Chemicals in Our Food, and Bodies

Anyone with CFS is a barometer for all things toxic. Further you have zero threshold for dealing with toxic poisons. Think of it like a glass filled with fluid that just a tiny drop will make it spill over. You know my healing formula:

Real whole food diet + restorative sleep + elimination of toxins and stressors + being positive and hopeful + regular graded exercise and pacing + consistency + time = healing and health.

And you know I'm an anti-chemical (toxins) crusader. Most of us are smart enough now to avoid drinking the poison marketed as "diet soda," but some of us still aren't sold on how vigilant you must be to avoid chemicals in food, household, and personal care products. I'm thrilled to see more exposure in the mainstream media about the dangers of chemicals and that the chemical companies won't always be getting away with poisoning us while fattening their wallets. Here's another great piece from the New York Times

By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
Published: November 7, 2009

Your body is probably home to a chemical called bisphenol A, or BPA. It’s a synthetic estrogen that United States factories now use in everything from plastics to epoxies — to the tune of six pounds per American per year. That’s a lot of estrogen.

More than 92 percent of Americans have BPA in their urine, and scientists have linked it — though not conclusively — to everything from breast cancer to obesity, from attention deficit disorder to genital abnormalities in boys and girls alike.

Now it turns out it’s in our food.

Consumer Reports magazine tested an array of brand-name canned foods for a report in its December issue and found BPA in almost all of them. The magazine says that relatively high levels turned up, for example, in Progresso vegetable soup, Campbell’s condensed chicken noodle soup, and Del Monte Blue Lake cut green beans.

The magazine also says it found BPA in the canned liquid version of Similac Advance infant formula (but not in the powdered version) and in canned Nestlé Juicy Juice (but not in the juice boxes). The BPA in the food probably came from an interior coating used in many cans.

Should we be alarmed?

The chemical industry doesn’t think so. Steven Hentges of the American Chemistry Council dismissed the testing, noting that Americans absorb quantities of BPA at levels that government regulators have found to be safe. Mr. Hentges also pointed to a new study indicating that BPA exposure did not cause abnormalities in the reproductive health of rats.

But more than 200 other studies have shown links between low doses of BPA and adverse health effects, according to the Breast Cancer Fund, which is trying to ban the chemical from food and beverage containers.

“The vast majority of independent scientists — those not working for industry — are concerned about early-life low-dose exposures to BPA,” said Janet Gray, a Vassar College professor who is science adviser to the Breast Cancer Fund.

Published journal articles have found that BPA given to pregnant rats or mice can cause malformed genitals in their offspring, as well as reduced sperm count among males. For example, a European journal found that male mice exposed to BPA were less likely to make females pregnant, and the Journal of Occupational Health found that male rats administered BPA had less sperm production and lower testicular weight.

This year, the journal Environmental Health Perspectives found that pregnant mice exposed to BPA had babies with abnormalities in the cervix, uterus and vagina. Reproductive Toxicology found that even low-level exposure to BPA led to the mouse equivalent of early puberty for females. And an array of animal studies link prenatal BPA exposure to breast cancer and prostate cancer.

While most of the studies are on animals, the Journal of the American Medical Association reported last year that humans with higher levels of BPA in their blood have “an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and liver-enzyme abnormalities.” Another published study found that women with higher levels of BPA in their blood had more miscarriages.

Scholars have noted some increasing reports of boys born with malformed genitals, girls who begin puberty at age 6 or 8 or even earlier, breast cancer in women and men alike, and declining sperm counts among men. The Endocrine Society, an association of endocrinologists, warned this year that these kinds of abnormalities may be a consequence of the rise of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and it specifically called on regulators to re-evaluate BPA.

Last year, Canada became the first country to conclude that BPA can be hazardous to humans, and Massachusetts issued a public health advisory in August warning against any exposure to BPA by pregnant or breast-feeding women or by children under the age of 2.

The Food and Drug Administration, which in the past has relied largely on industry studies — and has generally been asleep at the wheel — is studying the issue again. Bills are also pending in Congress to ban BPA from food and beverage containers.

“When you have 92 percent of the American population exposed to a chemical, this is not one where you want to be wrong,” said Dr. Ted Schettler of the Science and Environmental Health Network. “Are we going to quibble over individual rodent studies, or are we going to act?”

While the evidence isn’t conclusive, it justifies precautions. In my family, we’re cutting down on the use of those plastic containers that contain BPA to store or microwave food, and I’m drinking water out of a metal bottle now. In my reporting around the world, I’ve come to terms with the threats from warlords, bandits and tarantulas. But endocrine disrupting chemicals — they give me the willies.

Eat An Alkalizing Diet To Recover From Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

I saw a nutritional MD on Thursday and started an alkalizing diet the next day. She drew some labs to check my nutritional levels of micronutrients. Along with the diet I'm going to be using Vitamin B complex and Cyanocobalamin injections a couple of times a week, digestive enzymes with meals, adrenal supplements in the morning, and Probiotics at night along with my usual supplements until my labs come back and we see what I need to tweak. She also gave me a Meyers Cocktail IV. I want to not just be well but I want to have options like running marathons...!

Anyone who is sick or has been sick should eat an alkalizing diet. Acidic foods cause your PH to be too acid leading to imbalances and disease. The disease pathogens like yeast, fungus and tumor cells love-love-love an acidic blood environment. Your body regulates all excess acid by storing it in your cells only leading to the creation of more fat cells for storage bins for all this poison.

Alkaline foods create an impossible environment for the bad cells to function so eating alkalizing food will cause you to lose excess weight and heal your body on a cellular level. Very basically an alkalizing diet avoids dairy, gluten and grains, tropical fruits, any type of sugar including honey, peanut butter, and all meats, chicken, and pork.

So what do you eat?

Overview of the alkaline foods

Dr. Young, the author of the “Ph Miracle” program lists the following food in an alkalizing diet:

Healthy fats: cold-pressed oils, seed oils, avocado and coconuts; fresh fish from unpolluted waters;

Sources of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, protein and fiber: green vegetables, seaweeds, sprouts and tomatoes; lemons, limes and grapefruit; quinoa and buckwheat; sea salt.

Best Alkaline foods

Highly Alkaline (Best):
Alkaline water (water with Ph drops or greens powder)
Real Salt, Celtic Salt
Pumpkin seeds
Vegetables: grasses, dandelion, sprouts, cucumber, sea vegetables, brocco-flower, kale and parsley.

Moderately alkaline (Better):
Lima beans
White navy beans
Granulated soy
Red pepper
Cayenne
Garlic
Ginger
Onion
Beets
Radish
Vegetables: tomato, avocado, green beans, sorrel, spinach, garlic, celery, cabbage, lettuce, bell peppers, collard greens, endive, broccoli, arugula, mustard greens, okra.

Mildly alkaline (Good):
Lentils
Soy flour
Distilled waterHerbs and most spices
Fats (cold pressed): Olive oil, borage oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, flaxseed oil, evening primrose oil, marine lipids, cod liver oil
Fruit: lime, lemon, grapefruit, coconut, sour cherry
Grains : quinoa, buckwheat, spelt
Goat milk
Almonds
Root vegetables : rutabaga, horseradish, turnip, carrot
Seeds: sesame, cumin, caraway, fennel
Sweeteners: chicory, stevia
Vegetables: Brussels sprouts, peas, asparagus, artichokes, comfrey, cauliflower, zucchini, rhubarb, leeks, watercress, chives, kohlrabi.

Some acidic foods such as brown rice, flax seed and blueberries still do have tremendous health benefits. The key is to keep the whole diet mostly alkaline by consuming more alkaline foods along with the best of acidic foods or mildly acidic foods.

Alkaline diet also causes weight loss because:

• Most of the alkaline foods are vegetables 
• There are no sugar or bad fats
• There is no animal protein 
• Most of the foods are organic and are consumed raw giving you most of their nutritional content while avoiding environmental toxins.
  

OK so I thought my diet was really good but I’ve been eating oatmeal for breakfast, a little dairy, and lots of free range chicken. She said fish was OK so I went shopping!
 

When I got home from the store I made some humus and ate it with celery, then I had some Tilapia and asparagus for dinner. Hmmmmm this isn’t so hard.

What I ate the next day:

Breakfast: Scrambled eggs in coconut oil, a banana, a grapefruit (she said eggs have high quality protein so OK!)

Lunch: I went out to eat with my daughter in law, thinking this was going to be really tough because we went to the Cheesecake Factory. I was surprisingly wonderful and fit perfectly into my new diet; I had seared Tuna salad that consisted of sliced nearly raw tuna with a mixture of greens including arugula, sliced tomatoes, avocados, and ginger with oil and (and a little) vinegar dressing. Incredibly good!!!

Dinner: Before I left I put some lentils in the slow cooker, first I sautéed some celery, jalapeno pepper, a chopped red onion in coconut oil then added that to the cooker with a couple of containers of vegetable broth, some cooked asparagus from my fridge, chopped carrots, salt, pepper, cumin, and some dried parsley.

I also made this soup and had a little of that before bed.

Spicy Carrot & Squash Soup

Ingredients: 

1 Large acorn squash
6 large Carrots
1 chopped red onion
2-3 garlic cloves
1 jalapeno pepper
Slices of fresh ginger
2 containers of vegetable stock
Fresh thyme leaves
Salt and pepper
Coconut Oil

I cooked the acorn squash in my toaster oven. Then sautéed the chopped onion, pepper, and garlic in coconut oil. Add the broth, scoop out the cooked squash, add chopped carrots and seasoning. Cook till carrots are done puree the soup in a blender. I added some diluted coconut milk to the soup when I ate it.

I’m very used to thinking ahead before meals so this little tweak to my diet doesn’t seem that hard. I imagine if you’re eating a lot of processed food, beef, caffeine, and sugar it would be pretty difficult to make this change. So take beneficial changes slowly so you can really make the change and not get discouraged.

Caffeine by the way is steroids to your adrenal glands, and we don’t need to whip our adrenals any more than they already are.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Is Like A Trainwreck

Through all the buzz about XMRV and the theories and suppositions being thrown around about the actual cause of CFS I'm continuing to hold my ground that the causes are many that result in the total burnout of your adrenal glands, central nervous system, and immune system. I believe that the cumulative effect of many injurious stressors over time is what so weakens a person that they cannot defend against pathogens or other insults that may not affect another person. If CFS is truly exclusively infectious then why have I never had a friend, family member, long term acquaintance, or relationship with someone else equally affected? I guess time will tell. 

In regard to children who aren't affected by the stressors that adults have such as sleep deprivation, burnout, and other adult stressors I feel strongly that we are poisoning our children from the time of conception. Embryonic and fetal cells cannot defend against being bathed in chemicals as they are now! And then from the time a newborn comes into the world he or she is rubbed with chemicals in personal care products, breathes chemicals from VOCs coming from every direction, and begins eating chemicals at a very young age (along with horrible factory made nutrient poor, calorie rich junk and processed food). We simply MUST do something about the assault of environmental toxins that we have going on globally. 

Bottom line I see CFS like a train wreck. Are all train wrecks completely un-salvageable? No not at all! When I worked ICU trauma and ER resuscitation we had lots of what we called train wrecks. Train wrecks take a lot of work, commitment, persistence, and time to restore back to working order but it can be done!

In my reading I find a lot of consensus on this including this letter in the New York Times:

To the Editor:

I have long been struck by how similar chronic fatigue syndrome (or myalgic encephalomyelitis) is to the pathologies of gulf war syndrome, the illnesses of people subjected to low-level radiation exposure, and the maladies that plague communities near coal operations.

It seems clear that major shocks to the human system — particularly the immune, neurological and endocrine systems — can be delivered through toxic exposure, infectious agents and other extreme stressors. And once these systems are hit with sufficiently large impact, they can set off broad systemic collapse. Think of it as the human body version of a nuclear plant meltdown.

Whatever the findings of continuing research, adequate treatment mandates a health care system that provides far more effective management and active collaboration among consultant specialists than the current United States system typically provides.

Michel Lee
Scarsdale, N.Y., Oct. 21, 2009

The writer, a lawyer, is a senior adviser to the public interest organization Public Health and Sustainable Energy and formerly served on a panel of lawyers and doctors concerned about the inadequacy of regulatory standards to protect public health from the effects of environmental toxins.

Scientists claim junk food is as addictive as heroin

When I eat a meal of real whole food and I'm finished with it I don't give food a second thought until my next meal and occasional snack. I've tried to explain this to so many people who tell me they've started "diets" in order to lose weight or feel better. Diets typically consist of smaller portions of processed foods and never work because this type of food is fattening, causes you to crave more, and is nutrient poor. The following piece explains more:

With the rumors swirling that Michelle Obama is a big fan of former FDA Commissioner David Kessler’s new book The End of Overeating, it seems reasonable to check in on the science behind an “addiction model” for salty, sweet, and fatty processed food (an assertion at the core of the book). As it happens, a group of researchers from the independent, not-for-profit Scripps Research Institute has just released a new peer-reviewed study on the subject. The conclusion: the brain responds to junk food the same way it does to heroin:

    Junk food elicits addictive behavior in rats similar to the behaviors of rats addicted to heroin, a new study finds. Pleasure centers in the brains of rats addicted to high-fat, high-calorie diets became less responsive as the binging wore on, making the rats consume more and more food. The results, presented October 20 at the Society for Neuroscience’s annual meeting, may help explain the changes in the brain that lead people to overeat.

    “This is the most complete evidence to date that suggests obesity and drug addiction have common neurobiological underpinnings,” says study coauthor Paul Johnson of the Scripps Research Institute in Jupiter, Fla.

Johnson offered one group of rats a broad range of processed food, from bacon and cheesecake to Ho Hos while another received a “high-nutrient, low-calorie chow.” There was an immediate difference:

    Rats that ate the junk food soon developed compulsive eating habits and became obese. “They’re taking in twice the amount of calories as the control rats,” says Johnson’s coauthor Paul Kenny, also of Scripps.

The researchers also tested the responsiveness of the animals’ pleasure centers:

    After just five days on the junk food diet, rats showed “profound reductions” in the sensitivity of their brains’ pleasure centers, suggesting that the animals quickly became habituated to the food. As a result, the rats ate more food to get the same amount of pleasure. Just as heroin addicts require more and more of the drug to feel good, rats needed more and more of the junk food. “They lose control,” Kenny says. “This is the hallmark of addiction.”

And here’s where things get ugly. The rats wanted their junk food fix so badly, they were willing to tolerate electric shocks if that’s what it meant to keep eating the stuff.

    To see how strong the drive to eat junk food was, the researchers exposed the rats to a foot shock when they ate the high-fat food. Rats that had not been constantly exposed to the junk food quickly stopped eating. But the foot shock didn’t faze rats accustomed to the junk food — they continued to eat, even though they knew the shock was coming.

    “What we have are these core features of addiction, and these animals are hitting each one of these features,” Kenny says.

Because a study like this isn’t complete without a sinister postscript, I give you this:

    Scientists are interested in determining the long-term effect of altering the reward system. “We might not see it when we look at the animal,” says obesity expert Ralph DiLeone of Yale University School of Medicine. “They might be a normal weight, but how they respond to food in the future may be permanently altered.”

Eating junk food for a while could leave your brain’s response to food “permanently altered”? How. Nice.

Kinda puts industry calls for preserving consumer “choice” regarding the foods we eat into perspective, doesn’t it? When it’s an addiction, choice is the last thing we have.  Besides giving ammunition to those wanting to restrict access to these foods for children (well, for anyone really), this study certainly ensures that I will never look at a Ho Ho the same way again.

Don't Rub Chemicals Into Your Hands To Get Rid Of Germs!

You don't have to be a bonafide germaphobe anymore to be paranoid about contracting some awful bug. My gosh the media has pounded H1N1 into our heads and the smart thing to do is to stay home in a hermetically sealed home void of any chemicals with pure filtered air piped in. Too bad that's not possible so you and I do need to figure out a way to avoid becoming CONTAMINATED! 

BUT.....Just looking at the bottles of brightly colored hand sanitizers sold in most stores makes my hands start bleeding, my eyes burn and my head throb. Personally I don't want to make myself sick in order to "possibly" kill a few germs and avoid the flu. I do however want to keep my hands clean and really try not to get sick while avoiding chemicals. Obviously others feel the same way because when I searched around online and found a natural organic hand sanitizer called Cleanwell and found it was sold at Target and went there to buy it there was only ONE left! They do sell it at other stores look at their site to locate a store.

CleanWell hand sanitizers are made with a patented formulation of essential plant oils lab proven to kill 99.99 percent of the harmful germs. CleanWell is the only hand sanitizer that is all-natural and alcohol-free. The ingredients in CleanWell are safe for kids, non-toxic, and come from rapidly renewable resources that grow abundantly worldwide.

I looked around some more and found this one too. EO Natural Hand Sanitizer - the organic alternative to chemical laden hand sanitizers.

This natural hand sanitizer keeps hands refreshed, healthy, clean and germ free.

Take two hands and a zillion germs. Each hand busy, handling all of the chores of the day and zillions of germs trying to stay involved in whatever is going on.

EO natural hand sanitizer to the rescue!
Kids and adults can simply put a small drop of the natural hand sanitizer in their palms and rub their hands together until they are dry. Voila! Clean hands and the fresh, clean scent of lemon.

EO Hand Sanitizer Ingredients: Organic ethanol (non-GMO), purified water, vegetable glycerin, organic jojoba oil, organic lemon essential oil, orange essential oil, carbomer (thickening agent), dimethicone (silica-derived moisturizer), aminomethyl propanol (pH adjuster)

Cruelty free, no animal by products, no synthetic fragrances. 

Or you can make your own using the following ingredients:

4oz Aloe Vera gel
A little less than 1/4 c witch hazel
1 to 2 T Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
40-50 drops of grapefruit seed extract
20 drops tee tree oil
20-30 drops of Lavender oil

Mix  well and pour into little bottles. An excellent-easy way-and natural way to at least try to avoid germs.

How To Protect Your Health When Taking Certain Medications

If you read this blog you know I'm taking immunotherapy for allergies and some allergy medication. My goal like everyone who really wants total health is zero medications. You should know that aside from side effects drugs also have implications on the nutrients you need to be healthy. Some medications deplete your body of important nutrients. That’s why it’s critical to know this stuff.  Some day in my perfect world your doctor and pharmacist will instruct you on your diet and supplements along with handing you your prescriptions! Here are some tips:

If you take Acid Blockers: cimetidine (Tagamet), lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), and ranitidine (Zantac) you may be deficient in Copper, Folic Acid, Iron, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D.

Copper and folic acid are essential for overall cell health. Iron and vitamin B12 help produce blood; you need vitamin B12 for proper nerve function. You need vitamin D to absorb calcium; when calcium is deficient, bones will thin.

EAT THESE FOODS: Black beans, broccoli, organic milk, oysters, and  TAKE DAILY: B-50 complex with 400 mcg folic acid, plus 250 mcg of vitamin B12 and a multivitamin with 1 mg copper and 200 IU vitamin D.

Better yet don't take them regularly. If you eat a real whole food diet and drink plenty of clean pure water you'll be less apt to have heartburn.

If you take Analgesics: aspirin (Bayer), ibuprofen (Advil), indomethacin (Indocin), naproxen (Aleve) and nabumetone (Relafen) you may be deficient in Folic acid, Iron, Vitamin C, and  Zinc

Folic acid is crucial for tissue healing and overall cell health. Iron helps You need Folic Acid to build blood. Vitamin C and zinc are necessary for immune function, wound healing, and healthy hair and skin.

EAT THESE FOODS: Cabbage, citrus fruits, kale, lentils, lamb, and pumpkin seeds. TAKE DAILY: B-50 complex with 400 mcg folic acid and a multivitamin with 250 mg vitamin C and 15 mg zinc.

Better yet, heal your pain as outlined in my blog post here.

If you take Antibiotics: such as tetracycline, erythromycin, cephalexin, and penicillin you may be deficient in Folic Acid, Vitamin B6,  Vitamin B12,  Vitamin C, Vitamin K.

You need Folic acid for tissue healing and overall cell health, Iron to build blood, Vitamin C and zinc for immune function, wound healing, and healthy hair and skin.

EAT THESE FOODS: Asparagus, broccoli, brown rice, fish, walnuts, and white beans. TAKE DAILY: B-50 complex with 400 mcg folic acid, plus 250 mcg vitamin B12,  250 mg vitamin C, and 100 mcg vitamin K. Avoid vitamin K if you take the blood-thinner warfarin (Coumadin).

If you take Beta Blockers: propranolol (Inderal) and timolol (Timoptic) you must know that they deplete Coenzyme Q10.  A chronic deficiency of CoQ10 can weaken your heart. CoQ10 helps to produce energy and bolsters immune function.

TAKE DAILY: 50 to 100 mg CoQ10 two hours before or after taking medication.

If you take Statins you need to be informed that they inhibit Coenzyme Q10 Synthesis!

Since coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and cholesterol are both synthesized from the same substance, mevalonate, statin drugs (Lipitor, Zocor, etc) also inhibit the body's synthesis of coenzyme Q10. This is not a "side effect," of statins, but a direct, inherent function of the drugs.

In fact, the use of statins can decrease the body's synthesis of coenzyme Q10 by as much as 40%!

TAKE DAILY: 50 to 100 mg CoQ10 two hours before or after taking medication.

Better yet do not take them! Instead eat a real whole food diet, get restorative sleep, and exercise regularly.
 
If you take Diabetes Medicine: Metformin (Glucophage) you may be deficient in Magnesium, Vitamin B12.

Magnesium produces energy and prevents muscle cramps and pain. Without sufficient B12 people with diabetes are more prone to develop severe neuropathy (nerve pain).

EAT THESE FOODS: Beet greens, cashews, eggs, and organic meats. TAKE DAILY: 250 mg magnesium and 250 mcg vitamin B12.

Better yet start a real whole food diet, exercise, and get restorative sleep to recover from Diabetes.

If you take Estrogen Replacement: conjugated estrogens (Premarin), estradiol (Climara), and brand names Estrace and Estraderm you may be deficient in Vitamin B6. You need Vitamin B6 for proper nerve function and to prevent depression, and process hormones in your liver.

EAT THESE FOODS: Brown rice, lentils, peanuts, and wheat germ. TAKE DAILY: B-50 complex.

I recommend using bio-identical hormones for any hormone problems. Look in your area for compounding pharmacies, they can direct you to the bio-identical hormone doctors in your area.

If you take Oral Contraceptives: Micronor, Norinyl, Ortho-Novum, Ovral, and Triphasil you may be deficient in Folic Acid, Magnesium, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Zinc.

Folic acid deficiency can increase the risk of abnormal cells in the cervix. You need Folic acid for tissue Magnesium produces energy and reduces muscle cramps. A vitamin [B.sub.6] deficiency increases your risk of depression and nervous system ailments like carpal tunnel syndrome. You need vitamin C and zinc for immune function, wound healing, and healthy hair and skin.

EAT THESE FOODS: Black beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, pecans shellfish, spinach, and wheat germ. TAKE DAILY: B-50 complex with 400 mcg folic acid and a multivitamin with 250 mg magnesium, 250 mg vitamin C, and 15 mg zinc.

If you take Steroids: becolmethasone (Beconase), dexamethasone (Decadron), hydrocortisone (Hytone), prednisone (Deltasone), and triamcinolone (Azmacort) you may be deficient in Magnesium, Vitamin [B.sub.6], Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin K, and Zinc.

You need Magnesium for energy and to prevent muscle cramps and pain. A vitamin B6 deficiency increases your risk of depression and nervous system ailments like carpal tunnel syndrome. You need Vitamin C and zinc for immune function, wound healing, and healthy hair and skin. When vitamin D is deficient, bones may thin. A lack of vitamin K may increase bruising and bleeding.

EAT THESE FOODS: Barley, oats, organic milk, lentils, peppers. TAKE DAILY: B-50 complex; 1,000 mg calcium; a multivitamin with 250 mg magnesium, 250 mg vitamin C, 400 to 500 IU vitamin D, and 15 mg zinc; and 100 mcg vitamin K. Avoid vitamin K if you take the blood-thinner warfarin (Coumadin).

If you take Tricyclic Antidepressants: amitriptyline (Elavil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), and imipramine (Tofranil) you may be deficient in Coenzyme Q10.
 
A chronic deficiency of Coenzyme Q10 can weaken your heart. You need Coenzyme Q10 to produce energy and bolster immune function. TAKE DAILY: 50 to 100 mg Coenzyme Q10 two hours before or after taking medication.

I happen to really dislike/hate anti-depressants. Once you're on that merry-go-round it's really hard to get off. Try my measures outlined in this post.

Personal Health Assessment Questionnaire

You may have already looked at my stressor checklist, that are all risk factors for getting sick and or staying sick. It's my belief that the cumulative effect of stressors over time is what has contributed to so much illness including CFS. Here's another way of looking at your stressors in my Health Assessment Questionnaire. If you have a lot of risk factors you should work on each on individually in order to improve your health.

Place a check mark next to all the statements that you strongly agree with.

My childhood was chaotic, stressful, dysfunctional, abusive or neglectful

I eat a diet of junk, processed, and restaurant food (food that comes out of a container or wrapper with labels)

I have had long term prescription drug treatment or chemotherapy

I don't get the proper amount of exercise or I over do exercise

I don't drink 8-10 glasses of pure clean drink water everyday

I allow myself to become sleep deprived (I don't get 7-9 hours of sleep every night)

I don't take the right balance of high quality supplements or I take over the counter supplements

I smoke

I drink coffee and/or caffeinated beverages

I don't avoid toxins/chemicals in the environment; water, food, personal care, household products

I drink soda

I use artificial sweeteners and/or drink diet soda

I drink to excess

I take regular prescription medications

I use street drugs or indulge in other high risk behavior

I have breast implants or other foreign bodies implanted in my body or mercury fillings

I have received Hepatitis B, influenza, or any other vaccinations
I don’t have close, spiritual, and healthy relationships

I don’t have a personal relationship with God and/or don’t follow my spiritual beliefs

I have experienced traumatic injuries or events (car accidents, bankruptcy, physical/mental abuse, rape etc.)

I feel stressed or bored

I don’t love my job (your job could be a homemaker, retired, or stay at home mom)

I don’t have hobbies and/or I don’t have pleasure in my daily activities

I don’t have fun on a regular basis

I don’t feel happy and content and that my life is on the right course

I don’t understand that my best is as good as I can do and I don’t accept myself

I don’t engage in activities that challenge my brain that are not stressful

I don’t give myself time to heal and rest between stressful and traumatic events in my life

I don’t engage in stress reducing activities

I don't feel invested in others and/or don't feel I am giving to others in some way