Where to start?  We’ve all heard that soy is a health food – a great source of protein, a substitute for meat and milk.  It is the backbone of a vegetarian diet and has launched a whole new wave of “health foods”. 

Unfortunately most of these new creations are not healthy and in many cases one could argue if they are even food!  The truth is that soy consumption is hazardous to your health. 

Due mostly to the standard American diet, Candida is running rampant. Most people don't realize they have Candida as the symptoms associated with it vary. People may spend years trying to find out why they're fatigued, irritable, in pain, or one of many other symptoms. Without proper diagnosis, some people are incapacitated by Candida and its symptoms.

Your digestive system may be making you fat. It’s hard to believe – but very true!

Today, I’m going to explain how the bugs in your digestive tract and the way they upset your gut’s immune system just might be behind those extra pounds.

Dear Pharmacist,

My neighbor swears by apple cider vinegar and every time I complain about my health, she rants about the vinegar.  I haven’t tried it, but I have to say she looks fairly healthy and never gets sick.  Do you think there’s something to it? 

--P.B.,  Lodi, California

Dear Pharmacist,

In a recent column, you stated that fennel tea is good for gas and bloating. I’ve seen it as a vegetable in my grocery store, but how do I make it into a tea, and what else is it good for? 

--H.S., Crystal River, Florida

Since the early 1930’s our government has been “protecting” us from the “dangers” of whole, raw milk. How do they do this? By actually killing the whole, raw milk by pasteurizing it!

Interestingly, pasteurization also increases the shelf life of milk, making it much easier to mass-market, maximizing profits for the dairy industry. Real milk comes from real goats or cows that are allowed to graze in toxin free pastures. Besides tasting great, raw organic milk is a precious, life-giving food.

There might be something wrong with your inner tube, and it could be making you sick and fat.

You may not even realize you have a problem …but if you have health concerns of any kind or you are overweight, your inner tube could be the root cause.

Of course, I’m not talking about a beach toy. I mean the inner tube of life -- your digestive system!

Does eating a whole bag of a salty snack make you feel better?  If it does, you may not be alone.  A recent study at the University of Iowa concluded that salt may be “nature’s anti-depressant.”  The study found rats did not participate in activities they normally enjoy when deficient in sodium chloride (common table salt).  Since they didn’t act with their usual zest, the researchers concluded they were depressed. 

In last week’s post, I covered the first five steps you should take to avoid constipation without resorting to laxatives.

This week, we’ll dig a little deeper into the problem. Because sometimes, adding more fiber or drinking plenty of water just isn’t enough.

Q: I know you don't believe in the drugs prescribed to treat acid reflux. But my husband started taking an acid blocker several years ago and it has saved him a great deal of suffering ever since. So what's so bad about these medications?