Hemp Nutrition

Hemp is one of the oldest agricultural crops grown by man. It’s grown for its seed and fiber, and the seed is one of the most perfectly balanced foods we can eat. Phytochemically, it is a cousin of cannabis and for that reason has been outlawed to grow in the United States despite its proven non-hallucinatory and nutritional benefits. Hemp is a pure food from nature not a synthetic supplement. The seed comes from an organically grown plant that is not a Genetically Modified Organism (GMO), and that is naturally free from tetrahydrocannabinols (THC), gluten, dairy, soy, and peanuts, as well as being vegan approved.

Hemp seeds are one of nature’s most perfect and nutrient dense foods. The seed is small, but packed with a highly digestible plant protein, which is free of trypsin-inhibitors and carries 18 amino acids, including the 9 essential amino acids making it a complete protein. They are an excellent source of iron, magnesium, zinc, copper, phosphorus, manganese, and supply folate (Vitamin B9), thiamine (Vitamin B1), Vitamin B6; they contain riboflavin (Vitamin B2), niacin (Vitamin B3), potassium, calcium and Vitamin E. Hemp seeds are high in dietary fiber. In addition to proteins, the seeds provide one of the highest concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids categorized as Omega-6 and Omega-3 in an ideal 3:1 ratio. The hemp seed oil also uniquely contains naturally occurring gamma-l acid and stearidonic acid. Basically, hemp is a superfood and packs quite the resume!

Specifics on Hemp Nutrition

The nutritional composition of hemp seed is quite unique and exceptional! Whole hemp seeds contain approximately 36% dietary fat, 26% high quality and digestible protein and 31% carbohydrates comprised mainly of dietary fiber, in addition to an interesting array of vitamins and minerals. 

Hemp seed’s dietary fat is primarily composed of polyunsaturated fats or the “good fats.” Hemp seed oil’s fatty acid profile is comprised of 80% polyunsaturated fats, 11% monounsaturated fats, 9% saturated fats and zero trans fats. Health organizations (1.) have recommended that fat intake should make up 20% to 35% of your total calories. They further recommend that most of your fat intake should come from polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, while limiting the intake of trans and saturated fats. Hemp seed dietary fat meets this recommendation.

Hemp Seed Oil contains Zero trans fat and is cholesterol-free.

Hemp Seed Oil provides one of the highest concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) categorized as Omega-6 and Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) in an ideal 3:1 ratio. EFAs are vital for good health but cannot be manufactured by our body, so they must be present in our diet through the foods we eat. EFAs are both important components of cell membranes and are precursors for substances in the body involved with regulating blood pressure and inflammatory responses.

Hemp Seed Oil also uniquely contains naturally-occurring Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA) and Stearidonic Acid (SDA). GLA and SDA are direct metabolites of Omega-6 and Omega-3 EFAs, respectively. These two metabolites are important for regulating inflammation and auto-immune functions in our bodies.

Hemp seed is a source of high quality, plant based protein and is vegan. Analysis of hemp food proteins has resulted in a Protein Rating of 40 (2.) and above, meaning that the protein content in hemp foods is not only present in high amounts, but also of a high quality!

Hemp protein is free of trypsin-inhibitors. Trypsin is a key enzyme that breaks down peptide bonds in proteins, enabling protein uptake in the human body. Hemp protein contains no trypsin inhibitors, such as those found in other protein rich sources like soy that can cause flatulence and gas. Hemp seed and foods not only contain a high quality protein, available in high amounts, but they are also free of inhibitors that impede protein digestion making hemp highly digestible.

Hemp protein is very high in dietary fiber. Fiber helps to keep the digestive system healthy and functioning properly. The dietary fiber found in hemp is primarily composed of insoluble fiber, which helps with digestion and maintaining regular bowel movements.

Hemp is naturally gluten and lactose free. Gluten is a type of protein found in most grains commonly used in cereals and baked goods. Most people allergic to gluten have a similar reaction to lactose and soy. Hemp foods naturally have zero gluten and lactose content (3.).

1. Health Organizations include WHO, FAO, Canada Health and US Food and Drug Administration
2. Per Health Canada Regulations, Protein Rating = Protein in a Reasonable Daily Intake x Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER); Reasonable Daily Intake for hemp products = 64 grams.
3. Hemp seed is naturally gluten-free. However, cross-contamination can occur at the field level during handling, transportation and storage. CMJ supplier of hemp food products conducts regular gluten testing on seed lots to ensure that gluten content is <20 ppm, which is the acceptable threshold by both the World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Canada for a gluten-free claim.

The above information taken from the site Hemp 101.

My Cats' Hematology Reports

Before my female cats were spayed, one vet had a policy of doing bloodwork before operating to see if there would any kind of special problems he might have to address during the brief surgery. He also wanted to know the condition of the animal, and in some cases, would recommend drug therapy, or I'm guess, maybe a special diet.

They both loved sitting behind the books while I studied!

Anyway, both Aulait and Cafe had their operations and he didn't particularly like the outcome of either of their bloodwork. Aulait, at one year of age, had her operation first. The vet commented that it might be necessary to give her some kind of therapy, but I wasn't too keen on infusing a drug cocktail in my baby and that was as far as the conversation went. Aulait as an older cat having the operation really had a lot of pain, and I vowed that Cafe wouldn't have the operation so "late". But since she had panleukopenia as a two-month-old and then needed time to recover before she had her inoculations, which had to be spaced, the vet wanted her well enough to be able to recover from another shock to the system. So finally at eight months of age, Cafe was fully inoculated and thought to be healthy enough. The bloodwork certainly shows that she was f-a-r from healthy. The vet just shook his head, didn't recommend any kind of therapy, and said she was well enough for the operation.


I was so busy at the time writing my thesis and researching that I didn't pay as much attention to Cafe's bloodwork as I had when Aulait's came back. For Aulait I had to look up everything online to figure out why something was 'high' or 'low' or even normal. I just didn't understand much about the medical terms and what they might imply in regard to health. I know a lot more now, but I intend to study further and so I post these hematology reports for future referencing.

Got us a wee cat fight on our hands!

The bloodwork did help me over the past few years to understand a little why Aulait always wanted to eat plastic bags, plastic coated strings, Christmas (plastic) colored strings, and other soft plastics ... she was low in lipase, the enzyme for fats. Cafe was also very low in lipase but only on rare occasions did she go for plastic, so I'm still thinking on this weird plastic eating phenomenon. I've read online about other cats doing it or even eating computer cords. Thank goodness Aulait didn't do that, but I did have a trick to prevent her from eating the plastic bag edges that hung over on my trash can - I would lather my hands lightly with dish soap and smear it on the visible plastic. I would have done that to my computer cord too if necessary. And then looking at Cafe's blood report, it was obvious that she already had renal issues as an eight-month-old, although it wasn't obvious to me at the time. I really wonder what I would have done differently if I would have known how to read the blood report.



Cafe, after being diagnosed with serious renal problems knew and accepted that she couldn't have Aulait's food ... so she would get just as close to it as she could during Aulait's feeding times. She never tried to get IN the cupboard, but boy did she have to sit ON the cupboard while Aulait ate!

Biamonte Ctr - Treating Candida, part II

The Biamonte Center, which is specifically for treating candida, has developed a four-stage program for eliminating candida and rebalancing the body. For an overview of the center and its purpose, see the previous blog entry or go to the website.

Phase 1 : Eliminate the candida infection
Phase 2 : Detoxify the intestines and body
Phase 3 : Correct hormone or nutritional deficiencies
Phase 4 : Support and rebuild the immune system

Michael Biamonte, clinical nutritionist, gives an overview of each of the phases and includes some of the elimination drugs/supplements used as well as discusses the philosophy behind each phase. I do appreciate this information, especially some of the whys and wherefore being explained about the chronological process.

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PHASE 1 : Eliminate the candida infection

This is the "systemic phase", the phase that refers to treatment of the entire body and its systemic infection (caused by virus, bacteria, yeast, fungus or parasite).

In this phase there are two types of natural and herbal substances to be taken. The first is taken on rotation, that is, every 4 days one of the items is stopped and another is taken for 4 days. There might be 4-6 items in the rotation group with the products being taken for 30 days before re-evaluation, resulting in possible extention of treatment for another 30 days. The principle behind rotating these treatment herbs/supplements is that candida is able to build up immunity to an herb/supplement/drug after only 21 days (some say 7 days), and so to keep the process of elimination alive and continuous, rotation is needed. The carefully selected herbals/supplements in Phase 1 are chosen for their ability to be absorbed by the blood, travel through the bloodstream and lymphatic system, and be able to kill or eliminate most of the infection throughout most of the body.

Non-rotated supplements are the second group. The non-rotated items are to be taken every day. They aid the die-off of the infection. Products used are Biocidin or Bioradiance (the double-strength of Biocidin) accompanyied with Biotonic, products of Bio-Botanical Research Inc. These products are said to be very powerful so must be taken with food.

Resulting from the rotated and non-rotated herbals and supplements is the likely die-off reaction, also known as Herxheimer reaction. The reaction is due to a larger number of bacteria or toxins being dumped into the bloodstream, colon or wherever too quickly for them to be transported out, resulting in a toxic reaction. The toxic reaction in itself is a good sign of the products working, but it can affect the already weakened immune system; therefore, some of the doses should be lessened in order for the body, specifically the liver, not to be too overworked-overstressed. Reactions could be headaches, myalgia, fever, chills, fluttering heart, hypotension, flu-like symptoms, among others. During die-off, to lessen discomfort and reaction, continual flushing with fluids is strongly recommended - at least 4 oz. every half hour.

Through the Biamonte Center, this phase lasts 30 days before retesting, which determines whether the person procedes to the next phase or will repeat phase 1 again with perhaps a change in herbals/supplements and dosages. Urine tests are given to determine progress. The urine sample measures 3 things:

(1) pH which tells the likelihood of an active infection (should be about 6.4 but if 5 or especially below 4 the person is more infection susceptible; a pH between 6-7 shows little infection susceptibility)
(2) indican, which indicates the amount of toxicity in the colon and intestines. Indican is produced by food that is putrefying in the intestines, mixing with harmful bacteria, parasites or yeast, which is then releasing indole, a harmful substance. Indole gets absorbed in the blood and then is eliminated through urine as indican.
(3) protein waste product that is given off by parasites and yeast

Also in the non-rotated group are supplements, e.g. enzymes to help aid digestion, perhaps an anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic or anti-yeast product.

What is not used in this phase are immune boosters and/or anti-oxidants. Taking such would counteract the herbals and supplements for killing off the candida by strengthening it. Anti-oxidants include beta carotene, vitamin E, vitamin C, selenium, zinc, quercetin, pycnogenol as well as nutrients which stimulate and/or activate viruses/bacterias - calcium, vitamin D, copper, CoQ10, B-complex (individual vitamin Bs may be necessary though).

This phase will NOT eliminate all the symptoms or all the infection, but the severe symptoms of active infection are expected to go away. Once symptoms have been reduced and bloodwork determines that the infection likewise is reduced, the person procedes to Phase 2 with no "vacation" between herbal/supplement cycles. In fact, for best results, a three-day overlap of supplements in Phase 1 and Phase 2 is often encouraged.

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PHASE 2 : Detoxify the intestines and the body

Phase 2 is to cleanse the body of viruses and parasites. Parasites are eliminated through cleansing the bowel. Viral conditions like Epstein-Barr or cytomeglio virus or other Herpes-type viruses usually associated with chronic fatigue are cleansed through the intestines and by cleaning the liver, the lymphatic system, the spleen, and various other organs and glands that are known to house viruses. Bacteria is eliminated in similar ways. Phase 2 has three steps.

Step 1 : Use 4-5 different supplements to kill the infection
.......... i. "looseners"
.......... ii. "bulldozers"
.......... ii. "digestive aids"
.......... iv. "mop-up items"
.......... v. "vermifuges" (some people only)
Step 2 : Introducing friendly bacteria
Step 3 : Repair the intestinal tract

Step 1 : Use 4-5 different supplements to kill the infection

The "looseners" - Their job is to loosen old debris, old mucus or fecal matter sitting in the intestinal tract and which hide yeast, parasites or harmful bacteria. Once loosened and removed, more intestinal tract surface will be available for the "good" bacteria to live and thrive. Castor oil, garlic oil, bromelin, pancreatin, pepsin (an enzyme produced in the stomach) and comfrey. Taken on an empty stomach 2-3 times a day and usually in high amounts, as in 4-8 "looseners" at one time - Example, 4-7 castor oil or garlic oil first thing in the morning and last thing at night and 4-6 pancreatin 2-3 times a day.

The "bulldozers" - These push out debris from the intestinal tract which the looseners have loosened. High fiber products commonly containing psyllium (a fiber) and benzonite (a highly absorbent clay capable of holding several times its weight in toxins and toxic matter). Taken on an empty stomach twice a day, first thing in the morning and last thing at night.

The "digestive aids" - These help with rebuilding the digestive system or aid the overtaxed digestive system with its work. Enzymes, hydrochloric acid, pancreatin, bile salts - items the body needs and if healthy can produce on its own. Taken at meal and snack times.

The "mop-up items" - Also known as "candida killers" are to mop up any remaining substances secreted in hard-to-get areas. They are oil-type products that line the intestinal tract and absorb into it, reaching yeast that is unreachable by other products. These are products that absorb into the blood and travel throughout the body, killing yeast in obscure places. Taken with each meal but these supplements/oils needs to be rotated.

The "vermifuges" - These are "vermin" (worm or parasite) killers. Nasty as it may sound, almost everyone with candida has worms or parasites which must be expelled before real healing can be expected. K-min, black walnut and butternut bark. Taken on an empty stomach.

Phase 2 also has Herxheimer reaction, and some people have gastro-intestinal upset gas, bloating, poor digestion. Rectal itching is also very common, especially if a person has worms or parasites.

Step 2 : Introducing friendly bacteria

Friendly bacteria are started to be introduced into the system via FOS, a fruit sugar found in garlic, artichokes, bananas, and other fruits and vegetables which tend to selectively feed only friendly bacteria. Bifidofactor or Superdophilis are two powerful types of the DDS strain and which do a fast and thorough job. Dosages are half a teaspoon of Bifidofactor in the a.m. and half a teaspoon of Superdophilis in the p.m. while taking FOS three times a day at half a teaspoon doses. All should be taken on an empty stomach because the acid in the stomach can kill these friendly bacteria. The FOS is the most important because it will get into the intestinal tract and feed the friendly bacteria and get it to multiply.

In this phase it is very common to have intestinal bloating, gas and abdominal discomfort due to the growth of the friendly bacteria which produces gas and bloating as it wipes out the harmful bacteria. If the gas and bloating is bad, simply reduce the doses until no reaction in produced and then gradually try to increase the amount.

Step 3 : Repair the intestinal tract

Certain vitamins and nutrients are used for repairing the intestinal damage, like "leaky gut" or permeability, caused by the candida, thereby also eliminating the key symptoms of leaky gut which are arthritic symptoms and food reactions. Two categories of supplements are used - one for repairing and the other for reducing inflammation. Depending on the supplements, they can be taken with food or on an empty stomach.

At the end of Phase 2 a person should have vastly increased digestive ability, far fewer food reactions, better bowels movements and less gas and bloating. The person should now be ready to correct vitamin and mineral and other nutrient absorption.

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PHASE 3 : Correct hormone or nutritional deficiencies

This part of the program addresses issues of energy and also nutritional deficiencies. Blood testing and hair analysis (done through the Bio-Cybernetics Center) is used for assessing how to individually treat each patient. Blood shows transportation of say nutrients while hair shows storage of for example toxins like mercury, arsenic, lead, copper, bismuth, etc. Many people who have arthritis or any type of joint or muscular pain commonly have toxic metal poisoning, as do women with severe PMS or difficulties conceiving. Commonly also are people with candida or Epstein-Barr virus having excess copper (likely from copper pipes) or mercury (likely from silver fillings).

The adrenal glands and the thyroid are the energy producers in the body. Many people may also have energy issues due to deficiencies in their reproductive organs - the prostate and testicles for men, the ovaries, uterus and mammary glands for women. In fact, candida in women is very likely linked to issues of either too low or too much estrogen. Women need special attention in regard to rebalancing their reproductive organs as estrogen is always fluctuating throughout the month. In general although men may have hormonal imbalances, they need less attention to hormonal therapy.

To boost the energy level and to get the glands working properly, specific nutrients the person is deficient in are given, for example, vitamin A and C may show up as needed mutritional supplementation. Or B-complex. Mineral deficiencies may also show up, but supplementation may not be done with minerals as a further imbalance could be created with this micronutrient category. Protein concentrates are given and these are actual protein organ extracts of animals specifically raised for the purpose of gland and organ processing. Specific herbs for stimulating specific organs or glands could be prescribed.

On this phase diet is changed to address the issue of building the body's nutritional defences. The diet is changed to fit the person's fast or slow metabolism. If the person has a slow metabolism, the person should eat a meal high in protein and low in fat to stimulate the thyroid, adrenal glands and energy-producing glands for raising the metabolism and for burning more calories. Only protein is capable of increasing metabolism and the calorie burning rate. If the person has a fast metabolism (only about 20% of the American population), then he/she burns up carbs and starches too quickly and runs out of energy so needs to consume more fats and oil which are slow-burning fuels for maintaining a more constant level of energy within the body.

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PHASE 4 : Support and rebuild the immune system

This phase deals primarily with the immune system and to make sure the thymus gland, spleen and lymphatic system are functioning properly, and very importantly, to make sure the liver is producing antibodies and has an immune system response. Of course the adrenals need to be furthered strengthened, so reintroducing some of the Phase 2 supplements might be considered. Phase 4 has two parts - the first is to take nutrients for 1-2 months to build and repair the immune system, and the second is to use specific herbs which stimulate the immune system.

Part 1: Nutrients to build and repair the immune system

Which supplements are given are determined through blood and/or hair testing, or even occasionally through a special test for T-cells and B-cells (similar to the test given to HIV patients) for determmining exact immune system requirements. However, the principal test that will determine progress is by the white blood count and the many individual white blood cells which are measured on a complete white blood count: cenefils and basofils (white blood cells that indicate allergies), monocytes (tell how well the liver is functioning), and then the primary indicators, the nutrofils and lithocytes (which are good indicators of infection in the body). In another section on the blood test, the total globulin (a protein utilized by the immune system) also tells how well the immune system is doing, as also does the albumin (another protein). A test called totalbillyrubin can give some idea of the functioning of the thymus and the liver and also an idea of the immune system's response.

In the hair analysis, some of the principal minerals which indicate the immune response in the body are zinc, copper and iron. In an immune-deficient person an excessively low zinc and an abnormally high copper is common. A very low or high iron also tells how the immune system is functioning. The mineral selenium indicates how well the body is responding to chemical toxins or odors and fumes and things in the environment which cause sensitivities. Toxic metals such as cadmium, mercury, lead, aluminum, arsenic and copper also give an idea of how well the immune system is doing - the lower the metals, the better the immune response.

Part 2 : Specific herbs for boosting the immune system

Vitamin C flush - Sometimes a vitamin C flush is necessary for boosting the immune system. The flush gives the system very high doses of vitamin C to the point where it totally saturates the system. For this flush, vitamin C is given every hour (strict records are kept documenting time and amount as well as outcome, e.g. loose stool, diarrhea). For example, if someone takes 1000mg of vitamin C every hour for 6 hours and then has loose stool or diarrhea, then 6000mg was consumed before reaching evacuation. So, subtract 1000mg from the total to reach 5000mg, and then in the next 3 hours the high tolerance doses of 5000mg is given to saturate the body and boost the immune system. Another example, is a person takes 12,000mg before having loose stool, and so subtracting 1000mg, the high vitamin C dose of 11,000mg is given within the next 3 hours. The high dosages would continue for up to 3 days at 3 hour intervals, but every time 1000mg less would be given, and the outcome of the doses would no longer result in loose stool or diarrhea. This is the vitamin C flush. [The reason for achieving loose stool is for the body to indicate that it is totally saturated by vitamin C. The flush has been shown clinically to raise the immune response as high as possible by the megadoses.] High power vitamin C used in this program could be Ultra Potency by Metagenics or another high powered one by Alacer company or a supplement called Emergency-C or even another kind.

The mineral germanium - [Purpose : unclear] Another mega-dosing program is with the use of the mineral germanium, to be effective, taking germanium in a 4-day to 1-week course. For example, a person might start with 25mg one day, the next take 50mg, then 100mg, then 150mg, then 200mg, and then 250mg. Perhaps then the person would take a 2-day break and then start over at the 25mg dose and work up in the same way. The cycle could even be repeated again.

Vitamin A - For mega-dosing with vitamin A, water-soluable A (a kind of vitamin A that does not accumulate in the liver for long periods of time) is used and in dosages of up to 250,000 units. The 250,000 dosage can be maintained for 2-3 weeks and then dropped down to 50,000 units for 1-2 weeks, and then brought up to 250,000 units for another few weeks before being dropped back to 50,000 units for a week or so. So, one could conceivably be taking 250,000 units a day for 2-3 weeks, and 50,000 units for 1-2 weeks. This again serves to stimulate certain parts of the immune system at a very high level.

Glandular concentrates - Certain other glandular concentrates from the thymus, lymphs, spleen, adrenals and liver are also used in very high doses in order to generate and increase immune response. Sometimes they may be taken every hour.

The vitamin C flush, germanium, vitamin A and the hourly technique of taking glandular concentrates may also be used if the person is feeling on the verge of a relapse or coming down with a cold or flu. Echinacea, a commonly used herb for the immune system, can also be used to ward off an oncoming cold or flu. The dose is 2-3 teaspoons, 3 times a day, and then after the inital high dosages, dropped down to 1/2 teaspoon 3 times a day.

Phase 4, the rebuilding of the immune system which took years to destroy, takes the longest; it may very likely take as long as a year. In this very individualized phase, fiber supplements to keep the bowels moving, some flora supplement for aiding correct bacteria growth, and digestive supplements for assisting with digestion are employed. Energy boosters from Phase 3 might even be continued in addition to the mega-dosing techniques above.

Sometimes in this phase a rash or pimples might appear. These are primarily the result of the lymphatic sstem and the immune system cleansing themselves. If this happens, a dry massage to massage off dead skin can be done to activate better circulation of the vascular and lymphatic systems which will help push poisons out of the skin. Saunas and steam baths are even more efficient for cleansing impurities out.

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Other principles to keep in mind:

Phase 1 and Phase 2 are done under a very carefully regulated diet. The Biamonte Center has three diet choices: a high-protein diet that includes meat with few carbs, a vegetarian diet which includes a few more carbs, and the caveman diet which is for toughest candida (mainly meat protein with low carb vegetables).

Phase 1 and Phase 2 primarily eliminate the total infection; Phase 3 and Phase 4 build back the immune system and repair the damage caused by the infections.

Phase 1 handles active infection; Phase 2 handles the digestive system and nutrient absorption; Phase 3 addresses energy; Phase 4 aims for rebalancing the immune system.

Rule of thumb - Liquids are taken on an empty stomach; all tablets or capsules are taken with meals.

At no time in the program does a person want constipation. Drinking plenty of water and eating lots of fiber is to help flush the body regularly and speedily from the toxins that are poured into the colon, but if constipation occurs, the toxins build up and are reabsorbed back into the bloodstream and possibly making the person very ill indeed.

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All the of the above material came from the Biamonte Center's webpages, specifically under the category of "Tour Our Program". I have tried to condense the pages describing the program as succinctly as possible without changing any of the therapies or nuances of the 4 phase candida cleansing and repair program. I do NOT agree with everything in the program, but this summary is just what it is, a summary of a program and devoid of my opinion.

Great Medical Quotes

When our medical professionionals uses such phrases as "practice medicine" and "perform surgeries" in an operating room "theater", it seems logical for patients to question the skill of the "practitioner" and the mysterious link between theatrical performances and the skilled ability.

Following are some apropos quotes related to the practicality of the medical and health profession and which could shed some more light on why medical doctors use the phrase "practice medicine" ... (rather an outsider's perspective to be sure). The quotes were borrowed from the site Diary of Unknown Symptoms.

GREAT MEDICAL QUOTES

Dr. Michael F. Holick, MD - "Can you imagine what would happen if a drug company came out with a single pill that reduces the risk of cancer, heart attack, stroke, osteoporosis, PMS, SAD, and various autoimmune disorders? There would be a media frenzy the likes of which has never been seen before! Well, guess what? Such a drug exists … it is the sun."

Dr. Bernard Jensen - "Unless we know and use foods that have the right chemical elements needed to sustain health, we are hopelessly unable to resist disease."

Dr. Michael Klaper, MD - "It's not natural for humans to drink cow's milk. Humans milk is for humans. Cow's milk is for calves. You have no more need of cow's milk than you do rats milk, horses milk or elephant's milk. Cow's milk is a high fat fluid exquisitely designed to turn a 65 lb baby calf into a 400 lb cow. That's what cow's milk is for!"

Dr. David Bridgman - "Of all the people I test for allergies, 99.9% so far show severe sensitivity to any microwaved food."

Dr. Otto H. Warburg in 1924 - "Cancer, above all other diseases, has countless secondary causes. But, even for cancer, there is only one prime cause. Summarized in a few words, the prime cause of cancer is the replacement of the respiration of oxygen in normal body cells by a fermentation of sugar."

The Analyst - "Health problems rarely occur in isolation or for obvious reasons. Instead of simply guessing at what might be wrong, discover what is really going on inside your body based on the many clues it is giving."

Dr. Mercola - "Breast milk contains virtually all of the nutrients that an infant needs except for Vitamin D ... That's because infants weren't designed to swallow the vitamin D, they were designed to have sun on their skin."

Bill Maher - "The human body doesn't get sick for no reason...90% of why people are sick, is because they eat shit."

Web site quote - "Essential vitamin, mineral, and amino acid deficiencies frequently go undiagnosed in conventional medicine because conventional testing methods look for pathology — meaning the tests only check for chronic conditions that are present, and NOT for the precursors that lead to illness."

Dr. Riina Bray - "I learned a long time ago that preventive medicine is a much healthier approach than waiting to develop a treatment strategy once the threat has been introduced, be it a disease or a chemical contaminant."

Wendy Mesley - "I’ve always been a health nut and I got cancer. I knew there had to be something else. We’re not told a lot about what causes cancer in things we encounter every day. But some people do know, and ideally, it’s the right to not be contaminated."

Dr. Bernard Jenson - "Every disease is a sign of a chemical shortage in the body. All of these chemical elements are in our foods, but we don't know what a proper diet is. If our patients do not improve, we are not using the right foods to treat them. Diseases are the end result of chemically deficient organs in the body that are not functioning properly."

Bill Cameron - "In general, any treatment that does not fall within the traditional, proven, conventional canon is treated with great suspicion or simply dismissed."

Dr. Mercola - "Avoid getting sucked into the hype that sunlight is dangerous. It is only dangerous if you are clueless about fat nutrition, which most medical doctors are."

Augusto Odone - "When he was diagnosed, Lorenzo's father Augusto was desperate. I was terrorised, I was shocked. Well, it's a death sentence. So I asked the doctor if I could read the medical papers. He said, 'Don't bother, you won't understand them.'" (reference the movie Lorenzo's Oil)

Bill Maher - "If you believe you need all the pills and drugs the pharmaceutical industry says you do - then you're already on drugs."

Andrew Taylor Still - "To Find Health Should Be the Object of the Doctor. Anyone Can Find Disease."

Bill Cameron - "The throat specialist interpreted my problem as tension, a benign blockage of the throat. A surgical resident said it was a fibrous growth of some sort, nothing to worry about, and scheduled a test two months away. These missed diagnoses are hard to justify. Difficulty swallowing is one of esophageal cancer's more obvious symptoms. It's half a year from those early symptoms until the surgeon leans into my face and tells me I have advanced, aggressive cancer."

Thomas Edison - "The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patient in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease."

Gluten Sensitivites & Autoimmune Diseases

More and more people are becoming sensitive to gluten in such high numbers that it has reached epidemic proportions. This is supported by the huge variety of foods now on supermarket shelves labeled as "gluten free". As the number of people with autoimmune diseases skyrockets, so does the demand for a less toxic diet shoots up. The gluten-free business is busting from demand and the marketing prices for those products fits the demand, that is, SKY HIGH!!!

Mom on one of her shopping forays noted a huge discrepancy in prices in just one aisle. One side of the aisle was for foreign food and the opposite was catering to the people with gluten senstitives. The gluten-free flour she picked up from the gluten-free shelves was pricey. She needed the item for some dish she was preparing, but wow, didn't want to pay such a huge price ... and then her eye caught sight of the same product, same brand, same packaging, same weight, same everything on the foreign food shelves. Well, it wasn't actually same everything. The price was actually about $2 less!!! Wow!!! Now, about the only things she buys off the gluten-free shelves are the spice cake mix and the chocolate cake mix, each about $7, but what can she do? Those two gluten-free packages are some of the rare mixes that she can actually buy for my younger bro because he has serious cross-contamination problems ... corn starch and potato starch is in almost all gluten-free mixes and breads, but my bro absolutely can't tolerate them.

Dr. Tom O'Bryan, one of the world's leading experts on gluten allergies, discusses some of the problems with just how little gluten a person can eat - as small as an eighth of a thumb nail of gluten - and have a violent reaction.

Watch: Celiac Disease & Gluten Sensitivity with Dr. Tom O'Bryan

He further discusses how people with gluten allergies start searching out replacement foods for the ubiquitous wheat, rye, barley and oats, and if they consume too many of these foods having built up no tolerance to them from childhood, cross-reactive sensitivites/allergies can result.

My bro has developed cross-reactive allergies:

(1) Potatoes & Peppers! - Potatoes are in the nightshade family as are tomatoes, eggplants, and the worst for him, peppers! Potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants are in the solanum sub-species of the family while peppers are in the capsicum sub-species. Peppers of any kind evoke anaphalactic shock, and since peppers are disguised in most packagings, there's cross-contamination from produce belts in factories, and even peppers are used for colorings in canned tomatoes (but since the amount is so minute, the law does not require the company to make labels) that my bro absolutely does NOT DARE eat canned vegetables of any kind, does NOT DARE eat in a restaurant with possible cross-contamination on silverware or cutting boards or even does NOT DARE eat in friends' kitchens because of possibly pepper residue in pots and pans.

(2) Lentils - When he first came out of the lifestyle center that helped him deal with his allergies, he ate tons and tons of lentils, and almost every day. After a time, he started getting a lot of reflux from eating lentils, and now is afraid to try them again as he has reflux anyway from having low hydrochloric acid, a problem with long-term candida.

(3) Buckwheat - Buckwheat gives my bro acid reflux much like lentils, but I don't know if he overindulged on them when learning how to eat for his health problems.

(4) Many other cross-reactive allergies, and one is the common latex allergy. And since his job requires him to wear gloves, latex-free gloves are kept in stock specifically for him at his work place. But people with latex sensitivities should also avoid foods that share latex proteins. Here is a list I found - and a few of them my bro assiduously avoids because of the close relationship in the genus:
banana, potato, kiwi, avocado, fig, papaya, pineapple, peach, cherry, plum, strawberry, melon, nectarine, grapes, tomato, celery, wheat, rye, hazelnut and chestnut.

Anyway, cross-reaction sensitivities can be very serious for some people!

Dr. Tom O'Bryan said that he has identified 24 common cross-reactive sensitivities. I couldn't find a complete list but following is a list of 18. Hmmm, lentils is not on the list, but I wonder if it's on the list of 24.

Deficiency Symptoms

DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS - by Walter Last (source)

Eye, hair, nail, mouth and skin symptoms are among the early outward warning signs of vitamin and mineral deficiencies. The following compilations may help in diagnosing and treating these deficiencies. However, increased metabolic requirements for indicated deficiencies may persist for a long time after the outward symptoms have disappeared. Many listed symptoms may also be caused or aggravated by allergies and problems with the blood sugar and fat metabolism.

The right-hand column gives the primary deficiencies first, additional treatment or cause is given in parentheses. For each condition only the more prominent nutrients are mentioned. However, all the typical nutrients should be supplied in increased amounts in the treatment of all conditions.
_____________________________________________________________________________

Categories: Eye, Skin, Hair & Nail, Tongue & Mouth
_____________________________________________________________________________


EYE DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS
Symptom ~ Deficiency / Treatment / Cause

Bitot's spots - foamy patches on conjunctiva - vitamin A

Bloodshot eyes - boric acid for fungus infection, blue light

Blurred vision - vitamins B2, B6, pantothenic acid

Bulging eyes - vitamin E, nicotinamide, iodine

Cataracts (lens becomes opaque) - vitamins B2, C, E, antioxidants (avoid lactose)

Color-blindness - vitamin A

Conjunctivitis - vitamins A, B2, C (B6, zinc)

Cross-eyes - vitamins E, C, B1, (allergy testing)

Dark spots in front of the eyes - vitamins B6, C, zinc (liver problems)

Dim vision (amblyopia) - vitamins B1, B2, C, B12 (allergy testing)

Dry, hard eyeballs (xerophthalmia) - vitamin A

Farsightedness (hyperopia) - magnesium, potassium, MSM

Glaucoma - magnesium, vitamin C (B2, B1,salt)

Hemorrhaging in the back of the eye (retinitis) - vitamin B6, zinc, bioflavonoids (also magnesium, vitamins C, B2, B12, E, pantothenate)

Infected, ulcerating eyes (keratomalacia) - vitamin A (vitamins C, B2, B6, zinc, blue light, boric acid)

Itching, burning, watery, sandy eyes - vitamin B2

Macular degeneration - vitamins A, B2, B6, magnesium, zinc, antioxidants, bioflavonoids, esp. lutein & zeaxanthin, ginkgo biloba, bilberry, eyebright, MSM, EFA

Near-sightedness (myopia) - chromium, vitamins C, E, D, calcium (proteins, avoid sugars)

Night blindness (nyctalopia) - vitamins A, (B2, B6, zinc)

Red blood vessels in the sclera - vitamin B2

Retinal detachment - zinc, vitamins B6, B2, C, E, A

Sensitive eyes, fear of strong light (photophobia) - vitamins B2, A

Tics of eyelids - magnesium, vitamins B2, B6, zinc


SKIN DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS
Symptom ~ Deficiency / Treatment / Cause

Acne - vitamins A, E, B2, B6, C, niacin, biotin, zinc, EFA*, lecithin, MSM, retinoic acid topically (minimize sweet food & fats)

Addison's disease - adrenal exhaustion: increased tanning, especially on skin-folds, scars, elbows, knees; black freckles - all B vitamins, especially pantothenic acid; vitamin C; all minerals, digestive enzymes, allergy testing, avoid sweet food

Arterial spiders (fine branching arteries on face, neck, chest) - antioxidants, bioflavonoids, glucosamine, cartilage, calcium

Bedsores - vitamins C, E

Blisters - vitamin E

Brown discoloration around small joints - vitamin B12

Brown skin spots - antioxidants (weak liver)

Dry skin - vitamins A, C, EFA

Eczema, skin ulcers - vitamin C, B2, B6, zinc, magnesium, EFA, allergy test, cleanse

Eczema, infantile - EPA, zinc, vitamin B6

Edema - vitamin B6, zinc (also vitamin C, magnesium, avoid salt)

Fingers white, numb, stiff, swelling (Raynaud's disease) - vitamins B6, B1, antioxidants, niacin, magnesium/calcium, EFA

Fungus infections (e.g. athlete's foot, ringworm) - B vitamins, (external tea tree oil, intestinal sanitation)

Gangrene - vitamins C, E, B1 , magnesium chloride, (urine packs)

Greasy dermatitis around eyes, nose - vitamin B6, zinc

Greasy skin eruptions (seborrhea) - vitamin B2

Horny red skin on pressure areas (e.g. knees, elbows) - zinc (vitamin B6)

Hot flushes - vitamin E, boron, magnesium, calcium (Wild Yam cream)

Ichthyosis (fish-like scales) - vitamin A, retinoic acid topically, MSM

Infant dermatitis with inflamed pustules around body openings - vitamin B6, zinc

Infections of the skin (boils, cold sores, impetigo, and so on) - vitamins C, A, B6, zinc, magnesium chloride (hot Epsom-salt packs, tea tree oil or propolis rubs)

Itching - vitamins B, C, EFA, alkalizer, bicarbonate rubs, (allergy tests)

Jaundice - vitamins C, E, A, B12, B6, lecithin, magnesium, zinc (blue light therapy, treat gall bladder & liver)

Keratosis, horny, goose-pimple-like skin - vitamin A internally & externally

Lemon-yellow skin - vitamin B12

Oily skin, white-heads - vitamin B2

Over-sensitivity to sunlight - vitamin B6, zinc, PABA, beta-carotene, antioxidants, bioflavonoids, alkalizers

Pale skin - biotin, folic acid, vitamin B6, , iron (anemia)

Prickly heat rash - vitamin C

Psoriasis - as for acne; blue light, sunlight; avoid gluten

Purplish or blue-black skin areas - vitamin C, B2, bioflavonoids

Rash - allergy test, alkalizers, vitamin C, calcium

Red-brown, often symmetrical discoloration of skin exposed to the sun, later ulceration - niacin or nicotinamide (folic acid)

Red-brown or dark-red spots - manganese

Rosacea (redness of part of face) - vitamin B2

Scaly dermatitis - biotin

Scaly eczema around nose, ears, scrotum, vulva - vitamin B2

Scar tissue - vitamin E, MSM externally & internally, camphorated oil rub

Scleroderma (hardening and swelling of skin) - vitamin E, C, A, PABA, MSM, magnesium chloride (zapper, pulser and parasite therapy, tea tree oil packs)

Sensitivity to insect bites - vitamin C, B1, calcium, alkalizers, bicarbonate rub/bath

Shingles - vitamins B12, C, A, B, E, zinc, lysine, zinc oxide lotion, zapper

Skin cancer - vitamins A, B6, PABA, antioxidants, bioflavonoids, carotenes, chlorophyll, propolis, zinc (blue light, escharotics)

Skin-folds red, infected - niacin

Stretch-marks - vitamins E, B6, zinc

Subcutaneous bleeding (red or purplish spots under the skin, bruises easily) - vitamin C, bioflavonoids and rutin, grape seed extract, glucosamine, alkalizer

Swellings (for example, face) - zinc, magnesium, vitamins B6, B12

Vaginal itching - vitamins B2, E, C (avoid synthetic underwear, treat Candida)

Warts, moles - vitamins C, A, E

Weals on the skin (urticaria) - vitamin B6, zinc, vitamin C, (alkalizer, allergy test)

White skin patches (vitiligo) - PABA, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, zinc

Wrinkles or aging skin - vitamins C, E, A, EFA, bioflavonoids (too much sun)

* Most skin conditions benefit from external as well as internal application of the indicated nutrients. Retinioc acid is the acid form of vitamin A. EFA means essential fatty acids, mainly linoleic and linolenic acid; recommended are ground linseed, linseed oil, fish oils and evening-primrose oil.


HAIR & NAIL DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS
Symptom ~ Deficiency / Treatment / Cause

Coarse, brittle hair - zinc

Dandruff - vitamins B2, B6, zinc, magnesium, biotin

Dry hair - vitamin A, zinc

Greying hair - folic acid, pantothenic acid, PABA, biotin, minerals (weak adrenals, avoid sweet food)

Hangnails - vitamin C, folic acid, proteins

Hair loss - copper/lead contamination: use zinc, vitamin B6, sulfur (MSM), selenium, biotin

Nails opaque, white spots/bands - zinc, vitamin B6

Oily hair - vitamin B2

Peeling nails - vitamins A, C, calcium

Ridges on nails, longitudinal - vitamin A, protein, calcium (anemia, poor circulation, thyroid/parathyroid glands)

Ridges on nails, transverse - fever, infection, inflammation, menstrual problems, period of protein deficiency

Scaling of cuticle or lips - biotin

With graying hair or hair loss improve the circulation to the scalp, e.g. daily inversion such as headstand, shoulder-stand, hanging upside down or using a slant-board. Also vigorously rubbing nourishing or slightly irritating solutions into the scalp, e.g. fresh grass or vegetable juice, MSM with copper salicylate, ginger juice.


TONGUE & MOUTH DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS
Symptom ~ Deficiency / Treatment / Cause
Mouth problems are often due to amalgam fillings, allergies or Candida infestation (thrush).

Beefy, enlarged tongue - pantothenic acid

Burning, sore tongue - vitamins B2, B6, B12, niacin

Cracked lips & corners of the mouth (cheilosis) - vitamins B2, B6, folic acid

Distended, purplish-blue veins under the tongue - vitamin B2 (circulation poor, congested)

Edema or tooth-marks on tongue - niacin/nicotinamide

Furrowed tongue - vitamin B1, pantothenic acid

Gums receding, bleeding (gingivitis) - vitamin C, bioflavonoids, calcium, alkalizers

Halitosis (bad breath) - vitamin B6, zinc, magnesium, propolis, chlorophyll (cleansing, intestinal sanitation)

Mouth ulcers, canker - folic acid, vitamin B6, zinc (alkalize, allergy test)

Papillae prominent or erased - niacin/nicotinamide

Purplish or magenta tongue or lips, also veins under the tongue - vitamin B2

Tongue red at tip or edges; severe deficiency: whole tongue scarlet red, sore - niacin (vitamin B6)

Tongue shiny, smooth, beefy; early sign: strawberry-red tip/sides - vitamin B12, folic acid

Tongue too small or too large - niacin, pantothenic acid

White-coated tongue - intestinal putrefaction, cleansing

White patches on tongue - vitamin B2 and other B vitamins (allergy)

Yellowish-brown-coated tongue - liver or gall bladder problems

Water Testing with Precipitator: SamDaSoo vs. Chungho Water

Another person, my friend L, responded to my cry of desperation on Facebook related to my reaction to bottled water. L wrote in my inbox that her husband had a precipitator which tested the purity of water and that I should come over right away and test my water. Some time during this morning after I left home, we decided that I should go over to her house today. I went but didn't have a chance to also get a sample of water from my own kitchen and another from my Brita water purifying jug that in desperation I bought at Costco yesterday.

Ergh, I do NOT want to drink tap water that has been "purified" through the little portable Brita jug. I don't trust the purification system, and think the city tap water is too horrendous here in Seoul, especially where I used to live (thank goodness I finally could move in February!). Anyway, I don't want to put tap water in my fragile system as THAT was what initially blew my system -- drinking city water, the divine Arisu that is marketed by our Korean President Lee Myung-bak as drinkable but which made myself and my two cats very sick (one cat died and Aulait and I have been sick sick sick since).

Anyway, my friend L picked up a new bottle of SamDaSoo at a local store and we went to her house to test it against her water from her reverse-osmosis Chungho water purifier.

To use the precipitator for best results, the water needs to be at room temperature. If it's cold, the results won't be accurate as the activating prongs need to heat up the water to room temp before the actual testing may begin. If water is contaminated, the water continues to heat up based on the number of minutes the precipitator is set at. We set the precipitator timer for 5 minutes but in less than 45 seconds a clear difference in the quality of water between the bottled SamDaSoo (left) and the reverse osmosis Chungho water (right) was obvious! If the water is relatively uncontaminated as the Chungho water appears, then the water does not heat up much beyond room temperature ... and the Chungho water didn't whereas the SamDaSoo was getting steadily warmer, and very steadily grosser, Grosser, GROSSER!






The printout for diagnosis of the quality of water based on its color after using the electrolosis devise was in Korean so I had to bring it home to translate.

YELLOW - nutrition (amino acids, organic minerals, 용존oxygen, pure water molecules), nature-born organic matter

WHITE - lead, zinc, mercury/quicksilver

BLUE - copper pipe rust, arsenic, mercury/quicksilver, lead, copper, sodium/natrium

BLUE - germs/bacterium, carcinogenic natural matter, gas

RED - iron/steel bacterium, rust water, iron water

BLACK - heavy metals (zinc, lead, copper, chromium, phenol/carbolic acid, manganese, etc)

YELLOW is the indicator for water registering contaminants under 10ppm and therefore is safe to drink.


Analysis of SamDaSoo Water

Now based on the 5-min electrical activation of the SamDaSoo water as shown here, the colors of the water do not appear to fall anywhere near the safe zone. In fact, very far from it! The water had a scum on top of it that seems to fall under "BLACK" which signifies heavy metals. The water itself is white and colorless. That seems good from a lay-person perspective since the bottle has a 2-year stamp for company considered safe shelf life. But yikes when you consider it! Is the company so confident that no bacterium is in the water and will grow in those 2 years?!?! And just WHAT did they do to the water that would give them such company-product confidence? But now to analyze the "WHITE" - lead, zinc, mercury. OK, we're talking heavy metals a-g-a-i-n!!!!!

Now if we were to analyze this a bit closer, we could cross-compare the disgusting water results with that from a Ionic Detox Foot Bath, which also uses some kind of electrolysis. Foam is not mentioned at all on the chart above but white foam did appear on the SamDaSoo water. What does this signify? And do the two electrolysis tools have overlap in what the gross water appearance tells of the chemical make-up of what is in the water? Hmmm ...

Hair Analysis - 3rd (2012-1-31)

I've been on the anti-candida diet for almost 14 months now and am not seeing much improvement. In fact, lately have been lethargic with general feelings of malaise, a bit of general achiness ... but maybe because it's winter and I really need to get my vitamin D (D3) through the sun because I don't eat vitamin D (D2) foods, like dairy products. Anyway, so it seems time for another hair analysis.





Well, as can be seen, the company where I've always gotten my hair analysis testing is either using another company for the lab work or the lab has changed its format. I'm not too keen on the last chart labeled "Toxic Elements". The chart doesn't make total sense to me as there are only two categories - "low" and "good", but 4 out of 6 of my ratios being presented actually should register way off the chart, so what is the next category? why is the company hiding a category of "high" that shows another kind of "bad" imbalance like in the previous tests? and what is the "normal" range?

4/6 Registering off the chart:
selenium/mercury - (range here) 0~2.7; (mine) 3.341 = much higher
calcium/lead - (range here) 0~900; (mine) 2629 = extremely higher
zinc/lead - (range here) 0~450; (mine) 492.3 = much higher
zinc/cadmium - (range here) 0-9000; (mine) 30,920 = WAAAY higher

RESULTS

Out-of-balance ratios
Calcium/Phosphorus (high) - indicates dominant parasympathetic nerve system causing reluctant body metabolism and decreased adrenal gland function; results in dried skin and hair, reduced sweat, declined thyroid function (laziness), weight gain in hips and feet, obesity, low temperature, and other chronic symptoms

Calcium/Magnesium (high) - indicates abnormal calcium metabolism causing calcium deposits on soft tissues or diastolic hypertension. Caused by high calcium intake, excessive vitamin D, or low magnesium intake.

Calcium/Potassium (high) - can indes impaired thyroid gland. Results in fatigue, depression, hypersensitivity to coldness, sociopathic-personality, and alopecia

Copper (Cu) - low
Either copper ingestion insufficient or interruption of absorption
Function: helps absorption/use of iron, composes hemoglobin, cross-bonds the collagen and elastin of cohesion tissue; forms skeleton and sustains cohesion tissue of the cardiac circulatory system, works to supplements enzymes with neurotransmitters (norepinephrine and dopamine), forms the immune system, participates in the coagulation and cholesterol metabolism, related to the antioxidazation process for generating energy. If low, cholesterol metabolism poor.
Copper exists most in the liver and brain, followed by the heart, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, lungs, bones and muscle. Lack of copper disturbs organ function.
Symptoms: chronic fatigue, anemia, weakness, rheumatoid arthritis, joint soreness from calcium depletion, dermatitis, osteoporosis, scorbutic symptoms, heat failure, infarction, ischemic heat disease, hypythyroidism, gout, high blood pressure, hair loss, emotional disturbances like manic disorder and insomnia.
Caused by insufficient copper, excessive zinc or manganese, chronic infection, excesive ingestion of vitamin C
Food: cockles, sesame, almonds, pine nuts, walnuts, citron, vitamins D, B1, B2, folic acid, calcium, cobalt, iron, foods with selenium

Molybdenum (Mo) - low
[Hair test shows more accurate results than blood test b/c Mo in blood very low.]
Function: Mo is a sulfite oxidase (coenzyme) crucial in the human body; involved in amino acid metabolism including sulphur-like cystine; closely related to oxidation-reduction reaction, liver and kidney function, is crucial for copper and iron metabolism; is effective for effectiveness in dental problems caused by fluorine pigmentation.
Symptoms: little is known, but increase in cavities has been reported
Foods: mung beans, millet, sweet potato, green pea, broccoli, apple, chicken liver, red crab

The outcome of this test was definitely better than the one 10 months previous! Yes! I do want to question, though, the growing appearance of arsenic which was very minimal on my two previous hair analyses. Seems odd b/c I haven't been around new buildings, new wallpaper or floorings (all sources of arsenic still in Korea - arsenic very high in the glue and bond for housing). Hmmm, odd.

Hair Analysis - 1st (2009-10-17)

In June and July I was starting to have weird problems. In August I went home and other than severe asthma, which I did not have before, I was fine. Then upon returning to Korea, I got dog sick, so sick in fact that I spent one week in and out of the hospital emergency rooms and then getting no headway whatsoever rushed to a US-based nutritional hospital for 11 days, Wildwood Lifestyle Center and Hospital. I was reacting to all kinds of foods and had whittled my food down to hardly anything (everything made me sick and then because I wasn't eating due to reactions, I was quickly getting weak). I also had horrendous insomnia, as in, maximum of 2 hours of sleep a night. Upon returning to Korea, a friend told me about a facility where I could get a hair analysis so assess my nutrient levels over the past 3 months. Blood tests weren't picking up anything but hair analyses can find things that a blood level on one day can't. So my results:





RESULTS

Out-of-balance ratios:
sodium/magnesium (Na/Mg) - if magnesium low, hypoadrenalism may occur
calcium/magnesium (Ca/Mg) - the balance is important for maintaining the bones, muscular contractions, nerve conduction, and cardiovascular system; magnesium deficiency may result in calcium deposits in bones and tissues, muscular spasms, diastolic hypertension, arteriosclerosis from fat and calcium deposits in arteries, bladder impairment (feeling of bladder fullness or urgency), constipation
calcium/phosphorus (Ca/P) - needed for maintaining skeleton and teeth
calcium/potassium (Ca/K) - generally related to hypoglycemia, chronic fatigue, hypothyroidism, hypotension, melancholia
zinc/copper (Zn/Cu) - if copper is low, increase in cholesterol and cardiovascular disease and low=density lipoprotein is increased (which results in deposits in arteries) and causes damage to immune system or increases bacterial infection

Zinc - excess
Zinc is antagonized with copper; therefore, excess zinc may occur when copper is deficient. Symptoms: fatigue, anorexia, hypotrophy, melancholia, apathy, apatheia, diarrhea, hypogeusia, hyposmia, postprandial fullness, anemia, ight blindness, delay ininjury curing, skin dryness, dermatitis, keratitis, alopecia areata, growth retardation, delay in sexual function matureness, sexual dysfunction (impotence), female infertility, diaetes, liver cirrhosis, increase in cholesterol level.

Iron - deficiency
Causes: pregnant or menstrating women, lack of iron intake, absorption disorder, parasite, malnutrition, drug, deficiency of other vitamins/minerals, hyperparathyroidism, abnormal acidity in the stomach (causing malabsorption in the intestines), antacid
Symptoms: anemia, fatigue, alopecia, fingernail weakening, irrularity, constipation, dysphagia, hypothyroidism, infection by immunodepression, concentration disorders, depressed lefel of consciousness, brain damage, damage to nervous development such as excessive behavior
Sources: dry laver, coarse tea, curry, boiled hard-necked clam, green tea, dry anchovy, brewer's yeast, dry bamboo shoot, dry salted shrimp, boiled kelp, pig liver, roasted sesame, soybean, powdered beans; herbs: peppermint, chickweed, comfrey root, licorice root, goldenseal root.
Vanadium is helpful to use iron. Collaborative vitamins: vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, C and E. Animal protein has large amounts of iron.

Manganese - deficiency
Generates energy and needed throughout the body, especially in mitochondria in cells. Is a component of enzyme which activates other enzymes, so helps with synthesis and metabolism of fatty acid, carbs and proteins. Plays an important role in fighting against free radicals and maintaining normal thyroid function.
Symptoms: fatigue, headaches, lack of endurance, weight loss, asthma, ringing in the ears, decreased hearing ability, decrease in neutral fat and lipoprotein, disturbances in posture/growth, disorders in joints and waist, delay in bone growth, tendon disorder, osteoporsis, infertility, degeneration of ovary and testicles, inborn errors of metabolism, ex. apple syrup disease and Pyenylketonuria, dermatitis, slow-growing nails and hair, hair discoloration to reddish-brown
Foods: brazil nuts, almonds, barley, rye, buckwheat, dry peas, wheat, walnuts, spinach, nuts, raisin, carrots, uncleaned rice, wheat bread, cheese, cabbage (high-protein diet can improve manganese levels)

Vanadium - deficiency
Results: limits synthesis of amino acid, protein, cholesterol and hemoglobin, hyperglycemia, respiratory infection, kidney stones, hypokalemia in blood
Symptoms: increased cholesterol level, cardiovascular and renal diseases, decrease in fertility; in actuality, little is known about deficiencies in vanadium
Excessive vanadium found in work places, ex. petroleum refining, boiler washing, metal refining, etc

Huge Vitamin A Deficiency

A few days ago I got the reading on yet another vitamin A test result. It had dropped significantly! After a lot of careful consideration on what could have dropped my vitamin A so significantly in 4 months, the only thing I could think of was because I was taking Barlean's Olive Leaf Complex every day, sometimes twice a day in smaller amounts, and occasionally three times a day. The serving size is 1 tablespoon (15ml) with 26 servings per bottle. It would take me about 1 1/2 months to go through a bottle, so really, I wasn't overdosing. But again, I do realize that all herbs, supplements, even food have side effects if taken every day for a long period of time, or if over-consuming, or if it has a tendency to interact with one's nutrition anyway. Taking something everyday does result in a build-up, whether good or bad, so getting this vitamin testing every few months and watching my vitamin A numbers is really important. I probably took this product for up to 3 months and went through 2 bottles and had just started a third.



Anyway, there are many supplements and/or drugs that interact with one's vitamins; grapefruit is one that is often listed, and it is widely considered as VERY healthy, low calorie and phenomenal as a morning food.

And then many people and health practitioners believe that popping a pill can correct the vitamin deficiency. Well, I tried vitamin A supplements for a couple months, got tested, saw a drop of .03 in my numbers. Then I read a book entitled Supplements Exposed and a comment on taking vitamin A for correcting deficiencies was that the supplement actually creates bigger deficiencies. Well, I thought I'd test that theory and took 5,000 units almost every day, as well as eating all the vitamin A rich foods on my limited list and my vitamin A went up .03 in just under 3 months. What a crock! I can't consider those supplements as helping at all, and in such high units too! So I scrapped the vitamin A supplements and thought I'd try Barlean's Olive Leaf, an oil, that taken with vitamin A rich foods would hopefully help the vitamin A in the foods be assimilated. Well, that didn't work as can be seen by my huge drop in numbers, down .10 in 4 months, creating an even bigger deficiency!

So, for the next few months before I undergo vitamin A testing again, I'll quit taking the Olive Leaf Extract, and eat high vitamin A foods. The problem with that is many of the high vitamin A foods are on the can't-eat-because-I-have-candida list. Here's one of the high vitamin A lists (the ones in bold are the ones that I may enjoy without candida repercussions):

FRUITS (most fruits have vitamin A, but the following have a significant amount): cantaloupe, grapefruit, guava, mango, papaya, passion fruit, tomato (occasionally and in small amounts), watermelon

VEGETABLES: amaranth leaves (where can I get it?), bok choy, broccoli, brussel sprouts, butternut squash, carrots, chinese broccoli (where can I get it?), chinese cabbage, kale, leeks, peas, pumpkin, rapini (where can I get it?), spinach, squash (winter, summer), sweet potato, swiss chard

NUTS/GRAINS: chestnuts (occasionally b/c they're so nutritious but they are rather starchy too), pecans, pistachios

MEAT/DAIRY PROTEIN (which I don't touch for many health reasons!): cheddar cheese, cream cheese, cow's milk, whipping cream, eggs (I do eat eat eggs sometimes - shame on me), tuna, goat milk, goat cheese, sour cream

LEGUMES (most legumes do not contain a significant amount of vitamin A)

However, there are two foods rich in vitamin A that aren't typically on food charts, and thank goodness I've stumbled across them .... at least I think "thank goodness" right now. The foods are spirulina and chia seeds.

Chia Seeds and Spirulina

To be on the safe side, I looked up the side effects of chia seeds. The only one that could affect me is "high triglycerides: Blood contains several types of fat, including cholesterol and triglycerides. Triglyceride levels are too high in some people. Eating some types of chia can make them even higher." Well, my triglycerides are so low as to be almost abnormal. 40~whatever is considered normal, and I've had the range in the paste 8 years of being from 36~56. [A couple years ago I bumped into some comments on having triglycerides that were too low, and the consequence could be Grave's disease/hyperthyroidism. Well, hello! That's exactly what happened to me about 6 years ago. I couldn't really understand why Grave's disease was considered a nutritional disease ... until I read that statement. People want low triglycerides, and even though mine were abnormally low, I was told by a couple docs that my triglycerides were amazingly wonderful! Hmmmm.]

Another side effect is the vitamin B17 overload, that is, a phytonutrient overload. Also, chia seeds have caused gastrointestinal problems in some. What I am finding in research zones is that because chia seeds are still relatively untested, it is best to take them a maximum of 3 months and then give them a break. Will do ... that'll give me enough time to see if they work in getting my vitamin A up. BTW, even though sites say that chia seeds have a significant source of vitamin A, vitamin Bs and magnesium, I can't corner any numbers for any of them. Sigh.

For Spirulina, I can find numbers! On the label of my PureHawaiian Spirulina Pacifica the vitamin A (as beta carotene) is 11,250 IU or 230% of the daily value by taking 1 teaspoon (3g). That's some loaded vitamin A! No wonder flamingos turn pink when they eat shrimp that have lived off blue-green algae rich in carotenoids, the beta carotene type! Maybe I'll turn pink like a flamingo if I consume this product. Anyway, the side effects (since I better know based on my history) is given on one particular site:

"A 2006 study of mice shows that intake of spirulina can decrease bone mineral density under estrogen-deficient conditions..."

"When starting with spirulina supplementation you might experience what is perceived as spirulina side effects due to natural processes spirulina may trigger, like detoxification of the body or the enzymatic and probiotic effects on the digestive system. Results can be experienced as passing “side effects”. These so called spirulina "side effects" are a healthy sign that spirulina is doing your organism good. However, if you are an insulin dependent diabetic or type 2 diabetic you should consider consulting your physician before taking spirulina. The same goes for anyone who might be predisposed to gout (also known as podagra or uric acid arthropathy). High-quality spirulina is considered relatively safe and even recommended during pregnancy. Although animal studies are promising, no human research has looked into possible side effects during pregnancy, consulting your physician is always advisable."

"Avoid side effects from spirulina: Look for well established and trusted brands that provide you with relevant information about production, quality and safety to avoid spirulina side effects. Keep in mind that you might experience some passing “side effects” from spirulina as it takes effect on your organism. A healthy detoxification process could be perceived as a “side effect”, but usually passes within two weeks."

One side effect could be gas, which I had a little when I first started taking it. My mom took spirulina 3 times I think and each time she asked if it made me burp too. It didn't. She hasn't taken it since to my knowledge but it seems that minor side effects are possible.

Bone Pain and Rib #10

By the end of 2009 I had seen a series of chiropractors for intense rib and thoraccic pain. In December these doctors had started commenting on my odd rib movement, because more and more ribs were moving. So in February 2010 when I was forced to wear a rib belt (and then later, two belts) to prevent rib movement of right rib #10, I went back to the hospital (I had boycotted going since finding out about the steroid) for x-rays of the lower cartilage that I said was breaking. [In fact, tearing. Bones break and cartilage tear, and rib #10 was in fact moving a lot and as a result causing myofascial pain in the right lingual area, the pain of which I was still attributing to the steriod and subsequent inflamed lymph nodes of months before.] Of course cartilage hardly shows up on x-ray so of course nothing to make a diagnosis on could be seen - waste of time, waste of money, what were the doctors thinking? I demanded a CT scan of the rib cage, and then had to go in again for re-taking it (and get loads of extra radiation) because the technicians didn't scan the lower cartilage area, the affected area - what were the technicians thinking? The technical report of the scan was "tortuous change to rib #10" but not one of several bone specialists I then went to acknowledged that this was a problem! WHAT WERE THE DOCTORS DOING? NOTHING!

This is my March 12, 2010 copy of my chest CT. By the time I had this CT scan, my rib cartilage was hurting badly in a number of areas. The areas I had complained about for the longest was right rib #4 where it meets the sternum but by this time my chiropracter acknowledged that three of the right ribs and two of the left off the sternum were slightly dislocated (soon afterwards, another left rib off the sternum also slightly popped up). Also, rib cartilage felt crunchy under the right breast so much that I stopped twisting in any way, and when the right rib #10 got so bad that I had to even stop wearing the two rib belts (damn, it was bad) I didn't dare move even a millimeter to the left or the right. Rib pain was on the left too, but that pain was manageable. Because the body has more lymph fluid than blood and both fluids need to be circulated so a person can recover more easily, I did make myself walk outside in the cold every day that I had energy. Exercise is important and walking without swinging the arms in the cold, cold weather seemed to ease some of the pain. [In hindsight, I realize this was what was boosting my vitamin D. Getting the regular doses on my face for 2 or so hours a day is probably what slowly eased the pain and was probably the best thing I could do for myself.]

I've finally decided to go ahead and post my personal information. Maybe someone, a medical student perhaps, will benefit from this. Anyway, note the pieces of something that very much look like cartilage fragments falling under the right rib cage. That was where I hurt, hurt, hurt, and when the doctor (the one who prescribed Xanax for me and told me to see a psychiatrist) didn't address this and it's in the area of my complaint, I asked him what that was. He said, "Artifacts." I asked, "Artifacts from what?" He looked at me like I was stupid and never said anything. He did read the analyst's comment to the CT scan, "Tortuous change to rib #10." That was all. Neither he nor any subsequent doctor ever addressed this as a problem!



I was starting to get more and more aggressive about finding my problem, so early in March 2010 I had already gone to a private clinic and had ordered a hair analysis, a complete nutritional analysis as well as blood work on 6 vitamins: B1, B6, B12, A, D, and E. [This was the first step in me becoming my own doctor.]