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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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-Spring!
-Digestive Health
   -Why Detoxify?
   -Toxic Tales
-Nicole's Quick Bytes
-Healthy Recipe
-Healthy Kitchen Tip
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SPRING!
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Is anyone else glad to see spring arrive?!  All four seasons are, of course, beautiful in their own way.  But the advent of spring always suggests new life, optimism, a clean slate.  If you have been meaning to make healthier choices in your life, spring is an excellent time to begin.  The verdant hills and blue skies make a wonderful backdrop for soaking up some sunshine, enjoying physical activity, and eating more fresh, healthy foods.  Like it says at http://www.healthyperspective.com/index.html "As you step into spring, put a spring in your step!"  Okay, that's a bit corny, but you get the idea.

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DIGESTIVE HEALTH
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We've spent the past couple of months talking about heart health.  We hope you enjoyed the quiz, identified any potential trouble areas, and started working on solutions.  If you want to review any of this info (or take the quiz again), set your browser to:  http://www.healthyperspective.com/yhparchive.html

This month, we would like to address another critical topic - digestive health.  In our "enlightened" society, much subject matter concerning this vital function isn't discussed in "polite company."  As a result, we are under- and mis- informed.  And this information can be life saving!

The first step to a healthy digestive system is detoxification.  The following article appears in the March 2000 edition of Partners Magazine, and appears here with permission of the AIM Companies.

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WHY DETOXIFY?
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   Very simply, toxins undermine our health and removing them from the body is one way to maintain digestive health as well as good overall health.
   Elson Haas, M.D., in his book Staying Healthy with Nutrition, defines a toxin as "any substance that creates irritating and/or harmful effects in the body, undermining our health or stressing our biochemical or organ functions."
   More specifically, a body overloaded with toxins can result in a number of symptoms.  These include constipation, stomach bloat, poor digestion, gas, fatigue, weight gain, excessive mucus, poor concentration, headaches, poor skin, poor memory, depression, body odor, and bad breath.
   Some health practitioners relate toxins to specific diseases such as chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivity, and fibromyalgia.*  Indeed there is a new medical category, clinical ecology, which deals exclusively with how toxins in the environment affect our health.
   The body does have a system in place to detoxify these harmful toxins.  The most important cleansing organ is the liver.  Eliminative channels include the bowels (the digestive system), kidneys, skin, lungs, and lymphatic system.
   When the body is doing its job and is not overburdened with toxins, the blood carries toxins to the liver, which uses enzymes to detoxify the harmful substances, rendering them harmless or converting them into a water-soluble form, which is then eliminated via the urine or feces.
   Unfortunately, this system can handle only so many toxins and was built for "natural" toxins, not the man-made ones we have to deal with today.  For example, protection against an age-old toxin - alcohol - is built into our genes.  One gene, expressed in the liver, codes for an enzyme that converts alcohol into substances the body can use or excrete.
   Our body does not, however, always know how to handle the new toxins in our lives.  It cannot understand how to excrete them, and they may then accumulate to harmful quantities or be converted to odd, unknown substances that can interfere with metabolism.  According to the textbook Nutrition, Concepts and Controversies, this can result in cancers or birth defects.
   When our bodies are bombarded with unfamiliar toxins, are producing too many toxins, or are not eliminating toxins effectively, the toxins build up and can cause health problems.  Then it is time for a detoxification program - supporting the body's natural elimination process and preventing the day-to-day buildup of toxicity.
   The key to detoxification is knowledge: understanding the link between feeling sub par and toxicity, understanding where toxins come from, and understanding what you can do to help yourself:
   Drinking water is instrumental in detoxification.  Water flushes toxins and waste from the body and transports nutrients to where they are needed.  Try to drink eight to ten glasses of pure water a day.
   Water is also useful externally: baths and saunas can help detoxification.  Hot water increases blood flow and capillary action near the surface of the skin, causing faster release of toxins.  The heat also increases sweating and opens up pores.  Be sure to bathe in pure water and be mindful that hot water and the detoxification effect can cause dizziness.  Also, there are a number of substances you can add to your bath to help the detoxification process.
   Eating a healthy diet ensures that you get proper nutrition and also helps the cleansing process.  Fresh, raw foods and grains ensure that you get the enzymes necessary to adequately digest your food.  Avoid foods that contain additives or are nutritionally bankrupt.  Avoid sugar, salt, saturated fats, caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol.  Avoid meat, as animal protein puts a tremendous strain on the digestive system.
   Exercising stimulates body systems so that metabolic efficiency is stepped up.  This, of course, includes the systems that are integral to cleansing, such as the digestive system.  It also strengthens the body and the mind.
   Practicing stress management is important because stress affects us physically.  It weakens the immune system and robs the body of important nutrients.  Stress hinders digestion and the cleansing process.
   Using herbs, fiber, and supplements can be very important to a cleansing program.  Many herbs facilitate the cleansing program and contribute important vitamins and minerals.  Fiber "sweeps" the digestive tract clean and quickens the transit time of waste elimination.  It absorbs toxins and escorts them out of the body.  A probiotic supplement helps balance the good and bad bacteria in the digestive tract.
   Fasting has been used for centuries to cleanse the body.  However, fasting can be harmful and should only be done under the supervision of a health practitioner.
   Using enemas and colonic irrigation helps flush toxins out of the colon.  Enemas can be self-administered, but colonics should be done under the supervision of a health practitioner.
   Preventing toxins from building up in the future should be ongoing.  This is easily done by drinking pure water, eating a plant-based diet, exercising, and practicing stress management.  Avoid environmental toxins as much as you can.  Wear protective clothing or a mask when working with household or workplace toxins.
   A number of health professionals have developed detoxification programs.  These programs usually combine the previous factors in a set schedule, and prescribe specific foods and herbal and fiber supplements.
   If you follow a program, or simply take the previous factors to heart, you initially may notice that your overall health appears to worsen.  You may experience acne, fatigue, headaches, coated tongue, cold extremities, intestinal and digestive stresses, and mood swings during detoxification.  These are positive signs that mean the elimination process in the liver and other organs is occurring.
   The toxins in your body have been building up, maybe for years!  It can take much more than a few days, or even a few weeks, to flush out the toxins and begin to feel better.  Most people experience a cycle; at first they feel somewhat worse, and then better.  As they continue the detoxification program, toxins buried deeper come out, and symptoms reappear, only to disappear as they are eliminated.  With each cycle, the feeling of being healthy is longer, and feeling worse is shorter.  Eventually, you feel better all-round.

AIM Products for detoxification:
Herbal Fiberblend
   Herbal Fiberblend is considered the ideal all-around detoxification product by many.  Combining the soluble fiber psyllium with a variety of cleansing herbs, Herbal Fiberblend provides an easy way to perform your own detox program and to maintain your newfound health after the program.
Para 90
   Is something having you for dinner?  Chances are, yes.  Odds are that some 10 to 20 percent of us are hosting a dinner party for parasites.  And parasites are not polite guests.  They may contribute to constipation, diarrhea, gas and bloating, joint and muscle aches, allergies, skin conditions, chronic fatigue, and more.  And they don't like to leave.  Para 90 is a special herbal cleansing product that helps keep your body free of uninvited guests.  To produce Para 90, AIM extensively researched numerous herbs and consulted a master herbalist.  The result is a tested and safe product that will help your body cleanse itself.
FloraFood
   FloraFood helps your body establish important "friendly bacteria" colonies.  These bacteria prevent toxin-producing "bad bacteria" from dominating your intestines and help ensure that your digestive tract is in balance.  Friendly bacteria also clean the intestinal tract and purify the colon.
PrepZymes
   PrepZymes is a combination of digestive enzymes that will make sure your food is well digested.  This ensures that you will not have food putrefying in your digestive system, leading to toxicity.

[For more information on these supplements, check out http://www.healthyperspective.com/digestive.html or order at http://www.healthyperspective.com/order.html ]
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* EDITOR'S NOTE:  Nicole and I suffer from a severe form of fibromyalgia and CFIDS.  While we have been helped greatly with detoxification programs, we have not been "cured" by this treatment.  I am saying this because many of you know of our illness, and we don't want to mislead you, nor give any of you with the same disease false hope.  However, the irritable bowel syndrome, which I suffered as a result of the fibromyalgia, has been nearly eradicated with a change in diet and the use of Herbal Fiberblend!  As you can imagine, I would encourage anyone with similar problems to try this regimen.  Also, all of us have just finished a 90-day course of Para 90, with positive results.  And FloraFood (a wonderful probiotic) is also an important part of our daily supplementation.
   -Kimberly Russell
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There's so much information on digestive health, detoxification, intestinal parasites, and related health issues, it's hard to present you with a complete yet concise newsletter on this important issue.  In fact, it's impossible.  Please let this information serve as a start to your personal research and betterment of your digestive health.

In surfing the web, I came across an interesting article on the possible connection between CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome) and intestinal parasites.  If you'd like to read this, go to http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/living/SecondOpinion/secondopinion_72.html

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TOXIC TALES
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Often, a personal account is the easiest, and most interesting, way to share information.  The following "toxic tale" of two people appears in the March 2000 edition of Partners Magazine, and appears here with permission of the AIM Companies.

   Although one lives in Nova Scotia and one in Texas, Pam Collins and Pat Chapman had one thing in common: toxicity.  Both of them had a lifestyle that led to a system overloaded with toxins and the resulting digestive problems, and both of them found help through lifestyle changes and dietary supplements.
   Today, Pam Collins is a vibrant 32-year-old, blessed with three lovely children and a healthy life.  Her home in Halifax, Nova Scotia, is filled with the sounds of a happy, healthy, growing family.  It wasn't always this way, however.  A few short years ago, she had a digestive problem that made her life miserable, Crohn's Disease.
   "It probably started in 1994 when I was pregnant with my first daughter," Pam remembers.  "I had blood in my stools, but my nurse told me this was often the case during a pregnancy.
   "But after the baby came, my problems continued, and much worse.  I had continual bowel movements and severe cramps.  I would hang my infant baby in a jumper next to the bathroom because that's where I spent all day.  It was terrible."
   In May, she was admitted to the hospital with as many as 34 bloody bowel movements per day.  Despite these drastic symptoms, Pam was originally diagnosed as having a bit of flu.  Then things went from bad to worse.
   "First, they told us I had a bug and would be home in a day or two.  Then, they told us I might never come home!"
   Eventually, Pam was diagnosed with Crohn's disease.  In this disease, there can be deep inflammation in the colon, diarrhea, pain in the abdomen, fever, headache, loss of energy, and more.  It is a cruel and heartless disease that makes your life, and the lives of those around you, miserable.
   Pam was given a variety of treatments in the hospital, and after 33 long days, things began to look up.  She was sent home with "only" seven bowel movements per day and a monthly prescription drug bill of $1,200 CDN.
   But in October, problems started once again.  "I was now to the point where my doctor was recommending having my colon removed.  This was a scary thought, and my husband, Doug, and I really started doing research.  We met with gastroenterologists, surgeons, and ostomy specialists.  We attended meetings, talked to those in similar situations, and read medical books.  We ultimately decided that surgery was not the answer."
   It was at this point that Pam met AIM Member Darlene Arnold.  Darlene helped Pam with her research and the decision to make some lifestyle changes.
   Pam says, "We had always been big meat eaters, and consumed lots of sugar.  That was always part of my lifestyle.  When I began reading about health and nutrition, I began to understand that through my diet and lifestyle, I was filling myself up with toxins.  I realized that I had to make a change, and that these lifestyle changes did have the potential to help me."
   At the time, Pam was constipated due to the drugs she was taking, and Pam and Darlene developed a bland diet, and then added nutritional supplements, among them Herbal Fiberblend.  As time went on, Pam stopped eating meat and eliminated dairy products and sugar from her diet.  She continued using supplements and "right away, I began to feel improvements."
   Now things were going from good to better.  Pam says, "As of December 1996, I was totally off all prescription medications, and in September 1997, I delivered a second daughter, and in July 1999, I delivered my third child, a son.  In all this time, I have had no pain, cramping discomfort, or flare-ups in my bowel of any kind."
   Despite the "miracle" of Pam's recovery, her health professionals give her lifestyle changes short shrift.  As she notes, "I still see my gastroenterologist once a year.  He is still amazed that I had such a successful recovery.  Although he feels that the prescription drugs got me to where I am today and does not credit my lifestyle changes and supplements, I believe that it was lifestyle and supplementation that made the difference.  It was my toxic body that caused my problems.  As I went through a gradual detoxification through diet, lifestyle, and supplements, things improved.  I'm walking proof of that."
   Further south, in Austin, Texas, another woman was battling toxicity.  From when she was a child to well into her 40's, Pat Chapman had consumed a diet consisting of red meat every day, canned vegetables, lots of sugar, and little, if any, fiber.  And the years of dietary abuse took their toll.
   Pat recalls, "Even when I was as young as 13, I was having problems.  I had a bowel movement every week or so - and I thought that was normal!  Now, of course, I realize that I was filling my body with toxins - things like food additives, preservatives, and too much sugar.
   "When I was in my 20's, I did try to take some action.  I tried a number of over-the-counter laxatives, but they did not help.  I resigned myself to 'living with it.'"
   Eight years ago, Pat became more serious about her health.  She adopted a diet in which she ate no meat, but still saw little improvement.  Then, three years ago, she was introduced to AIM.
   "When I got into AIM, I started looking a lot harder at my health.  I went from not eating any meat to a vegan diet - no dairy products, either.  I also began taking AIM products but still found no relief.  Even colonics did little for me.  I really feel that my years of eating the wrong foods were just too much to overcome.  My colon was tied up in knots.  I was truly toxic."
   Then, Pam met AIM Member Lia Evangelista at a Houston, Texas, training meeting.  There, she learned more about digestive health, and she also decided to give Herbal Fiberblend a try.
   The results were amazing.  As she says, "I am the poster adult for colon health!  My 'transit time' has turned from days between bowel movements to often having two within one day, and I have never had any side effects.  I began to feel lighter, my eyes became clearer, the circles under my eyes disappeared, and my skin became more attractive and softer.  People can't believe I'll soon be 50 years old!"
   Like Pam, Pat credits her lifestyle changes and supplement use with this dramatic turnaround.  But what do the experts say?
   Although health practitioners do acknowledge that diet and lifestyle changes affect health, many scoff at the idea of supplements and the notion that digestive health affects overall health.  Nor do they believe that a wide range of health problems may be attributed to digestive problems.
   They should not be laughing at these ideas, according to Francisco Contreras, M.D.
   Contreras, an oncologist and director of the Oasis of Hope Hospital in Tijuana, Mexico, firmly believes that a healthy digestive tract is a key to good health.  He says, "I truly believe that all disease begins in the digestive system - that all disease begins with what we eat.  And that's the reason why we are experiencing so much disease nowadays, because of the things that we make our digestive system do."
   Contreras contends that all of us are overloaded with toxins simply because they are prevalent throughout the environment.  They are in the foods we eat, the air we breathe, and the water we drink and bathe in.  They are, in short, unavoidable.
   Contreras goes on to say that "We must remember that the quality of our lives and our health depends on two things: what we put into our bodies, and the capacity that our bodies have to get rid of the toxic waste.  For example, our cars will work better depending on the quality of the fuel and oil we use.  And the muffler and exhaust system must work because that is how we get rid of the automotive 'toxins.'  Our bodies work the same way.  Detoxification is the process of using our 'exhaust system.'  If we do not get rid of our bodies' waste, we are going to suffer tremendously."
   What is this suffering?  According to Dr. Bernard Jensen in his book Dr. Jensen's Guide to Better Bowel Care, a toxic body can result in not only digestive problems but also problems throughout the body.  What he terms as "intestinal toxemia" can be manifested in such diverse problems as fatigue; nervousness; gastrointestinal problems; malabsorption of nutrients; skin problems; endocrine disturbances; headaches; arthritis; low-back pain; allergies; asthma; eye, ear, nose, and throat problems; cardiac irregularities; sciatica (inflammation of the sciatic nerve in the hip); and pathological changes in the breasts.
   Because of the realization that we all run the risk of becoming toxic, and developing the health problems this results in, Contreras does not hesitate to recommend a detoxification program.  According to Contreras, this is extremely important.
   "Providing a means by which the body will get rid of toxins is paramount.  There are studies that show that people who move their bowels three to four times a day are much healthier.  They have lower incidences of cancer, lower incidences of diabetes, and lower incidences of heart disease."
   Debate continues to rage, at least in some circles, around the concept of "intestinal toxemia" and the value of detoxification.  At least for two people, Pam Collins and Pat Chapman, there is no debate.  Detoxification, a lifestyle change, and supplements changed their lives.  It's as simple as that.

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NICOLE'S QUICK BYTES
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Dental Diet.  The following is a passage from Herman Melville's 19th century book "Typee" on his observations of a group of native islanders.

"Nothing in the appearance of the islanders struck me more forcibly than the whiteness of their teeth.  The novelist always compares the masticators of his heroine to ivory; but I boldly pronounce the teeth of the Typee to be far more beautiful than ivory itself.  The jaws of the oldest graybeards among them were much better garnished than those of most of the youths of civilized countries; while the teeth of the young and middle-aged, in their purity and whiteness, were actually dazzling to the eye.  Their marvelous whiteness of the teeth is to be ascribed to the pure vegetable diet of these people, and the uninterrupted healthfulness of their natural mode of life."

And it's true.  One of the many unpublicized benefits of vegetarianism is healthier teeth.  My dentist and I noticed a marked improvement in my teeth and gums after only a few short months of eating raw fruits and veggies and whole grains.  And people sometimes ask me (they never asked before), "How do you get your teeth so white?"  No bleach.  No new toothpaste.  All you gotta do is switch to a deliciously healthy diet.  "Look, Ma... no cavities!"

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HEALTHY RECIPE
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This recipe was born of a desire for a light but "creamy" base sauce, especially for pasta.  We love fresh marinara and pesto sauces, but sometimes it's good to have a delicate sauce where your other ingredients (such as mushrooms... yumm...) can be the "star" of the dish.

**Kimberly's Basic Vegan Sauce**
2 medium- to large- size yellow onions, chopped
4 medium-size garlic cloves, chopped (more if you're in a "garlicky" mood)
1 to 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/4 to 1/3 cup soy milk
Braggs Liquid Aminos (a substitute for salt - available in most health food stores) to taste
vegetable seasonings (we like Vegit all-purpose seasoning) to taste
dash of cayenne pepper

Sauté onions and garlic in olive oil until tender.  Put sautéed onions and garlic in blender or food processor with 1/4 cup soy milk.  Blend until smooth.  If mixture is too thick to blend well, add the rest of the soy milk (up to 1/3 cup total).  Pour into pan.  Add seasonings to taste.

Now you've got a nice basic sauce, ready for you to add your yummies and make a hearty main dish.  Here are some ideas:
*Mushroom Sauce*
Add to prepared basic sauce:
   your favorite mushrooms (white, portabella, shitaki, oyster mushrooms - whatever you like best - in whatever combination you like), sautéed in a little extra virgin olive oil.
Mix sauce into your favorite cooked pasta (penne, macaroni, angel hair, shells, linguini - whatever you like).  Or you might like to mix the sauce into cooked brown rice, or cubed and steamed potatoes instead.  Add your favorite healthy herbs and/or seasonings, if you like, and Braggs Liquid Aminos to taste.  (The addition of chopped parsley or parsley flakes is nice for color).  Enjoy!

*PrimaVera Sauce*
Add to prepared basic sauce:
   your favorite fresh veggies in any combination (some ideas: broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, asparagus, artichoke hearts, eggplant, green beans, green and/or colored peppers, spinach, mushrooms, etc.), steamed, or sautéed in a little extra virgin olive oil and/or Braggs Liquid Aminos.  You may add your favorite healthy seasonings and Braggs Liquid Aminos to taste.  Toss into cooked pasta or brown rice.  Enjoy!

This basic sauce can also be used as a base for "cream" soups.  Cooking cubed potatoes in this sauce makes a killer potato soup!  (You may need to add a little water and/or soy milk to get the consistency you like).  Enjoy!

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HEALTHY KITCHEN TIP
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-COOKING WITH OIL - Keep the cooking temperature low
In our healthy recipe this month, we use a small amount of extra virgin olive oil to sauté our veggies.  You probably already know many of the benefits of using extra virgin olive oil instead of other inferior oils.  And you are probably aware of the health benefits of eating a low-fat diet.  But here's something you may not be aware of:  cooking with oil at a high heat may actually be dangerous to your health!

Dr. John McDougall, on his informative web site, states,
"...The heating of oil can produce cancer-causing byproducts. The lung cancer incidence in Chinese women is among the highest in the world, but tobacco smoking accounts for only a minority of the cancers. Chinese women are exposed to indoor air pollution from wok cooking. Cancer causing chemicals from heating cooking oils are dispersed into the air...."
   (J Natl Cancer Inst 87:836, 1995)
   http://www.drmcdougall.com/efa.htm

Cooking at low temperatures is simply healthier, and when cooking with oil, low temperatures are even more important.  It's helpful to keep a lid on your food while sautéing, allowing you to turn the heat down and let the steam from the food's own moisture do much of the cooking.  This also enables you to cook with less oil.

-OR NO OIL AT ALL-
Another "sauteing" trick is to nix the oil altogether and cook the fresh veggies on low heat, with the lid on, with only Braggs Liquid Aminos added (a tablespoon or two).  This is a great tip if you're trying to lose weight or must strictly limit your fat intake.

In fact, many nutrition experts tell us DON'T HEAT OR COOK WITH OIL - period.  They say certain chemical changes take place when oil or fat is heated, which are detrimental to our health.

(Many people find they even prefer the taste of uncooked extra virgin olive oil, and add a bit of it to their pasta and other main dishes before serving.)

Whether you turn down the heat on your oil or nix it altogether, an added benefit of low temperature cooking is that your food will be tastier.  When you smell those wonderful cooking odors wafting from the kitchen, you're actually smelling some of that food's flavor escaping!  So keep it out of the air and in the food!

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God bless you,
-Rev. Clarence Russell, Kimberly and Nicole
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The material in this file is provided for informational purposes only. We do not prescribe nor diagnose. If you use the information in this file without the approval of a health professional, you prescribe for yourself, which remains your constitutional right, but the author(s) assume no responsibility.
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Copyright (c) 2000 by Clarence Russell . All rights reserved. As long as this file is left intact, permission is granted for use on web sites or in newsgroups or mailing lists.