Terry Lemerond

Senator Hatch and Terry

Chris Kilham speaks at
Expo West EPS seminar

Healing Secrets Store Training

Healing Secrets Store Training

Dr. Gray & Terry

Terry & Marilu Henner

Terry receives NPA Presidents Award

Terry receives Vity Award

Buddy and Bella

Chris Kilham and Mike King,
Mari-Mann Herb Farm

Chris Kilham book signing,
Mari-Mann Herb Farm

Terry training at Baums Natural Foods, Indiana

Terry at Baums Natural Foods, Indiana

Robie Imborek and Terry at Baums Natural Foods

Terry Talks Nutrition

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Just Ask Terry - March 19, 2010

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Dear Terry, “I suffer from severe acid reflux and I’ve been on Prilosec and Nexium for years. I want to get off, but can't, because if I don't take a Nexium every morning, within 30 minutes I have an attack. My question is that if I take the d-limonene and licorice root extract, can I just get off the Nexium right away, or do I wean myself off? Desperate to be free. Thanks.” Donald B., Houma, LA

A. Dear Donald, I understand your desire to be able to deal with your acid reflux naturally. However, severe acid reflux is a serious concern, and my recommendation is that you discuss adding supplements to your health plan with your licensed health care practitioner. I can give you some ideas, but when it comes to chronic problems and prescription medication, always keep your doctor in the loop. If your doctor agrees, I would continue using your medication as prescribed and add the formulation of d-limonene and licorice root extract. Use the medicine along with the nutritional formulation together for a week or two, and then seek your physician’s advice as to how you may gradually reduce the prescribed medication.

It may be hard for many to believe, but the symptoms of too much stomach acid and too little are exactly the same. In 95% of the cases, people will be deficient in betaine hydrochloric acid, otherwise known as HCL. Experiment taking HCL with each meal, starting with one capsule and slowly graduate up to higher dosages if necessary, maybe one to three capsules with each meal. Also, keep in mind when you block the acid with prescription medication, the digestive tract can no longer properly digest proteins and minerals, which require an acid medium. All of these drugs in the class of proton pump inhibitors, of which Nexium and Prilosec are two, can cause severe malnutrition, because they block the proper digestion of food. They will also cause an overgrowth of yeast and bacteria in the intestinal tract because they inhibit the body’s natural ability to use digestive acids to destroy pathogens in the gut.

Q. “I have been taking Lipitor (10mg) and Lisinopril (20mg) for slightly elevated levels of blood pressure and cholesterol. Both values have been good since this "therapy" - but my joints have begun to hurt and crack like never before. My doc says it is air (?) and comes with age. I have begun to exercise again regularly, drinking 2x2 ounces of Mandura daily and I am eating healthier. Can you recommend natural products that could replace the traditional medications recommended by my doctor?” Sebastian H., Naples, FL

A. Dear Sebastian, Oh boy! Your joints, which have begun to hurt and crack like never before, may well be side effects of the drugs you're taking. You can read the drug facts leaflet that details the side effects of cholesterol lowering drugs, which can include loss of memory, vague aches and pains, joint pain, neuritis, neuralgia and neuropathy. Personally, I really hate the drugs that lower cholesterol since they are destroying a natural enzyme system that is necessary for healthy body function. Our cholesterol is used to manufacture most of our hormones. It provides a covering and insulation to our nervous system and is converted into one of the most critical vitamins, vitamin D. Our liver produces 95 to 100% of our cholesterol so it seems to me that there is a very important role for cholesterol in our health. We cannot live without it, yet many believe we should lower the cholesterol to an abnormally low level which then can cause depression, suicidal tendencies and a 1200% increase in breast cancer in women. Did you know that 63% of all heart attack victims have normal cholesterol by today's standards? It has been proven that lowering cholesterol can shorten our lifespan and people with high cholesterol often live longer. Pure cholesterol is not the culprit nor does it cause the damage, but oxidized cholesterol, caused by a different set of circumstances, causes inflammation in the arteries. I know you are interested in improving your health. Before you combine any dietary supplement with your prescription drugs, talk with your licensed healthcare practitioner. Have an open discussion about your concerns and questions about continuing to take the medications you describe. If your choice is to remain on a statin drug, my only suggestion is that you add heart healthy CoQ10 in the non-oxidized ubiquinol form, 100 to 200 mg daily. Statin drugs block the production of cholesterol as well as CoQ10. Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet with good oils from fish and olives. Since the vast majority of cholesterol is actually made by our bodies, avoiding certain foods with cholesterol to improve our heart health is like spitting in the ocean to raise its level.

Q. “How can you soften a firm prostate...how do you get rid of eye floaters...age 67.” Edward A., Clinton, MA

A. Dear Edward, I would recommend that you go to your local health food store and ask for a good all-around prostate support formula that contains saw palmetto berry, zinc, pumpkin seed oil, lycopene and selenium. This is not all-inclusive, but it gives you an idea of what kind of nutrients can support a healthy prostate function.

To support healthy eye function I like to use a combination of blackcurrant extract and astaxanthin. These two ingredients are very beneficial for the function of the eyes. Blackcurrant extract can improve the microcirculation and general eye health and astaxanthin can reduce eye fatigue and the reduction of free radical damage.