Ki Center Blog

Old school is sometimes the best school for achieving results. If anything can be said about the work I do in the clinic it would have to be that we are results driven. I have been doing natural health care now for 11 years and the best and most valuable tool I have is Kinesthetic body analysis. Also known as Applied Kinesiology, or contact reflex analysis, it is a way for me to determine the imbalances that are present in your body at this time. It is highly accurate and using the body's own innate intelligence, can and will find things that even western medicine with all their technology can't find or just plain miss. And mis-diagnosis is a real problem with allopathic medicine.

It works simply by measuring the energy in the body through and indicator muscle as a "circuit breaker" that will trip when there is an imbalance that the body recognizes as detrimental. It will not tell me what the problem is but where the problem or cause is. As an example, the muscle testing will tell me there is a problem with the liver but not exactly what the problem is. But again using the advanced techniques of applied kinesiology, I can then test with specific clinical nutritional products to find what will fix the problem. I may have five different products that will alter the liver function but only one of them may be the exact fit for your particular problem. It takes the guess work out of knowing what specifically will help you. Be it herb or phytonutrient, your body will tell me exactly what it needs to repair.

Not only will the kinesthetic body analysis be able to determine cause and need from a chemical standpoint, but it is perfect for determining structural problems whether they be skeletal or soft tissue related. There have been many examples of people coming to me for a structural problem that has not been helped through chiropractic care or any other care for that matter, that through kinesthetic analysis, determined the specific muscle involvement that may have not been any where near the site of pain.

Old school or technology based diagnostics? Both are appropriate and can be helpful. But what happens if the technology based diagnostics are not available? How will practitioners determine treatment if all they know is blood work, MRI's, CT scans and the like? Ask the body, as it (your body) is the smartest doctor for you there is.

This product is a full branch amino acid product that claims to provide not only the full spectrum of amino acids but also a fibroblastic growth factor for cellular repair, think of it as an organic stem cell therapy. It does this by providing the necessary nutrients from animal, vegetable and shark cartilage for forming protein chains from the amino acids. Amino acids are necessary to create new protein chains which are used throughout the body for repair and regeneration of cells. The full science behind the product can be found at www.eggoflife.com/kicenter. So far it appears to be performing as stated. It should noted that this is a nutritional food product without adulterated chemicals so there is no harm (unless you are allergic to eggs). Here are my test subjects:

56 Y.O female with chronic pain, poor sleep and mental fatigue with emotional stresses brought on by work. Product given on 12/30/11 at 4 per day to front load for 7 days then re-evaluating.

1/6/12: Subject reports sleeping better and more stable mental attitude. Not quite as much general pain. Product reduced to 3 per day.

        1/13/12: Subject reports a shrinking of of a breast cyst.

1/29/12: Subject reports breast cyst half size of original and sleep seems to have       improved.

62 Y.O. Male with type 2 diabetes blood sugar at morning tests at 200 consistently and does not want to be insulin dependent. Overall good health and lifestyle. Product given at 4 per day to start on 1/4/12.

1/9/12: Blood sugar down to 154 with additional pancreatic support given (Standard Process). Sleeping well and feeling good overall.

1/28/12: No appreciable change was noted in blood sugar readings. Subject stopped taking the Laminine.

12 Y.O Female with emotional issues and trouble focusing in school. Good alternative home care. Has trouble sleeping.Product started at 2 per day on 12/30/11

1/3/12: Reports of better sleep and calmer emotionally with less flare ups with parent. Product increased to 4 per day and confirmed with muscle testing.

1/9/12: Sleep improving with longer periods of emotional calmness.

2/6/12: Some issues with disturbed sleep pattern. Reduced product to one a day. Focus in school seems much improved.

10 Y.O. Male with borderline ADD/ADHD symptoms. Highly emotional with disrupted digestive problems. Several years of good alternative care but has not had complete success and seems to be "stalled" on getting any better. Product started on 1/7/12 at 4 per day.

        1/13/12: Mother reports sleep has improved and periods of calmness are increasing.

2/6/12: Adverse reaction to product (perhaps) with increase in outbursts and sleep pattern disrupted. Reduced to one a day.

41 Y.O. Female with multiple issues of fibromyalgia, poor sleep, anxiety and depression. Product started on 12/30/11 at 4 per day. Has been on multiple pharmaceutical medications as well as intensive alternative care from me. Highly resistant to therapy.

1/4/12: No change

1/9/12: Subject now sleeping better (consistently) and has less anxiety despite family stresses increasing. Continuing at 4 per day for now.

         1/14/12: Sleep has improved and anxiety attacks are less

 2/7/12: Sleep pattern is improving. Still a bit less stress and anxiety.

52 Y.O Male with COPD, depression, alcohol issues. Started at 2 per day on 1/3/12.

1/6/12: No change

1/8/12: Increased dosage to 4 per day

1/10/12: Subject reports feeling very good (pretty vague)

2/7/12:  No report back. Compliance issues.

51 Y.O Male with good health, somewhat disrupted digestion no significant medical problems and good lifestyle habits but smokes cigars. Started 0n 12/30/11 at 2 per day.

1/3/12: No change

1/6/12: No change and increased dosage to 4 per day

1/10/12: No real change reported but has less of craving to smoke. Seems to sleep more soundly. Reduced product to 2 per day

Note:  It would appear that the greater the need (medically) the greater the response. If you are in good health overall then this product may be very subtle in its effects. Additionally, the most prevalent effect seems to be improved sleep, still waiting on other changes.

Some of my favorite clients are the four legged variety. At the Ki Center we not only help people achieve health, but animals as well.

Function specific not species specific

All of the techniques and products we use have proven to be effective on dogs, cats, horses and any animal, as what we do to achieve balance is function specific not species specific. By that I mean that the liver functions the same in a human as it does in a dog or cat, and will respond to therapy and treatment in the much the same way. As we do not use drugs or chemicals, but natural whole food products and herbal medicines, the body, be it human or animal, responds predictably and quickly to natural methods of healing.

Good food is important

One of the key factors for health of a pet is the type of food you are feeding them. There is an old phrase in computer repairman have that states, Garbage in garbage out. What this means is if you put bad things in, you will get bad things out as a result. I cannot emphasize enough that poor quality pet food is a primary cause of health problems in our four legged family.

What do you think would happen if all you ate was dry, nutrient deficient cereal for every meal? You certainly wouldn't thrive and be the picture of health. Arthritis, allergies, poor hair quality and lack of energy would probably be the least of the health concerns you would experience. And yet so many pets are fed a dry kibble for every meal, and even more are fed the cheapest brands or whatever is on sale. It is no wonder that our pets suffer with many of the same afflictions that we do, and have such short lives.

Fortunately, as in humans, animals respond quickly and successfully to proper nutrition and the healing protocols that we use at the clinic. There are many quality organic foods available today for pets. They are more expensive of course, but if a healthy happy pet is your goal, I encourage you to look around and do some research. One of the best feeding methods for dogs is the BARF diet. I know this sounds terrible but what it stands for is bones and raw food. Genetically, animals are wired to digest raw natural foods found in nature. Feeding them quality raw foods designed for them, chicken, turkey, vegetables and raw meaty bones will in fact alleviate many of their health problems quite quickly. If a raw diet is not practical, at least consider giving them raw meaty bones as a treat. A good source of this type of food and other organic foods is the Exclusive Pet Food store in Troutdale. The owner is dedicated to pet health and very knowledgeable. Their phone number is (503)491-1111.

Once a pet is on a good diet, we can then evaluate their imbalances using the same testing methods I use on my human clients, and then make recommendations based on the findings. I am happy to report I have seen many a pet return to health in a relatively short time. Follow up with a proper maintenance program and your pet will stay healthy for as long as possible.

I have noticed that pets respond very well to the energy work we do at the clinic. They enjoy the healing touch of Reiki and will calm them down and almost go to sleep during the treatment.

They have feelings too

There are emotional and behavioral problems in animals that are a direct result of emotional trauma. Just look at all the pets abandoned, abused or ignored, and how they respond to humans afterward. Rehabilitating these animals is often time consuming and frustrating. To address emotional problems of all types in our human clients, we have Rapid Eye Therapy as part of our healing protocol. Fortunately, this type of therapy will work for animals as well and is now available at the Ki Center. Call us for more information on this therapy and how it works. The animal doesn't have to be present, which is good, because horses would present a problem in the office.

I would like to emphasize that holistic healing is not exclusively alternative practices, but a combination of traditional medicine and alternative medicine. Both have their strengths and weaknesses and are most effective when combined. Having a good veterinarian that you trust is essential, just as having a good family practitioner is important.

I frequently mention that chasing symptoms is not the way to help people heal. In order to effectively help a person attain balance in their health, you must find the cause of the illness, correct the imbalance and the symptoms will disappear.

The tool I use the most is applied kinesiology. There are many forms of muscle testing such as touch for health, or contact reflex analysis, which all have their basis in applied kinesiology. It is a very reliable tool that enables me to ask the body where the imbalances are and what will correct the problem. I have observed the accuracy of this method of diagnostics time and again, in people and in animals. I have verified this information with standard western medical diagnostics such as blood tests, x-rays and physician verified diagnosis. What amazes me, and my clients, is that it is done completely without the aid of any technology, and still remains accurate and repeatable.

Finding the cause

When I test a person and find an imbalance, it tells me specifically where the problem is but not what the problem is. Your body can definitively tell me there is an imbalance in a particular gland, organ or body system and using the same testing method, find the nutrient or herb that will strengthen it.

Each and every muscle in the body has a corresponding relationship with acupuncture meridians, or energy pathways of the body, and consequently an association with every gland, organ and body system. As an example: I will have you raise your arm parallel to the floor, ask you to hold your arm steady and press down on the wrist to test for a good lock of the muscle. I then touch a corresponding point on your body that correlates with the liver, test the arm again, and if the muscle is weak and is easily pushed down, then I know we have an imbalance in that organ. I can then have you hold a particular liver glandular nutrient, retest the arm while touching the liver point, and if the arm is then strong, I know we have found what your body needs to heal the imbalance. It is quite a bit like tripping circuit breakers in the body.

This type of muscle testing can be used for behavioral or emotional issues as well. Your emotions play a huge part of the overall physical health of your body. Here is something you can try yourself to prove this, and see just how easy it is to test someone:

Trying it for yourself

Have a partner hold their arm out to their side and parallel to the floor. Using two fingers, press down on the wrist and ask your subject to resist the downward pressure. Feel how the muscle is locked in place. You do not have to use a lot of force; you are looking for a good muscle lock not how strong they are. Now, ask them to think of someone they love or at least have good positive feelings for and retest the arm. You should have a good muscle lock and find the arm resists the downward pressure. Now ask them to think of something negative such as Adolf Hitler and retest the arm. You will find that the negative emotion this brings up will instantly make the arm go weak and be easily pushed down.

The body never lies

This type of testing elicits only a yes or no type of answer. However when you ask the right questions, a simple yes or no can give you a wealth of information. Any negative stimuli will affect the body the same way. A good indicator muscle will go weak when subjected to any negative stimulus whether the stimuli is chemical, structural, emotional or energetic in nature. Let me see western medicine produce a machine that can duplicate those types of test results with the accuracy that your own body can every time. The really amazing thing is that however slight the imbalance, the body will still register it and give you an accurate response. Most diagnostic equipment will only report what it has been programmed to report. And of course being a machine, it can break down and can give false positives.

Your body is such an amazingly intricate work of art that surpasses even the most sophisticated computer ever built. If you know how to ask the right questions, the body can and will tell you all you need to know to regain your health.

If you would like more information on how applied kinesiology can be used, how it was scientifically tested and verified, I recommend the book- "Power vs. Force The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior" by David R. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D.

As A veteran of two branches of service it is heart wrenching to see our young men and women returning from service with a host of problems created by that very same service. What is even more troubling is the level of care or more accurately the lack of care that these people receive when faced with illusive but very real health care problems.

Emotional Trauma

Gulf War Syndrome and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are but two of the most recognized of these problems. You cannot subject your body to exposure of heavy metals in the form of depleted uranium and toxins from various chemicals being burned and not expect health care concerns. In dealing with these types of issues it is fairly straight forward to recognize the imbalance brought on by this exposure and tailor a program of natural detoxification and support to bring the body back into balance chemically.

Post Traumatic Stress on the other hand can be just as insidious but much more difficult to beat. Recognizing it is easy. I hear from clients how their personalities have changed considerably from who they were before to who they have become once exposed to the types of stress that can cause this disorder. It should be mentioned here that war time stress is just one of the stressors that can cause this debilitating condition. Any stress of a traumatic nature can bring this on.

There is Help

Fortunately at the Ki Center for Holistic Healing we have a tremendous tool for dealing with this and all types of emotionally charged conditions. It is called Rapid Eye Therapy. It is a form of energy work that deals specifically with the emotions and can work miraculously to unlock the stored body memory that can interfere with daily life and health.

Psychotherapy is great at teaching you what triggers your stress and helps you to understand the patterns of the stress but it doesn’t release the body memory which can and will cause physical symptoms as well as emotional problems. Hypnotherapy tends to replace the issues of the disorder with suggestions to mask the symptoms and hopefully create a more stable emotional balance but again does nothing to release the stored body memory.

The Right Tool

Rapid Eye Therapy (RET) addresses not only the emotions but recognizes the association to physical problems brought on by traumatic stress. Instead of reliving the trauma or just being able to understand it from an intellectual point of view it removes it from the body and mind quickly and permanently. Old patterns can be eliminated and new healthier patterns and thoughts can emerge. Remember that thought is energy and your body follows your brain and can manifest physical symptoms as a result of emotional trauma.

Adding Rapid Eye Therapy to our repertoire of healing modalities has given us the opportunity to increase our success or more accurately your success, in achieving balance and overall better health. Fortunately there are resources available to help pay for Rapid Eye Therapy for veterans. The Heartway foundation is an organization set up to assist with financial need and more information on this program can be received by calling the Rapid Eye Institute directly at (503) 399-1181.

As I mentioned earlier the chemical imbalances can be addressed and corrected which will eliminate the physical symptoms and get you on the road to long term recovery. But unless the emotional components to healing are also addressed then complete healing cannot and will not be realized. If you view health as a four legged stool with each leg representing chemical, emotional, structural and energetic balance and you address all four of these areas then complete health is achievable.

Do not trivialize stress as a major hurdle to getting better. It is a serious condition that can quickly destroy your life if not taken care of. Depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, grief and addictions are just a few of the issues that RET has shown to be successful with. I would encourage you to research this information out more thoroughly if you like. A link can be found on the Ki Center web site to the Rapid Eye Institute in Salem for more information.

Once again we come upon the dreaded cold and flu season. We know it’s the season because just like Christmas decorations going up at your favorite store, the drug companies and the media are all warning us of the need to get our flu shots. But once again there is a short supply and only the most at risk are encouraged to seek this drug out before its all gone.

I will not tell you to get a shot or not, that would be your decision. I will however tell you why I will not get one now or in the future nor will my family get this concoction of toxic chemicals to prevent something my body is perfectly capable of taking care of itself.

First of all the heavy metal Mercury is used in the manufacture of these vaccines. Each dose contains approximately 25 micrograms of the substance. Mercury is a brain toxin. It destroys brain cells. The elderly and infants are the two groups most susceptible to damage from this poison and are the two groups most encouraged to get a shot. If you, like me, have mercury amalgam fillings in your teeth and are over the age of 40, then adding more mercury to my system just doesn't seem appropriate or wise.

Secondly, there is no substantiated proof that the shot prevents you from getting the flu. Even the medical review periodicals have stated that no significant prevention is realized with the vaccine. In many cases of reported flu it was caused by the vaccine itself. There are many other reasons why I won't subject myself or my family to these shots but let me illustrate the body's ability to effectively deal with this issue of colds and flu on its own accord.

If your immune system is functioning well and you use wise hygiene practices and engage in a bit of prevention then you probably won't be affected. Even if you are exposed there are natural ways to eliminate the virus from your body with a minimal of discomfort and time actually being sick. I personally have used these protocols to effectively eliminate the symptoms and recover in as little as 48 hours.

On the subject of prevention, the basics of course are to get good rest, eat well and minimize exposure if you can. To augment this I recommend an immune boosting combination of Immuplex, a thymus stimulating nutrient and Echinacea Premium both from Standard Process. The combination of these two products raises your immune system substantially and is capable of preventing most colds and flu. For those of you already taking Echinacea please be aware that a combination of Echinacea Purpurea and Echinacea Angustofolia has proven to be a potent combination far exceeding that of most echinacea products out there just containing purpurea alone. Read your labels and give me a call to get further information on this subject.

Don't forget calcium as an important part of the immune system. In order for your cells to effectively get rid of waste products your white blood cells need calcium to support the chemical process of ingesting foreign bodies. Vitamin C of course is important but I highly recommend the whole food version as opposed to the synthetic form containing ascorbic acid as its only ingredient. Cataplex C from Standard Process Labs contains the whole composition of vitamin C found in nature and is far superior and effective for prevention then ascorbic acid alone.

Finally if you do get the flu or a severe cold please consider that if you cover up the symptoms with over the counter medications you are more than likely going to increase the time you will be sick. Also remember that a fever is a good thing. It is your body's natural way to defend itself. I generally don't get too concerned up to temperature of 103 degrees

To boost the immune system when in the grip of the flu or severe cold I will then recommend a Thymus stimulating nutrient such as Thymex or Congaplex again from Standard Process, along with the Echinacea Premium to eliminate the problem within 24-72 hours. As I said I have personally used this protocol to treat my own rare instance of illness that took hold with such force and virulence that I actually considered going to the hospital. Fortunately I came to my senses early and took care of it myself with great results.

Of all the conditions that people come to see me for, headaches have got to be the most troublesome. So much like a puzzle, and I am not real fond of puzzles, finding the cause can be frustrating and very time consuming. There are many causes of headaches and they can be a single source cause or a combination of imbalances and may change with each occurrence. I know people who have spent thousands of dollars on trying to treat them conventionally and are still afflicted with them on a regular basis.

Finding the Cause

Fortunately the type of muscle testing we do at the clinic can identify the source of the headache at the time, and the general imbalances associated with them. However, because these headaches can be caused by one or more different issues, narrowing them down can be difficult, but not impossible.

Headaches are a symptom of imbalance within the body. They are not in my opinion an illness in and of themselves. Medicating the pain only tends to hide the cause and can create a rebound headache worse than the original. But for anyone who has dealt with this problem, and the sometimes excruciating pain, drugs are the only thing that works to help them feel better.

From an alternative standpoint you must find the basic imbalance in the body that is creating the symptom of a headache. There can be several, and it may take upwards of several months to correct the problem. But patience pays off in the long run, and in the end the headaches have improved if not totally disappeared, and you are much healthier as a result.

Headache Types

Lets discuss some common types of headaches and their patterns.

The Ovarian type: Tends to occur around the menses cycle and can be accompanied by hair trigger mood swings. The Thyroid type: Often a dull headache upon rising and which wears off during the day. The Capillary Fragility type: One of the only types that can wake you out of a sound sleep with a crushing feeling. In this type, look also for signs such as bruising that heals slowly, bleeding gums and GI tract ulcers. The Fatigue type: Typically will start in late afternoon and can be accompanied by exhaustion. The Liver Toxicity type: Nausea and a general sick feeling with a metallic taste in the mouth are signs of this type of headache. The Pituitary type: These are recurring random type of headaches with no distinct pattern, and that is its primary signature. The Gallbladder type: This one resembles the liver toxicity type and can have pain between the shoulder blades or tenderness over the gallbladder. The Environmental Allergy and Sensitivity type: These can be traced to exposure of man made chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers and new house syndrome. The Chiropractic type: Caused by a subluxation of vertebrae and usually will be alleviated by spinal manipulation. Recurring headaches of this type may be from ligament weakness and lack of good organic minerals.

There are more types of headaches of course and as I said earlier, you can have one or several of these conditions that can be the cause of the headache. Remember, headaches are a symptom of imbalance, and this must be corrected to get rid of the headaches.

How to treat

When a headache case comes in to the clinic, we start with an extensive history. I will want to know how often the headaches occur, where they start and what kind of intensity they bring with them. I will usually recommend dietary changes to eliminate triggers and specific nutritional supplements to correct the imbalances.

I would like to recommend an outstanding book I use as an informational source that may help you to better understand headaches and their causes, "Alternative Medicines Definitive Guide to Headaches" by Robert Milne and Blake More. You can find this book at many bookstores and of course on Amazon.com.

If you suffer from chronic headaches and have not found any relief, consider an alternative practitioner who is trained in finding the imbalances in your body, and understands the complicated nature of headaches. But please be patient, it will take some time to correct everything that may be causing the trouble.

Let me take a moment to say thanks to the East County Gazette for allowing me the opportunity to contribute to their publication. In the articles to follow I hope to surprise you, raise questions and possibly even make you angry. Above all what you will get is pertinent, accurate information designed to make you think and hopefully encourage you to check out information for yourself. I will never tell you what to think. You have enough of that already. You are in charge of your health care; do not let anyone convince you otherwise. What you need is good information to make informed decisions. Lets get started.

The Wrong Information

I get so angry at the established medical community scaring their patients senseless with incomplete information about their cholesterol levels. Thousands of unsuspecting intelligent people have been convinced to take liver damaging drugs to artificially reduce their cholesterol numbers. Maybe you remember some 20 years ago that the medical profession informed the public that if your cholesterol was 180-200 then you were sick and needed a pill to correct this life threatening disease. Then a new line of Statin drugs came out which could lower the numbers even more. More recently the number has dropped to even lower levels because of, you guessed it, newer drugs. When you take into account that these drugs gobble up vitamins such as Coenzyme Q-10, Folic Acid, Vitamins B-12, K, D, E and Iron you have a recipe for disaster.

The Facts

Let me give you some facts to help you decide for yourself what you need. Cholesterol is essential for life. Just as the banana peel protects the fruit from damage and oxidation, your cholesterol protects your cells from damage and oxidation. It’s quite a bit like a bullet proof vest for the cell. People have been duped into believing that the lower their cholesterol is the healthier they are. This is not true and frankly the opposite is true. If your total cholesterol numbers get to 125 and lower you are sick and in danger of serious disease and illness. Did you know that when you have damage to a blood vessel or any damage for that matter your body uses cholesterol as a bandage to repair the area? Weaknesses in the blood vessels are patched with cholesterol. So a question remains; is the cholesterol building up in your veins because of fat or repair of weak areas?  If your total cholesterol gets too low the cells can be damaged by free radicals, toxins and drug interactions. Cholesterol protects these cells from damage.

Practically every organ in the body manufactures cholesterol. If your eating habits, exercise and life style are relatively good the cholesterol in your system will regulate itself. If you have adequate fat in your diet, and I am talking about good fat, omega 3 and 6, you won’t have the elevated levels that are truly a problem. If your numbers are 280 and above then yes we need to make some changes to allow the body to bring these levels back into balance. Let me say that this is possible without drugs. I have seen it in my clients reductions of 50 points in 30 days or less just by giving the body the tools it needs to regulate the process. And a real shocker for them is when I tell them to increase their intake of dietary fat. Well that just flies in the face of conventional drug profit wisdom doesn't it? Heaven help us all if we start to get healthy without medications!

In fact the older we get the higher the cholesterol numbers should be up to a point. If the body is in balance, in other words if the ratio to HDL and LDL are good, your triglycerides are in normal range and you eat relatively well and get exercise, then a number like 230-245 (if your in your 50s and older) is great! You want that protection around your cells to keep the degeneration and break down of tissues as we get older from running rampant. Cholesterol lowering drugs damage your liver, period. Just because someone has said that you're sick if you have cholesterol above 150 doesn't make it true, especially if that someone has a profit motive for you to buy their drug.

Case History

Medications can be a life saver when needed. But it just makes more sense to try something less invasive and easier on your system first. By the way that client I have that reduced her cholesterol by 50 points; she went from total cholesterol of 295 to 215 in 45 days without drugs. You know what her doctor said? Thats a good start but I think you still need to be on this drug. You decide.

There seems to be a fair amount of confusion about fat and its importance in the diet. We hear about omega-3, omega-6 fats, but what does it all really mean?

Whats Good

These are defined as essential fatty acids. This means that they are necessary for normal bodily function. But what is most important, is the ratio of these essential fatty acids to each other.

Omega-3 fats are those which can be found in fish oil and flax oil. By far, the most important fat you need for good health is omega-3. Besides being critical to normal hormone production, these fats are brain food. Your brain is composed of 60% fat and without a good intake of omega-3 fats, you could see a decrease in brain function. Everything from mild memory loss to other more serious neurodegenerative diseases can be attributed to this type of nutritional deficiency. Fish oil from salmon, cod, mackerel and other deep cold water fish, are the healthiest and the most potent of the omega-3 fats. Flax oil is a good source as well, however, it is from a plant, and lacks the same potency as compared to fish. It has been estimated that it takes 10 times the flax oil to equal the same benefit from fish oil.

Omega-6 fats are those found in corn, safflower, sunflower, peanut, soy and canola oils. You can find these types of fats in many of the processed foods we eat. Dietary experts have stated that the average American diet consumes 50 times the amount of omega-6 fats as they should. Excess amounts of this fat can cause inflammation in the brain, which is the main culprit of all neuro-degenerative diseases such as Alzheimers, Parkinsons and ALS. An essential fatty acid, and important to good health, omega-6 should be consumed in moderation, as too much can lead to problems.

Another type of omega-6 fat, one that is more beneficial, can be found in many types of plants in minute amounts but the most prevalent source is evening primrose oil, borage, and black currant seed oil. This is a specialized form of fatty acid high in GLA, (gamma-linoleic-acid), essential for female hormone balance.

Balance of Fats

A healthy and balanced diet will contain more omega-3 than 6. Almost everyone I test during their evaluation is low on essential fatty acids. This will show up as an imbalance and can be the culprit behind many symptoms. I can supplement with fish oil capsules or flax oil to increase the amounts of omega-3. A reduction in the type of fats in many of the cooking oils and processed foods will usually be in order as well.

It should be mentioned that if your gallbladder is not working properly, or you routinely have problems eating fat of any type, we will need to clear that up as well. You can take the best supplements in the world, but if your body cannot metabolize what you take in, then it's a waste of money and will have very little benefit.

Dietary Considerations

Generally speaking, whenever I see someone on a low fat diet, I suspect that it will be synonymous with low nutrition. If they are on a low fat, high protein diet, then I know we will have some work to do in regaining good nutritional balance. What I would like to see is a moderate protein, low carbohydrate and adequate amounts of good fat diet!

Fat (the good kind) is essential for good health. Too much omega-6 fats as found in the oils mentioned earlier, is bad for you. Animal fats from bacon, and marbled meat, and dairy are fine in moderation. At least these are real fats that your body can use and will metabolize. I use real butter and no margarine of any type. Frankly, in my opinion, I don't feel margarine should even be considered as food. If you do not eat fish on a regular basis then I would highly recommend a good fish oil supplement. Standard Process Labs produces an excellent product called Tuna Omega-3, which we carry at the clinic. If you cannot tolerate the fish oil or just can't stand the taste of fish, then I recommend you add flax oil to your diet, 1 tablespoon a day. There are several good brands that I can recommend.

Just remember that good fat is essential to your health. If you have been on a low fat diet and you really haven't seen any improvement, or you feel worse, it may be time for a change to an eating plan that makes sense.

Every journey begins with the first step. If you could make positive life style changes for just thirty days, and reap benefits from that investment for the rest of your life, then that would be an investment worth making, don;t you think?

Dietary Mis-information

There is so much hogwash about health and nutrition out there today that finding correct information—not just the current fad diet or wonder product with a wonderful marketing plan, can be an exercise in frustration. Who do you believe? What study is correct? One week we hear that a particular product is toxic, then, the following week we hear it;s beneficial. It;s enough to make your head spin.

Self Repair

There are a few facts I want you to know about your health. First, the body is designed genetically to heal and renew itself constantly. As long as the body has the right tools to work, it will repair itself every second of every day. When we cut our finger, the area heals, new skin is formed and the new skin is perfect. If a bone is broken, new bone forms that is stronger then the old bone, all without pills or drugs.

Secondly, people who eat a Western diet of sugar laden, chemically-altered non-foods suffer high rates of diseases such as diabetes, obesity, coronary artery disease, joint problems, osteoporosis and cancers of all types. In fact, most degenerative diseases, which eat up approximately eighty percent of the annual 4.5 trillion dollar bill spent on health care, can be attributed to this Western diet.

Another interesting and true fact is that people who eat real food, traditional diet, whether it is high fat, high protein or high carbohydrate, will generally not have these health problems. The difference is that they eat real foods instead of overly-processed, chemical concoctions produced by a Western food industry.

So we have a body designed for perfection, and what we do is feed it junk. Unable to heal properly without proper nutrition, it's no wonder our bodies suffer so many maladies. And on top of that, we have an industry designed to make money by convincing you that you are sick and need this drug or that program to feel better. All it takes is money and blind obedience to the experts that want to relieve you of that money and your long term health.

The Western diet is not the cause of our problems, we are. It is our decisions that produce the consequences we suffer from. Instead of choosing real foods in moderation, exercise and a healthy life style, we choose to eat non-foods and take pills to counter the results, all at the expense of our own health.

Your Body is the Key

I am in the business of helping people to heal themselves. I've seen this miracle of genetic engineering produce amazing results in a short period of time. If you can give me thirty days to make changes in your lifestyle, nutritional (chemical) balance, emotional and structural health, I know that you can see dramatic positive results that will be life changing.

I am not a miracle worker or some self-proclaimed healer extraordinaire. I simply understand what balance can do to heal your body. The tools I use are made from organic phyto-nutrients (food). They work quickly and have no side effects. When you combine these tools with understanding of how the body works, and have a method of accessing the innate wisdom of your own body to find the cause of the imbalance, you have a very powerful weapon against illness and disease. The beautiful thing about all of this is your own ability to heal. It;s automatic! Give your body what it needs and it does the work.

I strongly believe that we are in a battle with an industry designed to convince you that you are sick-- there are trillions of dollars at stake, after all. Most of the foods we eat (in a Western diet) are produced cheaply and cause health problems. Furthermore, and in my opinion, the medical industry has a vested interest in having more sick people around to keep the money flowing.

If they (the food and drug industry) are so concerned about our health and prevention, then let’s see some action toward that end. Allow people to use their insurance dollars to see alternative professionals and get second opinions from a holistic perspective. And by all means, give real nutritional and health education to our kids instead of the party line from food and drug industrialists.