How many of you made New Year resolutions for 2011? And for my next question, how many of those resolutions are related to health and well-being? My experience leads me to believe that the numbers would be quite high. We all want to feel better and look better, too. The problem is that there are so many ideas out there (and by ideas I mean diets) that claim you will lose weight and experience better health. Hence the reason I find it difficult to commit to a resolution that focuses on pounds and inches. I will admit that I have terrible eating habits and that I have put on some weight recently. I feel out of shape and I only have myself to blame for it. So I've decided not to commit myself to the idea of attaining the perfect body, but rather, a healthy body, one that functions as it should. And I have decided to apply some of what I have learned from The Phytozyme Cure.

Written by Dr. Michelle Schoffro Cook, The Phytozyme Cure provides detailed information on the healing powers of phytonutrients and enzymes, which can help us to strengthen our immune systems, protect us from disease and yes, even reverse those dreaded signs of aging. With her extensive background in Natural Medicine, Nutritional Consulting, Orthomolecular Health, Acupuncture and Bioenergetic Medicine, Dr. Michelle Schoffro Cook paints a concise picture of how phytonutrients and enzymes work, what their individual benefits are and how we can and should take advantage of them. It has taken 20 years of clinical practice for her to be able to use the latest scientific discoveries and provide the tools needed to tackle 30 common health conditions ranging from ADHD/ADD, Alzheimer's, Depression, Diabetes, Ear Infections all the way to Heart Disease.

I think it's important to note that the author, while in her late teens, was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease for which there was no cure. When an unfortunate decision was made by her physician to change her treatment medication, she became severely ill and bedridden, unable to lift her limbs to leave her bed on most days. After consulting several specialists, she was inevitably told that there is no cure for her genetic disease and that she would require medication for the duration of her life. Without it, she would surely die. It wasn't until she forced herself to spend some time outdoors under the sun that she clued in to the healing powers of nature. Today, she has more energy and has dramatically reduced the pain she used to feel. And although she still has her bad days, she has survived the past 16 years without the medication that used to keep her alive.

In The Pytozyme Cure, it becomes clear that enzymes play a crucial role in overall well-being, digestion in particular. I know this is true because I once suffered from serious gallstone pain. It was so bad at one point that I was picked up in an ambulance after calling in my symptoms that sounded like I was having a heart attack. What I was really experiencing was heartburn, indigestion and acid reflux in addition to what felt like constriction around my chest. I couldn't even hold my then one-month old firstborn to nurse her. It was awful. After further examination, it was determined that gallstones were the cause and that I would need to remove my gallbladder. I had experienced several bouts of this pain that I just wanted it to go away. So I went ahead with the surgery. Weeks later, the pain returned and I felt disillusioned. It wasn't until I met with a naturopath that I discovered that I could have avoided surgery altogether. Based on what I had described, he predicted that I was probably deficient in enzymes. After he completed a food intolerance test, he threw in an enzyme test at no charge. I was astonished to find out that of all the major digestive enzymes your body needs, I had but one. That's it. His suggestion? Take a digestive enzyme supplement, which I did for about a month without regret. He also suggested that women should add a pro-biotic to their daily diet as well. So when I read about The 7 Ways to Improve Your Digestion in The Phytozyme Cure, I couldn't help but nod my head in agreement. Needless to say, I will be following the seven steps more closely. I am also planning on re-introduction a digestive enzyme back into my diet once I take a better look at my options. There are a lot of suggestions in the book that after a first read left me feeling a little overwhelmed. I also plan on being more conscious of what I eat and will aim to consume a larger variety of fruits and vegetables in a range of colours each day in order to experience the benefit of "the phytonutrient rainbow". The Phytozyme Cure includes a handy reference chart that lists the uses and primary sources of phytonutrients.

Here is a list of some of the benefits you will read about in The Phytozyme Cure:

• Faster healing 
• Improved energy 
• Greater mental clarity 
• Increased resistance to illness 
• Enhanced immune functioning 
• Accelerated weight loss 
• A more youthful appearance

You can also read excerpts from The Phytozyme Cure: Treat Or Reverse More Than 30 Serious Health Conditions by Michelle Schoffro Cook or better still, win a copy for yourself!
In order to win a copy of The Phytozyme Cure, simply leave a comment on this post and share your resolution for the New Year. 

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Contest ends February 7 at 10 pm EST. Open to Canadian residents only.