Psychiatric medications kill approximately 3,000 people every month which is more than two and a half times the number of people killed by homicide. Many people who take psychiatric drugs aren’t aware of such risks, and to make matters worse, many of these drugs are just barely more effective than a placebo. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of deception and conflict of interest behind the marketing, research, and prescribing of these medications, and it’s important for anyone who is or will be taking them to be aware of it.

The Subjectivity of Psychiatry

Having been through chronic fatigue syndrome, I am well aware of the difficulty that many people face in regard to their condition not being accepted or understood. Personally, I just wanted to determine the cause of my problems, correct them, and resume living my life. I knew that how I felt was far from being right and definitely wasn’t just “in my head”. However, it was still frustrating to have others think it was. Based on this experience, I’m always cautious about questioning the legitimacy of a disease, condition, or diagnosis. However, it’s important to consider if the intent is to truly identify the underlying problem and restore proper function, or if it’s nothing more than an excuse to promote a drug or treatment. Unfortunately, the latter is often the case with the diagnosis of psychiatric disorders.

Most psychiatric disorders are believed to be caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. However, there’s no accurate way to test for this, and as such, the diagnosis of such disorders is often highly subjective. Psychiatrists rely on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) for diagnosing and prescribing, and the disorders in this manual are identified not through scientific research, but rather by the suggestion and consensus of psychiatrists who often have financial ties to the drug industry. The DSM has grown to contain nearly 900 pages in its current version and defines so many disorders that any healthy individual could easily be diagnosed with one.

The Tremendous Influence of the Drug Industry

It’s become abundantly clear that we can’t trust the drug industry. Unfortunately, we can’t even trust the FDA whose primary purpose is to regulate the drug industry. This has especially been a problem since 1992 when Congress approved the Prescription Drug Fee User Act which allowed the FDA to collect a substantial fee from drug companies seeking approval of new drugs. Based on this legislation, the FDA is now largely funded by the very same industry that they’re supposed to be protecting us from. It’s a significant conflict of interest to say the least.

Many of the FDA researchers who approve new drugs regard the pharmaceutical companies that manufacture them as their clients and do everything they can to please them. In fact, many of these researchers also have financial ties to the very same companies that they’re evaluating drugs for. As such, the FDA has basically become a branch of the drug industry and has lost site of their true purpose of protecting public health. The approval of the antidepressant Paxil is just one of many examples that make this evident. This controversial drug is associated with an increased risk of suicide, but the FDA approved it anyway, and every single member of the approval panel had ties to the pharmaceutical industry. Similarly, Cymbalta, another antidepressant, was approved by the FDA despite 4 suicides and an additional 11 suicide attempts during clinical trials.

Unfortunately, it’s not nearly as profitable to cure people of their illnesses as it is to have them take a drug for the rest of their lives, and in most cases, such drugs do nothing more than mask symptoms. The drug industry uses a number of tactics to promote this approach. They pay psychiatrists up to a half million dollars per year to encourage other psychiatrists to prescribe their medications, and they have their drug representatives provide free samples and free gifts to the doctors and psychiatrists who can prescribe their drugs. In round about ways making it seem legitimate, they also reward the physicians and psychiatrists who write the most prescriptions with free trips and monetary bonuses. Pfizer, the world’s largest drug manufacturer, was recently fined a record breaking $2.4 billion for this type of behavior.

In addition, the FDA leaves it up to drug companies to provide the research proving that their own drug is safe and effective. This research is much too short in duration, the results are often manipulated, and the supporting data is rarely published. Once a drug is approved, drug companies even ghostwrite research papers supporting the effectiveness of their drugs and pay prominent researchers who had no involvement with the work to put their names on it. These papers are published in prestigious medical journals, which also happen to rely heavily on advertising from the drug industry. The information in these papers is also quoted and propagated by the media. In the infamous case of the painkiller Vioxx, this type of behavior caused more deaths to Americans than the Vietnam war!

Are You Participating in this Giant Experiment?

Because of the inadequate research that drug approvals are based on, the general public becomes unknowing participants in the real clinical trials that occur once a drug is released. The people who are prescribed these drugs will be the ones who identify the side effects that haven’t been identified through the approval process. This is why it’s recommended to think twice about taking any medications that haven’t been in the market for at least 7 years.

Even some so called consumer advocacy groups claiming to provide this type of unbiased information on psychiatric drugs can’t be trusted because they’re run by psychiatrists who are funded by the drug industry.

The Dark Side of Psychiatry

The advent of psychiatric drugs has earned psychiatrists much more respect and perceived importance from the general public. As such, many psychiatrists are more than happy to base their practice on the use of prescription drugs. As expected, the drug industry is more than happy to support and promote this.

Some of the medications prescribed by psychiatrists, such as Paxil, have serious side effects including an increased risk of suicide. Based on the questionable definitions in the DSM, these drugs are often prescribed within as little as 5 minutes of a psychiatrist consulting with a new patient. The drug industry influences this behavior by running television commercials and providing internet surveys that lead the average person to believe that they have a mental disorder and need treatment. These ads and surveys, as well as the disorders described in the DSM, are designed in a way that could characterize the typical ups and downs of normal life as a symptom of a psychiatric disorder.

Even children are at risk. Drug companies have a substantial financial incentive, sometimes worth billions of dollars, to conduct research on children because it can extend their patents by 6 months. The increase of bipolar disorder has been of particular concern among children. This diagnosis was made popular by Dr. Joseph Biederman who was the primary force behind the 4000% increase in the diagnosed cases of bipolar disorder in children and the associated 2.5 million prescriptions. Dr. Biederman was eventually exposed for having been paid by 25 different drug companies and having failed to disclose 1.6 million dollars in income from them.

There’s no doubt that many people are suffering from undesirable mental symptoms, but psychiatric medications are rarely the best solution. In more cases than most people realize, symptoms such as depression, irritability, anxiety, and even forgetfulness are caused by lifestyle factors. Diet in particular has an especially strong effect on mood. Other lifestyle factors that can significantly improve mental wellness include stress management, good sleep habits, regular exercise, having a positive perspective on life, living with passion, and even sun exposure. These should be among the first things considered by people who are unhappy with their mental wellness, but unfortunately, it’s rare for a psychiatrist to recommend such solutions. Instead, they prescribe drugs that often create the need to prescribe additional drugs to deal with side effects and start a downward spiral that keeps the drug industry happy and the patient at risk and in poor health.

Not every mental symptom can be corrected through healthier lifestyle habits, but many of them can. Before improving my health, irritability, discontent, anxiety, and depression were all problems for me and I’m sure that I could have easily gotten a prescription for these issues if I had chosen to see a physician or psychiatrist about them. Instead, through the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle, I’ve minimized these symptoms to the point of them not being a concern at all.

A Heart Wrenching and Infuriating Documentary

The following documentary, Making A Killing – The Untold Story of Psychotropic Drugging, provides an excellent although unsettling depiction of what’s really happening in the psychiatry field. If you or anyone you know is or will be taking psychiatric medication, this documentary is a must see.

About an hour in to the documentary, you’ll learn about:

• A normal 17 year old girl who was diagnosed with 2 mental disorders by the TeenScreen survey that she was directed to take at school without her parents’ consent.
• A normal 11 year old girl who was flagged as suicidal by the same TeenScreen survey and taken into custody for six months without her parents consent or knowledge and was drugged with 22 different medications.
• How the inventor of the TeenScreen survey admitted that it incorrectly flagged 84% of all students as being suicidal.
• Two people with loving families and no symptoms of depression who committed suicide within a short time of being prescribed the antidepressant Paxil to treat insomnia.
• A two year old girl who was questionably diagnosed with several mental disorders, prescribed multiple psychiatric medications, and died at the age of 4.

Words cannot do these stories justice. I highly recommend that you watch them.

This documentary is produced by the Citizens Commission on Human Rights. Although some people might be tempted to discount the significance of this documentary because the CCHR is founded by the Church of Scientology, I think this would be an unfortunate mistake. I myself am not a supporter of Scientology and highly recommend that you watch the entire hour and a half video regardless of your religious beliefs. It includes interviews with a number of reputable experts and provides important information that we all need to be aware of.

Written by Vin Miller for NaturalBias.com.

Digestive issues range in form and severity from mild cases of gas and bloating to severe cases of Crohn’s disease or diverticulitis which can require that sections of the intestines be surgically removed. Mild digestive issues are so common that most people consider them normal. However, they’re an undeniable indication of compromised digestion, and over time, can progress to more serious issues including food sensitivities, toxicity, susceptibility to illness, and autoimmune diseases, all of which can effect the entire body and initiate a downward spiral of poor health.

Your digestive system is the foundation of your health, and as such, it’s in your best interest to ensure that it’s functioning well, even if you’re not experiencing any symptoms.

The Foundation of Good Digestive Health

Fortunately, restoring and promoting excellent digestive health is mostly a matter of implementing the same healthy nutritional habits that promote optimal health and a better life. As indicated by the work of Dr. Weston A. Price, the primitive cultures that he studied enjoyed excellent health and rarely experienced the digestive issues that are so common today. Their diets consisted entirely of natural whole foods which are the foundation of good health and good digestion.

The Ecosystem Within Your Intestines

There are more bacteria cells in your intestines than there are human cells in your entire body. Your intestines house between 2 to 5 pounds of bacteria cells which represent hundreds of different species. While this may sound unsettling, we depend on these bacteria to help digest our food, defend against disease causing microorganisms and parasites, and produce essential vitamins. Once the delicate balance that exists among these varying species of bacteria is disrupted, which is typically referred to as dysbiosis, digestive issues and compromised health are likely to follow.

Some of the more common causes of intestinal dysbiosis include stress, excessive carbohydrate consumption, and the use of antibiotics or antacids. The artificial sweetener Splenda and chlorinated tap water have been found to promote dysbiosis as well.

Be Cautious with Grain and Dairy

Many people react negatively to the gluten protein frequently found in grain based foods. These reactions are often damaging to the intestinal lining and can severely impair digestion, especially in the case of celiac disease.

The casein protein commonly found in dairy can cause damaging reactions as well. This is especially the case with dairy from breeds of cattle that produce a mutated form of casein called A1 beta casein which tends to be more problematic. In addition, people who have digestive issues, or have had them in the past, are often lactose intolerant which means that they’re unable to digest the lactose in milk. Although this doesn’t damage the intestinal lining directly, the undigested lactose can cause damage and impaired digestion by promoting dysbiosis.

Based on these risks, anyone who’s concerned about their digestive health should consider eliminating grain and dairy from their diet for at least a few weeks to see if it provides any improvement. By following a diet based on natural whole foods such as meat, fish, fruit, and vegetables, the potential risks associated with grain and dairy are automatically eliminated.

Limit Carbohydrate Consumption to a Reasonable Amount

The modern diet is excessively high in carbohydrates which is a major reason why obesity, digestive issues, and other symptoms of poor health have become so common. As such, limiting carbohydrate consumption to a reasonable amount is critical to good digestive health. Although this may sound like an endorsement for “low carb” dieting, it’s anything but. Because fruits and vegetables typically contain much less carbohydrate than most grain based foods, a whole foods diet that excludes or limits grains is fairly low in carbohydrates by default rather than design, especially in comparison to the typical modern diet.

Foods such as grains, milk, beans, and potatoes contain disaccharides and polysaccharides which are carbohydrates that contain multiple sugar molecules. These carbohydrates need to be broken down into monosaccharides, which contain only a single sugar molecule, before they can be absorbed through the intestinal wall. As such, the carbohydrates from these foods are more difficult to digest and are more likely to fuel the proliferation of undesirable bacteria and cause dysbiosis. The immediate byproducts of this proliferation can impair digestion even further and are a common cause of bloating and flatulence. Fruits and vegetables are the preferred source of carbohydrates because they contain monosaccharides which makes them easier to digest and less likely to cause digestive issues.

Sugar and refined carbohydrates are problematic as well even though they’re monosaccharides. In contrast to fruits and vegetables, the excessive amount of sugar and refined carbohydrates in most modern foods feed the growth of undesirable bacteria and is another common cause of dysbiosis. In addition, sugar and refined carbohydrates cause many health problems and their assimilation requires the use of more nutrients than what they provide.

Promote Intestinal Balance with Probiotics

Probiotics are the beneficial bacteria that exist in the intestines. As previously mentioned, these are the bacteria that help to digest food and strengthen immunity. With the many aspects of modern life that destroy these bacteria, it’s important to replenish them. Although probiotic capsules are the most popular way of doing this, fermented foods are a more natural source and are likely to be more effective. The best fermented foods are vegetables and dairy products that were fermented through lactic acid fermentation rather than vinegar fermentation which doesn’t provide the same benefits. Nourishing Traditions, an excellent nutritional resource by Sally Fallon, contains a variety of easy to follow recipes for healthy fermented foods.

Another intriguing source of probiotics is the bacteria that exists in soil. Plants benefit from this bacteria in a similar way to how we benefit from the bacteria in our intestines. Our primitive ancestors were obviously much less fanatical about cleaning their food than we are today, and as a result, they were likely to consume a bit of soil and its resident bacteria along with their food. In addition, some cultures are known to have buried their food prior to consuming it which would certainly increase its exposure to the bacteria in the soil. Since our ancestors obviously didn’t consume probiotic capsules, and since fermented foods are only known to have been eaten for less than 10,000 years, some people believe that they maintained a healthy population of beneficial bacteria in their intestines through the soil that they unintentionally ingested with their food.

I think this is an intriguing justification for soil based probiotics, and even probiotics in general, but it’s just a theory. Although soil based probiotics are said to be more robust and more likely to survive the stomach’s acidity, this has yet to be proven.

Facilitate Your Digestion with Digestive Enzymes and Hydrochloric Acid

Enzymes are proteins that facilitate biochemical reactions including the digestion of food. During digestion, they help to break food into the smaller nutritional components that can be absorbed through the intestinal wall and utilized by the body. Most natural whole foods inherently contain enzymes that assist with digestion, but these enzymes are deactivated during cooking at temperatures as low as 118 degrees Fahrenheit.

Avoiding the enzyme deactivation caused by cooking is one of the primary motivations behind raw food diets. However, some anthropologists believe that cooking played a significant role in our evolution and is important to our health. In addition, some foods must be cooked in order for them to be digested properly. A good compromise is to eat a combination of raw foods and foods that are cooked lightly at low temperatures.

According to Dr. Edward Howell, author of Enzyme Nutrition, we have a limited capacity to produce enzymes. As such, when your body needs to produce enzymes to assist with digestion, fewer enzymes will be available for other important physiological functions. Based on this limitation and the fact that we cook most of our food, a plant based digestive enzyme supplement is worth considering. Although I like to error on the side of getting nutrients from high quality food instead of supplements, I think digestive enzymes and probiotics are among some of the more important supplements to consider using.

Hydrochloric acid, which is produced by the stomach, is also necessary for the digestion and absorption of food. Despite the fact that heartburn often results from a deficiency of hydrochloric acid, many people take medications that reduce it even further, and in addition, its production naturally declines with age. Although hydrochloric acid supplements are readily available, you can naturally stimulate your stomach to produce more of it by using herbal bitters such as peppermint, ginger, wormwood, or dandelion.

Another important and very simply way to facilitate good digestion and reduce the burden on your digestive system is to chew your food thoroughly.

Don’t Obsess About Fiber

Dietary fiber is the indigestible plant material that adds volume to human waste. The additional volume causes intestinal pressure which facilitates regular bowel movements and is why fiber is necessary for proper elimination. Unfortunately, the deficiencies of the typical modern diet have led many people to obsess about fiber and rely on the least desirable sources of it such as grain based foods and products like Metamucil. As previously mentioned, grains can easily offset the benefits of fiber by causing digestive issues and can promote excessive carbohydrate consumption. By following a diet based on natural whole foods, you should get all of the fiber you need from vegetables and fruit.

Additional Information

For more information on improving your digestion, I highly recommend that you read Restoring Your Digestive Health by Jordan Rubin NMD and Joseph Brasco MD. This is an excellent book that relies on the basic principles of a healthy lifestyle to improve digestion, and in turn, overall health. After struggling for several years with an extreme case of Crohn’s disease, these basic principles are what brought Jordan Rubin back to good health and saved him from having part of his intestines removed.

The book contains a detailed 3 stage program that anyone can follow and includes specific variations to the program for a number of digestive issues. It also includes recipes for easy to digest meals and opinions on a variety of common therapies and supplements.

Written by Vin Miller for NaturalBias.com.

Because electromagnetic radiation is such a complicated subject, one of the biggest challenges is simply understanding what it is. Once you have a basic understanding of electromagnetic fields and the radiation that they produce, it’s much easier to identify the different forms, appreciate the dangers that they pose, and understand what can be done to reduce your risk.

The Electromagnetic Spectrum

Electromagnetic fields are the combination of an electric field and a magnetic field and are created by electrical current. The electromagnetic radiation produced by modern technology is the energy that is generated by such fields. The following table lists the different ranges of electromagnetic radiation along with some of their common sources.

The Thermal and Ionizing Effects of Electromagnetic Radiation

The electromagnetic radiation with the highest frequencies and shortest wavelengths tend to contain the most energy and be the most dangerous. X-rays and gamma rays are considered to be ionizing radiation because they have enough energy to detach electrons from atoms and turn them into ions. This can cause permanent damage at the cellular level including genetic mutation and cancer.

Although radio waves and microwaves aren’t ionizing, they can have thermal effects that causes tissue to overheat and become damaged. This is how microwave ovens cook food and is one of the primary reasons why there’s such concern over the safety of cell phone usage.

It’s well known that thermal and ionizing effects of high frequency electromagnetic radiation are dangerous. However, the health effects of lower frequency radiation, often referred to as biological effects, are a much more controversial issue that isn’t getting the attention or respect that it deserves despite a significant amount of convincing evidence.

Because the body is reliant on the earth’s natural electromagnetic field and its own subtle electrical currents, it’s very sensitive to electromagnetic fields. As such, the radiation produced by modern technology can interfere with human biological function even at frequencies that are much lower than the thermal and ionizing ranges.

How to Measure Electromagnetic Radiation

Since you typically can’t see or feel electromagnetic fields, they can be very difficult to detect which is one of the many reasons why electromagnetic radiation is so unsettling.

For important situations such as choosing a new home or office, the most reliable option is to hire an experienced electrical engineer to take measurements for you. They will be much more likely to have the expertise and advanced equipment necessary to make an accurate assessment. For situations that are less critical, you can buy your own meter at an affordable price. I have the TriField Electromagnetic Field Meter which measures electric fields, magnetic fields, and radiation in the radio and microwave ranges.

If you’d rather not spend money on a meter, you can use a portable battery operated AM radio to detect electric fields, but it’s obviously not as precise and won’t detect magnetic fields. You can set the radio to a station that receives no signal and turn the volume up. When the radio encounters an electric field, which is generally also a good indication of a magnetic field, you’ll hear noise. Although this won’t give you a clear indication of how strong the field is, it will at least let you know that it exists.

Units of Measurement

Measurements of low frequency electromagnetic radiation are usually based on magnetic field strength. Based on a conservative evaluation of existing research, most experts who are concerned about the dangers of electromagnetic radiation recommend 1 milligauss or less as a desirable reading. However, some research has shown unfavorable results even at this level. Some urban areas have ambient fields of 3 milligauss or higher. Even though this is regarded as safe by some standards, many experts suggest doing as much as possible to reduce exposure to lower levels.

The higher frequencies of electromagnetic radiation are measured by power density instead of magnetic field strength. Although different frequencies of radio and microwave radiation can have varying effects, a power density of 1 milliwatt per centimeter squared is generally considered safe in the United States. However, many experts believe that this is too much. The standard in Russia is 100 times more protective at 1 microwatt per centimeter squared, and undesirable health effects have even been found at levels below this.

Electrical Power Lines and Residential Wiring

One of the most common sources of low frequency electromagnetic radiation is power lines. Depending on which country you live in, the electrical current that flows through power lines alternates at a frequency of 50 or 60 Hertz which produces electromagnetic radiation at the same frequency. Some power lines operate at very high voltages with a significant amount of current running through them, and if your house or office is close enough to them, you may be continuously exposed to potentially dangerous levels of electromagnetic radiation. A considerable amount of research has linked cancer and a number of other health concerns with the electromagnetic radiation produced by power lines which has made them the subject of numerous lawsuits regarding health issues and real estate devaluation.

The electrical wiring in homes and offices is also a concern. Wiring can still produce electromagnetic fields even without anything being plugged into it’s outlets. Incorrect wiring, which is usually more common in older homes and buildings, is especially problematic because it can produce much stronger electromagnetic fields.

If the measurements throughout hour home or office are consistently elevated, chances are that it’s coming from power lines or faulty wiring. Although it might be a large and potentially costly project, faulty wiring can be fixed relatively easily. Ambient electromagnetic fields from power lines, however, can only be avoided by relocating to a different area or taking action against the utility company. Because of the difficulty and inconvenience associated with either course of action, it’s important to properly assess a home or office for electromagnetic radiation exposure prior to moving in.

Electronics and Appliances

Electromagnetic fields from electronic devices and appliances are one of the most common sources of radiation in homes and offices. As such, it’s important to measure the magnetic fields produced by all of the commonly used electronics and appliances in your home and office. By doing so, you can identify which items present the most risk and the distance at which their radiation drops to a safe level. It’s even a good idea to measure electronics and appliances when they’re shut off because they can still produce electromagnetic fields as long as they’re plugged in. Microwave ovens are notorious for this.

The items that were found to produce potentially dangerous electromagnetic fields should either be replaced or used as infrequently as possible. I recently replaced a computer monitor that produced a magnetic field of 100 milligauss at 3 feet away. This is 100 times the recommended level of 1 milligauss, and I spent a considerable amount of time in front of this monitor. Fortunately, the newer flat screen monitors produce a much weaker magnetic field that’s undetectable at 3 feet away which is about how far you should aim to have your monitor from your face.

When using electrical equipment or appliances, especially when first turning them on, you can reduce your exposure to their electromagnetic fields by standing as far away from them as possible. It’s also a good idea to stay out of the kitchen when using the oven or dishwasher, or to at least avoid standing directly in front of them. If you use a hair dryer, try to hold it as far away from your head as possible, and if you use an electric razor, consider switching to a regular razor.

Here are the ranges of magnetic field measurements provided by the Environmental Protection Agency for a number common electrical devices and appliances. For most of these items, I included measurements taken in my home. All measurements are in milligauss.

Communication Towers and Antennas

In addition to the ambient electromagnetic fields produced by power lines, we are constantly exposed to an ever increasing amount of radio and microwave radiation from communication towers and antennas. This includes signals for radio, television, and satellite broadcasting, cell phones, military radar and communication, air traffic control, and local police and fire department communication.

Like power lines, communication towers and antennas have been the subject of numerous lawsuits and the cause of real estate devaluation. However, this is where the similarities end. Radio and microwave radiation covers a much larger spectrum and is produced by a variety of sources in a number of different forms. Less research has been done on the health effects of radio and microwave radiation, there is very little regulation, and the entire subject is surrounded by a lot of controversy. Some of the research that does exist has linked radio and microwave radiation to cataracts, reproductive issues, sleeping disorders, headaches, anxiety, impaired mental function, impaired lung function, Lou Gehrig’s disease, and multiple forms of cancer.

As with power lines, there’s not much that can be done to reduce exposure to the electromagnetic radiation produced by local communication towers and antennas. As such, it’s best to be aware of their presence prior to moving into a new home or office and to do everything you can to prevent new installations.

Cell Phones, Cordless Phones, and Wireless Internet

Because these technologies are convenient and have become a ubiquitous part of modern life, many people are resistant to the possibility that the radio and microwave radiation they produce is a legitimate health risk. The radiation produced by cell phones can produce both thermal and non thermal effects and is recognized by many experts as a cancer risk. The advent of high speed networks has resulted in more people using the internet through their phones which has significantly increased the amount of ambient electromagnetic radiation and also puts such users at more risk.

To minimize your exposure to cell phone radiation, use speakerphone or a wired headset, avoid using bluetooth headsets, don’t allow your conversations to be any longer than necessary, minimize your use of data features, and keep your phone turned off as often as possible, especially when carrying it close to your body. By following these suggestions, you may even be able to reduce your bill and enjoy fewer interruptions. For more information on cell phone radiation, including the radiation ratings of most phone models, visit the Environmental Working Group’s Cell Phone Radiation Guide.

Cordless phones and wireless internet routers are also a concern because of the amount of electromagnetic radiation that they continuously produce. In fact, they typically produce more radiation than cell phones. To minimize your exposure, use regular corded telephones and wired internet connections. If you insist on using wireless devices, at least use a timer to keep them turned off while you sleep.

Keep in mind that the radiation produced by these devices is similar in concept to second hand cigarette smoke. Your usage can affect the people around you, and your cordless phones and wireless routers can even affect your neighbors.

Medical Imaging Equipment

Medical imaging is another significant source of electromagnetic radiation that doesn’t get the attention or respect that it deserves. Although it’s fairly common knowledge that x-rays are harmful and that they should be taken as infrequently as possible, there are also concerns about other types of imaging such as MRI, CAT scan, ultrasound, and mammography. Although these technologies are extremely helpful for diagnosing medical conditions, they also produce a significant amount of radiation, and some experts believe that they’re used far too frequently. In fact, Dr. Robert Becker believes that medical facilities are pressured into recommending the use of these devices to help pay for their high cost. He also believes that many doctors abuse them as screening tools when they should really be used to confirm strong suspicions of a specific diagnosis.

The Most Important Place and Time to Reduce Exposure

Quality sleep is one of the most important aspects of good health. Exposure to electromagnetic radiation while you sleep can impair your body’s ability to repair itself and fight illness. In addition to following good sleep habits, it’s important to minimize the electromagnetic fields surrounding your bed as much as possible.

Many people sleep with an alarm clock close to their head and their bed close to electrical outlets. In addition, some people use electric blankets or sleep on water beds that are electrically heated. These are both continuous sources of strong electromagnetic fields that are present throughout the entire night. To minimize your exposure while you sleep, keep your alarm clock away from your head, power it with batteries instead of plugging it in, shut off the circuit that feeds the outlets near your bed, and if you sleep on a water bed or use an electric blanket, turn them off before getting into bed.

Ley lines and underground rivers can also interfere with your sleep by altering the earth’s natural electromagnetic field. If your sleep isn’t as restorative as you’d like and you feel that you’ve done everything you can to improve it, try moving your bed to a different part of the room. Alternatively, before you decide to rearrange your bedroom, you can try sleeping in a different room to see if you notice a difference.

Do the Benefits Outweigh the Risks?

The tremendous amount of electromagnetic radiation that we’re exposed to today can be very unsettling, but it does more harm than good to stress over it. What’s important is that you do your best to minimize your risk in the most practical ways possible. Although it might take some effort to do so, there’s no reason to be anxious about it.

To assess your level of exposure, use a device like the TriField Electromagnetic Field Meter to take your own measurements, or hire a professional to do it for you. For each source of electromagnetic radiation that you’re exposed to, including those that can’t be measured, assess your level of risk and decide if the exposure is justified by the benefits that it offers. For example, it’s probably not worthwhile to chat unnecessarily on a cell phone or have an excessive number of ultrasounds during pregnancy, but in other situations, the same technologies can save lives. Likewise, you might not be able to reduce your exposure beyond a certain point without moving to a new home or office.

For a better understanding of electromagnetic radiation and how to minimize your exposure, I highly recommend reading Electromagnetic Fields by B. Blake Levitt and Cross Currents by Robert Becker MD.

Written by Vin Miller for NaturalBias.com.

Our heart and brain are just two examples of critical organs that are influenced by electromagnetic fields. In fact, it can be said that every aspect of human function is impacted in some way by electromagnetism, and it doesn’t take much for such an impact to occur. Considering the tremendous amount of electromagnetic radiation that’s produced by modern technology, this is a significant concern.

A Basic Explanation of Electromagnetic Fields

Electromagnetic fields are in my opinion one of the most complicated and difficult to understand subjects relating to our health. However, considering the tremendous impact that they can have, it’s important to at least have a basic understanding of electricity and magnetism.

An electric field exists between any two objects that have a difference in charge. If these objects are connected with some type of conductive material, the difference in charge will produce a current of electrons or ions that will flow from one object to the other. Similar to the concept of an electric field, a magnetic field exists between the north and south poles of a magnet. However, even without magnetic material, the mere existence of electrical current produces a magnetic field. In combination, the electric and magnetic fields make up what is known as an electromagnetic field which produces waves of energy called electromagnetic radiation.

Just as electrical current creates a magnetic field, changes in a magnetic field create current. As such, wherever there’s electrical current, there will also be a magnetic field, and wherever there’s a changing magnetic field, there will also be current. In either case, the result will be an electromagnetic field that produces electromagnetic radiation. Anything that uses electricity or produces a wireless communication signal will produce an electromagnetic field. Some common examples include appliances, electronics, power lines, cell phones and cell towers, and radio broadcasting.

Electromagnetism and the Human Body

Some of the amazing research done by Dr. Robert Becker, an expert in the field of biological electricity and regeneration, has proven that small electrical currents travel throughout the human body, particularly through nerve fibers. Based on this, we also know that the body produces its own electromagnetic fields which have been shown to be an important part of its natural communication system and have a significant influence on our physiological function.

Because the earth is a giant magnet, it produces a natural magnetic field which happens to protect us from the sun’s most intense and deadly radiation. Because this radiation causes the earth’s magnetic field to continuously change, it produces a significant amount of electrical current which leads to the creation of an electromagnetic field. This electromagnetic field is constantly changing as well and is a part of nature that many forms of life have become dependent upon, including us. In fact, it’s believed that the earth’s changing electromagnetic field is the basis of our circadian rhythm.

The amazing navigational abilities of many animals, especially birds, are dependent on the earth’s magnetic field. Trees and plants are directly influenced by this natural field as well. The pineal glands of many vertebrates, including us, have been found to contain a magnetic substance called magnetite. Because this substance is very responsive to electromagnetic fields, this discovery has led many experts to believe that the pineal gland is primarily what allows the brain and the rest of the body body to be influenced by external fields. The pineal gland produces a number of important hormones and neurotransmitters including melotonin, serotonin, and dopamine which have a significant influence on sleep, immunity, and mood. As such, electromagnetic fields can have a tremendous impact on these aspects of wellbeing, and in turn, lead to significant health consequences.

Unfortunately, much of the technology that exists today produces a tremendous amount of electromagnetic radiation, and the majority of this radiation occurs in frequencies and intensities that have never existed in nature. This can affect all life on earth in more ways than most of us realize. The magnetic polarity of the earth has reversed a number of times throughout history, and each reversal has been associated with major extinctions. It’s believed that we’re currently approaching another reversal and it’s quite possible that we’ve initiated it ourselves through the advent of modern technology and the tremendous amount of unnatural electromagnetic radiation that it’s introduced to the atmosphere.

A Constant Source of Stress

Most people think of stress as mental frustration, but it’s really much more than that. A wide variety of influences, both physical and mental, can invoke the physiological stress response which impairs restorative functions such as immunity and digestion in favor of energy production and anything else that will help us survive what the body perceives as a threat to survival. Although the immune system is initially suppressed by stress, it becomes more active than normal once the stress dissipates. As such, chronic stress can overstimulate the immune system on a regular basis and result in weakened immunity and an increased susceptibility to infection and disease. It can also overwhelm the adrenal glands and lead to adrenal fatigue.

A number of animal studies have shown that electromagnetic fields of varying frequencies and intensities can invoke the stress response. This may very well be the case for us as well. Although we many not feel it, the electromagnetic radiation that we’re exposed to on a daily basis could be putting our bodies in a continuous state of stress.

Impaired Sleep and Immunity

Sleep is when the body makes the most effort to recover from the considerable amount of damage and strain caused by the chaotic pace of modern life and the unhealthy characteristics of the typical modern lifestyle. The hormone melatonin facilitates this repair by provoking the body to fall into a deep and restorative sleep. Melatonin is also a strong antioxidant that supports our immunity by protecting us from free radical damage and contributing to the destruction of cancer cells.

Electromagnetic fields have been shown to suppress melatonin production, most likely by influencing the function of the pineal gland. Because of the importance of sleep and immune function, this can greatly increase the risk of a number of health issues including cancer. In addition, electromagnetic fields can impair immune function directly, and as mentioned earlier, can also impair it by causing chronic stress. In combination, these effects have a tremendous potential to weaken the immune system considerably.

Mental Dysfunction

By associating the occurrence of magnetic storms with the behavior and admittance of psychiatric patients, Dr. Robert Becker was able to find a convincing correlation between mental function and disruptions in the earth’s natural electromagnetic field. Dr. Jose Delgado, a Spanish neurophysiologist, took this a step further by showing the ability to manipulate the behavior of both animals and humans with the targeted use of electromagnetic radiation. Based on these findings, it’s evident that electromagnetic fields have the potential to increase the risk of mental dysfunction. Even more frightening is the possibility of electromagnetism being used for the purpose of mind control which the military is believed to be actively researching.

Serotonin, dopamine, epinephrine, and acetylcholine are some of the more prominent neurotransmitters that can have a significant influence on mood and behavior. In addition to the levels of these neurotransmitters being closely related to diet, research has shown that they can also be impacted by electromagnetic fields. Imbalances of these neurotransmitters can cause depression, apathy, fatigue, violence, and even lead to suicide.

Flawed Cell Division, Cancer, and Birth Defects

Cell division is one of the most basic functions of life, but is an extremely important process that our health depends on. At any given time, many of our trillions of cells are dividing to produce replacements for old cells. If this process is compromised in any way, the results could be disastrous.

Cell division is a particularly important part of human reproduction. Unfortunately, electromagnetic fields have been shown to damage both the reproductive germ cells of parents as well as developing embryo cells. This damage is associated with infertility, birth defects, and abnormal development. As such, electromagnetic fields are a significant concern with childbirth regardless of whether it’s the parents or the child that’s exposed.

One of the most notorious effects of impaired cell division is the occurrence and proliferation of cell mutations and the resulting development of cancer. Numerous epidemiological studies have linked electromagnetic fields of varying frequencies and intensities to multiple forms of cancer including brain cancer, breast cancer, lymphoma, leukemia, and melanoma.

Despite the gloom associated with most research done on electromagnetic fields, some of it has been inspiring. In particular, a number of researchers have provided good reason to believe that cancer cells can be induced to dedifferentiate into embryo cells and then differentiate back into normally functioning and cancer free cells. As promising as this is, it defies modern dogma, and as such, research continues to be focused on highly toxic methods such as chemotherapy that destroy healthy cells along with the cancer cells.

The Politics of Electromagnetic Fields

It seems that many of the health risks that are characteristic of modern life are often driven by politics. The unnatural electromagnetic fields created by modern technology may very well be the most blatant and unfortunate example of this. Because electromagnetism is a very complicated subject, developing reasonable safety standards has been a considerable challenge. In fact, the American safety standards are much more lenient than those of other countries and are considered by many experts to be highly inadequate. Many industries are taking advantage of this and the government is allowing it to happen.

Our national security is very much dependent on the communication and sensing abilities that are made possible by electromagnetic radiation. Even though these defense systems may pose a threat to our health, any information that justifies such a concern presents a serious problem. Because of this, many scientists who have studied the negative health effects of electromagnetic fields have been defamed, ridiculed, and deprived of funding. In fact, it took a considerable amount of time before the U.S. government would even acknowledge the thought of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation being potentially harmful. However, as Dr. Robert Becker states, it would be very naive to assume that the military hasn’t used the harmful potential of electromagnetic radiation for the development of weapons.

While other countries, such as Sweden and Russia, have taken a conservative stance in regard to electromagnetic radiation and assumed that any type of electromagnetic field that differs from what exists in nature is likely to pose health risks, the United States has basically taken the opposite approach. As a result, we’re left with very weak safety standards and a tremendous amount of potentially dangerous exposure.

Be Informed, not Frightened

All of the health issues described above have been associated with the electromagnetic fields that are commonly produced by much of the modern technology that surrounds us every day. Among the many sources of electromagnetic radiation, this includes electrical power lines, communication signals for cell phones, broadcast signals for television, radio, and satellite, and even the appliances and electronics that we use at home and at work. Sadly, the entire planet is exposed to electromagnetic fields that have never existed in nature. Although you might find this to be quite unsettling like I do, it won’t do any good to get upset. What’s important is to is to be informed and do as much as you can to minimize your risk.

To learn more, there are three books that I highly recommend. Electromagnetic Fields by B. Blake Levitt provides a well rounded explanation of what electromagnetic fields are, how they effect us, where they come from, the politics and research surrounding them, and what we can do to avoid them.

Cross Currents by Robert Becker MD gives a thorough explanation of how we naturally depend on electromagnetism as well as the negative effects of unnatural electromagnetic fields and the research surrounding them. This book also provides an interesting discussion of the role of electromagnetism in energy medicine.

Finally, The Body Electric, also by Dr. Becker, covers in great detail the amazing research that he did on regeneration and electromagnetism. It also clearly depicts the corruption and bias that plagues modern research.

You can also read my article about minimizing your exposure to electromagnetic radiation.

Written by Vin Miller for NaturalBias.com.

The use of deodorant has become so common that most people consider it to be just as important to good hygiene as bathing and brushing your teeth. However, using deodorant doesn’t keep you clean. In addition to being potentially dangerous, deodorant and antiperspirant merely hide the symptoms of a problem that should be more worrisome than the embarrassment caused by foul odors and stained clothing.

Would You Put Deodorant in Your Mouth?

Because deodorant probably tastes awful, is not meant to be eaten, and contains chemicals that you’d most likely be afraid to swallow, you probably think this is a stupid question. However, it might surprise you to know that eating a piece of deodorant is safer than rubbing it on your armpit. This is because your skin lacks the sophisticated barrier of the digestive system to help minimize the absorption of harmful substances, and as such, a significant amount of anything that you apply to your skin will be readily absorbed into your bloodstream. In fact, this is why some medications are produced as ointments.

In general, you should be hesitant to put anything on your skin that you wouldn’t put in your mouth, and this applies to all types of personal care products, not just deodorant.

What You’re Risking to Keep Your Armpits Fresh and Dry

As is typical for personal care products, most deodorants contain a number of potentially toxic ingredients. The two types of substances that are commonly found in deodorant and have caused the most concern are aluminum and parabens. Aluminum is the key ingredient in many antiperspirants that reduces perspiration, and parabens are used in many deodorants and a wide variety of personal care products to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungus.

Aluminum and parabens are both believed to be a potential risk for breast cancer and elevated estrogen levels, and it’s been generally accepted that aluminum increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. As expected, there’s been a lot of debate over these issues, especially the risk of breast cancer. Regardless of how big or small the risk may be, the one thing we can be sure of is that nature didn’t intend for us to be exposed to these chemicals, especially not on a daily basis.

Antiperspirants are extremely popular because most people want to keep their armpits dry in addition to preventing body odor. However, because sweating is a critical part of the detoxification system, antiperspirants impair the body’s ability to handle the significant chemical burden of modern life. Even though our armpits are just a fraction of the total surface area of our skin, there’s probably a good reason why they produce more sweat than most other parts of the body. As such, it would be wise to not interfere with their natural function.

What’s in Your Deodorant?

The long and tongue twisting list of potentially dangerous ingredients found in most deodorants and antiperspirants is made obvious by the following two top sellers.

According to the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep cosmetic safety database, the ingredients in Secret Wide Solid Antiperspirant make it a high hazard with a score of 7 out of 10. Here are the ingredients:

Mennen Speed Stick Regular, which is not an antiperspirant and doesn’t contain aluminum, is still rated by the EWG’s Skin Deep database as a moderate risk with a score of 6 out of 10. Here are the ingredients:

Based on the ingredients listed above, do either of these products sound like something you’d be willing to put in your mouth? To find out if your deodorant contains harmful ingredients, look it up in the EWG’s Skin Deep database.

An Unrecognized Cause of Body Odor and Excessive Sweating

People who are overweight, following a poor diet, or living an unhealthy lifestyle are more likely to have problems with body odor and excessive sweating. Being overweight can cause excessive sweating by increasing the need for body temperature regulation, and eating unhealthy food or using unnatural personal care products can result in a buildup of toxins that can also increase sweat production and intensify it’s odor as well.

Many people who clean up their lifestyle and improve their health notice a significant reduction in sweating and body odor. I’ve experienced this myself. If you sweat a lot and have bad smelling body odor, there’s certainly nothing wrong with trying to control it, but also consider the possibility of it resulting from your lifestyle habits.

A Better Way to Stay Dry and Fresh

Although the obvious solution is to use a deodorant with natural ingredients, it’s not always the best solution. For example, I was using one of the highest quality natural deodorants available and had to stop because it was giving me a rash. Many natural personal care products contain a large number of ingredients which makes them more likely to cause a problem, and because there’s no regulation on the labeling of such products, some of the ingredients might still be toxic.

What I think is the best solution, if you can manage it, is to not use any deodorant at all. As crazy as this may sound, if you’re in good enough health, you should be able to do it. I did it for a while, and with the help of washing my armpits each afternoon with soap and water, I didn’t have much of an issue. However, because I occasionally noticed a little body odor, I’m now back to using deodorant. In the future, I plan to focus more effort on detoxification and I think that doing so will solve the problem.

Another option, which I’m currently experimenting with, is to make your own deodorant. Once I have a better idea of how effective this is, I’ll be sure to write more about it.

Written by Vin Miller for NaturalBias.com.

From Bad to Worse

As a child, I was often sick and frequently suffered from stomach pain and headaches. It certainly didn’t help that I ate a lot of processed foods and was frequently exposed to second hand cigarette smoke. Although I thankfully didn’t have any significant problems to speak of, I began adulthood with a predisposition for poor health.

College life certainly didn’t help matters. My diet continued to be just as poor as it had always been, my sleep schedule became much more irregular, and like most college students, I was having more than just a few drinks on weekends. As I became more and more fatigued, I began to question if something was wrong, but having never experienced vibrant health, I didn’t know what I was missing and accepted the fatigue as normal.

Despite living a healthier and more regimented lifestyle after college, I was still pushing through life more so than enjoying it. Getting out of bed was a major ordeal nearly every morning, and after a typical workday, it seemed like a tremendous effort just to drive myself home. On one such drive home, I vividly remember being so fed up with my exhaustion that I was on the verge of deep depression. After questioning why the basic activities of life seemed to be so difficult, I berated myself for being weak and concluded that if everyone else can deal with it, I can too. As time passed, I found myself fighting these emotions more frequently. I’d sometimes be too tired to even care and would surrender to the depression until it ran its natural course. Other times, it made me so angry and frustrated that I could have punched a hole in a wall.

What Finally Pushed Me Over the Edge

Despite my frequent exhaustion, I still forced myself to exercise and play sports as often as I could manage. Although these were some of my favorite activities which helped to keep me sane, forcing myself to be physically active when I didn’t have the energy undoubtedly made everything worse. I frequently experienced what is commonly referred to as an exercise hangover which intensified many of my symptoms and left me even more tired than normal for a number of days, sometimes longer.

One of my most annoying symptoms was the shakiness, weakness, and lack of coordination that you’d normally experience after an intense confrontation. I was experiencing this sensation on a regular basis, especially while playing tennis, and it was very frustrating. Although it seems kind of strange in retrospect, of all the things that were bothering me, this is the one symptom that I finally complained to my doctor about. She sent me to have a glucose tolerance test which assesses the body’s response to sugar intake, and according to the test results, my blood sugar dropped severely. This meant I was very susceptible to hypoglycemia. Despite the hope this gave me for improvement, I would eventually learn that it was just a small part of the overall problem.

My Life Changing Revelation

After receiving my test results, I immediately purchased several books about hypoglycemia and began reading. I was a bit shocked when I read the long list of symptoms which included fatigue, anxiety, irritability, depression, headaches, muscle aches, mental fogginess, dizziness, difficulty speaking, poor memory, irregular heartbeat, increased sensitivity to sunlight, increased perspiration, intense hunger, and of course, the shakiness and weakness that I had originally complained about.

I had to stop reading for a moment due to my astonishment. I had experienced every single one of the symptoms listed above, many of them on a regular basis for a number of years, and couldn’t believe that they all could be caused by the same problem. More importantly, I had the sudden realization that the state of health and quality of life I’d been living with for so long was anything but normal.

At this very moment, it was as if the dark clouds of a stormy day had immediately lifted. I suddenly recognized an incredible potential for a much better life.

My Disappointment with Conventional Medicine

The nurse who called to inform me of my test results did so in a surprisingly apathetic manner. She said I could be referred to a dietitian if I wished and that was it. No explanation or recommendations from her or the doctor. If I wished? If I wished? Of course I wanted to see a dietitian! At the time, it was my only alternative to doing nothing and continuing to suffer.

By the time my appointment with the dietitian approached, I had already read several books about hypoglycemia and had already adjusted my diet to eliminate sugar and restrict carbohydrates. The knowledge I had gained from the books turned out to be more useful than my time with the dietitian. After several months of not making much progress, she agreed that there must have been more to my situation than just hypoglycemia.

Based on the reading I’d been doing, I suspected some kind of hormone imbalance and had read that hypoglycemia is a symptom of another condition called adrenal fatigue. Unfortunately, few doctors are even aware of adrenal fatigue, and the ones who are tend to disregard its legitimacy. As such, I went back to my doctor expecting a difficult discussion and she reluctantly sent me to an endocrinologist. Despite questionable test results indicating the possibility of hypothyroidism, which can result from adrenal fatigue, the endocrinologist insisted that my hormone levels were fine and that there was nothing she could do for me.

More Money, More Problems

The stress of having to wait long periods of time for appointments with people who weren’t helping was beginning to overwhelm me. I knew I needed professional help, but I couldn’t find it and was running out of options. I eventually found a center that specialized in fatigue and chronic illness. Despite the 3 hour drive to get there and my insurance company’s refusal to pay for the visit, I decided to go anyway. After dozens of tests which indicated a number of hormone imbalances including adrenal fatigue, nutrient deficiencies, and viral infections, I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. Because I had been bitten by a tick in a highly endemic area, they suspected Lyme disease as the primary problem.

I had followed the treatment prescribed by this center for nearly a year, and during this time, I was continuing to educate myself on how to support my recovery through healthier lifestyle habits. I was impressed by the center’s thorough testing and advanced knowledge of chronic illness, but was beginning to question their treatment approach. Although they described their approach as natural and holistic with minimal use of drugs, they were neglecting a number of important lifestyle factors and I was also displeased with the large number of supplements and prescription medications I was taking. Throughout most of the treatment, I was taking more than 60 pills every day, and it seemed that each time I discussed one of my symptoms with the doctor in hopes that it would shed some light on the cause of my problems, I would be given a new prescription.

By the time a full year had passed, I had made some notable improvements, mostly as a result of my lifestyle changes, but overall, wasn’t feeling much better than when I had started. I was frustrated by my lack of progress and had a strong suspicion that I was heading down the wrong path. Inspired by the knowledge and confidence I gained through my own research, and more notably, my frustration with the medical community, I decided to discontinue the treatment and rebuild my health on my own. Unfortunately, I incurred almost $20,000 of debt to get to this point and had little to show for it.

The Importance of Good Digestive Health

I firmly believe that the digestive system is the foundation of optimal health. After oxygen and water, food is the most essential requirement for survival. Every one of the trillions of cells that we’re made of depends on the nutrients that are assimilated through the digestive system. Furthermore, our digestive system is our first and most important line of defense against ingested germs and toxins. As the health of the digestive system declines, we become more susceptible to nutrient deficiencies, infections, and food sensitivities, all of which can lead to significant forms of chronic illness.

I eventually discovered that my digestive system was a mess, and by focusing on this, I was able to address my health issues much more effectively than the multitude of doctors and specialists that I had seen in the past. Through the training I pursued after discontinuing my treatment at the fatigue center, I reconfirmed my state of adrenal fatigue and determined that I had 61 different food sensitivities, a chronic infection of H. pylori, and an overgrowth of undesirable intestinal bacteria. Worst of all, and probably as a result of these issues, the immunity of my intestines was completely shut down.

Dedication and Hard Work Changed My Life

I could have very easily accepted hypoglycemia as a lifelong condition and not have done anything more, or I could have viewed myself as a lifelong victim of chronic fatigue syndrome and accepted a permanently compromised quality of life. This is what many people choose to do. Having only one chance to make my life as fulfilling and enjoyable as possible, I was not willing to accept my compromised health as a permanent limitation. I was fully determined, and still am, to achieve the best health and highest level of wellness possible.

Deciding to discontinue the intensive treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome and Lyme disease was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. As a result of my hard work and dedication, I now feel better than ever, have eliminated the majority of my symptoms, and have more energy, physical capacity, and resistance to illness than a large majority of the population. Even though I still have room for improvement, I feel like a new person with a new life and none of this would have been possible without the ambition and determination to find a better way.

What about you? Is there room for improvement in your life? Do you have the determination to pursue it?

Written by Vin Miller for NaturalBias.com.

Unfortunately, most people don’t realize that their efforts to improve their appearance may ultimately be compromising their quality of life. In addition, the physical improvements they seek rarely lead to the satisfaction that they expect. Although an attractive appearance can be a great source of satisfaction, it’s certainly not worth compromising your health, and in turn, your ability to live a fulfilling life.

The following are some of the more common ways that people are undermining their health in order to improve their appearance.

Restricting Calories to Lose Weight

It’s well known that most prisoners of Nazi concentration camps were barely fed enough food to stay alive. Today, many people who are desperate to lose weight are willingly subjecting themselves to a similarly restricted diet.

Although a reasonable amount of calorie restriction can indeed facilitate weight loss, doing so in a successful and healthy manner involves much more than simply counting calories. As is typical with modern society, most people embrace the mentality that more is better and restrict their calorie consumption excessively. This promotes nutrient deficiencies that can lead to poor health and disease, especially if the calories consumed are not from highly nutritious foods. Furthermore, the body naturally slows down it’s metabolism to conserve energy when calorie consumption is low which makes it more difficult to lose weight and is likely to cause fatigue and moodiness.

Exercising Excessively to Lose Weight

It’s not uncommon for people to restrict their calorie consumption and still have trouble losing weight. Not realizing the flaws in the oversimplified approach of calorie counting, many of these people try to make up the difference with excessive exercise. In many cases, the additional exercise is merely compensating for excessive consumption of sugar and refined carbohydrates.

People who are having trouble losing weight will often spend up to an hour nearly every day doing intense aerobic exercise. Aerobics classes or spin classes are notorious choices and anyone who’s participated in either of them can attest to their high level of intensity. This type of activity is a tremendous burden to the body, and when it’s done on a regular basis, it promotes a chronic state of stress and breakdown. In addition, the calorie restriction that often accompanies this type of exercise makes the physiological burden even harder to recover from. Not only does a chronic state of stress make it harder to lose weight, it can also promote health problems such as adrenal fatigue.

Using Artificial Methods to Lose Weight

Whether it be because of laziness or desperation, many people turn to artificial measures such as diet pills or surgery to lose weight.

In some cases, diet pills are a complete waste of money, and in others, they’re downright dangerous. In fact, some previously common ingredients of weight loss supplements, such as phenylpropanolamine and ephedra, are now regulated by the FDA because of their respective association with strokes and heart attacks. The typical means through which weight loss supplements work are by increasing metabolic rate, suppressing appetite, or blocking fat absorption. In addition to the risks associated with consuming unnatural ingredients, stimulating supplements that increase the metabolic rate tend to also invoke a physiological stress response, and the suppression of appetite and blockage of fat absorption promotes nutritional deficiencies that can lead to poor health and disease.

Surgery is by far the most drastic way of losing weight, and in my opinion, is one of the most blatant examples of modern medicine’s arrogance in thinking that nature can be outsmarted. Most weight loss procedures are designed to either limit overeating by reducing the size of the stomach or restrict fat absorption by bypassing part of the intestines. Both methods alter the natural function of the digestive tract, and in turn, promote nutrient deficiencies and the development of poor health and disease. Evidence is already indicating that people who’ve had weight loss surgery are more likely to experience bone fractures, and this is just one of the many possible outcomes of impaired digestion.

Using Artificial Methods to Increase Muscle Mass

Although it’s not as common of a goal as weight loss, there are many people who are desperate to improve their appearance by developing a significant amount of muscle. Like diet pills, there’s an abundance of supplements available that are intended to increase muscular development, and many of them contain questionable ingredients. Furthermore, most people who are looking to build muscle tend to rely on processed powders to meet exaggerated protein and calorie requirements.

The intense strength training required to promote significant muscular development puts a tremendous demand on the body and greatly increases it’s need for high quality nutrition. Protein powders, protein bars, and meal replacement powders are an inferior source of nutrition for anyone, especially someone who is lifting heavy weights and has an increased need for nutrients. As top powerlifter Eric Talmant agrees in this interview, these synthetic and convenience based forms of nutrition are over hyped and unnecessary.

The most drastic and unhealthy method of increasing muscle mass is through the use of anabolic steroids. Despite the dramatic side effects, steroid usage is more common than most people realize, even outside of sports and professional bodybuilding. Anabolic steroids can cause liver damage, heart damage, heart disease, high blood pressure, hormone imbalance, and aggression based mood disorders that sometimes lead to suicide.

Using Chemicals to Alter Appearance

There are hundreds of thousands of synthetic chemicals in circulation today and we’re exposed to many of them on a daily basis. The human body is not evolved to handle such a significant exposure to such chemicals and is sometimes incapable of properly eliminating them. When the detoxification system becomes overloaded, many of these chemical toxins are stored throughout the body including the most critical organs and glands where they can cause major dysfunction. Despite this, many people dramatically increase their exposure to such toxins through the frequent use of products such as cosmetics and hair dye that have no purpose other than temporarily improving appearance.

Over the past decade, Botox has become a popular option to eliminate wrinkles. Botox, formally known as botulinum toxin, is a strong toxin that paralyzes muscle. The potential consequences of using Botox include headaches, flu like symptoms, allergic reactions, and the unintentional paralysis of eye and jaw muscles which can inhibit blinking and chewing respectively. In my opinion, using such a toxin for something as trivial as removing wrinkles is an indication of an unhealthy obsession with appearance.

Wearing Dysfunctional Shoes to Be Fashionable

Despite the sedentary lifestyle that many of us live, walking is still something that we still do on a regular basis. Complex movement patterns like walking are made possible by a network of adjoined bones and muscles. Through this system, the condition and action of one joint can have a significant impact on that of an adjacent joint, and this influence can spread throughout the body. As such, the repetition of improper walking mechanics can cause problems in a variety of places.

Most modern shoes, especially those which are stiff, narrow, or have elevated heels, can easily alter walking mechanics. Although wearing such shoes on occasion is unlikely to do much harm, wearing them on a regular basis can cause muscle imbalances and joint dysfunction that may lead to pain and injury. An easy way to prevent this is to walk barefoot as often as possible and wear shoes that promote a natural gait.

A More Attractive Outlook

Ironically, many of the physical characteristics that society is so obsessed with, such as excess body fat and premature aging, are often the result of unhealthy lifestyle habits. Although there are a variety of unnatural ways to address these issues, nothing can replace the vibrancy and longevity provided by optimal health.

While there’s nothing wrong with making an effort to improve your appearance, it shouldn’t be driven by self hate or unrealistic expectations. Most importantly, such an effort should be balanced with pride and a healthy appreciation for the unique physical attributes that you were born with.

A truly attractive person is one who has a balanced and grounded perspective on life that builds admirable character, is based more on emotional fulfillment than materialism, and motivates them to pursue the optimal health that will fuel their passions and promote a youthful appearance. Health is a significant aspect of beauty, and in short, the longer you’re able to remain healthy, the longer you’ll be able to remain attractive, both physically and mentally.

Written by Vin Miller for NaturalBias.com.

With all the sources of toxins that exist today, including our water, air, food, and many of the personal care products that we use on a daily basis, we certainly don’t need a constant source of toxins right in our mouths. Amalgam fillings are just that!

Your Amalgam Fillings are Emitting Mercury Vapors

It’s well known that mercury is highly toxic in excessive amounts and that modern pollution is making such toxicity more and more common. Despite this, amalgam fillings containing mostly mercury as well as other potentially toxic metals are still commonly used. Research has shown that amalgam fillings emit mercury vapor at a significant level. According to the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, if you can see the vapor, it’s at a level that is 1,000 times higher than the limit that the EPA has set for air.

Any type of stimulation to an amalgam filling, such as heat, chewing, grinding, and brushing your teeth, increases the amount of mercury vapor emitted for at least an hour and a half. Using special photography, the IAOMT has clearly demonstrated with a 25 year old amalgam filling in an extracted tooth that it doesn’t take much stimulation at all to provoke a steady stream of visible mercury vapor to be released.

Your Amalgam Fillings May Be Poisoning Your Entire Body!

A study involving the insertion of an amalgam filling in the mouth of a sheep revealed that mercury from the filling spread to the sheep’s jaw, stomach, liver, and kidneys within just 30 days. Significant amounts of mercury eventually spread to every organ in the sheep’s body and resulted in a strong indication of kidney malfunction. The same type of study was done on a monkey and led to similar results.

In addition to the neurological and many other types of issues that mercury toxicity can cause, it’s a significant risk to a fetus. The sheep study showed that mercury was directly transferred to the sheep’s placenta and spread to every part of the fetus. After birth, the amount of mercury found in the baby lamb continued to increase through the intake of the mothers milk.

This research provides alarming evidence that the amalgam fillings in your mouth may very well be contaminating the rest of your body, and for pregnant women, could be a significant risk to the health of the fetus.

Unnecessary Drilling Destroys Teeth

To fill a cavity with an amalgam filling, a portion of the tooth much larger than the size of the cavity must be drilled away. Even without concern for mercury toxicity, this is a significant threat to the structure, health, and longevity of the tooth, and according to the IAOMT, is not the best approach. Alternatives are available that are free of toxic metals and don’t require additional destruction of the tooth.

The Smoking Teeth Video

The following video, produced by the IAOMT, clearly shows the shocking amount of vapor that emits from a stimulated amalgam filling. It also discusses the research referenced above and explains a better alternative for filling cavities.

How to Protect Yourself from the Risks of Amalgam Fillings

The most important measure you can take to avoid the risks associated with amalgam fillings is to clean up your diet, especially by avoiding sugar and refined carbohydrates, to prevent any new cavities from forming. If you already have a cavity that needs to be addressed, or would like to have your amalgam fillings replaced with something safer, seek out a biological or holistic dentist who doesn’t use mercury. You can find such dentists through the International Academy of Biological Dentistry and Medicine.

Written by Vin Miller for NaturalBias.com.

The 1976 Swine Flu “Pandemic”

In 1976, there was a swine flu scare very similar to the one we’re experiencing this year. The government responded by advising everyone to be vaccinated and 44 million people took the advice. Unfortunately, the vaccine ended up destroying many peoples lives and was blamed for numerous cases of paralysis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and even death. Much like what we’re seeing today, the overly hyped swine flu pandemic never came about.

The following two videos are an old episode of 60 Minutes that exposed the disastrous outcome of the 1976 swine flu vaccination and the unsettling deception that was behind it. I highly recommend that you take 15 minutes to watch this video in its entirety and make a commitment to educate yourself about the potential dangers of the swine flu vaccine that’s likely to be pushed in the near future.

A Common Sense Perspective on Swine Flu

If you’re worried about swine flu, consider the fact that much fewer people have died from swine flu than from regular influenza. According to the World Health Organization, 429 people have died nationwide from this year’s swine flu outbreak as of July 6th. In comparison, about 36,000 people die each year from regular influenza in the United States alone. Based on this, I think it would be prudent to ask yourself if swine flu is really the threat that it’s been portrayed to be.

The best way to avoid the swine flu, or any other illness, is by supporting your immune system through living a healthy lifestyle. It doesn’t require a needle, there’s no side effects, and it won’t paralyze you. In fact, you may even lose some weight and improve your mood. You can start learning how to live a healthier lifestyle right now by signing up for my free e-course 7 Simple Steps to a Leaner, Happier, and Healthier You!.

For more information about the dangers of vaccinations, you can visit the National Vaccine Information Center.

Written by Vin Miller for NaturalBias.com.

If you look at the label on the back of food or supplement packaging, you’ll see a list of nutrients that specifies the amount of each nutrient contained in a single serving of the product and what percentage of the recommended Daily Value that this amount represents. The FDA requires food and supplement manufacturers to include this information on the labels of their products to help you determine how much of your daily recommended allowance you’re consuming.

What Exactly is the Daily Value?

The Daily Value is the recommended daily intake of a particular nutrient and is generalized based on a 2,000 calorie diet. For vitamins and minerals, the Daily Value is based on a standard called the Reference Daily Intake, which is based on an older and more familiar standard called the Recommended Daily Allowance, or RDA. The RDA was originally developed by the National Academy of Sciences and is intended to represent the amount of a nutrient that should be consumed on a daily basis to avoid deficiency and any of the health conditions that would be likely to follow.

Are Daily Values Important?

The one thing that’s certain about Daily Values is that their derivation can be quite confusing! However, for someone who eats a well rounded diet based on natural whole foods such as meat, fish, fruit, and vegetables, Daily Values are less important because such a diet provides plenty of the nutrients needed to support good health. While Daily Values are much more useful for people who use a lot of supplements, they can also be very misleading.

Why Daily Values are a Flawed Standard

The primary shortcoming of Daily Values is that they’re based on RDAs. In many cases, the RDA is nothing more than the minimum amount of a nutrient needed to prevent a particular condition that’s caused by a deficiency of the same nutrient. This is misleading because the amount of a nutrient needed to prevent a disorder can be significantly lower than the amount needed to support optimal function and health.

The Misleading RDA for Vitamin D

Robert Heaney MD, a prominent vitamin D researcher, served as a member of the Food and Nutrition Board over a decade ago to help establish the RDA for vitamin D. According to Heaney, the resulting RDA of 200 IU for vitamin D was based on how much of it is needed to prevent rickets. This is troubling because vitamin D deficiency can still cause significant problems at levels that aren’t extreme enough to cause rickets. To this day, the RDA for vitamin D is still 200 IU for all people 50 years old or younger. Although it increases to 400 IU for people older than 50 and to 600 IU for people over 70, these values are still quite low.

The research used to determine vitamin D’s RDA indicates that blood levels of vitamin D in a “healthy individual” range from 20 nmol/liter to 37.5 nmol/liter. However, this range only represents the typical vitamin D level for an average person, and by today’s standards, the average person is far from being a shining image of excellent health. In fact, many experts believe that as much as 80% of the population is deficient in vitamin D. Research suggests that someone who receives adequate sun exposure will have vitamin D levels in the range of 40 nmol/liter to 60 nmol/liter. As such, the “healthy” vitamin D range that the RDA is based on would be considered by many to be deficient.

In contrast to the 200 IU RDA for vitamin D, research is showing that people who don’t receive regular sun exposure would benefit from anywhere between 1,000 IU and 5,000 IU of vitamin D3 supplementation per day. In some cases where deficiency is present, the recommendations are even higher! Although this may sound like an extreme amount of vitamin D, 1,000 IU is only 25 micrograms or 0.025 milligrams. For more information about recent research on vitamin D requirements, visit the Vitamin D Council.

What Does This Mean?

Despite the fact that many experts consider the RDA of vitamin D to be far too low, which has been the case for other RDA values as well, this is by no means justification to completely ignore RDA values and consume however much of a supplement you wish to. More than anything, it’s just another indication that you need to take responsibility and educate yourself so that you can make informed decisions about your health.

This article is part of Fight Back Fridays.

Written by Vin Miller for NaturalBias.com.