Good day to you! I had a very nice letter from a reader who said, "I actually read your reports and find them most interesting and helpful. Here's the one difficulty I'm running into: How do I go from my current lifestyle and eating habits to one where I am actually living healthily? I don't know where to start! What is the most important thing to do first so that I can gradually convert over to what I should be doing?"

Great question. See the right hand article for my thoughts on how to get this going. Have a great week. – D.I. Minkoff, M.D.

How do I get from where I am to where I want to go?
Let's tackle one problem at a time.

While it may not be true of everyone, for me, abrupt change is easier than gradual change. Abstinence is easier than temperance, as they say.

The most important changes to make for improving your health are dietary. – D.I. Minkoff, M.D.                                                                                                        read more ... »

Meridian Health Analysis
Thousands of years ago, the Chinese discovered that the body has a communication network, separate from the normal nerve channels, that allows the body to remain in healthy balance. According to the Chinese, the communication network's pathways, which are called meridians, carry the life energy of the body, which they called chi. The life energy or chi traveling along these pathways maintains the health of each organ. – D.I. Minkoff, M.D.                                                                                                        read more ... »

Beware of Cicadas - they're full of mercury
Even the cicadas, it turns out, are loaded with mercury. If you find yourself dining on a cuisine of cicadas, think twice before you bite. But even if you've never eaten a cicada before in your life, nor plan to, you should be alarmed at the increasing levels of toxicities that are accumulating in our already poison-heavy environment. In addition to refraining from eating cicadas, fish, and coming into contact with PCB's in plastics, everyone needs both a personal detox program to handle the accumulated load of toxins (see www.nydetox.org ) AND an ongoing program like Body Detox to keep flushing the toxins out. – D.I. Minkoff, M.D.                                                                             read more ...»

Athletic Performance and Total Body Toxic Load
Engaging in athletic activities puts a high demand on your body to go faster, jump higher, and lift more. Two very important factors must be considered so that your genetic endowment can be maximized:

1. Nutrition is the most important factor. Adequate nutrients must be available to build your tissues and organs as well as provide fuel for energy.

2. Toxic influences in the environment must also be constantly removed so heavy metals and chemicals do not contaminate your body's tissues. These factors actually block enzymes needed for the body to make energy and protein. When your body is under toxic stress, it will not perform or recover properly. Fatigue, lack of energy, inability to recover, or injury can result. – D.I. Minkoff, M.D.                                                   read the rest ...»

Are you smelling the flowers?
The illusion of time seems to take us out of the present moment and put us in some distant past or future. Life on the racetrack, driven by caffeine, deadlines, sugar, and fast food take their toll on our ability to enjoy the present. But really, all we have is our moment-to-moment experience of now. If you're not here, recognizing and enjoying your daily activities, your life might go by without noticing it. Take a moment to be in present time. What is your experience? What do you see? What do you hear? How do you feel?

A good friend sent my wife this little story. It was a nice perspective on this whole scene. I thought you'd like it too. – D.I. Minkoff, M.D.                                               learn more ...»

Recipe of the Week - Zucchini Onion Quesadilla
The Optimum Health Reports is trying to help guide you to live a healthier life through diet, exercise, and knowledge. We are posting a recipe each week from the cookbook Having It All Without Wheat, Dairy Or Sugar, by Gwynn Palmer.   

Please see the newsletter for the recipe.