Currently, in the United States we have an epidemic of chronic, debilitating diseases!  In the last 75 years, we have made significant progress in treating acute trauma and illness, but chronic illnesses like cancer, stroke, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, etc. have continued to rise. We have become better at keeping people alive once they are sick, but we are failing miserably at preventing people from becoming ill in the first place. Why is this?  
In order to understand what is happening, we need to look at the disease process.  Chronic illness is due to the body’s inability to expel wastes and toxins.  It simply is a result of waste elements being stored in the body instead of being eliminated.  Inflammation in the body, including fever, is the body’s attempt at “house cleaning”.   We get sick because we are toxic.  The body is trying to expel the toxins.  If we suppress the illness by using drugs, we drive the illness deeper into our body, which eventually leads to chronic illness and disease.  Drugs treat symptoms, but do not cure disease.  This is why most people must stay on their medications indefinitely.

Knowing this, let's look at a few conditions where proper nutrition has had profound impact in the health and lives of some of my clients. 

IBS - Irritable bowel sydrome or IBS affects approximately 15% of Amercians.  Refined sugars and improperly prepared carbohydrates are the biggest problems for people with IBS, Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis.  Changing the way foods are prepared is the key to recovering from these disorders.  Avoid processed foods and try soaking or sprouting your grains before cooking to deactivate the enzyme inhibitors that cause these problems.

Autism - The rate of children being diagnosed with autism is steadly increasing in the U.S.  The incidence rate is now at 1 in 155 children and will continue to increase with the consumption of processed foods and antibiotic use.  Autism is treatable by adjusting the gut's ecosystem.  Autistic children lack good bacteria in their gut and have many digestive problems, which affects their immune system, and ultimately affects the brain.  Healing the gut involves initial dietary restrictions, fermented foods, ample good fats, and probiotics.   

Improving digestion and elimination - Many people are told by their doctor that it is perfectly “normal” to have a bowel movement every few days.  This is absolutely false and it is one of the biggest reasons why so many Americans have health problems and hemorrhoids.  At the very least, elimination should be once daily, ideally, after every meal.  There are a number of steps that can be taken to improve digestion including proper types of fluids, fermented foods and exercise to name a few.