DETOXIFICATION AND CHELATION THERAPY

I recently completed the Chelation Certification Training workshop at the ACAM (American College for Advancements in Medicine) convention in Las Vegas. I was introduced there to many new and some not so new protocols for treating certain stubborn chronic diseases. It is still shocking to me how profoundly our health is affected by toxins in our environment and in our food.

Since humans reside at the top of the food chain, every ingested toxin ends up in our bodies. Physiologically, we are just not designed to handle and detoxify so many poisons. As I’ve discussed in previous posts, we are genetically derived from Paleolithic times. Our genetics may not changed, but our environment is dramatically different. It’s easy to understand then why we can become overwhelmed with toxic substances that didn’t exist as we were genetically evolving.

Eventually, when the accumulation reaches critical levels, normal cellular function begins to fail and we start experiencing signs and symptoms. The most toxic class of substances we deal with on a daily basis are called heavy metals. These toxins are quite widespread in today’s food chain and mostly result from industrialized pollution in the atmosphere that falls as rain into the oceans. As a result, sea life becomes contaminated. We ingest these heavy metal toxins in seafood, and it concentrates in our tissues. Since our bodies were never designed to remove heavy metals, they slowly accumulate in our cells.

Eventually, diseases can result from inflammation caused by metal toxicity. Examples are chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, sleep disturbances, autoimmune diseases, disorders with sugar and cholesterol metabolism, and calcium build-up in the arteries. This last effect can cause arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Other problems include osteoporosis, chronic headaches, an inability to lose weight, low libido, depression, anxiety and more.

Another prominent source of heavy metal toxicity is dental amalgams and implants. Heavy metal toxicity causes inflammation in the body. We’ve discussed before how inflammation is at the foundation of virtually every disease. In addition, other dental problems can lead to systemic inflammation such as root canals and gum disease. Having more than one type of metal in one’s mouth can create a “battery like” effect. The Dental profession is slowly coming around to recognize that maybe it wasn’t such a good idea after all to use these materials. In the past, dentists have cited lack of defining research to support such claims. Yet, many people report feeling dramatically better once they have their mercury fillings removed and are detoxed. If Dental professionals admitted that these substances were toxic, it might lead to mountains of litigation.

So, it is always a good idea to be checked for heavy metal levels. We are all exposed at different rates and detoxify differently. Our detoxification capacity is genetically determined. As a result, some of us have no problems while others can be incapacitated due to the inability of the body to excrete these toxins. Regular quarterly or biannual detoxifications are a good way to ensure the elimination of toxic metals. Detoxification can be accomplished many ways from nutritional supplements to weekly intravenous chelation, depending on the toxic load and medical condition. We will talk more about detoxification programs in future posts.

Disclaimer: This message is not meant nor intended to diagnose, treat, or otherwise mitigate any health related condition.

FDA Compliance: The nutritional information included in this e-mail and our website or any of our documents regarding our products has not been reviewed by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration or any other regulatory body, including state departments of health.

While to the best of our knowledge we believe the information is accurate and it is intended to be helpful, no warranty is expressed or implied as to the results obtained from the use of the formulations suggested herein, nor any health risks that may arise from using these products. Our products are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent any disease.

VITAMIN D3: THE NATURAL FLU BUSTER

Nature’s design of the human body is no more evident than in the function of Vitamin D. Classically considered a vitamin, it also functions much like a hormone. While chemically similar to a hormone in structure, Vitamin D is not excreted from a gland into the blood. Instead, it is miraculously synthesized in the skin from exposure to the sun. What a beautifully designed system!

Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Soram Khalsa on my Blog Talk radio show (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/search/dr.-howard-liebowitz/). Dr. Khalsa is a wonderful, Integrative Physician who recently published a book on Vitamin D called “The Vitamin D Revolution.” His book offers an eloquent and concise overview of the many benefits of Vitamin D as essential to an optimal health program. I wanted to summarize some of the many health benefits of Vitamin D in this post.

Vitamin D serves a variety of functions in the body. A deficiency can be associated with numerous ailments. Though rarely encountered today, the best known is rickets, a metabolic bone disease. Less well-known problems caused by Vitamin D deficiency include increased risk of heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, osteopenia, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune disease, flu, and depression.

Vitamin D deficiency is more common in higher latitudes especially during winter when there is less sunlight. Curiously, these sun-deprived regions also have statistically higher rates of depression, alcoholism, and even diabetes. In addition, we now have also incurred a greater rate of vitamin D deficiency disorders because of our increasing concern about sun damage skin problems such as skin cancer and aging.

The intense concern that our skin needs protection from the perceived harmful rays of the sun is responsible for contributing to many degenerative health conditions. While this approach to “skin care” serves to diminish the risk of some dermatological problems, it can create a new host of other illnesses—all related to Vitamin D deficiency. Another problem results from our industrialized society that requires us to work more indoors. This leads to people getting less sun exposure even in the lower latitudes.

Vitamin D deficiency is so common that I routinely screen all of my patients for Vitamin D levels and rarely find anyone to be in the optimum range. Studies done on children in Finland, for instance, have found 400 times higher incidences of diabetes than children in Venezuela. In one study, when Finnish children were administered 2000 IU per day of Vitamin D3, they demonstrated an eighty-percent reduction in the onset of juvenile diabetes. When pregnant women have their vitamin D levels restored to optimal levels, the incidence of juvenile diabetes was reduced 50% in their offspring.

As discussed, Vitamin D deficiency is more prevalent in winter months due to less sun exposure. This correlates exactly with the time that flu epidemics break out. Evidence supports the position that normalizing Vitamin D levels in winter will significantly reduce the incidence and number of flu cases. Vitamin D deficiency in winter is also correlated with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a type of depression.

Adequate Vitamin D is essential for preventing osteoporosis and osteopenia, which are rampant today in Westernized cultures especially after menopause. Women can significantly reduce this problem and their risk of fractures by maintaining adequate Vitamin D levels along with calcium, magnesium, strontium, and Hormone Replacement therapy. Ideal levels are between 50-100 ng/ml. This level can be maintained by simply taking a supplement of Vitamin D3 of usually 2000-5000 IU/day. Alternatively, just twenty-to-thirty minutes per day of sun exposure 
(without sun block) can accomplish the same optimal levels. However, fair skinned persons may require less than dark pigmented people, and people living closer to the equator need less exposure as well.

Vitamin D toxicity is rare due to its wide therapeutic range. Optimal dosing and monitoring is necessary by a physician who understands the importance of this essential nutrient. Further details about the wonders of Vitamin D can be obtained by reading Dr. Khalsa’s informative book.

In summary, Vitamin D is an essential and inexpensive over-the-counter, simple nutrient for preventing many serious and common ailments. Similar benefits can be achieved by regular sun exposure of well-moisturized skin and not using sunscreen.


Disclaimer: This message is not meant nor intended to diagnose, treat, or otherwise mitigate any health related condition.
 
FDA Compliance: The nutritional information included in this e-mail and our website or any of our documents regarding our products has not been reviewed by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration or any other regulatory body, including state departments of health.
 
While to the best of our knowledge we believe the information is accurate and it is intended to be helpful, no warranty is expressed or implied as to the results obtained from the use of the formulations suggested herein, nor any health risks that may arise from using these products.  Our products are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent any disease.