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I hope you had a happy, healthy and blessed holiday season and that you're having a Happy New Year! By the way, Happy Chinese New Year! This is the year of the monkey.

You are the reason I am here. At one point in my life I had some very challenging health problems that just couldn't seem to be helped by traditional Western medicine or any of the alternatives I was using. However, when I found Contact Reflex Analysis (or CRA…as in www.choosecra.com) I was on my way to health and have been ever since. This sophisticated type of muscle testing plus some excellent food supplements helped me regain my health. My mission now is to provide that kind of service to you. My newsletter is one of the ways I have of sharing what I know with you so that you, too, can benefit from this wonderful information.

MAD COW DISEASE: To eat beef or not to eat beef? That is the question.

Just a couple of days before Christmas 2003, the first-ever case of mad cow disease in the United States was announced. Many assumed it might be an isolated case, but this week two more herds suspected of having the disease are being isolated as a precaution, so it seems like a good time to take a closer look at this issue.

Mad cow disease, formally known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE.), can seem baffling because it's origin seems to be mysterious. Here's what is generally theorized about it.

• It strikes at random
• Cattle can become infected (though not always) with the disease by eating feed that contains infected tissue
• Some believe that organophosphate pesticides (used to prevent warble flies from biting) may also play a major role in its cause by destroying the animal's immune system
• There is no known cure
• It leads quickly to death virtually 100 percent of the time. Mad cow disease essentially creates holes in an infected cow's brain. It is a degenerative and fatal condition that occurs in cows. A similar disease called "scrapie" occurs among sheep.

It is also a chronic wasting disease among deer. And still another form "Creutzfeldt-Jakob" disease, or CJD, can be found among humans. Humans may get a form of mad cow disease, known as variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob (vCJD) from eating central nervous tissue that comes from the brain or spine of a cow infected with mad cow disease, or meat containing such tissue. This is a common food in other developing countries.

What are the symptoms?

In cattle, you may see the following:

1) an excitable or nervous temperament to external stimuli such as touch to the skin

2) a progressive unsteadiness of gait resulting eventually in the inability to stand up or walk, commonly callded "downer" cattle. The disease is virtually 100% fatal.

In humans who have eaten the allegedly-diseased beef, CJD can cause:

1) memory loss

2) emotional instability with inappropriate outbursts

3) an unsteady gait followed by more weakness

4) a fast-occurring form of dementia

5) ending with death, often within a year of its onset.

What can you do to avoid mad cow disease?

Today much of the beef that is sold in the large grocery store chains has been raised on factory farms. For the most part, they are fed a steady diet of foods here that have reportedly been made from other diseased animals. In addition they are given hormones, pesticides and other harmful substances that destroy the animal's immune system.

In order to avoid this, here are some guidelines so you can make your own informed choices.

Buy beef from local sources that don't feed their cattle any grain-products that have brain or nervous system tissue as part of their mix. You might check your local Yellow Pages or perhaps the classified section of your local newspaper.

• Find a progressive grocery store chain like, Whole Foods that sells free-range grown beef.
• Buy Grassland Beef online and they will ship it quickly and safely by Fed Ex.

All of these options may cost you more but at least you'll have safer beef to eat. Of course, this is entirely my opinion. But the way I see it is there is always the option to make a change. Perhaps you'd like to watch this animated short, called "The Meatrix" created in Flash, created by Genetically Engineered Food Alert to get one other creative viewpoint that is backed by many, many reputable organizations and individuals. Feel free to e-mail the link to this newsletter or to "The Meatrix" to friends and family.

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7-DAY TISSUE CLEANSE: Cleaning the sludge off your intestinal walls

How long has it been since you've thought about cleaning out your body? Every year or so we often find ourselves going through the house and weeding out excess accumulation and dust that accrues in corners or hard-to-reach places over time. There also comes a time in a car's life that it needs the pistons cleaned in order for it to maintain the fuel efficiency and to extend its useful life. But what about your body? Doesn't it deserve some attention and time so that it can have the chance to be cleaned out and have excess toxins removed that have been collecting on the lining of the digestive tract, and as waste products in the cell? Besides, wouldn't you like to absorb more nutrients and feel more energetic, too? Perhaps, now is a good time of year to consider a week-long cleanse.

Here is the information about a cleanse that I was given in 1990 and have done many times over the years. My body eliminated much black tarry-like deposits that were just like rubber and came from the digestive tract. If you would like a picture of the possible debris that may be in your body, please see the book written by Dr. Bernard Jensen titled: Tissue Cleansing

Here is the basic outline of the program: For these seven days it is suggested you consume the cleansing drink (below) along with water and lemon, and/or cranberry, cran/apple, or pineapple or vegetable juices, all unsweetened made without additional water, i.e. not from concentrate. This program will assist in detoxifying your liver, which is said to assist in creating a healthier body. Over the years it has been very effective to support healing in numerous people as it has assisted in the elimination of parasites, mucus, old feces, metals and other materials such as environmental chemicals that are not healthy to the human body.

During the seven days it is possible you may go through stages of fatigue alternating with periods of great energy. These are natural and desirable symptoms of cleansing. At this time toxins are moving rapidly through and out of the system.

For better effectiveness, this cleanse can be done for seven days, seven times, seven weeks apart. That means this complete program can be accomplished in a year. After that, twice a year in spring and fall, following the natural earth cycle, is suggested. Additionally, whenever you feel toxic or congested you can do this cleanse for 2 or 3 days. In the beginning, before the full seven-day cleanse you may even consider taking the drink twice daily along with a modified food plan. This will begin the process of cleansing in a less aggressive manner.

Try this recipe for the cleansing drink

½ tsp. Pascalite Powder (increasing to 1 ½ to 2 tsp per drink over the first few days

½ tsp. Beet Crystals (from Germany)*swallowed with the drink

½ tsp. Green barley grass juice powder* (may add more if you like...organic without additives is best)

1 TBSP. Psyllium husk* (whole) start with 1 tsp. per dose and increase gradually over the first two to three days .

Mix all drink ingredients with 8 ounces liquid (for example: half apple/water, half pineapple/ water, tomato juice or veggie juice combos) or just simply water. Follow with at least 8 ounces of water. Drink this mixture every two hours at five doses per day. Continue for seven days. Take no other foods. Drink supplemental vegetable juices or water throughout the day, if desired.

You might also consider taking supplements as directed by your health and nutrition counselor. I would be glad to help you with a health evaluation. Take any suggested supplements separately from the drink.

*Readily available at most quality health food stores.

**Available from my office by phone (866-942-6848 TOLL FREE) or by e-mail.

Each night take a high enema

Use a minimum of two quarts of purified water in your enema; although you can use up to four quarts, if desired. A high enema is an enema that allows water to pass into the whole contents of the large intestine. This is accomplished with at least two quarts of water or more. Go slowly and allow the toxins to be released into the commode. The water should be a warm temperature without being hot. Adjust to your own need. If you have never taken an enema and need more instructions you may email me and I will be happy to help you with my own experiences with these types of enemas. Note: There is no need to do enemas when just using the drink twice daily along with your modified meals.

Suggested enema sequence

Night 1: Minimum 2 quarts of water with 1 teaspoon Epsom salts

Night 2: Minimum 2 quarts of water with juice from ½ lemon, freshly squeezed

Night 3: Minimum 2 quarts of water with one cup of strongly brewed coffee (not decaf)

Nights 4-7: Repeat Night 1-3 can be repeated or must stay with the coffee enemas through Night 7. On the last day, after the last enema, I suggest taking any good quality intestinal flora product dissolved in water will be good (Jarrow has a product, for instance) or try Primal Defense by Garden of Life. These are available at health food stores and contain acidophilus/bifidus powder which needs to be mixed in one cup of warm water. Retain it as long as possible.

Breaking the cleanse program

It is recommended that you do not eat any cooked foods for at least four more days or longer after finishing the cleanse. Use raw juicy fruits (not citrus), and easily tolerated raw vegetables chewed well, along with soaked nuts and seeds. Soaking germinates the nuts and makes the enzymes activated and therefore they digest themselves, while providing you with big bursts of nutrition. (Raw nuts are just seeds, loaded with the nutrition to start a new plant's life. DO NOT USE roasted nuts or seeds.)

Continue to use the diet drink twice daily for a few more days. You can also use sprouted grains, and eat your home made "seed cheese" insert link. After the 4th day, add lightly cooked vegetables and if desired you may introduce cooked whole grains into the diet. Limit to one tennis ball size portion per day. NO animal foods should be eaten until after at least six days after the end of the program.

Use Rejuvelac insert link with meals to add intestinal flora back into the gut and to increase health. Use intestinal cultures daily (Primal Defense by Garden of Life, for example) for about one month. Enjoy renewed health and vigor!

There are more suggestions that can be made on an individual basis. Please ask me about this diet/cleanse and consider getting a health evaluation, if you'd like help on an individual basis. Or, e-mail me for more information.

Be sure and try the recipes for the Rejuvelac (make your own or you can purchase it in your health food store) and experiment with the recipe for Seed Cheese. Good health to you!!

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FLU PREVENTION: Things you can do to avoid the flu and its dangerous vaccines, too

While I am not here to diagnose or prescribe anything, as a health practitioner and someone who believes in natural health, I would like to tell you about my perspective about flu viruses and the dangers of taking flu vaccines.

It's true that the flu can be devastating and, in some cases, may cause deaths as we've seen recently in Colorado and Oklahoma. But, what they don't tell you is that you can become very susceptible to these viruses if you don't work to keep your immune system strong. A strong immune system is your first line of defense in NOT contracting it in the first place. This, however, isn't a quick fix in any way. It takes time to build that immune system strength.

Quick flu fix vs. long-term health

Vaccines are tempting because they are touted as quick fixes, which they are. But what the medical community doesn't tell you is that those vaccines often contain lots of toxins, which can cause side effects, in them too.

If you could get your doctor to sit down and read you the written insert that comes with each of these vaccines, you'd find that they may contain any of the following:

• Ethylene glycol (antifreeze)
• Phenol, also known as carbolic acid (this is used as a disinfectant and a dye)
• Formaldehyde, a known cancer-causing agent
• Aluminum, which is associated with Alzheimer's disease and seizures and also cancer producing in laboratory mice (it is used as an additive to promote antibody response)
• Thimerosal (a mercury disinfectant/preservative) can result in brain injury and autoimmune disease
• Neomycin and Streptomycin (used as antibiotics) have caused allergic reaction in some people.

I think you can see that you wouldn't want to willingly inject any of these substances into your blood. If you do, you'll be compromising your immune system even more. You could even find yourself involved in an endless loop of having to receive vaccines or other drugs to combat other vaccines' side effects.

Nutrition works: 10 ways to keep your immune system healthy and avoid the flu

The first thing I would suggest you do is make a commitment to yourself to regain your health and to stick to that commitment because you're worth it. For brevity's sake, I am putting these in a list but I don't mean to imply that you can do these things once and you're on your way to health. Nor do I mean to imply that you can do one or two and ignore the rest.

These are sound health principles that you will need to apply to your daily life as a whole, if you want them to be effective.

1. Eat a balanced diet. That means STOP eating junk food, which is o ne that includes foods that are not processed before you take care of them yourself. A great book outlining a foundational diet is: Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon

2. START putting more raw and lightly cooked vegetables in your meals and a moderate amount of healthy protein, like range-fed chicken, turkey or beef.

3. Eat more healthy small meals per day to keep your energy up. You might want to eat three main meals consisting of a balanced amount of protein, vegetables and essential fats and two snacks.

4. Include wholesome snacks of whole fruit, yogurt, raw nuts (provided you're not allergic), and raw chopped vegetables in low-fat dips. You might also try raw whole milk cheese or cheeses made from rice or almond protein (they are delicious and shred and melt like milk-based cheese and can be found in most progeressive grocery stores).

5. Eliminate foods that contain sugar, processed grain and bad (saturated) fats. These are the number one sources of a weakened immune system. Shop around the perimeters of your grocery store, (for instance, in the produce, meat and selected other aisles...avoid the pastas, breads, sweets, etc.)

6. Have a healthy breakfast with some good protein source like organic or free-range eggs or maybe some chicken or turkey sausage that can help carry you through the day. Or perhaps a hearty bowl of oatmeal.

7. Add more healthy fats back into your diet by adding flaxseed oil (high in Omega 3) in your salad dressings, cereals, or yogurt or take some oil capsules that are loaded with Omega 3's and are certified to be pure. I carry Mega Omega, if you'd like to try it.

8. Exercise at least every other day for 20 to 30 minutes and get a good cardio-vascular workout to keep your muscles and organs in top shape.

9. Be kind to yourself. Take breaks. Give yourself a chance to unwind and have fun so that stress does not become overwhelming to you. Take time to talk to family and friends. Go for walks. Play with your pets. Listen to music.

10. If you can't find the time to eat well, consider getting a health evaluation and taking some nutritious whole food supplements. I carry several lines of them at my office. Call TOLL FREE 1-866-942-6848 for more information. There is NO obligation.

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GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOOD: What risks does it pose to your health?

A lot of health practitioners, myself included, and consumers who are concerned about the quality of their health find genetic modification or engineering of food by biologists to be controversial and risky.

There is now a web site (Genetically Engineered Food Alert) that provides a lot of information and has begun making what I would call mini-online public service announcements to bring more attention to this subject. In my opinion, it's worthwhile to watch. Some of the founding organizations represented here include:

• Center for Food Safety
• Friends of the Earth
• Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
• National Environmental Trust
• Organic Consumers Association
• Pesticide Action Network North America
• The State PIRGs

It is also backed by many VIP signers, farm/labor organizations, chefs, doctors and public health organizations, environmental organizations and leaders, food safety and genetic engineering orgnizations and leaders, religious and hunger organizations and leaders, scientists and international organizations and leaders plus some shareholder advocacy/financial Institutions/foundations and social justice/trade organizations.

If you'd like to see this is Flash animated short (it is made by the same group that made "The Meatrix" short, referenced in the first article above) with one viewpoint or opinion about this controversial health topic I invite you to view this and perhaps pass it on to your loved ones, if you think it is worthy of their time and attention.

REMINDER: Your health is our number one priority. However, none of the information on our site or in this newsletter should supersede your physician's advice nor is it intended to replace medical tests. This information is the 1st Amendment in action and is presented for information and research purposes only. We are sharing information we believe in and feel it is not commonly found in mainstream media. We'd also like to remind you, if you act on ideas found here, you do so at your own discretion. Self-help requires intelligence, common sense, and the ability to take responsibility for your own actions. By receiving this information, you agree to hold yourself FULLY responsible for your own health and well being. We do not recommend using any ideas found here without first consulting a medical professional or a qualified health care provider with recognized degrees and appropriate licenses.

TO UNSUBSCRIBE: To have your name and e-mail address taken off our weekly newsletter, just reply to this e-mail and type in "Unsubscribe" in the subject line. Stay safe and healthy. I'll talk to you soon.

Xianti Hoo, Ph.D. Certified Nutritionist & CRA practitioner

Alternative Choices Healing Center

Call TOLL FREE 1-866-942-6848.

*To all our customers: Thank you for visiting our web site, www.choosecra.com. We truly appreciate your presence here. You and your health are a vital concern to us. We sincerely hope the information we share and products we sell help you to manifest your dreams as a spiritual being and that it helps contribute to your physical well-being and prosperity. Please be aware none of the these statements have been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products and this information are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is simply the 1st Amendment in action and is presented for information and research purposes only. We are sharing information we believe in and feel it is not commonly found in mainstream media. We'd also like to remind you, if you act on ideas found here, you do so at your own discretion and risk. Self-help requires intelligence, common sense, and the ability to take responsibility for your own actions. By receiving this information, you agree to hold yourself FULLY responsible for your own health and well being. We do not recommend using any ideas found here without first consulting a medical professional or a qualified health care provider with recognized degrees and appropriate licenses. ©Copyright 2000-2008. All rights reserved. Alternative Choices Healing Center (http://www.choosecra.com) and its owner Dr. Xianti Hoo, Ph.D., call TOLL FREE 1-866-942-6848. Web design and writing by Marika Ray. Graphics and some photos are from Corel Draw 8, Corel Corporation, Canada. Phone (613) 728-8200; visit: www.corel.com or from Art Today, visit www.clipart.com.