Thanks to the advances in medicinal knowledge, we now know that catastrophic illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes do not strike us down randomly but are, to a great extent, the results of identifiable behavior on our part. The laws of nature which govern good health are precise and clear, and if we chose to ignore them, we do so at our peril.

There is good news and bad news on the subject of chronic disease. The good news is that we are the first generation in the history of the world to know enough that we can avoid chronic illness and, therefore, live longer. The bad news is that we still act as if we knew nothing!

I once visited a friend’s cabin in a dense forest by a lake. Upon arriving after sundown, we loaded our arms with supplies, and entered a darkened room where we stumbled about bumping into furniture. My friend, despite knowing the room, tripped over a footstool and fell crashing to the floor. I promptly stumbled over his prone body, and fell on top of him. The groceries we were carrying spilled out on the floor, along with a few choice expressions of dismay. As we struggled to disentangle ourselves, I heard my friend shout to his brother who was just entering the cabin, “Hey! Turn on the light!”

Immediately the room was as bright as day, and we set about cleaning up the mess. Unfortunately, this story illustrates what too many of us do when faced with the threat of contracting chronic disease. We stumble about in the dark, putting ourselves at risk, when doing something simple would greatly lessen the danger. Always remember this equation: Nutrition + Exercise + Mangosteen = Optimum Health.

I remind you that exercise and nutrition matter, but let’s take a closer look at the Mangosteen. It’s now been over a year since I first started using the Mangosteen’s xanthones with my patients. I continue to be amazed at the breadth of the health benefits so many derive from the juice. Several who were seeing me every month with complaints now report that they have to mark their calendar to remind them when a routine visit is necessary. Many patients have become almost evangelistic in their efforts to tell others about the benefits they’ve experienced.

These xanthones continue to amaze me as I receive reports daily from other practitioners and patients around the world who are experiencing the benefits of such a versatile food supplement. Scientific papers continue to appear in the research literature, and the excitement continues unabated. In fact, it is increasing daily.

So to you who have been introduced to the marvelous Mangosteen xanthones, here’s a bit of doctor’s advice: When you are standing at the door and hear someone blindly stumbling about amidst the threats of serious chronic illness, ”Hey! Turn on the light!”