Dr. Andrew Weil's 5 Holistic Health Secrets
Dr. Andrew Weil is credited with igniting America’s alternative health movement. He has spent a lifetime uncovering unique remedies and solutions not necessarily found in your pharmacy, your medicine cabinet, or even your doctor’s office. People ask him all the time what they can do to stay healthy, especially as they get older. Dr.Weil shares his top 5 holistic secrets to improve your overall health.
1. Secret for Your Brain: Protect Its Memory Bank
The thought of losing one’s memory is frightening. Dr. Weil recommends Huperzine A, otherwise known as Chinese club moss, a natural remedy that may help keep memory sharp and ward off Alzheimer’s.
He also recommends Phosphatidyl serine (PS), a naturally occurring lipid that’s considered a brain cell nutrient. It may have positive effects on memory and concentration to help slow age-related cognitive decline. In addition, PS may reduce stress by limiting cortisol spikes.
2. Secret for Your Heart: Keep Arteries Healthy
To keep your arteries healthy, Dr. Weil recommends red yeast rice extract, a source of naturally occurring statins, the prescription drugs used to lower LDL levels and control cholesterol. Dr. Weil argues that red yeast rice extract delivers a mix of these statin-like compounds rather than a single type of molecule, so it’s less likely to cause side effects, such as liver dysfunction that can occur with pharmaceutical versions. However, not everyone in the medical community agrees with him on this. If you have blood sugar problems, this is not the right supplement for you.
Niacin (vitamin B3) is less controversial than red yeast rice extract and is shown to raise HDL, the “good” cholesterol. Plus, it’s much cheaper than a prescription drug and has similar effects.
I have a special place in my heart for Niacin:p It's a big part of the story to how I got onto my path of toxic-free, super-healthy, conscious, eco living. It was the first Domino tipped that lead me to learn one thing onto the next, meet one health expert onto the next, that brought me to where I am today.
3. Secret for Your Digestive Tract: Keep It Clean
Fiber plays an important role in maintaining a healthy digestive tract. In fact, countries such as New Zealand that have a low-fiber diet have higher incidences of colon cancer. Dr. Weil recommends eating 40 grams of fiber each day, almost twice the normal recommended amount.
Use this as a rule of thumb to obtain 40 grams of fiber:
Since I went on my raw food diet in the summer of 2011, getting my fiber has never been a problem, since my main food sources are plants and fruits. It only took a short while for me to love these foods...so for me was not a hard adjustment to up my fiber.
1. Secret for Your Brain: Protect Its Memory Bank
The thought of losing one’s memory is frightening. Dr. Weil recommends Huperzine A, otherwise known as Chinese club moss, a natural remedy that may help keep memory sharp and ward off Alzheimer’s.
He also recommends Phosphatidyl serine (PS), a naturally occurring lipid that’s considered a brain cell nutrient. It may have positive effects on memory and concentration to help slow age-related cognitive decline. In addition, PS may reduce stress by limiting cortisol spikes.
- Huperzine A - 300mcg daily
- Phosphatidyl serine - 200mg daily
2. Secret for Your Heart: Keep Arteries Healthy
To keep your arteries healthy, Dr. Weil recommends red yeast rice extract, a source of naturally occurring statins, the prescription drugs used to lower LDL levels and control cholesterol. Dr. Weil argues that red yeast rice extract delivers a mix of these statin-like compounds rather than a single type of molecule, so it’s less likely to cause side effects, such as liver dysfunction that can occur with pharmaceutical versions. However, not everyone in the medical community agrees with him on this. If you have blood sugar problems, this is not the right supplement for you.
Niacin (vitamin B3) is less controversial than red yeast rice extract and is shown to raise HDL, the “good” cholesterol. Plus, it’s much cheaper than a prescription drug and has similar effects.
- Red Yeast Rice Extract - 200mg twice daily
- Niacin 500 mg Extended Release - Every night at bedtime
I have a special place in my heart for Niacin:p It's a big part of the story to how I got onto my path of toxic-free, super-healthy, conscious, eco living. It was the first Domino tipped that lead me to learn one thing onto the next, meet one health expert onto the next, that brought me to where I am today.
3. Secret for Your Digestive Tract: Keep It Clean
Fiber plays an important role in maintaining a healthy digestive tract. In fact, countries such as New Zealand that have a low-fiber diet have higher incidences of colon cancer. Dr. Weil recommends eating 40 grams of fiber each day, almost twice the normal recommended amount.
Use this as a rule of thumb to obtain 40 grams of fiber:
- 4 fruits (such as bananas, strawberries, blueberries, apples, peaches)
- 3 veggies (such as kale, sweet potatoes, green beans, peas, asparagus, corn, broccoli)
- 3 whole grains or beans (such as oatmeal, all-bran cereal, shredded wheat, lima beans, black beans)
Since I went on my raw food diet in the summer of 2011, getting my fiber has never been a problem, since my main food sources are plants and fruits. It only took a short while for me to love these foods...so for me was not a hard adjustment to up my fiber.
4. Secret for Your Immunity: Take an Antioxidant Cocktail
By strengthening your immunity, you’ll ward off common colds and reduce your risk of cancer. Dr. Weil gets his antioxidants from a multivitamin and you can too. Just be sure you are getting the right doses of each vitamin family. Go for a cocktail comprised of a multivitamin and COQ 10.
Mixed Carotenoids - 1.5-2 mg (3500 IU): Avoid pre-formed vitamin A, often called retinol, which can be toxic. Instead, you want to take mixed carotenoids, which are the pigments found in orange and yellow vegetables. Look for a combination of beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, lycopene, astaxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin.
Vitamin C - 60mg: Too much vitamin C can be pro-oxidant rather than antioxidant, so stick to 100% of your daily value, or 60mg. This important vitamin builds strong connective tissue, maintains arteries, and is great for overall healing. Avoid sweet chewable tablets of vitamin C, which are bad for your teeth.
Vitamin E - 30 IUs (20mg): This powerful antioxidant protects many parts of the body, including cell membranes and arteries, from free radical damage. However, it does have blood-thinning properties; beware of taking too much if you are taking any blood-thinning medications or supplements.
Selenium - 70 mcg: This important trace mineral has strong cancer-fighting properties.
COQ10 - 100mg: Coenzyme Q10 (COQ10) maintains heart health and protects muscles.
Be sure and take your multi and your COQ10 pill with an ample meal, such as lunch or dinner, to aid absorption.
By strengthening your immunity, you’ll ward off common colds and reduce your risk of cancer. Dr. Weil gets his antioxidants from a multivitamin and you can too. Just be sure you are getting the right doses of each vitamin family. Go for a cocktail comprised of a multivitamin and COQ 10.
Mixed Carotenoids - 1.5-2 mg (3500 IU): Avoid pre-formed vitamin A, often called retinol, which can be toxic. Instead, you want to take mixed carotenoids, which are the pigments found in orange and yellow vegetables. Look for a combination of beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, lycopene, astaxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin.
Vitamin C - 60mg: Too much vitamin C can be pro-oxidant rather than antioxidant, so stick to 100% of your daily value, or 60mg. This important vitamin builds strong connective tissue, maintains arteries, and is great for overall healing. Avoid sweet chewable tablets of vitamin C, which are bad for your teeth.
Vitamin E - 30 IUs (20mg): This powerful antioxidant protects many parts of the body, including cell membranes and arteries, from free radical damage. However, it does have blood-thinning properties; beware of taking too much if you are taking any blood-thinning medications or supplements.
Selenium - 70 mcg: This important trace mineral has strong cancer-fighting properties.
COQ10 - 100mg: Coenzyme Q10 (COQ10) maintains heart health and protects muscles.
Be sure and take your multi and your COQ10 pill with an ample meal, such as lunch or dinner, to aid absorption.
“Those who think they have no time for exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness.” ~Edward Stanley
