Our desire is to always stay abreast of the new advancements made in our field to aid you our client’s to achieve “Better Health.” We continue to add the many things we learn through others and our own research to our testing methods. We wish to thank you for sharing with others the success you are having with your programs. It is very gratifying to see so many adhering to their personalized programs to make advancement with their health. Remember to keep up your health routine through the summer months to maintain a healthy immune system. We always appreciate hearing from you with questions, concerns, or even recipes you wish to share in our newsletter. Until next time…. Sincerely yours, Susan McCamish, C.T.N.

Sincerely yours,

If you suffer from this chronic achy muscular pain then you know the frustration finding a solution can bring. Since there is no pathology designated to this chronic condition similar to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, it is difficult to get a firm diagnosis. However, as Dr. Charles Lapp nationally recognized medical consultant related to the editor of Pro Health that there are subtle differences between CFS and fibromyalgia. He explains “that CFS is most likely triggered by an infectious illness or flu-like issues, whereas a number of fibromyalgia cases are triggered by minor injury or trauma.” Dr. Kent Holtorf also shared with Pro Health’s editor that in his practice at the Hormone and Longevity Center in Torrance, CA eighty percent of his practice is comprised of patients complaining of fatigue, with CFS and fibromyalgia the largest area of his practice. It is his belief that eighty percent of these sufferers became infected with a virus such as Epstein Barr Virus, Cytomegalovirus or HHV6! “Many people with these syndromes can pinpoint the onset of the disease's) to a viral infection that never got better.” He feels that stress seems to be a contributing factor, as well. David Moskowitz, M.D. a Harvard educated medical researcher in his interview with Pro Health related that he is investigating the possibility that CFS and fibromyalgia are autoimmune diseases. While the cause and pathology are not an exact science at this point the fact remains that people suffer daily from these very real ailments. If you are one of the sufferers of this debilitating condition, what can be done to alleviate the pain and discomfort associated with this challenge? Can fibromyalgia be managed or is it possible to eradicate it?

It is estimated that 5 to 6 million people suffer from fibromyalgia in the United States alone. This number may even be higher due to misdiagnosis. It is then worthy of our consideration to identify the symptoms with a view to finding sound nutrition to alleviate the discomfort caused by this rheumatic disorder. While fibromyalgia commonly affects the neck, the lower back, the shoulders, the back of the head, the upper chest, and the thighs other areas may also be involved. Fibromyalgia typically involves 18 different points that are tender to the touch. This helps one to be able to differentiate this abnormality from CFS, chemical sensitivities (which can also cause seeming MS symptoms), rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic myofascial pain which is a shortened muscle fiber syndrome. These distinctive 18 spots are usually located in the muscles of the neck and upper back, muscles connected to the base of the skull, the middle of the knee joint, the side of the elbow, the upper and outer muscles of the buttocks, and the upper part of the thigh bone. Of course, this is unique to each individual as they may experience these and others areas of muscles pain. Individuals describe the pain as burning, throbbing, shooting or stabbing in nature. Various other symptoms and disorders associated with fibromyalgia include depression, chemical or food allergies, fatigue, PMS, headaches, jaw pain, sensitivity to bright light or loud noises, anxiety, palpitations, memory impairment, irritable bowel and/or bladder, skin sensitivities, immunological abnormalities, dizziness and hindered coordination. Simple tasks such as lifting items or climbing the stairs can be a real chore not to mention very uncomfortable. Some with fibromyalgia may experience sleep disorders such as alpha-EEG anomaly, sleep apnea, RLS (restless leg syndrome and sleep myoclonus (a sudden rapid contraction of a muscle or group of muscles during sleep or as one is falling asleep). While a person may have several of these symptoms at one time it is not just assumed that fibromyalgia is the root cause. FMS (fibromyalgia) can be cyclical in nature. It may worsen at the onset of stress and disappear or lessen significantly for no particular reason.

I have found it interesting that when you work with some of the issues mentioned above as symptoms associated with this condition, FMS symptoms decline and /or disappear. I feel strongly that muscle pain associated with any of the other things listed indicates that more is going on in the body. In my opinion it is imperative to deal with some of the underlying issues such as food allergies and chemical sensitivities not to mention the intestinal integrity before dealing with or covering up pain via pain medication. Band aids only cover up and never get to the route cause. That, however, is a personal choice and must be respected. Why not exhaust all other avenues first peeling back some of the other issues to see if you are in fact coping with FMS. Research and experience in working with clients indicate that malabsorption problems are always associated with FMS. Some have found that when these issues are dealt with the pain disappears. It is necessary to first clean up the colon coupled with cleaning up the diet to allow for greater nutrient absorption. Candida infections, viral and bacterial infections are common in people with FMS and CFS. These issues require proactive changes to be made in one’s diet and lifestyle. All these issues must be dealt with as part of the equation in order to have the proper intestinal absorption; without that one cannot achieve good health. While I do not recommend a protocol for an individual without saliva testing, please note some of the following as helpful nutrients to aid these issues and why they may be recommended.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Take 800 milligrams of the supplement S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) daily for at least six weeks to control symptoms. Five clinical studies show that SAMe relieves depression, fatigue, morning stiffness, muscular weakness, and pain in fibromyalgia.

Magnesium supplements stimulate serotonin production and provide muscle cells with necessary energy, which helps to avoid a muscle burn. The best forms of magnesium for fibromyalgia are those bound to aspartate, citrate, fumarate, malate, or succinate, chemicals involved in the energy cycle of muscle cells. Take 200 to 250 milligrams three times daily.

Include pomegranates and pomegranate juice in your diet. They have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Drink plenty of liquids to help flush out toxins. The best choices are steam-distilled water and herbal teas. Fresh vegetable juices supply necessary vitamins and minerals.

Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and sugar. These products increase the body’s production of lactic acid.

Even if it seems impossible, exercise daily. Pick exercises that do not use the most painful muscles. Increase your workout time from two to three minutes a day up to twenty or thirty minutes. While there may be some cardiovascular benefits to light exercise, the primary benefit is its effects on hormones and sleep.

Be sure to get a thyroid function blood test. Hypothyroidism, or low thyroid activity, can cause symptoms that are very similar to those of fibromyalgia.

BENEFICIAL HERBS

(Test to be sure for individual use.)

HERB FORM / DOSAGE COMMENTS

Boswellia Take as directed on the label. Good for morning stiffness and joint pain.

Cat’s Claw (do not use if you have to take insulin for diabetes, or are pregnant or nursing) Capsules. Take up to 3,000 mg daily. Numerous anecdotal reports of improvement in symptoms after approx. 3 months of use.

Kava (increases the effects of alcohol, sedatives, and tranquilizers. Do not use if pregnant or nursing.)

Kavapyrone tablets Take 60-120 mg daily. Herbs induce sleep. May be combined with passionflower or valerian.

St. John’s Wort (not to be combined with drug therapy) Hypericin capsules.Take at least 900 mg daily for 2-3 months. Raises serotonin levels; restores sleep and eases pain.

Willow Bark Salicin tablets Take as directed on the label. Aspirinlike pain relief without risk of bleeding or stomach upset.

(Various amino acids have proven to be effective such as Glutathione to boost energy levels. Best taken in amino acid compounds. B-vitamins are a must for nerve support, muscle, and brain function. Please call for a more comprehensive supplement list.)

If you or someone you know suffers from this debilitating disorder there is hope. While the jury is yet out on the cause and the ultimate solution to these disorders, many have found that upon discovering their own unique nutritional deficiencies these symptoms in many cases have improved if not disappeared altogether. I personally have seen that happen in many cases. I find the best protocol to be sound diet, eliminating all chemical and man-made substances including genetically altered foods, white flour and sugar, and in most cases wheat products and other food allergens. Eliminating these items coupled with lifestyle changes including moderate exercise (which as science indicates releases endorphins that aids sleep) is most beneficial. Positive change promotes good health. A diagnosis is just the beginning of your journey to find your solution. It is not a life sentence. Nutritional imbalances are the common thread to so many diseases and syndromes. Be proactive when it comes to your health. Why not look into this avenue of discovery to find what you may be missing!

Sources: ProHealth’s www.immunesupport.com, Prescription for Herbal Healing by Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C.

A little fat -- up to two tablespoons a day -- is essential to wellness. “Fats and oils can be among the healthiest substances in your diet,” says nutritionist Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, “but only if they’re organic.” Increasingly, a number of researchers are realizing that pesticides are stored in fatty tissue rather than eliminated from the body, and the higher up the food chain you go, the greater the residual pesticide level.

Oils in conventionally grown seeds and nuts can also be “a storehouse of fattening pesticides-we’re not the only life forms.

To store toxins in fat, so look for the organic label,” advises Dr. Gittleman. Like other nationally certified foods, organic oils are produced without toxic and persistent pesticides, making them clearly preferable to pesticide-laden fats.

Not only are the soils on organic farms less likely to contain undesirable toxins, but organic certification also tracks the entire process from seed through distillation and manufacture.“Organic oil producers are able to trace the seed growing from its beginning, ”says Barlean’ s marketing director. That’s one reason why “organic standards guarantee quality.”

“Organic oils are also guaranteed to be produced from seed that has not been genetically engineered,” adds Spectrum’s Markham. “Corn, soy, and canola are the three most commonly genetically engineered crops for cooking oils. Unless you are buying organic oils, which are prohibited from using genetically engineered seed, you cannot be assured that your oil will be GE-free.” For example, organic soybeans can be expeller pressed and refined to produce a versatile oil for baking and cooking. But three-quarters of conventional soybeans in the United States are genetically engineered, and current food regulations do not require GE labeling.

“Seeds (used by organic oil manufacturers) do not contain any solvents,” says Barlean’s Koch. “Organic oils are expeller or cold pressed-never extracted with chemical solvents-and are minimally processed with no added preservatives,” explains Markham. “These oils are never hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated, a process that creates trans (manufactured) fats,” which have been found detrimental to health. In 2006 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration mandated that food manufacturers list the amount of these hazardous fats on their labels.

Look for a variety of organic oils-from flaxseed to olive, walnut, and other healthy oils.

Adapted from tasteforlife magazine (November 2007 issue)

One of the newest, most pervasive stressors is now Electro Pollution. Medical researchers estimate that 90% of all illness and disease is stress-related.
Source: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

What are you really drinking? What is more universal than water? It’s our most essential commodity, necessary for agriculture, industry, sanitation, and life itself. We need water every day. But is our water safe?

What’s on Tap?
Many health-conscious people have concerns about tap water. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which maintains National Primary Drinking Water Standards, claims that more than 90 percent of America’s tap water is safe to drink. But critics warn that EPA checks for only 80 toxins, leaving many industrial and agricultural pollutants untested and unregulated. Between 1998 and 2003, 141 unregulated contaminants were detected in public water supplies. Government and industry toxicity reports linked 52 of these to cancer, 41 to reproductive toxicity, 36 to developmental toxicity, and 16 to immune system damage. In agricultural areas, most stream samples and half of well samples contain two or more pesticides. Newly discovered contaminants in the nation’s waterways include traces of chemicals used in beauty aids, cleaning products, foods, and medications. This means tap water may contain antidepressants, antibiotics, caffeine, contraceptives, dry-cleaning fluids, industrial solvents, painkillers, insect repellents, nicotine, and perfumes. Add chlorine and fluoride, which are routinely used to treat drinking water but which many experts link to health problems, and it’s no wonder that bottled water, water filters, and other water treatments have become popular.

Concerns over Additives
Chlorine has long been used to disinfect swimming pools and municipal water supplies. The chlorine industry has been the largest consumer of mercury in this country. Another problem with chlorinated drinking water occurs when elemental chlorine spontaneously reacts with other contaminants found in water. Some experts warn pregnant women to shower before and after swimming in a chlorinated pool to prevent possible risk of spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, and birth defects.

What about drinking chlorinated water?
Byproducts of chlorination have been associated with increased cancer risk, and some research has linked the consumption of chlorinated tap water with increased rates of bladder and rectal cancers. “Giving people cancer in order to ensure them a water supply safe from disease-causing microbes is not necessary,” says environmental biologist Sandra Steingraber, PhD. “Part of the solution lies in making wider use of alternative disinfection strategies,” which include granular activated charcoal that binds with contaminants and removes them or ozonation, a process that bubbles ozone gas through raw water to kill microorganisms.

Fluoride is commonly added to drinking water in the United States, but most countries in Western Europe have rejected water fluoridation-and so have many more than 70 American communities. Now the American Dental Association is warning parents not to use fluoridated water in the preparation of infant formula. In addition to discoloring teeth (a common problem called enamel fluorosis), fluoridated water has been linked to hip and bone fractions, osteoporosis, arthritis, and bone cancer.

Some Alternatives
Since most tap water smells and tastes like chlorine, most consumers prefer bottled water for its taste, purity, and convenience. To find water from artesian wells and other pure sources, look for bottled water that states its origin on the label. Bottled water does not contain added fluoride unless it’s labeled “fluoridated,” “with added fluoride,” or “fluoride added.”

Conservationists point out that, while some bottled water contains tap water, it can be 10,000 times more expensive, costing even more than gasoline. In a 2006 report, the Earth Policy Institute warned that the public’s thirst for bottled water is producing mountains of plastic bottles requiring disposal that consumes large amounts of energy-even in areas with excellent tap water. Better mineral waters will list their mineral content. For those who prefer to avoid plastic, several brands of still and carbonated waters are available in glass bottles.

Don’t overlook another option: Improve tap water for drinking, cooking, and bathing. A simple pitcher filter can handle small amounts of water, while a whole-house filter improves every drop that comes through the pipes. Faucet-mounted filters are popular in kitchens, while under-sink filters are larger, last longer, and use a dedicated faucet or tap for convenience.

Ten minutes in the shower inhaling chlorinated water is equal to drinking a half-gallon of tap water, so also consider shower filters. Then replace them at regular intervals depending on their size, capacity, and usage. The most popular filters for home use are activated charcoal filters, which remove chlorine, mercury, PCBs, volatile organic compounds, and some insecticides. Carbon block filters and ceramic post filters also prevent contamination by parasites like cryptosporidium and giardia. Reverse osmosis removes a wide variety of contaminants from water. But this type of filtration is not recommended for removing hydrogen sulfide, bacteria, petroleum, or other materials that form slime or for treating well water after chlorination. To learn more, see box below.

Source: “Taste for Life” magazine, April 2007
Reprint By: CJ Puotinen

Modified from:
Staying Healthy with Nutrition: "Water systems Analysis: What Works?"