Disease & Cells

The human body is made up of 70-80 trillion cells. The quality of your health is really the quality life of your cells. A nourishing diet of minerals, vitamins, enzymes and antioxidants is very important in maintaining a healthy body. When you change the internal environment of your body by feeding, alkalizing and oxygenating the cells, your body will begin to heal. With a restored pH balance and balanced nutrients, the body can then regain its natural vigor and health.

"You can trace EVERY sickness, EVERY disease, and EVERY ailment to a mineral deficiency… Even aging, chronic pain, food cravings, and insomnia have been linked to mineral deficiencies." ~Dr. Pauling, Nobel Prize winner

“An evolution is occurring in health care as more natural medicines gain acceptance, largely a result of increased scientific investigation and the public’s awareness of this research. Science is paving the way for the medicine of the future; a medicine that recognizes the healing power of nature.” ~Michael T. Murray, N.D., Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements

"The body is a complex organism that has the ability to heal itself, if only you listen to it and respond with proper nourishment and care." ~Prescription for Nutritional Healing

"WE CAN WIPE OUT 90% OF DISEASE IN AMERICA WITHIN TWO YEARS. IF WE CAN GET THE PEOPLE THE APPROPRIATE NUTRIENTS, THEIR BODIES WOULD CURE THEMSELVES." ~ROBERT BAREFOOT, AUTHOR OF "DEATH BY DIET"

If the body has a perfect balance of the necessary nutrition, then it can heal itself. The first step is to make sure the body has the right amounts of nutrients needed. Natural supplements can bridge the gap of our fast paced society and our good health by providing vitamins and minerals normally obtained through eating fruits and vegetables. Natural supplements should not take the place of fruits and vegetables, but it can be a way to ensure that we get enough to sustain optimal health.

So, how many fish dinners before you reap the brain-boosting benefits of omega-3s? When will those antioxidants in your salad start attacking the free radicals ravaging your body? How long till that daily vitamin D supplement leads to stronger bones? Here's exactly how and when you can expect the health payoff you want.

Vitamin B6 deficiency has been linked to anxiety, stress, and depression, and women are more likely to become deficient in B6 as they age, according to researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University. "When B6 makes its way to your brain, it facilitates synthesis of neurotransmitters , such as dopamine, which makes you feel calm and happy," says Hanjo Hellmann, PhD, a biologist at Washington State University. "But if you have a B6 deficiency, your brain may not be able to make enough dopamine." The vitamin is found in a variety of foods, but it's especially high in potatoes, bananas, red meat, poultry, and chickpeas. Once eaten, B6 is quickly distributed throughout the body but isn't stored well, so we need a consistent daily supply. Hellmann recommends getting 1-2 mg of B6 every day — the amount in about one chicken breast — to help you produce enough stress-busting dopamine.

Antioxidants, abundant in fruits and vegetables, are powerful compounds that cancel out cancer-causing free radicals before they damage cells. "Antioxidants begin working almost immediately upon absorption — as soon as they find a free radical to interact with," Hellmann says. But don't think you're set for the week after eating a big salad. Antioxidants remain active for only a few hours and need to be continually replenished. "Plus, they are a diverse group and don't all have the same functions," says Hellmann. "The key is always having plenty in your body to take on anything that comes along." That means eating as much produce as possible and mixing up the types as often as you can.

Supplements are not always safe. Scientists at St. George's Hospital Medical School in London found that food sources of potassium are more effective as supplements in fighting high blood pressure — without side effects. The mineral is found in clams and in almost every fruit and vegetable, but especially in potatoes, dried peaches, avocados, and bananas. Study participants with high blood pressure ate 3,754 mg of potassium a day and lowered their blood pressure to prehypertension levels after just 1 week. "If you have normal kidneys, you'll use and excrete potassium within hours, which is why getting plenty of fruits and vegetables a day is so important — a steady stream of potassium will control your blood pressure," says Christine Gerbstadt, MD, RD, of the American Dietetic Association. Just be sure to discuss dietary changes with your doctor if you're on blood pressure medications.

An Australian study found that folate boosts memory in as little as 35 days. The women who  participated in the study saw improved memory performance after taking 750 mcg of folate daily — that's about 1 cup of cooked spinach and 1 cup of cooked lentils. Though folate supplements (folic acid) are recommended during pregnancy to help prevent birth defects, you should otherwise get your folate from food, says Gerbstadt.

An analysis of 25 studies on B vitamins and homocysteine in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concluded that taking 800 mcg of folate supplements daily for 6-8 weeks reduces homocysteine concentrations up to 23%. Don't exceed 1,000 mcg per day, however, or you could trigger symptoms of a B12 deficiency. Good food sources of folate are meat, fish, eggs, and dairy.

Elevated homocysteine levels in the blood-stream are a risk factor for cognitive impairment, dementia and Alzheimer’s. A study published in the British Medical Journal suggests that 800 mcg of folic acid daily can reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and deep vein thrombosis by up to 25%.

Omega-3s, essential fatty acids in which Americans are known to be deficient, have a wide range of impressive health benefits, from smoothing your skin and aiding weight loss to boosting your mood and minimizing the effects of arthritis. However, the ability of omega-3s, found in oily fish (like salmon, mackerel, and anchovies) and in plant sources (flaxseed, walnuts, and spinach), to prevent heart disease is perhaps best understood. Although some of the heart-health benefits kick in shortly after you digest your salmon, the effects won't last unless you eat these essential fatty acids consistently so that your body reaches a healthy saturation level, says Susan Raatz, PhD, RD, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota: "If you are deficient in omega-3s and begin eating at least two 3-ounce servings of fatty fish a week, your heart will see significant benefits in 4-8 weeks."