People from all over the country have come to the Optimal Wellness Center. Although some people are initially wary of the extra travel costs involved, they find that the expense was well worth the trip. If you are interested in taking back control of your health, please take the time to read through the New Patient tour--it could be your first step toward optimal health. What follows is one patient's phenomenal story of renewed health after applying the program she learned at the Optimal Wellness Center.

I decided to visit Dr. Mercola after I had been diagnosed with mercury poisoning. I had had my amalgam fillings replaced, and I had taken oral substances to remove the residual mercury. My doctor felt that after the treatments I was healthy enough to have a child, our long time prayer. Unfortunately, I had a miscarriage and then I learned that my mercury level was still extremely high. I had to have DMPS injections, which left me weak and sick. I couldn't regain my health. I was discouraged and needed a different approach.

I first learned of Dr. Mercola when my nutritionist in Atlanta told me that canola oil was bad for my health. He said that I could find out more by visiting mercola.com. I assumed that Mercola was another type of oil! I was pleasantly surprised to find an extensive, informative Web site. I read the e-newsletter weekly for about a year and a half before seeing Dr. Mercola in person.

Even though I wanted to see Dr. Mercola I still had some hesitations. First, we live in Atlanta, so I had to consider the cost involved with seeing a doctor in Illinois. I also was concerned about future costs for follow-up visits and treatments, and was very reluctant to see yet another doctor after 12 years of medical problems.

I was scared that Dr. Mercola would find many problems and tell me that I was in terrible condition (repeating an all-too-familiar pattern). I wanted to believe that I could be independently healthy and free from massive amounts of supplements, but I kept thinking that perhaps Dr. Mercola couldn't help someone like me. I didn't want to get my hopes up and be disappointed again or put through a whole new series of treatments that wouldn't work.

When I first saw Dr. Mercola five months ago, I was extremely fatigued all the time. I was underweight and unable to gain weight. I was constantly hungry. I was having problems with my thyroid despite taking supplements for it. I was taking Echinacea daily to avoid getting sick--if I stopped taking it, I immediately got sick. My lymph glands were always swollen, and I was always congested. My hands were cold and often purple in color and dry. I had parasites, yeast, and chemical sensitivities.

I was seeing an alternative doctor weekly and taking around 20 different herbs and vitamins that he had prescribed. I felt highly toxic (nauseated, tired, headaches, stomachaches). I had intense menstrual cramps, increased hunger and fatigue, and muscle cramping during my period each month. In addition, my heart was racing, and I had to take an herb every hour to calm my heart.

When I visited Dr. Mercola, I was already following his eating plan and juicing vegetables, and I had made many lifestyle changes already including using non-toxic cleaners in our home, wearing clothing made of natural fibers, using only natural personal hygiene products, having an organic yard, etc.

After seeing Dr. Mercola, I greatly increased the amount of wholesome fats that I was eating (avocado, coconut, raw cream, nuts, etc.), and I now eat raw eggs daily. I also eat raw dairy, and I eat according to my nutritional type, including eating more dark meat than before and juicing just the veggies that are beneficial to my nutritional type. I have to be careful because if I have too much juice I become sleepy (being a protein type). I also use EFT daily, and when possible, I eat my food raw or cooked slowly at low temperatures.

The first month of the program was extremely difficult. I didn't see much progress. I started taking some nutritional typing digestive enzymes, and then I began to have energy. The constant hunger ceased, and I was able to do limited exercise for the first time in two years. EFT has been by far the biggest help for me. As soon as I started that, I noticed immediate, incredible and lasting improvement.

I follow the nutritional typing food recommendations, and I love it! Adding fats to my diet greatly improved my health! I started to have more energy, and I stopped being hungry all the time. My favorite food on the program is raw dairy! I also enjoy avocado, coconut, cashew butter with Granny Smith apples, raw eggs with raw cream and a little bit of raw honey.

EFT has totally changed my life! Because of EFT, I have been able to deal effectively with fears, thus enabling me to: exercise again, travel, relax and enjoy life, feel calm in the car, have a purpose again, feel creative, express rather than suppress my feelings, lovingly confront people when necessary, stop seeing doctors and be independently healthy, stop taking supplements and herbs, and start trying to have a baby. EFT also has diminished or erased physical symptoms including headaches, cramps, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, stomachaches, racing heart and cold hands.

Since following Dr. Mercola's plan, I have gained much-needed weight and ceased taking all of the extra supplements and herbs. I gained seven pounds over four and a half months, and I've increased one dress size. I have not been sick, and my lymph glands are no longer swollen. I have no parasites. I am no longer hungry, and I have no chemical sensitivities.

People comment on my excellent coloring and radiance. I have more energy. My thyroid is in the normal range. My adrenals are functioning properly. My heart is no longer racing. I no longer have to see a doctor each week. By following the plan, I truly have become independently healthy. I have all of the knowledge and tools that I needed to overcome my health problems.

As a result of following Dr. Mercola's program I am able to exercise again. We now travel and have fun without worrying that I might get sick and spoil our trip. I have an excitement for life. I am feeling more creative, and I am enjoying being with people. I can make plans without fearing that I may not have health and energy to follow through.

To help me stay on the program initially when I did not see much result, I began keeping a record of my progress. That was a great encouragement. EFT has been tremendously helpful in keeping me on track. My husband is a great support and encouragement, and my EFT therapist (Linda) offered huge amounts of support. I learned to strive for excellence, not perfection.

For a while I was becoming frustrated and bored with my eating plan. I couldn't eat out or have meals with friends because those foods were not available in those settings. I had to prepare separate meals for my husband and me. Linda and Jordan explained that I had to have joy in life and that if I followed the plan 80 percent of the time with a cheerful heart that I would experience great results. It's true!

By far the MOST important source of help in my life is God. Without God's love and guidance I would not be healthy today. God led me to Dr. Mercola, and God has given me the wisdom, self-control, strength and patience that I greatly needed. I pray every day and read the Bible. I also write encouraging scriptures on index cards and carry them with me to combat discouragement.

I cannot say enough praise for Dr. Mercola, Linda, and Jordan! For the first time ever, health care professionals saw me as being healthy. They saw me as who I was about to become. Everyone was so encouraging, and they understood what I had been through. Their expertise and knowledge are incredible, and they all have loving hearts. Dr. Mercola's claim is true: you really can become independently healthy!

--Sherri Kaiser
Dacula, Georgia (metro Atlanta)

The No-Grain Diet: Success Stories