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1. Antibacterial everything from bleach to lotions to soaps and other cleaning supplies are depleting our body of the good bacteria that are there to help us. We actually have more bacteria in and on our body than the actual number of cells that comprise our body. When the first antibacterial soap was introduced by Dial, shortly thereafter was evidenced the first large surge in autoimmune diseases. The second largest surge occurred after the H1N1 swine flu scare occurred and we all went nuts with antibacterial everything.

2. Sterilants in our dental offices: we were spraying 60-80 times per day bactericidals that kill AIDS in one minute. Imagine what that was doing to us personally. Issues with my lungs were my first symptom. And, if we are breathing it, it is also reaching our digestive tract. I believe it was a huge culprit in the start of what they call LEAKY GUT. My body could no longer absorb my food leading to major weight loss of over 30 pounds and major food sensitivities. This led to inflammation throughout my body causing suppression of my immune system. Also, when the food isn’t able to be absorbed, it leaks into the bloodstream directly as a toxin, going to the brain and causing damage there by breaking the blood/brain barrier. Many now believe that Parkinson’s is directly linked to Leaky gut.

3. Foods that we eat can cause heavy metal toxicity. While in dental school I lived on tuna in a can and clam chowder in a can. Not only can the fish carry large amounts of metals, but also the cans were leaching out metal. I hardly ever buy anything in a can anymore.
Our water can also contain many heavy metals that have not been filtered out through normal processing. I have heard from more than one source that Lake Michigan has chemicals being dumped into it like those on the movie ERIN BROKOVICH. I now use a small countertop RO system called Aquatru. I believe it is the best system out there. The heavy metal toxicity contributed to my pain and brain fog and EMF sensitivity. Through a procedure called chelation, I was able to get a major amount of it cleared from may body. The RO water depletes the water of all impurities and trace minerals. I therefore put trace minerals back in the water once filtered. Magnesium is one of the main minerals removed from regular drinking water. It is one of the main minerals in almost all enzyme pathways in the cells, especially the breakdown of sugars. It is the main mineral replaced back into the water with Trace minerals. The biggest advantage of this countertop system is that it doesn’t waste as much water as a full house system.

4. Mold in our environment: also due to redoing our landscaping, repairing some leaky windows in our house, and swimming in the lake, I was exposed to mold on multiple occasions. This caused skin pain and depletion of good bacteria in/on my body. The skin pain was caused by EMF (electromagnetic frequencies) sensitivity as later determined after my recovery when I accidentally came in contact with some mold. While I was sick, I had to turn my WIFI off in my house, and could not be on my cell phone or computer. I also could tell if one of my daughter’s friends had a newer cell phone giving off more radiation. While driving in a car the EMF’s are bouncing off the windows searching for the closest cell towers. The worst part is that what I could feel is affecting all of our bodies since our body works on frequencies. Unfortunately, normally we can’t feel it. I am amazed how all of us are aware of the dangers of keeping a cell phone on our body, yet so many people wear apple watches and don’t think twice about what it’s doing to their body frequencies.

5. Construction materials being toxic, which in my case included a rubber material containing 1,3 Butadiene that has been found to be carcinogenic. I remember in years past having seen a show on Lifetime where soccer goalies were getting leukemia from the same substance used on soccer fields. I found it in MSDS reports after my toxin test came back showing that it was in my body at very dangerously high levels. The contractor had used it around our windows when they had repaired them.

6. Soul loss-an amazing concept that I have learned of through my journey as I studied an ancient healing technique along with meditation. I have learned the power of the mind in healing. Once I believed I would heal, it was amazing what came into my life to assist me. As I told my mind I was in Perfect Health, it began to manifest it.

7. I also believe that the substances being put in our food today are major contributing factors. Inflammation occurs which is the main trigger of disease in our bodies. This can be caused by SUGAR in any form including carbohydrates, GMO’s(foods that are genetically modified are actually outlawed in Europe), Trans fats and polyunsaturated fats that we were misled to use when we were told that fat is bad for us. They have known since 1972 that polyunsaturated fats lead to cancer, but who would fund a study to look into it further when the food industry had convinced us it was the best oils to consume.

In the 1970’s, the Sugar industry paid for many studies to prove that fat was bad for us when they knew that sugar was the main culprit of heart disease. This led to the development of unsafe oils, starting with Crisco, and margarines (polyunsaturated fats) to replace the fats that we were told were bad for us. Also, when fat was no longer in many foods, excess sugar was added to make it palatable. Also, it was recommended to eat lots of whole grains which also are basically complex carbohydrates. In the 1980’s a total of 147 million people had diabetes. Today over 353 million people are stricken by the horrible disease. We have to be doing something wrong. I’m tired of everyone I know having some kind of illness. Things have to change.

8. Many toxins in our environment mimic estrogens. When our body comes in contact with these, the overload of estrogen causes inflammation leading to the estrogen dominant cancers such as breast, uterine, ovarian, prostate, and even brain and thyroid cancer. They are finding good results using the keto diet along with other techniques for these cancers. A list of these estrogen mimickers can be found at: www.balancedconcepts.net/tips avoid xenoestrogens.pdf

To decrease inflammation in our bodies and return to health I believe we need to:

1. Eliminate as many toxins as possible: we have gone to the use of more surface barrier technique to prevent dangerous aerosols in our office.
2. Buy or raise organic, non-GMO whole foods.
3. Eat meat that is raised the way it is supposed to be: in its natural environment eating grass, nuts, and insects.
4. Limit our carbohydrate intake and increase our fat intake (good fats) to heal our bodies: while in Florida having treatment, I was put on the KETO diet. At the time I didn’t understand the reasoning for it, but my doctor told me it would help me heal. I continue to eat KETO as a lifestyle and believe it was a huge part of my recovery by decreasing the inflammation in my body and healing my leaky gut. I am now teaching cooking classes on KETO. I have discovered many excellent recipes and have developed some on my own, including Keto vanilla bean ice cream and French silk. My favorite Keto consultant is Maria Emmerich and I have all her wonderful cookbooks. She also wrote along with her husband a book called Keto. The Complete Guide to Success on the Keto Diet. It really helped me understand the science behind the diet. I now have my keto coaching certification and am teaching others the benefits of a good eating lifestyle.

5. Reduce the stress in our lives by living in spirit vs. ego through meditation.
6. Always get 8 hours of sleep at a minimum. During sleep is when our body heals. I was taking five pills at night at one time to sleep. I now only take a magnesium supplement infrequently which is very helpful for calming. Magnesium along with Vit D are the most deficient in our country. Both play a huge role in our body functioning. Vit D comes mainly from the sun, so if you’re not getting at least 20 minutes per day of sun, you definitely should be taking a supplement. I also put lavender under my feet to assist in sleeping.
7. Eliminate bad oils that we have been misled to believe were healthy for us. I have included a list of good and bad oils in the Pantry List. Bad oils cause inflammation in our bodies leading to disease due to the high amount of Omega-6’s.

Much of the information that I have learned has also come from functional medicine doctor Mark Hyman. His book, Food, What the Heck Should I Eat contains a plethora of information regarding the truth about food. Mark Hyman is the head of functional medicine in the United States. It is a new branch of medicine searching for and treating the “Why” we get sick. I feel it is the future of medicine and I encourage my patients that are interested in the medical field to go this direction.

My keto background and main keto mentor that I follow is Maria Emmerich. She has a great website called Mariamindbodyhealth.com. She’s been doing keto for over 20 years and is incredible. She had severe PCOS and depression and is now totally healed of both. Her husband, Craig Emmerich, has also suffered from Lyme disease. He has found that since he eats totally the Carnivore diet he has eliminated his pain. Maria and him as a couple educate others on the benefits of a great diet and lifestyle and ways to heal the body. He also co-authored the KETO. book and the Carnivore diet book. Maria has some of the most amazing keto diet books that are almost all available on Amazon. I don’t even want to eat out anymore, because when I cook my own food at home, I know what is in it and it tastes excellent. I attempt to cook all my meals at home by starting on Sundays with food prep. I also try to cook double batches of many dishes so that I can freeze one half in Pyrex glass container. They can then just be popped in my toaster oven to reheat once they thaw.

Another great resource is a movie on Netflix called, “The Magic Pill”. It is nothing short of amazing.

Hippocrates said many years ago, “Let food be thy medicine”. I believe he was totally correct. We are what we eat. And if you don’t think it matters, look around the next time you are in the grocery store at what people eat and how they look.

Thanks again for our working relationship. I wish you all the best of health.

Dr. Brenda Stenftenagel, orthodontist and health coach.