By Mark N. Mead, MSc

direction. To this end, there are numerous nutritional tools to choose

from. I often find, however, that people use these tools—especially supplements—

in ways that confer only limited benefits or that may even lead to adverse outcomes.

make complete. Nutrition, I believe, is among the self-care domains that ultimately

can enhance medicine, making treatments more effective and more

tolerable, for example, and helping people reclaim their health for the long term.

Following are some basic examples of how integrative, functional thinking

about nutrition can improve your health and well-being.

often is compromised in people with cancer. This is where chewing well, healthful cooking, and eating in a relaxed manner come into play. Digestive enzymes and use of specific super foods (e.g., green foods) also can make a difference. If you really want to tap the power of your plate, then you may want to consider such issues as food allergies, food combining, and timing of meals.

putative driving force behind cancer and aging. Free radicals are molecular

terrorists that diminish your physiological resources the way credit card bills attack your checkbook. The solution is not just to consider specific antioxidants, but also to avoid the various dietary and lifestyle sources of free radicals. Also, new research suggests that antioxidant supplements have greater efficacy when provided as part of the phytonutrient-rich matrix found in various super food concentrates, and when synergies between key antioxidants are recognized.

supplement in particular has deepened my own sleep profoundly and also enhanced my energy levels, stamina, sexual potency, body composition (more

muscle, less fat), and mental clarity. This unique product, clinically tested and

developed by MDs who specialize in anti-aging research, is a pure, patented,

plant-derived amino acid supplement called SomaLife gHP. It’s taken just before bed on an empty stomach and may require up to six months of usage for optimal results (though in my case, at age 43, it took only a few weeks). The gHP is not yet available in stores, only through the Internet, but it does carry a guarantee;

see my wife Sabine’s website, www.somalife.net/health.

Nutritional tools such as these, though exceptional, should not be viewed as panaceas or magic bullets. True integrative health care uses nutrition as an

essential facet of each patient’s self care—no less important than exercise

and stress management, and entirely complementary to medical care. Over

the years, in my work as a nutrition research consultant, I have had the opportunity to interview cancer specialists from all over the world. To my knowledge, there is only one clinic practicing authentic integrative cancer care here in the United States, and that is the Block Center for Integrative Cancer Care in Evanston, IL. Although many centers espouse the “integrative medicine” label,

the Block center is the only one in the U.S. that actually integrates nutrients,

botanicals, body-centered treatments, complementary and conventional therapies into a comprehensive, individualized treatment plan—and provides these services all under one roof (for more information, go to www.blockmd.com).

MAKING SENSE OF HEALTH AND NUTRITION INFORMATION

Tens of millions of U.S. adults retrieve health information from the Internet every day. The Internet can be a terrific resource but also has the potential to mislead and misinform. Most people lack the training to meaningfully organize, interpret, and judge this information. Typically, these Internet searches result in an unprincipled shotgun approach, an “everything but the kitchen sink” nutritional plan. Supplements used in this way can be a waste of money and can have untoward consequences, such as adverse supplement-supplement, supplement-drug, and supplement-disease interactions. The results you get are often either well below optimal or, in some cases, downright detrimental. What is needed, instead, are favorable synergies, interactions that tend to support extraordinary wellness and vitality.

As someone trained in nutritional biochemistry and epidemiology, my role is to help people cull and organize nutritional knowledge, identifying critical health-related information and key research and resources for a given situation. If claims about a certain diet or supplement are made, I help determine whether, from an evidence-based perspective, it may be wise to explore the approach, and I will refer people to specific resources such as oncologists, holistic practitioners, and registered

dietitians. My research-based expertise and connections to a vast network of

health care professionals enable me to work closely with caregivers in order to

design strategic, evidence-based plans for optimal wellness. My one- to two-hour

consultations are designed to help you identify and understand the essential

concerns for your particular situation, with research-guided insights for enhancing disease resistance, coping better with treatments, and staying healthy and resilient. I offer ongoing support as well.