Health News
Are Digestive Enzymes Necessary for Weight Loss?
It’s been said “you are what you eat,” but the truth is, “you are what you digest.” Right now, there are thousands of enzymes at work in your body. They run everything from digestion to your metabolism, and they are necessary for ALL of your body’s processes and functions. A deficiency of even one of these enzymes can mean the difference between health and disease for your body. Enzymes are absolutely essential to your health and life. More than 75,000 enzymes have been identified in the human body, and they are hard at work: producing energy absorbing oxygen reducing inflammation dissolving blood clots breaking down fats and cholesterol in your blood fighting infections healing wounds delivering nutrients to your cells balancing your hormones getting rid of toxins regulating your metabolism and even slowing the aging process Enzymes are the catalysts in many of the essential biochemical reactions in our bodies, and they don’t work alone. Cofactors like magnesium and coenzyme Q10 work together with enzymes to speed up these reactions, sometimes as fast as several millions reactions per second! The 3 Types of Enzymes You Need to Know About The 3 basic categories of enzymes are digestive, metabolic, and food-based. Digestive enzymes are extracellular, meaning they are found outside of your cells. Metabolic enzymes are intracellular, which means they are inside your cells. Both of these types of enzymes are made primarily by your pancreas. Food-based enzymes come from the foods you eat, and once your digestive enzymes break the food down, these enzymes are free to help you digest your food into nutrients your body can absorb. Each enzyme works best in its ideal environment, and as we age and are exposed to more toxins, the environment inside our bodies changes, depleting our enzymes. When enzymes run even a little bit low, symptoms appear and diseases aren’t far behind. It’s important to know what these enzymes do in our bodies, and how to supplement when symptoms appear. Digestive Enzymes Do you need digestive enzymes for weight loss? These enzymes are necessary to break down proteins, carbohydrates, and fats into energy. All digestive enzymes come from the pancreas, and the small intestine is where 90 percent of digestion and absorption actually takes place. A pancreas that is functioning normally will secrete about 8 cups of pancreatic juices into the small intestine daily. This fluid is rich with digestive enzymes and bicarbonate, which neutralizes the strong stomach acid as it is released into the small intestine. Read on to learn about digestive enzymes and weight loss. Lipase works with bile from the liver and gallbladder to break down fats. When you don’t have enough lipase, you may suffer with gas, bloating, diarrhea, fatty stools, lack of essential fats, and fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies. When your liver is overloaded with toxins, it can cause the bile to become thick, sludgy, and congested, and not flow as freely as your digestion needs it to. This can cause a feedback that causes you to make less lipase. It’s important for everything from fat digestion to healthy thyroid function to keep bile flowing freely, and that’s why we’ve created UNI KEY Health's Bile Builder Supplements for no gallbladder. This supplement is a must-have for proper fat digestion, especially if your gallbladder has been removed. There are a number of enzymes that are needed to break down carbohydrates (aka “carbs”). They are everywhere from your saliva to your small intestine. Amylase, cellulase, maltase, lactase, sucrase, and phytase break down everything from simple carbohydrates like fruit sugars to dairy sugars, fiber, and other complex starches and sugars. Diets too heavy in carbs and sugary foods can cause constipation, bloating, cramping, gas, bloating, heartburn, and acid reflux when the enzymes can’t keep up with the demand. This is why reducing processed sugars in your diet is so important. Proteases are the enzymes that digest proteins, and are arguably the most important for overall health. Proteolytic enzymes (proteases) have gained quite a reputation in the natural healing community, because they not only break down proteins into amino acids (e.g. trypsin and chymotrypsin), but also digest biofilms and the bacteria, yeast, protozoa and parasites that live there (e.g. lumbrokinase, serrapeptase, nattokinase). They also break down inflammatory proteins that are found in abundance in arthritis, cancers, and many other health conditions. When you are deficient in proteolytic enzymes, protein digestion is incomplete, which means allergies develop, toxins can form, and you are at an increased risk for intestinal infections. Metabolic Enzymes Your circulatory, respiratory, cardiac, neurologic, endocrine, lymphatic, and reproductive systems all rely on these intracellular enzymes for critical functions. These enzymes also maintain your liver, kidneys, skin, bone, muscles, and other tissues and organs. Every single one of your cells depends on these enzymes for energy and life. Proteolytic enzymes are not only important digestive enzymes, but are also important metabolic enzymes. The proteases found in your blood break down foreign proteins that cause inflammation and infection and cleanse the blood, as well as breaking down clots and reducing the swelling in inflamed tissues. Since inflammation plays a role in practically every disease we face today, boosting your levels of proteolytic enzymes may be essential to a healthy body, especially as we age. How to Increase Your Enzymes Naturally Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez found enzymes to be indispensable in the treatment of his cancer patients. What is known of his formulas and protocols has been made available publicly since his death, and we can see that enzymes were a key ingredient in every single one of his tremendously successful cancer protocols. You don’t have to be facing something as serious as cancer to benefit from increasing your enzymes. If you suffer from fatigue, arthritis, sore muscles, digestive issues, hormone imbalance, or any form of inflammation, insufficient enzymes may be a root cause. And there are several ways to increase them naturally: Chew your food thoroughly. Your digestive system is actually a cascade of chemical reactions that starts with chewing. When you chew your food thoroughly, you produce an optimal amount of saliva, which then signals your stomach how much acid to produce, which then signals the right amount of bile and pancreatic enzymes to be released. Avoid drinking anything within 30 minutes of meal (this includes no drinks during the meal), because it dilutes your gastric juices and sends the signal to secrete fewer enzymes, which we don’t want. Don’t chew gum, because this confuses your digestive signals and by itself can create digestive symptoms. Eat raw foods. The most powerful, enzyme-rich foods available are sprouts, and you can grow them inexpensively at home. Broccoli sprouts and sunflower sprouts are among some of the strongest disease-fighters, and are easy to grow at home. Juicing your vegetables also releases a lot of enzymes. It’s important to consume fresh juice that hasn’t been heated at all. Pasteurized juices or juice added to hot soups or other foods will destroy the enzymes and make them unusable. Raw cheeses and other dairy products contain the enzymes you need to break down the lactose and proteins in the milk. Raw honey, bee pollen, extra virgin olive oil, and coconut oil are other enzyme-rich foods. Supplement with digestive and proteolytic enzymes. Nutricology’s pancreatic enzymes are the best on the market. Made from a porcine glandular, this complete formula can be used 2 ways for entirely different health effects. If digestive issues are your main concern, these enzymes can be taken right before a meal to help you fully digest it. Over time, it will signal your body to increase its own production of digestive enzymes, so less may be needed the longer you take them. The other way to take them is on an empty stomach, away from meals, to support your metabolic proteolytic enzyme production. This allows them to be absorbed through your gut and into your bloodstream, where they can be used systemically. This method is especially useful if you are dealing with arthritis or other inflammatory diseases. The post Are Digestive Enzymes Necessary for Weight Loss? appeared first on Your Health Keys.
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5 Ridiculously Easy Ways to Reduce Your Cancer Risk
We are making ourselves sick. The science of epigenetics is showing us beyond the shadow of a doubt what we’ve always intuitively known – the air we breathe, the foods we eat, the water we drink (or don’t drink), how much we sleep, how we handle stress, whether we exercise, and the other lifestyle choices we make – all dictate whether we are healthy or develop serious diseases like cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, only 5 to 10 percent of all cancers are caused by genetic mutations, yet they receive a lot of attention. As soon as people get the dreaded diagnosis, they start examining the health histories of their relatives to find the genetic connection and explain why they are sick. And while we see cancers that run in families and assume they are genetic, the truth is, we’ve either shared the same toxic environment or inherited our parents’ bad habits. Do Your Detective Work Sharon’s* mom and sister were both diagnosed with breast cancer by age 30 and unfortunately neither survived it. So when Sharon was diagnosed with the same cancer, she treated it with all medicine had to offer and felt fortunate to survive. As a nurse, she was shocked when her doctor did the genetic testing for breast cancer and it was negative. How could all 3 of them have the same cancer? After chemotherapy, she sought out functional medicine doctors to help her heal. She tried EDTA chelation therapy, but she blew up like a balloon, her eyes became puffy, her head pounded, and her kidneys were shutting down. She started looking for new answers. She came across the healing journey of a woman who had toxic levels of plutonium. She researched and found out this woman lived near where she grew up. It was then she discovered their family home of many years was 2 miles from a chemical factory where the nuclear weapon ignition component was made. She started seeing a new functional medicine doctor and asked to have her plutonium levels checked. Just as she suspected, plutonium was found in her blood test. She went on an herbal detox program plus minerals for about 6 months, then was excited to report she no longer tested positive for plutonium. Sharon has been cancer-free and thriving ever since. Your Environment Trumps Your Genes Not everyone with the genetic mutations that are known to cause cancer actually gets the cancer. Genes – good or bad – don’t switch on and express themselves unless the environment they’re in is right for this to happen. Put simply, genes may load the gun, but their environment pulls the trigger. As statistics show, with only 10 percent of cancers caused by genetic mutations, something much bigger is going on. And that elephant in the room is your environment. Your environment has over 80,000 chemicals in it, and only about 200 have been studied according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) standards. These chemicals are found in everything from cigarette smoke to car exhaust, baby shampoo, feminine hygiene products, air fresheners, furniture, bedding, and so much more. And while we can’t completely avoid exposure, we can minimize it by making informed choices to use non-toxic products whenever possible. We can filter the water we drink and bathe in, we can filter the air in our home, and we can choose foods that are organic and minimally processed. Lifestyle Choices Also Determine Cancer Risk Some cancer risks are out of our control, but many are one lifestyle choice away. Many of these lifestyle choices have been taught to us by our parents and our communities, and we may not even realize we are putting ourselves at risk. Lack of sleep, high stress level, too much sugar in your diet, sitting too much, not exercising, being overweight or obese, and drinking alcohol are all risk factors for cancer that we can make the choice to change. Several studies have told the same story – people come to the US from other countries and are so healthy – then they adopt our Standard American Diet (SAD) and other unhealthy lifestyle choices, and it isn’t long before they develop one of the “Big 3:” cancer, heart disease, or diabetes. And obesity usually plays a part. As weight increases, inflammation increases, and it creates the perfect cellular environment to pull the trigger on cancer growth. Be Your Own Success Story Don’t be a doctor’s Christmas present. When it comes to your health, what you aren’t actively fighting or preventing, you are allowing. Don’t wait until disease is on your doorstep, make the healthy lifestyle choices now. If you think it can’t happen to you, think again. We are exposed to enough cancer-causing chemicals that we make one million new cancer cells daily. As long as your immune system is strong, those cells are discovered and destroyed. But an immune system that is suppressed, damaged, or overloaded, either won’t recognize those cells as cancerous. Sometimes, your body doesn’t have the strength to destroy them, and this is when tumors start to grow. 5 Ridiculously Easy Ways to Reduce Your Cancer Risk If reducing your cancer risk sounds like a daunting task, start with these simple steps to get on the path to health: Sleep. What starts as unwinding in front of the TV after a long day can quickly turn into late night binge-watching and start you on a sleep deficit. Put down your phone, turn off the TV, and stop your screen time at least 2 hours before bedtime. If insomnia is your issue, then try melatonin, at least 3 to 6 milligrams 30 minutes before you want to sleep to help restore your body’s circadian rhythms. Breathe. Deep breathing is one of the most simple ways to reduce your stress level. Focusing on your breathing, breathing deep into your belly, and breathing out twice as long as you breathe in are all ways breathwork is used to help relieve stress and anxiety while increasing oxygen levels. It can be done anywhere, anytime, and doesn’t even require special training or equipment to do. Walk. Daily exercise is essential for health, strength, and longevity. It’s as simple as a 20-minute brisk walk daily around the neighborhood or on a treadmill. Walking meditation can also be done to help with stress and insomnia. Eat Your Vegetables. The vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber found in vegetables are essential for digestive health and have been proven to reduce your cancer risk. Start by adding a serving of vegetables to your day or trying out a new one. Increase until you are eating at least 5 servings of non-fried vegetables daily. Boost Your Immune Power with Vitamin C. It’s been almost 100 years since vitamin C was discovered, and Linus Pauling made it famous with his studies on its role in cancer prevention and therapy. Vitamin C’s role in boosting the immune system and strengthening the collagen matrix that keeps cancer from spreading has been extensively studied by Dr. Matthias Rath at the Pauling Institute. At least 2000 to 5000 milligrams should be taken daily in a time-release formula to boost your immunity and keep your levels up. * Name changed for privacy The post 5 Ridiculously Easy Ways to Reduce Your Cancer Risk appeared first on Your Health Keys.
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Is Your Home Cancer-Proof? Take This Quiz to Find Out
Did you know? You are being exposed to over 84,000 chemicals on the market today, and only 1 percent has been tested for safety or cancer-causing effects. Our current law, the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, is so lax that only 5 chemicals have been banned since it was enacted. Even chemicals that studies prove are known carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) are in your home and legally cannot be banned. Babies in this country are being born polluted, with over 300 toxic chemicals and known carcinogens being found in their blood at birth. Your car, cell phone, furniture, mattress, clothing, and personal care products are all being made with known carcinogens and chemicals that haven’t been tested for their safety. In fact, of the 84,000+ chemicals circulating in your environment, only about 200 have undergone the testing required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for safety. Yet they are circulating in the blood of 100 percent of the people in the many studies done through Columbia University. Have you heard the statistic that it takes 26 seconds for a chemical to be absorbed through your skin? For many chemicals – including the ones you use to scrub the floor your toddler is standing on barefoot – it’s true. And they go right from your skin into the bloodstream. This is a big issue when we know carcinogens are being used in everything from tap water to sunscreen and so much more. Even when a chemical isn’t a known carcinogen, repeated exposures add up and still mount a concern for causing cancer. Your body’s detoxification systems can only handle so much before they are bogged down and unable to eliminate all we come in contact with. When these toxins accumulate, illness isn’t far behind – including cancer. How Many Cancer-Causing Chemicals Are In Your Home? Take This Quiz! There are so many carcinogens in our environment today, it would take a book to list them all and every household product they can be in. To make it easier, we’ve created this cancer quiz to get you started doing the detective work that’s needed to find cancer-causing chemicals in your home and make it more cancer-proof. Do keep track of all your “yes” answers and start taking inventory of the ways you can reduce exposure. Food Do you eat or drink anything that contains “FD&C” artificial colorings? Do you use artificial sweeteners? Do you eat processed meats (lunch meats, sausages, etc.)? Do you eat genetically modified foods? Do you eat non-organic fruits, vegetables, meats, grains, and dairy products? Do you eat fast food and other fried foods? Do you store or heat foods in plastic? Do your children use plastic bottles, sippy cups, or plastic plates of any kind? Water Do you drink unfiltered water? Do you drink water from plastic bottles? Do you shower or bathe in chlorinated tap water? Do you swim in chlorinated pools or hot tubs? Have contaminants, lead, or parasites been found in your water supply (with notices sent to your home)? Do you use aluminum foil, aluminum cookware, or non-stick cookware? Do you drink alcohol of any kind or amount, including red wine? Indoor Environment Do you have carpet of any kind in your home? Do you live in a manufactured or mobile home? Do you or does someone you live with smoke in your home or car? Do you have pressed wood cabinets, furniture (think easy to assemble types or wood veneer), or laminate flooring? Has your home tested positive for hidden mold or does it have visible mold or mildew anywhere? Do you spend most of your time indoors? Has your indoor air quality been tested? Do you use synthetic air fresheners or wax melts? Cleaning Products Do you use scented laundry products – detergent, fabric softener, dryer sheets, etc.? Do you use aerosol air fresheners or cleaners of any type? Do you use scented cleansers, including floor products? Do you use foaming cleansers that contain sodium laureth/lauryl sulfate? Personal Care Products Do you use sunscreen? Do you use antibacterial soaps, shampoos, or body wash? Do you use shampoos, soaps, acne medications, deodorants, shaving creams, body washes, bubble baths, or baby soaps that contain any of the following chemicals: sodium laureth/lauryl sulfate, DMDM Hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, PEG, propylene glycol, artificial colors, parabens, triclosan, dioxin, phthalates, Quaternium-15, or benzoyl peroxide? Do you use body lotion or skin creams of any type? Do you dye your hair with synthetic products (especially lead acetate or formaldehyde)? Do you use synthetic cosmetics or cosmetics that contain heavy metals? Do you wear perfume or other scented products? Do you use synthetic hair styling products or aerosols? Radiation and EMFs Do you live within 50 miles of a nuclear storage facility or power plant? Is there heavy traffic or concentrated vehicle exhaust near your home? Do you live near power lines that produce EMFs? Does your home have a Smart Meter (electric meter)? Do you have WiFi at home, and how many neighbors’ WiFi signal extends into your home? Do you sleep within 3 feet of any electronics, cell phones, or appliances (even through a wall)? Do you spend an extensive amount of time on your computer or cell phone? Does your home use dimmer light switches? Do you use power tools, even for home repairs? Do you live near cell phone towers? Making simple changes can have a huge impact. You can replace carpet and laminate flooring with hardwood and ceramic tile, turn off the WiFi router at night, move electronics further away from your bed and place your phone on airplane mode. Choose cosmetics and personal care products with natural ingredients, and use cleansers like vinegar and baking soda to replace the toxic ones. Install an air purifier and invest in a good water filtration system. As you reduce your exposure to household carcinogens, your cancer risk also goes down, and that’s the end goal! The post Is Your Home Cancer-Proof? Take This Quiz to Find Out appeared first on Your Health Keys.
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8 Natural Remedies to Reduce Back Pain
Simple home remedies to relieve pain and stiffness in your lower back. Whether you’re a “weekend warrior” who works at a desk all week and plays hard on the weekends, or you simply bent over to pick something up off the floor, chances are you’ve experienced back pain at some point in your adult life. About 80 percent of us have experienced at least one episode of that dull, constant ache or sudden, sharp pain, and for 1 in 5, that pain becomes chronic. The good news is there are simple, effective solutions to relieve your pain and get you back on your feet doing the activities you love. No remedy is “one size fits all.” First, you need to understand why you have the pain, then you can decide the best natural course of action to relieve it. Why Does My Back Hurt? There are many different causes of low back pain, from age-related changes to emotions and more: Back pain is more common as we age. Muscle elasticity and tone decrease; the discs between the vertebrae begin to lose fluid and flexibility; bone density decreases and cause tiny fractures in the vertebrae; and the risk of spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal column) increases. Gaining weight puts more stress on the spine. Your back muscles and spine support most of your body’s weight. Sitting, standing, and walking all put more pressure on your back as your weight increases. Your fitness level affects your back. People who are not physically fit have weak back and abdominal muscles that can’t properly support the spine. Sudden increases in activity are more likely to cause injury in people who are sedentary than in people who make movement and physical activity a daily habit. Improper body mechanics can cause back injury. Whether you are lifting a heavy load while bending or twisting, or simply starting a new strenuous exercise routine without proper stretching or gradual warm-up, or just have poor posture, your back is at more risk of injury if not properly supported. Backpack overload in kids and college students causes strain. A backpack overloaded with school supplies and textbooks leads to muscle fatigue and eventual injury. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons recommends a backpack weigh no more than 15 percent of a child’s body weight. Stress uses nutrients your back needs to support itself. Ligaments are meant to stretch and recover, and hold the vertebrae in place as you move. When you are under chronic stress of any kind, whether physical or emotional, your body uses the nutrients your ligaments need to maintain their pliability, and instead ligaments will stretch and not recover quickly enough. In this case, the muscles will go into spasm to hold the vertebrae in place, and nerves become pinched as a result. This is the reason for the common scenario of “I just bent over to pick up a pencil and my back went out.” Suppressed emotions can cause back pain. John Sarno, MD, discovered that some people who have low back pain appear to have no mechanical reason for it on imaging, while others who report no pain had some of the worst mechanical issues he had seen. He found the missing link in his research – repressed emotions. The most common being anger, rage, and grief. Once the emotions were dealt with in a healthy way, the pain was relieved. Simple Solutions for Common Back Problems Whether your nerves are inflamed, your muscles are in spasm, or arthritis has taken hold, there are natural remedies that can ease the pain: Magnesium, nature’s muscle relaxer. It’s estimated more than 80 percent of adults are deficient in magnesium, which is not only responsible for relaxing your muscles, but also lowers your blood pressure, calms your nerves, and so much more. Supplementing can be tricky, though, because many forms are difficult to absorb and can cause diarrhea. Mag-Key is specially formulated for high absorbability without the GI side effects. Soothe inflamed nerves with essential Omega 3 fats. Sciatic nerve pain is no joke. When you get those shooting pains from your low back, down into your hip and the outside of your leg, the sciatic nerve, which is as big around as a pencil, has been aggravated and won’t calm down on its own. Super-EPA contains the purified Omega 3 essential fats you need to soothe your inflamed sciatic nerve for the long term. While relief won’t come overnight, once you get those Omega 3 fats repairing your cells and circulating in your system, your inflammation levels go down, which not only soothes your angry nerves but also lubricates your vertebrae, giving you more ease of movement in your spine and relieving painful arthritis. Use GLA to relieve morning stiffness. Age-related spinal changes are often heralded by the morning stiffness that makes it hard to get up and get moving around. Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) has been found to be the most deficient essential fat, and once levels are restored, can help reduce excess inflammation and morning stiffness. Supplement with Hyaluronic Acid to lubricate stiff joints. Hyaluronic acid is your body’s natural lubricant that keeps joints and vertebrae cushioned and gliding smoothly on each other. Magnesium deficiency, chronic stress, and aging all deplete this precious resource, and the body isn’t able to keep up with the demand. As a result, arthritis sets in and low back pain becomes a frequent visitor as the vertebrae rub against each other. Supplementing with a good quality Hyaluronic Acid can help restore the cushioning between your vertebrae and relieve pain. Replace nutrients lost from chronic stress. Long-term stress causes extensive damage to your body, and your back is no exception. When the ligaments can’t keep their elasticity and stretch out of place, the vertebrae start to move and muscles go into spasm, desperately trying to hold these important structures in place. The typical approach is to try to relax the muscles, but without addressing the real underlying cause, you can cause structural damage to the vertebrae. The best answer is to nourish your body with the missing nutrients, so the ligaments can heal and go back to supporting your spine. Daily Greens Formula to the rescue! All of the nutrients you need to restore mobility to your ligaments are found in this combination of 11 greens. Because they are food-sourced, your body quickly absorbs them and goes into repair mode. Use enzymes to relieve inflammation. Anti-inflammatory medications are full of unwanted side effects, and it seems more are discovered daily. If you are looking to avoid NSAIDs, try enzymes. Proteolytic enzymes are especially effective at “chewing up” inflammation, which relieves the pain associated with it. Whether you have an acute injury or suffer with arthritis or other inflammatory conditions, enzymes like bromelain or Inf-Zyme Forte can tackle that inflammation and give you some much-needed relief. Try the ancient art of cupping to relieve pain. For centuries, Traditional Chinese Medicine has used cups to apply suction to the skin to relieve pain and inflammation and increase blood and energy flow to painful areas. This practice received new attention during the Olympics, when Michael Phelps and other athletes proudly sported their cupping marks to improve athletic performance and relieve pain. In ancient times, glass cups were heated and applied to the skin to create suction. Today, plastic cups are used and suction is applied painlessly through a hand pump, and left on for just a couple of minutes. Cupping kits are inexpensive and easy to find online, and safe for home use. Once you get moving, keep moving. When it comes to mobility, if you don’t use it, you lose it. Spend as little time lying down as you can once back pain sets in. Gentle stretching and walking will signal your body to send more nutrients and lubrication to the joints being used the most – your spine. Drink plenty of filtered water and keep daily movement part of your lifestyle while supplementing with essential nutrients, and once your pain is gone it should stay gone with proper body mechanics and regular exercise to naturally reduce stress levels and increase core strength.
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Does Inflammation Cause Cancer?
Could fatigue, weight gain, or infections that don’t go away be a sign you’re at risk for cancer? The list of things that cause cancer is so wide and varied it’s just about impossible to keep track of it all. From breathing chemicals we can’t see or smell, to indulging in some of our favorite fried comfort foods, there are carcinogens bombarding us all day every. As this assault continues, inflammation builds up and becomes chronic, which creates the perfect environment for cancer to take root, grow and run rampant. Continue reading to find out more information on chronic inflammation and cancer. What is Inflammation? Inflammation has become a household word, but few of us understand what it is and how it’s a risk factor for cancer. There are 2 types of inflammation – short term and chronic – and it’s important to understand the differences between them. Short term inflammation is a normal response to injury, where damaged tissue sends out a chemical signal for the inflammatory response to start. White blood cells then make substances that cause cells to divide and grow, which rebuilds the tissue and helps repair the injury. This type of inflammation is localized to just the area of injury and ends once the tissue is healed. Chronic inflammation has been known to cause cancer since Virchow discovered it in 1863. And though the concept isn’t new, our understanding of it is. Chronic inflammation can start even when there is no apparent injury to tissue, continue with no known cause, and it is unpredictable as to when it ends. It can be caused by obesity, prolonged infections, and abnormal immune reactions to seemingly normal tissues. How Chronic Inflammation Causes Cancer Over time, chronic inflammation damages DNA and this is what leads to cancer. Just like injured tissues send chemical signals that lead to rapid cell growth, tumors do the same thing, like a wound that just won’t heal. The tumor sends out signals so these DNA-damaged cells continue to multiply and grow the tumor. Once there are enough damaged DNA cells growing the tumor then it hijacks the key chemical signals causing the inflammation, to keep this ideal environment for its growth. What this all means is that once chronic inflammation sets up the perfect environment for cancer to take root, as long as there are environmental factors that cause inflammation, the cancer can use these to keep that ideal environment in place so it can continue to grow. It takes the normal inflammatory response and keeps it going, so that the cells that cause healing in the short term generate free radicals and cause DNA damage in the long term. The clearest example of this is melanoma cancer, and research has isolated exactly which inflammatory chemicals allow the tumors to multiply. Other clear examples of this include inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s and Ulcerative colitis causing colon cancer, or H. pylori infection causing stomach cancer. The Obesity, Inflammation, and Cancer Connection Despite our best efforts to lose weight, obesity is now considered a worldwide epidemic, and a growing cause of preventable cancer risk. Chronic inflammation goes hand-in-hand with obesity, and this specific inflammation comes with additional cancer risk. Your fat tissue is metabolically active, meaning it’s a part of your endocrine system. Fat tissue is even considered an organ because it secretes several hormones that not only create a dysfunctional metabolism, but also creates stem cells. Because these stem cells are secreted in the presence of chronic inflammation, they not only increase the inflammation but also contribute to tumor growth and environment. The insulin resistance, high blood sugars, and high cholesterol also feed the tumor growth. What You Can Do To Fight Inflammation and Win Looking at those extra pounds and knowing they carry an additional cancer risk is frightening. Ann Louise Gittleman understands this, and created her new Radical Metabolism plan using anti-inflammatory foods that not only help you lose the weight, but also reduce your chronic inflammation and cancer risk. A 16-year study of over 68,000 people just published in the Journal of Internal Medicine reinforces what she already knew: eating an anti-inflammatory diet, full of foods like coffee, cacao, nuts, cheese, and cold-pressed oils from nuts and seeds leads to a significantly lower risk of dying from cancer. These foods are what she calls Radical Staples, and she teaches you how to use them to shed both pounds and inflammation in her Radical new plan. The other risk factor to tackle is ongoing infection. It can be as simple as nagging bronchitis or a bladder infection that won’t go away, or as insidious as the Epstein-Barr virus, which causes mono and can stay active at a low level in your body for many years and cause fatigue. Even gallstones can be a sign of chronic infection and inflammation. If you have unexplained weight gain, fatigue that isn’t relieved by rest, a cough that won’t go away, or infections you can’t seem to get over, it may be a good idea to get some testing done. Tests that measure inflammation and infection include: Complete Blood Count (CBC): this test measures the levels of your different blood cells, including platelets and all types of white blood cells that are activated when inflammation is present. This test is especially useful when you’ve been fighting an infection you can’t seem to kick. C-Reactive Protein (CRP): produced in the liver, this inflammation marker will go up with inflammation anywhere in the body, and can be a sign of increased risk for most chronic diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and more. This is a good test to have done when signs of autoimmune diseases show up, like swollen, painful joints and fatigue. Epstein Barr Virus Panel (EBV): when fatigue persists and a low-grade fever comes and goes, consider testing for EBV. This virus can stay dormant in the body for many years and is not only associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but also an increased risk of cancer. An antibody panel can be done and shows whether it’s active or dormant. Expanded GI Panel: if you suffer with digestive issues or unexplained fevers and fatigue, then this test should be considered. It not only measures inflammation in the digestive system, but also looks for infections, including Candida and common parasites, which can be causes of ongoing DNA damage and chronic inflammation.
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Common Household Cleansers That Make Your Kids Fat and Sick
Your household cleaning products could be making your family fat, sick, and full of toxins. When there’s an outbreak of the flu or your toddler has picked up an unknown substance off the floor and put it in their mouth, the temptation is to go DEFCON 5 and break out the strongest antibacterial aerosols and cleansers we can find. However, recent research suggests that over-sanitizing with these strong common household cleaning products may be doing more harm than good when it comes to our health in the long-term. Modern hygiene practices have helped us eradicate some of the most deadly diseases in history, but we may have taken our quest for clean too far. According to new research out of Canada, common cleansing products may be contributing to childhood obesity. And as much as we love the smell of fresh, clean laundry and scented candles, studies show the chemicals we are using in these scented products may be causing respiratory, skin, and neurological issues, not to mention taking their toll on our immune systems. Bacteria Can Be Good The human microbiome has received a lot of attention and extensive research in recent years. This collection of trillions of microorganisms and beneficial bacteria is like our own little ecosystem inside our bodies, and is dramatically affected by what we breathe, eat, drink, and put on our skin. Your mental and physical wellness depend on a healthy, balanced microbiome to keep you healthy and well. This individualized collection of beneficial bacteria is responsible for many major functions in your body. From supporting the immune system and helping us to digest and absorb nutrients from the foods we eat and supplements we take, to regulating metabolism and ultimately our weight, the health of our microbiomes is critical to our wellbeing. When there aren’t enough beneficial bacteria in our microbiomes, we suffer from a myriad of health issues, including weight gain, digestive issues, and inflammation. Unfortunately, our modern lifestyle is wiping out these delicate populations with excess sugar, immunosuppressive drugs, overuse of antibiotics, toxins in our food and water, chronically high stress levels, and even antibacterial cleansers and hygiene products. As we gain more understanding of the role of beneficial bacteria in our health and homes, we need to shift our ideas of cleanliness to preserve these delicate populations, rather than eradicate them with broad-spectrum antibacterial cleansers. Common Cleansers Cause Childhood Obesity A study just published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found an association between households that heavily use disinfectants like multi-surface cleaners and aerosols and childhood obesity. Researchers looked at over 750 infants and found lower levels of harmful bacteria like Clostridium and Haemophilus, but higher levels of bacteria associated with weight gain and obesity. These children were twice as likely to be obese as children raised in homes using eco-friendly cleaning products. “Antibacterial cleaning products have the capacity to change the environmental microbiome and alter risk for child overweight,” wrote the authors. This isn’t the first study to find harmful effects of these broad-spectrum antibacterials. Scientists have found common antibacterial compounds found in toothpastes, mouthwashes, cosmetics, antiperspirants, household cleaners, and hand soaps not only deplete your healthy bacteria, but have other adverse health effects. Triclosan, a commonly used antibacterial that was in everything from hand soaps to toys, was linked to serious health issues, including thyroid, hormone, and skin problems, as well as depleted mouth and intestinal flora, simply by being absorbed through the skin – even in pregnant women. Once studies showed this chemical didn’t provide any more antibacterial protection than washing with regular soap and water, and it caused more harm than good, public pressure and certain state government bans started forcing it out of many products. It is still lurking in many soaps and other personal hygiene products and should be avoided. Fragrances Are the New Secondhand Smoke We all know that one person who fills the room with their cologne or perfume, but what about that “fresh, clean smell” of laundry just out of the dryer, or that wax melt burner plugged into the outlet that reminds you of apple pie? A single fragrance in any of these products can contain a mixture of hundreds of chemicals, some of which react with ozone in the air to form dangerous pollutants, like formaldehyde, that not only irritate sensitive respiratory systems, but can cause chronic asthma, skin conditions, neurologic issues, and even cancer. Indoor air quality is some of the worst it’s ever been, thanks to airtight building structures and more volatile organic compounds (VOCs) being used in everything from paint to deodorant. Products intended to keep our homes and workplaces smelling fresh can set you up for a lifetime of chemically-induced illness, according to researchers. Nearly 25 percent of workplace-related cases of fragrance-induced asthma were new onset in this California study, meaning the fragrances they were exposed to in their workplace caused their asthma. Other conditions like migraine, seizures in children, eczema, and more have been reported with exposure to these common chemicals. The Consumer Products Safety Commission currently regulates cleaning supplies, air fresheners, and laundry products, and does not require manufacturers to list any ingredients on the labels, including fragrances. The same is true for these chemicals in personal care products, which is overseen by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). According to a recent study on household fragrances: 133 unique VOCs were identified in just 25 products tested. 24 of those are classified as toxic or hazardous under at least one federal law. ONLY ONE of the 133 chemicals was listed on any label. 75% of fragrance chemicals are phthalates, which are known endocrine disruptors (think obesity and hormone imbalances). Just like we now are aware of the dangers of secondhand smoke and have smoking bans in many public places, we need similar policies to create fragrance-free public places and educate people on the dangers of these chemicals in the home as well. Healthy, Eco-Friendly Cleaning As information on the negative health effects of chemical cleansers and fragrances comes to light, the eco-friendly cleaning products market is booming with many safe alternatives to choose from. When choosing your cleaning products, don’t just take the label’s word for it when it says “natural” or carries a familiar name brand; read the ingredients and do your research. Avoid gimmicks and fads and stick to “tried and true” cleaning solutions. For instance, there is a new trend to “home-biotics” which claim to balance the probiotics in your home environment, but so far no studies have been done to show they’re effective. When it comes to cleaning your hands, old-fashioned soap and water, using plenty of friction, consistently scores high in studies for eliminating harmful bacteria. You’ll always have some bacteria present on your skin, but it should be primarily beneficial and help ward off the unwanted invaders. Avoid soaps and lotions that claim antibacterial properties – they may do more harm than good when it comes to your microbiome – even when they’re all-natural. For household cleaning, you only need a few items on hand to take care of most of your cleaning tasks. When you need an abrasive, baking soda is a safe, inexpensive alternative. White vinegar mixed in equal parts with an eco-friendly dish soap and put in a spray bottle can clean even the most stubborn stains off showers, sinks, and bathtubs. You can infuse your vinegar with citrus peels for a fresher scent and more cleaning power for countertops, faucets, and doorknobs. Avoid scented laundry products of all types. Essential oils are extremely popular, but are respiratory irritants for sensitive babies and small children. Wool dryer balls can be used to eliminate static cling in place of synthetic-fragranced dryer sheets. Detoxing Your Family After Exposure For many of us, this information is coming too late. We’ve already accumulated these toxins in our bodies, and our livers are over-burdened trying to eliminate them, so symptoms and illnesses have already appeared. The good news is, even the most sensitive among us – our children – can reduce the toxic load on our bodies with a few simple solutions. Safe Detox for Children: Our Daily Greens Formula is not only packed with essential nutrients, but also supports the liver in its cleansing functions to safely eliminate built-up toxins and boost the immune system. As a general rule, small children use ¼ the adult recommended amount, while older children can use ½. Supplementing with a good probiotic not only boosts immune function, but in children will help to bind toxins as well. Our Flora-Key has a natural, light sweetness that makes it easy to sprinkle on foods kids will enjoy, to make daily dosing easier. Choline is a nutrient present in abundance in eggs and sunflower lecithin. Not only is it a potent brain food, but the liver uses this nutrient to aid in breakdown of fats and toxins to be eliminated from the body. An excellent ally in the fight against childhood obesity. Exercise that causes you to sweat is also an excellent detox for children. Toxins can be eliminated right through the skin in our sweat, taking the burden off an already overworked liver. Make sure to drink plenty of filtered water to stay hydrated.
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Flu Season | 5 KEY Facts for Prevention
When it comes to the flu, the old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” really is true. Last year’s flu season was touted as the worst since the swine flu pandemic of 2009, afflicting 1 out of every 5 adults. The predominant strain was the Hong Kong flu, which has circulated on and off for over 50 years and is documented as one of the more virulent strains. The good news is you can prevent viruses like influenza and even the common cold with natural therapies that boost your immune system and strengthen your defenses from the cellular level. 1. Going Viral The influenza virus infects you when someone with the flu sneezes or coughs within 6 feet of you, and you breath in the infected droplets through your nose or mouth. If the infected droplets land on a surface where you rest your hand (like the grocery cart), then you rub your eye with that hand, you also can become infected. This is why it’s important to wash hands thoroughly after shopping and reschedule preventative health care visits for after flu season has passed. Wear a scarf if you can’t avoid crowds and remember to include cleaning door and faucet handles with natural antimicrobials. Multiple strains of the flu circulate each year, so if you’ve caught it once, you aren’t immune to catching it again, especially once your immune system is already down from fighting it the first time. Viruses don’t respond to antibiotics. Unlike bacteria, which attach to the outside of your cell, viruses inject their genetic material inside your cells and spread by causing the cell to multiply. Antibiotics are lifesaving in bacterial infections, because they can target the bacteria without harming your cells. Viruses, on the other hand, are safe inside your cell, because any medication that destroys a virus has to damage or destroy your cells to get to them. This is why natural therapies are so important when it comes to viruses like influenza. 2. Flu Fighters While it’s true antibiotics don’t work on viruses, there are natural flu fighters that target the virus directly. Elderberry is the most famous of these. Studies show elderberries contain an antioxidant-rich compound that “coats” the flu virus, which prevents it from entering into your cells. Over 90 percent of study participants were symptom-free after just 2 days while taking elderberry extract. You can drink elderberry tea or take liquid elderberry syrup twice daily during flu season or at the first sign of symptoms. Our Para-Key contains a combination of botanicals that are effective against flu, especially when taken with vitamin C. Grapefruit seed extract and sweet wormwood are particularly well-known broad spectrum antimicrobials that cleanse away unwanted invaders. 3. Shore Up Your Cell Membranes Viruses need a vulnerable host cell with a weak cell membrane in order to inject themselves inside and multiply. Without a host cell, a virus can’t multiply and infect you. This is why the most effective flu fighters focus on strengthening cell membranes and protecting healthy cells. According to Ann Louise Gittleman’s new release, Radical Metabolism, Omega 6 fats are superstars when it comes to strengthening cell membranes. Linoleic acid, found in nuts, seeds, and their cold-pressed oils, is the most powerful key player in strengthening cell membranes and restoring their health. Oils like hempseed oil and Siberian pine nut oil have the highest concentrations. High dose vitamin C not only boosts your immune system, but is also a powerful antioxidant both inside your cells and for your cell membranes. Studies show Vitamin C taken daily with l-lysine, an amino acid, are effective against influenza before and during infection. At least 2,000 to 5,000 milligrams of Time-C should be taken with 1,000 to 2,000 milligrams of l-lysine. 4. Boost Your Immune Power Supporting your immune system is key to preventing infection with the flu. Your white blood cells are front-line defenders against viral foreign invaders like influenza, and can stop the virus in its tracks before you even show symptoms. And while vitamin C is reliable and effective, there are several other remedies that work to supercharge your immunity, especially if you’re already immunocompromised or taking immunosuppressant medications. Optimize your vitamin D level to heal from the flu faster. Not only does it calm the inflammatory response of the immune system and decrease complications from the flu, it also shortens the duration of symptoms from an average of 9 days to just 2 days, according to this study. Take 2,000 to 5,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily and keep blood levels at least 38 ng/mL. Over 90 percent of your immune system is housed in your digestive system, because this is where we come in contact with most of the foreign invaders that enter the body. Even your respiratory system empties into your stomach. One way to boost your intestinal immune system is to supplement with a good quality probiotic and probiotic fermented foods, which repopulate your microbiome with beneficial bacteria that help you digest and absorb nutrients and break down pathogens like the influenza virus. Your immune system is more than your white blood cells and microbiome. The master immune gland is called the thymus, and sits behind your breastbone, well protected. As you age, the gland is infiltrated with fat cells and weakens, which also weakens your immunity. The master organ of your immune system is the spleen, which filters your blood and stores immune cells like white blood cells. Thymus and spleen extracts can be taken during flu season to boost immune function and help you fight off the flu. Herbs like thyme do double duty in fighting off the virus and supporting the thymus. 5. Think Outside the Box When it comes to illness, the obvious solutions are to boost the immune system and fight the virus directly. But, there is another, more subtle means of attack that works just as well, and it starts with measuring your pH. The flu virus needs an acidic cellular pH – ideally 5.0 – in order to inject itself into your cells. If you have the flu, you can safely assume you are acidic at the cellular level. Invest in pH test strips now and correct your pH to slightly alkaline before flu season strikes. Ann Louise Gittleman’s cran water is a great way to alkalize at the cellular level and fight flu before it starts. Early prevention of influenza is a much better plan than being caught off guard and having to fight a raging infection that leaves you feeling miserable, and at-risk for pneumonia and other complications. Form your strategy now, by strengthening cell membranes, boosting your immune system, and correcting your pH, and keep flu-fighting botanicals on-hand so when the flu season comes, you are fully prepared. Utilize these 5 ways to prevent the flu to the best of your abilities!
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Does Vaping Cause Cancer?
If you’ve turned to e-cigarettes as a way to kick your smoking habit, you may want to think again. Does vaping cause cancer? E-cigarettes have soared in popularity in recent years, among both smokers looking to quit and in teenagers. Even though they’re not approved by the FDA for use in smoking cessation, over 80 percent of smokers believe e-cigarettes could help them quit, according to research. But the science around this alternative to smoking shows we’re trading one cancer-causing habit for another. Read about vaping and lung cancer below! The Health Risks of Vaping E-cigarettes, also known as vapes, are battery-operated devices that heat up nicotine, chemicals, and flavorings to turn them into a vapor you breathe in, similar to smoking. Unfortunately, the chemicals in this vapor contain formaldehyde, heavy metals, and other toxins that are known to cause cancer. Studies have shown that exposure to this vapor leads to the same DNA damage in the lungs and bladder that are seen in cancer. Research has also shown that flavorings used in e-cigarettes, like cinnamon and citrus, impair heart muscle function and may be damaging the heart. What’s most concerning to researchers is the effect on adolescents. Over 2 million middle and high school students report vaping within the last 30 days, according to research. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), use of these e-cigarettes harms the parts of the developing brain responsible for controlling attention, learning, moods, and impulse control. They also increase the risk of future addiction to other drugs, in part because nicotine changes the way synapses are formed in the brain. Studies have detected more than 5 carcinogenic chemicals from vaping remaining in the bodies of adolescents. Harmful Substances in E-Cigarettes The aerosol from vaping is not just harmless water vapor. It contains several harmful substances, including: Ultrafine particles that penetrate into deep lung tissue Nicotine, in a variety of doses Flavorings including diacetyl, which is a chemical that causes popcorn lung, a serious lung disease Natural flavorings like cinnamon and citrus, which cause heart issues when inhaled Cancer-causing chemicals like formaldehyde Heavy metals including nickel, tin, and lead Volatile organic compounds, known to be carcinogenic Unknown chemicals, not labeled on the packaging Special Concerns with Flavorings It may sound strange to think of cinnamon and citrus as causing health issues, but inhaling them is far different from ingesting them. Your gut is able to digest and process these flavorings, but your lungs become inflamed when they are inhaled with other chemicals through vaping. Your lungs simply don’t have the same detox abilities that your gut does, and the result is inflammation in the lung cells. The most concerning chemical flavoring is diacetyl, which is used in many e-cigarette flavors, including vanilla, maple, coconut, alcohol flavors, candy flavors, and fruit flavors. Historically it was used to flavor popcorn, caramel, and dairy products, but workers in the factories where microwave popcorn was being made developed a serious lung illness that’s now being called Popcorn Lung. This disease is caused by diacetyl, which makes your airways thick and narrow by scarring the tiny air sacs in your lungs. If you vape and develop a persistent cough, wheezing, headache, fever, body aches, shortness of breath, or irritation of your eyes, nose, throat, or skin, it’s time to see your healthcare provider and get evaluated for Popcorn Lung. There’s no cure for this serious disease, instead they’ll use medications that suppress your immune system, which will provide relief, but open you up to a whole host of low grade infections, from parasites to Candida yeast overgrowth and more. Reduce Your Cancer and Disease Risk Your body makes over 200 billion new cells every day, and thanks to the chemicals we’re being exposed to, approximately 1 million of those cells are DNA-damaged cancer cells. The good news is, your immune system is hard at work killing those cells as fast as they’re made – as long as it’s functioning well. When your immune system is suppressed by medications or stress, or bogged down by an overload of toxins, it’s no longer able to kill all the cancer cells that are formed and a diagnosis of cancer is eventually the result. One out of every three women and one out of every two men will face cancer in their lifetime. Although the argument can be made that e-cigarettes are less toxic and have a lower cancer risk than regular cigarettes, the risk is still there. Rather than trading one cancer and heart disease-causing habit for another, focus on reducing the toxins you’re being exposed to and getting as healthy as possible, so you feel strong enough to quit without using toxic e-cigarettes. Cancer-Proof Your Body Everything you put into your body should support your health. Clean air, clean water, and clean food are all essential for good health. Start with purifying your home air and getting rid of common household toxins found in carpeting and cleaning chemicals. Reduce your exposure to EMFs by keeping cell phones turned off or on airplane mode, don’t sleep with electronics and phones near your bed, and turn off your WiFi router at night. Drink and bathe in clean, filtered water – don’t trust your tap water to be clean, get it tested and get the right filtration system for your specific needs. Keep your food organic and minimally processed, and stay away from sugars and alcohol. Exercise to get your detox pathways moving and reduce stress. Sweating is a great way to eliminate the toxins you come in contact with through vaping. Because many of these chemicals are eliminated through the urine, be sure you are drinking at least half your body weight in ounces of filtered water daily. More information on keeping your cancer risks low can be found here.
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5 Medical Tests That Can Overhaul Your Health
Order these affordable tests for yourself and get to the root cause of your most persistent health issues. Everyone has episodes of bloating, fatigue, joint pains, trouble sleeping, headaches, or other common issues. Sometimes it’s as simple as eating healthier, exercising more regularly, and taking a good multivitamin to get rid of it. But when that nagging issue seems like it just won’t go away, it may be time to do some detective work to get to the bottom of your issues. It’s so much better for your health to catch a minor problem and fix it, than it is to let it spin out of control and become a lifelong, chronic disease. If your conventional doctor has done all the basic tests and come up without an explanation for your symptoms, then these 5 types of medical tests may help you get to the bottom of what’s troubling you. Adrenal Stress Test If you have been under stress for any length of time, whether it’s physical stress from strenuous work or illness, or emotional stress from life issues, your adrenal glands are working overtime to compensate. They can only keep this up for so long before they start to get tired. If you are experiencing low energy, low moods, low sex drive, brain fog, belly fat increase, trouble sleeping, or trouble with blood sugar highs or lows, you may be heading into Adrenal Fatigue. Your stress hormones have a normal rhythm to them, with highs and lows cycling throughout the day. An Adrenal Stress Panel (discontinued) that calls for saliva samples at 4 points throughout the 24-hour cycle is needed to accurately measure your stress hormone levels and determine where the dysfunction is. Some people with adrenal fatigue have their stress hormones go high when they should go low and vice versa, which causes daytime sleepiness and trouble sleeping at night. Others are low all the time, which is a sure sign your adrenals need rest and repair. Complete Thyroid Labs If you are experiencing low energy, low moods, constipation, heavy menstrual periods, hair loss, or weight gain, it’s time to take a good look at your thyroid. Every cell in your body “listens” to your thyroid to determine its metabolism, so a sluggish metabolism is a sure sign of a tired thyroid. But, most conventional medical doctors only run blood tests for TSH and maybe T4, which doesn’t give you a clear picture of what’s going on with your thyroid. At a minimum, a thyroid panel should include TSH, free T4, free T3, and thyroid antibodies to get a better picture of what’s going on with your thyroid and rule out any autoimmune thyroid issues. If you have an experienced functional medicine practitioner who will interpret your lab results, then adding T3 uptake, total T3, and reverse T3 blood tests will give them a clearer picture of the health of your thyroid. These practitioners also have a more narrow range in values for what constitutes healthy thyroid function, so they typically catch a problem brewing much earlier than a conventional doctor will, which can explain why you’re experiencing thyroid symptoms but haven’t been diagnosed with a thyroid disease. For instance, the higher the TSH is, the lower your actual thyroid function may be, so a more optimal upper threshold is usually around 3.0, depending on the lab’s reference range. As a general rule, free T3 and free T4 should be in the upper two-thirds of the normal range for optimal health. These tests are typically ordered by a doctor and are usually covered by insurance, but in some states these tests can be ordered on your own and paid for out-of-pocket. Sex Hormone Levels Estrogen dominance in women and low testosterone in men are just about epidemic these days and are risk factors for more serious diseases. If you are experiencing low energy, low moods, low sex drive, thinning hair, trouble sleeping, loss in muscle tone, weight gain, or menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, then your hormones may be to blame. Saliva hormone testing is considered more sensitive than blood testing for measuring your levels, and can both help you establish a baseline and determine problems in your hormone balance. A good panel also includes a morning cortisol (stress hormone) level, which gives you a good idea of whether stress is a factor in your hormone imbalances. Comprehensive Gut Health Panel with Parasite Testing Your ability to digest food and break it down into absorbable nutrients is absolutely essential for your overall good health. Even Hippocrates knew “all disease begins in the gut” and changes in digestion can mean more serious health issues down the road if ignored. Intestinal inflammation can come from a poor diet, stress, Candida yeast, parasites and more, and a little inflammation is enough to cause malabsorption and nutrient deficiencies. Choose your GI testing carefully. A good GI Panel includes multiple saliva and stool samples, testing for health from the beginning of the digestive system to the end. It should include immune and inflammation markers, common food allergens, pancreatic enzyme levels, occult blood, and common infections like H. pylori, Candida, and parasites. Minerals and Heavy Metals Minerals are the essential nutrients that get the least amount of attention but can pack the most punch for your health. Deficiencies in essential minerals like sodium, magnesium, potassium, and calcium can all start out as fatigue, but if left unchecked can lead to serious heart and kidney issues. Heavy metals are in our air, water, food, and dental work, and chronic exposure can lead to serious illnesses that start with fatigue and memory loss and progress into heart disease and more. Mercury exposure alone triples your heart attack risk, and all it takes is a simple hair test to find it. This non-invasive mineral analysis (HTMA or TMA test) provides you with a comprehensive overview of which essential minerals are deficient and which toxic heavy metals are present in your body – but it doesn’t stop there. A complete 20-page report details the patterns of disease commonly found based upon your mineral levels and ratios, gives you a list of possible environmental and dietary sources of your heavy metals, and gives you a customized diet and supplementation plan for your current metabolic type designed to get your body back in balance. The TMA mineral ratios relate to metabolic and organ function as follows: Calcium/Phosphorus – indicates whether the person is a slow or fast metabolizer. The higher the ratio, the more extreme the slowdown in metabolism. Sodium/Potassium –indicates adrenal health. Calcium/Potassium – thyroid ratio. The higher the ratio, the more decreased the thyroid function and greater tendency for hypothyroidism. Zinc/Copper – Zinc and copper are intricately related to progesterone and estrogen, respectively. If this ratio shows an imbalance that is both severe and chronic it can result in symptoms of hormone imbalance like changes in menstrual cycle or PMS. Sodium/Magnesium – Adrenal health. Calcium/Magnesium – pancreas health. Over 10:1 indicates tendency for insulin resistance.
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