With election season upon us, Americans are being bombarded with politicians promising to change the country and change the world. However, changing the world starts with changing ourselves as individuals, and it all has to begin by changing our own personal health. Americans are members of the sickest culture in the history of the world with epidemic rates of diabetes (nearly 10%), cancer (1/3 of us are expected to be affected at some point in their lives) obesity (nearly 40% of men & women) and fatty liver disease (100 million non-alcoholics). According to the CDC, nearly one out of three people is suffering from a chronic progressive illness, and for the first time in our 242 year history, life expectancy of United States citizens is declining. Yes, our electoral choices matter but not as much as the decisions we make about our personal wellness. If we’re sick or in pain, political platforms and policies won’t seem very important. So, make a difference this election by not only getting out to vote but also by electing to make your physical health a priority... ...and, that’s The Truth!

The Truth about Beet Juice Don’t like beets? You’re not alone; the Food Network reported beets in their Top 5 Most Disliked Vegetables list along with eggplants, turnips, peppers and broccoli. And, according to the website blog.anytimefitness.com, the fibery, nutritionally-dense root is second only to the dreaded Brussel-sprout as the world's least popular vegetable. I'm not sure why that is, despite their unfortunate reputation as being less than palatable, this violet veggie is loaded with natural sugar that makes them, especially when cooked, as tasty as any dessert. In addition to their sweet flavor and pleasing aroma, beets are packed with essential minerals and vitamins. And, the juice of the beet is an especially effective way to leverage the root's nutritional value particularly the all-important nitrates, which concentrate in the liquid fraction of the purple plant. In fact, beet juice is fast becoming the gold standard of nitrate-rich foods. Many studies have been done on the performance enhancing and anabolic building effects of beet juice nitrates. Professional athletes, including Olympic weight lifters and triathletes rave about it's benefits. Under the category of “you heard it here first”, in the same way that electrolytes took the sports world by storm in the 1980’s and 1990’s, nitrites are poised to become the 21st century version of the next latest and greatest. The good news is the same benefits that athlete's exploit by enjoying the beautiful burgundy beet beverage can be used for improving heart and liver function of regular couch potatoes. Drinking beet juice regularly has been shown to effectively open up blood vessels, reduce hypertension, support liver health and help cleanse the body of toxins. Beet juice is also beneficial for skin beauty. High in folate, potassium, iron, vitamin C and antioxidants, beets stimulate the production and repair of cells, which helps protect the skin against thinning and the damaging effects of solar radiation. So, add a glass of beet juice to your daily regimen and improve your overall health and combat skin aging and skin conditions naturally! If it's too sweet for you, add in some Himala