The Under-rated Medicine…….Sleep
In our busy, super connected, modern lives sleep seems to have slipped down most people’s priority list.
Getting enough quality sleep is not negotiable for good health. Enough good quality sleep is like medicine for our bodies and minds.
In order to be healthy we need to re-instate the importance of sleep in our lives and treat it like the medicine it is. If you are not getting enough sleep you can’t be healthy. It is that simple.
What is happening when we sleep?
- Our brain is detoxifying and processing and cementing memories. This lack of this ‘detoxification’ and processing due to lack of sleep may contribute to dementia.
- The body makes more growth hormone for tissue repair and healing.
- There is evidence that people who sleep less can eat up to 25% more calories than their sleeping peers. It’s much harder to lose weight if you are hungry all the time.
According to research on what constitutes adequate healthy sleep is a minimum of 7.5hrs/night. And by the way, the research also suggests that women physically require on average 1 hour more per night…..yes beauty sleep is real!
There are many reasons people don’t sIeep well. If you’re having trouble sleeping, or waking unrefreshed, drop in to the dispensary or make an appointment today to get your sleep quantity and quality in order.
I love the story War of the Worlds. Mainly because of the twist in the end.
Beware: if you haven’t seen the movie, spoilers are ahead.
It really sums up our relationship to our microscopic friends. We have evolved to live with millions upon millions of bacteria inside and all over our bodies. As soon as we come into the world we are inoculated with our mother’s bacteria. That is providing we travel through the birth canal as normal.
The micro biome you inherit from your mother is as unique to you as your fingerprint. If she has diverse healthy flora so will you. Research has found each part of our body also has its own unique and diverse flora including the mouth, lungs, bladder, stomach, small intestine and colon. Looking after our microbiome is as important as looking after our liver, kidneys and other vital organs. If it is sick and unhealthy we will be too.
What does this have to do with War of the Worlds?
When all seem lost it was bacteria that came to our aid. The aliens were doomed the moment they arrived, ate, drank and breathed. Man has earned his place, by a billion lives and deaths, to exist as part of the planets own micro biome. We diminish our micro biome at our peril.
If you use or take strong mouthwashes, stomach acid inhibitors, the oral contraceptive pill, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs and even certain natural remedies you then need to support your healthy flora.
Is taking mega doses of vitamin D dangerous?
The short answer – it could be. It’s all about balance…..
As well as testing for blood levels of Vitamin D, Vitamin D supplementation requires careful consideration of other nutrient excesses of deficiencies in the body.
It is reasonably common knowledge that low vitamin D is hazardous to our health, however taking Vitamin D at doses higher than 2000 IU / day without a proper assessment could have potentially devastating consequences for your health.
The most concerning of these is that vitamin D in the absence or presence of other vitamins could lead to calcification of the soft tissues of the body. One of the best examples of this is taking vitamin D in the presence of calcium and in the absence of vitamin K2 or with a vitamin K2 deficiency.
Next time you are getting a check up, ask your doctor for a blood test for vitamin D, especially if you have low immunity, chronic inflammation or an auto-immune disease. And no, living in the tropics sadly does not guarantee adequate vitamin D levels.
Once you know your vitamin D levels, if necessary, talk to your naturopath about how much to take in conjunction with the correct diet and nutrients to make sure you aren’t doing any harm.
Parathesia
How important is numbness and or tingling (parathesia)? Possibly very, very important.
Do not underestimate the seriousness of numbness, tingling or burning, among other sensations, often in the hands or feet, one side or both. It can flag more serious underlying problems, some of which can result in irreversible, that is permanent, nerve damage.
Patients often only report this when asked about it, or as a ‘oh by the way…..’ comment. However, this symptom can be a huge red flag and also huge clue as to what is going on with their health.
Once we have considered the smoking guns in this condition, that is, diabetes and alcohol dependence, the next smoking gun is nutritional, both deficiencies and excesses.
Before we go to Dr Google and find out B12 is the main culprit……..is it? A B12 deficiency does cause a type of well described peripheral neuropathy (ie numbness/tingling in hands and feet), but so does a broad range of other nutrients.
The list is long: vitamin E, folate, calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, copper, zinc, B1, B6, B5. It is a deficiency or excess of these nutrients alone or in balance with other nutrients that can cause a problem.
A thorough assessment is required to remedy any nutritional deficiency or excess. It is important to assess the type of parathesia: is it fast or slow onset, one side or both, is it just the hands and feet or also the face and chest, how advanced is it and does it affect walking or gait.
A thorough assessment also includes a look at supplementation and medication, diet and digestion. It’s not just what we eat, it’s what we absorb that is important. Age and specific health issues can also give crucial information.
The Magic of Nutrition, and my Tibouchina bush
No-one can accuse me of having a green thumb. I mow and splash water around and hope for the best. But something has come to my attention. The magic of mulch.
What has this got to do with naturopathy / nutrition I hear you ask, but bear with me.
I have a Tibouchina bush which for years has languished and hardly had the enthusiasm to throw a flower or two. Two years ago, in a fit of gardening fervour I coated my garden beds in a layer of thick mulch. I rented it for two years and have returned to renewed plants. My Tibouchina is a riot of purple flowers and has grown about twice its size.
Which brings me to the magic of nutrition. The same can be said of people who start eating a nutrient dense diet. People languishing for years with low energy, niggling and serious health concerns, can turn their life around with good nutrition and vastly improve their energy levels and general health.
Hoping for best is not such a great strategy when it comes to your health.
For guidance on the best nutritional strategies to help you turn your health around call now.
