Creating A Nutritional First Aid Kit - Part 1

When it comes to nutritional supplementation, most people think of prevention or long term use to provide relief for the symptoms that they are experiencing – this is not the only application of nutrition!  In my practice, I often have parents and patients ask what they can do in “emergency situations” while still following a holistic approach to the problem.  Since “emergency situations” vary greatly from case to case, the following information should not be used to treat any specific condition, and you should always consult a licensed medical provider when a critical situation arises. 

In my home, my wife and I use the information that will be found in this newsletter, and we have a “medicine cabinet” which we use as our “Nutritional First Aid Kit.”  We have used the following recommendations with our children, on our patients, and in our lives.  My sincere hope is that you will be able to use nutrition to change the life of those you love as we have been able to do in our own families.

Our Nutritional First Aid Kit contains the following items: Calcium Lactate, Sesame Seed Oil, Antronex, Chlorophyll Complex, Congaplex, Thymex, Cataplex AC, Min-Tran, and Intestinal Cleanse #3.  The newsletters of the next few months will focus on the benefit of using concentrated whole food nutrition for specific “emergency situations.” 

Fevers and Children and Adults: 

As a parent, a sick child with an elevated temperature can be heart wrenching.  Whether the child is a few hours old to their teenage years, we do not want them to suffer.  When a fever is present, we have multiple questions and options to think about.  Do we really want to stop the natural reaction of the fever? How high is too high for a fever?  What do we do?  Children’s strength Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen both act as pain relievers and fever reducers but can be lethal in the wrong dose (Click here for dosing.) and have recently had various large spectrum recalls of certain products.  Avoid Aspirin with children. 

In my opinion, fevers are a good thing and should not be prevented in most cases.  A fever is the body’s natural response and happens for a reason.  When the body’s temperature increases, it allows the immune system to more efficiently neutralize the immune burden.  Calcium supplementation with a feverous child often produces amazing results.  Teething children, fevers that won’t break, and the restlessness associated with fever usually respond well.  After experimenting with numerous types of calcium supplements, I strongly encourage my patients to AVOID Calcium Carbonate, and use CALCIUM LACTATE with childhood fevers.

With children (and adults) that do not respond to CALCIUM LACTATE, my Nutritional First Aid Kit contains SESAME SEED OIL from Standard Process.  Sesame seed oil contains torulitine which is used to strengthen the blood.  When a fever lingers after supplementing with Calcium Lactate, adding Sesame Seed Oil often creates an optimal environment within the blood for the body's natural immune system to take care of the problem, leading to a non-toxic solution to control the increased temperature.

When you or your child have a fever, contact your natural health care provider to see if your personal Nutritional First Aid Kit is a good alternative.

Happy Mother's Day (Click to enlarge)

Essential Amino Acids, Fatty Acids, and Carbohydrates

When it comes to biology, the word “essential” means that the substance must come from diet and cannot be made from  within the organism.  In humans, we must eat certain things in order to remain healthy.

The book Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, explains that the currently established human essential nutrients are water, energy (calories), amino acids (histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine), essential fatty acids (linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids), vitamins, minerals, trace minerals, electrolytes, and ultratrace minerals.

Note the absence of specific carbohydrates from this list.

Throughout medical history, specific diseases and conditions have been attributed to deficiencies of the aforementioned nutrients.  For example, certain vitamin deficiencies include scurvy, beriberi, and rickets.  Protein (amino acid) deficiencies include marasmus and kwashiorkor.

Today, it is rare to see an official diagnosis of a nutritional  deficiency, yet from a functional standpoint many of us are starving!

Americans today are over fed and undernourished.  This comes from a diet high in carbohydrates, artificial sugars, and preservatives.

Many of our health complaints will greatly improve as our carbohydrate intake is reduced.  Reducing     carbohydrates does not mean we will be deficient in energy or nutrition because fruits and vegetables have naturally occurring carbohydrates in them.  Our bodies also create carbohydrates from fats and proteins when specific sugars are needed.

Looking to improve your health and wellness?  Want to shed a few extra pounds? Lower your cholesterol or blood pressure?  Diet modification is a great first step. 

I challenge you to greatly reduce or eliminate the large sources of carbohydrates in your diet this month and see what changes happen to you.  The main sources of carbohydrates come in the form of grains (breads, pastas, beer, pastries, cakes), potatoes, rice, soda, candy and sugar.

** Helpful hints **

Pasta: Use spaghetti squash, or veggie noodles.
Bread: Make a lettuce wrap instead of a sandwich.
Sweets: Eat some fruit to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Sweeteners: Stevia, Honey and Agave are much better alternatives to table sugar or any artificial sweetener.