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GET INTO THE SWING OF SPRING! By Janet Marshall - Naturopath

 
GET INTO THE SWING OF SPRING! By Janet Marshall- Naturopath

Stuff to Consider Post Winter Hibernation

.. Zinc..Vitamin C.. pH..Cholesterol.. Triglycerides.. Glucose..

 PART ONE

It’s springtime! A time when legs and arms are revealed after long months of cover-up, UV rays reach our skin once again and health and vitality come to the forefront of your mind. To get you into the swing of spring, simple testing for your vitamin C and zinc levels (the sexiest mineral of all), and pH, can determine your post - hibernation health status.

Zinc – the sexiest mineral of all!

What Does Zinc do for us?

In the sexual sphere zinc is ESSENTIAL, especially for men, as it is required for prostate gland function and sperm production. The equation is simple : not enough zinc = not enough healthy sperm.
Zinc is also paramount for immune function – even a slight deficiency can cause dramatic impairments to the body’s ability to repel any invaders. Zinc is required so the body can use protein, without it we can’t make hydrochloric acid in the stomach for digestion it and allows us to taste and smell. It protects the liver and is vital for bone formation. Zinc is also part of a multitude of important enzymes in the body, and can reduce the duration of a cold by going into direct battle with the cold virus – and usually winning. It also increases absorption of vitamins A and E.

How would I know if I was deficient in zinc?

If you have one or any of : thin, peeling nails, or white spots on your nails, acne, fatigue, growth impairment, hair loss, high cholesterol, impaired night vision, impotence, infertility, increased susceptibility to infection, memory impairment, recurrent colds and flu, prostate trouble – suspect zinc deficiency.

Where can I get it?

Brewer’s yeast, egg yolks, fish, lamb, lima beans, liver, meat, mushrooms, oysters, sardines, poultry, pulses, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, whole grains.

VITAMIN C

Why is Vitamin C so good for us?

Vitamin C is most famous for its ability to reduce the likelihood of getting a cold - however there is more to the Vitamin C story! Vitamin C is a mega-strong antioxidant and is required for at least 300 metabolic functions in the body. It helps your body grow and repair itself, and is responsible for adrenal gland function and healthy gums. Vitamin C also helps to produce anti-stress hormones, and is essential for immune system functioning. It helps prevent cancer, protects against effects of pollution, increases absorption of iron, may reduce ‘bad’ cholesterol and increase ‘good’ cholesterol and promotes healing of wounds. Gotta love that vitamin C!

 What reduces vitamin C levels in the body?

Alcohol, analgesics, antidepressants, the Pill, smoking.

What should you eat to get the most vitamin C in your diet?

Berries, citrus fruits, green vegetables – e.g asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, capsicum, oranges, paw paw, spinach, avocadoes.

pH

pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline our bodies are. To maintain optimal health, the body does a very clever thing – it keeps our blood slightly alkaline, in an extremely tight pH range of 7.35 – 7.45. This constant monitoring is a 24 / 7 job. The lower the pH – anything below 7 - the more acidic we are, the higher pH – above 7 - the more alkaline.

One of the ways the body keeps our blood within the normal range is to take calcium from the bones if the blood is too acidic. If this happens too often over a period of time, osteoporosis can result.

A further consequence of acidity (measured by a simple urine test) is that it sets the stage for disease and infections to develop, especially arthritis and rheumatic diseases.

 What Foods Will Make my Body Acidic?

·         Meat

·         Fish

·         Poultry

·          Eggs

·         Most dairy (Milk is neutral in acid/alkaline but high in mucus-forming attributes such as fat)

·         Most grains and legumes (Millet and roasted buckwheat are slightly alkalizing. Soy and lima beans are extremely alkalizing)

·         Refined sugars

·         High fat foods

·         Drugs

·         Food chemicals

Obviously we need to eat some of these foods, such as meat etc. To balance their acidic effect lots of alkaline – forming foods such vegetables and fruit need to be eaten.

What Else Can Make my Body More Acidic?

·         Stress

·         Lack of exercise

·         poor dietary habits – junk /processed food

Foods to Eat to Prevent Acidity

·         Fruits

·         Vegetables

·         Sprouts

·         Cereal grasses

·         Culinary herbs

Special Offer - As part of our Spring Promotion, Janet is offering COMPLIMENTARY Naturopathy testing including Zinc, Vitamin C, pH, Cholesterol, Triglycerides, Glucose

 Watch this space next month for PART 2 on cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose