What if I told you that taking 1 to 2 minutes in the morning to make a smoothie will help you lose weight?

I am going to right now.

Making this smoothie in the morning will help you lose weight!

The key to losing weight is having the right ingredients, eating at the right time and combining these two together.

Making a smoothie with the following ingredients during the morning hours will definitely make an impact on what is around your waist.

You do not have to be a cook, chef or have a fancy kitchen. Just a blender, a desire to eat well and the following ingredients:

1. Get out your favorite blender. It really does not matter which brand you use. 
• I prefer a Glass unit for the top part of your blender as plastic leaches BPA which is shown to increase weight.
2. Add 2 cups of filtered water to the blender.
• Using unfiltered water adds chlorine, herbicides, pesticides, heavy metals and other unwanted compounds to your system.
• A comprehensive water filter removes these toxins.
• It is known that toxins in...

[admin's note: The following Q&A is drawn from comments on a previous article from Dr. Ben, "How to Lose Weight by One Simple Step"]

Q: Found this on twitter and very informative. This has always been my issue too. I tend to eat at night because that is usually when I feel famished. How can you stay full throughout the day as to not feel hungry at night?

A: Glad you found this article useful. It has helped a number of patients lose weight.

What I recommend to do is to look at what you are eating during the day and how often.

If you skip breakfast, eat a light lunch, then you will be starving at night.

Given the standard American lifestyle, this happens a lot with people.

They're in a rush in the morning so they skip breakfast. Bad news.

Then they are rushed at lunch, so they simply grab a snack or two to keep going.

Then when the get home, they're busy with chores, errands and activities - again not eating.

Then, once they finally get a moment to sit down and relax, they realize how starving th...

Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) is a monthly journal of peer-reviewed research and news published by the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services. EHP's mission is to serve as a forum for the discussion of the interrelationships between the environment and human health by publishing in a balanced and objective manner the best peer-reviewed research and most current and credible news of the field. With an impact factor of 6.19, EHP is the top monthly journal in public, environmental, and occupational health and the second-ranked monthly journal in environmental sciences. The environmental health sciences include many fields of study and increasingly comprise a multidisciplinary research area. EHP publishes articles from a wide range of scientific disciplines encompassing basic research; epidemiologic studies; risk assessment; relevant ethical, legal, social, environmental justice, and policy ...

Question: Can Fish Oil Cure Eczema Problems?

Mydaughter suffers from eczema. She is seriously underweight and short,  she is 10 years old and weighs  22.3kg  [49 lbs].

Can the Pharmax Fish Oil cure eczema problems?

Will this improve appetite and digestion?

Thanks
M.J.

Answer:

Hi M.J.,

Your question is a common one so do not feel discouraged. I get this question often, thus, I am well-informed of how to tackle it for the most part.

There are many potential causes for stunted growth, one being thyroid function. Have you tested your daughter's thyroid? That is very important.

Talk with her doctors about ordering a thyroid lab test. If you have ordered one already and have results, please share them with me.

When I order thyroid tests, I like to see values for:
- TSH
- free T4
- free T3
- reverse T3
- anti-thyroglobulin
- anti-TPO
- salivary cortisol (24 hour)

I would also suggest that her doctor order a general hormone panel for your daughter. Perhaps there is a hormonal imbalance which is stunting her grow...

Question about Sterol 117 for RA and APS Blood Clotting Disorder:

Dr.Ben,    

Several months ago you suggested I try Sterol 117 by BioGenesis.

I am battling Rheumatoid arthritis and also have Antiphospholipid Syndrome (blood clotting disorder). I had weaned off Prednisone, and stayed off from 8/26/08- 09/09/08, then another flare pushed me to go back on a low dose until I can get a response from you and make sure to order the right product.

I am taking Boswelya Plus, Calcium, Glucose/ Chondroitin, Vitamin E, Warfarin and of course Prednisone, which I HATE!   I have succeeded and been in remission twice, but after having my last child (2003) I'm having a hard time staying off Prednisone again.    

Let me know if Sterol 117 may help me wean off successfully this time. As soon as you can let me know if this is the right product, I'll order it.

Thank you,

No More Prednisone

A: Sterol 117 is a great choice for you. I recommend taking 2 capsules in the morning and 2 capsules at night before b...

My first course in medical school was an odd one.

Professors asked us this question: "What is your definition of cure?"

I thought to myself, what is this place? That's easy. "Cure is the absence of disease after successful treatment of the patient."

I raised my hand and shared my thoughts.

The professor seemed pleased; however, I didn't realize he was pleased because I fell right into his trap.

Professor then asked me: "What is the absence of disease?"

Frustrated and wanting to pounce on him, I simply reversed my statement. "The absence of disease is cure."

He smiled even wider.

I cannot tell you how irritated I became.

Who is this guy? Why are we having a class on defining the word cure in medical school? What is the point? Tell us how the body works, how diseases work and then how to fix it. That's medicine.

His questions burned in my head and his smile as well. I knew my answers were incorrect and wholly incomplete; yet, I didn't know how to answer the question; nor did anyone else in the ...