… since we started working together a few months ago.
Listen to my client, R.J., tell you in his own words the transformation he has experienced from going through my Inflammation Investigator program.
Interested in learning more and seeing if this program could be the right fit for you to reclaim your health? Book a risk-free complementary naturopathic health assessment with me at the link at the bottom of this page to find out!
A new study suggests daily prune consumption may reduce osteoporosis risk after menopause due to the phenomenal mineral content in prunes.
An estimated 13.6 million people in the U.S. over the age of 50 will develop osteoporosis—a loss of bone strength caused by reduced mineral density of the bones—by the year 2030. Osteoporosis increases the risk of fracture, especially in older adults. People who experience menopause have lower levels of estrogen, which trigger an increase in inflammation in the body, which can also contribute to bone loss.
“Our findings suggest that consumption of six to 12 prunes per day may reduce pro-inflammatory mediators that may contribute to bone loss in postmenopausal women. Thus, prunes might be a promising nutritional intervention to prevent the rise in inflammatory mediators often observed as part of the aging process,” said Janhavi Damani, MS, first author of the study.
Minerals provide the foundation of life for humans, and many Americans are woefully deficient due to eating the Standard American Diet of fast food or faux food. Without proper levels of minerals in our bodies, we risk all kinds of maladies from anemia (low iron) to bone loss (low calcium, magnesium, phosphorus) to muscle cramping (low magnesium, potassium) and more.
We need the right mineral content in our interstitial fluids to facilitate the transmission of synapses between nerves and keep our body’s electrical system in good order. This is especially important for those of us with nervous system conditions like multiple sclerosis.
This is the that I recommend to my clients because, as an ionic preparation, it is very bio-available. Additionally, it is free from fillers or other additives that could trigger inflammation.
“Studies indicate that MS rates are elevated in populations where a lot of cow’s milk is consumed,” notes professor of neuroanatomy and renowned expert on multiple sclerosis Stefanie Kürten from the Institute of Anatomy at University Hospital Bonn. And now her research has proven that the proteins in milk can trigger autoimmune responses in those with multiple sclerosis.
While anecdotal evidence has long suggested that many MS patients don’t well after drinking milk or eating dairy products, Professor Kürten’s research team found electron microscopy evidence of damage to the insulating layer around the nerve fibers, the myelin, in mice exposed to milk proteins.
This correlates with my own clinical experience designing anti-inflammatory dietary therapies for people with MS or other autoimmune conditions.
Not to mention my personal experience with losing tolerance to dairy products in my early 20s. I remember going out for brunch with a date and enjoying a creamy pumpkin soup, only to be completely incapacitated to the point where I had to ask him to drive me home in my own car while I lay moaning in pain on the back seat. What a nightmare!
Have you ever had an experience like that after consuming something containing cow’s milk? Please share in the comments below!
Curious as to what else might be triggering your inflammatory symptoms? Book a complimentary naturopathic health assessment with me to talk about how advanced food sensitivity testing and customized dietary therapy could help you reclaim your health and look forward to a brighter future.
I’m always surprised at how many adults admit to drinking mainstream sodas on a regular basis, both diet and otherwise. At my talk about hidden inflammation last week, I mentioned the potential inflammatory role that artificial sweeteners like Aspartame, saccarine, and high fructose corn syrup may play in sparking the inflammatory response in sensitive people, and the benefits of avoiding them all together. The majority of the audience (mostly middle-aged women) confessed that this was new information for them!
A new study out of Germany examined the link between sugary drink intake and the inflammation associated with multiple sclerosis and found “In an analysis of 135 people with MS, those ranked in the highest quartile for sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake had five-fold higher odds for severe disability versus mild-to-moderate disability.”
“The authors found that the highest consumption group consumed around 290 calories per day of soda or other sugar-sweetened beverages, which is the equivalent of about two cans of non-diet soda.”
The first thing I wanted to know was if the soft drinks in Germany were formulated with high fructose corn syrup like they are here in the US. In yet another sad example of how big companies formulate unhealthier and artificially sweeter products for the US market than the European market, it appears at least Coca Cola uses sugar (most likely from sugar beets) in European Cokes.
Of course, they still add food dye and preservatives like phosphoric acid to European Cokes, just like they do in America, and the study did not take these artificial ingredients into account as potentially influencing factors, which I believe they are, and more so than the sugar itself.
Regardless, if you are looking to avoid and reduce inflammation in your body, whether you have MS, another autoimmune disorder, or are just dealing with rampant inflammation, the results of this study should influence you to cut out all mainstream soda, both diet and regular versions.
If you like carbonated drinks, the safest bets are to stick with bubbly spring waters or make your own with a Soda Stream and mix it with pure and natural substances like coconut water or organic fruit juice.
It has become common knowledge within the Multiple Sclerosis community that MS has been associated with vitamin D deficiency. Supplementation with vitamin D3 is frequently recommended across the board for all MS sufferers, and the recommended levels of supplementation are moving from 2,000 IU daily up to 5,000 IU daily and even more.
A small study published in the Iranian Journal of Neurology watched 15 pregnant women with MS who were given high doses of vitamin D3 and saw a decrease in MS symptoms in the postpartum stage. Typically the rate of relapse is significantly higher during the months following delivery of a baby, so this information could be helpful for new moms hoping to avoid a relapse after giving birth.
I usually prefer to run a micronutrient analysis before advising on supplements in order to see what is truly needed, but there has been a lot of research on the role that vitamin D plays in MS and other autoimmune disorders and there don’t seem to be dangerous side effects from supplementing with high doses.
It’s always good to address digestion when taking supplements as a dysfunctional digestive process may be the cause of nutrient deficiency to begin with. Please don’t hesitate to send me an email if you’re interested in a free initial phone consultation about addressing gut function or nutritional deficiencies.
