Do you have the energy and the can do attitude you need. Be honest. Most will have to say no to some degree.

You can be a health “expert” greater than your doctor. Only you have the potential to be your best doctor.

How Can I be my own best Dr.?

The answer is simple. Getting the results take discipline and persistence.  The answer is:

get back to the basics.

I think the answer is much simpler than most people make it out to be. They never really learn the basics.Yes we know the basics to be healthy yet all of the medical shows and drug advertising has allowed us to think health comes from someone or some thing outside of our ourselves.

If you think that’s wrong, consider: Whenever a team that should have won a championship ends up losing, what is the most common thing said by their coach in the post-game interview?

• “We didn’t execute the basics.”

When a player from the winning team is interviewed, especially after a strong season, what is the most common explanation given for their success?

• “We focused on the basics.”

We’re talking world champions, here. Do you feel to be in “championship” form?

Sometimes they give a different reason, of course. Sometimes they say it was ‘the fundamentals.’

Think about most health problems that steal our future. Aging accelerates when we are missing key ingredients.

Yes, the basics of living well have been abused or ignored. If you were to be interviewed and asked “what happened in your life that allowed your health to be less than “championship quality”? Would you admit that you didn’t focus on the basics?

Watch for a new class of whole foods as a basis for your solution to fatigue and frequent illness, coming soon. This will be the grass roots effort to take back our health.

For Your Total Wellness,

Dr. Darrel Hestdalen.

Vitamin D3 keeps your immune system strong, your bones strong and reduces your risk of cancers.

According to the information  at VitaminDCouncil.org and my personal experience, taking 5,000 IUs of Vitamin D3 is better than a flu shot. D3 provides your body with the ability to produce 100′s of anti-microbial peptides- the building blocks of your body’s antibodies.

D3 is essential for the development of the brain and nervous system, especially in prenatal and infants.

Breast Milk

All mammals have vitamin D3 in the breast milk.  Tests of human mothers has shown the breast milk to be void of D3.

UNLESS the mother takes about 5,000 IUs per day. Then the breast milk has adequate vitamin D3.

Doctors at the VitaminDCouncil.org have used this fact to determine optimal levels for vitamin D3 supplementation. Sunshine is the best source for our bodies to produce D3, however most of the United States doesn’t have the sun power or the temperatures to allow us to get adequate sunshine for many months of the year.

D3 biomarkers - see this article by Dr. John Cannell.

Also work and our habits keeps us indoors during the peak sunshine times during the summer.  Supplementation is therefore a viable option.

You should have your blood tested to determine your vitamin D3. The best test measures 25(OH)D, also called 25-hydroxyvitamin D.  Studies now show optimal health at 50 to 65 ng/ml.

I take 6,000 to 7,000 IUs per day of a Mycelized liquid D3. Our family follows these recommendations. Of course infants and children take less- about 1,200 to 2500 for toddlers after nursing.  We seldom have illness.

More about D3 and cancer risk in the next post.

For Your Total Wellness,

Dr. Darrel Hestdalen

Mercury Presents Extreme Risk to Nerve Growth in the Developing Fetus.

If you have amalgam fillings you are getting mercury toxins every time you chew or drink warm liquids.

The following video shows the mercury vapors from a mercury filling. Amalgam fillings are the “silver” fillings used by most dentists in the past 50 years.
More dentists are switching to composite fillings yet many people have had amalgam fillings over the years and still have them.
The vapors shown were tested and are mercury vapors.

Mercury is a toxic heavy metal that interferes with the growth and formation of the nerve sheaths. If you want to see a  scientific video from the University of Calgary on How Mercury Cause Neuron Degeneration click here.

Reducing mercury and other heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and arsenic will reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s, heart disease, stroke, cancers and many auto-immune diseases.  Heavy metals contribute to chronic inflammatory disease that is also known as silent inflammation.

Many experts recognize the impact of inflammation as a cause of Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disease, cancer, asthma, allergies and auto-immune diseases.

This is why I take the activated zeolite in NCD everyday. My whole family does.  Especially my family in child bearing years.  My granddaughter has taken NCD everyday of her life and is rarely ill.

Mercury and other heavy metals have their greatest impact on your nervous system, your immune system and your hormone balance.

Consider this list of health conditions that can have heavy metals as a major causative factor:

• Weak immune system, frequent illness
• Blood Sugar control and diabetes,
• Cardiovascular including stroke,
• Body odor and bad breath, 
• Bloating and gas, yeast overgrowth, 
• Overweight,
• Recurring headaches,
• Allergies, 
• Asthma,
• Digestive problems,
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,
• Skin blemishes,
• Headaches,
• Dementia and Alzheimer’s
• Depression and the list goes on…

I had a mouth full of amalgam fillings for 30 years. Mercury can contribute to auto-immune reactions.

I had an irregular heart beat called PVCs for about twenty years. PVCs can result from an auto-immune breakdown in the sheath of the purkinje fibers in the heart.

After about 18 months of taking activated zeolite I noticed an 80% improvement. The improvement has lasted for 5 years and continues.

Activated zeolite in the product NCD is a negative mineral and attracts the + charged heavy metals.  However research has shown that it does not remove good minerals or electrolytes. A more detailed explanation can be seen at NCD Support.

The most important people to take activated zeolite are women and men in child bearing years.

The developing nervous system is impaired with the presence of excess heavy metals.

Everyday you absorb more heavy metals and chemical toxins than your body can naturally remove. Over time your body accumulates these toxins and forms a significant toxic body burden.

Reducing your heavy metal levels has many benefits.  Consider this quote: “I can now very comfortably and definitively state to you,” says Dr. Buttar, “that, in my opinion, based on the evidence, every single chronic insidious disease process is related to one word: toxicity. You cannot address the issues of aging unless you address detoxification.” Dr. Buttar, board certified and a diplomat in preventive medicine and clinical metal toxicology, and Vice-Chairman of the American Board of Clinical Metal Toxicology.

I have personally discussed the topic of activated zeolite and the removal of heavy metals with doctors from coast to coast and border to border. I agree with their common statement that the activated zeolite is the most important health discovery in the past 50 years.

You can benefit from reduced disease risk and more energy.  Get started reducing your risk of diseases and increase your quality of life now. 

I welcome your questions. I will hold webinars to discuss this. Email me with your questions. darrel@wellnesscommonsense.com

Reducing you toxic body burden is one of the best health practices you can do.

For Your Total Wellness,

Dr. Darrel Hestdalen

Long term coffee consumption shows dose related reduced risk of dementia and Alzheimer”s disease.

40% of those over 84 years old will develop Alzheimer’s disease was reported in research in the Archive of Neurology. Other studies show promising findings that long term coffee intake cuts this risk and the risk of dementia through a protective influence on primary nerves cells in the brain.

In one study the equivalent of 5 cups per day showed signs of reversal of Alzheimer’s in mice within 5 weeks. ( Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.)

Enzymes are necessary for the production of  nearly all compounds in our bodies.  Coffee decreased the levels of key enzymes for the production of amyloid-beta in the blood and brain. Amyloid-beta is a substance shown to be involved with the development of Alzheimer’s.

These studies relate to the effect of caffeinated coffee. One study revealed that in 29,000 people 1 to 4 cups of coffee reduced the risk of Parkinson’s disease by 47% and 5 or more cups decreased the risk by 60%. (Movement Disorders 2007)

If you like coffee, it appears that drinking 1 to 6 cups per day can be helpful for mental acuity. Decaf coffee has benefits in reducing cancer risks however it doesn’t have the same benefits in mental function as caffeinated coffee.

Many sodas have caffeine yet the other compounds in soda negate the positive benefits. Diet soda uses artificial sweeteners that research show to be neuro-toxic. I recommend avoiding these health impairing drinks.

I recommend freshly ground coffee or ground coffee sealed in individual or small servings as the best source.

This is my choice.

For Your Total Wellness,

Dr. Darrel Hestdalen

Expectantly, responsibility, and compassionately are 3 terms from a recent sermon.

In Matthew chapter 25 Jesus tell three parables.

• The first parable is the Ten Bridesmaids and shows expectancy.
• The second parable is of the Talents. This illustrates responsibility.
• The third parable is of the Sheep and the Goats. This emphasizes compassion.

The pastor related these three qualities to how we live is relation to the second coming of Christ.

Allow me the liberty to relate how these three significant qualities  and the Great Commandment relate to your health.

The Great Commandment from Mt. 12:38 “ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”( in Mark– and all your strength, is added) 39 . . . ” Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Let’s look at this is relation to expectancy, responsibility and compassion.

To Love the Lord completely you acknowledge that you are created in the image of God. You would expect to live up to the potential of the health God created in and for you.

As a creation of God you accept the responsibility to have a behavior with food, drink, time and activity that would support expressing your full potential offered by your heart, mind, soul and strength.

When you love your neighbor as yourself you live so as to enjoy your full health potential to serve God’s creation. You then will reduce your risk of the health problems caused by neglect and abuse of your health. The resulting debilitating diseases  would result in your neighbor having to pay more for your disease treatments. ( Higher insurance premiums or government mandates.)

Some of the diseases of aging that increase with personal health neglect are:

• arthritis,
• heart disease,
• cancer,
• Alzheimer’s,
• diabetes,
• chronic fatigue syndrome,
• stomach ache,
• heartburn,
• brain fatigue,
• toxic body burden,
• and more.

Yes, stuff happens and we should come together as a community of believers to help in times of need.

A major problem is that most health problems that threaten the financial strength of our healthcare system and our country are related to neglect and abuse of our health.

Usually we think of being self-centered as a negative behavior. In the case of your health you can consider this as a positive focus. Taking care of yourself to support your health potential and reduce your risk of disease is showing love for your neighbor.

We all can have better behavior with our food, time and activities. Many of the diseases of aging can be avoided

How many of the 7 deadly sins relate to activities that threaten your health?  (Lust, anger, pride, envy, greed, gluttony and sloth.)

As you plan changes for a new year or commit to continue with good behavior with God’s creation do this:

1. write down what you will do,
2. review it regularly,
3. and record the progress you make.

For Your Total Wellness,

Dr. Darrel Hestdalen

Extensive Coffee Research Finds More Coffee Can Prevent Most Major Debilitating Diseases.

I was a later in life coffee drinker. I dabbled with coffee in my 20′s and 30′s without developing a “taste ” for it.

I taught and coached for 6 years prior to chiropractic college and may have something to do with the coffee the janitor at the school made.  It seemed that a spoon would stand by itself in a cup of Otto’s coffee. This was probably a bit strong for a newbie to coffee.

The average American coffee drinker consumes about 3 cups of coffee per day.  About half of the adult American population drinks coffee. Coffee is packed with antioxidants and this makes coffee the greatest source of anitoxidants in the American diet.  Confirmed by articles published in 2 scientific journals.

Many health experts are alarmed by the rapidly growing epidemic of diabetes .  There may be as many as 366 million diabetics world wide according to the International Diabetes Federation.

Chlorogenic acid, a key ingredient in coffee, lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes by up to 67% according to the Strong Heart Study.

Chlorogenic acid appears to reduce the blood glucose levels by increasing insulin sensitivity.  This also reduces the storage of fats and carbohydrates.

Glucose is the simple sugar from the digestion and breakdown of carbohydrates that is absorbed into the blood stream.  Glucose must be moved into the cells by insulin to provide fuel for the energy processes of the cell.

If glucose cannot be removed properly your blood glucose level stay elevated. In diabetics this elevated blood glucose remains for long periods of time leading to diabetic neuropathy- nerve damage-  and circulation problems.

• One cup of coffee per day reduces diabetic risk by 13 %.
• Four cups of coffee per day reduces diabetic risk by 47 %
• Twelve cups of coffee per day reduces diabetic risk by 67%.

( Reported in The Strong Heart Study and Diabetic Care )

I don’t recommend drinking 12 cups per day for most people. I am comfortable in recommending 1 cup of coffee to every 2 cups of water per day.

I recommend drinking fresh ground coffee if possible or ground coffee from small sealed packets to maintain freshness and reduce rancidity.

I found a coffee blended with herbal tea that doesn’t give me a rush and then a crash like stronger coffee. This coffee gives me a gentle lift and with sustained alertness for 3-4 hours. I feel that it also curbs my appetite and has helped me reduce a couple of pounds.

The coffee is called Javita and is reasonably priced and very convenient.

http://reserveyourcup.com/darrel 

Future blog posts on cancer risk reduction, cardiovascular disease, brin function, liver disease and anti-aging and reducing DNA damage.

For Your Total Wellness,

Dr. Darrel Hestdalen

Why is it so important to do what is right for your health?

Why do you need to have personal responsibility and discipline in those actions that determine your health?

I believe it is commanded in  the Great Commandment in Mark 12:30-31.

30-” Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. 31- . . . Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”  NIV

When you love the Lord  above all else you acknowledge that you are created in His image. That all that exists is from God.  You accept the responsibility of being the steward of your body.

These 4 factors are given to us through creation and the Word.

1. Eat foods that are nourishing to the body and in a manner than is supportive of proper digestion and absorption. Nearly every disease can be related to a deficiency of good nutrition not the presence of evil.
2. Exercise to maintain full power and motion as we have been given. Nothing impairs your performance like lack of proper activity.
3. Get proper rest for repair and healing.
4. Let your emotions give you the thoughts that lead to the words and actions that contribute to behavior that is a model of character of a faithful and fruitful disciple, pleasing to God. You control your mind, think good thoughts.

Romans 12:1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. 2. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

This may be included in the instruction by Paul  in 1 Corinthians 10:31 “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

To love your neighbor as yourself commands us to take care of your health.

You live with best health practices so that your health will not require anyone else to pay for health problems caused by neglect or negligence of your health. This practice will honor God by taking care our our health and greatly reduce health care costs.

The principles promoted here come from over 30 years of clinical practice and personal experience. This is a system of focus on health care versus a system of disease management.

When we live in response to the Great Commandment we are motivated to live with Wellness Common Sense, to honor God and enjoy full expression of all that we can be in our heart and in our soul and in our mind and with all our strength.

For Your Total Wellness,

Darrel Hestdalen, DC, DIBAK, FASA

Heavy Metals and Chemicals Block Normal Reactions in Your Body and Disease Gets Started.

This is a partial list of health conditions that can lead to more serious problems. All of these and more have a significant link to heavy metal toxicity- that toxic burden that we all carry.

Natural Cellular Defense is the most effective and safe product to reduce our toxic burden that I have seen in 30 years.

Arsenic has been found in unacceptable amounts in apple juice and grape juice.  This is only the “tip of the iceberg” when we consider the multiple sources of heavy metals and chemical toxins we take in every day.

You ingest more toxins everyday than your body can naturally remove. You need help. I need help. That is why my family takes NCD everyday.

Toxins will reduce your resistance to:

••         Weak immune system, frequent illness

••         Body odor and bad breath,

••         Bloating and gas, yeast overgrowth,

••         Overweight,

••         Recurring headaches,

••         Allergies,

••         Digestive problems,

••         Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,

••         Skin blemishes,

••         Headaches,

••         Depression and the list goes on…

Reducing your toxic body burden will improve healing and your body’s natural disease resistance.

My family-youngest to oldest)  uses NCD (Natural Cellular Defense) everyday.

Here is a report from Rik Deitsch, Biochemist and author of Invisible Killers:

According to a new Consumer Reports (CR) investigation, common brands of apple juice and grape juice—which children across America drink by the gallons—may have levels of arsenic that are high enough to increase the risk of chronic illnesses like cancer, diabetes and heart disease over time.

“Arsenic inhibits natural metabolic processes in the body by blocking essential minerals,” commented Rik Deitsch, author of the book Invisible Killers. “People exposed to even low levels of arsenic over time can develop fatigue, confusion, hallucinations, impaired memory, and emotional issues; while long-term exposure can lead to the development of numbness in the hands and feet that may progress to a painful ‘pins and needles’ sensation. Recent studies have also reported decreases in intelligence scores of arsenic-exposed children. Lastly, arsenic is a known carcinogen with skin tumors as the most common form of arsenic-related cancer,” he continued.

According to the investigation, a test of 88 samples of brands of apple juice and grape juice found that roughly 10% of the samples (from 5 brands) had total arsenic levels exceeding 10 parts per billion (ppb)—the federal arsenic limit for bottles water. One of four samples also had levels of lead exceeding the bottled-water limit of 5 ppb.

While the government has no standard for arsenic or lead in apple juice or grape juice, these findings and the urging of Consumers Union (CR’s advocacy arm) and other consumer groups has prompted the Food and Drug Administration to consider lowering its standards for levels of arsenic allowed in apple juice to crack down on the contaminant.

Researchers think contaminated soil is a likely source of the arsenic in apple juice, which helps explain why the toxin is found even in juices made from 100% organically grown apples.

As for the question of whether Americans drink enough apple or grape juice to see elevated arsenic levels or associated health effects, the CR study sought an answer by commissioning an analysis of 2003-08 data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which tracked what people ate and measured arsenic levels in participants’ urine to gauge their exposure. CR reported:

The resulting analysis of almost 3,000 study participants found that those reporting apple-juice consumption had on average 19% greater levels of total urinary arsenic than those subjects who did not, and those who reported drinking grape juice had 20% higher levels. 

The results might understate the correlation between juice consumption and urinary arsenic levels because NHANES urinary data exclude children younger than 6, who tend to be big juice drinkers.

Over the years, the activated zeolite featured in Natural Cellular Defense (clinoptilolite) has been proven to be effected in removing 98% of arsenic in ground and drinking water.

Here’s a sampling of some of the hundreds of clinical studies available:

• Use of synthetic zeolites for arsenate removal from pollutant water
• CDC toxological profile for arsenic
• Application of natural zeolites for preconcentration of arsenic species in water samples
• Arsenic sorption by modified clinoptilolite–heulandite rich tuffs
• Evaluation of Some Natural Zeolites and Their Relevant Synthetic Types as Sorbents for Removal of Arsenic from Drinking Water

“The clinoptilolite form of zeolite found in Natural Cellular Defense has been shown to have a high affinity for inorganic arsenic. Using the product has been demonstrated clinically to greatly enhance the excretion rates of arsenic along with other heavy metals and toxic substances,” Deitsch concluded.

With no provisions in place by the FDA to regulate chemical exposure in fruit juices, it’s up to you.

Discover more about NCD here.

For Your Total Wellness,

Darrel Hestdalen, DC, DIBAK, FASA

For most Americans the  drink of choice is soda. More soda than water for many people.

Soda can be the leading cause for bone calcium loss, higher blood pressure, increase uric acid levels, and accelerated brain cell death ( from diet soda).

Dr Mercola has a through article on the risks of soda consumption,  worse than smoking.

Check this out   http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/11/21/soda-linked-to-health-problems.aspx?e_cid=20111121_DNL_art_1

For Your Total Wellness,

Dr. Darrel Hestdalen

Heavy Metals Cloud Your Thinking

All thought is the result of nerves transmitting impulses. This requires many enzyme reactions to control the responses in the appropriate sections of the brain.

Do you have times of brain fatigue, cloudy or foggy thinking?

In the previous blog post I summarized several studies that correlated heavy metal accumulation with anti-social and criminal behavior.

When heavy metals accumulate the normal nerve transmissions will be altered. The previous article revealed that the level of accumulation of lead directly correlated with abnormal behavior.  The levels sited were below what is considered lead poisoning.

There is also the synergistic reaction where other substances and other heavy metals magnify the impact of the toxic accumulation.

This means that what is considered a safe level of one toxic metal will most likely be much lower when considered in the complexity of many heavy toxic metals and chemicals.

Common results from a toxic body burden affecting nerve function are seen in:

• brain fog,
• poor concentration,
• hyperactivity,
• brain fatigue,
• over reaction to normal stimuli and
• other abnormal or undesirable mental activity.

We live in a world that is more toxic than mankind has ever experience. Every day we are exposed to more toxins than our body can naturally remove. The resulting accumulation as we age leads to many debilitation diseases.

“Most of the disease of aging –vascular, most cancers, arthritis and others– have been shown to be associated with toxic metals …..”Dr. Robert A. Nash, Chairman of the American Board of Clinical Metal Toxicology

“I can now very comfortably and definitively state to you, that, in my opinion, based on the evidence, every single chronic insidious disease process is related to one word: toxicity. You cannot address the issues of aging unless you address detoxification.” All chronic disease is toxicity. You get rid of the toxicity and you put out the fire. You may need to rebuild afterward, but you must put the fire out.      Rashid O. Buttar, board certified and a diplomat in preventive medicine and clinical metal toxicology, and Vice-Chairman of the American Board of Clinical Metal Toxicology

It is not a matter of if we will have problems but when and how severe.

You can see why I am very concerned with reducing the toxic body burden of my family and everyone else that desires to live a quality life at all ages.

Learn more here.  Discover the only product I have found safe and effective in over 30 years of clinical practice.

It is your choice. The choices we make determine our future.

If you have questions feel free to send me an email – drdh@drhestdalen.com

I would be willing to visit with you by phone if you like. Let me know the best time and best phone number to call.

I do hold conference calls and webinars on health topics. Check the the schedule.

For Your Total Wellness,

Dr. Darrel Hestdalen