Website Technical Issues

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1. Q: Where did the community forums go?
A: You can now connect with other members via Facebook. Here is Suzanne’s FaceBook page.

2. Q: I forgot my password, what do I do?
A: If you forgot your password, just click on the reset password link on the login page.

Somersize - Cheese

1. Q: CAN I HAVE FAT-FREE CHEESE WITH MY CARBOS?
A: Technically, yes, but check the ingredients list because many of these products are filled with things your body does not want or need.

2. Q: CAN I HAVE PROCESSED PRE-SLICED CHEESE, OR DOES THE CHEESE HAVE TO COME IN BLOCKS?
A: You may have processed cheese, but the unprocessed kind is healthier.

3. Q: CAN I HAVE VELVEETA CHEESE ON LEVEL ONE?
A: Velveeta is an American cheese, and as such we haven't technically ruled it out. However, it does contain enough preservatives to sit on a shelf unrefrigerated! Just remember that the closer you stay to whole, unprocessed foods, the better.

4. Q: CAN REGULAR RICOTTA CHEESE BE USED WITH PRO/FATS OR CAN WE ONLY USE NONFAT, WHICH CAN ONLY BE COMBINED WITH CARBS?
A: Regular ricotta cheese has trace amounts of carbohydrates, but we have included it with our Pro/Fats group so as not to split hairs. You may eat regular ricotta cheese with Pro/Fats, or nonfat ricotta cheese with Carbos.

5. Q: CAN RICOTTA AND MOZZARELLA CHEESES BE EATEN WITH VEGGIES LIKE EGGPLANT AND TOMATO SAUCE AS IN EGGPLANT ROLLATINI, OR MUST THEY BE NONFAT?
A: Yes! I have several recipes that include this combination. These are Pro/Fats and Veggies meals. Whole-milk ricotta has trace amounts of carbohydrates, but it is a small imbalance.

6. Q: COTTAGE CHEESE IS ON THE PRO/FATS LIST, BUT YOU SAID NO WHOLE-MILK PRODUCTS. IS THERE SOMETHING I AM MISSING?
A: You are absolutely correct. Nonfat cottage cheese is the only cottage cheese allowed and it should only be listed in the Carbos group. This was an error from the earlier books.

7. Q: I AM A VEGETARIAN. I GET MY PROTEIN FROM TOFU AND FISH. HOW SHOULD I TREAT TOFU CHEESE?
A: Tofu cheese should be treated as a Pro/Fat. It does contain some carbohydrates, but we make exceptions for vegetarians.

8. Q: I BOUGHT SOME SHREDDED CHEESE AND THE INGREDIENTS SAY PART SKIM MILK. DOES THAT MAKE IT FUNKY? IT ALSO HAS AT THE END OF THE INGREDIENTS LIST POTATO STARCH TO PREVENT CAKING. IS THIS OKAY?
A: All cheese is made with milk. The carbs are eliminated in the process. As for the starch, the more processed your food gets, the more additives you wind up with. I doubt that the imbalance from eating this food would be very great, but if you have time, it's certainly better to shred your own cheese.

9. Q: I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT CREAM CHEESE. HOW DO I COMBINE THIS WITH OTHER FOODS? LEVEL ONE OR LEVEL TWO?
A: Regular cream cheese is a Pro/Fat. There are nonfat cream cheeses, but many of them are filled with starches and chemicals to make up for the missing fat. Technically, nonfat cream cheese is a Carbo, but check the ingredients list for yucky stuff.

10. Q: I HAVE BEEN BUYING SLICED FARMER'S CHEESE, WHICH IS A FORM OF YOGURT CHEESE. IS THIS OKAY FOR SOMERSIZING (LEVEL ONE)?
A: The rules are the same as the rules for yogurt. If it's nonfat farmer's cheese, it would be a Carbo. If it's low-fat or whole-milk farmer's cheese, it would be a Funky Food, as it contains both Carbos and Pro/Fats.

11. Q: I KNOW YOU SAID WE COULD HAVE FAT-FREE COTTAGE CHEESE ON WHOLE-WHEAT BREAD, BUT CAN WE ALSO HAVE FAT-FREE MOZZARELLA CHEESE? OR ANY OTHER FAT-FREE CHEESE WITH WHOLE-WHEAT BREAD?
A: Yes, technically you can have any kind of fat-free cheese with a Carbos meal, such as whole-wheat bread. However, please check the label. Many times the fat that is removed from cheese is replaced with all kinds of fillers, so watch those labels!

12. Q: I LIVE IN CANADA AND I CAN'T BUY FAT-FREE CHEESE. I CAN BUY LOW-FAT CHEESE WITH DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF MILK FAT. CAN YOU TELL ME HOW MUCH MILK FAT IS IN THE FAT-FREE CHEESE THE BOOK SAYS I CAN HAVE?
A: Fat-free cheese has 0 percent milk fat. One percent would actually be considered low-fat.

13. Q: I LOVE HAVING GRILLED-CHEESE SANDWICHES. IS THERE A WAY I CAN EAT THEM ON LEVEL ONE? CAN I EAT GRILLED CHEESE IF I USE NONFAT CHEESE AND WHOLE-WHEAT BREAD?
A: You could do your grilled cheese with nonfat cheese. However, most nonfat cheeses do not melt very well. Have real cheese and fry eggplant slices as your "bread."

14. Q: IF CHEESES ARE CONSIDERED TO BE PROTEINS, WHY CAN'T NONFAT CHEESES AND YOGURTS ALSO BE CONSIDERED IN THIS CATEGORY? WHY ARE THEY THOUGHT TO BE ONLY CARBOHYDRATES?
A: Any kind of milk-nonfat, low-fat, or whole-has protein and carbohydrates. Since we don't combine fat and carbohydrates, we put low-fat and whole milk in the Funky Food category. Even though nonfat milk also has protein, we treat it as a Carbo. Yogurt falls into the exact same category as milk. Nonfat is a Carbo, low-fat and whole-milk yogurt are Funky Foods. Cheese is different because in the process of making cheese, cream, and butter, all of the carbohydrates are separated from the original milk and only the proteins and fats remain. These foods are therefore grouped as Pro/Fats. Now to answer your question. Look on the label. If nonfat cheese has carbohydrates, you should treat it as a Carbo (just beware of starchy fillers that are sometimes used to replace fats). You may not group it as a Pro/Fat because we don't want to eat carbohydrates with proteins and fats. Same goes for nonfat yogurt. It has carbohydrates and we don't want to eat carbohydrates with proteins or fats because carbohydrates cause our bodies to secrete insulin. Remember, insulin must be present for food to be stored as fat. We can eat proteins, fats, and low-starch vegetables freely because they do not cause an insulin response. Whole-grain carbohydrates and nonfat dairy products cause a moderate release of insulin and, therefore, are eaten separately.

15. Q: IS PARMESAN CHEESE ALLOWED ON TOP OF MY WHOLE-WHEAT SPAGHETTI?
A: In Level Two you can add a little fat, like Parmesan and olive oil, to your whole-wheat pasta.

16. Q: IS THERE A LIMIT TO HOW MUCH CHEESE I CAN EAT IN A DAY?
A: No, but don't forget to eat plenty of vegetables.

17. Q: MAY I EAT REGULAR COTTAGE CHEESE WITH A PRO/FAT MEAL? IS NONFAT COTTAGE CHEESE A CARB?
A: Nonfat cottage cheese is a Carbo. Low-fat and whole-milk cottage cheese are technically Funky Foods, as they contain both fat and carbs. However, if you're doing well on the plan, you may incorporate some whole-milk cottage cheese with your Pro/Fats meals and see if it disrupts your weight loss.

18. Q: WHERE DO PIMIENTOS FIT IN? CAN I HAVE PIMIENTO CHEESE?
A: Pimientos are peppers that have been pickled. They are considered Veggies. Pimiento cheese is fine.

19. Q: WILL EATING ORANGES AND CHEESE BE ENOUGH NUTRITION FOR MY BODY WITHOUT DRINKING WHOLE MILK OR DRINKING ORANGE JUICE?
A: Absolutely! Whole oranges are much better for you than orange juice because they have all the added fiber. Cheese has all the same qualities as milk, without the carbohydrates.

20. Q: I HAVE HEARD YOU SAY THAT YOU CAN EAT AMERICAN CHEESE WHEN SOMERSIZING. I THOUGHT AMERICAN CHEESE WAS A FUNKY FOOD SINCE IT HAS MILK AND FAT IN IT. COULD YOU CLARIFY THIS?
A: American cheese has trace amounts of carbohydrates, but I have included it in the Pro/Fats group. When I was creating the program, I found there were places where it seemed appropriate to bend the rules slightly. This minor imbalance will not likely throw anyone off course.

21. Q: YOU HAVE SAID THAT SOME FOODS ARE OKAY IF THEY HAVE "TRACE" AMOUNTS OF CARBS AND/OR SUGARS. HOW MUCH WOULD YOU CONSIDER A TRACE? FOR EXAMPLE, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT USING SPRAY CHEESE ON MY CELERY. 
A: I cannot advocate spray cheese. It may say "cheese" somewhere on the label, but spray cheese is a distant cousin of real cheese. It is probably called "cheese food." When Somersizing, we always try to stick to real foods. I don't know how big the serving size is, but it sounds like a lot of sugar for a little squirt of cheese. There are many soft cheeses like goat cheese and Brie that would spread on celery without the addition of all those fake foods.

Somersize - Carbos Mixed with Pro/Fats

1. Q: CAN I ADD BUTTER TO BROWN RICE AND TO BROCCOLI?
A: You can't add butter to brown rice on Level One, as brown rice is a Carbo and may not be eaten with Pro/Fats (butter). You may add butter to broccoli and eat it alone or with a Pro/Fats meal. If you want to eat butter and brown rice and broccoli, you may do so only on Level Two.

2. Q: CAN I EAT TUNA FISH WITH WHOLE-WHEAT-FLOUR BREAD ON LEVEL ONE?
A: No. Tuna is a protein and whole-wheat bread is a Carbo. We do not mix Pro/Fats and Carbos. This combo is acceptable in Level Two, though.

3. Q: I AM ON LEVEL ONE AND WAS WONDERING IF REDUCED-FAT PRODUCTS SUCH AS MAYO AND CHEESE CAN BE EATEN IF THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL SUGARS OR CARBOHYDRATES?
A: If there are no sugars or carbohydrates added, you may eat reduced-fat products if that is your preference. Beware of reduced-fat products that replace the fat with sugars or starches because then the item becomes Funky with a combination of Pro/Fats and Carbos.

4. Q: I HEARD THAT IF YOU EAT BROWN RICE WITH BLACK BEANS IT IS CONSIDERED A PROTEIN, AND THEREFORE YOU CAN ADD OTHER MEATS OR CHEESES TO CREATE A HEARTY MEAL. IS THIS TRUE, AND IS IT OKAY FOR LEVEL ONE MEALS?
A: Brown rice and black beans both contain protein, but they are not Somersize Pro/Fats. Brown rice, black beans, and vegetables would be okay on Level One. Adding meat or cheese to this meal would also add fat and protein, which is not okay on Level One.

5. Q: IS PEANUT BUTTER ACCEPTABLE TO PUT ON TOAST, BECAUSE IT'S A LEGUME, WHICH YOU SAID YOU COULD MIX WITH CARBS? IS APPLE BUTTER (WITHOUT ADDED SUGAR) OKAY THOUGH IT'S A FRUIT?
A: You cannot have peanut butter. Peanuts are a Funky Food on Level One because they have fats and carbohydrates. You must keep Pro/Fats separate from Carbos. You also may not have apple butter on toast. Remember, anything you put on toast must be fat free, and you cannot mix with fruit. Try nonfat cottage cheese or nonfat ricotta. You can add sliced tomatoes, or if you want something sweeter, you could add a little SomerSweet and some cinnamon.

Somersize - Bread, Grain, Oats, Cereal, Yeast, Starch, Wheat

Q: WHAT IS THE BEST TYPE OF FLOUR TO LOOK FOR WHEN SOMERSIZING?

A: Barley flour has the lowest glycemic index of all the whole-grain flours, but anything in its whole-grain form is okay. That includes whole wheat, spelt, amaranth, kamut, and brown rice flour.

2. Q: ARE BIALYS MADE WITH HIGH-GLUTEN FLOUR PERMITTED ON LEVEL ONE?
A: High-gluten flour is white flour. Sorry, no bialys. If you can find them made with whole-grain flour, then they are okay. I have had good luck with whole-wheat bagels.

3. Q: ARE PUMPERNICKEL BAGELS OKAY TO EAT? IF SO, WHAT CAN I HAVE ON THEM?
A: Most pumpernickel products are made with flour and molasses. There is pumpernickel flour, but you don't see it very often. Read the ingredients on the bagel packaging to make sure they have not added any sugar or white flour. If they are made from pumpernickel flour, they are fine for a Carbos meal, but on Level One do not use cream cheese or butter. Try nonfat cottage cheese, nonfat ricotta cheese, sliced tomatoes, onions, and fresh basil. Many people use nonfat cream cheese, but make sure to look for brands that are not filled with starches and chemicals.

4. Q: CAN ARROWROOT BE USED AS A THICKENER INSTEAD OF CORNSTARCH? IF NOT, CAN YOU SUGGEST A THICKENER FOR GRAVIES?
A: Arrowroot is a common name for a variety of starches obtained from roots of certain plants growing in tropical countries. Although it is the most easily digested starch, it is still a starch and is, therefore, not allowed on Level One. Look at the recipes in the Somersize books for naturally reduced sauces without any thickeners. They are delicious!

5. Q: CAN I HAVE A SANDWICH WITH WHOLE-WHEAT BREAD?
A: You can have a pile of vegetables on whole-wheat bread with mustard. Sometimes I get a vegetable sandwich with mustard, lettuce, tomato, peppers, onions, and pickles.

6. Q: CAN I HAVE OATMEAL FOR BREAKFAST ON LEVEL ONE?
A: Yes! Oatmeal is a Carbo and can be enjoyed with nonfat milk. Feel free to sprinkle it with SomerSweet or your favorite artificial sweetener.

7. Q: CAN I HAVE WHOLE-WHEAT PANCAKES WITH SUGAR-FREE SYRUP? DO YOU HAVE A RECIPE?
A: I have a recipe for Oatmeal Pancakes in Get Skinny. I serve them with blueberry sauce for a Level Two breakfast. In this book, see the Irish Oatmeal Pancakes with Raspberry Sauce.

8. Q: CAN I USE KASHA, WHICH IS MADE OF BUCKWHEAT? IT SAYS IT'S PROTEIN AND NOT CARB.
A: Look on the ingredients list. If it's made of buckwheat with no added fat, it is a whole grain and, therefore, placed in the Carbos group. It may contain protein, but that does not affect its grouping as a Carbo. If the ingredient list has buckwheat and added fat, it would be considered a Funky Food and you should wait until Level Two. On the nutritional panel sometimes you will see a couple grams of fat that occur naturally in whole grains. Do not worry about trace amounts of fat in the nutritional panel if there are no added fats in the ingredients list.

9. Q: CAN YOU PLEASE OFFER SOME HELP TO PEOPLE WITH WHEAT ALLERGIES?
A: Try kamut, amaranth, spelt, and brown rice.

10. Q: HOW ABOUT COOKING OATMEAL IN CAFFEINE-FREE CINNAMON APPLE SPICE TEA INSTEAD OF PLAIN WATER, AND, OF COURSE, ADDING SOME SKIM MILK AND SOMERSWEET.
A: Sounds like a delicious Level One Carbos breakfast!

 

Somercize and Alcohol

1. Q: I AM YOUNG SO I OFTEN GO OUT WITH MY FRIENDS DRINKING. I KNOW YOU CANNOT SUPPORT ALCOHOL, BUT IF IT WAS A MUST, WHICH COMBO WOULD YOU RECOMMEND IT BE MIXED WITH? CARBS AND NO FAT?
A: You're right, I can't support alcohol. And as you know, alcohol is not allowed on Level One. I always say that if you are going to create an imbalance with alcohol, a Pro/Fats meal with red wine is your best bet. As far as your meal is concerned, you should be careful about portion size. You cannot eat unlimited portions if you are creating an imbalance. Your alcohol intake will spike your insulin, so your meal is in danger of getting stored as fat. Here's an idea - club soda with lime!

2. Q: I HAVE ALWAYS USED PORT WINE IN MY SPAGHETTI SAUCE TO CUT THE ACID AND PROVIDE THE SWEETNESS. ALSO, I USE MARSALA WINE WITH VEAL AND CHICKEN SKILLET DISHES. DO THESE WINES CONTAIN SUGARS? ALSO, WILL SIMMERING THE WINE IN SAUCES FOR A FEW HOURS.
A: I use wine freely in my recipes on Level One. I find that the modest imbalance does not disrupt my weight loss. You are correct that most of the alcohol cooks off in the process.

3. Q: I HEARD SOMEONE TALKING ABOUT ONLY HAVING WINE IN COMBINATION WITH A LITTLE CHEESE TO MITIGATE THE SUGAR CONTENT OF THE WINE.
A: I'm sure there are some theories behind this, but they are not Somersize theories. Some feel that fat slows down the insulin response. That may be true, but whenever insulin is present, the food you are eating has the potential to be stored as fat. A piece of cheese on its own will not cause your body to release insulin and, therefore, will not be converted to fat. Wine causes an insulin response, so if you eat it with cheese, both now have the potential to be stored as fat. Add a cracker and you have even more insulin and more potential for this food to be stored as fat. That being said, I love a piece of cheese with a glass of wine. This is a lovely Level Two combination.

4. Q: I KNOW YOU SAY IT'S OKAY TO COOK WITH WINE BECAUSE IT BURNS OFF, BUT WHAT ABOUT COOKING WITH BEER?
A: Beer has an extremely high sugar content. In fact, on the glycemic index, it rates higher than pure glucose! I would avoid using beer in any way on Level One.

5. Q: I REALLY ENJOY GOOD WINE! I FIND IT RELAXING AND ENJOYABLE BEFORE DINNER. IF I TREAT A GLASS OF WINE AS I WOULD FRUIT, DRINKING IT HALF AN HOUR BEFORE DINNER OR BETWEEN MEALS, WOULD THAT MODIFY ITS NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THE DIET?
A: Sorry, wine is not permitted on Level One because of its sugar content. You can add it back, in moderation, on Level Two. If you are going to have it on Level One, you might lessen the effect by following the fruit guidelines, but you will still slow your progress.

6. Q: I'M CRAVING A BEER! IS IT POSSIBLE TO ENJOY AN ALCOHOL-FREE BEER? ALSO, I CAN'T FIND A REFERENCE TO CAPERS, WHICH I LOVE WITH MY BEER! ARE CAPERS A GOODIE OR A BADDIE?
A: First, the capers. They are a "goodie"! They're considered a vegetable. But an alcohol-free beer will still cause an imbalance, though it won't be as much as a beer with alcohol. The lack of alcohol doesn't make it a free food, and it should be used in moderation. Me? I'll take ice cream over an alcohol-free beer if I'm going to cheat!

7. Q: THERE IS A NEW BEER CALLED MICHELOB ULTRA LOW CARB, WHICH HAS VERY LOW CARBS, CAN I ENJOY THIS ON LEVEL ONE?
A: Sorry, but this beer will still cause an imbalance, because of the alcohol. Save it for Level Two, when you can have it in moderation.

8. Q: IS IT OKAY TO DRINK RED WINE THAT HAS NO CARBS ON LEVEL ONE?
A: Technically, we eliminate all alcohol on Level One. However, if you're going to create an imbalance with alcohol, red wine is your best choice. If you find that incorporating a little red wine on Level One doesn't affect your progress, enjoy in moderation!

9. Q: WHAT CAN I SUBSTITUTE FOR WINE IN RECIPES? NO ONE IN MY FAMILY DRINKS.
A: Try substituting chicken, vegetable, or beef stock.

10. Q: WHAT TYPE OF WINE SHOULD I COOK WITH?
A: When using wine, cook with something that tastes good enough to drink. If you use sour wine, you'll get sour sauce. As far as brands? Whatever you can afford. There are hundreds and hundreds from which to choose, at all price levels.

Email Confirmations

Q: I am not receiving any email confirmations from SuzanneSomers.com and I have a Comcast e-mail account.
A: Unfortunately sometimes our communications are sent to the junk folder. Make sure you do not mark email from suzannesomers.com as “spam” or “junk” to avoid this in the future. In the meantime we suggest that you may want to use another email address for your SuzanneSomers.com account.

Somercize Products

1. Q: Why can't I find the Somersize products that I used to buy?

A: Many Somersize products were developed and manufactured during the past several years at HSN. HSN cut back the food business substantially and we do not yet have enough demand on the website to keep all of these products in stock because of the very high minimum orders required in manufacturing food products. We will continue to respond to consumer demand and look forward to developing or re-ordering more products this Fall. We always love to hear what you are missing most. Suzanne wishes she could respond to all of your requests, since she was proud of each food product made. Make sure you are a registered member so we can alert you to new products.

Health and Hormones Q&A with Suzanne Somers

1.) Q: Do I need a doctor to get BHRT (bioidentical hormone replacement therapy)?
SS: Yes, you need to go to a doctor; but you must ask this question: ”Have you chosen to specialize in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy?” If not, this is not the right doctor.

Then ask, “Do you prescribe pharmaceutical bioidenticals or bioidenticals from a compounded pharmacy?” Why? You need to know the limitations of pharmaceutical BHRT as opposed to BHRT from a compounding pharmacy.

Here is what I mean: Pharmaceutical bioidenticals… Prometrium, Vivelle patch, or Climara come in “fixed dosages.” The pharmaceutical BHRT contains “estradiol” only and does not contain “estriol”.

A woman makes estrogen in her body with three classical estrogens: estradiol, estrone, and estriol.

Estriol is the component of our estrogen that is breast cancer protective. So even though these are the “approved” bioidenticals, it is bothersome to me personally that it is missing this valuable component.

The bioidenticals I use personally are made at a compounding pharmacy. All ingredients made at a compounding pharmacy are FDA approved. By custom preparation, I get the “exact” dosage I require, so I get to feel perfect; or as I told Oprah, it took some patience but I have found the “sweet spot” and I feel great all the time… plus I get the added protection of estriol plus estradiol. This is what I prefer, but the choice is yours.

2. Q: How do I find a doctor? Can you recommend a doctor?
SS: In the back of my books, The Sexy Years, Ageless and Breakthrough are doctors I have found who “specialize” in bioidentical hormone replacement. Check out my doctor resource guides in the Heath & Hormones section.

Also, check out the Life Extension link for the blood test. They will provide a female hormone panel blood test, or male hormone panel blood test, or the weight loss hormone panel blood test to determine if there is something going on in your metabolism hormonally if you are having trouble losing weight. They have a discounted rate for members, but this is usually approximately $1000, so it is a good deal. Life Extension is a non-profit organization that has excellent supplements and information. They will also assist you in finding a doctor in your area to interpret your blood tests.

3. Q: Does insurance cover BHRT? How can I afford this?
SS: Some insurance does cover BHRT; but, unfortunately, not all. They should because the health ramifications of hormonal balance are so profound; but… sigh… it will take a while for them to catch up with this information.

My hormones cost me approximately $65.00 a month. The addition of thyroid is another $25.00.

4. Q: What is the link between hearing loss and aldosterone?
SS: According to Dr. Jonathan Wright (read his interview in Breakthrough), he has found that in people with age-related hearing loss, he does a blood test and finds that they are missing a hormone called aldosterone.

By replacing that hormone, over time hearing improves or is restored completely.

My husband Alan has a 5% hearing loss and he is on aldosterone and has noticed marked improvement in just a couple of months. Remember, every body is different. Patience is required with natural medicines.

5. Q: How can I avoid macular degeneration?
SS: This came up a couple of times while interviewing doctors for Breakthrough. My mother was blind from macular deterioration so I asked Dr. Jonathan Wright if I was genetically programmed. He said, “You’ll be surprised to find where macular degeneration originates.” I asked, “Where?” He said, “In the gut.” It originates from a lack of hydrochloric acid.

When I think about it, my mother had lots of symptoms of a lack of hydrochloric acid; acid reflux, phlegm, bloating, gas, constipation burping.

I now take Betaine HCl (I get mine from Designs for Health) because I have had radiation and discovered that radiation knocks out all the hydrochloric acid in your gut, and I was starting to have symptoms. It thrills me to take this simple non-drug step to avoid macular degeneration and to replace the hydrochloric acid (HCl) that I have lost through aging and radiation. Read about it in Breakthrough.

6. Q: What can I do about bloating or heartburn and what is the link with HCl?
SS: Again, I buy my hydrochloric acid from Designs for Health.

We make HCl in our GUT until around age 40. We require HCl to digest our food. Without it we bloat and get heartburn, and the nutrients from our food are not able to process and do their jobs. This is a big loss. Most people go to the drugstore and buy ANTACIDS which is exactly the opposite of what your body wants. It wants MORE acid... and that acid is hydrochloric acid.

I take three tablets with each meal. The way it happens in nature is that it pours after you start eating. So I take mine after my first couple of bites with each meal. The result is my stomach is flat, no gas, no bloating, no heartburn and no constipation.

7. Q: What are the dangers of fluoride?
SS: Don’t get me started…. Fluoride is a waste by-product of the aluminum manufacturing companies. It does not prevent tooth decay; in fact it does the opposite. According to scientist David Schmidt (read his piece in Breakthrough), fluoride is highly carcinogenic. Other doctors have told me it promotes tooth mottling and bone cancer. Also, when a city puts fluoride in their water, they also have to put in aluminum to make the water clear. So now you are getting a carcinogen, (fluoride) and aluminum (a heavy metal) which is damaging to the brain. What are we thinking????

The only way to protect yourself from fluoridated water is to invest in a reverse osmosis filter for your house in every outlet that you can afford and especially your drinking water and shower.

8. Q: What can I do about hair loss?
SS: If a woman is in her 20’s and 30’s and losing hair, according to Dr. Jonathan Wright who says in Breakthrough that it is often too little stomach acid and pepsin. Because of that protein isn’t digested and hair is made of protein. Read about this in Breakthrough.

For women in their 40’s who are losing their hair, most often it is a combination of low stomach acid (hydrochloric acid) and hormone loss: estrogen and progesterone.

For these women Dr. Wright replaces missing bioidentical estrogen, progesterone and thyroid. Then he replaces missing or low hydrochloric acid.

But sometimes the woman is missing DHEA (a hormone) and that can be found through blood testing or metametrix 24 hour urine testing. Dr. Wright will do this for you through his Tahoma Clinic. Go to www.tahomaclinic.com.

9. Q: What can I do about memory loss?
SS: I take 20 mgs of over-the-counter Lithium. It has brought all my thoughts back. Read about it in Breakthrough in Dr. Jonathan Wright’s interview.

10. Q: How do LifeWave patches help you?
SS: LifeWave patches are, for me, little miracles. They are non-drug patches that you wear for pain, sleep, energy or detoxification.

I wear the glutathione detoxification patch every single day. There are so many chemicals bombarding us on a daily basis that this is my defense. It also has made my skin clearer, smoother and less wrinkled (all over my body) because it is constantly detoxing from the inside out.

I use the sleep patches for the nights when I cannot turn off the “noise” in my head. I put on a patch and in a half hour I am in a deep natural sleep.

For workouts I always wear the energy patches. I get a better workout and I have more energy and stamina.

And for pain in my lower back or if I have a headache, I wear the pain patches and the pain goes away. I haven’t had an over-the-counter medication or aspirin or painkiller in years as a result. Read about LifeWave nanotechnology patches in Breakthrough in David Schmidt’s interview. He invented the patches, and he is an amazing scientist.

You can go to the LifeWave section of my website and download the teleseminar I did with David Schmidt.

11. Q: Which supplements should I take and what brand do you recommend?
SS: I take supplements as determined by blood work. Designs for Health or Life Extension both have blood tests that can determine your deficiencies. The four supplements I would not miss for myself on a daily basis, even if I wasn’t taking anything else, are: Vitamin D 800 units, antioxidants, CoQ10 and Omega 3 Fish oil. Take liquid Carlson’s Cod Liver Oil, lemon flavored (it tastes like olive oil with lemon… honest). I am not a fish eater and I do not taste any fish. You can get Carlson’s at retail drug stores or grocery stores (usually a natural or health food store).

12. Q: How do I get my stem cells stored?
SS: This is such a big answer that I invite you to read Dr. Robin Smith’s chapter in Breakthrough. I have banked my stem cells for future use in case of any situation. If I had a heart condition or an accident or decide in the future to re-grow the part of my breast that was taken from breast cancer, or when I am old, I might use my stem cells to rejuvenate. Read about it in Breakthrough.

It’s as easy as giving blood, although the process takes about four hours; and it is surprisingly affordable and can be paid over a few years. Make sure to check out the link to NeoStem.

13. Q: How did you fight cancer with Iscador?
SS: When I was diagnosed with cancer, some of my doctors recommended chemotherapy for my after care, and other doctors said it was not necessary for my specific type of cancer. I thought the concept of poisoning my body and ruining my immune system was crazy. It turns out that the chemo medicine I was offered has since been proven ineffective. But that’s another story.

I heard about Iscador from researching the Rudolph Steiner Clinics in Europe. They have been using Iscador in lieu of chemotherapy since the 1920’s and getting better results with no side effects. It works by building up your immune system which made and makes a lot more sense to me than ruining my immune system with chemical poisoning.

I am not telling you what to do; I am just telling you what I did. Every case is different and you have to make your own choice. I am very glad I made the choice I did. I am strong and healthy and I never get sick; and my quality of life is superb.

14. Q: Is BHRT safe?
SS: There are many, many studies proving the safety and efficacy of using bioidentical hormones. Bioidentical hormones made by a compounding pharmacy are the safest in my estimation. I am not a doctor, so factor that in, but I have done a lot of research and bioidentical (BHRT) made by a compounding pharmacy has estradiol, estrone and estriol. These are the three classical estrogens in a woman’s body. Estriol is the component that protects us against breast cancer.

Synthetic hormones are made from horses’ urine, and they are a chemical and have been declared by the Women’s Health Initiative to be “dangerous, harmful and even fatal.” It goes on to say that women would be better off not taking anything at all than taking synthetic hormones.

15. Q: When should I use BHRT? Am I too young? Too old?
SS: Read The Sexy Years or Ageless to learn about symptoms of hormonal loss. Women are losing their hormones earlier and earlier due to stress and toxicity; as early as age 32 in many cases. Once you start to decline hormonally, the doctors I have interviewed all say that replacement should begin… just what you need as determined by blood work. I call it “filling the tank,” and this restoration gives back quality of life and according to my doctors keeps you healthy. Problems all begin with hormonal loss. So “putting them back” lets the body know that “all is well.”

And as for how old? YOU are never too old. I interviewed two 80- and 90-year-olds in The Sexy Years. They were the most robust, active ladies with great working brains and bones. Read about them. They are still “with it” rather than the present template of old age of being “out of it”.

Again, it’s your choice. Just know that it is available.

16. Q: Who should use BHRT? Can I use if I had a hysterectomy?
SS: I have had a hysterectomy (uterus), and I feel it is imperative for me to replace my hormones for health and quality of life. I talk about his in Ageless with Dr. Prudence Hall and in Breakthrough.

When they remove your female organs, your hormone-making apparatus is removed. You will feel terrible. Hormones bring you back to life physically and emotionally.

A qualified, and I can’t stress this enough, a qualified doctor who has chosen to specialize in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is the best person to discuss this subject.

17. Q: What kind of bioidenticals should I use (cream, pellets)?
SS: I use creams as transport for my hormones. With cream I am able to “dose up” or “dose down” according to my stresses. If you take too much hormone cream, you will be symptomatic. But when I have a very stressful experience, my body requires a tiny bit more estrogen; and then when I calm down, I dose back down to my normal dose.