The Free Radical

Preface

Longstanding debates are almost always fruitless distractions. I’ve been meaning to compile the following list for awhile now, but it wasn’t until the tiresome ‘vaccine debate’ reared its ugly head again that I found the motivation to do so. A full treatment of my position on vaccines will is provided here: A Little Inoculation Against the Vaccine Distraction.

In the meantime, this list is my best answer to the question “We know that vaccines work, so why doesn’t everybody just voluntarily submit to them?” What the question doesn’t ask– and what needs to be asked– is “Are vaccines really the very best we can do?”

To me, true health is all about preventative medicine– and by ‘medicine’ I mean superb nutrition and lifestyle choices. When it comes to the ‘modern’ allopathic paradigm, vaccines are virtually the only tool in the preventative medicine toolkit. I find that situation to be tragically deplorable and utterly steeped in ignorance.

Before we get to the list, allow me to explain again why I choose the title “Independently Healthy” for these health briefings. The central and most important factor for superlative health– in my opinion and experience– is taking full responsibility for the state of our individual health status. Except in rare criminal circumstances, our own health is primarily our own responsibility. I may choose to consult professionals, solicit advice and research the experience of others, but ultimately, I alone am responsible for the state of my own health. That very attitude is central and essential to health (wholeness).

The list of nutritional and lifestyle choices and strategies which follows consists of those items from among literally hundreds of candidates which I have employed successfully in my own life over the past twenty years. I am currently 48 years old and am exceptionally pleased with my state of health… and these are what I attribute that to:

(I will flesh out brief descriptions for each of these and provide additional links in the coming days. They are currently listed in no particular order; I may change that shortly.)

Moringa Leaf

List of Nutritional Elements and Therapeutic Strategies

Note: I generally take these items in very small amounts on an empty stomach. In so doing, they are readily absorbed very quickly with almost no energy expenditure required for digestion and assimilation.

Vitamin D (D3/K2/Magnesium transdermal patch): As far as immune functioning is concerned, vitamin D is like the basic fuel for the whole system. You can do everything else right, incorporating many or all of the items on this list, but if you’re vitamin D deficient, your immunity will still be compromised. Once this became widely understood in the last few years, many health practitioners and natural health advocates began recommending rather large daily doses of vitamin D, up to 10,000 IU per day. I’ve consistently opted for a range between 3,000 and 5,000 IU per day. It is possible to take too much vitamin D which causes excess calcium to be deposited in unwanted sites such as the arteries (atherosclerosis) and the joints (arthritis). Excess vitamin D will only cause such problems if there is a commensurate lack of vitamin K2 (obtained primarily from leafy greens and vegetable ferments). That’s why the new transdermal patches from Living Nutritionals are such a good idea. They also include a full dose of vitamin K2 and a 250mg dose of magnesium which is also essential to proper calcium metabolism. I’ve developed a preference for taking supplements transdermally (through the skin) because the body can then absorb the nutrients at the same rate that they can be utilized, whereas a singular oral dose may very well be wasteful and/or stressful to the digestive tract.

Vitamin B12: This is the other one that I opt for the transdermal patch, also from Living Nutritionals. A strong consideration favouring the patch is that any B12 taken orally requires an ample amount of gastric intrinsic factor, which is produced in the stomach, to combine with before later absorption in the small intestine. If one’s ability to produce ample intrinsic factor is compromised, so too is one’s ability to assimilate vitamin B12– despite proper diet and ample oral supplementation. The patch delivers B12 in its usable form directly to the bloodstream, bypassing the complications of digestion. Vitamin B12 is essential for energy regulation and sustenance. Frequent fatigue can be a sign of B12 deficiency, especially among longtime vegetarians.

Oceans Alive Marine Phytoplankton 2.0: This is the single most nutrient-dense food that I am currently aware of. The spectrum of nutrients contained in this precious liquid far exceeds the known parameters of nutrition known at this time. It contains many, many nutritional elements which we haven’t even begun to study yet. It is proven human-compatible and extraordinarily bioavailable. A single dropper full of this goodness contains more nutrition than even the healthiest conventional meal.

Coriander Seed Oil: Cold-pressed from Panaseeda, this special oil is the top recommendation for overall digestive health. It helps to repair the gut lining, dramatically improves nutrient absorption and efficiently removes heavy metals from the digestive tract. It tastes good too! Its ability to increase nutrient absorption makes it economically advisable; it will make everything else more efficient.

36-Hour Bone Broth: Any bones boiled continuously for 36 hours or more results in a soup which provides nutritive support for the healing of the gut, especially repairing permeability in instances of IBS and leaky gut. Boiling for long periods breaks down the bone into a bioavailable therapeutic agent indispensable to gastrointestinal healing. Large bones can be boiled again and again as they will continue to break down each successive round.

Fermented Vegetables: Homemade vegetable ferments like sauerkraut and kimchee provide enormous amounts of beneficial bacteria as well as conditioning the intestinal environment for improved digestion. Store-bought varieties which have been pasteurized are completely useless in this regard. Make your own; it’s so easy and enormously rewarding!

Pine Pollen: Just a half teaspoon per day of this delicious yellow powder provides dozens of hard-to-get nutrients, especially those required for hormonal health and balance. Continued use provides strength, energy and stamina. Highly recommended for athletes of all types.

Coffee Additive: Every time I make coffee I add 1 teaspoon of this magic powder to my coffee bodum. It doesn’t alter the taste; if anything, it enhances the flavour by bringing out the subtler aspects of coffee’s flavour profile.
Chaga – Ridiculously high in antioxidants and a well-renowned, well-researched immune-boosting polypore with thousands of years of traditional use in China backing it.
Reishi – Along with chaga, reishi is the jewel of chinese medicine, especially for immune function.
Green (unroasted) Coffee Beans – The nutritive elements which would otherwise be lost or negatively altered in the roasting process are hereby added back into the coffee equation. It tends to bring out subtle flavour aspects while making the coffee ‘creamier’ even without the addition of cream.
Milk Thistle Seed – Aids the liver in cleansing and especially repair.
Cacao Beans – A nutritional powerhouse including resveratrol that combines well with coffee’s natural flavour.

Moringa Leaf Powder: A branch from the tall, fast-growing tropical Moringa tree is pictured above. This is quite possibly the most nutritious of all plants, at least in terms of common, well-studied nutrients. I regard it merely as another handy nutrient-dense food that can deliver significant nourishment in a single spoonful. I like the taste of the dried powdered leaf; I liken it to unsalted corn chips.

Whole Lemon Lemonade: The peel and the pith of the common lemon contain an astonishing array of rather rare and precious nutrients. Place a quartered whole lemon in a blender; add 10 ounces of water (preferably distilled); if you like pulp, liquify and drink; if you don’t enjoy pulp, blend to chop– not liquify– and strain before drinking. I have never found the need to add sweetener. With pith and peel included, the flavour is well-balanced, slightly bitter, and yes, slightly sour… but comfortably so. I often combine a glass of this with (2T)hemp hearts, (1T)spirulina and (1T)chlorella as a very satisfying meal replacement. This can be done daily, indefinitely.

Hemp Hearts: These are shelled hemp seeds. They are high in quality proteins and have an excellent ratio of essential fatty acids. I think they’re yummy!

Spirulina: This is a blue-green algae. Good quality spirulina may contain up to 70% protein by weight. In comparison, good quality meat is about 30% protein– and that’s before you cook it (denaturing proteins). The proteins in algae are in a highly assimilable form, once their cell walls have been cracked. When we eat algae, our digestive organs hardly need to do a thing. It’s like the protein is pre-digested, just waiting to be absorbed. Algae does not agree with everybody though. Some people are made instantly violently ill with their first spoonful, so exercise caution, as always, when trying new foods.

Chlorella:: This is a green algae, as you may have guessed from the name. It’s slightly lower in protein, but is very high in chlorophyl. Chlorophyl is a proven safe and reliable detoxifier. With algae, a good quality source is important; don’t cheap out. If you do a cost-to-nutrient evaluation– what you actually get for your money– you will find that even good organic algae is very cost-effective.

Krill Oil: This is one of the few items on this list which actually looks like a regular supplement– although being an oil, it is actually a food. It comes in capliques which are sealed capsules to prevent oxidation. This is my primary source of high quality omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids in a ratio favouring the omega-3s, bonded to phospholipids. Animal sources of EFAs also include the meganutrients EPA and DHA. Krill oil also includes a significant portion of astaxanthin. EFAs are essential for proper cognitive function.

Astaxanthin: This is a specialized supplement that I only really use when I know I’m in for a real physical workout. This is the red substance which give salmon meat its pink colour. It is also primarily responsible for granting salmon their superhero strength during their spawning migrations. Astaxanthin helps the body to regulate lactic acid metabolism in order to prevent its excessive buildup in muscles during strenuous and prolonged use.

Ubiquinol: This is my only other ‘regular’ supplement. Ubiquinol is the reduced version of CoQ10, the essential heart nutrient and mitochondrial food for sustained cellular energy. Persons under the age of 35 are fine just taking a regular CoQ10 supplement, but once we’re 35 and older our bodies have difficulty reducing CoQ10 to its bioavailable form– which is ubiquinol. I take it most days.

Systemic (Metabolic) Enzymes: The most common brand names of these types of enzymes are Vitalzym and Wobenzym. Of the two, I prefer Wobenzym, as it seems that Vitalzym changed its formulation in recent years which rendered it less effective in my opinion. Enzymes are the main reason people turn to raw foods in their dietary choices. All enzymes are destroyed by the heat of cooking. All natural (unprocessed) foods are created by nature with all of the appropriate enzymes included for the complete breakdown of those foods into their basic nutritive parts. Systemic enzymes are known to initiate enzyme cascades within the body, producing literally hundreds of different enzymes which are able to aid in digestion, inflammation (pain) control, blood cleansing, scar tissue removal, and other nifty benefits. I only use them occasionally, usually when I’m experiencing prolonged pain, when I’m injured, or when I’m initiating a deep cleansing program.

Digestive Enzymes: These are pretty straightforward. When digestion is sluggish or otherwise impaired, digestive enzymes are taken with meals in order to aid in the breakdown and assimilation of the foods eaten. They typically contain the the same enzymes produced in and by our digestive organs and are used simply as an aid.

Nascent Iodine: Iodine is the main nutrient contributing to proper thyroid function. The thyroid is the primary metabolic regulator within the endocrine system. It is also essential for proper immune function. Although most people are deficient in iodine, it is also possible to have too much iodine. Fortunately, high quality nascent iodine (monoatomic) can be applied directly on the skin– it will cause an orange stain. By timing how long it takes your body to draw in the iodine through your skin you can determine your specific state of deficiency/sufficiency. If the stain, consisting of 3 drops of nascent iodine, disappears from view in less than 4 hours, it almost certain that you are iodine deficient, as the body ‘hungrily’ draws it in. If it takes longer than 12 hours for the stain to disappear, then you’re good on iodine. I always have iodine on hand, and I test myself every few weeks and dose accordingly.

Quintessential Optimum Mineralization 3.3: This is the best product that I am aware of for fully remineralizing the body, including all of the trace elements. Before my initial introduction to this product, I was always somewhat hungry. Even if I’d just stuffed myself with a great meal and I had to open the top button on my pants, I would still feel slightly hungry. There was always a subtle hunger that would never go away, that is, until I discovered Quintessential. This is one of those products that I could tell from the very first dose that it was helping me in a profound way. After a 3-month program of using it daily, I noticed that my hunger went away for the first time in my life. In fact, I often felt so satisfied and content after my remineralization program that I skipped many meals, even going on a 4-day impromptu fast because I just simply wasn’t hungry. What a wonderful experience that was! I recommend this product for absolutely everyone.

Kratom: Ah kratom– mitragyna speciosa– my favourite herb of all time! (Okay, maybe it’s tied with cannabis.) I’ve referred to kratom in the past as ‘the herb of gladness and ease.’ It is a deciduous tree in the coffee family; kratom is specifically the dried and powdered leaves from mature mitragyna trees which are indigenous to places like Thailand, Bali, Vietnam and the likes. In its native land, kratom is used extensively by the locals and has a long history of continuous use. Some estimates claim that up to 70% of Thailand’s population uses kratom very much like westerners use coffee. Now, I’m a real coffee-lover, but kratom’s a whole other thing! I must point out though, that kratom is not really physically nutritious; it rather feeds the emotional/mental nature, bringing a calm but energized focus and a general relaxation to the body without inducing lethargy. It’s very pleasant. During mild forms of exercise, like walking or canoeing for instance, kratom’s 4- to 5-hour effect is muchly appreciated. It is also used for the management of chronic pain, as it is an analgesic. In Canada, my recommended source for kratom is Galactic Botanicals. In the US, I Am Shaman is a good choice. They lack a bit in variety, but the quality is always assured. (Note: sellers of kratom in North America refer to it as though it is an ingredient for making incense; they describe kratom’s effects as producing certain ‘aromas.’ This is for absurd legal reasons; I know of no one who makes incense from kratom.)

Baking Soda: This is one of those substances which the body can always put to good use. I’ve been brushing my teeth with baking soda and soap for years now; I gave up toothpaste around the turn of the millennium. I’ve recently begun using baking soda as my primary shampoo too. Just put a tablespoon or two of baking soda in a jar. Fill the jar with water and shake to dissolve. Massage the soda liquid into the hair and scalp just like a shampoo. It doesn’t foam, but it cuts grease well. Another reason why I like baking soda is that it’s an energy-cleansing substance too. Baking soda neutralizes toxic energies lodged in the body just as surely as it neutralizes acids. Also of interest is that baking soda saw wide use about a hundred years ago among allopathic doctors and their patients as a preventative and remedy for colds and flu. A half teaspoon dissolved in water is the typical dose. When fighting an active infection (cold or flu), six doses should be taken per day for two days with at least two hours between doses, and thereafter the treatment should be reduced to just two doses per day, once in the morning and once in the evening until the infection clears. As a preventative, one or two doses a day should be sufficient.

Hydrogen Peroxide: Here’s another substance that isn’t exactly nutritive, but it’s very useful to the body nevertheless. Most are at least familiar with hydrogen peroxide as a topical antiseptic. It has so many beneficial uses that books have elaborated the topic for ages. Due to its highly reactive nature, caution is always advised, especially when used internally (food grade only). One use I’ve employed for at least the last dozen years is peroxiding my ears (rhyme unintended). With an eyedropper, I fill one ear at a time with a 2 to 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide, as I tilt my head ninety degrees. It takes two full droppers to fill each ear. If it’s bubbling, it’s cleaning, neutralizing; and you can definitely hear it. Just note that sometimes it takes a moment for the bubbling to begin as some of the earwax begins to dissolve and expose the reactive nasties trapped inside. There is usually a beginning acceleration to the bubbling, followed by a sustained plateau, and a lingering slowdown. I peroxide my ears about once every two weeks; having clean ears is nice! Anytime the ears are actively discharging or mildly infected, cleaning can be stepped up to once per day. I’ve spent up to 10 months peroxiding my ears daily during the initial purge associated with frequent time spent in the saline of the sensory deprivation tank… in my room. I learned the significance of the phrase “’til it comes out your ears.” And if you’re ever caught with a stuffy head cold, the ear treatment can provide tremendous relief. It’s definitely something worth researching anyway.

Ozonated Oils (Sold as ointments and deodorants): These things are fricken miracles! It’s important though that these oils are prepared with medical grade ozone, as opposed to any ozone generated directly from ambient air. Ozone infused oils can help treat, um, everything. You can even eat them. (I had to try; that’s just who I am.) Don’t be willing to put anything on your skin you’re not willing to eat. Oxygen therapies are worth looking into. The name Ed McCabe comes to mind; searchable. I even saw a commercial recently on mainstream, prime time TV for a clinic providing hyperbaric oxygen therapy. As far as these oils go, I’ve used an ozonated jojoba oil (unscented, but a strong smell of ozone) sold as a facial cream, and an ozone infused olive oil with added cinnamon oil sold as a deodorant; it works fabulously well in that regard among myriad uses. (That’s the one I ate.)

Cacao & Coconut Oil Body Butter: Ever since my youth when I was a competitive swimmer suffering from chronic dry skin I’ve been a voracious consumer of skin lotions… until I started making my own. I make mine about two-thirds coconut oil and one-third cacao butter. And to make it soft enough to apply as a body butter I add a fraction of rose hip seed oil– the more oil added, the softer the butter… and the less like a coconut chocolate bar it smells and tastes though. Yes, of course you can eat my body butter; I’ve even taken a spoon to mine before. Excellent emergency food! The first few times I applied it, it seemed greasy, taking a long time to absorb. But after a time of continued use, my skin learned that there were useable nutrients in this new lotion; Now my skin drinks it in immediately.

Magnesium ‘Oil’: Magnesium is widely considered the Master Mineral. It is central and essential to proper energy production (ATP), regulating calcium in the body, is required in over 330 enzymatic reactions crucial to proper metabolism, and is indispensable to proper sleep and muscle relation. We are all deficient! Magnesium repletion is achieved with the use of a topical spray. Please see my in depth analysis of this essential element in my recent article: Elemental Repletion (written originally for the Mystical Masters FB group.)

Pascalite Clay: A pinkish calcium-bentonite (Montmorillonite) that I usually use only when I’ve got an upset in my gastrointestinal tract. It almost always relieves anything resembling nausea, when a physical cause needs to be neutralized and eliminated. (It may also have a psychic cleansing effect.) It also makes a good additive to homemade toothpaste, promoting healthy oral microflora (by neutralizing the nasties). It can also be applied externally to good antiseptic effect, and is generally beneficial to the skin in scrubs and mud-packs. I just feel good about always having some around whenever anyone complains about a tummy ache; it’s the first thing I think to offer, and is nearly always effective. (It reminds me of hurtloam in the Thomas Covenant series.)

(I will continue with the remaining items in the coming days.)

Reishi Spore Oil/Triterpene Extract
Sacha Inchi Seeds/Oil
Probiotics
Apple Cider Vinegar
Colostrum
Camu Camu
Rose Hips (wildcrafted)
Diatomaceous Earth
Distilled Water
Earthing Devices
Cellerciser
Full Spectrum Salt
High-Dose Niacin (B3)/Sauna Detoxification
Whey Protein
Meditation Entrainment Tools
EFT – Emotional Freedom Technique (Tapping)
Wheat Grass & Other Cereal Grasses
Urine Therapy
Intermittent Fasting
Coconut Oil & Other Derivatives
Goji Berries