Magnesium is an essential mineral

Posted on November 25, 2011 by Gillian O'Shea

Magnesium is one of the most important minerals in the human body and is essential to good health. It is critical in over 350 essential biochemical reactions in the body including digestion, energy production, muscle function, bone formation, creation of new cells, activation of B vitamins, relaxation of muscles, and also assists in the proper functioning of the heart, kidneys, adrenals, brain and nervous system.

Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body—it can be found in human bones, teeth and red blood cells, and activates more enzyme systems than both Iron and Zinc combined.

Deficiency symptoms:

Most magnesium is stored in the tissues, so leg cramps, foot pain or muscle ‘twitches’ are usually the first signs. Insomnia, migraine headaches are also very common magnesium deficiency symptoms. And if ignored, some of the other more serious symptoms of Magnesium deficiency (mentioned below) can develop.

Low Energy
Fatigue
Weakness
PMS and hormonal imbalances
Insomnia
Muscle tension/cramps/spasms
Abnormal heart rhythm
Headaches
Nervousness and Anxiety
Magnesium deficiency not only exists but is common
Chronic deficiency can produce long-term damage and can be fatal

Sources:

Green vegetables, legumes, buckwheat, baking chocolate, cottonseed, tea, tofu, soybean flour, almonds, cashews, pine nuts and whole wheat.

Omega 3 – viagra for the brain

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Gillian O'Shea

Omega 3’s are essential fatty acid molecules that make and repair the body’s cells and organs. They can raise “good” cholesterol to help unclog veins and arteries. While Omega-6 is a pro-inflammatory fatty acid, Omega-3 is an anti-inflammatory fatty acid. Our modern society consumes excessive amounts of foods loaded with harmful Omega-6 oils. Omega-3 supplements are one of the basics now recommended by doctors for heart health, improved metabolism, and brain function.

Nearly every system in the body can benefit from Omega 3, including the cardiovascular system, immune system, circulatory system, reproductive system, nervous system, as well as joints.

What is does:

Increased HDL (“good”) cholesterol and decreased triglycerides.
Lowers blood pressure significantly in individuals with hypertension.
Helps protect against strokes caused by plaque buildup and blood clots in the arteries that lead to the brain.
Help lower triglycerides and apoproteins (markers of diabetes), and raise ‘good’ cholesterol (HDL)
Reduce tenderness in joints, decrease morning stiffness, and allow for a reduction in the amount of medication needed for people with rheumatoid arthritis
Help increase levels of calcium in the body, deposit calcium in the bones, and improve bone strength
Important components of nerve cell membranes. They help nerve cells communicate with each other, which is an essential step in maintaining good mental health.
May decrease inflammation and improve lung function in adults with asthma
Appears to reduce the risk of some cancers
Promotes a healthy heart
Thins the blood
Improves functioning of the nervous system
Relieves depression, schizophrenia, attention deficit, hyperactivity and autism
Improves sleep, improves skin condition, helps balance hormones
Reduces insulin resistance.

Deficiency Signs:

Dry skin, eczema, dry hair or dandruff, excessive thirst, excessive sweating, poor memory or learning difficulties, inflammatory health problems, eg arthritis, high blood lipids, depression, PMS or breast pain, water retention.

Sources:

Our intake of Omega 6 can be too high because of our diets (corn, soy, sunflower, margarine and other oils) but Omega 3 is only available from good quality oily fish sources like Salmon, Tuna, Mackerel and Cod Liver oil.

Vit B12 – a bare necessity

Posted on September 20, 2011 by Gillian O'Shea

There is a study, published in the prestigious journal Neurology, where M.R.I. scans were used to measure brain volume and blood tests to record vitamin B12 levels.

They divided the subjects into three groups, based on their level of the vitamin, and followed them for five years with annual scans and physical and mental examinations.

The group with the lowest levels of vitamin B12 lost twice as much brain volume as those with the highest levels. The difference was significant, even after controlling for initial brain size, age, sex, education, cognitive test scores and various measures of blood chemistry.

What it does:

Vitamin B12 is crucial to brain function and the overall health of your nervous system. It’s the engine behind your body’s ability to make blood. Every cell in your body uses it to convert fuel into energy. It’s also the key to DNA synthesis and regulation, and enables your body to produce life-giving fatty acids.*

Deficiency signs:
Anemia
Fatigue
Poor nerve function
Diarrhea
Memory loss

Here’s another thing about B12: it powerfully lowers levels of homocysteine, one of the key indicators for heart health.*

That’s because — at high enough levels — homocysteine provokes an inflammatory response across every system in your body, blood vessels included.

In the past, medicine has completely overlooked this key factor in heart health, focusing instead on cholesterol. That’s a real shame, because the fact is that homocysteine’s the real culprit. And its consequences are entirely preventable.

In fact, all folks really need to keep homocysteine levels in check is to get about 500 mcg of B12 per day.

Sources:

Lean meats—particularly grass-fed beef—and organ meats are a great source of B12. Here’s a list of other good sources:

Clams, trout, salmon, haddock, tuna, milk. Vit B 12 is not generally found in plant foods.

* Courtesy The Doctor’s Heart Cure – Al Sears, MD.

Celiac Disease

Posted on May 11, 2011 by Gillian O'Shea

Celiac disease is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed. Yet, experts believe that nearly 1 in 100 people may have this autoimmune ailment, which is triggered by exposure to the protein gluten in wheat and similar proteins in rye and barley. People with celiac disease, or CD, have a genetic predisposition to the illness. Some researchers believe that CD sufferers also have an intestinal wall abnormality which allows gluten fragments to reach underlying cells, where they trigger an autoimmune reaction. As in any autoimmune disease, the body senses an invader, and launches an attack to drive it out. In CD, these attacks destroy cells in the small intestine’s absorptive villi, finger-like projections that absorb nutrients from food. Eventually, CD sufferers’ villi are totally flattened and cannot absorb nutrients. This dramatic chain of events is not the same as gluten intolerance, which causes other symptoms but does not involve an all-out autoimmune response. Children with CD often have digestive symptoms, such as abdominal pain, weight loss and diarrhea. Those diagnosed as adults commonly have fatigue and “head fog,” and are more likely to have anemia, arthritis, depression, bone loss, infertility, joint pain, seizures, even hand or foot numbness. What an array of symptoms! No wonder diagnosing CD is tricky business.

If you have symptoms that match up with the signs of CD, tell your doctor. A simple blood test can check for an enzyme called tissue transglutaminase, which is released from damaged cells in the intestine. If that test is positive, doctors will study an intestinal tissue sample to confirm the structural symptoms. Those diagnosed with CD must stop eating wheat, barley and rye forever, without exception. While that prescription is clear, it is not easy to follow. Our food supply relies heavily on these grains, and cross-contamination of foods that are supposed to be “safe” can wreak havoc. So can other misinformation about the disease.

(*extract from Deepak Chopra, MD’s blog)

With Specialised Kinesiology, we balance around the IMR (Immune Mismatch Response)