| Many of us have family health issues that are | | | | With that in mind, here is what you can do to |
| cause for concern. We tend to blame our genetic | | | | improve your cholesterol. |
| programming for weight gain, cholesterol levels, | | | | * Eat a daily diet rich in fruit and vegetables; eat |
| depression and many other health concerns. Very | | | | fish, a handful of nuts, legumes, olive oil and whole |
| few conditions are hard wired into our genes. In | | | | grains. Avoid deep fried foods, red meat, white |
| most instances, our genes have gotten a bad rap. | | | | bread, white rice and sugar. Use alcohol sparingly. |
| Many people are unaware that if you do have a | | | | * Vitamin C was researched by Linus Pauling. He |
| genetic predisposition to something you can | | | | found that taking higher amounts of vitamin C |
| change the way your genes are expressed. You | | | | leads to a reduction of heart disease and |
| can turn on or off their expression through the | | | | cholesterol. I recommend 500 to 1000mgs per |
| choices you make. I hope you will learn herein | | | | day. Eating foods such as fruits and vegetables |
| that you have more control and responsibility for | | | | that are rich in vitamin C is helpful. |
| your path to lead to health. For the great | | | | * Tri-chol is a supplement from Biotics Research |
| majority of your choices, you can chart a course | | | | that works very well to bring down bad |
| to wellness. | | | | cholesterol levels over time. It contains a few key |
| Here are some scenarios that may help you to | | | | ingredients like niacin, chromium, guggul, fo-ti and |
| see how lifestyle plays a huge role in our health. | | | | bitter orange, for example. It is available in the |
| 1. The proverbial "fat gene" | | | | clinic. |
| Here is the internal dialogue for people who blame | | | | * Fish oil is an excellent supplement for anyone to |
| the fat gene: "Diets and exercise don't work for | | | | take. It acts to improve cardiovascular health, |
| me because all of the women in my family are | | | | relieves arthritic pains and is good brain food. Take |
| overweight. We have the fat gene." People who | | | | 1,000 mgs of fish oil per day. Fish oil capsules |
| believe this make a lot of excuses why they just | | | | should contain 300 to 400 mgs of EPA per |
| give up on diets. It is not dieting that is the key to | | | | capsule. |
| losing weight, but rather long-term healthy choices. | | | | * Exercise daily to reduce stress and improve |
| Here is a better way of assessing the "fat gene". | | | | cardiovascular health. |
| Certain family's patterns of eating, exercise and | | | | 3. "Cancer runs in families" |
| lifestyle are learned. For example, you grow up | | | | Cancer does run in families, but people can do |
| eating the wrong foods or not engaging in much | | | | things to help prevent the incidence of this |
| exercise. These lifelong choices hinder the | | | | disease. Prevention is much easier than the cure. |
| metabolism in later years and lead to insulin | | | | In particular, vegetarian and high fibre diets are |
| resistance. (Insulin resistance is a condition that | | | | useful in preventing certain types of cancer, such |
| impedes proper use of insulin. The body tends to | | | | as breast, prostate and colon. If you have a |
| hold onto fat cells and uses food to store more | | | | hypothyroid, you may be more susceptible to |
| fat because it is not getting the right signals about | | | | breast cancer. Seek the help of an alternative |
| our blood sugar. Over time, eating in a manner | | | | practitioner to support your thyroid function. Many |
| that produces insulin resistance stunts our | | | | women are given medication and assume that |
| metabolism and causes a host of other problems | | | | nothing else can be done. Some people can |
| like heart disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer.) | | | | actually reverse their hypothyroidism through diet |
| From a different perspective, often heavy people | | | | and supplements. I did this for myself 14 years |
| learn to accept being overweight as the norm | | | | ago and haven't needed medication at all. |
| because they have come to identify themselves | | | | Some supplements that are toted for cancer |
| and family as the "chubby one". You may have to | | | | prevention, especially breast, colon and prostate |
| reprogram your brain to regain a leaner physique. | | | | are: |
| What can you do for yourself? | | | | * Ground flaxseed contains lignans that help to |
| * Don't beat yourself up over your weight. Love | | | | bind negative hormones and helps to sweep |
| yourself and give yourself positive messages. | | | | toxins from the intestinal tract. |
| Seek support from helpful friends who have your | | | | * Broccoli Extract in the form of I3C or DIM, has |
| best interest at heart. Dismiss those friends and | | | | been found to help prevent breast and prostate |
| family members who offer you tempting junk | | | | cancer. The compound found in cruciferous |
| food when they are aware you are trying to | | | | vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage or brussel |
| improve your health. | | | | sprouts, I3C, helps to metabolize harmful |
| * Eat foods that are low glycemic and lower in | | | | estrogens and hormonal compounds. |
| fat. For more information on the glycemic index, | | | | * Vitamin D 1,000 IU's or more taken daily has |
| refer to my book called "Your Drug Free Guide to | | | | been found to prevent breast, prostate and colon |
| Healthy Weight Loss" | | | | cancer, osteoporosis and multiple sclerosis. |
| * Seek the help of your alternative health | | | | * Calcium and Magnesium in higher levels have |
| practitioner or dietitian if you are unsure why you | | | | been linked to less incidence of colon cancer. |
| are not achieving your goals. There are ways to | | | | * Probiotics (acidophilus and bifidus) are good flora |
| reset your metabolism, it is just a matter of | | | | that inhabit the intestinal tract. These compounds |
| assessing whether you are insulin resistant, eating | | | | help us to digest nutrients, displace bad bacteria |
| for emotional reasons or have an underlying | | | | and improve our immune system. 60 to 80% of |
| hormonal or digestive issue. | | | | our immune system is found in the intestinal tract |
| 2. "High cholesterol runs in the family" | | | | and is called the GALT, gut associated lymph |
| There is a type of high cholesterol that is familial, | | | | tissue. Keeping our GI tract humming improves |
| however most people's cholesterol levels have | | | | our immune system. |
| nothing to do with their parents. It is how we eat | | | | * Fish oil is a supplement that improves immunity, |
| and live that increases our cholesterol levels. This | | | | reduces inflammation and is thought to reduce the |
| advice does not displace the help from your own | | | | incidence of cancer. |
| practitioner or medical doctor. Check with your | | | | If you have a susceptibility to cancer, have an |
| doctor before taking any of the following | | | | assessment done by your alternative health |
| remedies, especially if you are on other | | | | practitioner/Homeopathic Doctor and don't put off |
| medications or have an underlying condition. | | | | your yearly physical. |