Mr. Natural

Quick Takes

How do you start your day?
Generally by an affirmation that this day will never be again and therefore I do not want to waste it. I want to honor the day by doing the things that are important. In the morning, I make a list of how I am going to make this day count, so that I can be happy at the end of the day. This makes sure that the day was not taken for granted in any way.

What’s your favorite way to unwind?
Gardening. What’s your favorite guilty pleasure? I like having Rice Dream ice cream and putting fruit concentrates and my own homemade granola on it.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what one food and one supplement would you want to have with you?
The food would be probably sweet potatoes and the one nutrient would be vitamin C. I could survive indefinitely with both of those.

If anyone is qualified to show you the best alternatives to conventional medicine, it’s nutritionist and prolific New York Times best-selling author Gary Null, PhD. Dubbed “the New Mr. Natural” by Time magazine, Null has authored more than 60 books, including Get Healthy Now!, Gary Null’s Power Aging, and most recently, Be a Healthy Woman. Considered one of the nation’s foremost advocates of alternative medicine and natural healing, Null spreads the word about natural health through his nationally syndicated talk show, PBS television specials, and award-winning documentary films.

What is the No. 1 health concern for men, and what can be done on an individual level to address it?
Loss of libido and loss of muscle mass. A good supplement combination to address these two things is chrysin (1,200 mg), muira puama (600 mg), nettle root (225 mg), maca (200 mg), ginger root (40 mg), elemental zinc (20 mg, chelated), and Bioperine (10mg). Other important nutrients for antiaging include the following: carnosine, acetyl-L-carnitine, R-lipoic acid, benfotiamine (form of vitamin B1), and pyridoxamine (vitamin B6). For heart health: superoxide dismutase (SOD), pomegranate extract, and cocoa bean extract. For prostate health: beta-sitosterol, saw palmetto, nettle root, pygeum, lycopene, boswellia, and boron.

What are the secrets to healthful aging that everyone should know?
Doing one hour of aerobic exercise per day is important. For men, increasing one’s testosterone level naturally is also vital for antiaging. The nutrient most important in slowing the aging process is L-carnosine. Taken in 2,000 mg doses per day, it can make all the difference. Also, anything that causes inflammation can upset hormones in the body, which advances premature aging as well as stress. De-stressing, exercising, and foods that keep the body calm all help to slow the aging process.

In Be a Healthy Woman, you outline a home detoxification program. Why should we detox, and how often should we do it?
I believe we should be detoxifying once every three months to get rid of the heavy metals, glutens, pesticides, and the thousands of different chemicals that get into our bodies through the air, water, and food. Detoxification is not a radical process and can be done easily. Emphasize power foods that are known to have natural chelating abilities, such as blueberries, strawberries, pomegranates, tart cherries, broccoli, cauliflower, dandelion greens, radishes, sprouts, and juices. Every three months, take a high-fiber drink at night for a week, preferably around 25 to 50 g of fiber.

What’s the most important thing to know about dental health?
Make sure that you are brushing and flossing. Also, use a nonalcohol mouthwash three times a day and gargle for approximately 60 seconds. Remember to clean the tongue; many people forget to do this. The tongue can hold a lot of the bacteria in the mouth. Vitamin C and querticin help with dental health the most. What are the most important items we should have in our home medicine cabinet? Wild oregano oil, olive leaf extract, colloidal silver spray, peppermint oil, echinacea, and pau d’arco.