A new study from the Journal of Nutrition suggests eating more vegetables may significantly reduce women’s risk of developing endometrial cancer, which affects the uterine lining.

Researchers in Buffalo, New York examined the health and diet histories in two groups: 541 women with endometrial cancer and a matched number of women with no history of cancer. Women who ate more vegetables in their diet lowered their risk of developing endometrial cancer by 50 percent when compared to those who didn’t eat as much vegetables.

Diets that incorporated nutrients such as fiber, vitamin E, beta-carotene, lutein and folate, which can be found in many vegetables, were linked to lowering incidences of cancer.

However, Dr Susan E McCann, lead author of the study, said the decreased risk may also be related to the foods women are not eating.

“With endometrial cancer there are several reasons why diet may be important. One of the main reasons is obesity. Obesity is a very strong risk factor for endometrial cancer, and it’s related to diet,” McCann said.

People who don’t like certain vegetables can receive some of the cancer-fighting nutrients through supplements.

• Substantial short-term memory or concentration problems
• Recurring sore throat and tender lymph nodes
• Muscle pain
• Pain in several joints without swelling or redness
• Headaches of a new type, pattern or severity
• Feeling tired and unrefreshed—even after sleeping
• Extreme tiredness after exercise or other exertion lasting more than 24 hours

The real challenge is chronic fatigue can result from multiple sources—diet has much to do with it, as does mood, activity level and the health of your immune system. And various antigens—substances that stimulate the production of an antibody when introduced into the body—triggered by medications, virus exposure, vaccinations, heavy metals or environmental toxins all contribute to the symptoms of CFS.

Very few physicians know what to test for to uncover the causes. It takes a detailed history of your physical health, exposures, eating habits, stress, self-belief patterns, emotions and even relationships.

Fatigue and low energy can also fluctuate daily according to the foods you eat. But when you approach eating 50 percent of your food uncooked, you will definitely find your energy level improving. Foods full of refined sugar, high loads of wheat bread, dairy milk, cheese or fatty animal meats can be modified or replaced with nutrient-rich foods, and chronic fatigue states can’t last very long in that nutritious environment.

I also find that much of fatigue has a lot to do with holding one’s self back energetically by one’s own thought patterns. This may be an unconscious pattern such as fearing what others might think, thinking about the terrible “what ifs” that constantly arise or choosing inaction because we don’t feel capable or lovable enough.

For example, when your mind is idle or dwelling on unpleasant thoughts, your life force energy becomes low, which slows and tires your physical body.

Instead, say out loud, “I am a powerful force for good in the life of someone today. I am inspiring and joyful!” Did you notice a shift of more energy come into you as you said these words aloud? It works for me in every case.

This is called the language of “success,” or the language of “increase.” Thinking—and especially saying—such words empower you with energy and passion to do what you want in life. Reach out to others and feel how it can revive you and awaken your soul. And as you experience some sort of reaching out to another, just notice how it feels to connect to them and feel the energy that comes into you.

To sum up, if you discuss your symptoms with your physician, take the time to examine your food habits and improve your positive thinking, then you could be able to shake the symptoms of CFS. This will help you on the path to a healthy body and mind, and get you out enjoying your favorite activities again.

• Sipping the soup helps you stay hydrated.
• Inhaling the steam helps you breathe better by loosening congestion.
• And researchers have found that—in a laboratory environment—the soup has anti-inflammatory properties.

So when you’re all stopped up, don’t get your feathers ruffled! Soothe the soreness that a cold can cause… with chicken soup.

I am a 79-year-old man from Cleveland, Ohio. I used to suffer with terrible back problems. The pain was tremendous. It took half an hour to get out of bed and I could hardly bend over to put on my socks!

—Albert C.

Dear Albert,

It sounds like you found a real answer for your back pain. Yours is a perfect example of immune hypersensitivity from foods as the underlying cause of inflammation. Inflammation or disease will manifest where genetically or mechanically (from prior injury) you are the weakest. Therefore, if foods must be eliminated to quiet the inflammatory process, foods you are eating could be causing a hidden inflammation of your heart, or a genetic aberration leading to cancer that hasn’t surfaced yet. The best answer is to cleanse the body periodically from antigens—which trigger allergy and inflammation—that build up over time in the body. Then all the underlying immune hypersensitivity quiets down.

Another method of cleansing is through sweating. I’ve worked with a Navajo woman who told me she suffered for years with hypothyroidism and recurrent asthma symptoms. She was on thyroid replacement meds and used asthma medication constantly. She followed her Native American tradition of attending a sweat lodge weekly for approximately a year. Since then, she has not needed her asthma medicine or her thyroid replacement, and she was tested normal by her doctor. Sweating can be another powerful way of quieting the immune hypersensitivity that is behind inflammatory conditions—and even hormone dysfunction. So, thank you for sharing!

All the best!
Michael Cutler, M.D.

Did you know that even a small increase in your lead level can increase your chances of death by 46 percent? That’s according to an article in Archives of Internal Medicine. Fifteen percent of individuals analyzed in a 16-year scientific study were found to have a slightly elevated blood lead level. And these people experienced 46 percent higher mortality.

But what about another well-known heavy metal—mercury?

A study published in the online journal PLoS Biology concluded that even low levels of heavy metals such as lead and mercury can cause essential brain stem cells in the central nervous system to shut down too soon.

New research has also shown that mercury is present in high levels in marine mammals. The findings show the main type of mercury found is methylmercury (MeHg). This toxic heavy metal caused damage to seals’ immune system and crippled their ability to fight infections.

And guess what? Similar results have been found in the immune systems of humans! Especially in those folks who live in communities that consume large amounts of fish.

In a Journal of the American College of Cardiology study, it was reported that congestive heart failure patients have 22,000 times more mercury in their heart muscles compared to normal control subjects. This metal is often obtained from the foods we eat and is extremely toxic to the heart.

How exactly does toxic mercury end up in our foods? Both natural events such as the eruption of a volcano and the environmental pollution caused by humans expose our food sources to mercury…

When an earthquake erupts or manufacturing plants burn coal—640 plants in America currently do this—mercury is discharged into the air. This mercury falls down with the rain and attaches to algae in fresh water where the fish eat it. This includes fish raised on farms. Then we eat the fish and the mercury with it.

If you want to avoid mercury, you should eat cold-water ocean fish only. You should also consider a detoxifying dietary cleanse, I.V. or oral chelating agents, or 20 visits to an infrared sauna. These can help remove the existing mercury from your system.

Yes, toxins can be deadly—and it only takes small amounts of heavy metals like lead and mercury to cause you harm. But there are safe and natural ways to keep them from destroying your health.

In our “quick-fix” society, it’s very rare that natural alternatives to chemotherapy, radiation or surgery are even considered. And few oncologists are willing to learn how to integrate natural medicine with conventional cancer-fighting treatments! But rest assured, you CAN experience the power of natural medicine and get the treatment you need to help your body fight off cancer.

As a further aid in your quest for true healing, here’s a list of little-known natural cancer fighters proven to help your body win the war against cancer:

• Nattokinase. Improves blood flow and limits the anaerobic conditions where cancer thrives. Nattokinase is a proteolytic enzyme with the unique ability to increase oxygen to tissues by keeping vessels from clotting.
• Graviola and Paw Paw. Found in tropical areas of North and South America, these powerful extracts are known to kill cancer by blocking adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production of the cancer cell so it becomes programmed to die (called apoptosis).
• Green Tea Extract. Proven to slow down cancer growth. Scientists found that two chemicals in green tea—epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG) and epigallocatechin (EGC)—turn off a key molecule that tobacco relies upon to cause cancer. These chemicals are close molecular cousins to bio-flavonoids, which are known to help prevent cancer. It was also found that two to three cups of green tea has enough active EGCG to bind to a protein found on the surface of lung cancer cells and dramatically slow their growth.
• Grape Seed Extract. Proven to reduce free radical damage. It’s also known to prevent damage to human liver cells by chemotherapy medications.
• Resveratrol. Found in the skin of grapes, this compound has significant anti-cancer properties. The FDA has authorized “trans-Resveratrol” to be registered as a new investigational “neutraceutical” drug for cancer treatment research.
• Vitalzym™ or Wobenzyme™. When taken in high doses, these proteolytic enzymes “digest” cancer tissues and break down fibrin molecules in the blood stream.
• Blood Root (Sanguinarine). Kills human skin cancer cells by apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner without affecting normal human skin cells. The juice extracted from this root is applied topically.
• Amino Acid Therapy. L-Lysine, L-Proline and L-Arginine, as first presented by Dr. Matthias Rath, have been shown to interfere with the growth of cancer cells.
• Chlorella and Spirulina. These blue green algaes are high in antioxidants, which help fight free radicals.
• Black Walnut, Sweet Wormwood (Artemisinin) and Cloves. Together, this powerful trio cleanses parasites which are microscopic in many cancer patients.
• Coenzyme Q10. This life-giving enzyme is a potent antioxidant and generator of ATP in normal cells.
• Essiac Tea. Promotes cell repair, effective nutrient assimilation and elimination of cellular waste. The four main herbs that make up essiac tea are burdock root, slippery elm bark, sheep sorrel and Indian rhubarb root.
• Ellagic Acid. Inhibits tumor growth caused by carcinogens. This powerful antioxidant comes from various berries, walnuts, pecans and pomegranates.
• Curcumin. Proven to kill cancerous cells and slow damage to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in healthy cells. This powerful antioxidant is also the active ingredient of the Indian curry spice turmeric.
• Pau d’ Arco. Powerful pain reliever and cancer fighter found in the bark of a South American tree. Studies show Pau d’arco killed lung cancer cells in the laboratory experiments and slowed down cancer growth in mice.
• Modified Citrus Pectin. Binds to cancer cells inhibiting their ability to aggregate and metastasize.
• Yeast Fighters. Olive leaf extract, whole leaf aloe vera extract, oil of oregano and grapefruit extract (seed) all fight yeast, an underlying culprit to immune weakness.

Try these natural cancer fighters now to help you wage war against that powerful enemy known as cancer. You’ll find that your health may improve, which will make your attack stronger. Don’t wait to start!

I read your article “For A Deeper Cleanse… Try This” about fasting and I want to fast for all of the reasons you stated. However, I suffer from hypothyroidism and take Synthroid® everyday. Is it safe to do a liquid or water fast under this condition? Would it be safe to stop this medication during a fast? —Kathy L.

Dear Kathy,

The liquid fast (where you drink only water for an average of three to 10 days) will only improve your thyroid condition, not hurt it. Here are some of the effects you can expect with a water fast:

• Weight loss with little or no hunger.
• Detoxification, breaking down fat reserves and mobilizing stored toxins to be eliminated.
• Digestive system is allowed to rest.
• Resolve inflammatory processes, including painful arthritic conditions.
• Relief from allergic reactions, such as asthma and hay fever.
• Relief from abnormal fluid accumulations such as leg edema.
• Helps restore blood pressure to healthy levels.
• Clearer skin, and revitalized taste buds.
• And much more…

All the while, you are preparing yourself and your stomach for a lifestyle change to whole, natural foods.

However, keep taking your thyroid replacement medication. It has a gradual effect on metabolism. Only reduce the amount when you are feeling you need less, but please don’t forget to follow-up with a TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) level test with your doctor.

For more questions and answers like this one, check out my monthly newsletter, Easy Health Options™, by visiting www.easyhealthoptions.com.

All the best!
Michael Cutler, M.D.

• Fights heart disease and hardening of the arteries.
• Helps protect against leukemia, colon and pancreatic cancers.
• Encourages increase of bone density and helps stop the breakdown of bone.
• Helps decrease LDL (bad cholesterol) and fat.
• Helps control fibrous lumps in the breast.
• Helps relieve symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes.
• Helps decrease symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
• Helps with aging issues.

So doesn’t it make sense to include some delicious alfalfa sprouts in your daily diet regimen? After all, it is “the best!”

While there is no single cause of cancer, several factors—including smoking, exposure to radiation, certain viruses, genetics, etc.—influence the growth and spread of this menacing illness. But in this issue, I’d like to examine one of the hidden causes of cancer: free radicals.

By giving attention to these underlying mechanisms that promote the growth of cancer, you’ll be in the best position to prevent it. And even if you already have cancer, examining these causes will give you a better understanding of how to treat your disease without dangerous chemotherapeutic agents, toxic radiation, or invasive surgery alone.

The Fight Against Free Radicals
Simply put, free radicals are atoms or molecules with an odd (unpaired) number of electrons. Let’s take the helium atom for example. The helium atom has two electrons circling around the center, and its center is made up of two protons and two neutrons. If one of those electrons “goes away,” the remaining electron no longer has a mate!

What we now have is an electrically charged free radical. Once formed, these highly reactive radicals can start a chain reaction, similar to that in the game of dominos.

If free radicals do indeed react with DNA and the cell can’t repair its DNA fast enough, then it becomes programmed to function poorly, die, or start a new cell line we call cancer!

But where exactly do free radicals come from? Your body constantly generates them during cellular respiration (where oxidative energy is generated), and by immune system cell activity. Free radical molecules are also produced from ultraviolet radiation, cigarette smoke, car exhaust, heavy metals, trans-fatty acids, chemicals used to process foods (nitrosamines), preservatives and dyes—even charcoal from barbecued foods!

As mentioned, free radicals eat away at healthy cells and turn them defective. As a result, over a period of time, these “silent killers” can:

• Destroy cell membranes
• Cause DNA mutation and genetic damage
• Weaken the immune system
• Accelerate the natural aging process
• Turn cholesterol into sticky plaque that clogs arteries
• Oxidize LDL cholesterol—which can lead to atherosclerosis, hormone dysfunction—and even diabetes!

And as you already know, smoking is especially dangerous to your health. Recent studies show 90 percent of lung cancers occur in smokers and 90 percent of mouth, larynx, esophagus and liver cancers occur in smokers who consume alcoholic beverages.

Dear Health Conscious Individual,

Welcome to House Calls with Dr. Cutler™!

In this week’s issue, we will discuss getting your body in complete balance. This means monitoring your pH levels, which can ultimately lead to health problems if not kept in check. Be sure to read my checklist and see if you’re in danger!

Body balance also means eliminating free radicals from your system. The abundance of these floating molecules in your body could increase your risk for health problems!

Plus, can you truly spot organic and natural foods? Read below to find out how…

Yours for healthy living,

Michael Cutler, M.D.
Medical Advisor, True Health™

Do You Have Symptoms of Irregular pH Balance?

It’s no secret that your body is made up of about 70 percent water. Every one of your 100 trillion cells is filled with water. And every other chemical in your body—from the stomach acid you need to digest food… to the blood that carries oxygen and nutrients to the cells of all your organs—either contain water or are suspended in water.

Therefore, for you to be healthy, that water needs to have a healthy pH balance—even out into the tissues of the organs where metabolism actually occurs. The letters “pH” mean “potential of hydrogen” and simply measure how acidic or alkaline your body is on a logarithmic scale from 0 to 14.

Your body will work hard to keep your organ tissues in pH balance. You will achieve optimum health much easier when your organ tissues stay in a slightly alkaline environment—about 7.0 to 7.5 as measured by saliva.

Blood pH is very different, however. It remains in the 7.34 to 7.38 pH range normally. And urine is normally acidic at a pH of 6.2 to 6.8 upon your first morning bathroom visit. What some people don’t realize is that saliva is a fairly good reflection of tissue pH which can vary, while blood pH will be one of the very last things to change in a sick person.

Is an acidic pH balance behind YOUR symptoms? Take this simple test:

1. Do you suffer from high blood pressure, a failing heart or other heart problems?
2. Do your joints feel stiff, inflamed and painful or do you suffer from bone loss?
3. Has a doctor told you that your blood sugar levels are too high or too low?
4. Are you finding it more difficult to get a good night’s sleep?
5. Do you suffer from constant fatigue or energy crashes after meals?
6. Do you frequently endure cramping, constipation, heartburn or other digestive problems?
7. Do you sometimes feel depressed, negative and cranky?
8. Have you noticed that your ability to solve problems or to remember details is lacking?
9. Do you sometimes suffer from shortness of breath or other lung problems?
10. Do you experience pain, numbness or tingling in your hands, legs or feet?
11. Is your skin or hair aging more rapidly than they should?
12. Do you notice that your eyesight or hearing is fading at an alarming rate?
13. Do you suffer from low sexual desire or performance problems?
14. Do you contract infections more often with each passing year?

If you answered “YES” to one or more of these questions, there’s a good chance that you may be suffering from acid overload. In addition to the best nutrition you can consume, the next step is to supplement with alkalizing minerals.

Antioxidants: Your Body’s Natural Housekeeper

Did you know that the presence of free radicals in your system could increase your risk of health problems? But, despite the damaging effects they can have on your health, there’s great news! You can fight off—and even PREVENT the attack of free radicals naturally!

Here’s how: Your body has a natural defense system of antioxidants. Antioxidants are molecules that can safely interact with free radicals and terminate the chain reaction before vital molecules are damaged. Simply put, antioxidants play a housekeeper’s role by “mopping up” free radicals before they get the chance to do harm to your body.

Antioxidants are produced by your body and taken in through foods you eat. Take the well-known L-glutathione, for example. It is produced by the body from three amino acids called: cysteine, glycine and glutamic acid. L-glutathione functions as an electron donor molecule for those free radicals that are stealing electrons from healthy stable molecular structures.

In this way, L-glutathione turns oxidized (damaged) vitamins back to their original molecular configuration. For example, vitamins C and E that get oxidized are restored as antioxidants. L-glutathione also destroys reactive oxygen molecules (such as superoxide, hydroxyl and other free radicals).

Antioxidant vitamins A, C, E, omega-3 fatty acids, minerals, glutathione, proteolytic enzymes, and a host of other antioxidant substances are scientifically proven to slow down the aging process. Furthermore, a diet rich in antioxidants helps keep your skin looking younger, improves your memory—and can even REVERSE many health problems!

It’s important to remember that free radical damage accumulates with age. If the production of free radicals becomes excessive, gradual severe damage can occur. So, the best way to ensure adequate intake of antioxidant nutrients is through a predominately whole foods diet.

For example, consuming six vegetable and three fruit servings per day will provide you with optimal amounts of fiber and micronutrients. Then, if approximately half of all your food is cooked and the other half is raw, then you are really on your way to true health!

Organic and Natural Food Products vs. Real Whole Foods

On a recent trip to Anaheim, Calif., my daughter and I attended the annual Natural Products Expo West. There were more than 3,000 exhibitors showing their food and natural products to the masses of attendees from all over the country. Here are just a few examples of the products on display (www.expowest.com):

• Gluten-Free: breads, brownies, cereals, pastas and snack foods
• Certified Fair Trade: personal care products, rice, teas, chocolate, snacks, coffee
• Whole and Sprouted Grains: pizza, kid snacks, nutrition bars, dinner rolls, desserts
• Healthy Omega-3 Fats: capsules and culinary oils to breakfast and dinner foods
• Reusable Shopping Bags: certified organic, hemp, recycled materials and biodegradable
• Pre- and Probiotics: from supplement capsules to yogurt snacks, drinks and bars
• Exotic Ingredients and Novel Flavors: from ’superfruits’ mangosteen, goji berry, yumberry and acai berry to yerba mate
• Healthy Kid-sized Foods: drinks, snacks and everything in-between

This is a pretty impressive list—with many great alternatives. But, what I learned when I arrived was both revealing and appalling! Besides eating food samples literally all day long, we got the overriding message that became very clear to us:

There is a huge marketing push to get you to believe that because it says “organic” or “natural,” it is good for your health!
Instead of high fiber, high nutrient, low sugar or real whole foods, I saw hundreds of food products with “natural” sugar in granola bars, yogurts, juices, cookies, candies, cakes, refined cold cereals, pretzels, sodas, etc., you name it. They were selling foods with a “natural” sugar version that is just as low in fiber and micronutrients as the regular ones!

We discovered that while many of these products could be better for your health because they are derived from organic sources (no pesticides, chemicals, hormones or antibiotics), they still don’t compare to the real thing. They don’t have live micronutrients in them: dietary fiber, whole vitamins, organic minerals, live enzymes, antioxidants, phytochemicals or healthy oils.

I was quite proud, however, of the ONE vendor who actually had real whole foods (he was selling the spices to go on the real whole foods). So, if you shop health food stores, consider staying in the organic produce section and not in the aisles where there are a myriad of “natural” boxed, canned, bottled and otherwise refined and processed sugary and fatty food products. Let these non-produce food products be the exception or the occasional condiment. They are NOT the basis for a healthy, whole foods eating lifestyle.

For a comprehensive list of good and bad foods, check out my 90 Days to True Health™ program today, with recipes and suggestions to help you figure out the right plan for your family.

Q & A

Each week in the Q & A section of House Calls with Dr. Cutler™, I will share with you some of the many questions I get every week from subscribers to my monthly advisory newsletter, Easy Health Options™”. For more information on Easy Health Options™”, visit www.easyhealthoptions.com

Peripheral Neuropathy In Feet and Legs

Dear Dr. Cutler,

I have severe pain in the feet and lower legs, of idiopathic origin. I’m controlling the pain, most of the time, by taking several prescription painkillers.

P.S. I currently take Ultimate pH Balance™ and Liver & Kidney Cleanse™ and am awaiting my order of Advanced Artery Solution™.
—Frank C.

Dear Frank,

You are on the right track. There is a whole lot more to address, which is covered in my program called 90 Days to True Health™. Peripheral neuropathy is either from compression in the back, or it can be from diabetes or an “autoimmune” disease affecting the peripheral nerves. What has caused your immune system to attack your nerves this way is your question to be asking of the physicians.

The various things that you will want to explore are heavy metals (i.e., mercury) toxicity, liver function and the alkaline/acid status of your blood—and more importantly of your tissues. And you want to explore all possible types of allergens that can trigger the immune system and anything else that can turn on your immune system’s inflammatory process. Even sugar can worsen nerve function in sensitive patients.

So there are lots of possibilities you may want to explore. When reversed, you can get normal healing and at least partial restoration of function.

All the best!
Michael Cutler, M.D.