It seems that I’ve reached an age where the maintenance of my human body seems to require more attention now than in previous years. Not too long ago, I saw a picture and wondered, “Who is that overweight person with my husband?” Upon closer inspection, unfortunately, I determined that is was me. In addition to the excess weight, it seems that my joints are frequently “stiff” when I awaken and my body just will not do the things of which it was once capable. I’m much less active now and have found that there are things I don’t do now because I “jiggle” like the Jell-O® commercials when I do them. I used to be fit and healthy, so what happened?

While searching for this new lifestyle, we came across some exceptional resources. Our friend (and fellow columnist) Sharon Keating, of Serenity Spa, in Dawsonville, Georgia, invited us to join a program she’s offering, A Thin Me. Although I was skeptical of yet another diet, after attending a meeting at the Spa, I quickly realized that Sharon has the name all wrong. This is a change of lifestyle derived from Sharon’s personal quest to “kiss goodbye” to cancer. One of the beneficial side effects is achievement of your ideal weight, reducing if you’re overweight or increasing if you are underweight.

At the A Thin Me meeting, Sharon’s long-time friend and sister survivor Linda Posch (pronounced “posh”), MS, SLP, ND, shared the concepts behind what both of them have adopted as a healthy approach to life—the good life. In addition to reducing the effects of cancer and chemotherapy on her body, Dr. Posch (or Doc Posch, as we’ve come to call her) also had the motivator of seeing both of her parents die from complications due to diabetes and obesity. She emphasized that those of us who are overweight are just as malnourished as the tear-inspiring children who are starving—we’re just on the other end of the spectrum.

Doc Posch has an undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences, a Masters in Neuro-Rehab Services, and a Doctorate of Naturopathy, a discipline that offers drugless options for the treatment and control of a myriad of disorders. Her allopathic (regular work) experience is with autism, special education, stroke, dementia, multiple sclerosis, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, adult acute care, and psychiatric services.

Doc Posch’s area of expertise within the confines of the laboratory includes the production of immuno-modulators, specially designed natural formulations that are intended to target a weak or malfunctioning immune system. Examples of immune deficiency include cancer, Hepatitis-C, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Crohn’s disease, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), chronic infections, and chronic yeast infections. Doc Posch has established successful natural protocols to treat neuro-degenerative disorders that include Parkinson’s disease, ALS, dementia, multiple sclerosis, high triglycerides, high cholesterol, and menopausal symptoms, as well as protocols for the natural treatment of diabetes/high blood sugar. Did you get all of that?

In a nutshell, Doc Posch understands how our bodies utilize what we put into our mouths and what happens when we are not properly equipped with the required nutrients. Her treatment is not developed for weight loss, but for overall good health. Not too long ago, I would have considered some of the Good Life’s basic concepts to be a bit extreme; but as my entire family gets unhealthier, it is evident to me that we must make an extreme change in our lifestyle. In our land of plenty and convenience, we don’t always take the time to really investigate the products we consume. To help you get started, here are a few tips from Doc Posch for living the Good Life.

Only Real Milk
This means raw milk if you have access to it. This means non-processed, non-homogenized milk, which can be difficult to obtain unless you live in a rural area. See www.realmilk.com for sources. Please note that this does not say “no dairy.” Just make sure that it is “real” dairy.

Eliminate Grain/Flour
This means cake, cookies, breads, muffins, rolls, boxed cereals, crackers, etc. If you are a diabetic or overweight, this will always be off-limits. If not, you may then consume whole or sprouted grains in moderate amounts.

Be Sugar Free
Do we even need to comment about this? Read labels carefully to avoid hidden sources of sugar, such as high fructose corn syrup. Look for those scientific words that most of us are not familiar with that end in ose. If you see this ending on a word, chances are it is some form of sugar. In the same breath, I do admit that since words ending in ose exist in a large majority of our products, it would seem very difficult to avoid them. But since you will not be consuming processed pre-packaged food on a regular basis anymore, this should not prove to be impossible.

Say “No Thanks” to Pink, Blue, and Yellow
These are chemicals that are not acceptable for human consumption…period. Don’t be a guinea pig! Absolutely no Splenda, Sweet’N Low, NutraSweet (aspartame), and other products like these. As of this writing the company that produces Splenda is being sued for false advertising for claiming that Splenda is “just like sugar.”—it’s not. Splenda is a sweet chemical. It is not sugar. Aspartame is a proven neurotoxin. Aspartame is metabolized by the body into aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol. The final by-product recognized by the body is formaldahyde. The most recognized use of this chemical is preserving bodies for funerals, and in medicine for preserving bodies for study. A compelling cancer connection has been published in the European Journal of Oncology and peers reviewed by seven international experts. Aspartame represents 80% of all food complaints registered with the FDA.

No Soy Products
The exception to using soy products is soy sauce and any other fermented soy product, such as miso or natto, to be consumed with a serving of protein such as chicken, beef, or fish. The effectiveness of mass advertising and PR in this country is truly amazing. Soy is not a health food.
Hydrogenated Oils Out the Door
This includes margarine or butter substitutes like Shedd’s Spread and Country Crock as well as cooking/baking/salad dressing oils like Mazola corn oil, Crisco, soybean oil, canola (rapeseed) oil, and any other “grease.” Smart Balance is also in this category.

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
For kicks, compare the color and smell of a top-brand can of peas, carrots, or green beans to frozen or fresh. The blanched color and sour smell of the canned goods should be self-explanatory. Enough said. When you eat canned fruit, enjoy the moment and just eat a candy bar. That is all you are getting out of it unless the ingredient label simply says “peaches” or “plums.”

Since you will not be eating them on a regular basis, exceptions to the “No Canned Goods” rule are things like tomato sauce, stewed tomatoes, olives, artichokes, canned extras for recipes, chili beans, miscellaneous sauces, and some of the better brand-name canned soups to have around in a pinch (but not to rely on regularly!). Read the ingredients to make sure it is healthy. Or as healthy as can be. Soybean oil is a tough one; as it is so cheap and plentiful, it is found in darn near everything. There will be times that exceptions to the rule will arise. Since you will not be consuming “garbage” on a regular basis, a little bit here and there should not prove to be a difficulty.

Convenience Doesn’t Pay
Eliminate processed foods: mac & cheese, boxed noodle dishes, frozen pizza, pocket sandwiches, hot dogs, sausages, or TV dinners of any kind. Again, read the label—the answer as to why should be clear. However, your local health food store should have healthier versions of hot dogs, sausage, etc. The boxed noodle dishes are starch slathered in artificial flavors and chemicals. Does that really sound good for dinner?

Keep it Real
Spices should come from the health food store, not the processed chemicals found at the “regular” grocery store. Cook with real 100% natural garlic powder, salt, paprika, fennel seed, etc. Tastes a lot better too!

Meat Should Not Be A Mystery
Eliminate lunch meat with the exception of roast beef and turkey—and then choose good brands. You truly do not want to know what is in that sliced sausage roll that you layer onto your sandwich. An excellent brand for turkey and roast beef is Boar’s Head. See if it is available at your local grocery store. When you read the label you will understand why this is an excellent brand.

The Truth About White Potatoes
This is just sugar in a brown peel. Cheap, starchy, and empty stomach filler. You can deep-fry them in dangerous fats and make a zillion bucks selling them to the unsuspecting public who cannot get enough of them. A potato converts to the biochemical equivalent of a candy bar—that is what your body reaps when you eat white potatoes. That’s it—no white potatoes.

Goodbye Mr. Chips
Eliminate chips, including potato chips, corn chips, cheese puffs, and the like.

Fat Free or Low Fat Products—Think Again
The way to lose weight is to eat well, not to eat chemicals. Processed food products labeled low fat or fat free are simply laden with artificial ingredients (chemicals) and/or added sugar to give them that creamy fat taste Americans love so much.

That may sound like a lot of “no’s,” so what can you eat? Since my family has started changing our lifestyle, we have planned dinners like this: Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms and Zucchini Fries; Grilled Monkfish in Champagne Sauce with Smashed Sweet Potatoes; Grass-Fed Beef Sirloin Tips with Wild Rice; and Free Range Barbeque Chicken with Fruit Salad and Chocolate Coconut Bars for starters. We keep fresh salad (made with every lettuce except iceberg, which has been genetically re-engineered to grow quickly and be disease-resistant, but without the nutritional value of other lettuce varieties). We have adopted Stevia and Xylitol as natural sugar substitutes.

It is true that I have to stop working a little bit sooner to prepare a full dinner. In fact, last week, I actually got to spend an additional hour with my youngest son because he helped me cook. Lots of sacrifices there! Adopting this lifestyle is neither convenient nor easy, but neither are some of the diseases that Doc Posch has been helping her patients avoid or fight.

Now, I know that some of my M.D. friends out there may be getting a little alarmed by my writing this, just as I know that Doc Posch sometimes meets resistance from the medical community. I believe in questioning everything and researching all that you can. How can it hurt us to stick to eating fruits, vegetables, and meat that does not contain antibiotics and growth hormones? If your doctor is really focused on your health, they will embrace your adoption of eating healthy foods. I love my doctor; but I hope to see him less. Hopefully, I will need fewer prescriptions over time as my body once again becomes able to work like the finely-tuned system that God created it to be.
I hope you’ll join me in making a healthy change today.

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