NUTRITIONAL PEARLS

Headaches (HA’s): Information based on our experience has shown that Headaches are caused by several different things and below is a list of some of the possible offenders:

• HA’s that occur just before, during or after menses, especially true if the HA began around the time of puberty, then an anterior pituitary/hypothalamus dysfunction should be ruled out.
• HA’s that cause digestive distress, could be biliary/liver dysfunction and/or hypochlorhydria.
• HA’s that have been diagnosed as true migraine’s and dietary/structural problems have been ruled out as possible causes, then the diagnosis to consider is a vitamin deficiency, such as magnesium and/or choline.
• HA’s that occur primarily in the AM and wear off as the day goes on, then one might consider the possibility of a thyroid hypo/hyper function with a pituitary involvement.
• Also one need’s to rule out the possibility of structural problems, like TMJ, scoliosis, and cranial involvement. Your Chiropractor would be the most qualified to make such a diagnosis.
• HA’s that occur over the eyes, consider gallbladder dysfunction.
• Migrane HA's consider Neurotransmitter Dynfunction.

Diuretic Drug Therapy: Both the literature and clinical feedback indicate that drug diuretic use will almost always result in a thiamine need.

Natural and Organic Labeling: These buzz words are appearing on a lot of labels lately, but did you know that the FDA’s definition of organic means carbon based, it could be cold tar that’s used (and often is) because, it is a carbon based product. As for Natural, if only 3-5% of any ingredient used happens to be natural, the label can say natural, that however does not mean that the other ingredients have to be, in fact more often then not the ingredients label contains toxic chemicals (see Vitamin and Mineral Tablets the Hidden Dangers).

Estrogen: Estrogen (Hormone Replacement Therapy) must be taken for 7 years to prevent osteoporosis, as explained by the medical community. However, with this kind of therapy you also get an increased rate of risk with the following:

With any if the above possible risks involved in taking prescribed hormones perhaps a more natural approach might be considered. Not only because it would be more supportive, less harmful, and certainly more beneficial, but because it’s what nature intended.

Lack of Sense of Smell and Taste: Could be a problem with a need for zinc. However, if not responsive to zinc therapy, the problem is usually a need for one of the synergistic, like B vitamins, magnesium and/or EFA’s.

Fat Phobias: What people need to understand is that all animal fat is not the enemy. Butter for example is one of the best natural sources of vitamin E. A moderate amount of animal fat is necessary so that the body can utilize the raw material for cell membrane material, all hormones, and to synthesize vitamin D (the parathyroid hormone.

Osteoarthritis: World-wide population studies show the higher the dairy use in a country, the higher the incidence of Osteo Arthritis. (McDougall’s Medicine report 1997). Poor Calcium Metabolism (osteo arthritis) can only be diagnosable by X-ray when advanced to 40%.

A Partial List of Nutrients Lost In the Processing of Food:

Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, E
• B1, thiamine, affects growth and nutrition and carbohydrate metabolism.
• B2, riboflavin, affects growth and cellular metabolism.
• B3, niacin, important in glycolysis, tissue respiration and fat synthesis.
• B6, pyridoxine, essential for metabolism of tryptophan and other essential amino acids.
• E, cellular antioxidant, stability of cell membranes, red blood cell strength and helps to prevent oxidation of low density lipoproteins (LDL’s).
  
  Biotin
  
• Adequate biotin intake is required to initiate glucose processing and assist the entry of glucose into the cell. Also a component of the B vitamins, but what makes biotin unique is not what it does, but what happens when it is absent from our diets; some of the symptoms of deficiency are anorexia, depression, muscle pains, dermatitis, etc.
  
  Folic Acid
  
• A synergist to vitamin B12, B6, zinc and magnesium.
  
  Chromium
  
• Essential for glucose metabolism, which requires its conversion to the glucose tolerance factor which potentates the action of insulin at the cellular level.
  
  Iron
  
• Essential in hemoglobin (red blood cell iron) formation, and needs to be present for cellular respiration to occur.
  
  Calcium
  
• See article on osteoporosis
  
  Potassium
  
• Necessary part of osmotic pressure and acid-base balance. An essential part of the normal excitability of muscle tissue, especially the cardiac muscle, as well as playing a role in the nerve conduction impulses.
  
  Magnesium
  
• Activates enzymes that activate reactions necessary for phosphates (which maintain blood acid-base balance) and ATP (the energy molecule).
  
  Zinc
  
• Found in every cell of the body, an essential part of healthy cell maintenance. Low zinc levels may adversely affect glucose tolerance.
  
  Manganese
  
• The element needed for normal bone metabolism and some enzyme reactions.
  
  Cobalt
  
• An essential element in vitamin B12.
  
  Molybdenum
  
• A trace mineral, when absent, is associated with sensitivities to MSG, sulfites, and aromatic compounds. Low serum uric acid is also a strong indication of molybdenum need.
  
  Selenium
  
• Synergist to vitamin E, and is necessary in thyroid function (with T3 uptake for the separation from T4).
  
  Vanadium
  
• Synergist to chromium, diabetes and elevated cholesterol are some of the known vanadium deficiencies.
  
  Fiber
  
• The indigestible portion of foods necessary in cleansing the lungs and colon. Sufficient fiber in the diet reduces the incidence of some cancers by more than 60%.
  
  Essential Fatty Acids
  
• The 2 fatty acids that are not produced by the body, they are Omega 3 and Omega 6 (EFA’s). Needed for cell metabolism and membrane building, energy, cardiovascular function (health), the immune system and inflammatory processes.

Leg Cramps: If leg cramps occur at rest, suspect a calcium, magnesium and potassium need. If cramps occur during exercise, suspect a need for vitamin E.

Cramps in Feet: If the toes curl up, suspect a calcium and magnesium need. If toes curl down, suspect a phosphorus need.

Craves Chocolate: Suspect a magnesium deficiency.

Arythmias: Consider a magnesium deficiency; Since calcium and magnesium are what our muscles and nerves need to function properly and calcium is ubiquitous, we have found that patients with both psychological as well as physiological cardiac stress benefit enormously from magnesium.

Ginkgo Biloba: Improves blood flow to the brain and other tissues and enhances cellular metabolism. Disorders that may respond to Ginkgo include asthma, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), macular degeneration, vertigo and impotence. Improves elderly short -term memory, alertness, arteriosclerosis, and mood disturbances (some types of depression).

References:
K.J. Morgan, G.L. Stampley, M.E. Zabik, ME, D.R. Fischer "Magnesium and Calcium Dietary Intakes of the US Population", Journal of American College of Nutrition 1985;4:195-206.
J.M. Holden, W.R. Wolf, W. Mertz, "Zinc and Copper in Self-Selected Diets", Journal of American Dietary Assoc. 1979; 75:23-28.
W.H.Glinsmann, W. Mertz, "Effects of Trivalent Chorium on Glucose Tolerance", Metabolism 1996: 15: 502-510.
Clinician’s View of Biotics Research Products 1998, 2-25.
Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary 1985, pg. 2054-2059.
What About Fat, Dr. P.J. Locke 1997, A Patients Guide
Healing with Whole Foods1993, Fiber Part III, 27: 313
Problems Associated With Aging, Alan R. Gaby, M.D., Sept. 1994