Dry Skin Brushing & Its Benefits

Dry Skin Brushing

The skin is an organ of elimination just like the kidneys and the colon. More than one pound of waste products are discharged through the skin every day. If the skin becomes inactive with its pores chocked with millions of dead cells, then impurities will remain in the body. The other eliminative organs, mainly the kidneys and liver, will have to increase their labour and will eventually become overworked. If toxins and wastes begin to build up in the tissues because the kidneys and the liver cannot cope with their job, then sooner or later disease will follow. Such is the responsibility to keep a healthy and well functioning skin.

We do need to wash, perhaps even more than we realize. But does that ritual with the soap and water actually do the job? Of course it's still fun to jump into the tub, but once you start to skin brush, you won't need to use all that harmful soap. That, in itself, will make a lot of difference to the quality of your skin.

The skin-brushing itself - dry of course, not in the bath - will change the health of your whole body. Circulation, skin softness and quality, skin infections and irritations, whole body freshness, your level of stimulation, the prevention of colds, and your personal rejuvenation are all areas of improvement you can look for, when you make it a regular habit.


Benefits:

TIGHTENS Skin.
HELPS Digestion.
REMOVES Cellulite.
STIMULATES Circulation.
INCREASES Cell Renewal.
CLEANS Lymphatic System.
REMOVES Dead Skin Layers.
STRENGTHENS Immune System.
IMPROVES Exchange between Cells.
STIMULATES the Glands, thus helping
ALL of the Body Systems to perform at PEAK EFFICIENCY!


How To Do:

Buy a natural, not Synthetic, Bristle Brush, since it does not scratch the surface of the skin. Buy a Brush with a long (detachable) handle, so that you're able to get to the areas of your body that are not easy to reach, when doing your own skin brushing.

Skin Brush, before Showering or Bathing, at least once per day, and twice if possible. Do not
wet skin, since it will not have the same effect, because this stretches the Skin. Always skin brush towards the heart. Do circular counter-clockwise strokes on the abdomen. Do lighter strokes over and around breasts, but do not brush the nipples. Brush each part of the body several times vigorously, completely brushing the whole body.

Brush the soles of the feet first, because the nerve endings there affect the whole body, next brush the ankles, calves, and thighs, then brush across your stomach and buttocks and lastly brush your hands to the upper arms.

Take a warm bath or shower, which should always be followed by a cool rinse at the end to invigorate blood circulation and stimulate surface warmth.

Colon Hydrotherapy & Its Clinical Applications

Colon Hydrotherapy and its Clinical Applications

"Colon irrigation may help greatly in enhancing the ability to absorbmany vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids" - by Donald J. Mantell, M.D. (Professional Member AANC)

At our colon therapy clinic we find colon irrigations are one of the most important treatment modalities available for a multitude of health problems. Many health authorities feel that disease begins in the colon. To be in optimum health the colon must be functioning normally. I believe that the colon is one of the most neglected areas by the medical establishment. One of the major indications for colon hydrotherapy is constipation. Before discussing the effects of constipation, I will first give a description of how a colon irrigation is carried out (some technical aspects about the colon irrigation machine) and what some of the benefits would be from such a treatment.

The usual colon hydrotherapy lasts approximately 45 minutes. A speculum is inserted into the patient's rectum. This speculum is then attached to a plastic hose which connects to the colon irrigation machine. The colon hydrotherapist then adjusts the volume and temperature of the water coming out of the machine which runs through a plastic hose into the patient's rectum and through the entire colon. The patient is temporarily filled with a certain volume of water to individual tolerance. This will induce peristaltic contractions in the colon, and the patient will begin to expel fecal matter through a special hose which leads back to the colon irrigation machine and through a clear plastic viewing tube. It is quite interesting to see what is expelled during a normal colon hydrotherapy treatment. One may see mucus, parasites and very old feculent material (noted by its dark black color) pass through this tube. This old feculent material may have been lying in the patient's colon for years. It looks like vulcanized rubber and has that kind of consistency. In addition, the patient may experience sensations of warmth due to the presence of toxins in the feculent matter. While the patient is receiving the colon treatment, the colon hydrotherapist lightly massages various parts of the abdomen to help loosen and dislodge areas of fecal impaction. It is very important that the therapist use proper amounts of water. If the therapist uses too much water, the treatment may be uncomfortable or painful and may lead to negative results. If this therapy is conducted properly, it should not be painful or uncomfortable. In addition, when less, rather than more water is used, the patient's colon is forced to do more work, which is an important first step in restoring normal peristaltic activity to the diseased colon.

It should be noted that most patients need a series of colon irrigations . . . not just one. The patient may expel considerable gas during the first few treatments. It usually takes a few treatments before one starts dislodging old encrusted feculent matter. One should remember that it usually takes years for the colon to become clogged up with its own waste products. Therefore, one should not be impatient when pursuing a therapeutic course of colon irrigations.

• Indications for Colon Hydrotherapy •

Who can benefit from colon hydrotherapy?

Constipation is one of the major reasons people pursue this form of treatment. I will discuss this very important problem later in this article. Colon problems such as colitis, ileitis and diverticulitis effect conservatively two million people in this country. These problems can be directly addressed by colon hydrotherapy. Anyone who suffers from bloating, abdominal distention, gas pains, stomach aches, or someone who gets filled very quickly after eating and can only eat small amounts of food may be a candidate for colon irrigations. In our clinic we find that people with all kinds of skin problems (i.e., acne, psoriasis, eczema, etc.) usually can benefit from a therapeutic course of colon irrigations. The skin is the largest excretory organ in the body. When the colon is sluggish or clogged up or there are a lot of toxins in the body, the skin may act as a major excretory organ. Unhealthy skin is usually a sign of an unhealthy colon and no amount of antibiotics, skin creams or medications will alleviate the problems until the cause of the problem is addressed. Vitamin A plays an important role in skin health. When the colon is adequately cleansed, Vitamin A will more effectively be absorbed through the intestinal tract. I have found that arthritis patients may be helped tremendously with a series of colon treatments - this may be due in part to the fact that arthritis patients suffer from some form of "internal toxemia" whereby toxins are continually being absorbed into their systems (from the colon) causing further inflammation and aggravation of their joints. A third group of patients who may benefit greatly from colon irrigations are cancer patients. We know that cancer patients have a tremendous problem breaking down and assimilating proteins, but they may also be extremely deficient in many vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids. They may also suffer from constipation and other varied digestive disorders. Colon irrigations may help greatly in enhancing their ability to absorb these various macro and micro-nutrients. In addition, it is very important that a cancer patient eliminate efficiently and effectively all internal toxins. This is especially true in the case of a cancer patient who is on an integrated metabolic program. When on such a program, the cancerous tumor may start breaking down resulting in the release of cancer cells and various toxins throughout the body. Colon Hydrotherapy may perform a very important function, by helpingto expel these toxins from the body.

Dr. Max Gerson described a comparable situation when he first started treating cancer patients with an intensive dietary approach. He stated that he lost a number of cancer patients because of toxemia. They literally died from their own internal pollution! As their cancerous tumors were being broken down they were unable to eliminate these toxic products effectively or efficiently with dire results as a consequence. However, it is important that a cancer patient be under competent medical supervision. One would not want to administer colon treatments to a patient who was too weak - whereby the colon irrigations might weaken them further. In addition, colon irrigations would be contraindicated in a patient with a tumor in the rectum or large intestine. Also, colon irrigations would be temporarily contraindicated in any patient whose intestinal tract is too acidic. When the mucous membranes in the colon become too irritated or friable, colon irrigations may be too harsh a treatment. The patient should be put on a metabolic program to reduce the patient's acid state before beginning a series of colon hydrotherapy treatments. At our clinic, we do special testing to test the body pH (i.e., urine and saliva) before making specific recommendations about colon irrigations.

• Constipation •

The expression constipation is derived from the Latin word "constipatus" which translated means to press or crowd together, to pack, to cram. Consequently, to be constipated means that the packed accumulation of feces in the bowel makes its evacuation difficult. However, a state of constipation can also exist when movements of the bowel may seem to be normal - in spite of an accumulation of feces somewhere along the passageways of the colon. Many health authorities believe that constipation is the number one affliction underlying nearly every ailment. This means that constipation would be the most prevalent ailment affecting the civilized world. It is vital to stress that constipation affects the health of the colon, upon which the health of the body in its entirety depends. Constipation contributes toward the lowering of body resistance predisposing it to many acute illnesses and the creation of a great many degenerative and chronic processes. Almost every human ailment has been attributed to a malfunctioning colon (i.e., one that cannot perform its normal, regular and efficient functioning). Intestinal constipation causes cellular constipation - it also increases the workload of the other excretory organs - kidneys, skin, liver, lungs and lymph. The functioning of these organs become depleted and overworked. The cellular metabolism becomes sluggish, repair and growth are delayed, and the ability to eliminate waste materials is lowered. The cells -- instead of being alive and active -- become dead and inactive. This process results in a decline in tissue and organ functional ability. There are two crimes against nature which civilization indulges in as a daily routine, which may be direct causes of constipation. One is the consumption of devitalized and refined foods which fail to nourish the organs responsible for the evacuation of waste matter. The other which is most prevalent, particularly among young people, but no less so among the older and more mature, is neglecting to stop everything we are doing when the urge to evacuate the bowels should drive us headlong into the bathroom. Bowel movements every two or three days are considered normal and acceptable. It is my professional opinion -- as also the opinion of many holistic health care professionals -- we should have a bowel movement for every meal that we eat, each and everyday. For example, if we eat three meals per day, we should have three bowel movements per day. If we are having less than two bowel movements per day, food residues are lying in the colon for more than twelve hours. Consequently, the fecal material in the colon becomes putrefied and fermented. Any nutritional elements present in the fecal matter would pass into the bloodstream as polluted products. What would otherwise be nutritional becomes in fact, the beginning of toxemia. Toxemia is a condition in which the blood contains poisonous products which are produced by the growth of pathogenic or disease-producing bacteria. Pimples for example are usually the first indication that toxemia has found its way into the body. A number of years ago fifty-seven of the leading physicians of Britain met in London and discussed before the Royal Society of Medicine this problem of autointoxication caused by a toxic colon. Autointoxication is defined as "the poisoning of the body, or some part of the body, by toxic matter generated therein." The following twenty-two (22) poisons were identified as originating in a toxic colon.

• Phenol
• Cadaverin
• Agamatine
• Indol
• Sulphurretted Hydrogen
• Cresol
• Butyric Acid
• Botulin
• Putrescin
• Urrobilin
• Histidine
• Ammonia
• Muscarine
• Methylmercaptan
• Methylgardinine
• Indican
• Indoethylamine
• Sulpherroglobine
• Ptomarropine
• Pentamethylendiamine
• Neurin
• Sepsin

These are some of the many types of poisons which can be found in a toxic colon. Some of these poisons are highly active and may produce the most detrimental effects -- even in very small quantities. In many cases, these toxins can seep out of the colon to poison the rest of the body.

Here are just a few examples of how these toxic poisons can affect your health:

* Weaken and stress your heart

* Cause blemishes and paleness in the skin

* Psoriasis, liver spots, wrinkles, and other facial conditions

* Irritate your lungs and cause foul breath

* Disturb mental function and cause senility in the brain

* Cause pain and stiffness in the joints

* Cause weakness and severe fatigue from settling in the muscles

* Rob you of your youth, ruin your health and cause you to become old before your time

• How Constipation Effects the Colon's Function •

If solving the problem of constipation were merely a case of washing out loose material lying free inside any part of the colon, it would not be too great a difficulty to clear up the situation. A high enema would most likely be sufficient to take care of its removal. However, it is not so simple to dispose of this problem. Constipation involves not only the unnecessary retention of feces in the bowel, but also the retention present throughout the first half of the colon, from the cecum to the middle of the transverse colon. The cecum is found next to the ileocecal valve at the beginning of the colon. The wall of this section of the colon is equipped with sensitive nerves and muscles whose function it is to create wave-like motions - known as peristaltic waves - to propel the contents of the colon from the cecum to the rectum for eventual evacuation. This is a distance of approximately five feet. Besides the formation of these peristaltic waves, the first half of the colon has two other very important functions. First, it must extract from all the residue coming from the small intestine any available nutritional material which the small intestine was unable to collect. For this purpose, it mulches the material which passes into it from the small intestine and transfers the liquid and other elements through its walls into the bloodstream. The nutrition which has thus been extracted from the colon is collected by the blood vessels lining the walls of the colon and is carried to the liver for processing. The other important function of the first half of the colon is to gather from the glands in its walls the intestinal flora needed to lubricate the colon.

Far too many people, professional and laymen, think that enemas and colon irrigations wash out the intestinal flora and thus deprive the colon of a valuable means of lubrication . . . This school of thought is utterly false and totally devoid of truth and fact. Obviously, when the packed accumulation of feces in the bowel leads to fecal encrustation, it is not possible for the lining of the colon to function normally, and the glands in this lining cannot produce the necessary intestinal flora or lubrication. Such lack of lubrication only serves to intensify a state of constipation and to generate toxemia.

It is estimated that 200 million people are infected by intestinal parasites.
This fecal encrustation interferes with -- if it does not actually prevent -- the infusion of the necessary intestinal flora for colon lubrication, the formation of peristaltic waves for evacuation purposes, and the absorption and use of the additional nutritional elements present in the waste residue coming into the colon from the small intestine. It does not require much imagination to perceive that the adhesive quality of the feces in the colon is readily susceptible to creating a coating on the inside of the lining or wall of the colon, resembling a layer of plaster in its consistency. It is equally obvious that such a coating . . . in preventing the normal functioning of the colon . . . has the insidious effect of becoming a generator of toxicity, to the detriment of health, happiness and longevity. When the bowel is toxic it can harbor an amazing variety of very harmful bacteria and parasites. It's interesting to note that worms outrank cancer as man's deadliest enemy on a world-wide basis. It is estimated that 200 million people are infected by these intestinal parasites. These worms range in size from microscopic single-celled animals to twenty-foot-long tapeworms! These parasites kill more people annually than does cancer. One in four people in the world today are infected by roundworms. The United States is not immune to these parasites. The number of parasite cases has increased in the past few years.

• Other Benefits of Colon Hydrotherapy •

Colon hydrotherapy also functions as an important diagnostic tool for the physician in extracting useful information concerning digestive and clinical disorders:

* Is an excellent screening device for colo-rectal cancer.

* Useful in diagnostic procedures for evaluation of the colon.

* May prove valuable in preparation for bowel surgery, providing a more optimal surgical field potentially decreasing the risk of post-operative complications due to the presence of bacteria at the suture line.

* Offers the location and relief of fecal impactions, amount and color of mucous and the presence of increased amounts of gas.

* Provides detection for ova and parasites.

* Useful for detoxification of drug addicts and alcoholics.

The entire colon could be cleaned and examined for occult blood every six months or as directed by the physician or health care professional for early detection of colo-rectal cancer. Benefits from colon hydrotherapy extend to all diagnostic procedures for evaluating the colon including barium enema, sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy, facilitating a more accurate study. Patient discomfort resulting from residual barium following the enema could be avoided utilizing colon hydrotherapy. In addition, this technique would eliminate the problem of residual opaque material on subsequent upper GI series or plain film series, which would result in additional radiation exposure to the patient. Patients undergoing general anesthesia would benefit from colon hydrotherapy as it would dramatically reduce the problems associated with bowel functions following surgery. Colon hydrotherapy may prove valuable in the preparation for bowel surgery, providing a more optimal surgical field potentially decreasing the risk of post-operative complications due to the presence of bacteria at the suture line. This procedure may be applied to all patients undergoing general or spinal anesthesia, as it would minimize the incidence of defection in the surgical suite, while saving valuable surgical time. Colon hydrotherapy would also be extremely useful to alcohol and drug detoxification centers as an aid in the internal cleansing process, enhancing the elimination of toxins from the colon and circulatory system.

• Colon Hydrotherapy Contraindications •

The contraindications of colon hydrotherapy include diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease (in the acute inflammatory stages), severe hemorrhoids, or a tumor in the rectum or large intestine.

• Conclusion •

In conclusion - colon hydrotherapy is the safe, gentle infusion of purified warm water into the colon under conditions that offer safety, using no chemicals or drugs. It is the natural solution to conditions which interfere with the normal functions of the colon. Why is colon hydrotherapy such a valuable treatment modality? A healthy colon is essential to a healthy body. Conventional diets of today comprised of refined, processed foods, high in saturated fats and low in natural fiber, contribute to the magnitude of the constipation problem. The elimination of undigested food and other waste products are as important as the proper digestion and assimilation of food stuffs. Waste material allowed to remain too long in the digestive system results in fermentation and putrefaction of these substances and subsequent proliferation of bacteria and their toxins.
Laxatives offer only temporary relief and do not address the real cause of the problem.
Colon hydrotherapy effectively removes stagnant fecal material from the colon walls, preventing the build up of these bacterial toxins in the portal and lymphatic system, resulting in a reduced load on the liver. In addition, the treatment removes mucus, gas, parasites and cellular debris, facilitating peristaltic action and better absorption of nutrients. This natural cleansing process effectively resolves the symptoms directly and indirectly related to dysfunction of the large intestine. Bacteria are involved in the production of several vitamins, including vitamin 'K' and some of the 'B' vitamins, which are absorbed by the large intestine and stored in the liver. In addition to vitamins, the colon absorbs large amounts of water. Unfortunately, toxins of bacterial metabolism also enter the circulatory system. These toxins (Indol, Skatol, Phenol, etc.) are treated by the liver and excreted by the kidneys. Colon bacteria will ferment starches releasing hydrogen and methane gasses which are absorbed and excreted through the lungs. Thus, halitosis may be a symptom of a stagnant fermenting colon. Intestinal toxemia may further result in headaches, allergies, irritability, malnutrition and potentially lead to an overall lowering of an individual's immunological defense mechanism. Intestinal stasis can enhance the systemic absorption of bacteria and their toxins. The prolonged retention of food residues, bile, etc., results in increased numbers of parasitic bacteria present in the colon. Some of the colon's normal flora may become pathogenic under these stagnant or putrefactive conditions. For example, streptococcus and staphylococcus . . . which are part of the normal flora of the large intestine . . . under the above conditions, could enter the systemic circulation and be a potential source of disease. It is my own personal and professional opinion that colon hydrotherapy is one of the most valuable treatment modalities offered at our clinic - it may be a valuable solution by itself or in conjunction with an integrated metabolic program for a myriad of health problems.

The Nutrition & Dietary Consultant - May 1986

from: http://www.colonic-association.com/Colon%20Hydrotherapy%20and%20its%20Clinical%20Applications.htm

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT: GRAINS!

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT: GRAINS!

By Paul Chek, HHP, NMTFounder, C.H.E.K Institute


The story of grains is part and parcel with the story of bread, neither of which the human machinery is designed to function on optimally. While I'm sure this comment is a surprise to some of you, significant amounts of scientific evidence suggests that for all of human evolution -- right up until approximately 10,000 years ago -- the primary staple in the diets of most civilizations was animal meat.

There were times when meat was scarce for a variety of reasons but, in general, our consumption of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds was seasonal and supplementary. Most of the animals we ate, such as deer, were plant eaters. These animals had condensed nutrition in their meats (1 pound of meat contained the nutritional equivalent of several pounds of vegetables).
Such a nutrient-dense source of nourishment allowed us to have sustenance during the winter months when we had minimal food storage methods other than the cold itself. Although many argue (mostly from an emotional bias) that we must have carbohydrate sources to function, current biochemistry reveals that we do have the capacity to convert some fat molecules (glycerol) into carbohydrates.

While there are many controversial theories as to why we began farming, it is more commonly agreed on that we began farming practices, or nurturing the growth of specific plant species and domesticating animals no longer than 20,000 years ago and more likely as soon as 10,000 years ago. During this time, there has been a progressive increase in the consumption of grains and grain-based products, yet this time period is but a flash in the scope of human evolution, during which our digestive machinery was formed.


The Science of Farming

Before the advent of factory farming, grain was partially germinated (sprouted). This resulted from being sheaved and stacked in fields, which stood for several more weeks before threshing. During this period, the grain seeds were exposed to rain and dew which soaked into the sheaves. The grain could pick up this moisture and, with heat from the sun, conditions were ideal for favoring a degree of germination and enzyme multiplication in the grain.

The process of sprouting not only produces vitamin C; it changes the composition of the grain in numerous ways that make it more beneficial as a food. For example, sprouting increases the content of such vitamins as vitamin B, B2, B5 and B6. Carotene, which is converted to vitamin A, increases dramatically -- sometimes eight-fold.

Even more important in today's climate of indigestion, is that phytic acid, which is a known mineral blocker, is broken down in the sprouting process. Phytic acid is present in the bran of all grains, the coating of nuts and seeds and inhibits the absorption of calcium, magnesium, iron, copper and zinc.

These inhibitors can neutralize our own digestive enzymes, resulting in the digestive disorders experienced by many people who eat unsprouted grains. There are many scientific indicators linking grain consumption to rheumatic and arthritic conditions as well. Complex sugars responsible for intestinal gas are broken down during sprouting and a portion of the starch in grain is transformed into sugar. Sprouting also inactivates aflatoxins, which are toxins produced by fungus and are potent carcinogens found in grains.

By purchasing your own organic whole grains and sprouting them before making your own breads or cereals, you can save yourself from the unwanted effects of phytic acid; you can also buy sprouted breads in many health food stores.


Phytic Acid -- The Hidden Problem

Phytic acid is also present in the coatings of seeds and nuts. As I am sure you are aware, many health and nutrition experts advocate the consumption of nuts and seeds and they are prevalent in many health food bars. Unfortunately, eating nuts and seeds without soaking them for at least 8-12 hours to break down the phytic acid can produce the same enzyme blocking and mineral blocking effects eating un-sprouted grains can, which is one of the reasons many of my clients find great relief when removing grains from their diet, particularly those containing gluten.
As is the norm when studying scientific or lay literature on any topic, there is always opposition among experts -- and so it is in the case of phytic acid (phytates) and the potential problems it can cause.

Some experts claim cooking and processing, as in the making of bread, break phytic acid down and nullify its effects on those consuming processed grain products. While my clinical observations suggest the opposite, some interesting test results with regard to zinc deficiency support my contention that merely milling grains into flour and baking it may not break down phytates.

In 1964, it was found that boys in Iran and Egypt had severely underdeveloped testicles. Tests showed they had extreme zinc deficiency, yet zinc was plentiful and widely consumed in those countries. It was discovered that zinc was bound by phytates in the bread they ate. While the bread contained a great deal of zinc, it was useless because it was locked up! This important finding will become even more important in understanding the potential downfalls that come with over-consumption of processed grains.


White Death

While there is little argument that whole-grain cereals and breads are more nutritious and provide more fiber and aid detoxification, care must be taken to avoid consuming ill prepared or processed grains. As you are surely well aware, we have not only deviated far from our ancestral diet, but we are in the era of highly processed foods. Food manufacturers have clung to public misperceptions with regard to white foods, particularly white breads, white rice, white sugar and white table salt, all of which are commonly referred to as white death by most nutrition experts and naturopathic physicians, and for good reason!

White flour became popular sometime prior to 1872, when the roller mill began to replace the stone mills of old. White flour, known to be better for making pastries and baking in general, was only available to the rich prior to advent of the roller mill because its production required significant manual labor, which only the rich could afford.

Stone mills have no mechanism to remove the germ from the flour so the flour had to be sifted through silk filters over and over again until if finally reached a cream color, similar to that of milk. This labor-intensive process resulted in white flour, then a product perceived as one of royalty. The inability to afford white flour resulted in it being sought after by the poor, much the same as the chair was sought after by Egyptian peasants prior to their common use, as the chair was only used by royalty at one time. While the poor had developed a taste for white flour and a desire for the sense of stature they must have felt it afforded them, they were nonetheless developing an attraction to a nutritionally deficient food source.

With the advent of the roller mill, the baker was able to produce white bread at a cost most anyone could afford, all the while the nutritious portions, the bran and germ of the grain were generally fed to pigs and other farm animals! Not long after white flour was accessible to all classes, cereals began to suffer the same fate, losing their nutritional value due to processing.
Today, the nutritious portions of the grain are sold off to health food stores and supplement manufacturers, so in effect, many of you pay for the same grain two or three times in the form of flour, fiber to combat constipation and finally vitamin supplements such as vitamin E from wheat germ.


More Nutritional Deficiencies

While there are a number of nutritional deficiencies in white flour when compared to its stone ground counterpart, here are a few of the less technical ones:

Zinc, which naturally occurs in the outer portions of the grain, is milled away in the production of white flour. This disrupts the natural ratio of zinc to cadmium so that the zinc-cadmium ratio is reversed. Any cause of a zinc shortage in the body is a cause for concern because this very important mineral is a catalyst to numerous enzymatic and hormonal functions, not to mention being essential to protein synthesis and reproduction, the importance of which will become evident below.

White flour contains only 13 percent of the chromium, 9 percent of the manganese and 19 percent of the iron that is contained in whole wheat. Due to the fact that many of the B vitamins are concentrated in the outer parts of the grain, white flour is deficient in B vitamins.6
White flour does not contain the germ of the wheat, which is a potent source of vitamin E, resulting in a high potential for vitamin E deficiency in those whose diet is inadequate for vitamin E sources and/or comparatively high in bread-stuffs.

Research shows that since as long ago as the 1950s, conventionally farmed American grains have been low in protein quality and quantity. So much so, that whenever the United States tried to give its surplus grains away to countries with starving populations, they would not accept our grains if any other country was offering theirs. They had found that the deficient U.S. grains did little to maintain or improve the health of the starving.

After 130 years of consuming highly processed grains in the form of breads, pastries and cereals, chronic disease states are rampant among most industrialized nations, with the greatest prevalence in England, which has the greatest consumption of white flour, white sugar and tea per capita. Unfortunately, the United States is a strong second!


Infertility Strikes

Not surprisingly, we appear to be continuing another trend that began with the introduction of the steel roller mill -- a declining birth rate. The more bran and germ millers extracted from flour, the lower the birth rate per 1,000 people in England between 1872-1945.7 Today, things are not much better. Artificial insemination is a big business and, if not for advanced medical technologies, we would be losing a huge amount of babies who wouldn't have survived even 100 years ago. Additionally, there are significant reductions in sperm counts among males, which may well be the result of both over-consumption of highly processed foods and toxicity in our food supply and our ecosystem. According to a recent analysis by University of Missouri epidemiologist Shanna Swan, the average sperm count of men in the United States and Europe has plummeted by more than 50 percent since the late 1930s. This finding fuels ongoing concerns that male reproductive health may be deteriorating. Based on 61 studies published since 1938, involving a total of nearly 15,000 subjects, Swan found that average sperm counts among healthy American men have dropped from 120 million sperm per milliliter (million/ml) of semen in 1938 to just over 50 million/ml in 1988, a decline of 1.5 percent per year. In Europe, sperm counts have fallen to roughly the same level, though twice as fast, at 3.1 percent each year between 1971-1990.

While environmental chemical exposure is suspected, there is very likely that malnutrition, secondary to consuming too many processed foods, is a real possibility. Francis Marion Pottenger Jr., MD demonstrated that feeding cats processed foods led to numerous disease processes, infertility and eventually extinction!


The Feedlot Pyramid

Over the past 21 years that I have been consulting people with physical and dietary complications and challenges, I have seen a distinct pattern: The over-consumption of processed carbohydrates! Most people get their dietary education from watching TV commercials and reading magazines. These are the two worst places in the world to acquire nutritional information because this is exactly where big industry plants its hooks into you.

Another problem was the boom in running and triathlons, which resulted in the production of numerous popular books on how to eat for success in these sports. The diet plans in these books commonly resemble the USDA Food Pyramid, which is commonly referred to as the USDA Feedlot Pyramid by nutritional experts such as Dr. Barry Sears (author of "The Zone Diet") because such dietary proportions are far better suited to fattening animals than they are to health and vitality! Unfortunately, the USDA food pyramid is used as a guideline by most school cafeterias preparing food for your children!

An additional problem that has come part and parcel with increased mechanization of food processing and the desire to increase shelf life of foods has been the addition of sugar to what was originally a potentially good food -- natural unprocessed cereal grains.
When ground to the particle size used to make white flour, the flour covers 10,000 times the surface area of the grain itself. The result is that when you eat a processed food product like white bread, cookies, donuts or classic boxed cereals, you are eating a high starch (high sugar) food that will be absorbed at almost the same rate as straight table sugar! While considering that, review these statistics from the book "Crazy Makers" by Carol Simontacchi, who compares the sugar content of 1 ounce of Pepsi (1.2 teaspoons of sugar) to common breakfast cereals:

Lucky Charms = 2.8 teaspoons per ounce
Froot Loops = 3.3 teaspoons per ounce
Cinnamon and Spice flavored Quaker Instant Oatmeal = 4.3 teaspoons per ounce

Additionally, in his book "Beating the Food Giants," Paul Stitt shows us the average breakfast cereal today ranges between 46-53 percent sugar! With this knowledge, watch how much sugar people add to their cereals before eating them and how much soda pop is consumed in concert with many of these non-foods!


An Insulin Epidemic

We have an epidemic on our hands with insulin insensitivity (Syndrome X), adult onset diabetes and obesity! We have children consuming massive quantities of sugar and food additives, most of which, like sugar are stimulants. White flour is literally a sugar in itself, and where it is mixed with fats in processed foods, the fats are commonly hydrogenated and rancid, increasing your susceptibility to a number of disease processes.

I suggest the following CHEK Points to improve your health and vitality:

Before entertaining consumption of grain foods, always exclude all grains except corn, rice, buckwheat and millet for two weeks. If you feel a noticeable improvement in your health and well being, you are probably gluten-intolerant. When you start eating grain foods again after two weeks off, start slowly and eat only one grain food to minimize the possibility of a potentially uncomfortable reaction by the body; diarrhea and stomach pain is common among those that are gluten-intolerant! Minimize all consumption of commercial and processed grains and grain-based products. If you plan to eat any grains at all, restrict yourself to organic, unprocessed corn, rice, buckwheat or millet, rotating them on a four-day cycle. Only eat them after they have been presoaked for at least 12 hours to break down the phytic acid. If you enjoy grain-based breakfast cereals, purchase only whole organic grains, soak or sprout and make your own breakfast cereals. There are a few companies that make reasonable boxed breakfast cereals, although my suggestion is to stay away from any processed, cooked grain products whatsoever!
If you enjoy bread, buy only sprouted whole-grain breads that contain no additives or preservatives. Use the above cereal guidelines to choose your breads and determine if you are gluten intolerant. Avoid any conventionally prepared pasta. Purchase only organic rice pasta or gluten-free pasta if you are gluten-intolerant. Pasta is considered to be one of the foods most heavily laden with pesticide residues! Apply the soaking principle to all seeds and nuts. Pour the water off the nuts and replace it each day. Keep refrigerated while storing once soaked.
Never eat more grain-based foods than ideal for your metabolic type with regard to how much carbohydrates you should be eating.


About the Author:

Paul Chek, Corrective, Holistic Exercise Kinesiologist and certified Neuromuscular Therapist, is the founder of the C.H.E.K Institute in Vista, Calif. A sought-after consultant to sporting organizations, his services have benefited numerous professional sports teams and athletes.

Paul has produced over 60 videos, 17 correspondence courses and is the author of several books, audio programs and articles. For more information on Paul's recent book "How To Eat, Move and Be Healthy!" or his popular "Equal But Not The Same" correspondence course, or for any of Paul Chek's other courses, videos and books call 1-800-552-8789 or 760-477-2620 or visit online at http://www.chekinstitute.com/cgi-bin/at.cgi?a=274638&e=/. Feel free to request a catalog of CHEK Institute products.

FOR MORE GREAT INFO ON 'DANGEROUS GRAINS' - VISIT DR. MERCOLA'S SITE AT WWW.MERCOLA.COM

This article is especially good: http://www.mercola.com/2002/oct/5/dangerous_grains.htm