Remember the red stuff your mom put on cuts and scrapes?

It contained iodine, a mineral that kills germs. But iodine is more than just an antiseptic you put on your skin. It’s a trace element essential for life. A teaspoon is all you need in a lifetime, but most people in the U.S. are deficient.

The tragedy is that many doctors don’t recognize iodine’s role in disease. You may suffer from chronic fatigue and hear “there’s no cure.” Your cholesterol or blood pressure is too high, and nothing short of drugs brings it down. Or the doctor tells you the cysts in your breasts or ovaries lead to cancer.

You may have one of these things as a result of a simple iodine deficiency.

Almost 2 billion people in the world don’t get enough, and over 50 million people have brain damage caused by iodine deficiency. It’s the most preventable kind of brain damage in infants and children, yet 36.5% of school age children are deficient._1,2

Brain damage also affects adults. Even a small deficiency can lower your I.Q. by 15 points.₃ It may be the deciding factor whether you can get a job and keep it.

Our ancestors didn’t have this problem. In ancient times, the water and soil were rich with minerals. Plants absorbed the iodine. Animals ate the plants. Man hunted, fished, and gathered the animals and plants.

But today, our modern day diet consists of foods grown by commercial farming corporations on depleted soil. Our water is polluted. We suffer the consequences.

We have to find a way to mimic the environment of our ancestors and find good sources of iodine.

Iodine helps prevent oxidative stress that leads to chronic diseases such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, or arthritis.₄ It’s also critical for thyroid function. When your thyroid doesn’t work well, you can develop heart disease. Your cholesterol goes up, and you can have a heart attack.

You also need it for metabolism – to convert your food to energy. If you don’t have enough iodine to keep your thyroid healthy, you get sluggish and store fat on your body. You may also develop symptoms like fatigue, depression, and weight gain.

That’s not all. When you’re short on iodine, a lot of other things can go wrong:_5,6

• Breasts: A lot of iodine is concentrated in breast tissue. When you don’t have enough, you can develop fibrocystic breast disease. Up to 93% of American women have it. This is when your breasts become very painful and have nodules and cysts in them. The longer you have this disease, the higher potential for breast cancer.
• Skin: 20% of iodine is stored in the skin. Most in the sweat glands. If you don’t have enough iodine, you get dry skin.
• Digestion: Iodine is concentrated in the stomach. When you don’t have enough, you develop a condition that feels like you have too much stomach acid. But it’s just the opposite… you don’t have enough. If it goes on long enough, it can develop into stomach cancer.
• Eyes: Tear glands in your eyes contain large amounts of iodine. Lack of iodine can cause dry eyes.
• Mouth: Salivary glands in your mouth contain large amounts of iodine. Lack of iodine can cause dry mouth.
• Ovaries: Iodine is concentrated in the ovaries. Women who lack iodine develop cysts. The greater deficiency, the more cysts. It can also lead to a disease called polycystic ovarian disease.

You can avoid these problems if you pay attention to your intake of iodine. The current suggested daily dose of 0.15 mg per day of iodine is too low. It doesn’t take into account all the organs of the body that need it to stay healthy. I suggest 12.5 mg up to 50 mg of iodine per day from natural sources to support better health. Here is a list of foods that contain iodine:

If you find you need more support, check to see if your daily supplement contains iodine. If it doesn’t, take a trip to your local vitamin shop and ask for an iodine supplement or kelp.

It’s always best to talk to your doctor first. If you have symptoms of iodine deficiency, your doctor can take a simple test to determine your level.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD

1. Andersson M, Takkouche B, Egli I, Allen HE, de Benoist B. “Current global iodine status and progress over the last decade towards the elimination of iodine deficiency.” Bull World Health Organ. 2005;83(7):518-525.
2. World Health Organization. “Eliminating Iodine Deficiency Disorders.” http://www.who.int/features/qa/17/en/ (Accessed 02 2010).
3. Ibid.
4. Winkler, R, Griebenow, S, Wonisch W. “Effect of iodide on total antioxidant status of human serum.” Cell Biochem Funct. 2000;18:143-6.
5. Abraham, Guy. “Iodine, the Universal Nutrient.” http://www.vrp.com/articles.aspx?ProdID=1781. (Accessed 02 2010).
6. Abraham, Guy. “The Concept of Orthoiodosupplementation and Its Clinical Implications” http://www.optimox.com/pics/Iodine/IOD-06/IOD_06.htm. (Accessed 02 2010).

Today I want to tell you about something I use to get my energy.

You can use this yourself to get energized without caffeine, herbs, or sugar.

This energy boost helps me focus and stay alert… and I don’t get tired as much.

I give it to my patients when they want more energy.

They say they “jump out of bed” in the morning instead of feeling stiff and cranky. They call it their best source of energy. And they stock up on it just in case we run out.

If you need more zip in your day, or you feel like you’re dragging yourself around all the time, this energy formula I call Accel can put more energy into your life.

Instead of flooding your body with caffeine or other stimulants, this formula allows each cell in your body to make its own energy.

When you multiply this energy boost by 50 to 75 trillion – the number of cells in your body – you get a lift you can actually feel.

Your heart vigorously pumps blood and delivers oxygen… your brain fires on all cylinders… and your muscles have energy to burn. This orchestrated flow of energy gives you the feeling of youth and vitality.

You get the feeling, “I can do this!”

It’s safe, reliable, and there’s proof the energy is real…

The researcher who developed one of the ingredients in my formula – Dr. Mae from Japan – sent me this unpublished study showing how it works in animal models:

You can see the mice taking Accel lasted 150 seconds longer on the treadmill. This translates into a huge boost of performance power. The mice on Accel had more energy and were able to keep going for much longer.₁

Mice don’t lie. They don’t know they’re being tested, so there’s no placebo effect.

Accel clearly helped them fight fatigue.

Now remember, this is an animal study. But does it do the same thing for people?

Well… just take a look at this study:

When professional cross-country skiers took a weaker form, every aspect of their physical performance improved dramatically. The results, published in the journal Molecular Aspects of Medicine, showed a remarkable 94% of the skiers who took it felt their endurance, performance time, and recovery time were all much improved.₂

And here’s the thing…

These skiers were taking a much weaker form of the energizing ingredient in Accel. They were taking a form of CoQ10 called ubiquinone. Accel has a “trumped up” form called ubiquinol. It’s proven to be more absorbable and stay in your blood longer.

That’s why it gives you such an energy boost.

This is something you can actually feel.

When a group of people taking Accel were asked to describe how they feel, their “vitality score” jumped off the charts.₃

Your vitality score is a way researchers can track how good you feel.

Take a look at this graph:

As you can see, taking Accel more than doubled their “feel good factor.”

Here’s what happened: Men and women living in a nursing home took the energy ingredient in Accel for 9 months. They were all between the ages of 69 and 87.

After taking Accel for 9 months – the results were amazing:

Their vitality scores went up by over 100%.

When you read the studies and hear the stories from my patients, you can easily get a sense of how powerful this fatigue fighter really is… and it couldn’t be easier to get.

All you have to do is take Accel.

My patients come to my clinic with remarkable stories.

Here’s what Patty from Vermont told me:

“Once I started Accel, I felt incredibly better; my mind was sharp throughout the day, and my energy was boundless. Thank you, Dr. Sears!”

Klaus from California feels the energy from Accel. Here’s what he said:

“Accel gives me the energy of a person much younger than me. I run two miles several times a week and feel just great all around. I am 71 years old and in excellent health!”

This is something I want you to know about.

You have options. You don’t have to drag yourself around and feel tired all the time. You can put that pep in your step without getting burned out on coffee or sugar rushes.

Accel is the one thing I take everyday without fail.

I want you to have this for yourself.

Join me now and feel more energy too…

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD

1. Kaneka Nutrients L.P. Unpublished Study, 2008.
2. Ylikoski T, et al. “The effect of CoQ10 on the exercise performance of cross-country skiers.” Mol Aspects Med. 1997;18 Suppl:S283-90.
3. Kaneka Nutrients L.P. Unpublished Study, 2008.

Did you see the January 10th New York Times report about salt?

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently named it his next “Public Enemy #1.”

His health department already banned trans-fats in restaurants. And forced calorie counts to be listed on menus. Now they’re taking on salt.₂

The real question they should be asking is not “Should you eat salt or not?” It’s “What kind of salt should you eat?”

Good News for Salt Lovers

You need salt to live, and to continue living. No doubt about it…

• A human embryo develops in salty amniotic fluid.
• Your body consists of three distinct fluid systems, all salty – blood plasma, lymphatic fluid, and extracellular fluid.
• Salt carries nutrients across cell membranes into your cells.
• Salt keeps calcium and other minerals soluble in your blood.
• Salt helps regulate muscle contractions.
• The mainstay of fluid replacement therapy for treatment of dehydration – or as an IV therapy to prevent hypovolemic shock due to blood loss – is a saline solution of 0.9% sodium chloride.
• Salt helps regulate blood pressure and fluid volume.
• In hot temperatures, salt regulates your fluid balance.
• It helps stimulate your nerves by increasing conductivity in nerve cells… for communication and information processing.

You can’t live without salt in your body.

You’re unable to digest food without it. Your heart needs it to function. So do your adrenals. Your liver and kidneys cannot work without salt.

You sweat salt. Your tears are salty. Your blood is salty.

So I trust you’ll look past conventional medicine’s blindness in pressing for low-salt diets.

Is Low-Salt Really Better?

The idea that salt consumption causes high blood pressure in the first place is a relatively recent belief… based, in fact, on questionable conclusions  a handful of studies.

Repeated studies failed to show a major causal link between salt intake and high blood pressure. In fact, some research points in the opposite direction.₃

A huge government study on thousands of people concluded that minerals – especially potassium and magnesium – are better at lowering blood pressure than salt.₄

Even the CDC’s own data over the space of 30 years showed that adequate mineral intake acts to keep your blood pressure low.₅

A low-salt diet supposedly reduces your risk of heart attacks and strokes. But where’s the evidence? I’ve seen compelling evidence that shows you increase your risk of a heart attack on a low-salt diet.₆

Why an increase?

Because low-salt diets can create or worsen nutritional deficiencies. And you know you need vitamins and minerals for good heart health.

So I take conventional medicine’s low-salt advice with a grain of salt… and suggest you do, too. This should come as good news if you enjoy salty foods.

But yet, it’s worth considering what type of salt is best for your health.

Choose “Living” Salt for Life

Regular table salt is a highly processed product that’s devoid of nutrients and minerals – like most other processed foods.

Due to extensive processing, which either destroys nutrients with high temperatures or strips them out, it lacks the nutrients found naturally in unrefined salts such as sea salt.

I advise switching to natural sea salt as your replacement for “traditional” table salt.

Think of unrefined salt as a whole, living food, because it is. It provides up to 82 vital trace minerals that promote your best possible life function and cellular health.

Even in tiny amounts, these minerals rally to regulate your body’s systems. They restock your electrolytes and balance your acid/alkaline levels.

Say Good-Bye to Traditional Table Salt

Your best way to replace processed table salt with unrefined sea salt is to eat whole organic vegetables, fruits, and meats you cook yourself… then add your own sea salt to taste.

Here’s a list of high-sodium prepared foods, with lower sodium alternatives to substitute. Choose these options… and add your own healthy replacement for processed table salt.

You can purchase sea salt in health-food stores and many mainstream grocery stores.

Still Worried About High Blood Pressure?

Since studies show poor outcomes for people low in minerals, here are some ways to increase your dietary intake of the most critical ones.

Magnesium – Helpful for healthy heart function and normal blood pressure. Dark green leafy veggies like spinach are rich in magnesium because chlorophyll molecules contain magnesium. Beans, peas, nuts, seeds, and seafood also provide magnesium. You should strive to eat enough magnesium-rich foods to get 500-1,000 mg of magnesium daily.

Potassium – Maintains normal fluid and electrolyte balance, and promotes normal muscle function. Helps optimize blood pressure levels.₇

Foods rich in potassium include orange-colored fruits and veggies like apricots, cantaloupe, oranges, nectarines, peaches, sweet potatoes, and butternut and acorn squash. Other foods rich in potassium are black and kidney beans, spinach, Swiss chard, artichokes, bananas, kiwi, fish, meat, poultry, and milk. You should strive to get your potassium  a healthy diet.

Calcium – Populations with low calcium intake have higher blood pressure. But it’s not been proven that popping extra calcium supplements will automatically lower your blood pressure.

1. “Citing Hazard, New York Says Hold the Salt,” The New York Times, 01/10/10.
2. http://www.ukessays.com/essays/chemistry/saline-fluids.php
3. “Salt Your Way to Health,” Brownstein, David, M.D., www.celticseasalt.com (Reprinted  the Winter 2006 issue of A Grain of Salt.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
7. “Lower Your Blood Pressure with Potassium-Rich Foods,” The Vancouver Sun, 02/11/10.

Vitamin D, the “sunshine vitamin.”

Even if you take vitamins, you’re probably not getting enough D. In fact, in one study I read, when over 1,200 people were randomly screened, more than 87% had a vitamin D deficiency.₁

My patients do their best to get in the sun and take supplements. But when they come to my clinic, their levels of vitamin D are still too low.

There are things that lower – even deplete – your vitamin D levels. And the 400 units of vitamin D our government recommends are simply not enough to do the job right. Once it gets into your bloodstream, it’s spread too thin to give your cells what they need.

Vitamin D is used by every cell in your body. It keeps cells healthy and functioning at their best, and it’s critical for your immune system. If you don’t have enough, some cells may end up damaged and diseased. To prevent cancer, your levels of vitamin D must be much higher.

Go without vitamin D long enough, and it can be the last mistake you make. One study followed 13,000 people for more than 12 years. They found out that too little vitamin D was an independent risk factor for death.₂

Nature’s Healthy Option

Our ancestors lived naked in the sun for millions of years.

But over time, we started to migrate north where there was less sun. We put on clothes, built houses, drove cars, and got jobs. We spent more time indoors… and when we did go out, we wore sunscreen.

All of these lifestyle changes reduced the levels of vitamin D in our bodies.

Suddenly, diseases of civilization began to occur. The same diseases prevented by vitamin D. We were forced to shift our focus from fighting wild animals to fighting a health disaster created by our man-made environment.

The “minimum daily requirement” of vitamin D is based on preventing a childhood disease called rickets. So you’d think our youth would be protected. Yet when 380 infants and 6,000 children were tested:_3,4

• 12% of infants were deficient.
• 40% of infants had less than optimal levels – and one-third already showed signs of bone loss!
• 9% of children, or 7.6 million were deficient.
• 61% of children, or 50.8 million, had less than optimal levels.

Adults also believe they only need the minimum requirement. But if you raise the level of vitamin D, you can prevent cancers, fractures, type 1 diabetes, and many autoimmune disorders:_5,6,7,8

Let’s look at cancer for a moment. In a separate study, a group of healthy women took either a placebo, calcium alone, or vitamin D with calcium. In four year’s time, most of the placebo group developed cancer. But 77% of the women who took vitamin D with calcium were cancer free.₉

You can choose to be sick or healthy simply by increasing your vitamin D.

The Damage Starts Here

Even if you have the best intentions, there are a dozen obstacles to getting enough vitamin D:

1. We wear clothing.
2. We wear sunscreen.
3. We don’t migrate with the sun.
4. We don’t live near the equator.
5. We work inside during the day.
6. We drive cars that block the sun.
7. We may have excess body fat that doesn’t absorb as well.
8. We may be older in years with less ability to absorb as well.
9. We may have dark skin pigmentation that doesn’t absorb as well.
10. We develop food allergies and intolerances that prevent absorption.
11. We adhere to diets such as strict vegetarianism that prevent absorption.
12. We take certain drugs, antibiotics, or corticosteroids that prevent absorption.

The next time you go in for a physical, ask your doctor to check your level of vitamin D. It’s a simple, inexpensive test that provides valuable information.

Boost D to Beat Disease

I recommend you aim for a minimum of 2,000 I.U. of vitamin D a day. If you get your level tested and it’s low, take between 5,000 and 10,000 I.U. a day from a variety of sources.

Try and go outside and expose your body to sunlight every day. As little as 10 minutes in the midday sun produces 10,000 units of vitamin D. You feel instantly better.

Add sources of vitamin D to your diet. Below is a list of foods that contain vitamin D. Or take a daily supplement. Cod liver oil is one of the best natural sources. Plus, it offers a bonus. It contains vitamin A, plenty of omega-3s, and is convenient to take.

1. Ray MM, Long AN, et al. “Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in an Urban General Internal Medicine Academic Practice,” 2009 Southern Regional Meeting Abstracts Session: SSGIM Research Abstract Session C.
2. Melamed ML, Michos ED, Post W, Astor B “25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and the risk of mortality in the general population.” Arch Intern Med. 2008 Aug 11;168(15):1629-37.
3. Gordon, CM, et al. “Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency Among Healthy Infants and Toddlers.” Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2008;162(6):505-512.
4. Kumar, J, et al. “Prevalence and Associations of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Deficiency in US Children: NHANES 2001–2004.” Pediatrics 2009.
5. Lappe JM, et al. “Vitamin D and calcium supplementation reduces cancer risk: results of a randomized trial.” Am J Clin Nutr. 2007;85:1586-91.
6. Garland CF, et al. “Vitamin D and prevention of breast cancer: pooled analysis.” J Steroid. Biochem Mol Biol. 2007;103;708-11.
7. Hypponen E, et al. “Intake of Vitamin D and risk of type 1 diabetes: a birth-cohort study.” Lancet 2001;358:1500-3.
8. Bischolff-Ferrari HA, et al. “Fracture prevention with vitamin D supplementation: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.” JAMA. 2005;293:2257-64.
9. Lappe JM., et al. “Vitamin D and calcium supplementation reduces cancer risk: results of a randomized trial.” Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Jun;85(6):1586-91.
10. “Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin D” http://www.ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamind.asp. Accessed Jan 2010.

Dr. Atkins must be rolling over in his grave.

These veggie-wackos want a diet that offers “Atkins without animal fat.” They call it, “Eco-Atkins.”

Holy cow!

The Atkins Diet is all about eating animal protein. So how do you eat a high-protein diet without animal fat? Turns out we’re supposed to bulk up on soy burgers and wake up to the smell of vegetarian bacon – whatever that is!

Don’t be deceived. This crazy veggie-plan is in no way eco-friendly, sustainable, or healthier. The diet is based on multiple allergens such as soy, gluten, and dairy. They use processed foods like veggie bacon, deli slices, and breakfast links.

What’s worse:

• Up to 30 times the maximum level allowed for a toxic chemical called melamine has been found in soy products. Melamine is a hazardous air pollutant that affects the brain. It’s banned from organic food, yet it’s finding its way into soy.₁
• Commercial soy farmers in South America are taking over and driving peasant farmers off their land.₂
• Soy is grown on stripped and deforested lands in the Amazon rainforest.₃
• Inferior and contaminated soy is quietly being imported from China.₄

This concept is disconnected from our past, and it screams of ignorance.

For millions of years, our ancestors were part of an ecological system that had a perfect balance in nature. They relied on fresh-caught meat and food gathered from the ground, bushes, and trees. Their diet was high-protein, high-fat, and low-carbohydrate. Diseases of modern day were non-existent.

Vegetarians want to replace this with processed, low-fat starch products that can ruin your health.

Where’s the Beef?

The study they’ve based their conclusions on has nothing to do with Atkins’ diet plan. Atkins’ diet is based on beef. In the study, one group ate a vegetarian diet, and the other a vegan diet. The diets are hard to follow for most people, and the products aren’t readily available. But what’s more important, vital nutrients are missing.

Meat eaters are more likely than vegetarians to get 100% of the protein, iron, zinc, and B vitamins they need.

This veggie Atkins imitator is a far cry from the natural and healthy diet handed down through millions of years of evolution. Eco-Atkins goes against our own biology and history.

Ancient Is Eco-Friendly

Step back in time with me for a moment…

A stone-age diet is similar to the original Atkins plan. Primitive man hunted animals that fed on wild grasses. Meat was pure, fresh, and full of nutrients. They supplemented with fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. They drank fresh water. Very little was based on grains, gluten, or soy. Their diet certainly was not based on processed, pre-packaged veggie links.

Our bodies were designed to digest meat, yet vegetarians still think it’s bad for you. They don’t understand that eating grass-fed beef is healthy, low-fat, and contains essential nutrients they’re missing from their diet. Our ancestors’ diet allowed prehistoric man to have a stored energy source for times of famine. Today, it gives us a great backup fuel system for our bodies.

By eating like our ancestors, we naturally lower our intake of carbohydrates. With fewer carbohydrates, our bodies switch to using fat as fuel. We are fully satisfied and lose body fat. Our blood sugar levels out. Our LDL and HDL cholesterol levels improve, along with triglycerides.

There’s more…

Natural sources of animal protein:

• Have higher nutritional value. Grass-fed beef is low-fat with fewer calories than grain-fed. It also has more omega-3s, B vitamins, CoQ10, zinc, vitamin E, and beta-carotene.
• Avoid common allergic triggers such as milk, soy, egg, and wheat.
• Offer important nutrients that fuel the brain and stabilize mood.
• Satisfy the appetite. They keep hunger away longer, making dieting easier.

Dr. Atkins was a visionary. He taught people to eat like our primitive ancestors. But there is one area where he went wrong…

You’ve got to watch out for trans-fat and eliminate it from your diet. Trans-fat comes from partially hydrogenated oils. You find it in processed and fast foods. Trans-fat raises bad cholesterol (LDL) while lowering good cholesterol (HDL).

You also need to watch the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6. We get too few 3’s and too many 6’s. When you cut down on processed and fast foods, you decrease 6’s. Another way is by switching to grass-fed beef.

A high-protein, low-carb diet is good for you, as long as you’re getting the right fats.

Here’s how to get back to the basics:

• Make protein the main course of every meal. Base your diet on grass-fed beef, buffalo, wild game, and eggs. For variety, add an occasional wild-caught, coldwater fish.
• Eat quality, low-glycemic carbohydrates. Stick to above-ground vegetables, fruits, and berries.
• Eat quality fat and increase omega-3’s. Throw in a handful of nuts, avocados, and some healthful oils.
• Avoid packaged and processed foods.

1. “Behind the Bean: The Heroes and Charlatans of the Natural and Organic Soy Foods Industry,” http://www.cornucopia.org/soysurvey/OrganicSoyReport/behindthebean_color_final.pdf (p. 18) Accessed 02 2010.
2. “Paraguay may limit soy farming in land reform,” Interview 12 Sep 2008 16:59:39 GMT: Reuters. By Mariel Cristaldo.
3. “Behind the Bean: The Heroes and Charlatans of the Natural and Organic Soy Foods Industry,” http://www.cornucopia.org/soysurvey/OrganicSoyReport/behindthebean_color_final.pdf (p. 18) Accessed 02 2010.
4. “Behind the Bean: The Heroes and Charlatans of the Natural and Organic Soy Foods Industry,” http://www.cornucopia.org/soysurvey/OrganicSoyReport/behindthebean_color_final.pdf (p. 18) Accessed 02 2010.
5. Institute of Medicine, Food and Nutrition Board. Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes. Dietary Reference Intakes for Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and Choline. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1998.
6. Milea, D. “Blindness in a strict vegan.” N. Engl. J. Med. 342: 897- 898; 2000.
7. Hunt, J.R.; Roughead, Z.K. “Nonheme-iron absorption, fecal ferritin excretion, and blood indexes of iron status in women consuming controlled lactoovovegetarian diets for 8 weeks.” Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 69: 944-952; 1999.
8. Lozoff, B.; Jimenez, E.; Hagen, J.; Mollen, E.; Wolf, A.W. “Poorer behavioral and developmental outcome more than 10 years after treatment for iron deficiency in infancy.” Pediatrics 105: e51; 2000.
9. Allen, L.H. “Anemia and iron deficiency: effects on pregnancy outcome.” Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 71(suppl): 1280s-1284s; 2000.
10. Hunt, J.R.; Matthys, L.A.; Johnson, L.K. “Zinc absorption, mineral balance, and blood lipids in women consuming controlled lactoovovegetarian and omnivorous diets for 8 weeks.” Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 67: 421- 430; 1998.
11. Kelley NS, Hubbard NE, Erickson KL. (2007). “Conjugated linoleic acid isomers and cancer.” J Nutr (UC Davis, Ca, USA) 137 (12): 2599-607.
12. Linus Pauling Institute. “Micronutrient Information Center.” Accessed 02 2010.
13. Robinson, J. Pasture Perfect: The Far Reaching Benefits of Choosing Meat, Eggs, and Dairy Products From Grass-Fed Animals. Vashon Island Press. 2004.
14. Rule D.C. (2002). “Comparison of muscle fatty acid profiles and cholesterol concentrations of bison, beef cattle, elk, and chicken.” Journal of Animal Science, 80: 1202-1211.
15. “Scientific Research.” http://www.eatwild.com. Accessed 02 2010.
16. Dhiman, T.R., G.R. Anand, L.D. Satter, and M.W. Pariza. (1999). “Conjugated Linolenic Acid Content of Milk from Cows Fed Different Diets.” J Dairy Sci. 82, (10): 2146-56.
17. Smith, G.C. “Dietary Supplementation of Vitamin E to Cattle to Improve Shelf-Life and Case-Life for Domestic and International Markets.” Colorado State University Department of Animal Sciences. www.dsm.com/en_US/downloads/dnpus/PNW_02_1.pdf. Accessed 02 2010.
18. Prache, S., A. Priolo, et al. (2003). “Persistence of carotenoid pigments in the blood of concentrate-finished grazing sheep: its significance for the traceability of grass-feeding.” J Anim Sci 81(2): 360-7.

Your right to make choices about your own body is being challenged.

I seldom, if ever, discuss politics with you. But this in one occasion when something needs to be said.

There’s a new bill in Congress.

If it passes, the FDA will have the right to permanently take away any vitamin or natural supplement it chooses. And once it’s gone, your access disappears… forever.

Imagine CoQ10 becoming illegal? Or if you could only take CoQ10 with a doctor’s prescription at 100 times the cost?

You have the right to choose what you put in your own body. And that includes natural medicine and nutritional supplements.

As the philosopher John Stuart Mill said, “Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign.”₁

This is where I stand.

But the bill before Congress intends to lessen, and perhaps take away, your right to have control over your body and mind.

This new “safety” bill would empower the FDA to permanently ban any nutritional supplement it considers “adulterated” or “misbranded.”

On the surface it sounds reasonable, but in practice, it means the FDA can make a list of accepted vitamins and ban all the rest. Europeans already live under such a law. It’s so restrictive; most people in Europe buy their vitamins here in the U.S.

Part of the problem is the way the bill is written. The language is open-ended and subject to broad interpretation.

Even if a vitamin company makes a mistake with their paperwork, or the FDA claims they made a mistake with their paperwork, they can take that product off the market forever. Even if that product has a clean track record.

Also at risk is the dose of a vitamin or nutrient. That means the FDA could say, for example, “Vitamin C is only safe at a dose of 10mg.”

But here’s the deal: If your vitamin C only has 10mg per tablet, you’d have to take an entire bottle to get a one-day supply. That’s another strategy the FDA could use to kill off a vitamin or nutrient.

This bill is dangerous: Both to your health and to your rights as an individual.

I urge you to click HERE and send a message to your Senator.

The Alliance for Natural Health has prepared the letter for you. All you have to do is fill in your name and address and click “send.”

Your voice counts.

Please take a moment to stand up and be counted.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD

1. Mill, JS. On Liberty. 1859. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 1978, p. 9.

You’d have to eat 10 servings of spinach to get the same level of minerals from just one serving about 50 years ago.₁

Producers create “hybrid” forms of your fruits and vegetables – not for their ability to store nutrients – but for their color, weight and shelve life. Why? So they’ll look nice and pretty when they sit under the fluorescent lights of your supermarket.

You may think they look nutritious, but “under the hood,” they contain little more than indigestible cellulose, sugar, and water.

To help protect you from this tragedy, I created a formula of powerful “green foods” that gives you the nutrient power of over 9 pounds of assorted vegetables – all from drinking a naturally fortified glass of juice or water.

This breakthrough is exciting news.

We first began to know that there was a problem back in 1936. A group of doctors introduced Document No. 264 to the floor of the United States Senate. It was a dire warning that the mineral content of the soil was eroding. Vegetables were losing their power and people were at risk.

Unfortunately Congress did nothing.

Today, we’re feeling the effects…

For instance, just look at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) nutritional values for fruits and vegetables today compared to 1975.₂

According to USDA’s own numbers, the vitamin and mineral content has dramatically plummeted – in just 30 years!

Notice minerals like iron and magnesium have dropped by more than 80 percent. That’s from commercial farming technology and powerful fertilizers that practically sterilize the soil – leaving it with little to no mineral content.

If the soil doesn’t have minerals, there’s no way for vegetables to absorb them.

And that’s bad news for your health. Magnesium regulates over 300 body functions every day and is critical to heart health and healthy glucose metabolism.*

But the story doesn’t end there…

I wasn’t the only one to realize your fruits and vegetables don’t pack the nutritional punch they used to. A report from the University of Texas in Austin, also tracked the decline of nutrients in produce.

They reported findings at a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in St. Louis. They found significant drops in a wide range of produce across the board, including a 20% decline in vitamin C and a 38% plunge in vitamin B2.

What’s worse, fruit and vegetable growers create “hybrids” for the sake of making their produce “look better.” They actually create new versions of all your favorites so they have more water, more sugar, more pith (the indigestible support tissue like the white fibrous netting around an orange section), and less of everything else.

Growers call this the “dilution effect.” For them, more water and more pith helps their produce ship well, look good, and weigh a lot. But it virtually wipes out their vitamin and mineral content.

The plunge in nutrients in your produce over the last 30 to 50 years is bad enough. But it is rapidly getting much worse. Genetic hybrids are pushing nutrient values even lower.

A popular broccoli hybrid called “Marathon” is an alarming example:

By the USDA’s own admission, levels of calcium and magnesium in the Marathon hybrid are 35% lower than other hybrids. The hybrids themselves are 50% lower in calcium and magnesium than “normal” broccoli. And the “normal” broccoli has less than half the calcium and magnesium than broccoli did in 1975!

In less than 50 years, the mineral, vitamin, and antioxidant value native to fruits and vegetables has been virtually “destroyed” – robbing you of the natural vital nutrients you need every day.

But you can take a simple step to get them back.

I’ve created a unique “super food” that gives you back everything you’re missing from your altered food supply.

It has all 71 minerals your body needs everyday – and they’re easy to absorb.

What do I mean by “super foods”?

I’m talking about things like spirulina and chlorophyll, which are packed with the natural vitamins that you need but you’re no longer getting from your produce.

Spirulina is the oldest food on earth, arriving on this planet over 3.5 billion years ago. It’s actually a kind of blue-green algae. After 30 years of clinical study, researchers agree it’s the world’s richest source of vitamins, minerals, iron, protein, and a host of other energizing and detoxifying nutrients.

Scientists at NASA consider it the perfect food for astronauts when they travel into space. In fact, one pound of spirulina has the nutritional power of 1,000 pounds of assorted vegetables.

Barley grass is very well balanced. It has the EXACT blend of amino acids, proteins, enzymes, vitamins, and minerals that you need for optimum health. Its healing powers are so historic you find it mentioned in the Bible.

I have also added over 40 other nutrients designed to boost your energy levels and give you a single source of total nutrition.* Here’s just a partial list of what you’ll find:

• A Total of 12 Green Super Foods
• 3 Essential Fibers
• 12 Healing Herbs
• 8 Additional Super Foods
• 6 Energy Dense Sea Vegetables
• Probiotic Growth Factor (Critical for Digestion and Nutrient Absorption)

Taken in combination, they are more than just the sum of their parts. They have a cumulative effect over time. My Wellness Research Foundation has been using my Ultra Greens formula with remarkable results. Reports of accelerated healing and better health are common.*

I’ve been using Ultra Greens with my patients, too. I’ve watched it improve cardiovascular health… repair and detoxify the liver and lymph nodes… turn the tables on fatigue… boost the immune system and revitalize, energize, and rejuvenate the body.

Living in the 21st century affords you many luxuries. High-speed computers… cell phones… air conditioning and plasma TVs… but the chemicals and industrial solvents that make them possible are poisonous. And they’re flowing through your blood as you read this letter.

In 2005, the nonprofit Environmental Working Group published the results of a sobering study. After analyzing the blood of newborn babies from around the country, they discovered 287 chemicals and other toxins.₄ One of the pesticides that turned up the most was a by-product of DDT – a pesticide banned in 1972.

They also found:

• 76 chemicals that damage cells in humans and animals.
• 94 that are toxic to the brain and nervous system.
• 79 that are toxic to a developing fetus.

At this point in history, we’re being poisoned before we take our first breath. But this is not limited to newborns. Not too long ago, PBS aired a Bill Moyers special called “Trade Secrets: A Moyers Report.” In it, Bill Moyers volunteered to have his blood and urine tested for chemical and toxic threats.₅

The results were not surprising: Eighty-four distinct chemicals, solvents and toxins that are known to be harmful to your health. These chemical residues – termed the “chemical body burden” – are present in every human being on this planet, regardless of where you live or what you do.

Dr. Michael McCally of Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York, who led the research team for the Bill Moyers report made this comment: “Current ‘normal’ body burdens of dioxin and several other [chemicals] in humans are at or near the range at which toxic effects occur in laboratory animals.”

The message is clear: Studies on animals show that the average person is carrying enough toxins to cause serious DNA damage.

Now you have a way to eliminate chemicals, toxins – even heavy metals from your body. It’s like having your own “clean up crew” that are specially trained to find, isolate and clear out harmful poisons.*

Chlorophyll connects to toxins in the gut and prevents them from being absorbed. Barley grass contains unique amino acids that create a type of cage (chelate) around deadly toxins and carry them out of your body.*

Let me explain…

The word chelate comes from the Greek word meaning “claw.” During the process of chelation, the amino acids in barley grass grab – like a claw – onto toxins like the chemicals and heavy metals flowing through your blood stream.

These “claws” bind to the toxins and drag them out of your system for elimination.*

And when these powerful green foods are used in combination, the results can be life -changing.

Spirulina also has this chelating – or “claw like” ability.

Here’s what some of the world’s leading researchers are saying about the detoxifying power of spirulina:

The super foods you’ll find in Ultra Greens invigorate every cell, every tissue and every organ in your body. Over time, its healing power can help balance and reset all your major systems – creating a brand-new body, and a whole new outlook on life.*

Here are just a few of the health concerns that Ultra Greens has relieved or improved:

• Healthy Weight Reduction: When you have toxins in your body, they’re stored in your fat cells. Ultra Greens removes those toxins, “emptying out your fat cells” for dramatic fat loss results.*
• Cardiovascular Health: Ultra Greens helps your body remove LDL (bad cholesterol) and maintain healthy triglyceride levels (blood fat). It also has the remarkable ability to maintain your blood pressure that is already within the normal range.*
• Joint Support: Ultra Greens clears away the chemicals and toxins that cause inflammation.* So far, Ultra Greens is one of the most effective long-term solutions for my patients with joint comfort and mobility concerns.*
• Fatigue and Difficulty Sleeping: Many of my patients report increased energy and athletic performance. Others tell me they’re sleeping better than they have in years. By purifying your blood and increasing the efficiency and output of your brain and other organs, Ultra Greens gives you “power on demand,” and a restful night’s sleep.*
• Wrinkles and Sagging Skin: I’ve seen noticeable improvements in skin tone and elasticity in the faces of my own patients. Ultra Greens, being a rich source of nucleic acids like DNA and RNA, provides your skin with age-defying nutrients. The result is smoother, firmer, more radiant skin – with fewer wrinkles and age spots!*
• Muscle Loss: Bodybuilders love Ultra Greens. Its high quality protein boosts muscle mass and gives them extra strength to push their limits. Even if you’re not interested in weight lifting, Ultra Greens prevents muscle loss and gives you that added kick when you need it.*
• Weakness and Digestion Trouble: The super foods in Ultra Greens mop up sluggish digestion and help promote healthy intestinal flora.* This is critical, especially if you’ve been eating bread all your life. The difference in your energy levels – and your moods – once this is cleared up is worth taking Ultra Greens all on its own.

Ultra Greens wipes your slate clean and brings you back into balance, the kind of health and stability our ancient ancestors enjoyed before the days of dangerous chemicals and our altered food supply.

I take Ultra Greens EVERY morning. After doing the research and seeing the results for myself (and in my patients), I don’t miss a day. And you shouldn’t either.

Experience for yourself what my patients are talking about. Click HERE and get started today.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD

P.S. – Don’t worry; Ultra Greens doesn’t have a bad aftertaste or unpleasant flavor… It dissolves easily in a glass of your favorite juice.

1. Heinrich, Elmer. The Root of All Disease.
2. Vegetables without Vitamins. Life Extension Magazine. March 2001.
3. Better than Vitamins. Newsweek. April 25, 1994.
4. Environmental Working Group. Body Burden – The Pollution in Newborns. July 14, 2005. www.ewg.org.
5. http://www.pbs.org/tradesecrets/problem/bodyburden.html
6. Janet Zand, LAc OMD; Allan Spreen, MD CNC; James LaValle, RPh ND. Smart Medicine For Healthier Living. p.164
7. Paul Pitchford. Healing With Whole Foods. p.192
8. Glenn Geelhoed, MD; Jean Barilla, MS. Natural Health Secrets. p.22

I love to get in the kitchen on a Sunday morning. My favorite breakfast is three eggs cooked in butter with a side of grass-fed steak. Plenty of protein and omega-3s. My family wakes up to the delicious smell, and you can’t beat the taste. We love steak and eggs.

But recently, I went back to the good old-fashioned cast-iron pots and pans my grandmother used to use. I threw out all my Teflon. As convenient as they are, I won’t use them.

The chemical that manufacturers use to prevent food from sticking is called perfluorooctanoate acid (PFOA). This substance is highly toxic to the environment and to the human body.

When you cook with Teflon, the toxic chemical gets into your food. Plus, the toxic fumes are released into the air. You don’t smell a thing. But anyone within breathing distance is in danger.

Most pet owners know, if you leave a Teflon pan on a hot stove, the fumes can kill your pet birds. Imagine what these fumes are doing to you and your family.

And it’s not just Teflon pans…

PFOA is used in other slippery products as well. Things like cleaners, polishes, and shampoo.

No wonder DuPont, who makes Teflon, was sued by 15 states. And 3M, who makes Scotchgard, had to change its formula.

PFOA gets in your liver, kidneys, and thyroid gland. Men, it gets in your testes. It compromises your immune system. It causes infertility, birth defects, and cancer. And it’s not like washing germs off your hands. It stays in your body for decades.

Eliminate your exposure to this toxic substance wherever you can. This means thinking carefully about how you prepare your food at home. Consider using cast-iron cookware or enamel-coated pans.

To help get these chemicals out of your body, add these natural supplements to your diet:

• Chlorella: Chlorella is a dried algae. It’s a complete protein with anti-cancer and immune-building properties. It has been used for hundreds of years as a detoxifier. Take 500 mg per day to start and up to 20-30 g a day.
• Spirulina: Another high-protein algae, spirulina is an ancient detoxifier. Again, start with about 500 mg a day and up to 25 g a day.
• Cilantro: This is a delicious herb you can use in cooking and salads. I like to munch on it for a snack. You can eat as much as you want… the more the better. Start with a handful.

To protect your cells against damage, try this:

• Alpha Lipoic Acid: It’s an antioxidant that detoxifies and protects your cells. It also helps other antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, and CoQ10 work better. Take 100 mg a day.
• SAMe: This is your liver’s super nutrient. It helps to reverse the effect of chemicals. Take up to 200 mg a day.
• MSM: A great detoxifier, MSM also provides relief from pain and allergies. Take 900 mg up to 3 times a day.
• Milk Thistle: Great for your liver, kidney, pancreas, and all organs affected by toxic exposure. Take 300-600 mg a day.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD

1. Sandy, M. “Petition for Expedited CIC Consideration of Perfluorooctanic Acid (PFOA).” Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Cancer Toxicology and Epidemiology Section Reproductive and Cancer Hazard Assessment Branch. http://www.oehha.ca.gov/Prop65/public_meetings/pdf/PFOACIC%20Slides121206.pdf

On Sunday, I’ll be driving down to Miami with a few friends to watch the big game. I’m extra excited because my new fitness book, P.A.C.E.: The 12-Minute Fitness Revolution, is being featured in the official program for the event.

The Super Bowl is a truly American tradition that brings families and friends together for a day of good fun and good food.

And good beer.

Many of the low-carb diets claim that beer has a high-glycemic index and will make you fat. But that’s not necessarily true.

I’ll show you why this claim is bogus and how it misses a more important point – the glycemic load.

And I’ll show you the best beers for your Super Bowl party. You can still enjoy the fuller flavor of “real” beers without having to suffer the watered-down, low-calorie beers that taste like ginger-ale, or worse.

You’ll also discover:

• What can cause a “beer belly”
• How to tell the difference between carbs that matter and those that don’t
• How you can pick up a beer with confidence instead of guilt

Good News for Beer Lovers… It’s Good for Your Heart

A study  Israel adds evidence that a beer a day may help keep heart attacks away. Men with heart disease drinking one beer a day for a month decreased cholesterol levels, increased antioxidants, and reduced levels of fibrinogen, a clot-producing protein in your blood.1

Lower fibrinogen levels are associated with lower rates of heart attacks and strokes. Several population studies have linked moderate beer consumption to a reduced risk of coronary heart disease and heart attack.

But as you’ve been hearing in recent years, excess carbs will give you excess belly fat. With a beer weighing in with an average of 11 grams of carbs per bottle, it’s leaving carb-counting beer drinkers a little parched.

Yet, there is more to the story of carbs and beer. To understand this point, let’s take a quick look at how beer is made.

Let the Yeast Take Care of the Carbs

Beer makers start with malted barley. When they brew barley malt, the liquid contains a lot of the sugar, maltose, and other starches  the grains. Does this equal high carbs? Yes. But wait…

During the next step, the fermentation process, they add yeast. Yeast cells eat carbohydrate. They convert it into alcohol and natural carbonation: the beverage you know as beer. The longer this fermentation process goes on, the higher the alcohol content and the less unfermented carbohydrates remain.

But what about the supposed high-glycemic index of carbs in beer?

In the Real World, Glycemic Load Matters

The glycemic index measures how fast and high a specific food or beverage increases your blood sugar. A lower glycemic index indicates a food will stimulate less blood sugar and is a “good” carb. A higher one means it’s a “bad” carb. This system is useful but fallible because it doesn’t account for your carbohydrate serving size. A better measure is your glycemic load.2

Glycemic load measures the effect of the total amount of a food on your blood sugar. To find the glycemic load of any food or beverage, simply multiply the glycemic index by the number of carbs per serving and then divide by 100.3 What’s a healthy number? Shoot for 10 or less.4

This distinction happens to be critically important when it comes to beer…

Beer Is Bad? The Diet Books Get It Wrong

Now back to the low-carb diet books telling you that beer has a high-glycemic index that will make you fat. You’ll wonder how they came to this conclusion after you look at the tests to determine glycemic index.

We measure the glycemic index by having a test subject consume 100 grams of a carbohydrate test food or beverage all at once. It has to be consumed within 15 minutes.

We then measure blood sugar every half hour over the next two hours. Then we compare these blood sugars with the blood sugars produced in response to 100 grams of sugar water.5

To test beer’s glycemic index, a test subject would consume 100 grams of carbohydrate. With an average of 11 grams per beer, you would have to drink nine beers all at once. To test a light beer, you have to drink more.

If someone tells you that a low-carb beer with 2.6 grams of carbs will make you fat because it has a high-glycemic index, ask them, “Who drank 24 beers within 15 minutes?” Even if you use only 50 grams of carbs, beer can’t be tested without causing test subjects excessive drunkenness!6

So what should you make of the diet books’ glycemic warnings about beer? Ignore that section of the low-carb books and forget about beer’s glycemic index. If you limit yourself to a couple of beers, there’s simply not enough carbs to conduct a meaningful test – or to have a meaningful impact on your blood sugar. But you can do even better.

Drink a Six-Pack, But Keep Those Six-Pack Abs

Now for the best news about carbs and beer. Since yeast feed on the carbs in beer, to lower the carbs all a brewer has to do is to let the fermentation proceed for longer.

Recently brewers have found ways to manipulate this feeding frenzy to allow the yeast to remove naturally nearly all of the carbs. This also has the advantage of avoiding the watering down of low-cal light beers.

Anheuser-Busch produced the first low-carb beer. For about a year, Michelob Ultra was the only low-carb on the block. Busch reports it has had the fastest growth of any new brew they have ever introduced. In less than a year, it shot to number 7 in sales for premium beers, eclipsing the acceptance of light beers a couple of decades back.7

Now other brewers are looking for their share of this fast-growing market. In recent years, beers  Labatt and Coors have joined Michelob Ultra. These beers boast less than three grams of carbs per bottle. They have less than half of the carbs but twice the flavor of some light brands.

Here’s how the popular brews stack up when it comes to carbs:

Notice that the only light beer that compares to the low-carb brews is Miller Lite. But if you actually like the taste of beer, Lite may leave you with the feeling that you’re drinking a mix of water and beer.

Note that you get fewer carbs in four Michelob Ultras (10.4 g) than in one Michelob Light (11.7 g). You could drink five Rock Green Lights (my pick) and have fewer carbs at 12.0 than if you drank one regular Rolling Rock, which has 13.0. What’s more, each of these new low-carb brews seems to outperform the last, in terms of flavor and fullness.

The first three all have full-bodied taste but have the lowest carbs, as these are the specially formulated low-carb brews. You can find some European imports that will top off at 30 grams of carbs.

You’ll want to partake in these in moderation, if at all. Also, the “beer alternatives” such as wine coolers and hard ciders are in no way healthier and much worse when it comes to carbs. They start at around 26 grams and go up  there. If you’re cutting carbs, give those a wide berth.

Try a taste test of the lowest on the list and see which you prefer. If you like a beer now and then, you may be able to kick back and enjoy a cold one this Super Bowl with a little less guilt.

Has your doctor recommended you take a statin (cholesterol-lowering) drug?

In the old days, almost all of my heart patients were on statins. These days, even people who don’t have heart problems are taking them.

Most doctors have good intentions. They prescribe statins as a preventative. This sounds great until you look at just a few of the side effects from taking these drugs:

• Muscle pain
• Liver damage
• Nausea
• Lowered mental performance
• Chronic fatigue
• Cardiomyopathy (deterioration of your heart’s function)

But that’s not all. Statins aggressively deplete your heart of life-giving CoQ10. This leads to even more problems, including congestive heart failure.

This is a serious problem.

Consider this…

“I have seen a frightening increase in heart failure secondary to statin usage … Over the past five years, statins have become more potent, are being prescribed in higher doses, and are being used with reckless abandon in the elderly and in patients with ‘normal’ cholesterol levels.” (Dr. Peter H. Langsjoen, a leading authority on treating heart disease with CoQ10)

99% of the time, statins are unnecessary.

For example, did you know a common, everyday fruit can lower cholesterol just as well?

You probably have it in your kitchen right now.

I’m talking about avocados. This tasty fruit is packed with heart-healthy oleic acid.

In one study, researchers got a group of people with high cholesterol. They put them on a diet high in avocados. The result?

After just one week, the subjects significantly lowered their total cholesterol and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. Even more impressive – their HDL increased by 11%.₁

This is just one of many natural and powerful alternatives to statins.

Here are three more.

Fish – A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that regularly eating fish or taking fish oil supplements was just as effective at reducing the risk of death from heart attack as statin drugs.₂ Wild-caught salmon is best. It doesn’t have all the pollutants found in farm-raised fish. It’s also high in omega-3s. Or you can supplement. I recommend anywhere from 700 to 2,000 mg per day.

Ginger – This amazing blood thinner is also effective at lowering total cholesterol. In one study, researchers gave mice with high cholesterol a ginger extract for 10 weeks. At the end of the study, the mice had significantly lowered their cholesterol.₃ I recommend you take 300 mg daily.

A glass of wine – Okay, so it’s not technically a food. But it can improve your cholesterol naturally. A review study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found a link between moderate alcohol consumption (1-2 drinks a day) and improved HDL. Turns out it can boost it by 12%.₄ The key here is moderation. Don’t go overboard. If you go this route, I suggest you drink red wine. In addition to the HDL-boosting effect, you’ll get a small dose of the powerful antioxidant resveratrol.

When I first started my practice, I quickly became known for successfully diagnosing “incurable” patients.

Many times I just followed the mantra, “Let food be your medicine.”

My friend and colleague, Dr. Jonathan V. Wright shares a very similar view. And quite an impressive track record.

Just as I’ve done in my own practice, he’s used little-known food cures to solve some of the most seemingly complex medical cases.

Here’s just a small sample of the incredible breakthroughs he’s come across:

• An all-natural, ancient Chinese herbal therapy that could make more than half of all fibroid surgeries unnecessary. In an open study, this little herb improved the fibroids or totally normalized conditions for 60% of premenopausal women.
• A simple cane sugar extract that can boost HDL cholesterol by up to 29%. Slash total cholesterol by as much as 17%. And smash LDL (“bad”) cholesterol by an amazing 25%.
• The “everyday” vegetable you can find at your grocery store that can literally destroy cervical cancer cells.
• The one kind of sugar that actually protects you from cavities, fights germs, and can even prevent infection.

Dr. Wright has put together these and other natural food cures into a collection of 7 volumes called the “Library of Food & Vitamin Cures.” In it you’ll find cures for almost any condition you can think of. From high cholesterol to bursitis and psoriasis.

To find out more about Dr. Wright and how you can get a FREE copy of his “Library of Food & Vitamin Cures,” through a special offer, click here.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD

1. 1. Lopez LLedesma R, Frati Munari AC, Hernandez Dominguez BC, et al. Monounsaturated fatty acid (avocado) rich diet for mild hypercholesterolemia. Arch Med Res 1996 Winter;27(4):519-23 1996.
2. 2. Studer M, Briel M, Leimenstoll B, Glass TR, Bucher HC. Effect of different antilipidemic agents and diet on mortality, a systematic review. Arch Intern Med. 2005 Apr;165(7):725-30.
3. 3. Furman B., et al. Ginger extract consumption reduces plasma cholesterol, inhibits LDL oxidation and attenuates development of atherosclerosis in atherosclerotic mice. J Nutr 200; 130: 1124-1131
4. 4. Singh I, et al, “High-Density Lipoprotein as a Therapeutic Target—A Systematic Review,” Journal of the American Medical Association, 298 (2007): 787, 790, 795.

A revealing study found something very important. For some reason, I find that people have a hard time believing it. But because it is so valuable, let’s see if I can convince you…

People who eat low-carb, high-protein diets lose fat and gain muscle.₁

In fact, in this study, the people who ate a high-protein diet shed seven pounds in six weeks. The group who followed a standard diet didn’t drop any weight. And, the high-protein group simultaneously gained twice as much muscle.

Protein gives you the feeling that you’re full, more so than carbs or fat. Why? Because protein boosts your sensitivity to a hormone called leptin. This hormone tells your brain that you’re full. As a result, you feel satisfied. Overeating stops.

Here are some guidelines for adding protein to your diet…

1. Foods that are high in protein are the most delicious. Meat and eggs are your best sources. If possible, eat grass-fed beef. The flavor is great, and it’s far better for you because it has the right kinds of fats. Eggs are the perfect food. I eat them everyday. They are the “gold standard” by which we rate all other protein. This means that all of the amino acids are there in the ratios you need in one place. For best results, eat eggs that come from free-range chickens.
2. The standard recommendation is 50 to 60 grams of protein a day. But Americans in general eat far too little protein, so these numbers are far too low. To reduce your appetite – and shed weight – try one gram of protein for every pound of lean muscle. If you weigh 180 pounds and have 20 percent body fat, you have 144 pounds of lean muscle mass. So shoot for 144 grams of protein a day. If you don’t know your body fat percentage, the average man is between 15 and 18 percent, and the average woman is between 18 and 22 percent.
3. If you’re not getting enough protein, supplementing with protein powder can be a big help. A protein shake after working out is a reliable way to boost your protein intake and help build new muscle as part of your strength-training program.

   Whey protein is the best. But here’s the problem: Commercial protein powders come from grain-fed cattle. By the time they reach maturity, grain-fed cattle are sick and diseased.

   The whey protein cultivated from grain-fed cows is compromised and denatured. You get all the hormones and antibiotics that were pumped into the cow, which may be in a more concentrated form.

I have a solution:

Grass-fed whey protein.

Grass-fed whey protein comes from free-roaming, pasture-fed cows. They enjoy a grass-only diet with no exposure to chemicals, toxins, or other dangerous drugs.

The whey protein from grass-fed cows is fresh and potent.

Equally impressive is what you won’t find: No high-fructose corn syrup… no trans fats… no gluten… no soy protein… no aspartame or artificial sweeteners… just the cleanest, most powerful source of whey protein available.

We just received our first batch here at the office, and already I have two bottles on my desk waiting to come home with me.

This is big news. We’ve been waiting for over a year to find the right supplier and get the best possible grass-fed whey… it’s a lot harder than you think. Grass-fed whey protein is not easy to find.

But what a difference it makes!

What I have sitting right here in front of me is potent. I’m very excited about the quality. You can feel it.

Over-consuming protein is one of the easiest, most reliable ways of triggering high-speed fat loss. In addition, you’ll guarantee your body has the building blocks it needs for optimum health.

This grass-fed whey protein gives you a distinct energy boost, and I noticed a slimming effect around my belly.

It’s such high quality, it simply doesn’t compare to anything else on the market.

This grass-fed whey will immediately become part of your workout routine… and even if you’re not doing PACE, it will help you slim down and get lean as part of a high-protein diet. And it will help add much needed new muscle as part of a strength-training program.

I suggest you pick up a bottle right now…

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD

1. Phinney S. Ketogenic diets and physical performance. Nutrition & Metabolism. Aug 2004. 1:2

You know that I don’t often tell you to take supplements when you can find it in food. But there is one supplement I recommend to all of my patients and take myself every day.

It is Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10).

CoQ10 puts cancer into remission and is such a powerful heart cure, it reverses heart disease. It acts like a generator for every organ in your body. It increases energy so they function at their best.

CoQ10 is key to the protection of your body’s cells. It’s just like the key you use to lock your front door, keeping you safe and secure. Without enough CoQ10, your cells become weak and open to attack.

Now, CoQ10 is proven to fight what I believe is the root cause of all disease: inflammation.

An obesity study centered on mice that were fed a high-fat, high-fructose diet – just like the junk food diet many people eat. Not surprisingly, the mice developed inflammation and disease complications. When CoQ10 was added, inflammation decreased.₁

This is great news if you have a few pounds to lose. CoQ10 will help guard against diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and every disease associated with obesity.

CoQ10 has so many benefits, it’s surprising foods are not fortified with it.

The best natural source of CoQ10 is red meat, especially organ meat. Our ancestors had it made. They thrived on a diet of fresh beef heart and liver. You can too, simply by adding grass-fed organ meat once or twice a week to your diet.

If you don’t like dining on hearts and liver, you can get almost the same level of this important coenzyme by eating a juicy steak a few times a week.

This will give you an idea of the concentrations of CoQ10 found in meats:_2,3

Whether or not you’re a meat eater, your body still may be deficient. Here are three things that cause a deficiency:₄

1. Missing Nutrients: Your body needs vitamins to use CoQ10. If you’re missing vitamins B2, B3, B6, B12, vitamin C, folic acid, or pantothenic acid, you may be in trouble.
2. Drugs: Statins, beta blockers, diabetic medications, or other drugs rob your body of CoQ10.
3. Drain: Obesity, exercising like a maniac, or severe shock causes inflammation. It uses up CoQ10.

This is why I recommend taking a CoQ10 supplement. Every tissue in your body responds to CoQ10. So every disease or dysfunction responds well when it’s added to your diet.

Here’s what you can do right now to increase CoQ10 and decrease inflammation:

• Include CoQ10 to help reverse the effects of inflammation. You can take the usual ubiquinone if you’re under 25. Take the more potent form, ubiquinol, if you’re over 25.
• I usually take 50 mg as a “baseline” preventative. If there are health problems, I gradually increase the dosage up to 400 mg.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD

1. Sohet, F., Neyrinck, A., et al. “Coenzyme Q10 supplementation lowers hepatic oxidative stress and inflammation associated with diet-induced obesity in mice” Biochemical Pharmacology Dec09; 78(11): 1391-1400.
2. Kamei et al., “The distribution and content of ubiquinone in foods,” Internat. J. Vit. Nutr. Res. 56 (1986) 57-63.
3. Mattila, et al., “Coenzymes Q9 and Q10: contents in foods and dietary intake,” Journal of Food Composition and Analysis 14 (2001) 409-417.
4. “Introduction to Coenzyme Q10” by Peter H. Langsjoen, MD., F.A.C.C. A4M Conference 2007

Did you know that, when tested, newborn babies have an average of 200 industrial chemicals and pollutants already present in their blood?₁

Then, as we make our way through life, toxins enter our body through the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and even through our skin.

The world we were designed to live in over millions of years has recently changed. And our bodies haven’t adapted quickly enough to flush out the countless man-made chemicals, toxins, and pollutants that are now present in our everyday lives.

But getting rid of these toxins will help you live a longer, disease-free life. You can reduce or eliminate numerous problems such as chronic pain, digestive troubles, depression, and even poor eyesight. Detoxifying your body can boost your immune system, clear your mind, balance your hormones, and much more.

The good news is there are steps you can take to cleanse your body.

A key concept to remember when it comes to detox is chelation. The word “chelate” comes from the Greek word “chele,” which means “claw.” It describes the process by which a molecule from a nutrient (or chemical) surrounds and binds (or grabs like a claw) to metal toxins – such as mercury, lead, and arsenic – and carries them out of your body through your kidneys and out in your urine.

Chances are you have some level of exposure to heavy metals. Believe it or not, arsenic and lead are among the most common forms of heavy metal toxicity.₂ These poisons are used in the manufacturing processes of things like pesticides, glass, wood preservatives, fertilizers, paint, batteries, plumbing, and ink. Not to mention hobby paints, hair coloring, and cosmetics.

In some cases, doctors will use a synthetic solution or chemical called ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) through injection. But this can sometimes cause side effects, including headache, rash, and high blood pressure. And in some cases, it can remove vital minerals from your body along with the toxins.₃

There are some safer, more natural methods of chelation that I recommend for removing toxic metals from your body.

You can take chlorella, a form of dried algae. You can find it in most health-food stores. Take one 500 mg capsule per day initially. Some people are sensitive to chlorella. If you start experiencing nausea or burping, it means your body can’t tolerate it, and you should go for another option.

If you don’t have a sensitivity, work up slowly over one to two weeks to a dose of one teaspoon (10 tablets or capsules) per day until your levels come down.

Fresh cilantro has also been shown to remove mercury from the body. About a teaspoon a day should work.

Garlic is also good. Three cloves of fresh garlic per day should help.

There’s another powerful “chelator” you can use to flush dangerous toxins from your body.

Research from my colleague, Dr. Nan Fuchs, produced a remarkably safe and effective detoxifier.

It’s called modified citrus pectin, and it’s made from the inner peel of citrus fruits. Modified citrus pectin is one of the most powerful chelating substances I’ve found in the world, and it’s been proven to work in human clinical studies.

In one recent study, USDA scientists gave people modified citrus pectin for six days.₄ The scientists measured the amount of toxins excreted in their urine before taking the modified citrus pectin and 24 hours after taking the citrus pectin.

The results?

• The amount of deadly arsenic excreted in participants’ urine increased by 130%…
• The amount of toxic mercury excreted increased by 150%…
• The amount of cadmium excreted increased by a whopping 230%…
• And the amount of toxic lead excreted increased by 560%.

Results like these in only 24 hours are remarkable.

And here’s something else: Even though modified citrus pectin is strong enough to soak up toxins and heavy metals like a sponge, it’s also gentle on your system. Not a single person in these human trials reported any side effects.

In fact, modified citrus pectin is so safe it has been tested on children as young as 5 years old who suffer from lead poisoning. Every child tested had a dramatic increase in the excretion of lead in their urine – over 130% on average.₅

Modified citrus pectin is safer than many forms of chelation therapy, because it does NOT deplete the essential minerals your body needs. So while it eliminates toxic metals and pesticides like lead, cadmium, and mercury, it doesn’t deplete your body of zinc, calcium, or magnesium. In fact, there was no change in the level of these vital minerals in patients during the study.

Now before you run out and buy citrus pectin, you have to make sure you’re getting the right kind. There are a lot of people out there selling citrus pectin, but it’s not the same kind that was used in the clinical studies.

You see, most citrus pectin is composed of large, long-chain carbohydrate molecules that are too big for your body to digest. So the pectin simply passes through your body without binding to toxins.

The good news is, a colleague of my friend Dr. Nan Fuchs found a way to modify citrus pectin that makes it very easy for your body to digest.

The result is a patented form of modified citrus pectin called PectaSol®. It easily binds to toxins, so they can be eliminated by your body’s digestive system. In fact, PectaSol® is so powerful, it can trap and remove significant amounts of toxins in as little as 24 hours.

I recommend you read the following letter from Dr. Fuchs.

She’ll tell you everything you need to know about this powerful detoxifier.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD

1. Environmental Working Group. “Body of Burden – The Pollution in Newborns.” July 14, 2005.
2. Sherman, Cathy. “Tracing Pesticides in Children From Ingestion to Elimination”, NaturalNews.com. 3/28/08
3. “Heavy Metal Toxicity”, Life Extension, 6/12/03, www.lef.org
4. Phytotherapy. Res. 20, 2006; 859–864
5. Alternative Therapies, Jul/Aug 2008, Vol. 14, No. 4

Flu season hit us this year with a vengeance. With the swine flu (H1N1), it’s an epidemic.

And it’s not over yet. Moms are in a panic, waiting for a cough or fever that signals the start of a serious, contagious disease. It’s not entirely unreasonable to worry, because the flu results in approximately 30,000 deaths a year.₁

But there is something you can do about it. Prevention is as close as your cupboard.

Last month a Japanese researcher showed that green tea contains a powerful antioxidant that fights against three types of flu viruses, including H1N1.₂

Simply gargling or drinking a cup of green tea is a better way to prevent the flu than the common prescription drug used to prevent and treat it, Amantadine.

A good cup of home-brewed tea contains five to seven times the concentration needed to cut flu infections in half. Even H1N1.

Natural Flu Remedies: Green tea contains anti-bacterial properties, and has also been shown to:

• Zap harmful free radicals.₃
• Promote joint comfort and mobility.₄
• Support healthy DNA, leaving cells stable and healthy.₅
• Boost your exercise capacity by up to 30%.₆
• Offer 25 to 100 times the potency of vitamins C and E.₇
• Change the way your body reacts to LDL to maintain healthy arteries.₈
• Fight against the damaging effects of toxin exposure._9,10
• Guard against cancer.₁₁
• Increase the length of telomeres to reset your biological clock.₁₂
• Prevent bad breath and maintain healthy skin.₁₃

But stay away from green tea drinks that contain sugar, aspartame, or chemical additives. These additives counter the effects of the tea.

Instead, brew your own…

To brew a cup of green tea, bring water to a boil and combine with tea leaves in a teapot. Steep for one to four minutes, depending on the tea you use and the strength you enjoy. Drink it hot or pour it over ice. Try drinking green tea throughout the day for the best effects.

You can’t entirely isolate yourself from infection. But you can do something else right now to start building up your immune defenses.

Natural Flu Remedies: Here are five supplements I recommend for maximum protection:

1. CoQ10 – CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant that shields your body from free radicals that bombard your cells every single day. I recommend that everyone take CoQ10 regularly as a constant source of new energy for your cells. For best results, make sure it contains a special form of CoQ10 called ubiquinol, which is 8 times more potent than regular CoQ10.

2. SOD – Often called the body’s “master antioxidant,” SOD can do more for your health than any other antioxidant on the planet. SOD doesn’t just seek and destroy free radicals… it acts as a suit of armor, making every cell in your body more resilient and better able to fight off free radical attacks.

3. Resveratrol – Resveratrol acts as a potent antioxidant by binding with free radicals. It’s found naturally in grapes, blueberries, and cranberries, but it’s difficult – if not impossible – to get enough of it from food alone. That’s why I recommend taking a supplement for the highest degree of protection.

4. Cod Liver Oil – The omega-3 essential fatty acids found in cod liver oil can help reduce inflammation. And it’s full of vitamin D, which acts as a great immune system booster. In fact, a recent study found that people recovering from colds, flus, and other respiratory infections had low levels of vitamin D in their blood. The study results also showed people with lower levels of vitamin D were 40% more likely to have respiratory infections.₁₄

5. Daily Multi-Vitamin – Unfortunately, with our western diet of processed and refined foods, most of us are lacking all the vitamins our bodies need. This chronic lack of critical nutrients puts you at risk for today’s most serious health threats. I always say that taking a multi-vitamin is the first step to better health for everyone. It’s inexpensive and easy to add to your daily routine.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, accessed 1/1/10: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/fluactivity.htm
2. EGCg in Green Tea Inhibits Flu Infection, The Medical News, 12/24/09:
   http://www.news-medical.net/news/20091224/EGCg-in-green-tea-inhibits-flu-infection.aspx
3. Rahman I, Biswas SK, Kirkham PA. Regulation of inflammation and redox signaling by dietary polyphenols. Biochem Pharmacol. 2006 Nov 30;72(11):1439-52.
4. Haqqi T et al. “Prevention of collagen induced arthritis in mice by a polyphenolic fraction from green tea.” PNAS April 13, 1999 vol. 96 no. 8 4524-4529.
5. Curin Y, Andriantsitohaina R. Polyphenols as potential therapeutical agents against cardiovascular diseases. Pharmacol Rep. 2005;57 Suppl:97-107.
6. Murase T, Haramizu S, Shimotoyodome A, Tokimitsu I, Hase T. Green tea extract improves running endurance in mice by stimulating lipid utilization during exercise. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2006 Jun;290(6):R1550-6.
7. Pillai SP, Mitscher LA, Menon SR, et al. Antimutagenic/antioxidant activity of green tea components and related compounds. J Environ Pathol Toxicol Oncol. 1999;18(3):147-58.
8. D. Kaul, K. Sikand, A. R. Shukla. Effect of green tea polyphenols on the genes with atherosclerotic potential. Phytotherapy Research. Vol.18, Issue 2, pp. 177 to 179.
9. Shangqin Guo, et al. Green Tea Polyphenol Epigallocatechin-3 Gallate (EGCG) Affects Gene Expression of Breast Cancer Cells. J. Nutr. 135:2978S-2986S, December 2005.
10. Sun CL, Yuan JM, Lee MJ, Yang CS, Gao YT, Ross RK, Yu MC. Urinary tea polyphenols in relation to gastric and esophageal cancers: A prospective study of men in Shanghai, China. Carcin 2002; 23(9):1497–1503.
11. R. Chan, J. Woo, E. Suen, J. Leung, N. Tang, “Chinese tea consumption is associated with longer telomere length in elderly Chinese men” British Journal of Nutrition, Aug, 12, 2009: http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=6047776
12. Cho HS, Kim S, et al. “Protective effect of the green tea component, L-theanine on environmental toxins-induced neuronal cell death.” Neurotoxicology. 2008 Jul;29(4):656-62. Epub 2008 Mar 20.
13. Hamilton-Miller, JM.“Antimicrobial properties of tea(Camellia sinensis L.)” Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1995 November; 39(11): 2375–2377.
14. Archives of Internal Medicine, Vol.169 No.4, Feb. 23, 2009.

Many minerals – like iron and zinc and selenium – are essential to life. Without them, your body could not function. And because your body can’t make them, you need a reliable source from your diet.

On commercial farms, the soil no longer has the minerals it used to. That means you may be suffering from a mineral deficiency.

I consider selenium a “must-have” mineral. It’s a major player in the fight against chronic disease. Selenium dramatically lowers your risk for many types of cancer. These include lung, colon, liver, and prostate cancer.

But there’s more to selenium’s protective power. A study from the University of North Carolina shows that selenium can also lower your risk of osteoarthritis.₁ Researchers found that people’s risk was related to the level of selenium in their bodies.

To give you an idea of how powerful this mineral is, an increase of just one tenth of a part per million decreased their risk of osteoarthritis by 15 to 20 percent. The higher the amount of selenium, the more their risk dropped.

It’s also one of the most powerful antioxidants on the planet. For your bones and joints, it protects your cartilage and prevents the inflammation that causes joint pain.

As a cancer fighter, selenium slows down tumors by cutting off their blood supply. And it kills cancer cells by triggering a built-in program that kills off damaged cells.₂

What’s more, it stops LDL cholesterol (the bad kind) from sticking to your arteries.₃

So, how do you get more selenium in your diet?

Well, you won’t find much of it in fruits or vegetables. That’s why vegetarians often suffer from a lack of this very important mineral.

The best sources are fish, red meat, and Brazil nuts. I recommend you get at least 55 micrograms of selenium a day. Notice I said micrograms, not milligrams. The amount is very small.

The list below will give you a better idea:₄

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD

1. Press Release. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Nov 18, 2005.
2. Selenium has been shown to induce apoptosis in cancer cells. Yeo et al. 2002
3. Neve J. Selenium as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. J Cardiovasc Risk 1996;3:42-7.
4. Office of Dietary Supplements. National Institutes of Health. http://ods.od.nih.gov.