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A few thoughts to get you going as a healthy woman.You’ve heard it a million and a half times, take your calcium and vitamin D. Those are OK recommendations but you can do sooo much better. You may learn more about osteoporosis than you ever thought possible. So bear with me, if you haven’t heard some of these things before, don’t worry. Most doctors don’t know this stuff, either. Osteoporosis is much more complicated than “Take Fosamax and calcium with D”.

Why does osteoporosis even happen?

• Either you are not eating enough calcium, or
• You don’t absorb it well
• You can’t put calcium in your bones
• You are pulling too much calcium out of your bones

We can’t cover everything, but you will have a good start. But wait Dr Altman, “I’m only 35, I don’t have osteoporosis.” No, maybe not, but bone loss can start that young, though. Today we are talking prevention, NOT early detection.I saw a stick for cancer awareness last week that said “Early detection is the best prevention”. No, it’s not. Prevention is prevention. That means doing the right things 10 or 20 years before “early detection”. Cancer can grow for 20 years before it is detectable.

Eating calcium

When doctors tell you 1200mg per day that includes what you are eating. Two cups of greens has more calcium than a glass of Milk.It is the most abundant mineral in the human body. You need it. But when a doctor tells you to take calcium, that’s it, “just take some calcium”. Well folks, there are different forms of calcium. Most of what is on the market is Calcium Carbonate. It is nothing more than limestone rock. It is great money maker for the supplement companies who spit it out as healthy.

You might not even be getting in you

Since well over 90% of the calcium in the market is calcium carbonate. It is fairly insoluble, and to absorb any of it you need a strong stomach acid. So it would be better to take an ionized calcium that doesn’t need your stomach acid as much. A calcium lactate, calcium citrate, or calcium gluconate would be much better. I’d be very leary of any of the coral calciums for this reason.You can always tell a doctor who doesn’t know much about nutrition when they tell a patient to take TUMS for their calcium. It will make you WORSE. You need the acid to absorb the calcium.Once you have a good source, you need some vitamin D to actually get it into your blood stream. My favorite source is “sunshine”, it is great for you. After that, especially for winter, cod liver oil is my next favorite. Let me know if you would still like a way to order it. It isn’t as easy as Standad Process, but we can find a way if enough people want to.

You’re Not Putting Calcium In Your Bones.

If you have arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) you don’t need more calcium. You need more of the things that put calcium in the bones like: trace minerals and magnesium. They are removed in processed foods to extend shelf life and most food is grown in soil with less minerals.

For women:

• A lack of progesterone (hormone) is a major reason calcium isn’t put in the bones.
• A high level of corticol (hormone) is a second common factor that actually competes with progesterone for places in the bones.

So think about this. A woman takes the birth control pill for 10 years and subsequently has a very low progesterone production. She has the typical high stress (high cortisol) American life, job, kids, husband troubles, debt, and other bad nutritional habits.Over the next 10 years, she continues and gets more tired, more lethargic, more over weight, and starts taking some pharmaceutical hormones to give her a boost.Now there is almost no progesterone coming in to put calcium in the bones and loads of cortisol from the adrenal gland stress to block anything thats left. So now getting calcium is very difficult to get in and make the bones strong.Sound familiar to any one?

You Are Pulling Too Much Out.

The number one thing that can pull calcium out of your bones is phosphates. You can find them in dark sodas. They are also in processed foods as stabilizers, buffers, conditioners, or acidifiers.Some medications also push calcium out of the body. If you want to check any, there is a book called “The Nutritional Cost Of Prescription Drugs”Osteoporosis isn’t as easy as taking calcium

A few other tips for using calcium that may help

If Osteoporosis is already going- Take Calcifood wafers – It has all the proper nutrients in the right balance for building bones.Back pain or bone pain- Take Cal-Ma Plus- It can also be used for osteoporosis temporarily.Muscle cramps- Calcium Lactate- on an empty stomach or try some magnesium, or possibly cataplex F.Osteoporosis- Calcium Lactate- with foodImmune system help-Calcium Lactate- on an empty stomachAllergy symptoms- Cal Amo- the sinus cavities have become too alkaline. This combats that.Difficulty falling asleep- Cal Sol or Calcium Lactate– before bedA little summary for you.This is a big topic, so get your exercise, eat your dark greens, take some Standard Process supplements if you have been slacking, get your hormones checked, and decrease your stress.You can still get FREE consultation time for 3 more days.Just email docaltman [at]gmail [dot] com.

If the function of the adrenal gland is compromised, many symptoms may appear such as:

• Fatigue,

• The need for more sleep,

• Irritablity,

• Anxiousness,

• Low libido,

• Sighing or yawning a lot

• Long standing poor immune system

If you have any one of these problems, you may want to keep reading. I am going to cover how fatigue starts to build, dietary guidelines, natural supplements, and herbal remedies.

Just so you know, I have had to work my way out of two adrenal crashes for myself.  You would think I would learn after one, but what I want you to realize is there are specific ways to drive your body in to the ground and specific things to do to bring it back to life.  The last straw that forced me to change my life was my wife kicking me out of bed.  I knew things were bad when I slept through 6 snooze alarms.  I literally could not get out of bed.  In case you need a red flag to look for, here it is.  I never use an alarm clock anymore, and depending on the type of job you have you may need one, but if you need a snooze alarm, you’re in trouble.  You can go many years with this behavior, but it is an early warning sign that your adrenal glands are fatigued.

The first cause of adrenal insufficiency and fatigue.

Stress

…yes, the little pest that we all seem to be annoyed by.  It is not possible to have zero stress, but how much we take on and more importantly, how well we handle stress will determine the effects on our bodies.   Stress to me — is conflict.  Not just an argument, but conflict in emotions, in how you live life, who your friends are or just your desires.  I know that sounds vague but it boils down to:

• Having things you don’t want.

• Doing things you don’t want to do.

• Desiring things you can’t have.

The adrenal glands allow us to adapt to stress.  Lots of stress can burn them out.  Fixing the stressors  in your life is the most critical job in getting out of adrenal fatigue.  I’ve done it twice.  Both times I had too many irons in the fire, and as they say I was burning the candle at both ends.  I made the changes you see here.

The second cause of adrenal insufficiency and fatigue.

Diet…

Eating a good diet in general helps but there are some very specific foods that directly affect the adrenal glands.  One interesting point that relates to stress and diet is the outpouring of adrenaline with a high stress level.  The adrenaline causes a rise in blood sugar, which if isn’t used in a “fight or flight”  now has to be lowered with the pancreas producing insulin.  It can perpetuate blood sugar problems.  Also, take care not to allow the blood sugar to go too low by skipping meals, that will just kick the adrenals into high gear to produce a hormone known as cortisol to raise the blood sugar.

Carbs…

Eating refined carbohydrates and sugars can lead to a blood sugar roller coaster.  As insulin floods into your bloodstream it often crashes the blood sugar below acceptable levels.  Your adrenal glands have to come to the rescue and raise the blood sugar by increasing cortisol output again.  As a reminder, refined carbs are things like cereal, most bread, muffins, donuts, most pastas and stuff that comes in a box.

Fat…

This is one of my favorite topics because it is often the most misunderstood.  One of the greatest myths of all time is that of a low fat diet.  It has caused more disease and problems than almost any other dietary advice ever given.  The adrenal hormones that are in such precious demand to combat the stress of life are made from FAT and most specifically cholesterol.  Yes, you read that right.  Now look at this scenario.  A forty year old, in a high stress job / life, kids, taking cholesterol drugs and following a low fat diet recommended by his doctor.  That’s pretty common.  Now look at the symptoms above and they are pretty common as well.  Hmmmm.  Fat as I refer to it is good fats not just any old fat.  The best fat an adrenal fatigued person can consume would be cod liver oil.

Salt…

This could almost be as controversial as eating fat.  Salt isn’t as evil as it is led to be.  Once again this refers to unrefined sea salt, most specifically Celtic Sea Salt.  I will have more articles on this later but for now I will relate to clinical cases.  The adrenals use salt in abundance for many things.  We see this very clearly with people when we do the purification program and salt is eliminated from the diet.  If people are suffering from moderate to advanced adrenal fatigue and we deprive them of salt, they get more tired and lethargic.  As soon as we add Celtic Sea Salt back into their diets they spring to life like a man crawling through the desert who finds a bottle of water.

Caffeine…

Caffeine is a stimulant to the inner part of the adrenal gland.  It causes a rise in adrenaline, which in turn causes the outer adrenal parts to kick in to calm you down.  Constant caffeine intake can lead to adrenal gland burnout.

As you fix some of these things you may be wondering what else you can do.  Here are some of the whole-food supplements and herbal supplements I have used over the years.  When it comes to the adrenals there are quite a few things that you can use this is not an all-inclusive list, but some of the major things I have used and why.  Best to talk to me about specific problems if these problems relate to you.  As a side note, what always makes me feel better than any supplement–an adjustment.

The two supplements I am currently using that you can see on the front desk anytime are:

1. Adrenal Complex Tablets:  I use these for fatigue, sleep, irritability and any anxiety.  I mostly use them to combat general fatigue.

2. Rhodiola and Ginseng Tablets: I take one everyday to give my body a little boost of energy and truth be told I have another secret.  I did a little research into lactic acid build-up and I use this to help prevent this.  Just exactly why this is so important I will let you read the much longer explanation in my new book coming soon.

3. Cataplex B:  I take this every day.  The wheels of energy manufacturing (Kreb’s Cycle) need the specific natural B’s in this supplement.  It also helps with my nerve conduction and as a chiropractor, I love it when my nerves are humming along at top speed.  If you also read Bruce West’s articles , you will appreciate how important and powerful this is for the heart.

4. Withania Complex:  I used this many years ago during my first adrenal crash.  When I was in chronic fatigue and just generally run down this helped pull me out and then after I felt better I used the next one.

5. Eleuthero:  This is Siberian Ginseng, and is typically used to maintain resistance to stress.  So, that is how I used it.

6. Drenamin: As an ongoing adrenal food supplement.  This has been good for overall maintenance.

7. Astragalus Complex: This goes back about 10 years ago, after we started the office I was so busy with a new family, new business, new home and lots of constant stress.  I was sick and had a low grade illness that wouldn’t go away.  I think I would have done even better if they had the Adrenal Complex back then, but that is fairly new.

If you need to get better these things aren’t that difficult to change.  A life of energy and vitality is worth it.  Most of us have some adrenal fatigue and could benefit from some of the suggestions here.

Remember: Identify and fix the stressors in your life.  Eat fewer refined carbs, more good fats, get some Celtic sea salt and less caffeine.  If you are feeling some of the effects I was you may want to try some of the supplements.  For questions, just post a comment on the bottom of this page.

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I’m not talking about the Charlie Daniels Band playing with the “fiddle of gold, against your soul.”

Let’s say Mr. Faust comes into the office with asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, colitis, and skin rashes and maybe a little lupus for good measure. These problems have one thing in common. I’ll tell you later, hang-on.

Now Mr. Faust was given the usual meds. The steroid inhalers made his asthma go away, his body pains disappeared with the Prednisone, along with the bloody diarrhea and his long-standing skin rash.

Mr. Faust was not too keen about the notorious side- effects showing up. His face was swelling, his mood was unstable, he got stomach ulcers, diabetes, and osteoporosis.

Now his original problems were coming back, too— “up the dose of Prednisone and the other steroids.”

He is now addicted to the medication, why?

Mr. Faust has weak adrenal glands.

The Prednisone takes the place of the adrenal glands. Instead of stealing from Peter to pay Paul, Prednisone turns Peter into a loan shark. You need him now, and more and more in the future. I don’t need to tell you what happens when you stiff the loan shark.

If some form of cortisone works –then the adrenals are weak. Tada problems solved, right!

How Do The Adrenal Glands Poop Out?

Are you tired? Stressed? Work a lot? Sleep little? Do you go,go,go and go some more?

You are frying your adrenals, I know, I’ve done it.

You might remember those early frying pan commercials where they drop some eggs in and the announcer comes on and says “this is your brain on drugs”. Those are your adrenal glands now. Then drugs like Prednisone take your adrenals and put them in the microwave to make sure all the life is cooked out of them.

I can’t help you with the medications but I can start you on the road to healing your adrenals. The bottom line is that if Prednisone makes your symptoms go away or get better, you can bet that you have an adrenal problem. Now if the medics deny this fact of physiology, that doesn’t mean it’s not true.

So What Do Your Tired, Sore, and Stepped On Adrenal Glands Need To Start Making Hormones Again?

1. Fat-Yes the sick, twisted, and wrong thinking low-fat diets are killing your ability to make hormones.

2. ALL, yes ALL, yes, one more time ALL adrenal hormones come from CHOLESTEROL. All those wonderful adrenal hormones that help us deal with stress, inflammation, and even injuries come from cholesterol. You need cholesterol

3. The adrenals can’t use the cholesterol without Vitamin A. So take your cod liver oil.

4. Since the adrenals are also involved in sugar regulation, don’t eat simple sugars. Try keeping your carbohydrate load below 75 grams a day.

5. And lastly I have to step on one more medical myth. Your adrenals NEED natural salt. Not Morton’s, but Celtic Sea Salt. I’ve seen this impressive fact directly. When we do the purification program and someone has weak adrenals, it shows up about in the second week, because there is no salt in the program. They have near immediate improvement in fatigue when they take Celtic Sea Salt. And no, it doesn’t raise blood pressure.