Dr. Pincott: Wrapping lunches in waxed paper is what I grew up with. I think it is a great idea to get back to this. A simple way to get a big glass jar is to buy a gallon of organic apple juice and reuse it to store water. Plastic containers should be the harder type. Heating plastic is when the pthalates leach, while freezing plastic appears to be safe.

M: I read your article on Osteoporosis with interest and am doing many of the preventative things you have recommended. I do have one question which I would really appreciate an answer to. You mentioned the phosphorous in soft drinks being detrimental.  I drink a glass of blush wine, carbonated, per day and wonder if this is not such a good thing.  Also I eat phosphorous rich foods such as kiwi and bananas, should I reduce intake?

Dr. Pincott: Carbonated beverages act as antacids which essentially reduces the absorption of nutrients including the minerals calcium and magnesium, important for osteoporosis prevention. Phosphorous contributes to acidity in the body and the best way to monitor your body load of acidity is to measure your second morning urine void with litmus paper available from the drug store. If this sample is below pH of 6.0 then your body might be predominantly too acidic. Most vegetables and fruits contribute to an alkaline state so be sure and eat your 5-7 ½ cup servings per day as recommended. Remember also that alcoholic beverages metabolize into simple sugars in the body contributing further to an acidic state.

D: Can I take Hemp Oil in place of Cod Liver Oil?

Dr. Pincott: No. Hemp Oil, although rich in omega 3 oils linolenic and linoleic acid, does NOT convert very well in the human body to the EPA and DHA omega 3 essential fats critical for cardiovascular health. Cod liver oil also contains vitamin A and D and hemp oil does not contain either of these.

L: I have a friend in his sixties suffering from kidney cancer, how can I prevent this from happening to me?

Dr. Pincott: The body has several ways of eliminating toxins: through the bile and the bowel, through the skin, through the lungs and through the kidneys. Read my articles on environmental toxins and how to reduce them in your home as well as the impact heavy metals have on your health. Mercury, cadmium and lead are well known to be kidney toxic. Get rid of your mercury amalgams, stop smoking marijuana and cigarettes (most common sources of cadmium) and get a hair analysis done to do a preliminary evaluation of your total heavy metal toxic load. Our cleansing programs are always geared to up-regulate the function of the gut, the liver as well as the kidney. Keep in mind, being a male, that cadmium is very toxic for your prostate so by reducing your cadmium load will help prevent prostate cancer too!

Direct your questions by email to Dr. Pincott on her website www.DrPincott.com and she will try to answer them in a future article.