Archive for the ‘Prevention information’ Category

5 Quick Money Saving Tips For a Healthy New Year

Sunday, January 1st, 2012

New Year’s resolutions!  Yep, it’s that time of the year, now we don’t know if any money-piggy-bankyou have set out to make a resolution or even what they might be but, we thought we might help get you started with discussing a few easy tips to getting healthy and in turn just might help put some extra cash back into your wallets.  So here you go!

1.     Get to bed early- not only does sleep help to rejuvenate your body but if you get to bed early, you can get up earlier & more easily.  Therefore, having time to make yourself a healthy breakfast and instead not have to spend money on grabbing breakfast on the go.

2.     Stop or cut back on drinking caffeine - caffeine stresses the adrenal glands and in turn can make loosing weight difficult.  Cut back or if you’re brave enough stop caffeine all together.  See how much moola you save from ordering those triple venti latte’s.

3.     Plan your weekly menu- when planning your weekly menu you not only eat healthier during the week you also save an incredible amount of money.  I have found that when I don’t plan my menu I can spend anywhere from $30.00-$180.00 extra a week.

4.     Drink water- if there is only one health change you make for the better, let it be to drink more water.  It’s an easy and cheap way to detoxify the body.  So instead of grabbing that afternoon coke from the vending machine, pocket that change and drink out of that water bottle you brought from home.

5.     Exercise- if exercise is one of those things that is hard for you to fit into your schedule, then do it over your lunch.  The point is that you just need to get your body moving! Rather than spending money on lunch and gas spend that time more wisely and use it to exercise and bring leftovers from last night’s dinner.  Ask a friend to join you and get healthy together.

We hope these quick 5 tips help you start your New Year off right!  If you would like a health plan designed specifically for you please give our offices a call to set up your consultation!

Health & Happiness in 2012

Lori


picture by:  http://www.targetwoman.com/image/money-saving-tips.jpg

Is Your Liver Overloaded? Take the Test

Tuesday, October 4th, 2011

The liver is the body’s second largest organ stop_liver1and it’s primary job is detoxification. Simply put, the liver takes a potentially harmful substance in your body and transforms it into a less harmful substance so that the body can then safely eliminate it. The liver also plays a role in fat burning. It works with the gallbladder to help us excrete fatty substances, including stored body fat.

In modern days, many of us are treating our livers unkindly, and they just can’t keep up. Alcohol, caffeine, trans fats, sugars (including fructose and sucrose), synthetic substances (ie..pesticides, medications, skin care, etc..) and infections/viruses all put an extra burden on the liver. When this happens, cells in the liver begin to die and the liver eventually is unable to regenerate new cells.

What, you may be wondering, replaces those lost liver cells?   Fat! If this happens to you, you may get diagnosed with a fatty liver by your MD.

The liver is also responsible to making approximately 80% of the cholesterol in your body. (Remember, cholesterol is our friend as it is responsible for making all of our steroid hormones among other things.) The liver will make cholesterol to protect itself, since cholesterol can act as an anti-inflammatory. So when your liver is exposed to substances that can inflame it (as in the list above) it will make extra LDL cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol) for protection.

Ensuring good liver support as well as finding other sources of hidden inflammation in your body is a great first step in lowering cholesterol. Our upcoming Wellness 101 class in Los Gatos is a great place to learn about hidden inflammation and what to do about it.

Take The Test


If you answer “YES” to any of the questions below, your liver may need some support.
1. I have a liver roll (a roll of fat just below the bra line).

2. I have a tender point in the center of my chest (at the bra line).

3. I have a very short fuse/temper.

4. I have PMS.

5. I have cellulite.

6. I get hot easily.

7. My sleep is worse during a night that I consumed alcohol.

8. I have floaters in front of my eyes.

9. I get bloated easily.

10. I have elevated LDL (”bad”) cholesterol.

11. I drink alcohol daily.

12. I prefer to start my day with coffee.

If you suspect that you have an unhappy liver, the first thing to do is to eliminate the items listed above to give your body a break. Discovering the source of hidden inflammation including food allergies, hormone imbalances, parasites, etc.. is also critical to getting balance back into your body. If you would like more information or to set up a personal consultation, feel free to contact us.

References: Weaver, Libby Accidentally Overweight 2010Image thank you to: http://www.google.com/imgres?q=liver&um=1&hl=en&client=safari&sa=N&rls=en&biw=1168&bih=592&tbm=isch&tbnid=tDpIFtlTLBwIYM:&imgrefurl=http://healthlob.com/2011/05/choice-liver-treatment/&docid=zUJjTuBcQvsNqM&w=590&h=581&ei=w2-KTtGcLcWFsgKBmuCjBA&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=791&page=3&tbnh=109&tbnw=111&start=40&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:12,s:40&tx=49&ty=45

Inflammation – redness, swelling and pain

Saturday, September 10th, 2011

inflammation

What is inflammation?  By definition it is …Pathology. Redness, swelling, pain, tenderness, heat, and disturbed function of an area of the body, esp. as a reaction of tissues to injurious agents.

Typically when one thinks of inflammation one thinks of a cut or a sprain that may become red and swell and this is the extent of what one thinks of when it comes to inflammation.  We are here to tell you that inflammation is more than just a cut or a sprain.  Just as the definition above states it is a disturbed function of an area of the body do to injurious agents.  For the purpose of this newsletter we will be discussing areas of the body that are susceptible to inflammation and what exactly are injurious agents.

First of all, any part of the human body can become inflamed.  That means that muscles, nerves, organs and skin are all vulnerable to inflammation.  Becoming inflamed does not just happen from being injured from an accident.  Becoming inflamed as stated above in the definition comes from injurious agents.  What we need all of you to understand is that an injurious agent can come from the food you eat, the beverages you drink, lack of sleep, emotional and physical stress, etc.  Each of these agents can affect your body in different ways but all can end up causing inflammation.

We see so many people that come into our offices not feeling well, feeling tired, knowing that something is wrong with them but yet nothing is found by their healthcare professionals.   More times than not these individuals bodies are trying to fight inflammation and our job is to find the source. We do this by running gut, hormone, liver or food sensitivity testing. Typically what is given to treat inflammation are anti-inflammatory drugs and at times this is necessary but what we want all of you to know and understand is that if the injurious agent is not removed then you are only treating the symptoms and not the problem.

If you would like more information about our in-home test kits or would like more information about injurious agents please feel free to contact us at www.replenishingsoul.com

Be Aware Of Mindless Eating

Monday, August 1st, 2011

mindless-eatingThree times a day, everyday, we fuel our bodies with food to give us the energy we need to function throughout the day. With years of practice we should all be experts in how much food is the right amount, right?  Wrong.  It turns out that our eating environment has a powerful influence on how much we eat, and can lead to mindless overeating.
In this month’s newsletter, we want to share the findings of eating experiments from the book, Mindless Eating- Why We Eat More Than We Think, by Brian Wansink. See if you can related to any of the situations below, and learn what environmental strategies work to bring back mindfulness when eating.

1. The bigger the bowl, the more you will eat.

Moviegoers who had eaten dinner were given stale (bad tasting) popcorn. So even though they weren’t hungry, 34% ate more from the bigger bucket. What to do: Studies have found that using smaller plates does in fact work to reduce the amount you eat.

2. If it’s in front of you, you are more likely to eat it.

Secretaries who had candies in a bowl on their desk ate more than twice as many candies as those who had the bowl six feet away. They also ate more if the candies were in a clear bowl vs. opaque bowl. What to do: Keep sweets out of sight.

3. You can’t rely on purely “knowing” when you are full.

This one is a shocker. People were unknowingly given soup bowls that automatically refilled as they ate, so they couldn’t see how much they were eating. The results? They ate 73% more soup than the control group. When asked if they were full, they said,  ”How can I be full? I have a half a bowl of soup left.” What to do: A good rule of thumb is to eat until you are not hungry vs. “full”.

4. Exercise can make you overeat.

Participants were split up into two groups and both went on an identical walk around a lake before dinner. The groups were told that they were going on an exercise walk or a scenic walk. The leaders of the exercise walk group would say things like “We’re half way through, keep your heart rate up” while the scenic group heard things like “Look there’s an island and there’s three kinds of birds that live there”. The exercise walk group ended up eating more calories at dinner, mostly from desserts, than the scenic walk group because they estimated that they burned more calories.

5. Be aware of the health halo.

It was found that people who eat at “healthy” restaurants underestimated the calories they were consuming and were more likely to order potato chips, soda, or cookies along with their meals.

6. You are the company you keep.

When someone was paired with someone eating faster, they ended up eating significantly more than if they ate alone. In another study where participants were given a free buffet lunch, if a woman was following another woman, the woman behind took, on average, a portion that mimicked the serving taken by the woman in front.

As always, it is our goal to help you become more aware of how external and internal factors affect your health. With awareness come change. If you’d like more information on our services or would like to set up a nutrition & lifestyle coaching session contact us today

To your health,

Dorothy & Lori

Photo: Thank you to: http://www.google.com/imgres?q=portion+sizes&um=1&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&biw=1165&bih=597&tbm=isch&tbnid=B0xksy_iRqILvM:&imgrefurl=http://dadfitnessblog.com/the-biggest-diet-mistake-3040&docid=dXmSqJZ3-UqJ7M&w=401&h=272&ei=pSwyTsq8B5TUiAKvhIG6CA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=853&vpy=130&dur=1017&hovh=185&hovw=273&tx=141&ty=86&page=1&tbnh=111&tbnw=164&start=0&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:0

Being Skinny Doesn’t Mean You’re Healthy

Monday, July 11th, 2011

lunge-with-weight-over-head

We are trained to believe that if you’re skinny then you’re healthy.  Why is this?  Just because someone is skinny doesn’t mean that they are physically strong, have healthy hormones, blood pressure or even cholesterol etc.. Believe it or not those skinny people you see walking around may actually be carrying excess weight on them because of their high body fat to low muscle ratio.  We classify these types as skinny fats. Having a body with excess weight on it is just one small part of the equation to getting healthy.

In this month’s newsletter we wanted to touch upon the importance of physical strength, which is important for everyone.  Physical strength is necessary for many reasons:  It helps to increase muscle mass, prevents osteoporosis, prevents/reduces injury, corrects muscle imbalances and reduces pain just to name a few.

Take The Strength Test
Below is a list of exercises for you to perform to see how strong you are.  If you can do all the exercise with the correct form and for the designated amount of time listed then congratulations you are strong and keep it up.  If you can’t we suggest giving us a call or finding someone in your area to help get you started on a strength exercise program.

Squat: This is the most challenging for everyone because typically it is done with incorrect form.  To perform correctly, squat down as if you are sitting in a chair.  Your head and chest need to be facing forward and your thighs need to be parallel to the floor.  You should feel most of your weight in your heals and should be able to lift your toes off the floor; your knees should not go past your toes.  Perform this up and down motion for 12 times.  If you are unable to perform for 12 times or lose your form along the way then you have failed the squat portion of the test.

Lunge: In a standing position place your right foot out in front of you and your left foot behind you-stay up on your toes of your left foot, bend your left knee towards the floor then rise back up, this completes one full lunge.  Perform for 12 times then switch sides and perform 12 again.  If you are able to perform 12 lunges on each side you have passed the test, if not you have failed this portion.

Standing on one leg: Raise your left leg up by bringing your knee up towards your chest while standing on your right leg.  Hold this position for 10 seconds.  Then switch sides.  If you are able to stand on each leg for 10 seconds you have passed the test, if not then you have failed.

Push-ups: come down to the floor on your hands and knees.  Placing your hands on the floor and lifting your knees up so that you are up on your toes lower your chest to the floor and rise back up.  Perform for 12 times.   Modification for females is to place your hands on the floor keeping your knees on the floor and cross your feet at your ankles.  Now try to lower your chest to the floor for 12 times.  If you are able to perform 12 you have passed the test if not you have failed.

Sit-ups: place your feet under something sturdy or have someone hold your ankles.  Cross your arms across your chest and pull your chest up towards your legs for 12 times.  If you can perform 12 then you have passed if not you have failed.

We hope that by taking this test it gave you some insight on what it means to be healthy and strong regardless if you are thin or carrying a few extra pounds.  If you have any questions, concerns or would like to set up a strength training appointment please feel free to give us a call.

To strong & healthy bones…

In-home screening test for Candida

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011

candida_micro1

Do you have Candida?  Find out with this quick in-home screening.

Candida is a type of yeast that is naturally found throughout the body.  It can be found in the regular flora of the skin, mouth, intestinal track, rectum and vagina.  Although Candida is found naturally throughout the body, it can cause problems if there is an overgrowth.  Antibiotic use and not properly replenishing the gut afterwards, poor diet, stress and poor digestion can cause an overgrowth of yeast.

Symptoms can range from:

  • Stomach pains
  • Digestive problems
  • Skin rashes (eczema, psoriasis & acne)
  • Foggy brain
  • Anxiety
  • OCD
  • Irritability
  • Headaches
  • Itchy skin
  • Cravings for sweets

Candida thrives in an acidic environment and therefore a diet that promotes an alkaline environment is best click here to read about foods to avoid on a Candida Diet.  You should also know that Candida typically is not seen alone, meaning that if one has Candida issues then parasites, food sensitivities, adrenal fatigue and liver toxicity are also problems and can be ruled out with our in-home test kits.

If you suspect or are curious that you might be suffering from a Candida issue here is a quick in-home screening process to check and see if this yeast might be infecting you.  Remember this is ONLY a screening and if you suspect that might have a yeast problem please call our offices to set up an appointment for more thorough testing.

In-home Candida Screening Test:

  • Perform this test first thing in the morning before you put anything else in your mouth.
  • Grab a clear glass and fill with water
  • Work up some saliva and then spit into the glass of water
  • Check the water after a moment or 2-3 minutes and then every 15 minutes up until 1 hour

Results of a positive screen:

  • Strings, like cloudy legs moving down into the water or
  • Cloudy saliva that will sink to the bottom of the glass
  • Call our offices for testing

Results of a negative screen:

  • Water is clear, no strings and saliva is sitting on top of the water

Candida thrives off of sugar and therefore needs to be eliminated from the diet in order to starve the yeast.  An alkaline environment also needs to be created so here are foods to avoid while on a Candida Diet.

  • Avoid all sweets & processed foods (any food that has a shelf life)
  • Avoid fruits (fresh or dried) & fruit juices
  • Avoid all grains & pasta
  • Avoid alcohol
  • Avoid all dairy products

Foods to consume:

  • Fruits allowed are all kinds of berries, grapefruit, pineapple and papaya and still should only make up 5% of diet
  • Proteins: only from organic sources- non-organic meats contain antibiotics
  • Vegetables - above ground are best because they contain less sugar
  • Best Vegetables to consume: broccoli, cabbage, kale, brussels sprouts, asparagus, onions, garlic & ginger

We hope you found this newsletter informative and we welcome any questions that you might have.

In Health & Happiness

Lori & Dorothy

Picture by:  http://overcomingcandida.com/images/candida_gallery/candida_micro.jpg

Forming new habits-why will power is not enough

Tuesday, March 1st, 2011

How many of you reading this months newsletter have tried using willpower to  break old habits and form new ones?  ”I can lose these last 5 lbs. if I just don’t eat dinner.” or “I will use willpower to stop smoking”. This usually doesn’t work and here’s why:

orbitofrontal

Willpower is controlled by a part in the brain called the orbital frontal cortex (part of the frontal lobe located in the front of the brain).  In order for the orbital frontal cortex to be turned on it requires an active focus.  So one may ask how is this a bad thing?  Let me explain…

If I say to you “Don’t think of a pink elephant.” what are you most likely to do? Think of a pink elephant. Therefore, each time you think to yourself “Don’t eat the chocolate chip cookies.” You’ll want to eat the chocolate cookies. Before you know it you’re giving into the chocolate chip cookies and thinking of yourself in a negative manner for not having the willpower to say “No”.

Instead what needs to happen is that new good habits need to be formed by changing your beliefs, values & expectations. This happens by improving your ability to identify a negative behavior, emotion or thought before it actually takes place.  If you are able to identify the bad habit before it take place then you are in a position for a new good habit to be formed.

Remember this…bad habits cause immediate benefit but long-term harm with repetition.  Good habits cause immediate benefit and long-term benefit.

Quick tips:

1.     Don’t deprive yourself.  Depriving yourself fits the model of “don’t think of the pink elephant” as described above.

2.     Start out small & be gentle with yourself.  Don’t expect things to change overnight.

3.     Recognize and honor that making new habits take time as  bad habits are engrained in your subconscious memory and take awhile before they are pulled to the conscious brain.

4.     Surround yourself with opportunities & people who share the same goals.  We tend to think, act and feel like those around us.

5.     Identify where your bad habits are coming from…overworked, lack of boundaries, emotional stress or a childhood issues etc…once you’ve identified where the bad habit is coming from it helps to make sense of why your doing your bad habit.

6.     Enrich your life, manage your stress and find yourself a support system.  Replenishing Soul & ABS Fitness are always here for you!

References:  Institute for Brain Potential

Pic by:  http://dericbownds.net/uploaded_images/orbitofrontal.gif

Heavy Metals: Lead

Tuesday, February 1st, 2011

Over the past few months we have been discussing specific vitamins and minerals, explaining what each does, how each are best absorbed and foods that each are found in. We have completed our discussion of each specific vitamin and mineral however it does not stop there. For the next 2-3 months we will be discussing the effects of heavy metal toxicity that include sources they are found in, toxicity symptoms and counteracting nutrients that include the vitamins and minerals we previously discussed. As always we hope you enjoy and if you have any

free_gasoline_prices

questions please feel free to contact us. If you suspect heavy metal toxicity for yourself or are just curious call our offices and we will would be more than happy to assist you in running a heavy metal test.

Heavy metals include and are not limited to mercury, lead, aluminum, copper and fluoride. These items are found in our environment including our food, cleaning supplies, air & water. Completely avoiding heavy metals is near to impossible however there are several preventative steps that one can take in order to keep your body in a healthier state, therefore, making it easier to fight off exposure. These steps include and are not limited to:

· Eating organic when possible

· Thoroughly washing fruits and veggies after purchasing

· Drink plenty of clean water (filtered water is best)

· Avoid processed foods, sugar & caffeine

· Breathe fresh air – live in the city? Consider taking a ride to the country side or ocean

· Stress reduction – do something that helps you to manage & reduce stress such as exercising, meditation, listening to music that soothes you etc.

For our next heavy metal blog entry we will be discussing Lead.

Lead does not have any health benefits and therefore does more harm than good. One needs to be careful of lead based paints as well as soils contaminated with lead, which will in turn invest the foods grown in such soil.

Common Sources of Lead:

· Dyes

· Gasoline

· Insecticides

· Paint

· Plumbing

· Pottery

· Soil

· Scrap metal

· Tobacco smoke

· Textiles

Toxic Symptoms:

· Cramps

· Anemia

· Nausea &vomiting

· Fatigue & insomnia

· Weakness

· Cancer

· Nerve disorder

· Brain damage

· Headaches

Counteracting Nutrients

· Chlorophyll

· Cysteine

· Eleuthero

· Iron

· Legumes & beans

· Pectin

· Lecithin

· Phosphorus

· Cabbage family

· Selenium

· Vitamins A, B1, B2, B complex, C, D & E

· Zinc

Resource: Fighting radiation & chemical pollutants by: Steven Schechter, N.D.

Picture by: http://musclecarclub.com/petrol/free_gasoline_prices.jpg


Heavy Metals: Fluoride

Sunday, January 16th, 2011

Heavy metals include and r161793_593671are not limited to mercury, lead, aluminum, copper and fluoride.  These items are found in our environment including our food, cleaning supplies, air & water.   Completely avoiding heavy metals is near to impossible however there are several preventative steps that one can take in order to keep your body in a healthier state, therefore, making it easier to fight off exposure.  These steps include and are not limited to:

  • Eating organic when possible
  • Thoroughly washing fruits and veggies after purchasing
  • Drink plenty of clean water (filtered water is best)
  • Avoid processed foods, sugar & caffeine
  • Breathe fresh air - live in the city? Consider taking a ride to the country side or ocean
  • Stress reduction - do something that helps you to manage & reduce stress such as exercising, meditation, listening to music that soothes you etc.

For our next heavy metal blog entry we will be discussing Fluoride.

Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in many foods and water. It is added to toothpaste and offered as a treatment in dentist offices, particularly to children to help prevent tooth decay and cavities. However, some research has found many negative health effects linked to fluoride use and ingestion.

The American Dental Association is just now realizing the harmful effects of fluoride and has recommended that parents of infants younger than a year old “should consider using water that has no or low levels of fluoride” when mixing baby formula.

A study by the Mayo Clinic in the 1980’s found that when used as a treatment, fluoride increased bone mineral density but also increased the number of lower extremity fractures, causing concern regarding the relationship between fluoride and osteoporosis. Dr. Cosman, the clinical director of the National Osteoporosis Foundation believes that “…the bone quality formed under the influence of fluoride is not normal. It gets incorporated in the crystal and changes the crystal’s structure and stimulates production of a different kind of bone,” …”Fluoride may impair the mineralization of bone. Bone quality may be abnormal even though bone mass goes up.”

In the 1990’s the research of Dr. Jennifer Luke from the University of Surrey in England found the pineal gland, which rests between the two hemispheres of the brain, is the primary target of fluoride accumulation within the body (up to 21,000 ppm). This gland is responsible for the production of the hormone melatonin, which helps regulate the onset of puberty and helps protect the body from cell damage caused by free radicals. In her study, Luke found that animals treated with fluoride had lower levels of circulating melatonin and had an early onset of puberty.

Dr. John Yiamouyiannis Ph.D, first became aware of the health damaging effects of fluoride while working as editor of Chemical Abstracts Service, the world’s largest chemical information center. He reports:

“Fluoride is used as an insecticide and a roach killer. Even at the level they use to fluoridate your public water supply, usually at the rate of about 1 part fluoride for every million parts of water (1 ppm) by weight, it causes severe problems. As little as one-tenth of an ounce of fluoride will cause death. It is more poisonous than lead and just slightly less poisonous than arsenic. No one will die from drinking one glass of fluoridated water, but it is the long term chronic effects of drinking fluoridated water that affects health. Dental fluorosis is one of the earlier signs of fluoride poisoning, appearing in mild cases as a chalky area on the tooth, and in more advanced cases, teeth become yellow brown or black and the tips break off. Fluoride in the drinking water leads to fluoride levels in tissues and organs which damage enzymes. This results in a wide range of chronic diseases. Fluoride weakens the immune system and may cause allergic type reactions including dermatitis, eczema and hives. It causes birth defects and genetic damage. Fluoride is likely to aggravate kidney disease, diabetes and hypothyroidism. The amount consumed in drinking water has been shown to lower thyroid activity in humans. It also causes the breakdown of collagen which results in wrinkling of the skin and the weakening of ligaments, tendons and muscles.”

Common Sources of Fluoride:
  • Tap Water
  • Beverages bottled with tap water
  • fertilizers
  • fluorinated hydroarbons
  • mouthwashes
  • toothpastes
  • dental fluoride

Toxic Symptoms:

  • Abnormal hardening of bones and teeth
  • Accelerated aging
  • Cancer
  • Brain damage
  • Genetic damage
  • Immune disorders
  • Vitamin deficiencies
  • Kidney disorders
  • Mongolism
  • Mental dysfunction
  • Thyroid damage
  • Tumors

Counteracting Nutrients (that help counteract the effects of fluoride):

  • Calcium
  • Magnesium
  • Vitamins C and E
  • Zinc

It’s important to understand that good diet, not fluoride is necessary for healthy teeth. This includes minimizing your intake of sugar and other refined carbohydrates. If you’d like to purify your drinking water of fluoride, it can be done through the use of industrial quality reverse osmosis, which brings the total dissolved solids down to less that one part per million. Distillation filters also remove fluoride. Brita, Pur, and most other filters as well as boiling water DO NOT remove fluoride.

Non-fluoridated toothpaste can be found at natural health food stores, however be sure to read labels carefully.

If you suspect heavy metal toxicity for yourself or are just curious call our offices and we will would be more than happy to assist you in running a heavy metal test.

Resource:  Fighting radiation & chemical pollutants by:  Steven Schechter, N.D.

http://www.fluoridealert.org/health/pineal/

http://www.consumerhealth.org/articles/display.cfm?ID=19990303222823

http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/?token=1edc3d6e-4fec-4b20-baca-795e48830daa&chunkiid=14731

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Heavy Metals: Copper

Saturday, January 8th, 2011

3116601144_58e5015743

Over the past few months we have been discussing specific vitamins and minerals, explaining what each does, how each are best absorbed and foods that each are found in. We have completed our discussion of each specific vitamin and mineral however it does not stop there. For the next 2-3 months we will be discussing the effects of heavy metal toxicity that include sources they are found in, toxicity symptoms and counteracting nutrients that include the vitamins and minerals we previously discussed.  As always we hope you enjoy and if you have any questions please feel free to contact us. If you suspect heavy metal toxicity for yourself or are just curious call our offices and we will would be more than happy to assist you in running a heavy metal test.

Heavy metals include and are not limited to mercury, lead, aluminum, copper and fluoride.  These items are found in our environment including our food, cleaning supplies, air & water.   Completely avoiding heavy metals is near to impossible however there are several preventative steps that one can take in order to keep your body in a healthier state, therefore, making it easier to fight off exposure.  These steps include and are not limited to:

  • Eating organic when possible
  • Thoroughly washing fruits and veggies after purchasing
  • Drink plenty of clean water (filtered water is best)
  • Avoid processed foods, sugar & caffeine
  • Breathe fresh air - live in the city? Consider taking a ride to the country side or ocean
  • Stress reduction - do something that helps you to manage & reduce stress such as exercising, meditation, listening to music that soothes you etc.

For our next heavy metal blog entry we will be discussing Copper.

Copper is vital to our health.  It plays a role in bone growth, reproduction & immune response to name a few.  Copper toxicity can occur from eating acidic food that has been cooked in un-coated copper cookware.  Exposure can also come from drinking water.

Common Sources of Carbon Monoxide:

  • Tap water
  • Plumbing

Toxic Symptoms:

  • Mineral deficiencies such as zinc, iron & magnesium
  • Gastrointestinal tract irritations
  • Mental disorders
  • Fatigue & insomnia
  • Depression
  • Headaches & skin rashes

Counteracting Nutrients

  • Manganese
  • Molybdenum
  • Vit C plus bioflovanoids
  • Zinc

Resource:  Fighting radiation & chemical pollutants by:  Steven Schechter, N.D.

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