The Layman's Comprehensive Guide to Natural Health and Wellness: A Guide to Survival

By Michael S. Pawluk

Have you gone to the Internet to find an answer to your problems, got 1.4 million hits, and asked yourself, What do I read, what can I trust?
Thomas Edison said, "The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease."
John Ernst Worrell Keely stated, "It is said that all disease is a disturbance of the equilibrium between positive and negative forces. In my opinion, no doctor ever cured any disease. All he can possibly do is to establish conditions under which the patient (or nature) may cure himself."
Hippocrates said: "Everyone has a doctor in him or her; we just have to help it in its work. The natural healing force within each one of us is the greatest force in getting well. Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food. Nature cares, not the physician."
Taking your health into your own hands will be the only way to survive. This book will help you understand your body and its needs. It is based on the nutritions supplied by nature and practiced by human kind for millennia. This will never change and does not require updating. The information in this book has been handed down from the first time Hippocrates set pen to paper and all those who followed him in the practice of good health. It may seem like a lot, but a good diet, adequate exercise, and proper rest are the basic foundations of good health and wellness. Mastering these areas will help you to maintain balance and create fulfillment in all areas of your life, including school, work, family, and recreation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tellwell Talent
• Release date: Nov 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9781779413031

Book preview

PREFACE

Have you gone to the Internet to find an answer to your problems and got 1.4 million hits, and asked yourself, what do I read, what can I trust? We have taken that uncertainty out of your search. Hi, my name is Michael S. Pawluk, I am a Nutraceutical Researcher. In other words, I research the nutritional value of all the things Mother Nature has presented to us. Mother Nature spent millions of years to become what it is today. The human body has spent a couple hundred thousand years adapting to what Mother Nature is offering us. Mankind can not spend 50, or 100 years for that matter, improving on what Mother Nature has already done, but he can screw it up.

I have spent the past 12 years searching the net to discover what to read, who is saying what, and are they correct. The learning curve for searching the Internet is a 2 to 3 year period. Then understanding the information you received is another period of time you do not need to spend. You need to find at least a dozen sites where doctors decided to study nutrition for health benefits instead of pharmaceuticals.

Dr. John Knowles, Former President of the Rockefeller Foundation said, The next major advance in the health of the people will be determined by what the individual is willing to do for himself.

Gandhi said, You must be the change you want to see in the world.

Thomas Edison said, The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.

John Ernst Worrell Keely stated, It is said that ‘all disease is a disturbance of the equilibrium between positive and negative forces.’ In my opinion, no doctor ever cured any disease. All he can possibly do is to establish conditions under which the patient (or nature) may cure himself.

As more and more natural remedies come along, it becomes glaringly obvious that nature has the remedy to pretty much everything that ails us. Whether we use these remedies properly in conjunction with a healthy and holistic lifestyle is up to us, but there is very little debate that plants have been healing mankind for thousands of years. This would be second nature to us had the pharmaceutical industry not done an excellent job of brain-washing us into thinking men with white coats in sterile labs held all the answers. The good news is that nutrition, the basic guiding principles of how and what to eat to promote health, weight loss, and longevity, will keep you healthy until your turn to pass instead of spending your last years decrepit, is pretty simple.

New Laws Allow Pharma to Make All Decisions for Patients

One of the latest attempts to thwart your ability to access nutritional supplements comes in the form of draft legislation that would require pre-market approval for dietary supplements. In short, it would require supplements, which are food, to undergo the same approval process as drugs. In the past, the drug industry and the Canadian and U.S. Food and Drug Administration has tried to ban certain supplements, including vitamins D3, B6 and N-acetylcysteine (NAC), by reclassifying them as new drugs.

This monopoly over the supplement industry gives drug companies and Governments enormous regulatory influence, and that is a way by which they could eliminate independent supplement makers who can not afford to put their products through the drug approval process. If that process is implemented, it will make supplements so expensive you may not be able to afford them. The more you know about what Mother Nature has to offer, the better.

The 2023 omnibus appropriations bill includes 19 lines that will give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the power to ban off-label use of approved medications. The amendment puts the FDA, and by proxy Big Pharma, at the helm of powerful healthcare decisions that should be made on an individual, personalized level between a patient and their health care provider.

In California, law AB 2098, which went into effect January 1, 2023, gives the state the power to take away doctors’ medical licenses if they spread misinformation that goes against the standard COVID-19 rhetoric. The trend to allow a Pharma-controlled government to silence your doctor and dictate basic components of your medical care is not confined to the U.S., it is happening globally.

Proposed amendments to the 2005 International Health Regulations (IHR), for instance, aim to erase the concepts of human dignity, human rights and fundamental freedoms from the equation. The first principle in Article 3 of the 2005 IHR states that health regulations shall be implemented with full respect for the dignity, human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons. The amendment strikes that sentence.

Instead, international health regulations will be based on principles of equity, inclusivity and coherence only. This means they can force you to undergo whatever medical intervention they deem to be in the best interest of the collective. Individuals will not matter. Human dignity will not be taken into consideration. Human rights will not be taken into consideration, and neither will the concept that human beings have fundamental freedoms that cannot be infringed. Autonomy over your body will be eliminated. You will have no right to make personal health decisions.

In conclusion, taking your health into your own hands will be the only way to survive this dilemma. This book will help you understand your body and its needs. The book is based on the nutritions supplied by nature and practiced by human kind for millennia. This will never change and does not require updating. It may seem like a lot, but a good diet, adequate exercise, and proper rest are the basic foundations of good health and wellness. Mastering these areas will help you to maintain balance and create fulfillment in all areas of your life, including school, work, family, and recreation.

Table of Contents

PREFACE

New Laws Allow Pharma to Make All Decisions for Patients

INTRODUCTION

Taking Your Health In Your OWN Hands

Acknowledgements

CHAPTER ONE: HOW THE BODY WORKS

Each Body System Works with the Others

The Musculoskeletal System

The Digestive System

The Urinary System

The Respiratory System

The Circulatory System

The Endocrine System

The Lymphatic System

The Glymphatic System

The Integumentary System

The Central Nervous System

The Peripheral Nervous System

The Enteric Nervous System

The Reproductive System

The Immune System

The Energy Systems

The Endocannabinoid System

The Vestibular System

The Importance of Autophagy

CHAPTER TWO: MEDICAL TRADITIONS

Ayurvedic Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Western (Allopathic) Medicine

Naturopathic Medicine

Homeopathic Medicine

Chiropractic

Dentistry

CHAPTER THREE: THE FOODS WE EAT

FRUITS

Acai berries

Apples

Apricots

Avocados

Bananas

Blue berries

Cacao

Cantaloupe

Cherries

Coconut

Cranberries

Dates

Figs

Goji berries

Goldenberries

Grapefruit

Grapes

Honeydew melon

Jackfruit

Jimcama

Kiwis

Lemons

Limes

Mangoes

Mangosteen

Nectarines

Olives

Oranges

Papayas

Peaches

Pears

Persimmons

Pineapple

Plums

Pomegranate

Prunes

Raisins

Rhubarb

Raspberries

Soursop

Strawberries

Tamarind

Watermelon

VEGETABLES

Alfalfa Sprouts

Aloe Vera

Artichoke

Arugula

Asparagus

Bamboo

Beans

Bell Peppers

Broccoli

Broccoli Rabe

Brussels sprouts

Cabbage

Carrots

Cauliflower

Celeriac

Celery

Collard Greens

Corn

Cucumber

Eggplant

Endive

Fennel

Garlic

Green Beans

Horseradish

Hot Peppers

Kale

Leeks

Lentils

Lettuce

Mung Beans

Mushrooms

Onions

Parsnip

Peas

Persimmons

Potatoes

Purslane

Radicchio

Radish

Rutabagas

Spinach

Squash

Sweet Potatoes

Tomatoes

Turnips

Seaweed

MEATS

The Feedlot Reality

Red Meat

White Meat

Sea Food and Fish

DAIRY PRODUCTS

Milk

Raw Milk

Butter

Buttermilk

Cheese

Cream

Ghee

Sour Cream

Yoghurt

BEVERAGES

Alcoholic Drinks

Beer

Wine

Hard Liquor

Coffee

Commercial Beverages

Herbal Infusions - Teas

Juicing

Smoothies

Tea

Water

NUTS

The health benefits of Nuts

Top 9 Nuts to Eat for Better Health

SEEDS

GRAINS

Alfalfa

Barley

Buckwheat

Millet

Oats

Quinoa

Rice

Rye

Wheat

HERBS

SPICES

SUPERFOODS

FERMENTED FOODS

Flours

SUGARS

SALT

COOKING OILS

FATTY ACIDS

The Pros and Cons of Different Cooking Styles

Proper Utensils for Use in Cooking

CHAPTER FOUR: VITAMINS, and MINERALS

VITAMINS

Water-soluble Vitamins:

Fat-soluble Vitamins

Provitamins

MINERALS

ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS

Antioxidants

Natural Antibiotic Alternatives

Natural Supplements

Essential Oils

Probiotics

Prebiotics

Humic Acid - Nature’s Best Kept Secret!

Fulvic Acid - Nature’s Second Best Kept Secret!

Psychobiotics

Enzymes

Proteolytic Enzymes

CHAPTER FIVE: AILMENTS AND SOLUTIONS

Secrets for Reading Your Body Like a Book

Abdominal Pain

Abscess

Acid Reflux

Acne

Adrenal Fatigue

Allergies

Alzheimer’s Disease – Diabetes 3

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Anemia

Anxiety Disorder

Apnea

Appendicitis

Arthritis

Asthma

Athlete’s Foot

Autism Epidemic

Bad Breath

Bladder Problems

Blood Clots

Blood Pressure

Breast Feeding

Bronchitis

Bursitis

Cancer

Candida Albicans

Celiac Disease

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Cirrhosis of The Liver

Chlamydia

Clinical Depression

Common Cold

Constipation

Corns and Calluses

Covid-19

Crohn’s Disease

Dandruff

Dental Health

Diabetes

Diarrhea

Digestion Problems

Diverticulitis

Dyspepsia - Indigestion

Ear Problems

Eczema

Emphysema

Epilepsy

Erectile Dysfunction

Eyesight Problems

Fibromyalgia

Flu

Fungal Infections

Gallbladder Function Problems

Gangrene

GERD - Acid Reflux

Glaucoma

Gout

Hay Fever

Heart Disease

Hemorrhoids

Hepatitis

Hiccups

Herpes

Hives

Huntington’s Disease

Indigestion

Immune Deficiency

Incontinence

Infections

Inflammation

Insects

Insomnia

Irritable Bowl Syndrome

Kidney Problems

Leg Cramps

Kidney Disease

Lice

Liver Problems

Lung Problems

Lyme Disease

Measles

Meningitis

Migraines

Motion Sickness

Multiple Sclerosis

Mumps

Myalgic Encephalopathy

Nausea

Nutrient Malabsorption

Osteoporosis

Pain

Pancreas Problems

Parasites

Parkinson’s Disease

Penial Gland

Pelivic Floor Muscles

Pleurisy

Pneumonia

Poison Ivy

Prostate Gland Problems

Premenstrual Syndrome

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Scarlet Fever

Sebaceous Cyst

Seborrheic Dermatitis

Sepsis

Sinusitis

Skin Tags

Sore Throat

Sunburn

Tendonitis

Testosterone Deficiency

Thyroid Problems

Tonsillitis

Tourette Syndrome

Tuberculosis

Ulcers

Ulcerative Colitis

Urinary Tract Infection

Vaginal Yeast Infection

Warts

Wrinkles

CHAPTER SIX: SPECIALIZED DIETS

Standard American Diet

Mediterranean Diet

The Ketogenic Diet

The Paleo Diet

The Vegetarian/Vegan Diet

Pescaterian Diet

The DASH Diet

Fasting Diets

Intuitive Eating the Smart Way to Eat Without Dieting

CHAPTER SEVEN: PROTECTING YOUR WELL-BEING

Healing the Body with the Basic Elements of Life

The Secret to A Long and Healthy Life

Five Great Habits for Starting Your Day

Natural Healing

Regenerating The Brain

Your Gut Is Your Second Brain

Gut Microbiome Influences Your Mental and Physical Health

6 Body Tissues That Can Regenerate Through Nutrition

Autophagy is now Considered for Disease Treatment

Detoxify Your Body Naturally Every Day

Remove Toxins in Your Body by Deep Breathing

Edible Flowers That Offer Many Health Benefits

Alkaline Foods That Repair and Renew Cells

Collagen and Why Your Body Needs It

7 Reasons to Consume Bone Broth Every Day

Molecular Hydrogen Is a Superior Antioxidant

The Sleep We Need

Natural Cleaning Products

Useful Household Products

Unhealthy Products We Use Everyday

These Household Items Are Damaging Your Health

Avoid 100 Dangerous Food Additives Causing Disease

Major Chemicals and Metals That Adversely Affect Us

Dangerous Toxins Lurking in Your Home

12 Facts About Microwave Ovens

In Conclusion Nature Impacts Our Health and Well-being

INTRODUCTION

We must take care of our bodies through whole foods, clean air and water, exercise, detoxification, uplifting thoughts, positive emotions, meditation and prayer, and by continually taking steps to improve our health in each and every moment. Life is a gift, health is not. In a world of ever-increasing toxicity and stress, health can only be achieved through constant practice and pursuit. It is time to invest in our health, our future.

The body’s natural state is health, not disease. There is a reason for every disease state. It is the body’s attempt at restoring balance. The body heals holistically and the processes that create each disease affect the body as a whole. From the time we are conceived until the time we die, the cells in our bodies are endlessly working to maintain a natural state of homeostasis or equilibrium. A diseased body is not a coincidence and the natural state of every human being is healthy, not diseased.

Our disease care industry does not go very far to help our cause either. From the time we are born until the time we die, from the very first vaccine to the very last dosage of medication given on our deathbeds (and everything in between), we have been programmed to think that external factors and disease treatments are what can help control our pain and suffering.

We have also been conditioned to believe that many diseases cannot be reversed when in fact they can be, and without drugs. Preventable illnesses make up approximately 80% percent of the burden of illness and 90% of all healthcare costs. However the focus is too often addressing the symptoms instead of the causes. Our bodies are holistic systems, and need to be treated as such.

Each one of our cells is in a type of fluid matrix which is a dynamic and living unit that is constantly monitoring and adjusting its own processes and always working to restore itself to the original DNA code it was born with in order to maintain balance within the body. Each cell has the ability to heal itself, as well as make new cells that replace those that have been permanently damaged or destroyed. Your body is fully equipped to heal everything from a cut on your hand to cancer in your colon and everything in between. That is, as long as there is no interference. Even when a large number of cells are destroyed the surrounding cells can replicate to make new cells thereby replacing almost immediately the cells that were destroyed.

It is perfectly normal and natural to have a population of mutant cells. The human body has 75 trillion cells. We have over 200 different types of cells in the human body. Some 230,000 cells are created every second, almost 20 billion per day. The average person has about 1,100 mutant cells each day. The difference between these mutant cells running an imbalanced path of destruction leading to disease or a path leading to balance is entirely dependent on our immune system. The immune system fails to heal us when homeostatic balance is disturbed and the model becomes unbalanced. Either way we are always in control of our body. To live in a human body, we must have access to a certain amount of life-sustaining energy. We may use this inherent energy in a nourishing and self-sustaining way or in a destructive and debilitating way. Leading healthy lifestyles and consuming healthful (as opposed to toxic) diets will go a very long way in keeping us healthy, regardless of our age when we start this new way of living.

The only way to really bring the body out of a diseased state is to stop doing all the things that cause disease and begin rebuilding the immune system. Only then will you not only get rid of one disease state, but you will be rid of them all. The immune system is activated by oxidative stress to kill the harmful invading organisms and also kills and dissolves damaged cells that cannot be repaired. Too many oxidants in the cells or blood cause damage and aging to all tissues. An imbalance of different oxidants can cause the immune system to attack healthy cells, inflame tissues and slow down the healing process. Too few oxidants will remove the red flags and allow damaged, infected and malfunctioning cells to thrive, divide and spread the damage. We must recognize the symptoms of imbalance and dysfunction within ourselves before they even have a chance to produce disease. So start your healing by bringing attention to a state of health, not disease and your body will respond, always.

The Chinese, Indian and Japanese cultures have been practicing preventive medicine for millennia. Modern Western (allopathic) medicine does not. Western medicine simply tries to define the symptoms from which you suffer and treat them with the best chemicals (pharmaceuticals) they think they can find. Unless the whole disease can be bombarded with chemical treatment, or surgically removed from the body, it is largely ignored.

Western medicine treats the body as a collection of parts instead of as a synergistic organism. Mainstream western medicine is unequalled when it comes to treating broken bones and injured body parts. However, when this same approach is used to treat illness and disease, fixing or repairing the parts where the symptoms of underlying illnesses manifest themselves, modern medicine fails miserably.

For years we have known that pharmaceuticals will deplete your immune system. The more you have taken in your lifetime, the less capable your system is of taking care of you. The drugs you are prescribed not only attack what is ailing you, they will attack everything, hoping to kill the culprit in the meantime. You see, when you put a drug into your system, that drug goes to and enters every cell and every organism in your system. A lot of people think that it just goes to the problem area and does what it is supposed to do. Although the scientific community is working on delivery systems that will do that, that day has not arrived yet.

The immune system relies on healthy cells, hormones, neurotransmitters, peptides, and endorphins all working together to ward off the effects of chemicals, drugs, bad bacteria, fungi, viruses, toxins and heavy metals that will cripple the immune system if not kept in check. All these systems will function correctly only if they are fed the right raw materials for them to be able to reproduce themselves properly and be able to communicate with all the other systems in the body that make up your immune system. The communication of all the separate parts, from the brain to the toes, is imperative to a healthy mind and body.

Over the past 50 years or so, biological science has advanced tremendously. But, unfortunately, the practice of modern medicine has not kept in step with this. It seems to be 50 to 100 years behind, stuck in its drug and surgery paradigm. The techniques used by modern medicine have become so dangerous that its intervention in our daily lives is now the leading cause of death. Our only alternative to this is to become responsible for our own health. Fortunately, the advances in bioscience will actually allow us to do this. We now have access to sufficient knowledge to prevent and reverse almost every chronic disease including Alzheimer’s, arthritis, asthma, cancer, depression, diabetes, heart disease, obesity and osteoporosis. Unfortunately, most of the general public is unaware of this technology, and has yet to put it to use. All the information we need is available on the Internet. Unfortunately, most people find it too difficult to decipher who is telling the truth and who is trying to sell a product.

All of us started life as a single cell. We grew into bodies made up of about 75 trillion individual cells, all acting together in a community that constantly communicates, self regulates, and self repairs. If all your cells are functioning optimally, it is impossible to be sick. Only when a massive number of cells malfunction can we experience the symptoms of disease. Regardless of what the doctors call the disease you have, what you really have are malfunctioning cells. Cancer, diabetes or the common cold - it is all the same problem: malfunctioning cells. Understanding this takes the mystery out of disease. Once you understand there is only one disease this gives you the power to choose health over disease and take your life back into your own hands.

Malnutrition is now the leading cause of disease. Many people in the Western world think they are eating nutritiously. They are not - even though they meticulously pick good foods to eat. With the advent of co-op farming giants, the practice of their growing methods has depleted the soil of most of its nutrients, not to mention the deadly pesticides they spray them with. Between the Big Agra and the Big Meat Processors who add things like ammonia, arsenic, chlorine, anti-biotics and extra water for weight, to the meats they process, we are getting more toxins in our food than we are in the air we breathe. You can no longer trust what you buy at the major food markets as being healthful foods. Only people who are buy from local farmers and food fairs are probably getting what they expect from their meats and vegetables.

Adding to this we are coming to realize that most of the furnishings and coverings in our homes are also poisoning us. The construction materials used to build your house are replacing wood with materials made from glue and plastics pressed together to make them sounder structurally. However, they are giving off noxious fumes from things like formaldehyde. Our couch, TV set, the pillows we sit on, the carpets we walk on, the beds we sleep in, and the cleaning products we are using to clean them with, are all off-gassing chemicals that are dangerous to our health.

Scientists estimate that everyone alive today carries within their bodies at least 700 contaminants. Doris J. Rapp, M.D., past president of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine, warned, Everybody in this country needs to be detoxified because we’ve all become toxic dumpsites. Dr. Leo Trasande, assistant director of the Center for Children’s Health and the Environment at Mount Sinai in New York, has said, We are putting humans in a dangerous and unnatural experiment, and I think it is unconscionable. We are in an epidemic of environmentally mediated disease among children today. Rates of asthma, childhood cancers, birth defects and developmental disorders have exponentially increased, and it can not be explained by changes in the human genome. So what has changed? All the chemicals we are being exposed to.

Virtually every man, woman and child in industrialized countries is in a crisis of toxic overload burdened by many more toxins than our bodies were designed to handle. This is a very serious and growing crisis. There are approximately 10,000 new chemicals invented every year and the FDA ignores them. Chemicals that are water-soluble pass through the body relatively quickly, but fat-soluble chemicals can persist in our fat cells for 50 years and more. And they are not just sitting there doing nothing, they are creating cellular malfunctions of all kinds leading to every disease imaginable.

Why are children particularly threatened by toxic chemicals in the environment?

Children are biologically different from adults. Pound-for-pound, children breathe more air, drink more water, and eat more food than adults. The ecological world is streaming through them at a faster rate. They also occupy a different habitat. They are short. They are closer to the ground and they inhale a lot more dust. The chemical contaminants found in house dust are going to be higher in kids than in adults. They tend to mouth breathe more than adults. They are missing a lot of the defense mechanisms adults have. One of them is a functioning blood-brain barrier that stands between our circulatory system and the gray matter of our brains. Infants come into the world with permeable blood-brain barriers. That vulnerability comes at a time when the architecture of the brain is still taking shape. A child’s brain continues to remodel itself until around age 25, but the most rapid wiring takes place only until the third birthday. A tiny exposure to a brain poison, like too many vaccines early in life, can have disproportionate and permanent effects. It can alter the mind of a child.

Taking Your Health In Your OWN Hands

If you have found this book, then you are someone who is ready to take charge of your health by informing yourself about what YOU can do to stay healthy. Unfortunately, there are still many people who would much rather outsource this responsibility to the medical establishment. For them it is so much easier to let a doctor tell them what to do instead of taking the time to learn how to keep from getting sick in the first place. There is no magic pill that is going to cure all that ails you.

While traditional medicine continues to play a role in the health of society, it has become exceedingly commercialized. For example, drug companies don not seem to mind offering expensive prescription medications for symptom relief that often have dangerous side effects and cure nothing. Using herbal and alternative remedies, eating healthy foods, and exercising regularly are just a few of the steps we can take to provide the kind of environment the body needs to heal itself, which it is quite capable of doing. In the same way that our lifestyle choices create disease, so too they can also prevent them.

Our bodies are constantly sending us signals, trying to get us to slow down and take heed. If you do not pay attention to the early signals (those minor aches and pains you get rid of with an analgesic) your body will start shouting in the form of more serious conditions. Dry or shedding hair, brittle nails, low energy levels, mood swings, these are all red flags, telling us we need to pay attention to an imbalance in the body. We live life on fast-forward, jumping out of bed in the morning and moving at full speed throughout the day. Slowing down to savour a good meal is something many of us simply are not used to doing. Then, with the first sign of pain, we pop a pill and continue at breakneck speed instead of laying down for a quick nap or a brief period of meditation. When we are tired, we drink an energy drink so we can check one more item off our to-do lists.

Popping a pill for relief is not going to get at the root cause of your medical condition; it keeps you ignorant of what might be a life-threatening disease. The only way to hear the signals our bodies are sending us and start taking responsibility for our health is to slow down, center, and turn inward to listen. We can start reducing the rising cost of healthcare by making those lifestyle changes that keep the body in good working order, including eating nutritious food, exercise and taking advantage of the many natural joint pain relief supplements that are now available. Traditional medicine can offer us many diagnostic tests and tools, but in the end, the power to live a long, healthy life is ours to wield. We do not need to be intimidated by doctors, big pharma, big gov, or big corp any more.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank all the friends around me who showed up, when times during writing this book, got tough, and lent their support to encourage me to continue. I had been investigating the natural health initiatives for 9 years, with the intention to eventually write a book. After 2 years of trying to figure out whom to trust, whom not to read, I started writing 7 years ago. These are the people I would like to thank for encouraging me to go on.

To my brother Bryan - Who very astutely argued points he did not agree with and explained to me why. His wife is in evolved in physiotherapy and taught him a lot about the industry, as well as being a very efficient investigator on his own.

To my mother Inez - Who taught me at a very early age to think for myself and do not follow what society is trying to teach everyone.

To my father Stephen - Who also taught me very early on that doctors do not live on pedestals.

To my adopted sisters, Trish and Carole - Who actually trusted me to give them good advice when they had ailments the doctors didn’t help with.

To my friend Marie - who did some early organizational work and who read through this script, making some grammatical and editorial changes.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this book and on our website such as text, pictures, graphs, images or any other information, is presented as is for educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for the diagnosis, treatment, or advice of a qualified, licensed health care professional. The facts presented herein are offered as information only, not medical advice, and in no way should anyone infer that we are practicing medicine. Seek the advice of a health care professional for proper application of this material to any specific situation. No statement in this book has been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration or the Canadian Food and Drug Agency or any other regulatory authority. The information contained herein is solely provided as an opportunity for you to start your own investigation in cooperation with your medical practitioner, clinician, or healthcare provider.

Notice Of Rights

The Author, the editorial staff or any other person involved in the production of this book is not liable for decisions made by anyone as a result of their reading of this book or their choice to follow the suggestions contained herein. Research has shown that most diseases can be cured by natural means, but without knowing how far the disease has progressed when possible solutions suggested in this book are commenced, nor the strength of any ingredients available to the reader, nor the reader’s diligence in taking the recommended dosages and times, none of the author, the editorial staff or any other person involved can be held in any way liable if the treatments do not succeed. The author, the editorial staff and all other persons involved in this book, while attempting to aid you in living a full and healthy life long into the future, take no responsibility for how well the suggestions in this book work for you as we have no knowledge of your current age, health, family history, etc.

I did not write a lot of the articles in this book. I did, however, edit all the articles to take out the medical terminology that most laypersons would not understand. I made it a point to present the information here as simple as possible so that everyone could understand it. My goal here is to present the fact that pretty much everything we ail from can be resolved by the food we eat and all its nutritional benefits. Ultimately, it is up to individuals to consider the evidence (or lack thereof) for the information provided in this book, and decide for themselves. If you do decide to give something a try, be sure to talk to your doctor, naturopath and/or pharmacist first especially if you are currently taking medications or have any health conditions. As usual, beware of any grand claims and do not stop taking your prescriptions without consulting your health care provider. At the back of this book I would like to thank the people who spent a great deal of time researching and writing articles that were contributed to the world and this book.

At the end of times the merchants of the world will deceive the nations of the world through Their Pharmacia. - Rev 18:23

CHAPTER ONE: HOW THE BODY WORKS

The human body is the most wonderful, complex machine in the world. Your body can walk and run, climb and sit. It can see, hear, smell, taste, and feel. It can eat, talk, laugh, lift things, play games, think, and read. While these things are going on, you are breathing; there is blood flowing through your blood vessels; you are digesting food; and your body is doing a million other jobs at the same time. All through your life this marvellous machine is at work-even when you are sleeping!

It may come as a surprise to some, especially those with conventional medical training, but the default state of the body is one of ceaseless regeneration. Without the flame-like process of continual cell turnover within the body, life and death ceaselessly intertwined, the miracle of the human body would not exist. Our bodies are composed of organs. Even the skin is considered an organ, the largest organ in the body. Our job is to keep all our organs in good running order and co-operating in their operation. If one of our organs falls apart or injured, it affects all the other organs.

Do you know how many bones are in the human body? Have you ever wondered which of your organs is the largest (answer is above)? Are there other questions you have about the human body? Well now you can find out by going on a quest of this magnificent creation. You will learn about all the systems that make the human body function. We will endeavour to briefly explain each of the vital organs in this chapter, what they do, why they do it and how to ensure they do it well.

Each Body System Works with the Others

Each individual body system works in conjunction with other body systems. The circulatory system is a good example of how body systems interact with each other. Your heart pumps blood through a complex network of blood vessels. When your blood circulates through your digestive system, for example, it picks up nutrients your body absorbed from your last meal. Your blood also carries oxygen inhaled by the lungs. Your circulatory system delivers oxygen and nutrients to the other cells of your body then picks up any waste products created by these cells and delivers these waste products to the kidneys and lungs for disposal. Meanwhile, the circulatory system carries hormones from the endocrine system, and the immune system’s white blood cells that fight off infection.

What we have is a continuous tube from our mouth to our butt, about 9 meters long, depending on how tall you are, and every part of that tube has a specific job to do. Each of your body systems relies on the others to work well. The bones of your skull and spine protect your brain and spinal cord, but your brain regulates the position of your bones by controlling your muscles. The circulatory system provides your brain with a constant supply of oxygen-rich blood while your brain regulates your heart rate and blood pressure.

Even seemingly unrelated body systems are connected. Your skeletal system relies on your urinary system to remove waste produced by bone cells; in return, the bones of your skeleton create structure that protects your body. Your urinary system is essential to maintaining fluid and pH balance within all your organ systems. Here are examples that show the interdependence of your organ systems:

•All of your organ systems are regulated by your nervous and endocrine systems, these two systems are co-directors of all of your body’s activities;

•Your urinary system is essential to maintaining fluid and pH balance within all your organ systems;

•Your respiratory system brings in the oxygen that your cardiovascular system delivers to all your cells. Your respiratory system also plays a vital role in maintaining your blood pH;

•Your integumentary (skin) and immune systems play critical roles in preventing life-threatening infections of all your other organ systems;

•Your muscular system allows you to move, making the rest of your organ systems relevant to your existence;

•Your skeletal system provides physical protection and structural support for your other organ systems;

•And perhaps the most obvious example: Your digestive system provides fuel for all your other organ systems to use to produce energy.

The Musculoskeletal System

All the bones, cartilage, muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments in a person’s body compose what is known as the musculoskeletal system. The bones provide the body with a framework, giving it shape and support; they also serve as protection for internal organs such as the lungs and liver. Muscles are fibers that help to make deliberate movement of a body part or involuntary movement within an internal organ possible.

•Human skeleton - The human skeleton is the internal framework of the body. It is composed of around 270 bones at birth – decreasing to around 206 bones by adulthood as some bones become fused together. The bone mass in the skeleton reaches its maximum density around age 21. The human skeleton can be divided into the axial skeleton and the appendicular skeleton. The axial skeleton is formed by the vertebral column, the rib cage, skull and other associated bones. The appendicular skeleton, which is attached to the axial skeleton, is formed by the shoulder girdle, the pelvic girdle, and the bones of the upper and lower limbs. The human skeleton performs six major functions; support, movement, protection, production of blood cells, storage of minerals, and endocrine regulation;

•Joints - A joint or articulation is the connection made between the bones in the body which link the skeletal system into a functional whole. They are constructed to allow for different degrees and types of movement. Some joints, such as the knee, elbow, and shoulder, are self-lubricating, almost frictionless, and able to withstand compression and maintain heavy loads while still executing smooth and precise movements. Other joints such as sutures between the bones of the skull permit very little movement (only during birth) in order to protect the brain and the sense organs. The connection between a tooth and the jawbone is also called a joint, and is described as a fibrous joint known as a gomphosis. Joints are classified both structurally and functionally;

•Ligaments and tendons - A ligament is the fibrous connective tissue that connects bones to other bones. It is also known as articular ligament, articular larua, fibrous ligament, or true ligament. Ligaments are similar to tendons and fasciae as they are all made of connective tissue. The differences in them are in the connections that they make: ligaments connect one bone to another bone, tendons connect muscle to bone, and fasciae connect muscles to other muscles. Ligaments cannot usually be regenerated naturally; however, there are periodontal ligament stem cells located near the periodontal ligament, which are involved, in the adult regeneration of periodontal ligament;

•Fascia - Fascia, also known as interstitium, is a band or sheet of connective tissue, primarily collagen, beneath the skin that attaches, stabilizes, encloses, and separates muscles and other internal organs. Fascia is classified by layer, as superficial fascia, deep fascia, and visceral or parietal fascia, or by its function and anatomical location. Your fascia is a fibrous connective tissue found throughout your body. Remarkably, this thin layer of tissue accounts for about 20 percent of your body mass. Each organ has its own battery pack, which is a stack of muscle batteries. These muscle batteries are in turn surrounded by fascia, which acts as a semiconductor. Together, the muscle stack and the surrounding fascia serve as the wiring system for your body, carrying the voltage from the muscle battery inside, outside, through the fascia and to the appropriate organ. In addition to moving electricity, fascia also acts as a hydraulic pump, and is responsible for moving fluid around your body. Your fascia is a movement system for water in your body. To activate this system, and optimize cellular hydration, you engage in physical movement. Like tendons and ligaments, the fascia is made up of fibrous connective tissue containing closely packed bundles of collagen fibers oriented in a wavy pattern parallel to the direction of pull. Fascia is consequently flexible and able to resist great unidirectional tension forces until the wavy pattern of fibers has been straightened out by the pulling force. These collagen fibers are produced by fibroblasts located within the fascia. Fascia has long been overlooked, but its functions are now starting to be investigated at greater depth. Fascia may play a significant role in pain, especially back pain. The reason for this is because the fascia is one interconnected system, and when it loses its suppleness, pain can transfer from one region to another. Another fascinating fact about fascia: It responds and contracts, completely independently of the muscles, nerves and organs it surrounds, to chemical messengers. Even more interesting, it has been discovered that fascia responds not only to chemical messages of inflammation but also to chemicals associated with emotional stress. The fascial system is now thought of as a tensegrity system. Tensegrity is a combination of the words tension and integrity, and tensegrity modeling helps us understand how the fascia works as a complete system to hold your body together. The conventional view of the skeleton as a more or less rigid structure of connected bones is extremely misleading. Your skeletal bones actually float freely, completely separated from each other. What holds the bones together is the connective tissue system. Were you to magically remove all the connective tissue in your body, your bone structure would collapse in a heap on the floor. The fascia also plays a crucial role in the movement of water. In fact, the connective tissue is made up of about 70 percent water, and physical movement helps keep this water moving. Hyaluronic acid acts as a lubricant for your connective tissue. The hyaluronic acid forms a sponge-like network that binds large quantities of water. As a result, the less hyaluronic acid you have, the less mobile you are, as your fascia will be drier, less supple and less able to slide properly. Here again, movement has been shown to be a crucial component. Low water content in the fascia makes it brittle and less elastic;

•Muscular - The muscular system is an organ system consisting of skeletal, smooth and cardiac muscles. It permits movement of the body, maintains posture, and circulates blood throughout the body. The muscular system in vertebrates is controlled through the nervous system, although some muscles (such as the cardiac muscle) can be completely autonomous. Together with the skeletal system it forms the musculoskeletal system, which is responsible for movement of the human body. It consists of about 650 muscles that aid in movement, blood flow and other bodily functions. There are three types of muscle: skeletal muscle which is connected to bone and helps with voluntary movement, smooth muscles which is found inside organs and helps to move substances through organs, and cardiac muscle which is found in the heart and helps pump blood. Muscles provide strength, balance, posture, movement and heat for the body to keep warm.

The Digestive System

How food can go from a sandwich and salad and be turned into the energy needed to hit a home run is amazing. The food will pass through more than about 30 feet (9 meters) of a tube, getting mixed with chemicals from four different glands, be separated between useful and not useful elements and the whole process could take more than 14 hours! Digestion really has two missions: Break down the food we eat into parts so tiny, that the useful elements of food can be absorbed into our bloodstream and sent throughout our body, and get rid of any leftover parts of the food that our body can’t use. Every cell in our body does work. Work requires energy, which is supplied by the food we eat. Food also supplies the small molecules that are the building blocks for cell maintenance, growth, and function.

•Mouth – the mouth is the first portion of the alimentary canal that starts the mechanical and chemical digestion of food with the help of the teeth, tongue, and saliva. The mouth consists of two regions, the vestibule and the oral cavity. The mouth, normally moist, is lined with a mucous membrane, and contains the teeth. The lips mark the transition from mucous membrane to skin;

•Teeth – the teeth function to mechanically break down items of food by cutting and crushing them in preparation for swallowing and digesting. The incisors cut the food, the canines tear the food and the molars and premolars crush the food. The roots of teeth are embedded in the maxilla (upper jaw) or the mandible (lower jaw) and are covered by gums;

•Tongue - is a muscular organ in the mouth that manipulates food for mastication, and is used in the act of swallowing. It is of importance in the digestive system and is the primary organ of taste in the gustatory system. The tongue’s upper surface (dorsum) is covered by taste buds housed in numerous lingual papillae. It is sensitive and kept moist by saliva, and is richly supplied with nerves and blood vessels;

•Salivary glands - are exocrine glands that produce saliva through a system of ducts, which help lubricate food for easier swallowing, contains antibacterial agents and the enzyme amylase, which breaks down starch. Humans have three paired major salivary glands: parotid, submandibular, and sublingual, as well as hundreds of minor salivary glands. Salivary glands are classified as serous, mucous or seromucous. In serous secretions, the main type of protein secreted is alpha-amylase, an enzyme that breaks down starch into maltose and glucose, whereas in mucous secretions the main protein secreted is mucin, which acts as a lubricant;

•Esophagus – commonly known as the food pipe or gullet, is an organ through which food passes, aided by peristaltic contractions, from the pharynx to the stomach. The esophagus is a fibromuscular tube, about 25 centimetres long, which travels behind the trachea, passes through the diaphragm and empties into the uppermost region of the stomach. During swallowing, the epiglottis tilts backwards to prevent food from going down the larynx;

•Stomach - is a muscular, hollow organ in the gastrointestinal tract. The stomach has a dilated structure and functions as a vital digestive organ. In the digestive system the stomach is involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication (chewing). It secretes digestive enzymes and hydrochloric acid to aid in food digestion. The food is moved around in the stomach and mixed with the chemicals for about 3 or 4 hours. When it is done in the stomach, the food is now a cream-like liquid called chyme. The food is still not small enough the get into our blood stream and it has not provided the body with anything useful yet. Now a valve at the end of the stomach opens sending the food into the duodenum;

•Duodenum - The chyme now mixes with digestive enzymes from the pancreas and acidic bile from the gall bladder. Then it heads into the small intestine, a 20 foot (6 meter) tube shaped organ, where the majority of the absorption of nutrients occurs. The nutrients move into the bloodstream and are transported to the liver

•Small intestine - or bowel is the part of the gastrointestinal tract between the stomach and the large intestine, and is where most of the end absorption of food takes place. The small intestine is the real hero of the digestive system. As the food passes through, it is mixed with the new chemicals. Then our food is digested and small enough to be put to use by the body. Along the walls of the intestine are thousands of tiny fingers called villi. Blood vessels (capillaries) in the villi can absorb the tiny food molecules and send them off to the rest of our body through the blood. The small intestine has three distinct regions – the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.

•Large intestine (colon) – Whatever the body cannot put to use is sent to the large intestine, which is about 5 feet (1.5 meters) long. This organ is mainly for storage and fermentation of indigestible matter. Also called the colon, it has four parts: the ascending colon (where it has come from the small intestine and goes up the right side of the abdomen), the transverse colon (where it crosses over the body to the left side), the descending colon (where it now heads back down the body to the pelvic area, and the sigmoid colon (where it forms an S, holds the feces, and empties through the rectum at the anus. The large intestine is where water (which was needed until now) from the chyme is absorbed back into the body and sent through the blood stream. Waste, called feces, is formed; containing unusable dietary fiber and other waste products. Many plants, for example, contain cellulose, which cannot be digested. Food spends about 12 hours in the large intestine.

•Liver – blood-carrying nutrients from the small intestine passes through the liver, which filters it and breaks down and synthesizes proteins, breaks down carbohydrates into glucose and glycogen and produces bile. The liver creates glycogen from sugars and carbohydrates to give the body energy and converts dietary proteins into new proteins needed by the blood system. It also breaks down unwanted chemicals, such as alcohol, which is detoxified and passed from the body as waste. Its other roles in metabolism include the regulation of glycogen storage, decomposition of red blood cells and the production of hormones. The liver is the boss of your body. The liver predominantly carries the bulk of metabolism in your body. When your liver becomes overworked, overly toxic from all the environmental toxic factors, it shuts down. When your liver shuts down, so does everything else.

•Gallbladder – collects bile from the liver and discharges it to the small intestine at the duodenum where it helps to digest fat;

•Mesentery - is a continuous set of tissues that attaches the intestines to the abdominal wall and is formed by the double fold of peritoneum. It helps in storing fat and allowing blood vessels, lymphatics, and nerves to supply the intestines, among other functions. The mesentery is single structure starting in the duodenum and extending to the sigmoid colon;

•Rectum – stores feces, which consist of mainly indigestible fibers, bacteria and water, until they can be eliminated through the anus.

The Urinary System

The urinary system regulates fluids in the body. The kidneys help maintain the amount, chemical composition, and acidity of fluids. They do this by collecting water and waste products from the blood and excreting them in the form of urine. Urine is stored in the urinary bladder before it is excreted through the urethra. Each kidney contains millions of nephrons, which filter the blood that passes through them. The acidity and concentrations of various substances in the blood are maintained by diffusion and active transport of excess amounts into urine collecting tubules. The urine is composed of water (about 95%), potassium, bicarbonate, sodium, glucose, amino acids, and the waste products urea and uric acid.

•Kidneys - are two bean-shaped organs located at the back of the abdominal cavity. They receive blood from the paired renal arteries; blood exits into the paired renal veins. Each kidney is attached to the ureter, a tube that carries excreted urine to the bladder. Each adult kidney contains around one million nephrons. The nephron utilizes four processes to alter the blood plasma that flows to it: filtration, reabsorption, secretion, and excretion. The kidney participates in the control of the volume of various body fluid compartments, fluid osmolality, acid-base balance, various electrolyte concentrations, and removal of toxins. Substances reabsorbed are solute-free water, sodium, bicarbonate, glucose, and amino acids. Substances secreted are hydrogen, ammonium, potassium, and uric acid. The kidneys also convert vitamin D to its active form, calcitriol; and synthesize the hormones erythropoietin and renin, an aspartic protease protein and enzyme that mediates the volume of extracellular fluid (blood plasma, lymph and interstitial fluid), and arterial vasoconstriction. Thus, it regulates the body’s mean arterial blood pressure. Each day the kidneys process about 200 quarts (50 gallons) of blood to filter out about 2 quarts of waste and water;

•Renal Artery - brings blood containing oxygen and urea from the aorta to the kidneys;

•Renal Vein - brings filtered blood from the kidneys to the inferior vena cava;

•Inferior Vena Cava - is a large vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the lower and middle body into the right atrium of the heart;

•Ureter - carries urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder;

•Urinary Bladder - The bladder is a round, bag-like organ that stores urine. It is typically the size of a large grapefruit but can stretch much larger when needed, though shrinks back when empty. Though the bladder seems like a simple sack of flesh, it is a complex organ and has four layers: The epithelium is the first layer on the inside of the bladder. It acts as a lining for the bladder. The lamina propria is the next layer. It consists of connective tissue, muscle, and blood vessels. Wrapped around the lamina propria is the layer called the muscularis propria or detrusor muscle. This layer consists of thick, smooth muscle bundles. The final, outer layer is the perivesical soft tissue, which is made up of fat, fibrous tissue, and blood vessels. An opening at the bottom of the bladder is connected to the urethra. A circular, muscular sphincter pinches tight to keep the opening and the urethra from leaking urine.

•Urethra - the tube that connects the urinary bladder to the urinary meatus for the removal of urine from the body. In males, the urethra travels through the penis and carries semenas well as urine. In the female, the urethra connects to the urinary meatus above the vagina

The Respiratory System

The cells of the human body require a constant stream of oxygen to stay alive. The respiratory system provides oxygen to the body’s cells while removing carbon dioxide, a waste product that can be lethal if allowed to accumulate. There are 3 major parts of the respiratory system: the airway, the lungs, and the muscles of respiration. The muscles of respiration, including the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, work together to act as a pump, pushing air into and out of the lungs during breathing.

•Sinuses – are a group of four paired air-filled spaces that surround the nasal cavity. The maxillary sinuses are located under the eyes; the frontal sinuses are above the eyes; the ethmoidal sinuses are between the eyes and the sphenoidal sinuses are behind the eyes. The sinuses are named for the facial bones in which they are located;

•Nasal cavities – (nasal fossa, or nasal passage) is a large air-filled space above and behind the nose. Each cavity is the continuation of one of the two nostrils. The temperature and humidity of the air we breath are adjusted in these cavities;

•Pharynx – the muscle that helps us shape the sound of our speech;

•Larynx – is an organ in the top of the neck involved in breathing, producing sound, and protecting the trachea against food aspiration, it also contains the vocal cords;

•Trachea – colloquially called the windpipe, is a cartilaginous tube that connects the pharynx and larynx to the lungs, allowing the passage of air. The trachea extends from the larynx and branches into the two primary bronchi;

•Bronchus - is a passage of airway in the respiratory system that conducts air into the lungs. The first bronchi to branch from the trachea are the right main bronchus and the left main bronchus. These are the widest and enter the lungs at each hilum, where they branch into narrower secondary bronchi known as lobar bronchi, and these branch into narrower tertiary bronchi known as segmental bronchi;

•Lung – the primary organs of the respiratory system. Their function is to extract oxygen from the atmosphere and transfer it into the bloodstream, and to release carbon dioxide from the bloodstream into the atmosphere, in a process of gas exchange. Respiration is driven by different muscular systems. They are situated within the thoracic cavity of the chest. The right lung is bigger than the left, which shares space in the chest with the heart. The lungs are part of respiratory tract that begins at the trachea and branches into the bronchi and bronchioles;

•Diaphragm – is a sheet of internal skeletal muscle that extends across the bottom of the thoracic cavity. The diaphragm separates the thoracic cavity, containing the heart and lungs, from the abdominal cavity and performs an important function in respiration: as the diaphragm contracts the volume of the thoracic cavity increases and air is drawn into the lungs. The diaphragm is slightly asymmetric, its right half is higher up (superior) to the left half, since the large liver rests beneath the right half of the diaphragm.

The Circulatory System

In the average human, about 2,000 gallons (7,572 liters) of blood travel daily through about 60,000 miles (96,560 kilometers) of blood vessels. That same human has 5 to 6 quarts (4.7 - 5.6 liters) of blood, which is made up of plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. The heart, blood, and blood vessels make up the cardiovascular component of the circulatory system. It includes the pulmonary circulation, a loop through the lungs where blood is oxygenated. It also incorporates the systemic circulation, which runs through the rest of the body to provide oxygenated blood. The pulmonary circulatory system sends oxygen-depleted blood away from the heart through the pulmonary artery to the lungs and returns oxygenated blood to the heart through the pulmonary veins.

Oxygen-deprived blood enters the right atrium of the heart and flows through the tricuspid valve (right atrioventricular valve) into the right ventricle. From there it is pumped through the pulmonary semilunar valve into the pulmonary artery on its way to the lungs. When it gets to the lungs, carbon dioxide is released from the blood and oxygen is absorbed. The pulmonary vein sends the oxygen-rich blood back to the heart. The systemic circulation portion of the circulatory system is the network of veins, arteries and blood vessels that transports blood from heart, services the body’s cells and then re-enters the heart. The circulatory system transports respiratory gases, nutrient molecules, wastes, and hormones throughout the body. These materials are carried by an intricate network of blood vessels, which follow continuous circuits from the heart through arteries, veins, and capillaries back to the heart. The circulatory system also regulates our body temperature.

•The Heart – is a muscular organ, which pumps blood through the blood vessels of the circulatory system. Blood provides the body with oxygen and nutrients, as well as assists in the removal of metabolic wastes. The heart is divided into four chambers, upper left and right atria; and lower left and right ventricles. Commonly the right atrium and ventricle are referred together as the right heart and their left counterparts as the left heart. The heart pumps blood with a rhythm determined by a group of pace-making cells in the sinoatrial node. These generate a current that causes contraction of the heart, traveling through the atrioventricular node and along the conduction system of the heart. The heart receives blood low in oxygen from the systemic circulation, which enters the right atrium from the superior and inferior venae cavae and passes to the right ventricle. From here it is pumped into the pulmonary circulation, through the lungs where it receives oxygen and gives off carbon dioxide. Oxygenated blood then returns to the left atrium, passes through the left ventricle and is pumped out through the aorta to the systemic circulation where the oxygen is used and metabolized to carbon dioxide;

•Heart beat - The heart contains electrical pacemaker cells, which cause it to contract producing a heartbeat. Each cell has the ability to be the ‘leader’ and have everyone follow. In people with an irregular heartbeat, or atrial fibrillation, every cell tries to be the leader, which causes them to beat out of sync with one another. A healthy heart contraction happens in five stages. In the first stage (early diastole), the heart is relaxed. The atrium contracts (atrial systole) to push blood into the ventricle. Next, the ventricles start contracting without changing volume. Then the ventricles continue contracting while empty. Finally, the ventricles stop contracting and relax. Then the cycle repeats. Valves prevent backflow, keeping the blood flowing in one direction through the heart. The heart beats about 100,000 times a day (about 3 billion beats in an average lifetime). A healthy adult heart should be beating between 60 to 80 times a minute;

•Blood - A body fluid that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells, (arteries), and transports metabolic