Every nutrition consultant has their list.  So, here is mine.  They are in no special order.  They are all healthy foods that I recommend you eat on a regular basis, unless you are allergic.  These foods emphasize what lacks in many American diets – fruits and vegetables for vitamins and antioxidants, minerals to fuel our metabolism, and healthy fats that are sources of Omega 3’s and vitamins A, D, and K.

Air quality is an important and well known factor when it comes to our health. Outside it is understood that there is air pollution.  Everyone can see, and comprehend, the smog on as they drive downtown.  Most people are not aware that certain chemicals and toxins are actually at a much higher level inside our homes. 

I’m sure you’ve heard that alcohol can be beneficial when consumed in low to moderate quantities (about 1-3 standard glasses of alcohol per day), but there are thousands of studies on alcohol consumption and its effects on your health, and researchers still can’t prove that moderate drinking leads to a longer, healthier life.

What they have found, however, is plenty of evidence showing structural damage in your brain as well as other detrimental effects, even when consumed in small quantities.

What’s your IAQ IQ?

IAQ is an acronym for “indoor air quality.” And you can easily evaluate your IAQ IQ by answering these two questions:

• 1) Is indoor air more polluted than outdoor air?
• 2) Do air fresheners have any effect on indoor pollution?
  

When they’re actually used correctly, antibiotics can do an amazing job of clearing up the most lethal bacterial infections. And if you’re sick enough to be hospitalized for an infectious illness like pneumonia, those antibiotics might even save your life.

But like most drugs today, antibiotics are overused and over- prescribed—despite repeated pleas from infectious disease experts warning otherwise. Their crystal clear usage guidelines are often ignored by busy doctors eager to appease the many patients who show up demanding a quick fix for their colds and sore throats.

Q: Last month I tried a two-week detox diet, and to be perfectly honest, I felt horrible. By dinner on day one I had a dull headache that felt like a mild migraine, and the next morning nausea set in. To make a long story short, I was so miserable I didn't make it past day three. I want to try again, but only if it's possible to ease the pain.

Kidney stones (renal lithiasis) can be one of the most excruciatingly painful conditions you can experience. In the United States, about 10-15 percent of adults will be diagnosed with a kidney stone in their lifetime.

Roughly 1 million Americans develop kidney stones each year. Once you have had one kidney stone attack, your chance of recurrence is about 70 to 80 percent.

For many years, nuts have gotten a bad rap for being high in fat. But in reality, nuts are a vital part of our diet, as they are high in monounsaturated fats that actually keep us heart-healthy and disease-free.

Healthy nuts are also great sources of protein, minerals and other life-enhancing nutrients. Scientific studies now show that different types of nuts and seeds can actually prevent heart disease, weight gain and the accumulation of LDL cholesterol.

Recently, I went shopping with my 11 year old nephew, and was shocked and unprepared for the experience.  Like other kids his age, he preferred diet sodas containing aspartame and brominated vegetable oil (BVO).  He also preferred processed foods high in MSG.

I found myself protesting his choices, explaining the dangers of food additives, and removing these items from the shopping cart as fast I could.  These food additives are harmful to health, and represent a minefield at the supermarket waiting for the unsuspecting consumer.

The incidence of autoimmune disease has tripled in the last few decades. 24 million Americans are now affected. In fact, it affects more women than heart disease and breast cancer combined.

But autoimmune disease isn’t just one condition …