Of special interest in bone health, US medical physicians are not schooled in nutritional biochemistry or functional medicine and will make the common mistake of prescribing 1000-1500 mg of calcium a day. Dr. Grisanti of Functional Medicine University continues to state that recommendations of 1500 mgs of calcium a day to prevent osteoporosis and the common drugs, Boniva, Evista, Actonel, or Fosamax prescribed as treatment of osteoporosis yields an average of 2% improvement a year for a couple of years and then the benefit dwindles or ceases. A “temporary” improvement in bone density can be expected at the above stated improvement rate, and short-lived at that because the underlying root cause of the problem has been overlooked or ignored.
As a quick reminder, normal bone breaks down and repairs itself every day, just as all tissues do. A concern with this condition with this lack of bone turn-over and repair is the fact that it encourages the accumulation of heavy toxic metals. Specifically, Cadmium. When a body is depleted in adequate nutrient levels, it leaves susceptibility towards toxic metals to take their place. In the case of osteoporosis where extra calcium is being supplemented, what is failed to be known is that high doses of calcium actually pushes out zinc from the bones. Zinc is a mineral not only needed for bone strength, but as a catalyst for manufacturing over 200 enzymes in the body. I consider zinc to be a “master” mineral due to it’s seemly almost endless involvement in the functions of every vital system within the human body. Once cadmium displaces enough zinc, the bones lose their strength and you have a greater potential of developing osteopenia, osteomalacia, easy fractures and osteoporosis. In summary, a zinc deficiency can come from cadmium, plasticizers, unbalanced high calcium doses, to list a few. Just the same, a deficiency of zinc leads to cadmium and other metals to accumulate. Therefore, you can you see how this condition worsens when the underlying root cause(s) are not identified. I recommend a RBC intracellular nutrient and toxic heavy metal profile. This will be the first step in helping in your pursuit in treatment of osteoporosis. One important clue that you may have a zinc deficiency if an alkaline phosphatase blood test below 70. REMEMBER:
Neither of these tests mentioned above are offered through your typical physician. Integrative and Functional Medicine trained healthcare providers are the ones to turn to. The great news is, evaluations and tests can be ordered without having to locate and physically visit this kind of specialist. The move of these highly trained practitioners are on the rise, forming micro practices all over and working alongside of allopathic physicians (your regular doctor). I can help you wherever you are demographically and help you utilize your doctor to fulfill the testing procedure. Osteoporosis is among the conditional states I call ID problems, an acronym for inflammatory and/or degenerative disorders. The term I have coined as “ID conditions” is also a reminder not to approach all disease solely on the physical level. Think of it, osteoporosis is, by definition, weakening of the bone. Bone is comprised of minerals that harden the collagen proteins in formation by means of a process called ossification. Does it make sense to simply approach this as a deficiency of one or more minerals and mega dose them as if they body will know what to do? Or is it possibly a little more complex? Stress can deplete a body of minerals, however, what is the mechanism of which helps synthesize cells? Furthermore, cells into tissues, tissues into bone or glands, organs, etc.? Shouldn't the stress be addressed as well as the need to fulfill nutrient requirements? More on "ID conditions"
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Do you crave comfort foods as temporary “fixes” such as coffee and sweets? Maybe it’s chips or other fillers. Whichever you grab for in these moments, foods devoid of vitality do not yield what you truly desire. Are you acutely aware of this? Have you ever considered that self-care is directly related to self-confidence? Where does your confidence stem from? Is it defined by your work, social scene or other ego-fed pseudo life-styles? This is an important area to check in with yourself occasionally. It is easy in today’s time to get pulled towards this direction. Additionally, some personalities tend to lean more naturally into this physical plain of existence. It takes all types to bring us into balance with ourselves and each other. Please accept this insight as a friendly reminder and be gracious with yourself. Ask your inner wisdom, “what changes could be made to benefit my higher self and greater good?”. Chances are, you already have known the answer for a while now. It’s been knocking at your door. It may be inconvenient. Making change isn’t always easy, however when you do the right thing, you know it’s worth it in the end and you’re always vibrating at a higher rate. Simply sitting with your energy around these questions begins the healing process. Healing of the soul; honoring your whole self – mind, body and soul. Seek to bring balance to your life in all areas. This alone is cleansing!
So next time you grab for that bottle of wine or a beer, think of what better serves and nourishes your intuition – not just your physical body! Next time you need a snack, think of what your cells really need. How about when you are feeling sluggish, even after a good night’s rest? What feeds your creative side, motivates and inspires you? Stay tuned for more aspects of healing, balance and cleansing! The lymph system is an organization of lymph nodes, lymph ducts, lymph vessels and glands that produce and transport lymphatic fluid from tissues to the bloodstream. This system is a vital component of the body's immune system. Removing and destroying waste such as dead blood cells, pathogens, toxins, cancer cells, and debris; you can see how the Immune system is assisted by the lymph.
The spleen, tonsils, and thymus gland are part of this lymphatic network. Unlike blood, which flows throughout the body in a continual loop and has a pump (the beating heart), lymphatic movement occurs in just one direction. This flow is only upward toward the neck. This one-way street, so to speak, relies exclusively on the muscle contraction and respiration for the valves to circulate the lymph fluid. Diaphragmatic deep breathing and physical exercise are critical for lymph cleansing and to an over-all healthy immune function. How does this talk of the lymphatic system tie into the integrity of the intestines? Well, being that the colon is the major outlet for waste products, the failure to properly evacuate overwhelms the lymphatic system and ultimately compromises healthy immunity. The lymphatic system also... see this impressive list! READ MORE |
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