We have discussed how the body’s natural metabolic processes create acidic waste products, and, for optimal health, you need to restore your alkaline reserves. An effective way to do this is by drinking alkaline water, produced by a water alkalinizing machine This device, which looks like a coffee percolator, contains an electrical ionization system to split water into its acidic and alkaline portions. The alkaline water should be used for drinking and food preparation. The water’s alkalinity can be adjusted, and you should increase the level gradually to a pH between 9.5 and 10, which will provide a powerful detoxification treatment. We recommend that you drink 8 to 10 glasses per day of this alkaline water. It is one of the simplest and most powerful things you can do to combat a wide range of disease processes. The acidic water produced by the alkaline water machine from a separate outlet need not go to waste—it’s perfect for cleansing your skin. It’s also ideal to use for watering plants, which thrive in an acidic environment.

Excellent water alkalinizing devices (as well as a line of far infrared saunas, excellent for detoxification) are available thru High Tech Health.

Certain teas have alkalinizing effects on the body too.

Alternative Milks-Stevia
(Referenced in Fantastic Voyage-page 101)

While most sweeteners have negative features, stevia is a natural sweetener that is even good for you. Stevia is a plant indigenous to South America and is a natural food supplement that is 30 to 100 times sweeter than table sugar. It has been valued for its medicinal effects and natural sweetness in Paraguay for 1,500 years. It has been used similarly in Japan for the last 2 decades and has recently become popular in the United States as an all-natural, healthy sweetener.

We are not aware of any adverse reactions reported from the use of stevia. Numerous studies have been performed in Japan and in the United States on stevia's effects on cell membranes, enzymes systems and cancer, and no negative effects have ever been discovered. In fact, many significant health benefits have been observed:
• It is highly nutritious.
• It can lower blood sugar in diabetics, but also regulates blood sugar in nondiabetics.
• It can lower elevated blood pressure
• It kills bacteria that cause tooth decay.
• It can increase energy levels and mental activity.
• It helps reduce cravings for alcohol and tobacco.
Stevia is available from most health food stores

Ray & Terry prefer the stevia blend with maltodextrin, available in association with NuNaturals^TM

Phosphatidylcholine (PtC) is a major component of your cell membranes. As you age, the level of PtC in the cell wall diminishes, which is an important aging process. By supplementing with PtC, you can stop and even reverse this process. Research indicates that PtC can stimulate “reverse cholesterol transport,” that is, removal of cholesterol from artery plaque. When taking oral PtC supplements, it is important to use one that is at least 99% pure PC. Many supplements labeled “phosphatidylcholine” are actually only about 30% PC. Food-grade lecithin (not the commercial version) contains PtC but only about 20 to 25% of lecithin is PtC. A source for pure PtC can be purchased at RayandTerry's.com.

Sleep Apnea
(Referenced in Fantastic Voyage-Page 222)

Sleep apnea is a common condition in which the mouth opens widely during sleep, causing a temporary blockage of air. A person undergoing a sleep apnea event will appear to be gagging. This causes a temporary decline in available oxygen. People with moderate to severe sleep apnea may have dozens to hundreds of such apnea events each night. This condition, which is also found in many patients h high levels of snoring, can be diagnosed in a sleep clinic. There are also home tests that use a finger-mounted electronic probe to monitor blood oxygen levels. Most people who suffer from sleep apnea are unaware of the problem.
Sleep apnea results in increased blood pressure and inflammation, so it accelerates the formation of vulnerable plaque and is a risk factor for heart disease.
Excess body weight contributes to sleep apnea, so achieving optimal weight is one approach to reducing sleep apnea. One popular treatment is to use a device called CPAP (Continuous Pulmonary Airway pressure). The patient wears a mask connected to a device, which maintains positive airway pressure, reducing sleep apnea events. Most sleep-apnea patients find this cumbersome device intrusive, although people who suffer from severe sleep apnea find that it is worth it to be able to sleep well.

Another option is a custom dental appliance that prevents the air passageway from closing.
One organization in Massachusetts that can conduct sleep apnea evaluations, prescribe CPAP or a sleep apnea dental appliance is Sleep Health Center.