 |
|
|
|
Fibromyalgia Monthly Newsletter
Fibromyalgia Newsletter – February 2006
brought to you by: Jane Oelke, N.D., Ph.D.
DoctorOelke@aol.com
The Heart of Winter
Winter is the season where we worry more about “catching” the flu, and preventing reoccurring infections. Providing your body with bioavailable antioxidants is the best defense against bacteria and viruses that create illness. What are bioavailable antioxidants and how do they work?
I was asked that question after a presentation this week. Antioxidants prevent cells in our body from oxidation (or rusting). When our cells are attacked by free radicals – “pac-man” type molecules that attack our cells - damage occurs that alters the cell causing immune system reactions. Oxidation is the damaging reaction that occurs in the cell. Oxidation is often compared to rusting, since our cells break down in a similar fashion as to how rust affects metal when metal begins to break down.
Antioxidants are beneficial chemicals found in fruits and vegetables that help prevent and reduce the damage already caused by oxidation in our cells. Common vitamins and minerals that have antioxidant ability are vitamins A, C, and E, and minerals zinc and selenium. Yet thousands more plant chemicals (phytochemicals) found in fruits and vegetables act as antioxidants, and each phytochemical provides a different benefit against free radical activity.
This is one reason that we need to get both fruits and vegetables in our diet and in our supplementation. Fruits have many different antioxidants and phytochemicals depending on the color of the fruit. So oranges, cherries, and blueberries have different antioxidants that are all beneficial. One type of fruit or fruit juice per day is not good enough.
Vegetables have even more antioxidants than fruits, and are needed for their added minerals and B-complex vitamins. So the dark green leafy vegetables have different phytochemicals than tomatoes, carrots, or broccoli. Again, getting a wide assortment of fruits and vegetables every single day is the best preventative from immune type health challenges.
What does all this have to do with Fibromyalgia?
Antioxidants are needed to reduce the stress that often causes the muscles to be hypersensitive to pain. Anytime you are in pain, more than the recommended daily amount (RDA) of antioxidants are necessary. Usually up to 4 times the recommended daily amount is actually necessary.
Get your antioxidants from whole foods as much as possible. Now it is recommended to get 9 to 13 servings per day of fruits and vegetables. And if you have fibromyalgia, I recommend that more vegetables are necessary than fruits. Vegetables have the ability to really reduce nervous system hypersensitivity and reduce pain better than fruits. Vegetables help to strengthen and rebuild healthy tissues, even after they have been damages by free radicals.
One third-party research study showed that taking a very specific fruit and vegetable capsule combination for just 28 days reduced free radical activity by 75%. Also the antioxidants were bioavailable –meaning that your body easily absorbs them without extra work. And from my own free radical testing done using urine, I have found that my clients that take these concentrated fruits and vegetables have much lower free radical levels than those on antioxidant vitamins.
You can order your own free-radical urine test done in your home, at
my Natural Choices website. The cost of each test is $14.95 plus shipping, but only has to be done monthly until you make sure you do not have too many free radical reactions going on.
Updated Service available in my office (and possibly in your area)
My clients have been evaluated using Electro-Dermal Screening for the past 8 years in my office. Although the testing I have been doing has been very beneficial in locating stressed areas, I have not been able to do the additional extensive testing of food, virus, bacteria, and degenerative sensitivities as effectively as I would like.
Three weeks ago I upgraded to a new testing system that is computer based and now can test for all the variety of environmental sensitivities to get a better reading of what may be causing your symptoms. Plus it can test specific Electro-Acupuncture Points very quickly to locate detailed areas of imbalance. You can find out more about the Limbic Ark Assessment test at www.zyto.com. Under the Resources tab is a DVD you can play on the Internet to see exactly how this device works.
So if you are located in the southwest lower Michigan area or northern Indiana area you are welcome to come experience this new more complete testing in one of my offices. Many clients really like the efficiency of the testing and you will too.
If you are not located near enough to one of my offices in Kalamazoo or St. Joseph, Michigan, you can do the testing over the phone. You can have yourself, and your family and friends tested without leaving your area. You can order one of the hand cradles and can schedule appointments from the convenience of your own location. If you would like more information about this possibility contact me at DoctorOelke@aol.com
Jane Oelke, N.D., Ph.D.
Natural Choices, Inc.
"Building Your Health Naturally"
DoctorOelke@aol.com
www.NaturalChoicesForYou.com
www.NaturalChoicesforFibromyalgia.com
1-888-893-7225
|