The millions of swine flu deaths governments and health agencies around the world feared did not happen. Drug companies did make a killing in flu shot sales, with millions of dollars lining the coffers of Big Pharma.

But swine flu being a dud did not deter Big Pharma from making a combination flu shot that contains both the regular flu and the swine flu vaccines.

This is the same type of flu shot that Australia suspended for use in children under the age of five because it resulted in many kids suffering from high fever, vomiting, and febrile convulsions, Dr. Joseph Mercola warns.

A special government committee that investigated last year’s swine flu vaccine found that it may be associated with a higher rate of certain kinds of reactions like:

1. Guillain-Barre syndrome – has been associated with influenza vaccine since 1976, the same year the first swine flu vaccine was used.
2. Thrombocytopenia – an autoimmune blood disorder wherein your blood cannot produce enough platelets.
3. Bell’s palsy – a neuroimmune reaction that causes facial paralysis.

But that’s not all. If you’re a senior citizen age 65 and older, the CDC wants you to take a flu shot that is four times as potent!

Why? Because when swine flu broke out last year, the CDC explained that seniors weren’t included in the first round of shots because studies showed that this age group had a lower risk of infection compared to younger age groups, Dr. Mercola explains.

Since H1N1 is now a component of the seasonal flu shot, the CDC wants seniors to take a more potent vaccine that contains an antigen (H1N1) they’re probably already immune to. This new shot will not have any safety evaluations until AFTER the flu season is underway.

The swine flu vaccine was not made mandatory last year because of people like you, who made their voices heard and value health freedom. Dr. Mercola urges you to help spread the word about this new and potentially more dangerous flu shot. Let your family, friends, and co-workers know what they might not hear from conventional media to help them protect their health.

In 2007, about 25 to 30 percent of the more than 200,000 bariatric surgeries (weight-loss surgeries) done in the U.S. used gastric banding.

Doctors say gastric banding is the least invasive form of bariatric surgery. With the obesity epidemic showing no signs of slowing down, many of those battling weight issues may be considering using a gastric band.

Obesity puts you at an increased risk of arthritis, depression, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, several forms of cancer, and many other diseases. It is a major public health crisis, but one that can be addressed without resorting to gastric band surgery, Dr. Joseph Mercola points out.

There’s always a risk when you go under the knife, but gastric banding and all types of bariatric surgery are fraught with a higher ratio of potential complications and risks.

One American clinical study that included a 3-year follow-up revealed that 88 percent of patients that tried a gastric band experienced one or more complications. 25 percent ended up having the gastric band removed permanently.

About nine percent of patients who had gastric band surgery had to undergo a second surgery to correct a problem with the band and/or a complication from the original operation.

Common gastric band complications are:

• Band eroding into the stomach (1.3 percent, requires band removal)
• Band slippage and/or pouch dilation (24 percent, requires another surgery)
• Difficulty swallowing (9 percent)
• Esophageal dilation and reduced esophageal function (11 percent)
• Gastroesophageal reflux (34 percent)
• Leaking or twisted access port into the stomach (9 percent)
• Stomach obstruction (14 percent)

Other possible complications include bowel and gallbladder issues, fainting, infection, kidney stones, malnutrition, and an increased risk of death, Dr. Mercola warns.

Bariatric surgery is just a quick fix and is NOT an effective weight loss tool because of the many negative long-term health consequences associated with this type of procedure.

Losing weight is very simple, if you know what you need to do, says Dr. Mercola. The number one dietary enemy in America is fructose, which is believed to be the main culprit in the obesity epidemic. Avoiding or completely eliminating fructose from your diet will greatly help your weight loss efforts.

You don’t need to restrict your food intake or go hungry in order to lose weight. Discover your unique Nutritional Type to conquer your food cravings and the need for snacks. Eating according to your Nutritional Type will not only help you manage your weight better, it will also help boost your energy, mind, mood, and emotions.

1. Vitamin K1 is found in green vegetables and goes directly to your liver. It helps you maintain a healthy blood clotting system. Babies need vitamin K1 to prevent a serious bleeding disorder. Vitamin K1 also prevents blood vessels from calcifying, helps your bones retain calcium, and helps you develop the right crystalline structure, Dr. Joseph Mercola explains.
2. Vitamin K2 is produced by bacteria and goes straight to your bones, vessel walls, and tissues other than your liver. It is present in fermented foods like curd cheese and natto. While a lot of vitamin K2 is present in your gut, it is not absorbed there. Most of it is just excreted in your stool.

Vitamin K2 comes in different forms, MK4 and MK7 being the most significant. MK4 is a synthetic product which is very similar to vitamin K1. Your body is capable of converting vitamin K1 into MK4. MK4, however, has a very short half-life (about an hour), making it ineffective as a dietary supplement.

MK7, on the other hand, is an agent which stays in your body longer–having a half-life of three days.

Nowadays, this “forgotten vitamin” is getting more attention as more studies show that it may have cancer prevention properties.

Dr. Mercola recently interviewed top vitamin K researcher Dr. Cees Vermeer, who founded the world’s largest vitamin K research group in 1975.

According to Dr. Vermeer, men who get adequate amounts of vitamin K2 can reduce their risk of prostate cancer by up to 50 percent. Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among men in the U.S.

Research conducted by the German Cancer Research Center suggests that people with a high consumption of vitamin K from food may reduce their risk of developing or dying from lung and prostate cancer compared to those who consume few vitamin K-rich foods.

Other studies show that vitamin K may be beneficial in the fight against other types of cancer, including colon, leukemia, liver, lung, nasopharynx, and oral cancers.

The Vitamin K, Vitamin D, and Calcium Triumvirate

Dr. Vermeer says that vitamin K is unable to do its work by itself. For you to fully experience and optimize the benefits of vitamin K, you need to take several “partner” nutrients.

Vitamin D, an important cancer-fighting nutrient, is one. There is a synergistic effect between vitamins K and D. These two nutrients work together to increase MGP, or Matrix GLA Protein–the protein responsible for protecting your blood vessels from calcification.

You probably know that calcium is good for your bones, but what you may not know is that it can also harm your arteries by calcifying them. Taking vitamin K solves this problem because it protects your blood vessels from calcification when in the presence of high calcium levels, Dr. Mercola explains.

Vitamin K, in the form of MK7, also increases the production of osteocalcin, a vitamin K-dependent protein your bones need to use calcium.

Take note: Vitamin K is a fat-soluble nutrient, so you need to eat some fat along with it so your body can effectively absorb it. A word of caution: Taking Vitamin K2 while on anticoagulation drugs may lead to adverse side effects. Patients on blood-thinning medications and those who have a history of stroke, cardiac arrest, and are prone to blood clotting should not take Vitamin K2 without first consulting their physician.

But did you know that aspartame was previously listed by the Pentagon as a biochemical warfare agent?

Aspartame’s discovery was accidental. A chemist was testing a new chemical as a possible anti-ulcer drug when he spilled some of the liquid on his hand. He licked his thumb clean and was surprised at its sweetness.

The rest is artificial sweetener history, or infamy. The FDA originally banned the use of aspartame after three independent scientists found that it might induce brain tumors. But strong pressure from a very influential figure finally put the controversial sweetener on the market.

The Dangers of Aspartame

If you think that low-calorie foods and drinks using aspartame and other artificial sweeteners are a dieter’s best friend, you are gravely mistaken, says Dr. Joseph Mercola, author of Sweet Deception. Studies show that aspartame may actually increase your appetite. You’re more prone to gain weight if you regularly consume aspartame-sweetened diet sodas.

But false weight loss promises are the least of your concerns when compared to other aspartame effects. It’s a little known fact that aspartame accounts for about 85 percent of all adverse reactions to food additives, including five reported deaths.

Aspartame is composed of three chemicals: aspartic acid (40 percent), methanol (10 percent), and phenylalanine (50 percent). Aspartic acid is a known excitotoxin, a substance which overexcites cells to the point of damage or death. Methanol, or wood alcohol, breaks down into formic acid and formaldehyde–a deadly neurotoxin, Dr. Mercola explains.

Phenylalanine is an amino acid present in your brain. Those suffering from the genetic disorder phenylketonuria (PKU) cannot metabolize phenylalanine, which leads to dangerously high and sometimes lethal levels of this amino acid in the brain. Consuming aspartame, especially along with carbohydrates, can lead to high levels of phenylalanine in the brain even in persons who do not have PKU.

The combined effects of these three chemicals can lead to a wide variety of health problems, some occur immediately, while others appear gradually. Some of the conditions that are caused or worsened by aspartame include:

• Birth defects
• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Emotional disorders
• Epilepsy/seizures
• Fatigue
• Headaches/migraines
• Insomnia
• Memory loss

Avoid aspartame and other potentially toxic artificial sweeteners if you want to satisfy your sweet tooth. If you have experienced an adverse reaction to any product containing aspartame, call the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator in your area.

Using high fructose corn syrup as a sweetener is out of the question. For Dr. Mercola, the healthiest sugar alternative is stevia. Stevia is a safe, natural alternative that’s ideal if you’re watching your weight or trying to avoid sugar.

Dr. Mercola recommends using stevia in moderation, though it is far less likely to cause metabolic problems than sugar or any artificial sweetener. If you have problems with your insulin, it’s best for you to avoid ALL forms of sweeteners, including stevia, as all sweets can decrease your insulin sensitivity.

It has reached the point where babies are being born with toxins in their systems due to the toxic load passed on by their mothers. A 2004 study by the Environmental Working Group revealed that blood samples from newborns contained an average of 287 toxins including mercury, fire retardants, pesticides, and chemicals found in non-stick cookware, Dr. Joseph Mercola points out.

The threat of toxic metals is real. McDonald’s recalled some 12 million Shrek Forever After drinking glasses after dangerous levels of cadmium were found in the decorative paint.

Warning Signs of Metal Toxicity

Aside from cadmium, other metals like aluminum, arsenic, lead, and mercury can also accumulate in soft tissues of your body. Symptoms of acute metal toxicity include difficulty in breathing, convulsions and cramping, headaches, impaired cognitive, language and motor skills, nausea, sweating, and vomiting.

On the other hand, the indicators of toxic build-up due to chronic toxic metal exposure are much more subtle, largely because the symptoms are so “common,” such as:

• Aching joints
• Depression
• Digestive problems
• Fatigue
• Impaired ability to properly assimilate and use fats
• Impaired blood sugar regulation
• Problems with the female reproductive system such as infertility, menstrual difficulties, miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, pregnancy-induced hypertension and premature birth

Toxic metal exposure can also cause more serious conditions including abnormal heart rhythm, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, damage to blood vessels, and neurological diseases.

How You Can Reduce Your Toxic Metal Exposure

Dr. Mercola believes that you can greatly limit your exposure to toxic metals dramatically. Eliminate accumulated toxins and restore health by following these guidelines:

1. Use safe cookware made from ceramic, glass, cast iron, or enamel-coated cast iron. Don’t use aluminum and non-stick cookware, as both are known for their toxic dangers. Likewise, stainless steel can expose you to carcinogenic nickel.
2. Eat according to your Nutritional Type. Your body will use toxic metals as “stand-ins” if you are deficient in essential minerals. For example, calcium is replaced by lead; zinc is replaced by cadmium; magnesium is replaced by aluminum; and manganese is replaced by nickel.
3. Avoid eating out at restaurants as they are required to use stainless steel pots and vats.
4. Avoid stainless steel thermoses – glass-lined types are best.
5. Stop using cosmetics with aluminum bases, mineral powders that contain bismuth, and aluminum-laden antiperspirants. Aluminum has been shown to increase your risk of Alzheimer’s disease by as much as 300 percent, Dr. Mercola warns.
6. Avoid vaccinations that inject mercury or aluminum directly into your bloodstream.
7. Avoid dental amalgam fillings. If you have dental amalgam fillings, have them removed.
8. Avoid stainless steel orthodontics such as braces and palate wideners.
9. Avoid costume jewelry if you are sensitive to metals.
10. Quit smoking. Second hand smoke also causes cadmium poisoning.
11. When buying natural herbal remedies, make sure you get them from a reputable source with strict quality testing. Some colloidal silvers can lead to silver poisoning. Folk remedies can be high in arsenic, lead, and mercury–either due to alleged medicinal properties or through accidental contamination.
12. Avoid conventional household cleaning products.
13. Avoid conventional insecticides and herbicides.