels can afford you great benefits in preventing and controlling inflammatory conditions.

- Josh

The proper name of ginseng is  Panax Ginseng (Korean Ginseng).

The word Ginseng is derived from a Chinese term, which means “man root”. Most likely ’cause it resembles the limbs of a person (see picture above). Panax shares the same origin as “panacea” meaning “all heal”.

Put it all together and you get the “all-heal man (person) root”.

This Ginseng root was sold for $250K (US)

There are many different types of ginseng, yet they all have a similar property.  They are all adaptogenic- meaning, helps us cope or adapt to mental and physical stressors.

For example, you might experience an extremely stressful day that leaves you exhausted and depleted. But if you take ginseng during the same stressful day, you don’t feel as exhausted by the end.

Using ginseng for its adaptogenic effects is just one of many ways in which ginseng can be used medicinally. There are however other uses. Here’s my top 10 favourites.

10 Reasons to Take This All Heal Man (person) Root:

• Antifatigue (mental and physical) ActivityEndurance increases with the more ginseng taken.
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)Lung capacity improves.
• DiabetesHelp stabilize fasting blood sugar. Bonus- it also elevates mood, improves psychological performance, and lowers body weight.
• Nerve cell regenerationGinseng enhances cell replication and function of nerve cells- meaning it keeps us young and sprite.
• ImmunomodulationIf you’re prone to infection and colds, ginseng boosts the immune system. On the other hand, if your immune system is over active and you have an autoimmune condition, ginseng calms the immune response. Oh nature, you’ve done it again.
• AnticancerPromotes the death of both slow-growing and fast-growing tumors.
• Cardiovascular DiseaseGinseng has been shown to reduce serum cholesterol, triglycerides, while raising the good guys (HDL).
• Liver detoxificationIncreases liver clearance of harmful chemicals and promotes liver repair.
• Erectile dysfunctionIncreases sexual activity and mating behavior in male rats. Need I say more?
• Living to 100 and beyondGinseng lengthens the lifespan of cells.

There are various ways to take the herb, and you don’t have to spend $400K to get the good stuff. Although, when it comes to ginseng, you get what you pay for.

Try taking it in tincture form for quick absorption. For ease, you may take capsules. Or, if you want to experience the full flavor and essence of the herb, make it into a tea- just simmer it in hot water for 20 minutes. (Use about 1Tbs of the herb/ 1 cup of water).

The effects of Ginseng are cumulative. Try it for about 3 months to really experience the full benefit of the herb.

Remember, It doesn’t work if you don’t take it.

- Josh

References:

Brekhman II, Dardymov IV. New substances of plant origin which increase nonspecific resistance. Annu Rev Pharmacol 1969;9:419-430.

Brekhman II, Dardymov IV. Pharmacological investigation of glycosides from ginseng and Eleutherococcus. Lloydia 1969;32:46-51.

Petkov W. [Pharmacology of the drug Panax ginseng.] Arzneimittelforschung 1959;9:305-311.

Petkov W. [On the mechanism of action of Panax ginseng C.A. Mey: on the problem of a pharmacology of reactivity.2.] Arzneimittelforschung 1961;11:288-295, 418-422.

Petkov V. Effect of ginseng on the brain biogenic monoamines and 3′,5′-AMP system. Experiments in rats. Arzneimittelforschung 1978;28:388-393.

Saito H, Yoshida Y, Takagi K. Effect of Panax ginseng root on exhaustive exercise in mice. Jpn J Pharmacol 1974;24:119-127.

Petkov VD, Belcheva S, Petkov VV. Behavioral effects of Ginkgo biloba L., Panax ginseng C.A. Mey. and Gincosan. Am J Chin Med 2003;31:841-855.

Bombardelli E, Cristoni A, Lietti A. The effect of acute and chronic (Panax) ginseng saponins treatment on adrenal function; biochemical and pharmacological. In Proceedings of the 3rd International Ginseng Symposium. Seoul: Korean Ginseng Research Institute, 1980:9-16.

Cabral de Oliveira AC, Perez AC, Merino G, et al. Protective effects of Panax ginseng on muscle injury and inflammation after eccentric exercise. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2001;130:369-377.

Sotaniemi EA, Haapakoski E, Rautio A. Ginseng therapy in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients. Diabetes Care 1995;18:1373-1375.

Nocerino E, Amato M, Izzo AA. The aphrodisiac and adaptogenic properties of ginseng. Fitoterapia 2000;71(Suppl 1):S1-S5

Wiklund IK, Mattsson LA, Lindgren R, et al. Effects of a standardized ginseng extract on quality of life and physiological parameters in symptomatic postmenopausal women: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Swedish Alternative Medicine Group. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res 1999;19:89-99.

Park EK, Choo MK, Han MJ, et al. Ginsenoside Rh1 possesses antiallergic and anti-inflammatory activities. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2004;133:113-120.

Yun TK, Choi SY. Non-organ specific cancer prevention of ginseng: a prospective study in Korea. Int J Epidemiol 1998;27:359-364.

Kim TH, Lee YS, Cho CK, et al. Protective effect of ginseng on radiation-induced DNA double strand breaks and repair in murine lymphocytes. Cancer Biother Radiopharm 1996;11:267-272.

“Give me the power to produce a fever, and I will cure all disease.”
— Hippocrates (2300 years ago)

“If indeed any were so good a physician as to be able to produce fever, it would not be necessary to look for any other remedy in sickness.”
— Ruphos of Ephesus (450 years later)

The value of the fever was recognized thousands of years ago by both Ruphos of Ephesus and Hippocrates, the father of western medicine. They recognized that patients who developed a fever had a tremendous ability to recover from illness.

How could that be? Isn’t a fever harmful?

My Human Anatomy and Physiology book defines the fever as a “systemic response initiated by pyrogens [chemical messengers]; high body temperature inhibits microbial multiplication and enhances body repair processes.”

These are two reactions that we definitely want happening if a microorganism infects us.

So why have we gotten so obsessed with bringing down a fever?

“Studies have shown that depriving the body of its ability to develop a fever with [anti-fever medications] may prolong the illness, decrease antibody response, and increase likelihood of disease complications such as pneumonia and meningitis.”
— Exerpt from  the Child Health Guide by Dr. Randall Neustaedter

We have become obsessed with treating symptoms because we have been told that symptoms are bad. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

Symptoms are downstream manifestations of an upstream issue. In other words, a fever is the result (downstream) of an immune response (upstream).

How The Fever Does A Body Good

When we are infected by a microorganism, our immune system responds by sending white blood cells to the area. The white blood cells then release chemical messengers known as pyrogens which stimulate the hypothalamus (located in the brain) to increase body temperature.

Why would our body go through this whole process unless it was beneficial? It wouldn’t. The body doesn’t react without reason.

The benefits of increasing body temperature are two-fold. First, it speeds up the production of white blood cells, the soldiers of our immune system that “seek and destroy”. And second, the increasing body temperature creates an extremely inhospitable environment for invading microbes, causing them to die.

If the fever hasn’t elevated too high then there are certain things we can do to help the fever:

• Rest!
• Yarrow tincture helps break a fever by working with the body rather than suppressing the symptoms.
• Wet compress to cool down the body if fever is too high.
• Immune boosting supplements.

Fever-reducing medications such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen) have become the go-to treatment for fevers. Aspirin should never be used due to its risk of causing Reye’s Syndrome (severe damage to brain and liver). These drugs have a valuable therapeutic benefit if used in the right context but are often administered prematurely.

When is Medical Intervention Warranted?

• Infants under 3-months old with a fever greater than 100.4 F
• Children between 3 months and 36 months with a temperature greater than 102.2 F
• All ages with a fever reaching 105 F

Dr. Randall Neustaeder discusses how drugs should be used as a last resort for fevers only above 105 F in his book Child Health Guide.

It is difficult to watch a young child be uncomfortable, but it is important to understand that delaying drug treatment affords them a great benefit. Don’t be afraid to let nature run its course.  The body has an amazing ability to heal and repair, when we get out of the way and let it do it’s thing.

- Josh

References:

1. Bierman, William. The History of Fever therapy in the Treatment of Disease. Bull N Y Acad Med. 1942 January; 18(1): 65–75.
2. Marieb, Elaine N. Human Anatomy and Physiology: Fifth Edition. Benjamin Cummings; 1999.
3. Neustaeder, Randall. Child Health Guide. North Atlantic Books; 2005.

The common cold as we know it manifests as a bunch of unpleasant symptoms resulting from a virus (usually rhinovirus) not a bacteria (more on this later). However, not everyone who is infected with the virus necessarily gets sick. This depends on how well your immune system is able to fight the virus.

There are a number of factors that predispose an individual to infection:

• Travelling between time-zones
• Lack of sleep, or poor quality sleep
• Low vitamin C intake (and other nutrient deficiencies)
• Stress (mental, emotional, physical, spiritual)
• Social outlook and mood

If a virus does “set up shop”, we can prevent the illness from getting worse, speed recovery, and prevent more serious interventions. The most crucial factor in making this work is RAPID ACTION. As soon as you feel a little itch in the back of your throat, or begin sneezing more than normal, or develop an unusual headache, or feel any abnormal symptom, begin the following recommendations immediately. You will be happy you did.

Taking Aggressive Action to Defeat the Common Cold

Echinacea:  Echinacea purpurea has been shown time and time again to boost the immune response. It specifically has a strong effect on macrophage activity.(1) It takes a couple of days to begin having an effect (again, emphasizing the importance of beginning treatment early).

Vitamin C: Vitamin C has the ability to alleviate common cold and flu symptoms (2-3) and prevent the illness altogether.(4) Since it is a water-soluble vitamin, it is either used or excreted, every 4 hours. Thus, 500-1000mg should be taken every 4 hours or less.

Zinc: Zinc can actually prevent the virus from attaching to specific receptor sites in the sinus and throat.(5) This must be done within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms or it is ineffective (rapid action!). The best form to take zinc for this situation is as a lozenge. Suck on two 24-mg lozenges every 2 hours (while awake) for the first day.

Garlic: If I was stranded on a desert island and I could only have one medicinal plant, it would probably be garlic. It’s immune boosting, antimicrobial effects are impressive. In a recent study, individuals who were given garlic experienced cold symptoms for an average of 1.52 days while the placebo group suffered for 5.01 days.(6) Take 1- 2 chopped cloves per day (chopping greatly increases potency). The garlic can be taken with honey (also beneficial for colds) or water.

What Not To Do

• Do not take antibiotics unless absolutely necessary. As long as you are in relatively good health, your body should be able to fight infection on its own. If you have a virus, antibiotics won’t do anything anyway (antibiotics kill bacteria). And finally, antibiotics kill your good bacteria which make up a large portion of your immune system.
• Do not try to “push through it”. If you only do one thing, that one thing should be REST. Rest as if you are in the rest olympics and you are going for gold.
• Do not wait until you feel like absolute garbage (or insert word of choice). Act immediately.

It’s best to stock up on these things now, before the symptoms arrive. Consider it your natural first aid kit.

- Josh

ps. Warning: Not clinically proven (yet) – Watching this video can help you beat the common cold.(reference pending)

References:

1. Stimpel M, Proksch A, Wagner H, et al. Macrophage activation and induction of macrophage cytotoxicity by purified polysaccharide fractions from the plant Echinacea purpurea. Infect Immun. 1984 Dec; 46(3):845-9.
2. Hemila H. Vitamin C intake and susceptibility to the common cold. Br J Nutr . 1997 Jan;77(1):59-72.
3. Gorton HC, Jarvis K. The effectiveness of vitamin C in preventing and relieving the symptoms of virus-induced respiratory infections. J Manipulative Physiol Ther . 1999 Oct;22(8):530-3.
4. S Sasazuki et al. Effect of vitamin C on common cold: randomized controlled trial. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2006) 60, 9–17. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602261; published online 24 August 2005.
5. Gwaltney JM Jr, Winther B, et al. Combined antiviral-antimediator treatment for the common cold. J Infect Dis . 2002 Jul 15;186(2):147-54.
6. Josling P. Preventing the common cold with a garlic supplement: A double-blind, placebo-controlled survey. Adv Ther . 2001 Jul;18(4):189–93.

We’re all familiar with the stereotypical nerd. However, I’d like to introduce you to “A NERD” we should all be even more familiar with.

ANERD is a mnemonic outlining the factors involved in keeping your body clean and toxin-free. It is an easy way to remember how to maintain sufficient detoxification.

A-void

• Smoking
• Alcohol
• Unnecessary drugs
• Toxic work environments (hair salon, airplane, painting, etc.)
• Homes with leaded paint
• Air polution
• Polluted drinking water
• The SAD Diet (Standard American Diet)
• Amalgam fillings

N-utrition

• Whole foods
• Focus on alkalizing foods
• Cruciferous vegetables daily
• Modest amounts of olive oil, onions, garlic, lean, unprocessed protein
• Alkalyzing minerals (Ca, Mg, K, Zn)
• Multivitamin
• Essential Fatty Acids
• N-actylcysteine, lipoid acid, and other antioxidants

E-xercise

• Increasees lymphatic flow
• Induces sweating which releases toxins
• Increases metabolism and detoxification efficiency

R-est

• Proper sleep hygiene
• Relaxation
• Stress management

D-etoxification

• Therapeutic juice fasting
• Various detoxifying herbs
• Colon hydrotherapy
• Sauna

By following the factors outlined by ANERD, you will surely be feel like a superhero.

- Josh

References:

The Textbook of Functional Medicine. 2010.

When it comes to life , there is really only one thing we can be sure about, and that is death. And when death eventually does arrive, for any living organism, the circle of life brings the organism back down to earth.

What is it that brings organisms back down to earth? It is mold, fungus, parasites, bacteria, and viruses. These are the decomposers of the world.

As I discussed in my interview with Mr. Kale, most of the time it doesn’t matter what germ you’re exposed to. What matters is how well equipped you are to fight it. In other words, the strength of your immune system.

- Josh