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Cancer as a metabolic disease – An Interview with Dr. Thomas Seyfried

In episode 94 of Cellular Healing TV, I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Thomas Seyfried, the author of “Cancer as a Metabolic Disease.” A professor of biology at Boston College, his research delves deeply into the subject of cancer as a mitochondrial metabolic disease. In addition, he has taught neurogenetics and neurochemistry as it relates to cancer treatment at Yale University and Boston College for the past 25 years. He has also written numerous peer-reviewed science articles and book chapters, as well as authoring his groundbreaking book.

Cancer as a Metabolic Disease

Read Dr. Pompa's full article below the video…

Cancer as a Metabolic Disease

During our interview, Dr. Thomas Seyfried started out by clarifying that he is not claiming to treat cancer or any disease; rather, he feels that current medical treatments are taking the wrong approach. He points out that billions of dollars are being spent on cancer research, and yet, the number of cancer deaths is not changing. In the last 25 years, there has been approximately a 37% increase in new cases and a 3.5 to 4% increase in the number of deaths per year. If the current treatments were successful, you would expect those numbers to drop. Also, in recent years, cancer genomic research has skyrocketed. In fact, it is estimated that there are at least 700 targeted cancer gene therapies… yet none have been shown to reduce tumors.

Cancer Drugs and Theories

The theory of what drives cancer is unbridled cell proliferation (an increase in the number of bad cells), and most of the therapies being used are focusing on halting the proliferation of those cells. The toxic chemicals (chemotherapy) and radiation are used to stop this cycle. Their treatment goal is to damage tumor cell DNA and stop the uncontrolled growth of the cancer cells.

More recently, the field is turning to genomic approach drugs called checkpoint inhibitors (commonly known as immunotherapy drugs). However, few people are getting immunotherapy drugs because they are extremely costly. More importantly, according to Seyfried, these drugs don’t work for the majority of the people and have very significant side effects. And why don’t they work for every cancer patient? Each cancer cell is genetically unique: no two cells in the tumor are alike, nor will they have the same genetic mutations. So why are we focusing on the unique aspects of every cell in the tumor when we can focus on the malady that is common to every cell? We must concentrate on the root causes (R1) of this terrible disease.

Cancer as a Mitochondrial Metabolic Disease

Dr Seyfried’s theory is that cancer is a Mitochondrial Metabolic Disease. For the cell to stay healthy, it is vitally important that the mitochondria (the energy powerhouses of the cell that make ATP aka cellular energy) stay strong and protected. But with the exposure to a myriad of environmental toxins, chemicals, medications and unhealthy eating habits, the cell’s mitochondria can be damaged, which can lead to cellular disaster.

In the early 1900’s, the great Otto Warburg surmised that when damage occurs to the mitochondria, the cell can’t make sufficient energy; therefore, adaptation occurs and it up-regulates a less effective and more primitive form of cellular energy production called glucose fermentation or aerobic glycolysis (the conversion of glucose to lactic acid in the presence of oxygen). With this primitive form of glycolysis, there is less oxygen and more lactic acid, which creates a perfect environment for cancer cells to grow. Warburg also theorized that as cells adapt to damage, “bad” genes get turned on and disease begins expressing.

Seyfried has put Warburg’s theory to the test with many modern day studies, stating with certainty that Warburg is correct: the genomic defect arises as a secondary downstream effect. He believes that cancer is a metabolic disease that uses glucose (and in certain cases glutamine) for energy. Cancer cells do not use fat for energy. Seyfried states that if glucose can be controlled via fasting and ketosis, forcing the cells to use fat for energy, cancer cells would be weakened, giving our immune system or other treatments the upper hand. In Cancer as a Metabolic Disease he states “…It is my opinion that targeting glucose and glutamine under energy restriction will be more effective long-term therapy than any of the current drugs used to treat these cancers.”

What Comes First: the Chicken or the Egg?

Normally, our cellular energy is produced via efficient respiration. But if that system fails, the cell has to gradually increase the capacity to produce ATP energy to remain alive. Thus, the process of glucose fermentation begins.

Oncogenes, which are genes having the potential to cause a normal cell to become cancerous, are highlighted as playing a significant role in the generation of certain cancers. But why are they so central? It turns out that oncogenes control fermentation. They are transcription factors that up-regulate fermentation when respiration becomes insufficient, which leads to extra cellular acidification and wounding to the microenvironment. This then causes inflammation and the progression of other damaging processes.

The bottom line is the chicken came first, or in this case, the cell damage comes before the gene. The mitochondria get damaged and a gene gets turned on for adaptation, creating the perfect environment for cancer to grow.

The Mysterious World of Tumor Cells

Dr Seyfried points out that tumor cell multiplication is a multi-faceted process. The strange thing about tumor cells is that they continue to produce lactic acid, even when oxygen levels are sufficient for respiration. That is happening because the mitochondria are deficient. So those cells behave as if they are in a hypoxic (low oxygen) environment. Despite the fact that they look like they have proper respiration, they don’t.

The acidic environment created by cancer cells is used to market the idea of alkalizing the body. It sounds logical on the surface, that if people with cancer are acidic, let’s make them alkaline. Not so simple, for the reason that the cancer is creating the acidity, and forcing alkalinity doesn’t change this fact. The acid environment is far too downstream. This is a metabolic issue, which I believe is being driven mostly by cellular toxicity.

We must also consider the role that increased glucose plays in tumor cell reproduction. It is critically important to keep glucose levels in normal range. Therefore, one would think that by stopping the cancer cells from using glucose via a medication that stops glycolysis (the use of glucose for energy in states of low oxygen), it could either kill the cells through apoptosis (cell suicide) and/or diminish existing tumors. But that is not necessarily the case. There have been a number of drugs to stop glycolysis (the breakdown of glucose) but they have been unsuccessful. As these drugs stop glycolysis in every cell of the body, this becomes a problem, as both cancer cells and normal cells use the same glycolic pathway. The only difference is that tumor cells are using glucose to a much greater extent. So by using indiscriminant inhibitors of glycolysis, you WILL kill some of the tumor cells, but you will also damage some of the functionality of normal cells.

I am always of the belief that if you go upstream and get to the cause, the body will heal. In this case, we must first stop what damages mitochondria. This is driven either by an increase in glucose driving oxidation and inflammation, or by toxins causing damage, oxidation and inflammation of the fragile mitochondria membranes.

Warburg stated years ago, “Respiratory insufficiency can arise from the cumulative effects of any number of environmental factors that alter mitochondrial function.” So if we control glucose and decrease cellular toxicity via PompaCore Cellular Detox™, what do we do with the damaged mitochondria? Seyfried thinks this is the solution as he notes, “… If all cancer arises from mitochondrial dysfunction, then replacement of damaged mitochondria with normal mitochondria should prevent cancer. In other words, mitochondria producing sufficient respiration should suppress tumor growth regardless of the numbers and types of mutations.”

He refers to his protocols as Mitochondrial Enhancement Therapy (MET), meaning the use of restricted states of eating like fasting and ketosis. These therapies not only heal damaged mitochondria, but also get rid of the bad cells driving tumor formation through two natural processes known as autolysis and autophagy. This is when the body eats bad, damaged cells during times of restriction.

Cancer, Fasting and Ketosis

For cancer management, Seyfried uses fasting and ketosis as “metabolic therapies.” He believes this approach is a promising alternative to chemotherapy and radiation, because the benefits far outweigh the toxic side effects of conventional therapies.

Read more on fasting here and more on the ketogenic diet here. During fasting, and when in a ketotic state, blood glucose is lowered to force cells to burn the body’s own fat for energy, which restricts the glucose available to tumor cells and also increase ketones, which are a powerful and efficient source of energy for proper cellular function.

Seyfried believes one of the benefits of the keto diet is this: because tumors have defective respiration in the mitochondria, tumors can’t use the ketones as their alternative fuel, so they become non-functional. In other words, they become more vulnerable to death as a result of these energetic transitions. This is an elegant way to metabolically marginalize the tumor cells, while enhancing the health and vitality of normal cells.

With the restrictive ketogenic diet, one is trying to manage cancer WITHOUT TOXICITY. And if you understand the metabolism of the body, and are able to tweak metabolic pathways in different directions, one can achieve management of these very difficult diseases without using toxic drugs.

Immunotherapy in the Right Order

Frequently Dr. Seyfried is asked, “Will ketosis and fasting cure cancer?” He would NEVER use the word “cure,” but notes one can manage cancer and slow down the degree of growth. Over time, as the patient utilizes the metabolic protocols with success, he or she can be placed on a schedule of diet variation and a series of less toxic drugs (immunotherapy) that can finish off the surviving tumor cells. The surviving cells become targets for immunotherapy drugs because we are finally dealing with a population of cells that have something in common. It is all about timing. He points out that allopathic medicine is doing a lot of things correctly … just in the wrong order.

Testing Proves Theories

Some exceptional developmental biologists performed numerous tests and studies over many years, testing the hypothesis of whether cancer is a nuclear genetic disease or a mitochondrial metabolic disease. Dr Seyfried bundled all those experiments into one group and presented them for the first time. Here is the conclusion: the nucleus of the tumor cell is NOT capable of driving the disease. It is the mitochondrion that is driving the disease. This is a revolutionary theory.

The Glory of Ketones

Although Dr. Seyfried is an expert in the keto adaptation diet, he also gives much credit to his colleague, Dr. Dominic D’Agostino researcher at the University of South Florida, who is also a global authority in keto-adaptation and a featured guest on CHTV. Keto-adaptation is a form of therapeutic ketosis, not to be confused with ketoacidosis (a pathological state experienced by some diabetic patients). What actually takes place during keto-adaptation? The blood sugar goes down and eventually glycogen reserves in the liver and muscles are used up. Then the body must mobilize fat for energy, primarily using the fat storehouse in the liver, where most of the ketones are generated.

The liver makes these water soluble by-products (little energy ketone bodies) that can be used by the brain and the heart to become energy efficient. But the glories of ketones don’t stop there. Ketone bodies also create healthy and increased mitochondria production. They produce very few reactive oxygen species (ROS), or wasteful energy, and the utilization of this cleaner fuel causes much less cellular inflammation.

During the interview with Dr. Dominic D’Agostino, we discussed another benefit of the keto diet. In new studies, some of which he has done personally, ketones have the ability to change gene expression. In other words, ketones can turn off bad genes that are involved not just in cancer but many other diseases. According to new studies, ketones can also turn on genes that help us live longer.

How Do You Know When You Are in the Keto Zone?

A question many patients ask Dr. Seyfried, “How do I know if I am in the zone of ketosis?” Dr. Seyfried published a paper earlier this year on the glucose ketone index calculator that was designed primarily for cancer patients. Any person who wants to know whether or not they are in a therapeutically ketotic state must use a meter that measures both blood glucose and ketones (The meter we suggest is the Precision Xtra, which can be purchased online).

The perfect keto zone is accessed by taking the ratio of glucose (perfect range is 55-65) divided by the ketone number (perfect range between 3-7) and the perfect ratio is 1.0 or below. The glucose will need to be converted from mg/dl to mmol/L. This can be done on line at conversion.com. If you are within this range, your body is using ketones very efficiently and “eating up” undesirable cells (referred to as the autolytic state). Healthy people with no cancer can get into this zone much easier than those who are ill. Because a cancer diagnosis can produce a lot of anxiety, it can lead to elevated blood sugar levels, and elevated glucose can hinder keto-adaptation. However, if cancer patients can handle the stress of their diagnosis well enough, they are able to get into the zone of keto-adaptation much easier.

Methods for Hitting the Zone and My Personal Experience

Dr. Seyfried explains there are various ways to start using metabolic therapies to hit that perfect zone. A water-only fast for 4-7 days is ideal, but water-only fasting must be monitored closely. I have used beef stock for 4 days and hit the zone with many people, and this is a much easier fast than water only. And of course, the keto adaptation diet, which I refer to as an advanced cellular healing diet is the cornerstone, because over time, it dramatically lowers glucose while increasing health-promoting ketones. In my practice, I combine a ketogenic diet with daily intermittent fasting where the client often fasts for 16-18 hours from dinner to the next meal (a late lunch). Intermittent fasting can greatly support increased ketone production and glucose reduction, and the fact that it is done daily, and not just 4-7 days, produces results that are amazing in regards to hormone health and anti-aging.

I asked Seyfried if he felt moving in and out of the zone is still effective; for example, going into ketosis for 3-4 months then moving back into a regular Cellular Healing Diet (diet variation) or doing 4 day fasts periodically. He said even one or two fasts a year is beneficial for most people. I do believe more time in the zone and more frequent fasting is needed in some cases to regain health. I have many clients who do one fast a month, and with every fast new healing occurs.

I have witnessed, the healing power of one long fast personally with my own wife. Years ago she had some pre-cancerous cervical cells. She water fasted for 12 consecutive days (with my supervision) and returned to the doctor who diagnosed her some months later showing no more cancer cells. The doctors were in shock. To this day, we both periodically utilize 4 day fasts, mostly using whey water or stock. We also go into ketosis throughout the year for 3-4 months at a time, and move back into the Cellular Healing Diet the other months. For the last 2 years we have also utilized intermittent fasting daily with incredible results. I can honestly say that I see and feel like I have gotten 10 years younger. I believe the practice of moving in and out of these restricted states such as fasting, ketosis, and the cellular healing diet, which I refer to as diet variation, emulates our longer living ancestors, turning on our genes for a long healthy life.

Troubleshooting Weight Loss Resistance

But the ketogenic diet is not always smooth sailing, as some can experience weight loss resistance during the course of this diet. This may be as a result of consuming too much protein, fat, or calories. Note that food and drink management will be different for each person. For instance, some cancer patients can manage to drink a glass of dry red wine without spiking their glucose levels. And for some, beef stock will keep them in that perfect adaptation zone and others need only water. The perfect balance of foods and fats is tricky, and that is why you need a trained professional to monitor your progress (for more info on working with a practitioner trained in ketogenic diet therapy call my office).

The first thing I assess if someone says they are gaining weight or not losing weight is to note the amount of carbs they are ingesting. For most, less than 50 grams is effective, but some have to go down lower to lose weight or hit the target zone. The next question I ask is the amount of protein they are consuming daily. Protein can convert to sugar and this will keep people out of ketosis or the zone. Too much fat could also lead to not enough restriction, and can be adjusted by utilizing intermittent fasting daily (taking out one meal), or using 2 small meals in the day and a bigger dinner. It is important to still eat one big meal (to fullness) a day, otherwise the body will think it’s starving and shut down weight loss. Caloric restriction by itself does not work for this reason. You cannot simply push food away each meal. You will fail because the body, in attempt not to starve, will lower the set-point (metabolism) or give you cravings you cannot resist and then the diet is broken. By eating at least one meal a day to full, and restricting during the day, the body will not go into this starvation reaction and instead will learn to become a more efficient fat burner to provide the energy it needs throughout the day.

I don’t eat nearly the amount of calories as others: not because I am pushing away food, but because my cells are very efficient at utilizing fat. I am simple not as hungry. I have observed my clients becoming very proficient at fat burning at the cellular level, and they too don’t need as much food and they eat less naturally. What a relief when food cravings disappear.

Diet Variation is a Must

As noted earlier, Dr. Seyfried and I agree that it is very important to move people in and out of ketosis with a method called diet variation. Also, I have found that for patients who couldn’t get into ketosis, taking them off the keto diet for a few months and starting my Cellular Healing diet can elicit wanted changes. When previously these clients couldn’t lose weight, they were suddenly able to shed pounds once switching diets. I keep them on the C ellular Healing diet for a few months, and then shift them back to the ketogenic diet. After these diet variations, patients have a much easier time getting into the keto zone.

A perfect example of diet variation is the Hunzu people who lived very long disease free lives. Their culture was forced into dramatic dietary shifts. In the summer, they were eating mostly vegetables and fruit. In the winter, they were surviving on fatty foods. Then they had “starvation spring,” when they went weeks or months without much food. Based on the health and vitality of these cultures, we can thrive with diet variation.

Dr. Seyfried notes that shifting back and forth between different diets is exactly what you need to eliminate tumor cells. Tumor cells have a lot of mutations as a secondary consequence of defects in respiration. Tumor cells have all kinds of broken chromosomes, deletions and duplications, and because of these mutations, the tumors are much less adaptable to these dietary shifts. And with this lack of adaptation, they end up getting eliminated. So we can exploit the genetic defects in the tumor cells by forcing these dramatic shifts with diet variation.

What Fats Should I Be Eating?

Healthy fats are key to a successful ketogenic diet. But remember there are different kinds of fats. On the Atkins diet, for example, people take in any kind of fat and as much as possible. The ketogenic diet revolves around a special type of fatty acid called medium chain triglycerides, like coconut oil, MCT oil, and avocados, and doesn’t encourage the consumption of too many long chain fatty acids (fish oil, olive oil). Even though a little bit of fish oil is ok, too many people in this country are omega 3 dominant, consuming rancid fish oils. With omega 3 dominance comes the displacement of cardiolipin out of the mitochondrial membrane, causing energy leaks. So for the bulk of the keto diet, it is best to use medium chain triglycerides for fat since they play an important role in promoting optimal ketone levels.

As stated above, we must remember that eating too much fat (even healthy fats), or food period, can put you in harm’s way. For some people when too much fat or calories is consumed, blood sugar will not decrease, insulin goes up, and the next thing you know, you have very high triglycerides. If blood sugar does not drop, and ketones do not rise, something needs to be adjusted. On the ketogenic diet, I suggest my clients eat 2 tablespoons of organic, grass-fed butter and either 2 tablespoons of raw coconut oil or MCT oil per day, plus quality sea salt to balance electrolytes. It is prudent to follow the healthy fat guidelines provided by your qualified health care professional.

The Use of Exogenous Ketones

Some have asked Dr. Seyfried about the use of exogenous ketones (ketone supplements, or ketones created outside the body). Surely this would be a welcomed short cut. His colleague, Dr. A’gostino, gets good results using exogenous ketones, but we have yet to fully explore this avenue. See more on the subject of exogenous ketones here. I believe exogenous ketones will not replace what our body does naturally during a fast or ketosis, but could be very beneficial in the time that blood sugar is dropping and ketones are not yet rising. We will know more as our doctors’ use them during times of restriction, so stay tuned.

Right now, the natural ones are not easy to make. Richard Veech from the NIH has been working on this for many years. He is one of the world’s authorities in making natural kinds of ketones and his body of work explains how they influence mitochondrial function. But for now, we must mostly rely on metabolic therapies for ketone production.

What Kind of Exercise is Required?

According to Dr. Seyfried, exercise is required in combination with metabolic adaptation diets. However, moderate exercise is the key. No need to torture your body. Why is over-exercising dangerous? If you look at marathon runners, this intense exercise damages the immune system and can create inflammatory conditions that may even provoke the onset of cancer in some people. But moderate exercise enhances mitochondrial function under the right kind of dietary conditions. Short, high intensity training is the best option. I have been teaching high intensity burst training to my patients for years, check out more info on bursting here.

Protect Your Mitochondria (R3)

Dr Seyfried said, “If all cancers arise from metabolic dysfunction, then replacement of damaged mitochondria with normal mitochondria should prevent cancer. In other words, mitochondria producing sufficient respiration (energy) should suppress tumor growth regardless of the numbers and types of mutations.” The logic is that if cancer is a metabolic mitochondrial disease, and you protect your mitochondria, you don’t get cancer. Even if you inherit the Brac 1 gene mutation that damages mitochondria, for example, you can still utilize metabolic therapies to enhance wellbeing. And when you do so, the probability of developing these diseases is significantly reduced. When we put all these therapies together, fasting, daily intermittent fasting, ketosis, and diet variation, we have the tools needed to fix these metabolic problems.

My Multi-Therapeutic Approach

So many people are suffering unnecessarily. I believe that mitochondrial damage is leading not just to cancer, but to a multitude of other diseases, like chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, diabetes and thyroid dysfunction, to name a few. In order to achieve health, it is very important to link the above-mentioned therapies together. I call this a Multi-Therapeutic Approach (MTA). This includes my 5R’s of PompaCore Cellular Detox and Healing™, which explains how to fix the cell, my unique PompaCore Cellular Detox™ system where we remove toxins and the interference creating mitochondrial damage, and ancient healing strategies (like fasting and ketosis) and burst training workouts. We need all the tools we can muster to fight these previously untreatable diseases. That is why the information Dr. Seyfried provides is vitally important: it addresses the very basis of what we need to do in order to enjoy vibrant cellular health.

Many Thanks to the Brilliant Dr. Seyfried

I encourage you to buy Dr. Seyfried’s book, Cancer as a Metabolic Disease. There is also a Facebook page for his book for those who want to make contributions directly to his research. The research is being used to enhance the concepts of the book, and eventually, there will be a reasonable therapy for managing cancer without the toxicity. This will empower patients and allow them to be participatory in their own treatment.

Dr. Seyfried’s goal is for cancer patients to finish metabolic therapy healthier than when they started. And this can happen when people understand more about the nature of cancer. What he offers is a strategy for long-term, non-toxic management of the disease. His work is amazing, as it proves in detail what I have been teaching for years. I am so appreciative of all the work and studies he offers for our benefit, an answer to a growing epidemic of cancer and other so-called incurable diseases. Thank you so much for sharing with us your life saving theories, Dr. Seyfried, and may all of you benefit from his remarkable body of work.

Fasting and Autophagy: A Powerful 1-2 Punch

People pay a lot of money for stem cell injections, seeking a variety of treatments, ranging from the regeneration of joints to anti-aging. What makes this exciting is during fasting and autophagy, new stem cells are generated naturally!

Fasting and Autophagy: A Powerful 1-2 Punch

What is Autophagy?

When it comes to achieving good health, there’s one word we all need to be familiar with: “autophagy.” Pronounced “a-taw-fa-gee”, it is defined as “the body’s process of recycling its own damaged tissue into usable energy during times when food is not present.”

The key part of that definition is “when food is not present.”

Since we are told to eat 5-6 times per day for good health, food is always within reach. As a result, talking about autophagy is like speaking a foreign language to most people. However, if we want to reap the benefits of autophagy, we must change our mindset when it comes to eating. This means instead of eating from the moment we wake up until bedtime, we must eat less frequently. This does not mean going on fad diets or starving yourself. It simply means don’t eat less, eat less often.

This is a key component of autophagy, intermittent fasting and good health overall.

Fasting and Autophagy: The Power of Autophagy

I tell my clients the key to good health is to resist focusing on the symptoms and dig deeper. (Have a headache? Don’t just take an aspirin to reduce the pain, find out what’s causing your head to hurt.) Go directly to the source of your discomfort.

Many times, the issues we encounter can only be addressed at the cellular level, which is part of my PompaCore Cellular Detox philosophy. Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen often, because modern medicine prefers to focus on the symptom (i.e. pain relief), and not the root cause of the issue.

In order to get well, we must fix the cell. This is critical because these bad cells could lead to a variety of health issues, which could include the following:

Increased inflammation
Food allergies
Autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, celiac disease, etc.)
Cancer

This is where intermittent fasting and autophagy come into play.

When we fast, the body turns to stored fat for energy, which is an excellent way to lose weight naturally. It also increases growth hormones and testosterone levels, which prompts the body to regenerate itself.

These are fantastic reasons to fast, but when a person fasts for sixteen hours or more, that’s when the magic begins.

After sixteen hours of fasting, the body will begin to attack the bad cells. Please note: the body will always eat the bad cells and tissues for energy before using the good ones. Bad cells are not able to adapt to using fat for energy, so they begin to die off and become food for the body. As a result, your body has a chance to clear cellular debris and abnormal cells, like cancerous cells.)

There have been many studies conducted on the power of autophagy:

In one study, researchers concluded that autophagy “is crucial for NRF2 activation and elimination of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress.”1

In a study on melanoma, researchers suggest that autophagy regulatory proteins reduced the survival of melanoma cells.2

A study on necrosis (the death of cells through disease or injury) concluded that autophagy protected human bronchial epithelial cells from necrosis.

I personally eat this way and have coached many of my clients through it, who have experienced tremendous benefits and an increase in health and weight loss. The standard American diet has strayed very far from this approach with disastrous results. It is critical people start intermittent fasting so they can reap the benefits of autophagy.

Fasting and Autophagy: A Focused Form of Healing

Humans have been fasting and seeing positive results from autophagy for centuries, but its benefits are just being fully discovered. One that needs special attention is the growth of stem cells.

When we’re fasting, autophagy devours bad cells and simultaneously raises our number of powerful stem cells. These stem cells start to replace all those bad tissues that your body actually got rid of, so you’re basically dumping a bunch of these incredible communication molecules into your system that knows how to heal.

In other words, they go directly into those places that need healing.

This is extremely important, because it uses the body’s natural healing response, making it a drugless medicine. For example, when a person is injected with stem cells, it tends to be the exact opposite of a steroid injection. If it’s properly administered and done correctly, steroid injections provide immediate improvement. However, if you’re lucky, it’ll last two months, and then it wears completely off. Stem cells are the exact opposite: once it starts to kick in between month two and six, it seems to last years.

Fasting and Autophagy: Free Stem Cells!

People pay a lot of money for stem cell injections, seeking a variety of treatments, ranging from the regeneration of joints to anti-aging. What makes this exciting is during autophagy, new stem cells are generated naturally!

Stem cells are often called “master cells” because they can grow into any of the body’s 200 types of cells. Not only do stem cells increase during a fast, but they also continue to multiply after the fast as well. This is just another reason to begin fasting.

Here’s a brief video where I discuss what I am doing to maximize my stem cells before breaking a fast:

When it comes to good health, one of the best things we can do is intermittent fast. This gives our digestive system a much-needed break, allowing our bodies to focus on healing itself from the inside out. Energy deviation is really the description of what happens during our fast. Many of us have no idea how much energy it takes to metabolize food.

It’s like when you’re on vacation: you have nothing specific planned and wonder what you’re going to do with all that extra time and energy. Guess what the body does? It doesn’t sit back on the beach and drink a margarita. Instead, it says “I’m going to put that energy into healing.”

Give intermittent fasting a try. Your body will thank you!

References:

Shah S.Z., Zhao D., & Hussain T et al. “p62-Keap1-NRF2-ARE Pathway: A Contentious Player for Selective Targeting of Autophagy, Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Prion Diseases.” Front Mol Neurosci. 2018 Oct 4;11:310. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00310.
Verykiou S., Alexander M., * Edwards N. et al. “Harnessing autophagy to overcome MEK-inhibitor induced resistance in metastatic melanoma.” Br J Dermatol. 2018 Oct 19. doi: 10.1111/bjd.17333.
Wang L, Li X & Yang Z. et al. “Autophagy induced by low concentrations of crotonaldehyde promotes apoptosis and inhibits necrosis in human bronchial epithelial cells.” Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2019 Jan 15;167:169-177. doi: 10.1016/j.

Grain-Free Vanilla Pancakes

½ cup coconut flour
3 Tbsp. grass-fed gelatin
8 pastured eggs
2-3 capfuls vanilla extract
2 tbs melted grass-fed butter or coconut oil
1 can full-fat, unsweetened coconut milk
Pinch of sea salt
Coconut oil or butter for skillet
Optional add-ins: Ground flaxseed, cinnamon, sugar-free chocolate chips, pumpkin puree, fresh berries

Whisk flour and gelatin together and stir in eggs until a smooth paste forms.
Stir in vanilla, softened butter or melted coconut oil, and coconut milk until combined.
Scoop pancake mixture onto hot skillet greased with melted coconut oil or butter.
Cook pancakes on both sides until desired.
Top with real maple syrup, berries, and/or butter. Enjoy!

Vanilla English Toffee Chocolate Truffles

Filling:

¾ cup melted butter (or ½ cup melted butter and ¼ cup melted coconut oil)
1 cup heavy whipping cream (not whipped up)
1 ½ cup vanilla flavoured grass fed protein powder
4 tbsp finely ground erythritol to powder (I grind my in a hand held coffee grinder)
1 tsp stevia extract powder
2 full droppers of English Toffee Sweetleaf Stevia

Outer Chocolate Coating Ingredients:

200gm of unsweetened baking chocolate
2-3 tbsp melted coconut oil
¼ cup finely ground erythritol powder
½-1 tsp stevia extract powder
You will also need toothpicks

Filling Directions:

In a sauce pan melt butter.
While butter is melting in a mixing bowl pour in whipping cream (unwhipped)
Add protein powder and mix well
Add remaining ingredients (not the butter) and mix well
Pour butter (or butter/coconut oil mixture) into the cream mixture and mix well.
It should be thick. On a silicone baking sheet drop tsp mounds onto the sheet. If they do not hold their shape then put the whole mixture into the fridge for it to thicken up/harden. Then make mounds on cookie sheet. I make about 50 of them.
You might need 2 sheets. When finished put them into the fridge to go firm (I put my in the freezer for about 15 mins) While waiting you can start the outer chocolate coating.

Outer Chocolate Coating Directions:

In a sauce pan (the one from the melted butter/coconut oil) melt coconut oil.
Ad the finely ground erythritol powder and stevia.
Add the unsweetened dark chocolate and melt it on low – medium heat stirring constantly. When full melted remove from heat.
Make sure to do this in this order, as adding the erythritol later and cause the chocolate to go a horrible consistency and you’ll have to start the outer chocolate coating all over again.

Covering the Filling:

Remove 1 tray of the fillings from the fridge/freezer
Remove the fillings from the sheet (so they aren’t stuck).
Insert toothpicks into about 10 mounds. Tipping the sauce pan to the side, to make a deep dipping section, dip a mound into the chocolate covering it completely and gently tap the toothpick on the pan to remove extra chocolate. Place back unto the baking sheet and do the next one. When all the toothpick ones are done, gently twist and lift the toothpick from the first one done and put it into a new mound and dip into chocolate. Continue doing this until all of them are finished.
Remove all the toothpicks and using a spoon dip some of the chocolate unto in to the spoon and use it to cover the little holes left in the top of the chocolates from the toothpicks.
Put into freezer when finished and do the next tray and put into freezer when finished.
After both trays are done, wait about 5 or 10 minutes and remove them from the freezer. Remove them from the baking sheet and put them in a container and store in the freezer, they do not go rock hard in the inside but the outside becomes nice and crispy. Take out and eat them as you want one. For a softer one you can store in the fridge.

Heavy Metal Detox Done Right: Safe Heavy Metal Chelation & Mercury Amalgam Removal

(When Detox is Dangerous – Part 2 of 3)

Why You Must Have Mercury Amalgam Safely Removed From Your Teeth Prior to Beginning Heavy Metal Chelation

Removing the Heavy Metal Source Yes, I finally found the source of my illness – mercury amalgam fillings – but I had 6 or 7 remaining fillings that required safe amalgam removal before I started the mercury detoxification process from my body and brain. This time I had to do it correctly so I didn’t become even sicker. I can’t tell you how many stories I hear of people getting sick after removing mercury fillings because they went to their regular dentist after reading that silver mercury amalgam fillings make people sick. I developed a pre-amalgam removal protocol that prepares the liver, kidneys, gut and the cell. These detox pathways need to be strengthened first, so the mercury that is released during the removal process makes its way out of the body instead of accumulating in your brain. You can add unnecessary years onto the mercury detoxification process if you jump in without preparation. The proper safe amalgam removal protocol has been used by hundreds of doctors around the country and hundreds of patients around the world with amazing success.

If you haven’t read Part One – When Detox is Dangerous, click here now

For the actual removal of amalgam fillings, you must work with a biological dentist that is trained in proper, safe amalgam removal. The mercury vapor that comes off of the filling when the drill heats it up is significant and will go directly up your nose and into your brain. The dentist must provide you with fresh air or oxygen to avoid this. I prefer that the dentist uses an in office air filtration to create a vacuum away from the patient and himself. There are many other proper removal procedures that are necessary that are often overlooked. For example, the great Hal Huggins, who removed more mercury amalgam fillings than anyone and is considered the world’s authority on safe amalgam removal, noted that if the midline in the mouth was crossed during a removal procedure, the patient would often become more ill.

Safe and Effective Heavy Metal Chelation and Detoxification Strategies Many of those who research the dangers of mercury amalgam and actually locate a dentist to perform a safe amalgam removal fail to detox (chelate) after the removal. Proper chelation must start 4 days after the last filling is removed.

Caution: You cannot start true heavy metal chelation until the last amalgam filling is removed.

If you start chelation with even a speck of amalgam remaining, it will take between 2 – 4 months of chelation before negative symptoms begin, and I promise you they will. Once the body (not the brain) has cleared most of the mercury in these first few months, it will start to mobilize metal from the filling(s) next. Chelation with amalgams in the mouth will eventually lead to a case of what I refer to as the “crazies.” Even mercury that embeds into the gums, which is referred to as an amalgam tattoo, must come out before true heavy metal chelation begins. This only applies to true heavy metal chelators, which I discuss below, not intracellular Glutathione boosters like GCEL™.

Once all of the mercury fillings are out of the mouth, chelation MUST begin!
If you don’t chelate after the removal, you may feel better for a few months but unfortunately, this time will be short lived. I refer to this as the “honeymoon period.” Once the source has been removed, the mercury will begin to mobilize from other areas around your body. It is truly amazing, but the innate intelligence within your body will not let go of the mercury that has bio-accumulated over time – especially what has accumulated in the brain – until the source is gone. It seems as though the body knows that doing so will cause more damage. In an effort to protect itself, it holds on to the mercury; when the source is removed however, it starts letting go. These negative symptoms do not become apparent until anywhere from 6 – 12 months after the amalgam fillings are removed. This is truly eye opening to many clients because it is not until I do a patient history with them and point this out that they realize the connection.

It is not enough to get toxic mercury fillings out of your mouth and body; you must also get the mercury out of your brain. It’s not the mercury in the body that causes the major problems; it is the mercury in the brain that will initiate an unexplainable illness. Without proper heavy metal chelation, mercury will remain locked in your brain forever, causing a variety of unexplainable symptoms even though you are amalgam free.

The mercury vapor from amalgams, organic mercury from fish, and mercury from other sources will cross into the brain where it turns to inorganic mercury. It is the inorganic mercury that remains locked in the brain for life unless removed correctly. It will begin to slowly rob you of vitality and your ability to think clearly. Memory loss is not something that happens in old age; it’s something that happens when organic forms of mercury cross into the brain and convert to inorganic mercury, which bio-accumulates in your brain over years. Again, getting your fillings out is not enough! Clearing the mercury from your body and seeing a metal test that looks clear is not enough; you must clear it from the brain. Rarely (if ever) is the inorganic mercury targeted in the brain, and if so, it’s done incorrectly or not long enough to truly make an impact.

You can see at this point that there are many pit falls in heavy metal detoxification. The biggest, without a doubt, is when it comes to detoxing metals from your body and the brain. You need to work with a practitioner who is trained in proper heavy metal chelation protocols. This may even be more important than working with the correct dentist, but both are critical for ultimate success without question.

DANGER!!! Why Herbs and IV Chelation Therapies are Dangerous I had said earlier that I have yet to find an “alternative” or “regular” doctor doing heavy metal detox correctly. Most alternative doctors use different herbal or homeopathic supplements for chelation and the MD’s use IV chelation. I can tell you it is far beyond my opinion and rooted in scientific literature that neither of them work, and worse yet, are very dangerous.

Let’s start with the alternative side of things. Herbs are great for many things and so are homeopathic remedies, but when it comes to heavy metal chelation, they are not “true chelators.” Therefore, they fail to do a good job of removing the metals completely from the body. Metals such as mercury and lead got their name “heavy” metals title for good reason; they are in fact very heavy. Due to their physical weight and some other unique properties, heavy metals can deplete the body of its natural detoxification properties such as sulfur, certain amino acids and enzymes, glutathione, and methyl groups. Once this occurs the heavy metals begin to bio-accumulate in the body and worse yet, in the brain. Heavy metals are not like other toxins; they not only eventually exhaust precious detoxification pathways, which allow the bio-accumulation of other toxins, but can in turn cause other toxicity issues from infections.

Heavy metals will allow a safe haven for pathogens such as candida and Lyme. The immune cells will not come near the toxic mercury, so the pathogens adapt and hide from the immune system around the mercury. I could never get rid of my chronic candida until I got my metal burden lowered to a certain level. The Lyme bacteria and heavy metals have a unique synergy as well. It is estimated that 90% of the population in certain parts of the country have Lyme disease; so why are they all not sick? Lyme, like other pathogens such as candida, herpes virus, Epstein Barr virus and others are opportunistic and will only affect someone who is immune compromised. This is what heavy metals like mercury do; they provide an altered terrain, which is ripe for the bad guys. Most, if not all, Lyme disease sufferers have heavy metal issues and both need to be addressed for lasting recovery.

To successfully chelate heavy metals out of the body and brain, and to prevent the dangers of re-absorption, a “true chelator” must be used. Herbs such as cilantro, or binding agents like chlorella, do not have the molecular structure to hold on to a heavy metal permanently. Therefore, they only stir up the metals and cause them to redistribute somewhere else. Most likely, they end up in the brain and cause more bizarre and unexplainable symptoms. These types of detox agents do not contain a double “SH group” called a “thiol group”. I will spare you the biochemistry lecture, but it is this “double thiol group” that is able to properly bind heavy metals and safely escort them out of the body. This is in fact defines a “true chelator”, and is the only safe and effective agent at the present time to remove heavy metals.

I know you have read all the great marketing of the “metal magnet” known as chlorella, but on pre and post-heavy metal testing using urine or stool, there is no difference from the pre (without the chlorella) and the post (with chlorella). In other words, it does not bind measurable amounts of heavy metals during testing. When you test with a “true chelator,” the difference is significant, proving the ability to remove metals from the body. At least chlorella, because it is such a poor chelator of heavy metal, is not dangerous unlike IV chelators or cilantro I will discuss below. Chlorella can be a great super food if not contaminated with other toxins. Therefore, chlorella may be fine for other purposes, just not detoxing heavy metals.

Certain herbs, on the other hand, are dangerous when used for heavy metal detox. Most of the dangerous herbs have perhaps a “single thiol group” (not a double), or an ion type of bond that does in fact pull metal. However, it holds on to it very weakly, which will cause the metal to simply become “stirred-up” like dust and redistributed somewhere else in the body. It never carries it fully out of the body.

I recall experimenting with many of these types of herbal detox and natural supplements. These detox attempts at times led to me becoming very sick even to the point of being suicidal. Unfortunately, this happened more times than I care to tell you, but I will share one story of the dangers of cilantro with you. One day I had read that cilantro chelation can move mercury out of the brain and knowing that it was the brain mercury that was my real problem, I decided to juice up some fresh cilantro. Well, let’s just say that after a few days of drinking cilantro, my wife was ready to check me in to an insane asylum. I am not kidding; I lost it. Thank God at this time I knew the proper way to use a true chelator like DMSA (meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid) and was able to bring myself back to sanity.

The Dangers of IV Heavy Metal Chelation Using DMSA and DMPS Allopathic doctors A.K.A. “regular doctors” that understand that heavy metals do ruin lives, and the removal of it can save lives, typically use “true chelators”, but use them incorrectly. Let me be fair, many alternative doctors who understand that true chelators are what work, use them incorrectly as well.

Many doctors perform IV chelation using a prescription true chelating agent such as DMPS (2,3-dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid), and unlike the herbals and other binders I mentioned above, it works! The problem with using IV chelation therapies is that they will pull a lot of heavy metals all at once and do not stay in the body long enough and therefore can cause redistribution of heavy metals. DMPS and DMSA are water soluble and go in and out of the body very quickly. Because it pulls heavy metals so well and yet leaves the body so quickly, it sets up a concentration gradient in the body, initiating the remaining metals to move out of the tissues. Let’s go back to basic chemistry and remember that things move from higher concentration to lower concentration area in the body. The problem is the chelating agent has moved out of the body, bringing heavy metals with it. This leaves a lower concentration area behind, causing the deeper stored metals in the body to move out of the tissues into circulation, only to redistribute somewhere else. This can cause many unwanted symptoms and worse yet, if it crosses into the brain, you have made a bad situation catastrophic.

The fact that true chelating agents like DMPS and DMSA are in and out of the body so fast is great in that it makes the agent itself very non-toxic. As an example, you could take three bottles of DMSA (a natural true chelating agent), or do a massive amount of DMPS in an IV and have no symptoms from the chelator, but depending on the level of heavy metals within your body, get the “crazies” from heavy metals redistributed into your brain. This is the same problem as herbals such as cilantro but for a different reason. Unlike the weak chelation of herbals, this problem can be solved using a true chelator like DMSA. The answer is simple, take a true chelator like DMPS and DMSA often enough throughout the day to prevent redistribution. This obviouslycannot be accomplished with IV chelation or you would be sitting in a doctor’s office hooked up to an IV continuously for 3 – 4 days. That is obviously not possible or practical. However, this can be accomplished utilizing the orals forms of DMPS or DMSA. Oral chelation is both inexpensive and easy to take often enough to avoid redistribution and dangerous symptoms. In addition you will avoid expensive, painful and continuous visits to an “IV specialist” doctor’s office.

Many doctors and patients are moving to oral chelators because of the bad press of IV chelation, but unfortunately, most are still violating this simple rule and not utilizing oral chelation agents often enough to prevent recirculation and redistribution. Your next question will be, “How often do they need to be taken to prevent redistribution?” The answer to this question depends on the chelating agent being used. Different agents have a different half-life in the body. Every oral “true chelator” must be taken within their half-life for success and safety.

In the final article this series, I will discuss the specific how-to of heavy metal chelation that changed my life and thousands of others.

When Detox is Dangerous Article Series:

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The Dangers of Glyphosate: An Interview with Dr. Stephanie Seneff

In a previous article called, “Its Not Just Gluten,” I give specifics about the dangers of a very toxic and pervasive chemical called glyphosate, which acts as the active ingredient in the popular herbicide called Roundup. Glyphosate is a highly toxic chemical that is lethal to most plants on our planet. Its toxicity is comparable to DDT, which is known to cause birth defects. Glyphosate has been associated with fertility problems, extreme disruption of the gut microbiome, detoxification enzyme destruction and increased DNA damage.

Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Stephanie Seneff, one of the globe’s foremost experts in researching how glyphosate affects the human body. Dr. Seneff is a PHD senior research scientist at the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. She holds a BS degree in Biophysics, MS and EE degrees in Electrical Engineering and a PHD in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT. In recent years, her research has focused mainly on the relationship between nutrition, health and glyphosate exposure.

Many of us have read about the dangers of GMO (genetically modified organisms) core crops that include soy, corn, sugar beets, canola oil, cotton, tobacco and alfalfa. In past years, we learned that GMO foods are causing wide spread health problems. When nature’s balance is re-arranged, it can cause very serious consequences. It has been established that GMO foods have been linked to premature death, gastric lesions, liver and kidney damage, organ failure, allergic reactions and much more.

What happens when GMO crops are sprayed with glyphosate? The damage escalates to an unprecedented level. Once sprayed, glyphosate can’t be washed off, and it ends up being absorbed into every cell of the GMO plants. Dr. Seneff points out that because GMO plants have a bacterial gene inserted in their genome, they become resistant to glyphosate. As a result, GMO crops are able to survive extremely high levels of Roundup without dying. Because of their resistance, in the last few years, glyphosate use has increased by 800%!

But the use of glyphosate is not just restricted to GMO crops. It is now being sprayed on most every conventional crop, including wheat, grains, peanuts and legumes, right before harvest. This process is called desiccation and causes crops to shrivel, increasing yields. Eating grains or legumes that are not certified organic puts your health at risk, so please beware.

Glyphosate Linked to Cancer

Glyphosate is what Dr. Seneff calls a “monster molecule,” and affects human biology is many ways. It was first patented as a chelating agent for heavy metals to clear pipes. The second patent was for use as an anti-microbial agent. Lastly it was patented as an herbicide.

In March of this year, the WHO (World Health Organization) recognized glyphosate as a probable carcinogen ¹. Researcher Dr. Nancy Swanson, PhD and former US Navy staff scientist, has found correlations between pancreatic, colon, thyroid, kidney and liver cancers and glyphosate exposure. And Monsanto labels glyphosate as safe for the human body? As is represented in this article, Monsanto’s safety claim is both false and dangerous.

Glyphosate and the Gut

How does glyphosate affect the gut and the human microbiome? Glyphosate not only pokes holes in the gut lining, but it also opens up the tight junctions of the intestines (a barrier that protects our gut from foreign invaders and keeps nutrients intact for proper digestion), thereby allowing undigested food particles to cross into the bloodstream. This opening creates the ability for antibodies to be made against all these food particles. And this can lead to both food allergies and leaky gut syndrome (read more on leaky gut here).

According to Dr. Seneff, if gluten molecules are in the presence of glyphosate, gluten digestion is blocked. Normally, the digestion of gluten involves crosslinks on different amino acids, but glyphosate stops those crosslinks from happening.

With glyphosate exposure, once the tight junctions are wide open, gluten molecules floating through will cause both allergic reactions and inflammation. In fact, in some gluten sensitive individuals, even one small bite of gluten can cause inflammation and discomfort for up to 6 weeks. Dr. Seneff believes that glyphosate exposure is catapulting gluten sensitivity into epidemic proportions. Therefore, I think it is safe to say that we if we can fix the glyphosate problem, we can massively impact the gluten problem.

Glyphosate and Friendly Gut Bacteria

How does glyphosate affect our friendly gut bacteria? When we are born, lactobacillus is the first friendly bacterium that gets established. When we are nursed, mother’s milk is feeding the lactobacillus, keeping our gut healthy.

Unfortunately, lactobacillus is especially sensitive to glyphosate exposure. It is very dependent on the mineral manganese, and glyphosate chelates (draws out) manganese. When lactobacillus can’t thrive, it makes it easy for pathogens to grow, and that is how many gut disruptions are established at a very young age.

Glyphosate Imprisions Minerals

Glyphosate binds our body’s minerals by building a cage around them. When this takes place, our cells don’t have access to the minerals because they are hidden in the glyphosate molecules. Dr. Seneff explains that glyphosate then carries minerals to vascular areas where they interact with vital fluids: the kidneys and urine, the cerebral spinal fluid and the brain (the pineal and the pituitary glands are linked to the cerebral spinal fluid), and the jaw where the salivary glands are housed. All these areas are extremely acidic, and under these conditions, as glyphosate unloads its cargo, the metal minerals become toxic. This can greatly compromise the above-mentioned areas of the body.

According to Dr. Seneff, this is one of the main reasons why excessive glyphosate exposure can cause kidney failure. In Sri Lanka and Central America, young agricultural workers who sprayed glyphosate on sugar cane were dying of kidney failure at an epic rate. Because their untimely deaths were linked to excessive glyphosate exposure, it has now been banned in those countries ^{2, 3}.

And see more on the shocking effects of glyphosate around the world in these videos:

‘A Cycle of Death‘
‘Mystery in the Fields: Sri Lanka‘

In regards to our vital mineral iron, currently, there is a worldwide anemia epidemic. On the other hand, there are many individuals who store too much iron. As Dr. Seneff says, “It is very difficult to find that sweet spot where iron is balanced because our bodies can’t manage iron properly.” And iron challenges are made much worse with glyphosate exposure.

We need minerals in every aspect of our body’s biochemistry. In addition, without basic mineral function, enzymes, which are an extremely important part of every reaction and function in the human body, are deactivated. So glyphosate is interrupting the very basics of our scientific make-up.

Glyphosate Endangers the Heart

Dr. Seneff also notes glyphosate’s cholesterol sulfate destruction and link to heart disease. She states that cholesterol and sulfate are absolutely essential for the performance of the heart. Cholesterol can’t float alone through the body: it needs a carrier, and sulfate fits the bill perfectly.

Here’s how it works: the liver produces cholesterol sulfate and ships it off through the bile acids to the gut. The first place it lands is in the blood, right before it enters the heart. Because the heart muscle works continually, it must derive its needed energy from sulfates. When sulfates are deficient, the heart does not have enough electricity to work properly , which can result in heart failure.

Dr. Seneff also believes that arterial plaque is the body’s way of compensating for cholesterol sulfate deficiency. When there are high small dense LDL particles, the liver can’t accept them because they have been oxidized and glycated (sugar molecules become attached to cell surface proteins) which causes widespread damage. In an attempt to capture these damaging small dense particles, macrophages in our plaque extract the cholesterol out of those particles. The cholesterol is then brought to HDL particles (known as beneficial cholesterol), where cholesterol is combined with sulfates. But again, if there is a sulfate deficiency, this natural process is interrupted and cholesterol can’t be combined with sulfate to form life-saving cholesterol sulfate.

Cholesterol is Not the Enemy

Could a cholesterol deficiency be the cause of heart disease? According to Dr. Seneff, the answer is yes. There is a new drug currently in clinic trials called PCSK9. Its goal is to greatly reduce cholesterol levels for patients who are sensitive to statin drugs. The main function of this drug is to knock out a protein (proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9) in the liver that increases LDL production. Unfortunately, during clinical trials, serious side effects are presenting as neurocognitive issues that include mental confusion and an inability to pay attention. Why would anyone want to risk those side effects?

This drug is given by injection only and may cost from $7,000 to $12,000 per year.
Why spend all that money on a drug that will put your body at risk by lowering cholesterol too much? After all, our body needs cholesterol to build healthy cell membranes, support brain function, and to build strong hormone receptors.

Cholesterol is NOT the problem. The real issue is oxidized cholesterol because those oxidized molecules damage the inside of arterial walls. And what causes LDL to oxidize? Glyphosate poisoning.

Dr. Seneff also points out that if total cholesterol is high, your body is intelligently notifying you of a health problem. It is being raised for a reason. Years ago, right before I got sick with heavy metal toxicity, my cholesterol was very low (under 170). If you have traditionally low cholesterol, you run the risk of neurotoxicity. Not long after I was mercury poisoned, my cholesterol numbers went through the roof, letting me know there was indeed a serious health problem.

Cholesterol and the Brain

According to Dr. Seneff, cholesterol is essential to our brain, which utilizes 25% of our total body cholesterol. We need cholesterol to transmit neuro-signals. She notes a seventeen year study that showed the lower a person’s cholesterol, the more severe their dementia symptoms. Another study with Alzheimer’s patients evidenced the same thing: low cholesterol profoundly compromises brain function.

Dr. Seneff says that glyphosate disrupts neurotransmitter pathways. Gut microbes make the precursors to neurotransmitters. Serotonin, melatonin, melanin (skin), and thyroid hormones, they all come from these same pathways. So as the gut is compromised by glyphosate exposure, neurotransmitter production is impeded.

Dr. Seneff and Dr. Nancy Swanson have been working closely over the past few years, sharing their research regarding glyphosate and its affect on a young child’s brain. Dr. Swanson collected an enormous amount of data that illustrates the use of glyphosate and the dramatic rise in autism. (see graph below). For further information, access her published articles via Sustainable Pulse.

Dr. Swanson states:

“Prevalence and incidence data show correlations between diseases of the organs and the increase in Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in the food supply, along with the increase in glyphosate-based herbicide applications. More and more studies have revealed carcinogenic and endocrine disrupting effects of Roundup at lower doses than those authorized for residues found in Genetically Modified Organisms.”
“The endocrine disrupting properties of glyphosate can lead to reproductive problems: infertility, miscarriage, birth defects, and sexual development. Fetuses, infants and children are especially susceptible because they are continually experiencing growth and hormonal changes. For optimal growth and development, it is crucial that their hormonal system is functioning properly.
“The endocrine disrupting properties also lead to neurological disorders (learning disabilities (LD), attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), autism, dementia, Alzheimer's, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder). Those most susceptible are children and the elderly.”

Glyphosate Saps Energy and Compromises Adrenal Health

Glyphosate affects a multitude of bodily functions, but according to Dr. Seneff, it is extremely damaging to the mitochondria (located inside our cells) where our body makes ATP energy. Mitochondria must be healthy and functioning in order to fix damaged cells, and if we don’t have healthy, thriving mitochondria we experience exhaustion. In addition, the cell membrane of the mitochondria needs a good storehouse of cholesterol sulfate. But, if glyphosate has destroyed cholesterol sulfate stores, then our mitochondria will experience ion leaks (ATP is lost) and our energy flags. What’s more, glyphosate disrupts the production of DHEA sulfate, testosterone sulfate and cortisone sulfate in the adrenal glands, compromising proper hormone balance.

Glyphosate, Sugar and Weight Gain

Articles have been written about sugar trends and weight loss as far back as the 1700’s. In the US, there was a rise in weight gain from 1950 to 1975. As a nation, we were definitely getting fatter as a result of increased sugar consumption and processed foods. But there was a dramatic increase in obesity after 1975, which correlated with the introduction of glyphosate.

In past articles and podcasts I’ve talk about the relationship of weight loss resistance and accumulated toxins. But how do toxins relate to weight gain and weight loss resistance? Toxins keep the cellular membrane inflamed and blocks normal hormone receptor function. This causes inappropriate weight gain and/or weight loss resistance.

Dr. Seneff talks about the importance of the Cytochrome P450 enzymes to detoxify the liver of drugs and toxic chemicals. For instance, PCB’s found in insecticides are not water-soluble. They require these enzymes to convert them to a water-soluble substance to be excreted from the body. If these enzymes are deactivated by glyphosate, then these toxins can be stored in the body and the gut. Folks with big round bellies are more likely storing toxins in abdominal adipose (fat) tissue.

Here is a word of caution for those who are storing multiple toxins. Rapid weight loss can cause a rapid release of many toxins at once, leading to increased inflammation and damage to the body and the brain. Please follow my steps for PompaCore Cellular Detox™ that can set the stage for steady and safe weight loss.

Can We Avoid Glyphosate?

It is not possible to avoid all glyphosate exposure because it is so prevalent in our food sources. But, as Dr. Seneff advises, it is imperative that you buy certified organic foods, including spices and herbs. Although it can be more expensive, you can’t afford NOT to eat organic.

A caution to the wise: eating foods that are labeled “non GMO” or “natural” is not often enough. Dr. Seneff points out that even if you buy “non-GMO” cheerios, you can’t guarantee they will be glyphosate free. Oats are sprayed with glyphosate right before the harvest. But my advice is to eat no grains, following core principles of my Cellular Healing Diet, especially if you’re dealing with inflammation. And I have stated in past articles that non-organic grains are among the most dangerous foods on the planet. Remember all grains are being sprayed with glyphosate. So if you are eating conventional grains and legumes at restaurants, beware of the massively detrimental effects to your health.

We also have to be extremely careful about not eating any dairy products that are not grass-fed and organic, as they are coming from conventional cows fed with GMO corn feed. As you can see, it gets very tricky when you are eating out in a restaurant, so do the best you can and try to find restaurants that offer organic and grass fed options.

What Can We Do?

Glyphosate exposure is an all-pervasive problem. And yet people are going about their lives as if everything is OK. But it is obviously NOT OK. When you concentrate on these facts, it is a very concerning situation. So what can we do to protect ourselves?

You can’t do a colon cleanse or change your diet and think that will be enough. More than likely, your detox pathways have already been damaged by glyphosate. That is why you must learn my 5R’s of PompaCore Cellular Detox and Healing and practice periodic PompaCore Cellular Detox™. We must heal the cells and up-regulate the detox pathways so we can rid our body of this horrid chemical.

In addition, I suggest using CytoDetox™ drops and BIND by Systemic Formulas for safe and effective toxin removal. CytoDetox™ is a unique combo that crosses into the gut, the cell and the brain and pulls heavy metals, toxins and glyphosate out of the body.

Please Don't Ignore the Truth

We are now in a global crisis with our food sources because they are being poisoned by glyphosate. We must take protective measures to stop further exposure, and we aggressively heal the damage already present. Please don’t get lazy and let your kids eat conventional corn chips in a Mexican restaurant. Avoid non-organic cream or half in half at Starbucks. Stay away from Japanese restaurants that serve glyphosate laden white rice or “healthy” restaurants with non-organic brown rice. Yes, this means a change in lifestyle, but do you really have a choice not to do so?

Education is power, and that is why I continue to write articles and interview brilliant scientists like Dr. Stephanie Seneff. Thank you Dr. Seneff, for your illuminating and life-saving information about the dangers of glyphosate. May this information be a blessing to you and your family. Together, let our motto be “Save the next generation.”