Harnessing Your DNA for Optimal Health

Genetic Testing

You are made of cells. And the cells in your body have 23 pairs of chromosomes.

Your chromosomes are made of DNA, which can tell you a lot about you. Genetic testing allows you to explore your 23 pairs.  Genetic testing through companies like 23andme.com can provide useful information on understanding potential areas of weakness and disease susceptibility.

You can order your genetic tests and receive all your raw genetic data (600,000+ genes) for just $79.00 now through Valentines Day.

The raw data from genetic testing can be overwhelming because we are provided with a blueprint of our DNA, and with that, a look into the specific gene expression that can cause various symptoms or diseases.  Results are not a guarantee that you will have the illness identified; you are only seeing a probability or risk.

Harnessing Your DNA for Optimal Health

If you’ve been searching for answers to your health issues without resolution, testing your DNA should be the next step. Doing so can allow you to identify your SNPs (genetic mutations) as well as the related nutritional weaknesses occurring in your body.

People who understand health recognize genetic testing as the most advanced and effective method of determining exactly how you need to supplement. Using the results of your genetic saliva test from 23andme.com we can identify your nutritional weaknesses and then create your custom nutritional protocol. This protocol will supplement your missing nutrients and antioxidants, or use nutrients and herbs to aid in the production of needed enzymes to ultimately reduce the damaging oxidants and support healthy cells.

Once you have obtained your raw data from 23andme, make an appointment with Kimberly Martindale to schedule your methyl genetic nutritional analysis. Just call (901) 763-7006 or email the clinic at clinic@integrativewellness.org.

To fully understand how your DNA impacts your health, watch the introductory video at  www.GetToKnowYourDNA.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Low Platelet Diet

 Introduction

The Integrative Wellness Center has recently received a lot of questions regarding how to build blood platelet levels.  We are writing this blog to help educate you on how to improve this health condition.

The supplements we recommend to increase platelets are:

• Chlorocaps
• Moringa
• Recancostat 400
• Ultra Potent C Powder
• Mixed EFAs
• Bio-Immunozyme Forte
• Li-Zyme Forte
• Bone Strength OP

Platelets are very sensitive and can react to many substances, interfering with their ability to clot or triggering their removal from circulation. Several hundred drugs, toxins and herbs have been reported to cause blood abnormalities, and drugs account for 20 – 40% of all instances of cytopenias (reduced blood cell count).

This page contains some of the most well-known causes of substance-induced thrombocytopenia and associated bleeding.   It is possible that removing or discontinuing the offending substance can have a positive effect on your platelet count.  It is important to communicate with your doctor/healthcare provider as you consider or make changes.

Drug-induced Thrombocytopenia

When drugs are the cause of low platelets, the disease is called drug-induced thrombocytopenia (DITP).  In some cases, as in chemotherapy drugs, the drop in platelet count is due to changes in the bone marrow.  In other cases antibodies can develop to both the drug and platelets at the same time, causing the platelets to drop.  Sometimes drugs cause a combination of both bone marrow and immune problems.

Low platelets can occur almost immediately after taking some drugs that interfere with the production of blood clots.  If the drug responsible for low platelets is stopped, platelets may begin to recover in one or two days, but the antibodies to the drug can linger in the blood stream for a very long time and cause future problems. The drug reaction is often specific and a similar compound can be substituted.
Some drugs have been reported to cause more instances of DITP than others.  Sulfa drugs, vancomycin, penicillin, rifampin, ceftriaxone, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and linezolid (antibiotics), gold salts, valproate (for epilepsy), amrinone (for heart problems), biophosphates (ex. Fosamax), quinidine (for abnormal heart rhythms), carbamazepine (controls seizures), mirtazapine (anti-depressant), oxaliplatin and suramin (chemotherapies), the glycoprotein IIbIIIa inhibitors abciximab, tirofiban and eptifibatide, heparin (anti-clotting agents).and quinine (see below) are particular problems.

Tell your doctor if you are taking any herbal remedies or common non-prescription drugs such as acetaminophen (ex. Tylenol) or ibuprofen (ex: Advil, Motrin) as these can also cause DITP. There should be a compelling reason for taking any medication and medical attention is needed for any side effect, including bruising/bleeding.

Quinine: a special case

Quinine is found in some drugs as well as in tonic water, bitter lemon, and bitter melons.  In a study of 343 patients, 28 (8%) were found to have drug-induced thrombocytopenia and 13 of these cases were caused by quinine.

Herbs, Food, and Supplements

Some food, herbs, and supplements can reduce the number of platelets for various reasons.  This list includes those substances that have been documented in journal or other articles.  It is not known whether there are few items in this category or if they are underreported. If your platelets drop after taking something new, please notify your doctor.

• alcohol3,44 (also called ethanol-induced thrombocytopenia)
• aspartame (NutraSweet)
• cow’s milk
• cranberry Juice
• erucic acid (in Lorenzo’s oil, some rapeseed and mustard oil)
• jui [a Chinese medicinal herbal tea]
• L-tryptophan*
• lupinus termis bean (cultivated in Egypt, a food protein supplement that contains quinolizidine alkaloids)
• niacin (liver damage due to long exposure)
• tahini (pulped sesame seeds)

*allergic or cross-reaction to platelets in those with sensitivities to that substance, similar to drug-induced thrombocytopenia

Environmental Hazards

Exposure to  toxins and household chemicals can cause a drop in platelets in some people.  Below is a list of toxins that have been documented to cause low platelets. You can find more information about environmental medicine and minimizing toxic exposure on Dr. Lisa Nagy’s Web site. Check the NIH toxmap for toxic locations near you or local environmental sites such as the Environmental Health Watch.

• Aromatic hydrocarbons
• polyurethane
• toluene methylbenzene (Anisen or Toluol) – (smells like paint thinner, used in the many industrial processes including the production of gasoline and Coca-cola.)
• wood preservatives and solvents
• Insecticides, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and organic phosphorus compounds
• Mycotoxins (toxins that can be produced by molds, yeast, and mushrooms)
• mold (can be in the air, on food, or in cardboard)
• P. sorghina (mold on grains)
• trichothecenes (a family of micotoxins)
• Pesticides
• Various pesticides increase oxidative stress (implicated in ITP) and can promote platelet destruction in the spleen according to experiments in fish.

Food and Supplements that Interfere with Platelet Function

This list contains food and supplements that can change the way platelets work and make it more difficult for your blood to clot.  They do not reduce the platelet count unless noted.  A small quantity of these substances will probably be safe and not cause a problem. 

There are many drugs such as Plavix and Coumadin that are designed to interfere with platelet function as well as other drugs such as aspirin that reduce platelet function as a side effect of their other uses.  The food and supplements listed can amplify the effect of these medications.

Many of the listed substances are also antioxidants or have other properties that promote healing.  A balance is important.  We are publishing this list so you are aware that everyday or easily-available substances can have an effect on platelets, although their anti-clotting action is much weaker than pharmaceuticals.

If you have a reasonably high platelet count and few bleeding symptoms, many items on this list will not cause problems unless you ingest large quantities. 

Ironically, some patients with ITP have a clotting problem and are also taking blood thinners.  Others may have a clotting problem and not know it.  The propensity to clot and medication status are important factors when considering diet choices.

• alcohol (can also reduce the number of platelets)
• aspartame (NutraSweet, can also reduce the number of platelets)
• beer (including non-alcoholic beer)
• blueberries
• chocolate (dark)
• coffee
• feverfew
• garlic
• onions
• gingko biloba
• ginger
• ginseng
• green tea
• guarana (a dietary supplement)
• kiwi fruit
• omega 3 fatty acids (hemp seed, fish oil)
• pycnogenol (pine bark extract)
• quercetin, rutin, and related bioflavonoids
• red/purple grape products (grape juice, red wine, raisins, grape seeds)
• red wine
• tomatoes
• vitamin E
• wood ear or cloud ear mushroom (Auricularia auricula-judae, used in Chinese cuisine)

Problem Foods

Some foods can cause low platelets and eliminating them from the diet may help raise the platelet count.  The most common offenders are foods that contain quinine (tonic water, bitter lemon, bitter melon), aspartame (diet soda, sugar-free and low-fat candy and cakes) or alcohol (beer, wine, hard liquor).

Food Allergies and Sensitivities

Food allergies can cause a multitude of symptoms, including depression, fatigue and cell destruction, (Murray, 1998), things that plague many people with ITP.  People with abnormal numbers and ratios of T-cells (a type of white blood cell), especially those with a higher percent of T-helper cells, are more prone to develop food allergies and sensitivities because they have a lower allergic set-point (Murray, 1998).

Food sensitivities vary by individual but foods that are frequently consumed or craved in the evening are likely culprits.  There have been reports in the literature of low platelets caused by food sensitivities to cow’s milk, tahini (sesame paste), and cranberry juice (Royer, 2010).

Foods That Increase Low Platelet Count

Pomegranate

Pomegranate is a multi faceted fruit helpful for low platelets treatment. Its rich red color is a testament to its high iron content. The fruit can help combat increasing platelet reduction with regular consumption. You can eat it raw or in juice form. The fruit is also rich in vitamins to help you keep your energy levels steady despite having your blood platelets low in level. Generally, you may have 150ml (5oz) of pomegranate juice daily for 2 weeks.

Folate Rich Food

 

Severe deficiency of folate in the body can cause a reduction in blood platelets. To combat this adopt a diet that includes folate rich foods. Vitamin B9 or folate is extremely important for healthy cell division in the body which can be a beneficial factor in the treatment for low platelet count. A healthy adult should consume at least 400 mg of folate everyday as part of their diet. Some folate rich foods include broccoli, leafy greens, asparagus, oranges and spinach.

Lean Proteins

 

Lean protein foods are excellent sources of zinc and Vitamin B12. These nutrients are essential to reverse the effects of thrombocytopenia. In case of reduced platelets in the body, you should switch to a diet that includes adequate dosage of lean proteins such as turkey, chicken and fish.

Papaya

 

The extract prepared from papaya leaves is excellent for overall blood production and increase in platelet count. Just put water and papaya leaves in a kettle and put it on medium heat for 10-15 minutes. The slow heat will help to slowly draw the extract from the papaya leaves. You should boil the solution until the liquid simmers down to half its volume. Drinking this extract twice a day can help increase blood platelets count. Take about 2 tablespoons of the juice twice a day.

Ground Flax And Flax Seed Oil

Consuming flaxseed oil can help you strengthen your immune system. It’s considerably a significant low blood platelets treatment approach that helps combat the tendency of the body to confuse and attack its own, including the platelets. Many autoimmune disorders are the leading cause of thrombocytopenia or low platelet count. These oils reduce inflammation and improve blood circulation throughout the body. They are beneficially supporting factors but take caution for they might act as a blood thinner.

Vitamin A Rich Foods

Vitamin A is essential for healthy platelet production. This nutrient is also significant for protein formation in the body. A healthy protein regulation helps in the process of cell division and growth. This is why it is essential to consume Vitamin A rich foods like to sustain normal body function. Some ideal foods that belong to this group are carrot, pumpkin, kale, liver, fish and sweet potatoes.

Chlorophyll From Wheatgrass and Moringa

 

Chlorophyll has a remarkably similar molecular structure to that of hemoglobin. After all, chlorophyll is essentially commonly known as the blood of plants. This nutrient has a strong effect in overall blood production and increase of platelet count in the body. Wheatgrass juice comprises over 70% of chlorophyll.  Moringa contains 4x the amount of chlorophyll of wheatgrass and it is one of the best sources of this nutrient.

Vitamin K Rich Foods

 

Overall high calorie meals are suggested for ideal production of blood platelets. Vitamin K is a necessary ingredient that keeps cell growth at optimum levels in the body. Platelets last up to 10 days only where a healthy quantity of platelets need to be continually produced to replace the lost amount in the body. Eating eggs, liver and kale can be highly beneficial for a plan seeking to achieve adequate Vitamin K for the body.

Supplements that increase platelets:

• Chlorocaps
• Recancostat 400
• Moringa
• Ultra Potent Vitamin C
• Mixed EFAs
• Bio-Immunozyme Forte
• Li-Zyme Forte
• Bone Strength OP

A New Way To Improve Gut Health

UltraGi Replenish

 The Integrative Wellness Center is now carrying an exciting new medical food shake that reduces gastrointestinal symptoms and beneficially alters gut microbiota in adults with IBS, Celiac Disease and IBD.

UltraGI Replenish is a delicious medical food formulated to provide nutritional support in the management of compromised gut function associated with digestive disorders and malabsorption. This medical food provides a unique blend of macronutrients, micronutrients, and exclusive prebiotics selected for their ability to improve gut function, nutrient absorption, and intestinal microbiota.

Prebiotics hold promise as a therapeutic strategy for addressing compromised gut function associated with GI conditions.  UltraGI Replenish contains a proprietary blend of prebiotics: a nature identical 2’-fucosyllactose (2’-FL) and isomalto-oligosaccharides (IMOs). Prebiotics are non-digestible food and plant ingredients, mostly small carbohydrate polymers known as oligosaccharides, which beneficially affect the host through their selective metabolism in the intestinal tract.

2’-FL is a prebiotic found in human breast milk. Several functions have been attributed to 2’-FL, including the ability to support the growth of beneficial microbiota (including Bifidobacterium), inducing the production of SCFAs (an energy substrate for colonic epithelial cells), and regulating gut motility (by reducing the frequency and velocity of contractions).

2’-FL also supports GI health by blocking certain potentially harmful bacterial strains from adhering to their host cell receptors; 2’-FL mimics host cell surface receptors and acts as a decoy. 2’-FL has been shown to act as an anti-adhesive antimicrobial to Campylobacter jejuni, Vibrio cholera, Escherichia coli, and Norovirus.

A recent clinical trial with patients suffering from digestive disorders, demonstrated that consuming 2 servings daily of UGIR for 6 weeks:

•  Reduced GI symptoms and improved overall GI quality of life
•  Increased production of SCFAs, including butyrate
• Increased levels of Bifidobacterium spp.
• Reduced potential harmful intestinal microbiota

In addition, this landmark formula features a unique combination of macro- and micronutrients to complement a carefully designed dietary plan and deliver a lifestyle medicine approach unlike any other.

If you would like to try UltraGI Replenish, order online or visit our office today and purchase from our natural pharmacy.

To order online go to: http://jsmothers.metagenics.com/store. Receive 20% off your first online order and 10% off recurring orders.  Free shipping is also available for qualifying orders.

Lyme Disease Class

You are invited to join Dr. John and the staff at the Integrative Wellness Center for a two part informative class on Lyme disease on March 17 and March 24 from 12:30 – 2:00 PM at the Integrative Wellness Clinic.  These classes are free.

Topics we will cover include:

Part 1:

• What is Lyme disease?
• Effects of Lyme disease
• How Lyme spreads
• Testimonials and life changing stories

Part 2:

• Biofilms
• Strategies to overcome Lyme disease

If you would like to join us please call the clinic at (901) 763-7006 to reserve your spot.

Sincerely,

John Smothers, FLT, MH. & The Wellness Team

Detoxification

Most of us know that we’re living in a more toxic world than at any other time in history. Whether it’s coming from pollution in the air we breathe, chemicals and pharmaceuticals in our water, antibiotics, hormones and pesticides in our meat, toxic food additives and GMOs in our food, lead, phthalates and parabens in our skin care products,  mercury in our seafood, arsenic in chicken, mold and formaldehyde in our homes and plastics in our canned food and water bottles. The list just goes on and on.  We are exposed to over 85,000 chemicals in our environment today and most have never been tested for safety. The average newborn has over 285 chemicals in their chord blood.

The good news is, our bodies have an amazing capacity for detoxification.  However, our liver, kidneys, colon and lymphatic systems can become overwhelmed with the burden of  these chemicals.  That is why we encourage everyone to set aside time annually to detoxify.   The changing of the seasons is a good time to do a cleanse!  A simple 5 to 10 day detoxificati
on program can be life changing.  Along with a special fast we recommend supplements to support the organs of elimination.  To further enhance and speed the process of eliminating toxins, we recommend enemas.

An enema can help you to rid excess waste that builds up in the colon from eating refined and processed foods that are high in fat and sugar and low in fibre. These types of foods can cause peristalsis to become weak and ineffective producing symptoms such as constipation and IBS.   This causes foods to become lodged along their journey and impacted against the wall of the colon! From there the lodged fecal matter begins to putrefy and ferment and your whole internal environment can become toxic!  Enemas will help to break up the toxic matter and quickly eliminate it from the body.

What can you expect from a good detoxification program?  At first most people experience the side effects of the body releasing toxins.  Symptoms may include fatigue, headaches, a coated white tongue and brain fog.  After the initial symptoms pass, usually 2-5 days depending on the toxic burden of the individual, energy returns, the mind clears and so does the skin.

The most noticeable benefits from detoxification are physical. Since the toxins store up in major organs, detoxification will help these areas the most. The organs which are affected, such as the liver, kidneys and stomach, will begin to work more effectively. After the detox is completed, one may feel “lighter” and have more energy. Also, since a detox is used to clear away free radicals, the body’s immune system will be stronger, lowering the risk of infections, cancer and other chronic diseases. Finally, a detoxification regimen will clear your blood, helping it circulate better.  Better circulation benefits every cell in the body, enhancing mental function and heart health.

This month we are offering a special on our detoxification products.  We’ve attached our recommended 10 day accelerated detoxification fast below.  While on the fast we  recommend a medical food shake and a detox supplement packet called Clear Change Essentials.  During the month of January, these products will be discounted 10%.

We also offer a shorter, more intensive detoxification fast.  Call and make an appointment today to learn more, including how to do enemas at home.

Here’s to your health!

Kim Martindale

Senior Therapeutic Lifestyle Educator at the Integrative Wellness and Research Center

Accelerated Detox Fast Attachment

• Fasting Guide
• Fasting Overview

 

 

 

Accelerated Fasting Detoxification Program

 

 

Part 1:  Juice fast

Day 1: Juice 2-3 quarts of freshly juiced vegetables: 1 Quart example: (2)Apple 20% / (4)Carrot 20% / (4)Celery 20% / (1 head)Cabbage 40%, optional 4-6 cloves of Garlic

• Drink fiber supplement-Colon Plus-1-2 tablespoons mixed in apple juice or water.  Use Natural Laxative with fiber if not having 2-3 bowel movements per day.
• Consume 2-4 tablespoons of vegetable oils per day
  (flax seed oil, coconut butter, olive oil).
• Healthy Option:  Enema (4 step program)to help irrigate toxins and waste from
  large Intestine and eradicate bacteria, fungus overgrowth.
• Continue 1 quart of apple juice throughout the fast if gallbladder congestion.

Day 2: Drink 2-3 quarts of hot stock broth.

• Drink fiber supplement-Colon Plus-1-2 tablespoons mixed in apple juice or water.
• Consume 2-4 tablespoons of vegetable oils per day
  (flax seed oil, coconut butter, olive oil).
• Healthy Option: Enema (4 step program) to help irrigate toxins and waste from
  large Intestine and eradicate bacteria, fungus overgrowth.

Day 3-5: Drink 2-3 quarts of vegetable juice. Same as step 1 or this complex juice;

• 1 head Cabbage (24 oz), 1 cucumber (4oz),  2 carrots (2oz), 2-3 celery sticks (2oz), 1 apple (2oz), 1 broccoli stem or 2 radishes(2oz),  1/2 beet (1/2oz), 2 slices-nickel size of fresh ginger (1/4oz), 4 cloves garlic, 2 handful of Kale.
• Drink fiber supplement-Colon Plus 1-2 tablespoons mixed in apple juice or water.
• Consume 2-4 tablespoons of vegetable oils per day
  (flax seed oil, coconut butter, olive oil).
• Healthy Option: Enema (4 step program) to help irrigate toxins and waste from
  large Intestine and eradicate bacteria, fungus overgrowth.

Olive Oil Flush:  Day 4 of fast.

Mix 4-8 oz of extra virgin olive oil, 4-8 oz of fresh squeezed orange juice, 1-2 oz of fresh squeezed lemon juice.  Mix well and drink at bedtime.  Go immediately to bed and lay on your right side, with your right knee pulled close to chest for 20-30 minutes.
Drink fiber supplement upon arising the next morning.

 

 

Part 2: Medical food protein shake fast

10 Day Detoxification Program:

Overview: Drink 4 protein shakes per day, every 4 hours and eat unlimited raw vegetables.  Drink 5-6 protein shakes per day if body weight is above 160 pounds.  Ok to mix shakes. Day 1-5, use only 2 Ultra Clear Renew Medical Food shakes per day.  Day 6-10, consume 4/day.

Optional but suggested for Cancer Recovery or other weakened body states: Drink 2 quarts of fresh vegetable juice in-between protein shakes.

Recipe:
1 cabbage (24oz), 4 carrots (4-5oz), 4 celery sticks (2-3 oz), 1-2 apples, (3-6 oz).  Optional: add 4-6 cloves of garlic (1/4 oz), 2 nickel slices of Ginger (1/4 oz), Lemon or Lime for taste.

1. Choose the best medical food protein shake per your medical need.

• Ultra Meal 360 Plus:  Optimizing body composition, weight loss, elevated cholesterol,
  elevated blood sugar, diabetic meal replacement.
• Ultra InflamX360 Plus: Inflammatory conditions, joints, arthritis, GI conditions, allergies and general inflammation.
• Ultra Clear Renew: Liver detoxification, heavy metals including mercury elimination, elevated oxidative stress-cancer
• Ultra Meal Advanced: Supports muscle mass and healthy vascular function.

2) Total VEGAN detox:  Plant protein blend (pea, rice, hemp, chia, cranberry) with BrocColinate and Calcium D-GlucarateChoose one raw vegetable per day and eat unlimited amounts.  Ok to use oils, healthy raw dips and a pâté like humus and home made dressings.  See raw dip recipes attached or my favorite gourmet raw books are; The Raw Gourmet and Raw, But Not Naked by Nomi Shannon.  Available at the Integrative Wellness & Research Center, Inc. (901) 763-7006.

3)  Green Puree ( Drink a minimum of 2 of these complex shakes per day): Place 4 leaves or 1-2 servings of spinach into blender (Vitamix preferable); optional 2 tablespoons broccoli sprouts, kale, chard, spinach-handful, and/or mustard greens (choose one only).  Add 6-8 oz of water or dairy alternative, ie almond milk and blend to a puree.  Then add your chosen medical food protein powder from the list above, a fruit of choice, and one tablespoon of flax seed oil (high in omega 3) in each shake.  Blend a little more.

Optional: Add one fresh squeezed lemon or lime and drink (skip if acid reflux). Enjoy.  Your cells will be leaping with joy and renewed strength.

Fasting

FASTING

by John Smothers, ND, MH, FLT

Define your purpose:

Set a goal larger than yourself that you are expecting a breakthrough.  It could be a variety of things:  Health, spiritual, work or family.  If your needs are fully satisfied, then dedicate your fast to a friend or someone in need.  Spend time in prayer everyday.

Schedule time for preparation:  

If you are juicing, then spend time grocery shopping ahead of time.  The example recipe below is a good start:

64 oz of juice = 2 heads of cabbage, 8 carrots, 4 granny smith apples .

Optional:  add 12 cloves of garlic, 2 inches of ginger, lemon or lime.

You may also add lemon or lime for taste and a cucumber.  4 ounces of wheat grass is also a great addition.  It you do not have wheat grass, then moringa is a great substitution.

Why Juice: 

Juicing is the fastest way to attain the maximum amount of organic live nutrition in your body.  It is the highest octane fuel to rebuild and strengthen your body.   Enzymes in live or raw food carry nutrition to the cells for nourishment.  If food is heated over 113 degrees Fahrenheit then enzymes start to die.  The food loses its ability to make each cell stronger.  During a fast we are consuming raw food with the exception of bone broth.  During fasting, once the toxins are excreted or detoxed, your cells with start to feel super rejuvenated.  Your mind, body and spirit with become more sensitive and in tune with one another.  To ultimately change your cells expression to a healthy cell, first we have to detoxify, move out the stored up trash or toxins being stored from years past.  Then as we fuel our super bodies with maximized raw food or juice, our genes express themselves in a very healthy way.  Your cellular expression depends upon the environment they are living in.

Words of Appreciation/Affirmations:

Set aside words of affirmations or prayers you repeat several times per day.

Example: My body is becoming stronger and my cells are expressing renewed strength.

I am loosing the thoughts, habits, and all cellular functions of making, reproducing      cancer.  It is leaving my body and never returning.  It is gone, I am walking in faith         and believing for a miracle in my life.  Become BOLD and ask others to partner and       speak these powerful words over you.

 

PART 1 – Liquid Fast

Liquids only to shut down the digestive process and to accelerate detox, healing and repair.  Your will have approximately 85% more reserves available during this time for cleansing.  Digestion usually stops after 2-3 days, then your cravings will diminish.

Begin your FAST:

Start by consuming 12 oz of fluid every waking hour.  This could be a combination of water, herbal tea, broth or fresh vegetable juices.  Drink 2-3 quarts of juice throughout the day to keep a steady about of vegetable sugars entering the blood stream.  This will increase your changes of a successful fast.

Cautions:  If you feel nausea, very weak or faint, you should break your fast.  Try consuming bone broth and raw vegetables in a soup and continue your fast.  If this does not work, then consider having a green protein shake.  Consider the enema part to fully engage your detox.  If you still fell weak or faint, then eat a clean diet;

Suggested Diet: 2 meals per day of: protein, vegetables and oils.  Take Glycation Manager or Alpha CU and chromium to help stables your blood sugar.  2 green protein shakes per day, preferably Ultra Clear Renew during your fast.  Continue juicing 1-2 quarts per day.

FAST:  (Please review the fasting handout for a step by step guide)

Enema:  Perform the 4 step enema everyday throughout the duration of the fast.  Enema procedures will be provided with your enema kit purchased through the Wellness Center.

Options:  Parasite Cleanse, Heavy metals, Liver cleanse, Enema, tumors.

Detox: Ultra Clear Renew, Clear Change Daily Essentials or Detox Pekana

Parasite Cleanse:  Paraguard or Clarkia 100

Heavy Metals:  Ultra Clear Renew, HM Protect

Tumors:  Biozyme, Theracumin HP, Dr John’s Lymph

 

Fasting Recipes:

Simple and powerful Juice

yields approximately 33-37 oz of juice

• 1 Cabbage 24 oz
• 4 Celery 2-3 oz
• 4 Carrots 4-5 oz
• 1-2 Apples3-6 oz

Optional:

• 4-6 cloves Garlic 1/4 oz
• 2 nickel slices of Ginger 1/4 oz
• Lemon or Lime

Complex Juice Recipe:

yields approximately 38 oz of juice

• 1 Cabbage 24 oz
• Kale 2 handfuls
• 1 Cucumber 4 oz
• 2 Celery 2 oz
• 2 Carrots 2 oz
• 1 Apple 2-3 oz
• 1 broccoli stem or 2 oz
• 2 radishes
• 1/2 beet 1/2 oz
• 4 cloves garlic 1/4 oz
• Fresh ginger 2 nichel slices 1/4 oz

Total yield will vary depending upon quality of Juicer.

The Integrative Wellness Center uses the Green Star Elite Juicer in our clinic.

We sell them for the lowest price available online in our clinic.  Please  ask our staff about demoing a Green Star Elite Juicer, you will be amazed!  Juices hard vegetables and also leaves like Kale and Wheat Grass very good.

 

Part 2: Shakes and Vegetables

5-10 days duration

We are continuing the detox with an animal free diet.  Adding 4 green protein shakes (Ultra Clear Renew Protein) per day to stabilize muscle mass.  Incorporating bone broth, vegetable soups, and eating raw vegetables with the optional raw dips/dressing for taste.

BEST:  Eat mono meals. Choose one vegetable per day and eat unlimited.  Ok to use dip/dressing and pâté with vegetable.

How to start part 2 fast:

Continue accelerating detox fast while stabilizing muscle mass.  This fast we will focus on clearing phase 2 liver detox pathway with emphasis on heavy metals and soft tissue toxin clearing.  We will eat mono meals to help modulate cytokine inflammation in your gastrointestinal track. Studies show you will be eliminating up to 278  plus known heavy metals, chemicals, toxins interfering with optimal detox.  These are buried in your liver, fatty and soft  tissues. Your body will feel much better once these toxins and heavy metals are cleared.  If your brain will become more responsive.

Summary:

Continue drinking 1-2 quarts of fresh juice daily.  Add 4 protein shakes per day to stabilize muscle mass while continuing accelerating detox fast.  Eat soups,broths and mono vegetable meals/snacks.  Make raw dips and dressings to help support taste of your favorite vegetables.  Slice vegetables and dip into raw dressing for taste.  Eat unlimited as snacks or meals.

Guide:

Day 1-5:  Drink 2 servings per day Ultra Clear Renew medical food protein shake.

Drink 2 servings per day Ultra Meal Advanced protein.  If pain or inflammation is present, then substitute for Ultra InflammX360 medical food protein shake.  2 of these shakes per day should be complex shakes.  4 is best.

Take Clear Change Daily Essentials or Advaclear with 2 of the shakes per day.  Example morning and afternoon shakes.

Optional:  Take ultra spectrum probiotics morning and night.  Add Glutagenics or Glutamine Forte Powder to shake, 2 x day, to help repair leaky gut syndrome

Affirmation: I am so thankful for the mentors in my life that led me out of troubled waters.  We all have faced tough, trying times in our lives.  The closer we get to success, the further it seems.  Don’t ever give up on anyone, but especially yourself.  You are victorious in all well doing.  I believe in you and I am walking in faith expecting amazing victories in your life.

Healing Testimonies

We are always looking for ways to encourage clients in their healing journey with us.  If you have a positive health testimony to share from your experience at the Integrative Wellness Center, please submit it to us via email at <clinic@integrativewellness.org>.

You will automatically receive a 10% discount off your next order when you submit a testimony.

Thank you!

Dirty Dozen List of Endocrine Disruptors

12 Hormone-Altering Chemicals and How to Avoid Them

There is no end to the tricks that endocrine disruptors can play on our bodies: increasing production of certain hormones; decreasing production of others; imitating hormones; turning one hormone into another; interfering with hormone signaling; telling cells to die prematurely; competing with essential nutrients; binding to essential hormones; accumulating in organs that produce hormones.

Here are 12 of the worst hormone disrupters, how they do their dirty deeds, and some tips on how to avoid them.

BPA

Some may say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but do you really want a chemical used in plastics imitating the sex hormone estrogen in your body? No! Unfortunately, this synthetic hormone can trick the body into thinking it’s the real thing – and the results aren’t pretty. BPA has been linked to everything from breast and others cancers to reproductive problems, obesity, early puberty and heart disease, and according to government tests, 93 percent of Americans have BPA in their bodies!

How to avoid it? Go fresh instead of canned – many food cans are lined with BPA – or research which companies don’t use BPA or similar chemicals in their products. Say no to receipts, since thermal paper is often coated with BPA. And avoid plastics marked with a “PC,” for polycarbonate, or recycling label #7. Not all of these plastics contain BPA, but many do – and it’s better safe than sorry when it comes to keeping synthetic hormones out of your body. For more tips, check out: www.ewg.org/bpa/

Dioxin

Dioxins are multi-taskers… but not in a good way! They form during many industrial processes when chlorine or bromine are burned in the presence of carbon and oxygen. Dioxins can disrupt the delicate ways that both male and female sex hormone signaling occurs in the body. This is a bad thing! Here’s why: Recent research has shown that exposure to low levels of dioxin in the womb and early in life can both permanently affect sperm quality and lower the sperm count in men during their prime reproductive years. But that’s not all! Dioxins are very long-lived, build up both in the body and in the food chain, are powerful carcinogens and can also affect the immune and reproductive systems.

How to avoid it? That’s pretty difficult, since the ongoing industrial release of dioxin has meant that the American food supply is widely contaminated. Products including meat, fish, milk, eggs and butter are most likely to be contaminated, but you can cut down on your exposure by eating fewer animal products.

Atrazine

What happens when you introduce highly toxic chemicals into nature and turn your back? For one thing, feminization of male frogs. That’s right, researchers have found that exposure to even low levels of the herbicide atrazine can turn male frogs into females that produce completely viable eggs. Atrazine is widely used on the majority of corn crops in the United States, and consequently it’s a pervasive drinking water contaminant. Atrazine has been linked to breast tumors, delayed puberty and prostate inflammation in animals, and some research has linked it to prostate cancer in people.

How to avoid it? Buy organic produce and get a drinking water filter certified to remove atrazine. For help finding a suitable filter, check out EWG’s buying guide: www.ewg.org/report/ewgs-water-filter-buying-guide/

Phthalates

Did you know that a specific signal programs cells in our bodies to die? It’s totally normal and healthy for 50 billion cells in your body to die every day! But studies have shown that chemicals called phthalates can trigger what’s known as “death-inducing signaling” in testicular cells, making them die earlier than they should. Yep, that’s cell death – in your man parts. If that’s not enough, studies have linked phthalates to hormone changes, lower sperm count, less mobile sperm, birth defects in the male reproductive system, obesity, diabetes and thyroid irregularities.

How to avoid it? A good place to start is to avoid plastic food containers, children’s toys (some phthalates are already banned in kid’s products), and plastic wrap made from PVC, which has the recycling label #3. Some personal care products also contain phthalates, so read the labels and avoid products that simply list added “fragrance,” since this catch-all term sometimes means hidden phthalates. Find phthalate-free personal care products with EWG’s Skin Deep Database: www.ewg.org/skindeep/

Perchlorate

Who needs food tainted with rocket fuel?! That’s right, perchlorate, a component in rocket fuel, contaminates much of our produce and milk, according to EWG and government test data. When perchlorate gets into your body it competes with the nutrient iodine, which the thyroid gland needs to make thyroid hormones. Basically, this means that if you ingest too much of it you can end up altering your thyroid hormone balance. This is important because it’s these hormones that regulate metabolism in adults and are critical for proper brain and organ development in infants and young children.

How to avoid it? You can reduce perchlorate in your drinking water by installing a reverse osmosis filter. (You can get help finding one at: www.ewg.org/report/ewgs-water-filter-buying-guide) As for food, it’s pretty much impossible to avoid perchlorate, but you can reduce its potential effects on you by making sure you are getting enough iodine in your diet. Eating iodized salt is one good way.

Fire retardants

What do breast milk and polar bears have in common? In 1999, some Swedish scientists studying women’s breast milk discovered something totally unexpected: The milk contained an endocrine-disrupting chemical found in fire retardants, and the levels had been doubling every five years since 1972! These incredibly persistent chemicals, known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers or PBDEs, have since been found to contaminate the bodies of people and wildlife around the globe – even polar bears. These chemicals can imitate thyroid hormones in our bodies and disrupt their activity. That can lead to lower IQ, among other significant health effects. While several kinds of PBDEs have now been phased out, this doesn’t mean that toxic fire retardants have gone away. PBDEs are incredibly persistent, so they’re going to be contaminating people and wildlife for decades to come.

How to avoid it? It’s virtually impossible, but passing better toxic chemical laws that require chemicals to be tested before they go on the market would help reduce our exposure. A few things that can you can do in the meantime include: use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter, which can cut down on toxic-laden house dust; avoid reupholstering foam furniture; take care when replacing old carpet (the padding underneath may contain PBDEs). Find more tips at: www.ewg.org/pbdefree/

Lead

You may or may not like heavy metal music, but lead is one heavy metal you want to avoid. It’s well known that lead is toxic, especially to children. Lead harms almost every organ system in the body and has been linked to a staggering array of health effects, including permanent brain damage, lowered IQ, hearing loss, miscarriage, premature birth, increased blood pressure, kidney damage and nervous system problems. But few people realize that one other way that lead may affect your body is by disrupting your hormones. In animals, lead has been found to lower sex hormone levels. Research has also shown that lead can disrupt the hormone signaling that regulates the body’s major stress system (called the HPA axis). You probably have more stress in your life than you want, so the last thing you need is something making it harder for your body to deal with it – especially when this stress system is implicated in high blood pressure, diabetes, anxiety and depression.

How to avoid it? Keep your home clean and well maintained. Crumbling old paint is a major source of lead exposure, so get rid of it carefully. A good water filter can also reduce your exposure to lead in drinking water. (Check out www.ewg.org/report/ewgs-water-filter-buying-guide/ for help finding a filter.) And if you need another reason to eat better, studies have also shown that children with healthy diets absorb less lead.

Arsenic

Arsenic isn’t just for murder mysteries anymore. In fact, this toxin is lurking in your food and drinking water. If you eat enough of it, arsenic will kill you outright. In smaller amounts, arsenic can cause skin, bladder and lung cancer. Basically, bad news. Less well known: Arsenic messes with your hormones! Specifically, it can interfere with normal hormone functioning in the glucocorticoid system that regulates how our bodies process sugars and carbohydrates. What does that mean for you? Well, disrupting the glucocorticoid system has been linked to weight gain/loss, protein wasting, immunosuppression, insulin resistance (which can lead to diabetes), osteoporosis, growth retardation and high blood pressure.

How to avoid it? Reduce your exposure by using a water filter that lowers arsenic levels. For help finding a good water filter, check out EWG’s buying guide: www.ewg.org/report/ewgs-water-filter-buying-guide/

Mercury

Caution: That sushi you are eating could be hazardous to your health. Mercury, a naturally occurring but toxic metal, gets into the air and the oceans primarily though burning coal. Eventually, it can end up on your plate in the form of mercury-contaminated seafood. Pregnant women are the most at risk from the toxic effects of mercury, since the metal is known to concentrate in the fetal brain and can interfere with brain development. Mercury is also known to bind directly to one particular hormone that regulates women’s menstrual cycle and ovulation, interfering with normal signaling pathways. In other words, hormones don’t work so well when they’ve got mercury stuck to them! The metal may also play a role in diabetes, since mercury has been shown to damage cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, which is critical for the body’s ability to metabolize sugar.

How to avoid it? For people who still want to eat (sustainable) seafood with lots of healthy fats but without a side of toxic mercury, wild salmon and farmed trout are good choices.

Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs)

The perfluorinated chemicals used to make non-stick cookware can stick to you. Perfluorochemicals are so widespread and extraordinarily persistent that 99 percent of Americans have these chemicals in their bodies. One particularly notorious compound called PFOA has been shown to be “completely resistant to biodegradation.” In other words, PFOA doesn’t break down in the environment – ever. That means that even though the chemical was banned after decades of use, it will be showing up in people’s bodies for countless generations to come. This is worrisome, since PFOA exposure has been linked to decreased sperm quality, low birth weight, kidney disease, thyroid disease and high cholesterol, among other health issues. Scientists are still figuring out how PFOA affects the human body, but animal studies have found that it can affect thyroid and sex hormone levels.

How to avoid it? Skip non-stick pans as well as stain and water-resistant coatings on clothing, furniture and carpets.

Organophosphate pesticides

Neurotoxic organophosphate compounds that the Nazis produced in huge quantities for chemical warfare during World War II were luckily never used. After the war ended, American scientists used the same chemistry to develop a long line of pesticides that target the nervous systems of insects. Despite many studies linking organophosphate exposure to effects on brain development, behavior and fertility, they are still among the more common pesticides in use today. A few of the many ways that organophosphates can affect the human body include interfering with the way testosterone communicates with cells, lowering testosterone and altering thyroid hormone levels.

How to avoid it? Buy organic produce and use EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce, which can help you find the fruits and vegetables that have the fewest pesticide residues. Check it out at: www.ewg.org/foodnews/

Glycol Ethers

Shrunken testicles: Do we have your full attention now? This is one thing that can happen to rats exposed to chemicals called glycol ethers, which are common solvents in paints, cleaning products, brake fluid and cosmetics. Worried? You should be. The European Union says that some of these chemicals “may damage fertility or the unborn child.” Studies of painters have linked exposure to certain glycol ethers to blood abnormalities and lower sperm counts. And children who were exposed to glycol ethers from paint in their bedrooms had substantially more asthma and allergies.

How to avoid it? Start by checking out EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning (www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners/) and avoid products with ingredients such as 2-butoxyethanol (EGBE) and methoxydiglycol (DEGME).

Healing Health Principles By: John Smothers

Do you suffer with cancer or some other disease that has taken hold of your body? Have your attempts to find help and healing failed? If you are feeling hopeless please keep reading.

Follow me as I take you to the place you are seeking. Let’s talk a little so I can paint a picture for you of hope and healing.

After years of ingesting harmful food additives and being exposed to many toxic environmental chemicals, your body has accumulated as many as 278 known toxins. In turn, your body’s immune system has been working overtime to protect and rid itself of these unwanted chemical invaders. If your body, unaided by the proper nutrients, has become overwhelmed by the task of trying to restore your body’s health, symptoms of illness appear and progress. As time passes, your immune system, nervous system, tissues, and organs become overtaxed and unable to function properly. Your entire body becomes very toxic. As a result of your body being overtaxed, you feel overwhelmed. You have been told you are very sick, and you’re afraid you may be losing the battle. Wanting to win, wanting to live, you wonder what it would take to heal. Some of you may have been told that there is little hope, while others of you sense there are healthier and more successful options available that haven’t yet been presented to you.

Consider this: If sickness results from your body’s repeated exposure to toxins, which has undermined the ability of your immune system to ward off illness, why would you add more toxins to your body’s systems which have already deteriorated as the result of toxin over-exposure? However, you may scoff at the idea that your illness is related to toxicity. You may hesitate to believe that becoming healthy has anything to do with detoxifying. If you do already believe, though, that the restoration of your health has something to do with detoxifying your body, you may wonder if it’s even possible to detoxify aggressively enough to treat your illness in time.

You are at a fork in the road. The left fork represents fear, which in itself is a very costly venture potentially leading to greater suffering and even to a point of no return for you. The right fork represents a healing adventure aligning you with your greater purpose in life and drawing you to a place of health and peace. I encourage you to choose the right fork and follow me. Please keep reading.

The right fork represents a healing adventure in which you trust that God (or our Creator) has promised and provided a way for you to have a healthy, abundant life. I encourage you to travel the path of the right fork. If a voice beckons you in this direction, please continue reading.

The four principles below describe briefly our beliefs and basic foundations to help you achieve optimum health.

Right Fork Healing Adventure Principles:

1) Eating Raw Food:

Start looking at food in a different light. Realize that food is intended to do more than extinguish hunger pangs. Likewise, the function of food is beyond simply pleasing your palette. In fact, food is actually a subcategory of something of greater value: nourishment. One definition of nourishment is the food or other substances necessary for growth, health, and good condition. Every living thing, creature, and being needs nourishment, so when you get ready to eat, ask yourself this: As I eat this food, what will it give me in return, temporary pleasure or health? Toxicity or cellular cleansing and renewal? If you want the food you put in your mouth to provide cellular cleansing and renewal, then eat a diet high in raw food, 80% of your diet or higher. This is your new foundation. It’s like building a house. Your body is your house. We want this house to withstand and endure the storms of life.

Raw foods have enzymes which assist in digestion and carry nutrition to the cells of the body. Cooking destroys enzymes, which start to die off at 112 °F and are completely

dead at 119-123 °F. Did you know that if a food is unable to grow, it is because its enzymes have been depleted? Similarly, while reproducing is a normal function of all life, plants that have been genetically modified are unable to reproduce themselves as God originally designed them. For instance, some seed-bearing plants are genetically modified so that they have no seeds!

To test the idea of how life-promoting a vegetable is, place a raw carrot in water or soil. Does it sprout or grow? Does it sustain life? Now place a cooked carrot in water or soil and watch what happens. Do you see over time that the cooked vegetable only decomposes while the raw vegetable thrives? The raw plant lives because its enzymes are intact. Raw food has the power to take a sick, weak cell and transform it into a stronger, healthy cell. Some scientists agree that this living food actually enables the body to fight off cancer. Raw food and the power of nutrition do this by waking up the P53 gene which promotes the death of unhealthy cells, thereby preventing rapid cancerous mutations.

Eating food is comparable to burning wood in a fireplace. When wood burns, it creates ash as a byproduct. When we eat cooked food like grains and meat, the by-product inside our bodies is an acidic ash. This ash robs our bodies of vital minerals and electrolytes. Unlike cooked food, raw food leaves no ash, only fiber. This fiber cleans our organs and gastrointestinal tract as it moves through the stomach and intestines and out of the rectum. Raw, living food is full of enzymes and does not rob the body of electrolytes. Raw foods actually add minerals and vital energizing nutrients and doesn’t leave any waste behind. Follow me next on this topic of healing adventure to the subject of detoxification.

2) Juicing:

Juicing is a way to attain the most amount of nutrition from vegetables. It may be very difficult to eat 5 pounds of carrots, 2 pounds of cucumbers and 1 pound of broccoli, as an example. However, you could easily juice these vegetables and drink them throughout the day. It is a way to maximize the nutrition in your body. Consider the thoughts below from one of my hero’s in life, Paul Bragg, a pioneer of juicing and fasting.

These live, recharging juices are made from fresh, organically-grown vegetables and ripe fruits – the very life-blood of the plant – to boost your energy and immune levels!

There is no liquid on Earth so satisfying as fresh live juice drink. Not only is it delicious, but there is something far greater: the satisfaction and nourishment for the billions of cells that make up your body. When people take to the health cocktail habit, they are putting the plants’ liquid life into their bodies, to super­charge their health!

Consider that fruits and vegetables have been grown naturally by solar energy (sun­ shine). They contain all of the elements that the sun and earth have buried deep into their fibrous cells; they are live-cell foods. Juicing is a convenient, inexpensive way to obtain the most concentrated form of nutrition available from live whole plant and
fruit foods. And, since juicing condenses the nutritional impact of many raw vegetables into one glass, you can incorporate many more vegetables into your juices, as well as a greater variety of them. Variety not only helps to prevent food allergies, it is also an important element in the concept in food rotation.

Did you know that 95% of the vitamins and enzymes our bodies need are found in the juice of raw fruits and vegetables? We would need to eat 2 pounds of carrots, 10-12 apples, or 8 pounds of spinach to get the same amount of nutrients you receive in one 16 oz juice. When you drink juice, highly concentrated vitamins, minerals and enzymes are rapidly absorbed and carried into the bloodstream. Your blood, in turn, delivers the nutrients from the fruits and vegetables directly to all of your cells. Meanwhile, your digestive organs receive a much-needed rest.

Do you remember the last time you ate a big, typical American meal? Did you feel a little sleepy, accompanied by the need to “kick back” for a while? Do you know why you felt the need to relax? It’s because it takes approximately 85% of your body’s energy to digest a big meal. On the other hand, a juice’s nutrients can be absorbed easily by your intestines without requiring the usual amount of digestion. The energy saved can be directed toward healing your body rather than digesting your food!

3) Detoxifying:

Detoxify your body of unwanted toxins that are interfering with your God given ability to function. If you are able*, fasting is the quickest way to rid your body of these unhealthy toxins. Throughout your life, science says, you have accumulated over 278 different chemicals that interfere with your body’s ability to communicate with each cell. An accelerated liquid fast from all solid food speeds detoxification. (*Blood sugar stability and one’s energy capacity determines a person’s ability to sustain a long fast.)

At Integrative Wellness Center, we have two main types of fasts: a “Part 1” fast and a “Part 2” fast. The Part 1 fast involves drinking 2-3 quarts of fresh organic juice each day. This is very cleansing and is the quickest way to expel unwanted toxins. Part 2 additionally incorporates vegetarian protein powder shakes for continued detoxification. (The protein powder we use is classified as a medical food.) Proteins are used to maintain a healthy detox while preventing muscle wasting from long term fasts. Green juices, those made from wheatgrass and green leafy vegetables, are very healing to the body. They cause each cell to leap with joy! Green juices cleanse, renew, and revitalize cells, thereby enabling them to function in harmony with one common purpose, your ultimate health. Your cells are craving these vital nutrients. Will you choose to fight for your body or succumb to illness, disease, and premature death. If you choose health and life, please continue reading.

4) Enemas:

The first mention of the enema in medical literature comes from Ancient Egypt. The enema was considered such an essential component of good health that every pharaoh had his own so-called “Guardian of the Anus.” Both the Edwin Smith Papyrus (c.1600 BC) and the Ebers Papyrus (c. 1550 BC) — two of the earliest known medical documents — mention enemas in detail. Ancient Greek writings corroborate with the Egyptian preoccupation with colonic cleanliness. In 500 BC, Hippocrates and his followers began to advocate health by enema as well as did the eternally popular Galen, some 650 years later.

In the United States during the 1920’s and 1930’s, enemas were regularly used as a standard practice among most physicians and implemented as common treatment in most hospitals. It was not until the 50’s that the use of enema therapy started gradually to decrease with the development of drugs, suppositories, and laxatives. Currently, it is estimated that over 30 million people in the U.S. suffer from the multiple effects of an imbalance in the gastrointestinal system. The gastrointestinal system is the largest immune organ in your body.

Coffee enemas help to dilate the bile ducts, causing bile to dump, which de-stresses the liver and gallbladder. Salt and essential oil enemas enhance immunity, balance electrolytes, and support intestinal lumen.

By removing approximately 18 pounds of stored fecal matter in the 25 feet long gastrointestinal tract, a great deal of pressure is removed from the digestive system. As long as this bile remains, the body recirculates fecal matter back into the bloodstream, overwhelming the immune system. Approximately 500 species of bacteria increase pro- inflammatory cytokines and histamine levels which cause more inflammation. Essential oil suppositories help bring gut dysbiosis back into balance. I invite you to detoxify your body overnight in this powerful and effective manner.

4) Dietary Supplements and Lab Testing:

Functional medicine addresses the underlying causes of disease, using a systems- oriented approach and engaging both client and practitioner in a therapeutic partnership. Functional lab tests are required to fully access your deficiencies and imbalances. Like a car with bad spark plugs, fuel is burned very inefficiently and the engine will suffer from breakdown. Our bodies are similar. We incorporate functional lab tests that give us feedback and valuable information on vital foundational health principles. Our labs measure several things: (1)how food is digesting; (2)how to best access detoxification pathways; (3)what the body’s ability is to adapt to stress; and (4) what the balance (or imbalance) is in the neuro-endocrine system. The lab tests also asses the levels of heavy metals, antioxidants, fungus, yeast, parasites and other micro organisms. Our goal is to maximize the vital capacity of each living cell.

This is a list of some of the labs we use: Genova Diagnostics, NeuroScience/ Pharmasan Labs, Brendan Bioscience, ALCAT, LABCORP.

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The Integrative Wellness Center has many positive heath stories to share and would like to mentor you toward optimum health. Please call or email our office to schedule a consultation. Out goal is to give you all the tools for establishing a new, healthy life style: to teach you how to walk, so to speak, so that you may run the race you were intended to run and finish well. Week-long intensive programs are in place to help you establish a strong foundation. We will guide you into a step-by-step program to help you recover your health. Dial (901)763-7006. Our office staff will be happy to assist you.

It is important that you consult with your physician first before reducing, changing, or discontinuing any medication or treatment. This website’s recommendations should be considered as “generally informational” only and not as specifically applicable to any individual’s medical problem(s), concerns, and/or needs.

6262 Poplar Avenue, Suite 200 Memphis, TN 38119 p901.763.7006 http://www.integrativewellness.org