THE Natural Health Blockbuster Bestseller! Over 100,000 Copies Sold! D R . M E R C O L A ’ S TOTAL HEALTH P R O G R A M The Proven Plan to Prevent Disease andPremature Aging, Optimize Weight and Live Longer! W h a t P r oLpeoarrtni o &n Por fo tFeaitns , C aar br es UR ni gi qh ut ef oBr o d y Al Y o u r m i s t r y es! soI C h e ecip nclu w R d e e N s Over150Healthy & D eli ci o u s by New York Times Bestselling Author Dr. Joseph Mercola with Brian Vaszily, Dr. Kendra Pearsall and Nancy Lee Bentley Critical Praise for the Bestselling Dr. Mercola’s Total Health Program “Dr. Joseph Mercola is widely considered to be the world’s top natural health physician practicing today, and his dietary program—presented in its entirety in Dr. Mercola’s Total Health Program— has deservedly become the leading plan among those truly committed to losing weight perma- nently, preventing disease, looking and feel younger, and living longer. If you seek another fad diet, look elsewhere. If you seek a proven and permanent solution, do yourself a big favor and read Dr. Mercola’s Total Health book as soon as possible.” – John Gray, Ph.D., author of the blockbuster bestselling Men Are From Mars, Women are From Venusseries of books “Dr. Joseph Mercola is at the forefront of a health revolution that will change the face of our nation… This book, his most important written work yet, uses the wisdom gleaned from thou- sands of studies; more importantly, however, is that his program has actually succeeded in helping thousands of patients overcome seemingly “incurable” ailments… Dr. Mercola’s Total Health Programis not a book to read once and put on your shelf to collect dust; instead, certainly for the recipes but also for the health and dietary insight in Part One and throughout, you’ll find yourself referring back to it often as your trusted guide on the road to optimal health.” – Jordan S. Rubin, N.M.D., Ph.D., Founder & Chairman of Garden of Life, author of the bestseller, The Maker’s Diet “Dr. Mercola is one of very few physicians who combine a very-long-term view of diet and human health with individualized diet recommendations. He’s one of even fewer who help his patients improve their health and prevent disease by combining diet principles with attention to emotions and body energies. If you haven’t read anything by Dr. Mercola before, you’ll get excellent advice in Dr. Mercola’s Total Health Program… You’ll learn much, much more about getting well and staying well!” – Dr. Jonathan V. Wright, M.D., Medical Director of the Tahoma Clinic, Renton, Washington, author of Natural Hormone Replacement forWomen Over 45 Reader’s Praise for the Bestselling Dr. Mercola’s Total Health Program “I have been amazed that, as a 59 year-old “educated” male, I was so ignorant of many of the things promoted in the commercial media that are actually causes of health problems! I recently purchased Dr. Mercola’s Total Health Programand to say it has changed my life would be an understatement. My wife says I look terrific, and I KNOW I feel better, have more energy than I had 10 years ago and my weight is now under control! Thanks, Dr. Mercola, you have made a difference in my life!” – Rick McLellan, Land O Lakes, FL “Just because you’re thin doesn’t mean you are healthy!! I have always been small in stature and size but health problems don’t take this into consideration before entering your body. One year ago I was diagnosed stage three melanoma cancer. I didn’t eat correctly nor did I take good care of my emotions. I have come through the cancer and to date have none remaining in my body. I owe a great deal of gratitude to Dr. Mercola for sharing so much of his knowledge, educating me on how to eat properly and how to take care of my emotions. I can tell such a difference in myself and so can people around me. I have read Dr. Mercola’s Total Health Programand I never miss a newsletter. With these tools I feel like my life will be so much more healthy and rewarding. Thank you Dr. Mercola for sharing your wisdom so freely with people just like me who want to live a long prosperous life.” – Jewelie Weaver, Lancaster, CA “Dr. Mercola’s Total Health Programhas dramatically changed my life. Before putting into prac- tice these basic beginning principles, I was overweight, borderline diabetic and miserable with myself as well as having no energy. I began focusing on changing my behaviors as well as what I put into my body. In a short amount of time, I have lost 20 pounds and have gained amazing energy. I can finally play with my children longer and are continuing to see benefits that I didn’t know were possible. I have always had trouble with sinus infections and colds and those have dramatically decreased in severity and frequency. I look forward to continued health improvements and weight stabilization as I continue implementing these life-changing steps. I recommend everyone find their true metabolic type and see what it can do for you.” – M. Roeder, Rambleridge, NE “Mercola.com has been my number one resource for authentic integrative health advice. As a retired nurse and graduate of Capital University of Integrative Medicine my family and friends have counted on me to help them with nonpharmaceutical health matters. I have Dr. Mercola’s Total Health Program which I have read and use religiously to help numerous people. Recently, on a visit to Kenya, I logged onto Mercola.com for information, and introduced another area of the world to the best e-newsletter ever written. Thanks Dr. Mercola. We need you.” – Jean Johnson, Dale City, VA “I found out about Dr. Mercola’s Total Health Programthrough my family doctor. He has a copy in his waiting room and follows Dr. Mercola’s dietary guidelines. Since starting on the Total Health Program, my husband lost 25 lbs. in 4 months, and his cholesterol went down 80 points! I lost the weight I had gained during pregnancy a year earlier, plus another 10 lbs. This plan has also helped me tremendously with controlling the hypoglycemic blood sugar swings that I had when I was feasting on a white flour, high sugar diet all the time. The Mercola.com website has an amazing amount of information on getting and staying well using your body’s own healing powers and proper nutrition.” – Lynette White, Ahwahnee, CA “After purchasing Dr. Mercola’s Total Health Program, I have dropped 40 pounds and am not constantly hungry as I was when I was eating grains and sugars. I own and operate a bakery, so it was very hard on me to have all the fresh baked goodies and not eat them. It is now much easier to pass on the goodies... they just taste too sweet! Thank you.” – Judy Beeman, Port Arkansas, TX “Since ordering Dr. Mercola’s Total Health Program I have started an exercise program and am careful about what I eat. I have particularly noticed a difference in my cravings for sugar. When I don’t eat sugar, I don’t crave sugar. I have lost a total of 12 pounds so far. It’s amazing to discover the truth about nutrition and how to understand grocery labels. The information in this book is priceless!! I come from a very unhealthy family and Dr. Mercola’s book has helped us tremen- dously!! If everyone would follow Dr. Mercola’s advice on nutrition and exercise, our Nation would be a much healthier and wealthier place. I can’t believe the difference in myself in such a short period of time. I look forward to each day and the opportunity to exercise and come closer to my goals of my new self.” – Lori Watson, Holdrege, NE “Dr. Mercola’s Total Health Program has changed my life. I have begun by incorporating two or three changes at a time. I thought I’d have to spend the rest of my life feeling deprived. NOT! About once every other week I read through it again, and learn something totally new, and begin to slowly include it in my lifestyle. I’ve been a health nut for over 20 years, and I thought I knew it all. Dr. Mercola has pleasantly educated me even more. Dr. Mercola, thank you from my heart.” – Vicki Worthington, San Antonio, TX “I subscribed to Dr. Mercola’s newsletter and was immediately hooked. I then purchased Dr. Mercola’s Total Health Program. I was never what you would call fat but at the age of 49 had an extra 20 pounds that I wanted to get rid of. I did not go on a diet. I changed my thinking about food completely based on the aforementioned reading and not only lost the twenty pounds but have better skin tone, the energy of a 17 year old. I now sleep through the night and have rid my self of menopausal symptoms. My three grown daughters have started to take me seriously now when I talk to them about nutrition. I have independently verified a great deal of the information on Dr. Mercola’s site and found him to be forthcoming, succinct, honest and resourceful. My thanks for the ongoing education.” – Harmony Boyer, Seattle, WA D R . M E R C O L A ’ S TOTAL HEALTH PROGRAM The Proven Plan to Prevent Disease and Premature Aging, Optimize Weight and Live Longer! by Dr. Joseph Mercola with Brian Vaszily, Dr. Kendra Pearsall and Nancy Lee Bentley Mercola.com 1443 West Schaumburg Road Schaumburg, IL 60194 Dr. Mercola’s Total Health Program: The Proven Plan to Prevent Disease and Premature Aging, Optimize Weight and Live Longer! By Dr. Joseph Mercola, Brian Vaszily, Dr. Kendra Pearsall, and Nancy Lee Bentley Publisher: Mercola.com 1443 West Schaumburg Road Schaumburg, IL 60194 Copyright © 2003–2006, Dr. Joseph Mercola. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews and cited appropriately. For information contact [email protected] or the address above. Publisher’s Note: This book is intended as a reference volume only, not as a medical manual. The ideas, procedures, and suggestions contained herein are not intended as a substitute for consulting with your personal medical practitioner. Neither the publisher nor the authors shall be liable or responsible for any loss or damage allegedly arising from any information or suggestion in this book. Further, if you suspect that you have a medical problem, we urge you to seek professional medical help. ISBN 0-9705574-6-9 Design by Wendi S Rogers– www.sanguinedesign.com First Edition, Ninth Printing, March 2006. This book may be bulk ordered at special rates. Contact [email protected] or write to Mercola.com, 1443 West Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg, IL 60194. About the Authors Dr. Joseph Mercolais the director of The Optimal Wellness Center in Chicago, one of the nation’s leading natural health clinics, and the founder of Mercola.com, the world’s most visited natural health website. He is also the author of the New York Times 2003 bestseller, The No-Grain Diet. As an Osteopathic Doctor, Dr. Mercola first trained in conventional medicine and later received extensive training in natural medicine. He has been in practice over two decades. Prior to The Optimal Wellness Center, he was Chairman of the Department of Family Practice at St. Alexius Hospital in Illinois for five years. He has been interviewed and profiled extensively for his health and dietary expertise, including ABC’s World News Tonight, CNN, CBS, ABC, NBC, and Fox TV shows across the nation. Brian Vaszily is the consulting general manager and marketing/editorial director of Mercola.com and the Mercola.com e-newsletter. He is also a columnist and the author of many articles, essays and other works published in magazines, Web sites, newspapers and more nationwide, and the author of the critically-acclaimed novella about September 11, 2001, Beyond Stone and Steel. Dr. Kendra Pearsallis a Naturopathic Doctor at the Optimal Wellness Center who specializes in bariatric medicine and endocrinology (weight loss and hormones). Dr. Pearsall graduated in 2001 from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, a four-year medical college in Tempe, AZ. Dr. Pearsall’s greatest professional aspiration is to use her creativity to motivate the masses toward higher levels of physical, mental and spiritual well-being, a goal that she hopes to achieve in her next project of creating innovative weight loss and diabetes programs and educational seminars for the public. Nancy Lee Bentleyis a dynamic holistic health expert, chef, nutritional consultant, teacher, writer and speaker. This Cornell-educated food, nutrition, and communications professional, whose career spans over 25 years in the commercial and whole foods industry, foodservice, healthcare and media, has been called a pioneer in the fields of organic and natural foods, sustainable food systems and holistic health. Her work has appeared in national and regional publications, with recognition from Earl Nightingale, the USDA and 2000 Notable American Women, among others.