THE SEVEN PILLARS OF HEALTH:
The Natural Way to Better Health for Life
(Publication Date: January 2, 2007; Published by Siloam, an Imprint of Strang Communications; ISBN 1-59185-815-1; 304 Pages; $19.99).

Designed so that readers can incorporate the concepts a day at a time, THE SEVEN PILLARS OF HEALTH takes only fifty days to complete in exchange for a lifetime of wellness. In this primer and its supplemental workbook, Dr. Colbert reveals how changing just a few simple habits can lead to dramatic recoveries, as seven crucial pillars are repaired:

#1 Water: Most of us know the dangers of dehydration, but do you know how to hydrate properly? Dr. Colbert goes beyond explaining how much water we should drink each day and thoroughly assesses the various types of bottled water on the market, provides a website for checking the water quality in your area, and explains the science of filtration systems to ensure that your water isn’t doing more harm than good.

#2 Sleep and Rest: Discover the causes of insomnia, the keys to a perfect night of sleep, and the truth about sleep aids (both herbal and pharmaceutical). Dr. Colbert also reveals why beauty rest is so important; sleep and rest (along with water) are key secrets to looking younger.

#3 Living Food: Give your menu a makeover, eliminating the “dead” foods that are full of chemicals. From choosing the right grains and the right proteins to fighting diabetes and high cholesterol, Dr. Colbert delivers a fact-packed guide to eating well, with eye-opening information on irradiated foods, artificial sweeteners, the canola-oil controversy, going organic, and whether Teflon and plastics cause cancer during food storage and preparation. He also exposes the hidden dangers of MSG (with ways to minimize your intake) and debunks the myth of fat-free “nutrition,” clarifying which fats are good for you and essential.

#4 Exercise: What kind? How often? How long? If exercise always falls to the bottom of your to-do list, Dr. Colbert has a new approach—revealing new benefits and options that include ballroom dancing—to get you moving.

#5 Detoxification: When Dr. Colbert talks about detoxification, he is not prescribing a dubious “cleanser cocktail.” Instead, he addresses the ways you can reduce toxicity in your body and your environment on a continual basis, with solutions for minimizing your risk. His research spans everything from air pollution to mercury dental fillings, from poisonous household products to dust mites and second-hand smoke, with ways to spark the body’s natural detox organs (and a handy chart for balancing acid- and alkaline-forming foods).

#6 Nutritional Supplements: They’re not just for people who eat unbalanced meals. Agribusiness has depleted much of America’s farming soil, growing produce that actually contains fewer nutrients. But the world of supplements is complex (there are eight different forms of Vitamin E alone). Dr. Colbert’s expert guidance includes a complete exploration of antioxidants, current debates regarding specific supplements, and nutrient charts for essential foods. He also tells readers, according to their age, exactly what they need to take daily, walking them through the maze of information now available on this topic.

#7 Freedom from Stress: From the healing powers of abdominal breathing and laughter to reframing your perception of even the most seemingly dire circumstances, Dr. Colbert opens a path to physiological and emotional well-being—culminating in a foundation of spiritual peace.

One of the country’s foremost authorities on the integration of natural and conventional health care, Dr. Colbert brings a twenty-first-century approach to a field popularized by best-selling physicians such as Andrew Weil. He writes in a friendly, non-threatening tone that blends proven science with stress-reducing spirituality. As they master a pillar each week, readers will find daily special “points to ponder” and “action steps,” plus fascinating charts, sidebars, and quizzes to clarify every step of the plan.

In the head-to-toe tradition of Michael Roizen and Mehmet Oz’s #1 New York Times best-seller You: The Owner’s Manual, THE SEVEN PILLARS OF HEALTH is a comprehensive guide to renovating your “primary residence,” the body that will house you for the rest of your life.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Don Colbert, M.D., is a board-certified family practice physician, a best-selling author, and a dynamic public speaker. Over the past twenty years, he has treated more than 25,000 patients, always integrating body, mind, and spirit into each of his healthcare strategies. His tremendously popular books, including Stress Less: Breaking the Power of Worry and Other Destructive Habits and the best-seller Toxic Relief, top 4 million copies in print. He and his wife, Mary, live in Orlando, Florida.

THE SEVEN PILLARS OF HEALTH: The Natural Way to Better Health for Life Publication Date: January 2, 2007
Published by Siloam, an Imprint of Strang Communications