I don’t usually go to doctors. About 13 years ago, I revised my life insurance plan and a medical person came to my office and asked many questions, then drew my blood and got a urine sample. A few weeks later I learned that my request was denied because my cholesterol was far too high at 226. I argued my case and the large insurance carrier chose a local physician for me to see who performed a cardiac stress test.
I passed the test with flying colors. I’m still alive, even with excess cholesterol swimming through my bloodstream. Imagine that! My only exposure to physical examinations prior to that was in 1972, as an exit physical exam from the U.S. Navy. I do not ever get screened for cancer, because I believe that detection tests are often inaccurate and because of that, I believe that cancer is being overdiagnosed.
So often, I believe that going to a doctor for a minor health problem is like going to a mechanic when the red “oil” light appears on your dashboard. Doctors and mechanics are paid to find problems and they are both very good at that. Perhaps a changed diet and 3 quarts of engine oil will fix most minor problems.
It's popular right now to purchase essential oils. But getting a high quality essential oil is not so easy. As with anything, when it comes to essential oils, it’s important to remember that going with the cheapest option isn’t always best.
For effectiveness, they should be 100% pure, otherwise, you’re not going to get the quality you need to produce what you are trying to achieve. Low-quality oils don’t offer the benefits that a high-quality essential oil does.
What do we mean by low quality? This refers to oils that have been distilled from poor crops or incorrectly. They may have additives or they have been handled improperly. Sometimes poor quality oils have been adulterated and potentially come with harmful side effects.
So how do you know if you’re getting a poor quality essential oil instead of the real thing? Here are the signs:
1. The type of container
Is the essential oil you’re buying stored inside a plastic or dark colored clear glass? Storing the oil in a glass container is essential due to the strong chemical compounds in the oil that break down and react when coming in contact with plastic.
The glass needs to be a dark color in order to keep the oil from ultraviolet degradation.
If buying in a health food store, be sure that the bottles are in a cool place – if they’re in any heat it can cause changes in the chemical composition of the oil.
2. The name of the oil
Most people shop online for essential oils Make sure the online store includes the common name of the oil as well as the Latin name. If the Latin name isn’t there, it may actually just have perfume added to give it the scent. Peppermint essential oil, should also say: Peppermint, Mentha x piperita. Pure oil should also have an earthy odor, not sweet perfume.
3. A very cheap price
Although choosing the highest priced essential oil doesn’t necessarily indicate that it’s of high quality, but it's a good idea to be cautions of an essential oil with a very low price. A high-quality essential oil usually is more expensive becuae because it takes a rather large amount of plant to produce them.
The quantity may decrease or increase depending on the type, but just one pound of lavender oil requires over 150 pounds of lavender flowers, and more than 250 pounds of peppermint leaves are needed to make pound of peppermint essential oil.
4. How it was harvested and produced
Because essential oils are created from plants, correctly harvested and distilled or cold pressed organic oils are important in order to avoid potential pesticide contamination.
5. Is a statement about purity absent?
The label should always indicate if the essential oil is 100% pure therapeuitc-grade essential oil. If it doesn’t, that means there’s a high chance that it’s been altered, or mixed with something else. For an oil to be effective, it needs to be pure.
6. How it pours
Once you have your oil and unscrew the cap, pay attention to how it’s sealed. It should be sealed with something called an “orifice reducer.” It’s a plug that controls how many drops come out at once. This also helps to prolong the shelf life of an oil that’s prone to oxidation, by limiting its exposure to air. Try to avoid droppers made of plastic or rubber as well – both of those materials tend to break down, which releases synthetic impurities into your oil.
RECOMMENDED: After researching Plant Medicine also called Plant Therapy, and essential oils. We found a company that passes all the test with flying colors.
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- Amalgam, also called “silver fillings,” is a consumer fraud. By referring to the color of the compound rather than its content, consumers everywhere have been tricked into placing a known neurotoxin in their mouths
- Because of this cover-up by organized dentistry, aided and abetted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration,57 percent of Americans are unaware that amalgam is a mercury filling; 23 percent believe amalgam is made of silver; and only 11 percent of people say their dentist ever told them that amalgam contains mercury
- There is no known safe level of exposure for mercury. Ideally, exposure should be zero
Read entire article Dentistry without Toxins
What is a diet to eliminate cavities? Diet for Dental Health
Already have Gum Disease or Periodontal Disease
What to Eat for Your Body Type
If you’ve been following me for a while, you probably know there are four basic body types - adrenal, ovary, liver, and thyroid - and that getting healthy and losing weight depends upon eating for your body type rather than on a cookie cutter plan.
But how do you know what you should be eating for your body type, and whether or not you’re eating for the right one?
Well, one easy way to find out which body type you have is to take the free quiz I’ve developed. You can do it right here. There’s also a more comprehensive quiz, which you can find in my book,
(see this artilcle on the educational video by Dr. Berg)
The 7 Principles of Fat Burning. The results are usually pretty straightforward, and you’ll learn more toward one body type than the others.
Once you’ve figured out which body type you have, you can pretty much skip straight to that eating plan, customizing it to fit your preferences.
But if you’re a mixed body type, or you feel like you’re under all the body types, then the best thing to do is start with the adrenal body type (which I’ll outline later on in this article along with the rest of the eating plans).
Why should I start with the adrenal plan?
Well, from working with some 40,000 patients over the past 25 years, I’ve found that around 80% of the people are adrenal, so it’s highly likely you fit into that category.
The trick is that whichever eating plan you are on should feel right to you, so you can just start with the adrenal plan. If it doesn’t feel good, or just doesn’t seem to click with you, you can just move straight on to a different plan.
If the adrenal plan doesn’t feel right to you, or if you don’t feel you’re losing as much weight as you should be, I’d recommend you skip over to the liver plan. The ovary and thyroid types have very specific symptoms, and you’ll usually know if you have those body types.
So if you’re not sure, and the adrenal doesn’t seem to be working out for you, I’d try the liver plan next and go from there. Chances are, though, you’re going to do very well with the adrenal plan right off the bat. But if you don’t, just keep trying the different ones until you find which plan works best for you.
Now, let’s get into what these different eating plans are!
The Adrenal Body Type
So, with the adrenal body type, these are the three main things you should be focusing on:
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High protein
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High fat
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Non-cruciferous vegetables
High Protein
When I say high protein, I’m not talking about the typical standards recommended by the Food Pyramid. I think they suggest somewhere around 125 grams of protein a day, which is way too much! I recommend between 3-6 ounces of animal protein per meal for adrenal types, and I usually find that works very well.
Why does the adrenal body type need more protein? Well, the thing with adrenal types is that their bodies are breaking down more protein in their muscles, in the collagen and in the skin, than with the other body types. So you need to replace that protein, or you’re going to feel weaker.
Now, eating all that protein isn’t going to guarantee on its own that you’re going to grow back your hair, skin, and nails. The whole point of this eating plan is to fix the hormonal imbalances that are causing your body to eat itself up, so that your body starts metabolizing those hormones and that protein you’re eating.
On that note, then, I’ve actually sometimes found out that people do a bit better on the liver plan, because they clean out their liver and restore the proper balance of hormones in their body, and then suddenly their skin, hair, and nails become healthy again!
But anyway, if you’re the adrenal type, you should be going for 3-6 ounces of animal protein per meal, preferably organic or free-range eggs, fish, chicken, stuff like those.
If you’re a vegetarian, you can do Spirulina, or try to find some other sources of protein, some protein powder, or something. Just make sure you’re getting those 3-6 ounces per meal, preferably in the early part of the day.
High Fat
A lot of people have the misconception that high fat means deep-fried twinkies or something. But when I say high fat, I’m talking about nuts, avocados, cheese, plain yogurt, and so on. Healthy fats!
Why does the adrenal type need to eat more fats? Well, first of all, the adrenal stress hormones are made from cholesterol, which you can find only in animal fats. When a person’s stress levels are high, they develop high cholesterol in order to build more hormones.
This means that when they then try to lower their cholesterol with diet or medication, the body would be unable to create enough adrenal hormones to keep up with the stress.
So adding more animal fats to your diet handles this problem, so your body would be able to produce adrenal hormones without developing high cholesterol.
Also, adrenal types typically have blood sugar issues. This is why if you don’t have enough fat in your diet, you tend to crash and burn and don’t feel very satisfied. Therefore, it’s very important for adrenal types to have enough fats in their diet.
Non-cruciferous Vegetables
I don’t recommend cruciferous vegetables— kale, broccoli, brussel sprouts— because adrenal types usually experience bloating. Kale shakes are the exception and will be fine. But then, if you’re experiencing bloating, gas, or stomach pain, then you should stop eating cruciferous vegetables.
Instead, you should consume other vegetables, like romaine lettuce, spinach, tomato, carrots, celery, and so on— there’s a full list at the bottom of this post.
You should have at least 7-10 cups of vegetables a day, because most of the vitamins you need are in these vegetables.
High protein, high fat, non-cruciferous vegetables. Pretty straightforward, right?
The Ovary Body Type
Alright, so if you’re the ovary body type, these are the guidelines you should follow:
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High protein
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High fat
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Cruciferous vegetables
High Protein and High Fat
Like the adrenal type, the ovary body type should be consuming high amounts of protein— again, 3-6 ounces per meal. But unlike the adrenal type, ovary types should consume more dairy— keifer, yogurt, cheese— and they need to be organic.
If you absolutely can’t afford to get organic, just look at the label and make sure it says no rBST. That means no hormones, and is very important when you’re shopping for dairy products.
The reason I say more dairy is that there are certain factors in dairy that support ovary types— in fact, ovary types crave dairy. But instead of ice cream, cream cheese, and cheesecake, you’ll be eating keifer, yogurt, cheese, things like those instead.
This way, by consuming more dairy, you’ll be getting the high protein and high fat that the ovary type needs.
Cruciferous Vegetables
Now, unlike adrenal types, ovary types actually need cruciferous vegetables in their diet. Why? Because cruciferous vegetables are anti-estrogenic. The ovary type produces too much estrogen, and so eating cruciferous vegetables helps clean up the estrogen and balance out your hormones.
The kale shake is great for ovary types, as well as other cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, asparagus and so on. These vegetables also happen to be cancer-fighting, so that’s an extra bonus for you!
No Soy
I don’t recommend consuming soy in general, but if you’re an ovary type you should avoid soy completely. Soy products increase estrogen levels, which are already too high in ovary types. So eating soy will actually reverse what we’re trying to do, which is to clean away all that excess estrogen that’s causing all that weight gain in your lower body.
It’s a funny thing, you know, because soy protein is found in all kinds of health bars, protein shakes, and pre-packaged diet foods. So if you’ve been on any diets that require you to eat those things and wondering why you’re not losing any weight, that’s why! Plus, these companies usually use very low-quality soy, and eating too much of this stuff can actually cause tumors.
So, high protein, high fat, cruciferous vegetables, and no soy. Got that? Good.
The Liver Body Type
So, the liver body type is pretty different from the last two types we’ve gone over.
For this type, you should be consuming:
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Low protein
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Low fat
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Cruciferous vegetables
Low Protein
The thing about liver types is that the worse off your liver is, the harder it is for your body to digest protein. The liver is responsible for metabolizing protein, so if you’re the liver type and you eat too much, you’re going to end up with digestive issues.
I recommend consuming no more than 3 ounces of protein per meal if you’re a liver body type, and avoiding animal protein as much as possible.
Low Fat
Liver types don’t do very well on fat, so it’s best to cut down on it as much as possible. In fact, the way to destroy your liver is by consuming too many cooked meats and cooked or deep fried fats. One way you can tell if you have an unhealthy liver is if you have a low tolerance for red meat or fat.
The funny thing about the liver type, though, is they actually crave fat. So if you’re a liver type, you can have some, but you’re also going to have to add bile salts to your diet.
My Gallbladder Support Formula has bile salts, and makes it so that you can digest more fat. It can be really great if you have issues with bloating, burping, or belching.
Cruciferous Vegetables
If you’re the liver type, it’s very important for you to consume lots of cruciferous vegetables. Why? It is because cruciferous vegetables have a ton of phytonutrients in them.
What the heck are phytonutrients? Well, “phyto” comes from a Greek word that means “plant”. So phytonutrients are plant nutrients, and they have unique properties that fight against many types of diseases. Some good examples include breast cancer, prostate cancer, and macular degeneration. Anyway, the reason I want you to consume these cruciferous vegetables is because a damaged liver needs these phytonutrients in order to heal. The liver is amazing because it’s one of the only organs that can regenerate itself completely—BUT, it takes about three years of healthy eating to do it!
So that’s why I recommend eating lots of phytonutrients- dense cruciferous vegetables— 7-10 cups a day.
I especially recommend kale, because it has over 60 carotenoids— a type of phytonutrient that gives vegetables their vivid colors and also has a lot of properties to help boost your immune system and keep you healthy.
In contrast, iceberg lettuce has no phytonutrients at all! So if you’re the liver type I’d highly recommend switching it out for kale, and seeing what other non-cruciferous vegetables you can switch out for cruciferous vegetables.
Headaches, right shoulder pain, or bloating. If you’re periencing headaches, right shoulder pain, or bloating, that means you’re consuming too much fat. Your liver is on the right side of your body, so if it’s having trouble, you’re going to tend to have problems with the right side of your body.
Liver types also don’t do very well on nuts or peanut butter (which are high in fat), and so eating too much of these can cause bloating. And nearly all headache issues come from liver or gallbladder problems.
It’s also interesting to note that if you’re having liver roblems, you’re going to have a tougher time digesting fat-soluble vitamins, like vitamin A or vitamin E.
So for example, if you’re eating a lot of kale (which is high in vitamin A), yet you still have dry skin, it’s just because your body is having trouble absorbing the fat-soluble nutrients that would otherwise handle your dry skin.
The solution to all of these is to cut down on the fats that are aggravating your condition, and consume bile salts to make it easier for your body to digest fats andat-soluble vitamins.
So, to summarize, if you’re the liver type, make sure you’re eating low protein, low fat, and lots of cruciferous vegetables, okay? Great.
The Thyroid Body Type
If you’re the thyroid body type, then you’re dealing with weight gain all over and a very slow metabolism. Here’s what you should be eating to handle those things:
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Low protein
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Low fat
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Non-cruciferous vegetables
Low Protein
Thyroid types really don’t do very well with protein. So as with the liver type, I’d recommend no more than 3 ounces of protein per meal. Soy protein especially has been found to suppress thyroid function, so definitely stay away from soy, too.
Low Fat
Like liver types, thyroid types also have issues with high-fat diets. If you have a weak thyroid, your body isn’t going to be able to digest fats properly. So make sure you stay away from fried foods or foods with high-fat content.
Non-cruciferous Vegetables
If you have the thyroid body type, I recommend avoiding cruciferous vegetables and eating the same types of vegetables as the adrenal type. This is because cruciferous vegetables tend to deplete iodine, and your thyroid needs iodine in order to function.
It probably wouldn’t be such a big deal if you had a healthy thyroid, but if you’re struggling with thyroid issues, it’s best not to stress the thyroid by making sure it got enough iodine to work properly.
Of course, if you absolutely can’t give up your asparagus, there’s a way around this— just add more iodine to your diet! Taking sea kelp or seaweed is a great way to do this, or you can also try my
Cruciferous Foods Supplement, which I give to patients who don’t like seaweed.
None of this is set in stone.
One key thing I’d like to bring up is that each of these eating plans are more like rules of thumb than strict guidelines. Rather than following these eating plans exactly, listen to your body and see how it responds, then adjust accordingly.
For example, let’s say you’re on one of these diets and you start feeling bloated. That could happen because you’ve got a gallbladder problem, or you’re consuming nuts and peanut butter, and they aren’t agreeing you. If that happens, and you’ve got burping, belching, or bloating, then you need to start adding bile salts to your diet.
On the other hand, the bloating, burping, or belching could also be caused by eating too many cruciferous vegetables.
Why?
This is because many people with adrenal or digestive issues can’t digest the heavy fibers from broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, and they experience stomach pain and bloating.
Usually that’s caused by an enzyme deficiency, but if you’re experiencing these symptoms, then you need to cut these things out of your diet. You can build up a tolerance to them as your system starts healing, but for now, it’s best to avoid them completely.
Now, if you’re experiencing fatigue on any one of these programs, you need to up your protein intake. Everyone’s body has different needs, so even if you’re on the liver plan, you should increase your protein until you stop experiencing fatigue.
The point is to do what feels right for YOUR body. If you happen to be craving sweets, then you need to increase your vegetable intake. Sugar cravings come about when your body isn’t getting enough nutrients.
You’ll also start craving carbs if you’re low on potassium, so you should be able to handle that by adding more potassium-rich vegetables to your diet. (Acorn squash is a good one.)
So, as I’ve mentioned earlier, make sure you’re consuming 7-10 cups of vegetables per day. It’s not that hard if you do a kale shake and a couple of salads a day. As long as you’re consuming enough greens, your cravings should go away within a couple of days.
Again, if you’re not sure which body type you fall into, you can take my free body type quiz here. And if you still can’t quite pin it down, just start with the adrenal type and go from there. Just make sure you listen to your body, and follow these general guidelines so you’ll know how to adjust according to your symptoms.
Understand burning fat and see more Diet advice from Dr. Berg Video Blog.
And if you have any questions about eating for your body type, or any success you’d like to share, please let me know! I always love hearing from my readers.
-Dr. Eric Berg DC
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