There is a nerve in your body that connects your brain directly to your heart, your lungs, and your gut. Scientists call it the vagus nerve. What it does when you worship will change how you think about praise. The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve in the human body. It runs from the brainstem all the way down through the neck, chest, and abdomen. It is the primary pathway of what researchers call the parasympathetic nervous system, the system responsible for rest, recovery, digestion, and immune function. When the vagus nerve is activated, heart rate slows, blood pressure drops, inflammation decreases, and the body shifts from survival mode into restoration mode. Researchers have identified three primary activators of the vagus nerve. Deep, rhythmic breathing. Cold water exposure. Singing. Not listening to music. Singing. The act of producing sustained vocal tones activates the vagus nerve directly through the muscles of the throat and the vibration in the chest cavity. Psalm 100:1-2 says make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness. Come into his presence with singing. The Hebrew word for joyful noise is rua, meaning to shout, to raise a battle cry, to produce a loud, sustained vocal sound. God did not design corporate worship as a warm-up for the sermon. He designed it as a full-body, neurologically active, physiologically restorative event that shifts your entire system from survival mode into the mode your body needs to heal, receive, and function at its highest level. When you lift your voice in genuine worship, you are not just expressing gratitude. You are activating a nerve God designed that tells every organ in your body it is safe to restore. Your voice was built to heal you. Use it. Dr. Zac Breckenridge

Have you ever wondered why people take zinc lozenges at the first sign of a cold? Evidence suggests that zinc supplementation within 24 hours of symptom onset may shorten the duration of colds. Oral supplementation with zinc lozenges, capsules, or syrup is preferable to intranasal zinc, which has been linked to loss of the sense of smell in some individuals. Another function of zinc is the regulation of metabolism. Found in more than 300 enzymes, zinc is critical to digestion, including the absorption and metabolism of essential micronutrients. Zinc deficiency can lead to malnutrition, a major problem worldwide. Adequate zinc intake is especially important for children of all ages and for those who are pregnant or lactating. Deficiency of zinc during formative times could lead to retarded growth of biological systems like the gastrointestinal tract, skeletal, immune, and reproductive systems. Unlike iron, which is contained inside cellular components in your body, zinc permeates cells and tissues, performing critical structural, catalytic, and regulatory functions. This is why getting adequate zinc intake through your diet or supplementation is so important. Safeguarding against zinc deficiency means maintaining a varied diet rich in zinc-rich foods. Proteins like pasture-raised beef and poultry, and sustainably harvested, wild-caught fish and oysters are all good sources of this essential mineral. Vegetarian sources include organic cereals, beans, nuts, oats, and tofu. While adults and seniors have the same average physiologic requirements for zinc, absorption can decrease as you age. High-quality, bioavailable supplements can help ensure you meet your body's unique needs, especially during periods of increased stress or poor eating.

Beyond diet and exercise, there are safe, natural adjuncts for managing blood glucose levels. We've identified seven substances that are scientifically validated as among the best drug-free therapies for blood sugar problems. From ensuring that you get adequate amounts of critical vitamins and minerals to strategic calorie restriction, these approaches can elevate your wellness while helping to keep your glucose in check. 1. Vitamin D Vitamin D, also called calciferol, is vital for everything from building strong bones and muscles to helping the immune system fight off illness, among other crucial functions. Maintaining adequate vitamin D is essential if you are at risk of diabetes. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to insulin resistance, a key factor that marks the progression from prediabetes to an official Type 2 diagnosis. A 2019 study reported that vitamin D deficiency was found in 70% of Type 2 diabetic patients, and that individuals with severe vitamin D deficiency were 39 times more likely to have a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes. Studies further show that correcting this deficiency through strategic supplementation results in improve glucose tolerance and beta-cell function, a marker of improved insulin secretion. Overall glycemic outcomes were measured in two separate meta-analyses published in 2018, one of which reviewed 28 controlled clinical trials involving nearly 4,000 adults who were prediabetic, overweight, or obese. Results showed that vitamin D supplementation significantly improved glycemic measures and insulin sensitivity. The other 2018 meta-analysis reviewed 37 studies and found that boosting vitamin D through strategic supplementation led to significant improvement in fasting blood glucose and improved insulin resistance in Type 2 diabetics. Vitamin D can be a safe part of a preventative strategy and may even help reduce inflammation associated with diabetes. 2. Magnesium Another nutrient that plays a key role in glucose metabolism is magnesium (Mg). Required by the pancreas for insulin production, being deficient in Mg is associated with increased risks for many diseases, including Type 2 diabetes. Conversely, higher dietary magnesium intake is associated with lower diabetes rates in some studies.

In the face of all these toxic assaults, you need a secret weapon--so I will give you one right now: bitter foods. Besides being the antidote to "sweet addiction," bitters are an important but forgotten detox food, and it's beyond time to bring them back! A surprising number of your favorite foods are classified as "bitters"-- artichokes, asparagus, grapefruit, dandelion tea, and even coffee and cacao. One thing that makes bitters such a nutritional boon is that they help restore the gallbladder and, even more importantly, healthy bile flow. Gallbladder disease is often a symptom of a more serious problem: congested bile. The reason so many people are losing their gallbladder is that they've developed thick, sludgy, congested bile that literally mucks up the works. Why is bile important? It's a crucial detox vehicle — and hardly anyone is talking about it. Bile binds with and carries a multitude of toxins out of the body via the intestines--heavy metals, drugs, excess hormones, chemicals, food preservatives, pesticides, flame retardants, and the like. Bile is what flushes away the toxins your liver collects. An alarming number of people have bile and gallbladder issues but are completely unaware. Among other things, toxic bile can drag down your thyroid. One Finnish study showed that hypothyroidism is seven times more likely in people with reduced bile flow. It's no surprise that sluggish bile and accumulation of body fat go hand in hand. If your bile is thick and not flowing freely, all that sludge remains in your system, and the excess toxins get parked in your fat cells. And you'll have plenty of those because, without adequate bile, your digestive tract cannot properly break down fats into forms your body can use, so it has no choice but to store them. Today's toxic world calls for a radical new approach. Today, it is impossible to avoid all health-compromising agents, but with diligence and increased awareness, you can substantially reduce your exposure--starting right where you are. It is never too late! Regardless of your age, health status, or situation, your body wants to be healthy and possesses an immense capacity for self-healing. Even small changes made consistently over time can make a world of difference.

Meat is a super food! You can literally live by eating just animal products! Like the carnivores. this study is interesting despite being observational: "The association between dietary creatine intake and cancer in U.S. adults: insights from NHANES 2007–2018." Front. Nutr., 09 January 2025 The authors concluded: "For each standard deviation (SD) increase in dietary creatine intake, cancer risk decreased by 5%. These findings suggest that higher dietary creatine intake may reduce cancer risk in a nationally representative adult population" Animal proteins, including meat, poultry, fish, and shellfish, are primary sources of creatine in human diets. In other words, animal proteins could prevent cancer! This is consistent with what I see in my clinical practice. People who come to us having cancer, we put them on a high protein diet/keto and they are stronger at fighting cancer!