The Total Health Sweepstakes has concluded. Both the Testimonial Contest portion and the Sweepstakes Drawing portion have come to an end. Thank you to those who participated and congratulations to those select few who were lucky enough to win!

Below you will find the winning testimonials from the Testimonial Contest.

Winning Entry: 3,323 Votes

Last January, in a routine checkup, my 55-yr-old husband's lipids and liver function tested high. At 5'8", he weighed 247lbs all his adult life, despite eating what we thought was a balanced USDA-food-pyramid-diet, no sweets or junk food, leading very active lifestyles. Doc challenged him to lose weight and test again in 90 days. Our life insurance agent also said he could save $1-thousand on annual premiums with a normal BMI.

Meanwhile, I had always been way too thin, even for someone as short as I am at 4'10", but I could not gain weight-until menopause, that is, and then I suddenly doubled my weight in 3 years, from 84lbs to 167lbs.

I had not changed my eating habits, so I couldn't understand it. Doc said there was nothing wrong with me and put me on hormones. For the next 4 years, my weight remained unchanged.

Then I discovered the hormones were hurting my previously healthy heart. I flunked 3 EKGs. When doc told my husband to lose weight, I had no idea how we were going to do it. For several years, I had read and tried everything I could find that seemed to have some basis for sensible nutrition. Nothing had worked.

In January, I started reading Dr Mercola's e-newsletters. I sent away for his "Total Health Program" book. I discovered we were protein types, and had been eating too much grain. I changed the way we approached nutrition, stopped the grains, added Tropical Traditions coconut oil, Carlson's cod liver oil, Bio-Mulsion K,& Garden of Life Primal Defense probiotics.

By April, we had each lost weight, and our blood tests were completely normal, including my EKG! By June, my husband weighed 175lbs(72 lost) and I 115,which is more normal for my height than either 84 or 167. We each had new life insurance exams: my husband's premium lowered by $1,247, mine by $486.

About that time, a 48-yr-old relative, a Type 1 diabetic since infancy, came to live with us after her parents died. She was unable to live alone due to mental incapacity, being autistic, with poorly controlled diabetes, high blood pressure, underactive thyroid, high cholesterol, anemia, and a long list of ailments. She was taking anti-psychotics, anti-convulsives, thyroid meds, blood pressure meds, cholesterol meds, and more.

At 5'4," she weighed nearly 200lbs. I immediately applied what I had learned from Dr Mercola and my experience with amazingly fast and effective results for my husband and myself. I also researched Dr Mercola's wonderful archives of articles written by so many experts on mercola.com, learning about the diseases and disorders afflicting my relative and natural, nutritional ways to approach them without prescriptions.

I changed her diet totally and added appropriate natural supplementation, including Chlorella. I stopped all her prescriptions except insulin. She lost weight steadily, within 5-months was down to 128,normal for her height (70lb loss).

The best change includes a long list of quality-of-life benefits. Her blood pressure is now normal with no medication. Her cholesterol/triglycerides are now normal, HDLs up, LDLs down, with no medication. After 10 years on Synthroid and only 4 months off it and on Dr Mercola's diet, her thyroid tests normal. Her liver function now tests normal. She is no longer anemic. She needs 1/3 the insulin she used to inject daily. Her blood sugar is so perfectly stable and controlled with this diet, she no longer has any high's or low's, staying in a narrow range of 90-130.Her A1C tested a perfect 5.0 this quarter, despite drastic reduction in insulin intake. Her skin tone has gone from an ashen gray to beautiful radiance.

Best of all, her behavior has greatly improved. Prior to this, it was impossible to have a conversation with her because of her mental disability. She used to be overly-animated, and no one could stand to be around her. Now she is calmer, smiling, happy, and lovely to be with--all this achieved without any prescription drugs (Not to mention the hundreds of dollars monthly savings.)

She is conversing normally, and she has started arts & crafts, making Christmas ornaments as her first project. This is nothing short of a miracle, and I hope her parents can see her now. Thank you, Dr Mercola, you saved us all!

Joy Casalinova; Oxford, ME

#2 Entry: 3,157 Votes

I am the mother of a five-year-old boy with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Through the help of a local nutritionist and research on the Internet, my son has come a very long way in the last two and a half years.

Dr. Mercola's website has been an invaluable resource and reference in regard to diet, detoxification and supplementation. If you had asked me three years ago if my son had any food or environmental reactions, I would have insisted he did not. Yet with changing his diet to eliminate gluten and casein and then corn, soy and other grains and sugar, we saw dramatic changes I could never have imagined.

My son, who only had a handful of words of spontaneous speech, suddenly began talking in complete 4-5 word sentences and called my "Mommy" for the first time. The process has been like peeling an onion.

Each step we take to eliminate toxins in his environment and foods that caused him to react, brought amazing gains, and, at the same time, revealed the next problem that had to be tackled. I came to learn that even though I thought I had been feeding him a nutritious diet, his brain was starved for nutrients because his body was unable to process them.

At the same time, I have come to understand that my son was like the canary in the mines; manifesting symptoms of a severe toxic overload and inability to eliminate heavy metals and toxins that entered his body through vaccines and from the environment. With the help of supplementation to meet those needs and to detoxify, he has "woken up" and is an active and happy participant in a mainstream kindergarten class. We still have a lot of catching up to do to make up for his delays with language and social skills, but his ability and desire to progress amaze me every day. His ritualistic behaviors, obsessive compulsiveness, his extreme and uncontrollable tantrums with the slightest change in his schedule or environment, his colitis, his waking throughout every night with screaming, and his withdrawal into his own world unless constantly receiving exterior stimulation are gone.

This week, he will celebrate his sixth birthday, and he is so excited he can talk of nothing else. He made up the invitation list, chose the theme and will undoubtedly be the central participant in his party. Two years ago, I tried to have a birthday party for him, and I honestly cannot tell you if he knew what a birthday was. He hid behind my leg and screamed, because even being in a room with more than a couple of people was painful to him. His younger sister opened his presents for him that year, and he did not even seem to notice.

In addition to diet and supplements, we continue to detoxify, using the far infrared sauna method recommended on Dr. Mercola's website with tremendous results in language development, capacity for imaginative play and social skills. I highly recommend www.mercola.com as an invaluable resource to anyone who wants to understand the steps to overcoming the medical problems and metabolic imbalances that contribute to autism.

Mary Hernandez; River Edge, NJ

#3 Entry: 1,754 Votes

I used to think being healthy was something that happened to lucky people. I couldn't differentiate between the media hype, skinny supermodels that supposedly represented health, conflicting studies or mass pharmaceutical use.

I looked in the mirror and saw a woman who was young, thin and active. I figured that I must be healthy. But then, after the birth of my second child, I was crippled by a highly misunderstood and devastating disease-anxiety disorder.

In a few short months, my once active and carefree lifestyle was replaced by daily panic attacks and constant fear. I approached my primary care physician, who was compassionate, but had nothing to offer outside of conventional medications. I refused to take the medicine, concerned primarily for my nursing infant.

For months I suffered, unable to find relief. I prayed for a way to cope. I trusted God to help me. And one day, by the grace of God, I found a link to Dr. Mercola's website.

I perused the information, but was leery of his approach to health. Where were the drug ads or quick fix pills? How could you make yourself healthy without the help of modern medicine?

I concluded that Dr. Mercola must be another quack that erroneously called himself a physician. But then I checked his credentials. I was impressed. I decided to research some of his articles and I signed up for the free e-newsletter. Little did I know, that not only would my life change, but I would get the opportunity to improve the lives of my husband and children.

After a few weeks of studying the information found on the extensive www.mercola.com website, I was making drastic lifestyle changes. We improved our diets. I became convinced that even my "healthy" whole wheat bread needed to go. I purchased dairy goats and began making our own organic milk products. We expanded the garden and added fruit trees. Our entire lives were on a new and better course.

I rapidly learned about EFT, and finally found a mechanism to improve my disabling panic disorder. Impressed with the changes, I continued to review the weekly newsletter, and was convinced of the importance of fish oil. The research that Dr. Mercola provided encouraged me to purchase Carlson's fish oil. I have no doubt about the dramatic improvement in my health! Within weeks of adding the fish oil, I was a new person!

I could spend hours listing the other benefits that the newsletter has provided. We have found ways to avoid colds, flues and other illnesses. We have learned how to be better advocates for our children's health. We have embraced responsibility for our health.

But perhaps the greatest improvements, were the unintended ones. We have a new faith in God, as we see how magnificently He created us, and gave us power to heal ourselves through Him. I now have the opportunity to teach my children about their bodies and the need for them to treat them as temples of God. I can help them to avoid consumer messages that convince them otherwise. And perhaps our greatest testimonial came on August 25 of this year.

After two preterm babies, our third child, Lucille Anne, was peacefully born into my hands, at home, just days before her due date. Had I not read a report about fish oil preventing preterm labor on Dr. Mercola's site, our family might have been robbed of such a beautiful day! Thank you God for letting Your message come to us through such unexpected means as the Internet!

Tiffany Appell; Cardington, OH

#4 Entry: 1,283 Votes

A testimony I'd like to share involves my husband, Edward. He was 33 years old at the time and during an annual physical, his blood cholesterol (LDL) was over 200. Our family physician insisted that he take Lipitor immediately to lower his cholesterol and wanted to put him on a maintenance plan with the drug.

We both refused and requested that the doctor give us eight weeks to see if we could lower it using methods other than medication. Our doctor agreed with that request and wanted to see Edward in approximately six weeks.

I referred to Dr. Mercola's information on lowering cholesterol and implemented the following steps into my husband's diet and our lifestyle as a whole: we stopped eating pork; purchased salmon from Vital Choice and bison from Black Wing for our source of protein; began drinking more water and eating more organic vegetables; used a cardio-vascular (elliptical) exercise machine for 20 minutes a day; began eating almonds daily; began cooking with Tropical Traditions Virgin Oil; and stopped buying all food items that contain hydrogenated oils--whether they are partially or wholly hydrogenated.

When the six weeks arrived, we went to the appointment and waited for the results. To our delight, not only had his LDL levels lowered, it had drastically lowered to approximately 110. The nurse even made mention that she was surprised to see that drastic drop in cholesterol in so short a time and without medication. One year later, Edward's LDL cholesterol level is still within recommended norms!!!

This scare was a wake up call and caused us to become serious about what we eat and how we eat. Although we are young, we are at high risk for diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol (my husband is African-American, I am Puerto Rican and both of our families have histories of such conditions).

We saw this issue as the potential precursor to a downhill slope of progressively poor health and did not want to accept living life in illness when there is a possible and viable way to change it.

I have shared what I have learned from Dr. Mercola, including our own testimony, with my family and friends. I have purchased and read both his books as well as other books he has recommended such as "Your Body's Many Cries for Water."

My initial introduction to Dr. Mercola occurred two years ago when I was trying to find information on whether microwave ovens dangerously affected health. My web search took me to a compelling article written by Dr. Mercola and I have been reading his newsletters faithfully ever since. I immediately stopped using the microwave and also began researching articles on fibromyalgia, high blood cholesterol, sunscreen use, consumption of fish and aspartame, birth control pills, and other important health topics.

As mentioned earlier, I purchase many of the foods and products offered on Dr. Mercola's website and have informed my parents of the wonderful benefits of those items. My mother-in-law, who consumed aspartame for years and who also has fibromyalgia (along with other health issues) has finally been set free from the addiction to aspartame after not consuming it for 90 days and she has experienced a relief in the frequency and intensity of pain she used to suffer with from fibromyalgia. She now drinks water as her primary drink and she also avoids all types of artificial sweeteners. It is because of the truthful and powerful documentation Dr. Mercola provided about aspartame consumption in drink and foods and the consequential poisoning that she stopped consuming it and is better now because of that.

I could really go on and on about the many ways that Dr. Mercola's website has positively impacted my life but I will not. In closing, I thank God for Dr. Mercola and his commitment to truth and health. With the way medicine is practiced in America today, it is increasingly difficult to find a medical doctor who is sincere and not corrupted by greed, insensitivity, arrogance and ignorance.

Dr. Mercola's newsletter is a wealth of knowledge that keeps abreast with the massive influx of information that is disseminated by the media, national health (or better said "illness") agencies, and the medical profession. As a Christian, I admire and applaud Dr. Mercola for his courage, strength, humility, honesty and commitment to the mental and physical health of humanity.

Emily Livingston; Philadelphia, PA

#5 Entry: 1,235 Votes

I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) on May 1, 1999 and was put on Avonex [an Interferon beta drug]. The drug cost me $1,200 a month and for the over two years I was on it my symptoms continued to get worse and I had fevers and many other drug side effects.

I realized that I needed to find out how to get some positive results and then I came across an article in Dr. Mercola's newsletter, which I'd been reading for about two years, called "MS Drugs a Waste of Money". I really wanted to get off the drugs so I made an appointment to see Dr. Mercola. I'll never forget Dr. Mercola's response when I asked 'When can I go off the drugs?' He asked me what time it was, and I said 'It's 2:00.' He replied, 'Well, how about right now?'

After I saw Dr. Mercola and stopped taking the drugs, it took about one and a half to two months of following his program before I began feeling better. I had been following a low-fat diet, which is what is typically recommended for MS, but found out that this was conflicting with my nutritional type, which turned out to be protein type.

I began eating dark meat chicken and red meat, which I love but hadn't eaten in almost three years, and raw coconut and avocados. I'd never thought to eat raw coconut or avocados before, but now they're just about my favorite foods on the program. I also began to eat raw meat--bison and beef--and noticed an immediate change in how I felt. I also juice, mostly spinach and celery, almost daily.

When I started the program I was in the middle of an exacerbation and was feeling weak and numb, but soon I began to feel better. I used to get nerve and spine pain, searing head pain and fevers and now it's all gone. But there were two major factors that I learned at Dr. Mercola's Clinic, aside from the dietary changes, that really made a profound difference in my recovery. First, I had to learn that I didn't have MS, I had symptoms associated with it. Next, I had to believe that I could overcome this disease, even though that goes against everything you hear in mainstream media.

I did EFT with Linda, an EFT therapist, and that really helped me to accept these two truths. Learning and believing these two factors was imperative to my recovery. I was also able to see my progress each month with the live blood cell analysis from Jordan. Being able to see my blood on the screen and actually see it improve was the coolest thing I'd ever seen!

I'd also suffered from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) for my entire life, but when I changed my diet my stomach repaired itself almost immediately. Now I continue to improve, feel great and am completely off the MS drugs. Dr. Mercola's program has really made a difference for me." Today is December 1st. 2004 my health continues to show improvement. I am so grateful to be off the drugs and have control of my health again. Thank you so much for your diet plan, your newsletter and encouragement. I am truly blessed by your practice.

Matt Bolson; Lisle; IL

#6 Entry: 1,065 Votes

My husband's melanoma metasticized in 2002. At age 33 and with two small boys, this was clearly too young to lose him! When I asked the oncologist about the role of nutrition in fighting the cancer, he looked me in the eyes and told me Jim should eat whatever he felt like eating to keep his weight up.

I KNEW this couldn't be right and it made me angry, so I began my quest to find and implement the truth about nutrition.

From the beginning it has been important for our whole family to make changes, since it quickly became evident that this is about far more than fighting cancer. There has been no sign of the melanoma for two years--but just as importantly, we have established good eating and lifestyle habits that enhance our lives now and will surely prevent other serious conditions down the road.

Dr. Mercola's website has been a vital piece of the puzzle for us. It is the first place I search when I have specific health questions, and we have used a great deal of the articles he highlights in his newsletter to help make decisions about everything from supplements to vaccinations. Whenever I receive a new installment, I feel thankful that the message is going out to so many people and hopeful that a movement has begun to bring about a significant change in our culture!

I share the website with everyone who asks for more information about the choices we've made and encourage each person to sign up for the e-newsletter, knowing that the difference will be made one person at a time. This family photo was taken in March of 2004 as a celebration of our health and completeness... imagine our surprise when we learned just a short time later that we weren't as complete as we thought! Our third son is due to arrive in mid-January 2005, so I have had many new topics to look up on the website in the past several months.

We're excited about "doing it right" from the beginning with this new little life and want to thank Dr. Mercola in advance for being the gateway to all the information we need as we navigate this new territory.

Brenda Mitchell, Allmadge, OH

#7 Entry: 645 Votes

Dear Dr. Mercola, your website is an invaluable resource! Although I earn a living for myself and my family by working as a specialty pharmaceutical representative (heaven forbid!), I have for several years now kept current with alternative medicine.

Preventive medicine has become my passion, and your website has become my first source for the information I need to take charge of my family's health. I want to share with you the profound difference you have made in my life by helping me to achieve optimal health.

You see, I am a 43-year old mother of two who works two jobs - one in sales, and the other in the home as a wife and mother! Like many a woman/wife/mother/& employee, my life is pulled in many directions.

The multi-tasking is often overwhelming. My daily routine had become appalling. For me, time was a commodity, and I had little of it. My life was a whirlwind of activity; rush, rush, rush. I skipped breakfast. I ate meals on the fly, often devouring fast food with my children for dinner. I rarely took the time to even satisfy my thirst, except for almost daily morning lattes. And I developed an insatiable sweet tooth. As if my diet wasn't enough to destroy my health, I even stopped exercising -- who has the time or energy? And the picture was not much prettier in the mental department, either.

I felt so inadequate, never able to succeed at being the ideal mother nor the ideal employee. This daily routine took its toll on my health. I suffered from "woman-over-40" weight gain. Just exactly when did I develop this spare tire and boxy behind? As if my new, flabby figure wasn't enough to keep me miserable, I developed daily debilitating headaches, horrific heartburn, hypertension, and chronic fatigue that may be more appropriately termed as absolute exhaustion. I woke up with the best intentions of accomplishing everything on my "to-do" list. However, I rarely accomplished even a few of my tasks.

Where did my motivation and energy go, on vacation to Tahiti? Every morning I rose after eight full hours of sleep, wondering why I felt like my head just hit the pillow. Like many women, I added to my physical misery by beating myself up mentally at the end of each day for once again being "worthless" and accomplishing nothing. I had to do something about this misery called life.

My interest in natural healing led me to surf the web and enter - the Mercola.com website! The information you provide helped me learn possible causes for all my symptoms, and more importantly to find a preventive medicine physician right here in St. Louis who could help me take back control of my life! Together we discovered that I was suffering from candida overgrowth, leaky gut syndrome, multiple food sensitivities, adrenal fatigue, and terribly low seratonin levels!

And guess what...my physician references your website as well! Using her treatment plan for me, coupled with your health and wellness guidance, I became a new woman! My symptoms have virtually disappeared, and my rosacea is even improved after beginning the Clenzology system (if Clenzology were a drug, I would suggest applying for a new indication!).

After several years of yo-yo dieting, I even readily shed those 10 pounds I could never lose, and I have kept this weight off! Dr. Mercola, your life is blessed through the help you provide for free to thousands of people through your website. The words "thank you" seem somehow so inadequate, but THANK YOU!

Jacqueline Williams; Wentzville, MO

#8 Entry: 608 Votes

For the past 8 years, I have struggled with a battle against my own health. I have held on to the demon of an eating disorder, anorexia, as my primary method for coping.

It has not only taken me to several dangerous levels on the medical front, but it took me to suicidal levels emotionally. I never felt satisfied, not with my mind, my appearance, not even with my life. I was defeated.

Last year, while going through my email I saw a forwarded attachment from my mother. It was from some website called Mercola.com. Mercola.com, what's that? Assuming it was another joke of the day or cute picture, I deleted it without looking.

A few days later a printout from Mercola.com was taped to my bedroom door. The subject was EFT. This time I read what would soon be the answer to much of my discontent. After practicing, and practicing, and practicing some more, something in me clicked into place. I have since been able to gain 15 pounds without much of the anxiety that I had been accustomed to. Those 15 pounds probably saved my body, but EFT saved my life.

Erica Edwards, Norman, OK

#9 Entry: 262 Votes

While I have only been using Dr. Mercola's Total Health Program program, website and newsletter for about 2 and a half months, it has created changes so revolutionary already, and I'm thrilled for the wonderful health ahead.

I have completely conquered my addiction to sugar and flour products and no longer have intense cravings for food, I eat plenty of food, but am not constantly plagued with thoughts of eating (especially sugary treats).

In addition, the most amazing change has been the reversal of a medical condition I have been suffering with for 4 years, GERD or gastro esophageal reflux disorder. This condition has been especially troublesome for me, as I am a professional singer, and to be dealing with acid in the throat and its affects on the vocal cords can potentially lead to damage and loss of singing ability.

Needless to say, this has been a source of great stress and I have tried many things, including being on Nexium for three years, which was beginning to lose its effectiveness. I was told to stop eating many acidic and citrus foods like tomatoes, oranges (I now eat these with no problem!!)

I now know that sugar and flour were the real culprits. I also have stopped overeating (which is another factor that affects GERD), as I am no longer extremely hungry all the time and eating healthful nutritious foods. I am discovering the joys of tasty raw foods, and will soon participate in a cow share program!

Another bonus, I have suffered from moderate acne my whole life, at times it has been quite bad and had to wear a lot of makeup, people who haven't seen me in a while all comment on my clear, glowing skin. I hardly wear any makeup at all now! Also, my yo-yo weight has stabilized (I was not overweight, but could put weight on easily) and I no longer even think about calories. I eat healthy fats and protein and minimal fruits (I'm a protein type).

This diet has given me incredible energy...I feel satisfied with my meals and have not gained any weight (I think I've even lost a few pounds!) My head is clear and I don't suffer from mid-afternoon slumps at work! No need for caffeine or sugar products for a "fix." Sorry for writing so much, I'm just so enthusiastic about this program; it is the only thing that has ever felt "right" for my body! I am extremely grateful, especially for the wealth and detail of clear, honest information. I am excited to continue to learn and grow with this program. Thank you Dr. Mercola for the amazing work you do.

Milena Grubor; Troy; MI

#10 Entry: 247 Votes

Dr. Mercola and his excellent weekly newsletter have become an integral part of my life. Six years ago I was struggling with my weight (220 lbs. at 5'8") and health (hypoglycemia, headaches, fatigue, menstrual problems, acne, overactive sinus, etc.). I could not find a diet that would work for me.

I started with Atkins and lost much of the weight but I still didn't feel completely healthy. An internet search brought me to Dr. Mercola's website and I was amazed at all the FREE, valuable information there. Immediately I signed up for his newsletter and called for an appointment at his office.

Meeting him and his staff was a wonderful experience! No other doctor I have ever seen (for myself or when tagging along with a family member) has been so thorough, inspirational, knowledgeable, and giving of the time it really takes to assess and treat a patient. I've tried his advice and it really works! It solved all the nagging health problems I had been dealing with since I was a teenager that even drugs hadn't been able to cure. Drugs were the only answer other doctors had ever given me.

His influence inspired me to change careers and I am now working on a Master's in Nutritional Education. His newsletter, site, and books are the first places I look for accurate news and information on health topics. His is an opinion I can trust. Thanks Dr. Mercola!

Sarah Pittman Feagans; Plainfield IL