Spotlight On Suzanne Somers

Spotlight On:Suzanne Somers

My health is so great that I’m never, ever sick. It’s a blessing and a gift I’ve given to myself and my family, says Somers

The actress-turned-health advocate discusses her book Tox-Sick and the natural products she can’t live without

Toxic health hazards hit close to home for natural health maven Suzanne Somers and her family. “I have two granddaughters with brain conditions: ADD, ADHD, OCD, exacerbated by a Lyme-carrying tick bite, which had one child’s health on a downward spiral, taking years to overcome,” the actress and author, who turns 70 this month, says. “My husband was exposed to dangerous black mold-Stachybotrys-and it resided in the base of his brain, causing Parkinson’s-like grimacing. We have finally been able to detox the mold out of him without ever taking a single drug. And I had black mold in my intestines, causing terrible bloating and unexplained weight gain. The rest of the family has had food allergies, starting with gluten intolerance.”

Somers takes you through these health journeys-while interviewing cutting-edge environmental doctors and offering solutions and detox regimens-in her bestseller TOX-SICK: From Toxic to Not Sick. “Once you reach what I call a ‘tipping point’ of your individual toxic burden, the next thing-be it black mold, Lyme-carrying tick bite, air freshener sprayed in a room, or the toxic cleanser you clean your toilet with-could be the final irritant that tips the scales and triggers allergies to everything. So your gluten intolerance is a sign that you’re carrying an enormous toxic burden, and this is what is degrading your health.”

Supplementation, adds Somers, is essential to optimal health in a toxic world. Here are four of her favorite wellness-restoring natural products.

Probiotics

“If you were to take only one supplement daily for the rest of your life, it should be a good probiotic,” she says. “If you’ve ever had an anti-biotic, then you can bet your gut flora is no longer balanced. That’s your bloating, constipation, gas, and cramping.”

Fish oil (EFAs)

“Fish used to be our main source [of essential fatty acids], but the oceans’ waters are so polluted by mercury, heavy metals, and PCBs-all cause brain deterioration-that fish is no longer a safe option,” she believes.

Coconut oil

“It can be used to soften the skin, and a few drops in the bath makes for an aromatic experience. I also put it in my hair and use it as a cuticle oil.” Also, “it’s great for cooking, and to heal a GI tract that is inflamed. Four spoons of virgin organic coconut oil throughout the day will heal an inflamed gut.”

Vitamin D3

This vitamin “is an essential supplement for supporting your body’s most important systems: endocrine, immune, cardiovascular, and cognitive.”

Great Health Pays Off in Vegas

Somers was named Las Vegas Entertainer of the Year in 1986-alongside pal Frank Sinatra. Thirty years later, she’s heating up Sin City with a new cabaret show that’s “a throwback to the Sinatra days-unscripted, great music, and free-form interactive back-and-forth with the audience,” the still fit-and-trim headliner says. “I’m back and feeling better than ever. I have great energy, I’m old enough to be in command of my audience and love entertaining.” At least 30 minutes of daily exercise keeps her going off-stage, too. “I do yoga three times a week, and I have an Internet workout show I pull up to do a 10-minute workout when I don’t have time to walk for 45 minutes.” The work she’s put into her health “has such a payoff,” she adds. “I’d never be able to do this show if I wasn’t hormonally balanced and didn’t have strong bones and a clear head. My health is so great that I’m never, ever sick. It’s a blessing and a gift I’ve given to myself and my family.”