How to supercharge your blood

The benefits of blood electrification treatment

In the previous issue of the Red Clover Clinic Newsletter, I presented the benefits of electro-acupuncture medicine. I discussed how adding electricity to treatments can increase blood flow, stimulate the production of new cells, support toxin elimination, improve immune function, calm inflammation, and reduce stress. In this article I would like to talk about how targeting the blood with electricity is like a supercharge to your body. 

Understanding terrain theory

Back in January 2020, I wrote an article discussing the differences between terrain theory and germ theory, titled Why do we get sick? Looking back, my timing was uncanny! The basic premise of terrain theory is that we don’t get sick because germs are present; rather, germs can thrive because our bodies are weakened, stressed, and malnourished. From an electro-medicine standpoint, the body gets sick because it is low voltage, i.e., it has an electron deficiency.

The field of epigenetics has also grown out of this concept of terrain theory. Epigenetics is the study of how environment and lifestyle turn our genes on and off, affecting our health more than the genes themselves. This five-minute video by cell biologist Bruce Lipton illustrates how he came to the understanding that “less than 1% of illness is connected to genes, and over 90% of illness is connected to how you respond to the environment.” Toward the end of the video he makes a connection even more relevant to this article: “Consider the conditions of the culture medium, and in the human body, that’s blood.” 

How to get electricity into the blood and what does it do?

The mechanism of getting electricity into the blood is a lot simpler and less painful than it sounds. First, we need to understand that the fibrous covering of blood vessels is the third-most conductive tissue in the body. Second, we need to select a location on the body where the arteries lie close to the surface. The radial and ulnar arteries run just under the skin at the palm side of the wrist, where you would feel your pulse. In the office, I slide an acupuncture needle next to the artery. Another option is to use a TENS pad (see image below) over the pulse points. Of course, the needle or TENS pad needs to be connected to a device that emits the proper type of current. You can read more about that in my previous article. 

The benefits of doing this treatment include improving circulation; decreasing inflammation; strengthening the immune system by inhibiting viral, bacterial and fungal load in the blood; increasing body voltage and overall energy; promoting detoxification; and stimulating the production of new blood cells. A simple way to think about this is that electrons are an antioxidant and have a healing systemic effect on the body. As I already stated, this treatment supercharges the body by correcting the terrain.

A video showing the effects of adding electrons into the blood

In this eight-minute video, Dr. Jeremy Steiner, with whom I have been studying, shows the effects of the blood electrification treatment on blood cells, using dark field microscopy.  

How to get the most benefit from the blood electrification treatment

It is best to begin doing this treatment for 15 minutes and see how you feel. If you aren’t suffering from detoxification symptoms (headache, fatigue, aching joints, nerves on fire, skin itching, etc.), you can increase the time by another 15 minutes. Proceed in this manner until you are up to one to two hours a day. After four months, you can typically reduce usage to one to two times a week.

I frequently use this treatment with my clients when they are in the office for an acupuncture treatment. Each treatment will have a healing effect on the immune system, even if it can't yet be measured or noticed. If you are interested in ramping up the treatment and doing it daily, because you want to feel better, have a chronic condition, and/or are struggling with immune issues, there is an affordable unit that you can purchase from our office to do this at home. It is designed in such a way that you can wear it on your body and go about your day  without it being too cumbersome. 

Cautions

There are a few cautions to be aware of with this treatment. It should not be used by individuals with an implanted device, such as a pacemaker or defibrillator, or in pregnancy, without talking to their doctor. As the body heals and absorption increases, you may need to talk with your doctor if you need a dosage adjustment of a prescription medication. Finally, it should not be used near water, when driving a car, or when operating heavy equipment.

If you are curious about how to incorporate this treatment into your health program, please ask me about it at your next visit. It is quite empowering to have a tool that helps you to change the terrain of your body beyond changing your diet and increasing your exercise. It has been a game-changer for me personally. I have struggled with chemical sensitivity and fatigue for years, in spite of very healthy lifestyle habits. This self-treatment protocol is giving me my energy back and has reduced systemic inflammation. As Bruce Lipton said in the video:  “Change how you respond to the environment, and you change the characteristics of your life.“

Marie's body of knowledge

Are you looking for more distance out of your golf swing and reducing back pain and stiffness during or following your round of golf? Areas that commonly restrict a good backswing and follow-through are stiffness in the thoracic spine and rib cage, tight hip flexors, and decreased lumbar and pelvic rotation. Thoracic and rib cage stiffness and reduced rotation also over-stress the neck and result in neck and shoulder pain. 

A comprehensive physical therapy assessment of pelvic symmetry, spine mobility, and muscle flexibility, particularly of the hip flexors, could prove to be the ticket! Addressing limitations with myofascial release, flexibility exercises, and targeted strengthening of weak muscles may help reduce pain and get more yards off the tee and fairway. Also performing 5-10 minutes of trunk rotation and shoulder stretching exercises with a golf club, prior to teeing it up on the 1st tee, helps to loosen up the joints and muscles and improves the sense of achievement that goes along with striking the perfect golf shot.

Electro-acupuncture medicine

I’ve used electric stimulation in my practice to some degree for many years. Applying an electrical current helps strengthen muscles, block pain signals, and improve blood circulation. In late summer 2023, I took my first training with Dr. Jeremy Steiner of the Electro-Acupuncture Institute and followed up with additional training. Dr. Steiner's approach is different and far more comprehensive than other electric stimulation techniques I've used, and thus is called electro-acupuncture medicine. I've incorporated it more and more in the clinic and have observed that outcomes are significantly improved. 

Why add electricity to an acupuncture treatment

Electro-acupuncture works by adding energy to specific acupuncture channels to improve energy flow throughout the body. Adding electricity to an acupuncture treatment will enhance or add to the treatment effects. Electro-acupuncture can:

• Stimulate more efficient production of new cells

• Offer pain relief and calm inflammation

• Remove toxins from the body

• Increase blood flow

• Reduce stress hormones

• Improve immune function

Our cells are damaged by injuries, toxins, infections, and more. The body needs to create new cells to repair the damage. Voltage is the driving force behind cellular function and is regulated by various factors, including thyroid hormone, dental infections, and exercise. Chronic disease is often associated with low body voltage—meaning, the body can’t keep up with cellular renewal. The body is designed to function at -25 mV, and requires -50 mV to generate new cells. Since our body is in a constant state of cellular renewal, higher voltage is the key to maintaining and improving health.

The devices 

In the past, I used run-of-the-mill electric stimulation devices, which are high amperage (volume of electricity) and low voltage (electrical potential). These worked well to either relax a muscle that was too tight, or stimulate a muscle that was too weak. Unfortunately, the treatment with these devices can be uncomfortable. To be effective, it is typical to use strong stimulation, causing the muscles to spasm. 

The new devices that I use are high voltage and low amperage; in other words, the opposite. This decreases discomfort because only mild stimulation is necessary. The electricity produced is also more congruent with the body’s electricity, improving the healing outcomes. These devices also have particular frequencies programmed in them that can be selected to match the condition and treatment. The protocol uses two devices simultaneously, each programmed with a different frequency. This creates a blanketing effect of frequencies, allowing the body to choose the frequency it needs to enhance the healing process and discard those it doesn't need. 

The bottom line is that the proper voltage, amperage, and frequencies are required so that the electricity can reach the energy-deficient and damaged tissue and support cellular regeneration and repair.

The outcomes

I have seen many positive responses to electro-acupuncture treatments. In some cases, I simply added electricity to my usual treatments, and in others, I chose to follow a four-point protocol with electricity. Both have been very effective. I have seen improved relief of pain, increased energy and well-being, decreased anxiety, improved sleep, and in cases of diabetic neuropathy, I’m beginning to see increased sensation. As I continue to implement these treatments, I hope to see even more improvements, especially in chronic, hard-to-treat conditions. 

Hidden Toxic Stressors We Don’t Think About, Part 2

In the last issue of Red Clover Clinic Newsletter, we introduced the topic of hidden toxic stressors, including  signs your body is struggling with toxicity and if so, how to address toxicity.

In this issue, we offer questions to help you analyze how toxic your diet and environment are.

Is your water safe?

Do you drink water straight from the tap? You might consider getting some kind of filtering system. There are many chemicals hiding in tap water, including chlorine and fluoride, things that are added to our water that purportedly protect our health. The problem is, if you’re struggling with toxicity, these things will only add to the problem. Check out Tap Water Toxicity & Your Guide to Water Filters for more information.

If you think that bottled water will keep you safe, think again! There have been many reports that the water used in many brands of bottled water is simply tap water. Furthermore, most bottled water is stored in plastic bottles, which can leach chemicals into the water, also adding to increased toxicity. There are good options available, but I recommend doing your research.

What’s hiding in your food?

When grocery shopping, do you take the time to read labels? If not, it’s time to start. Processed foods have many less-than-nutritious ingredients added to them and are typically high in hidden sugars, preservatives, additives, and food colorings. Food additives and colorings have been associated with hyperactivity and allergic reactions. Artificial sweeteners like aspartame are considered to be neurotoxins. Even “healthier” alcohol sugars like xylitol can cause digestive distress. Check out 6-Step Checklist to Avoid the Worst Ingredients for some information on on unsafe food ingredients.

Another source of toxins in food is residue from herbicide and pesticides. See Are You Eating the Most Pesticide- Laden Produce? for a list of the 2017 “dirty dozen” foods. Choosing foods with the “Organic” label will help protect you from these harmful chemicals. Organic Farming: 5 Major Benefits will help you better understand the benefits of organic farming.

Another label to look for is “Non-GMO.” Genetically modified foods are heavily sprayed with chemicals, most notably Roundup, which is associated with many health problems, including infertility and cancer. Read this article for more information on the dangers of Roundup: Monsanto Roundup Linked to Infertility and Cancer. There is also some concern with how genetically modified foods themselves affect the body. All in all, it’s better just to avoid them!

Are there hidden ingredients in your health and beauty products?

Do you live by the motto “beauty knows no pain?” You might be surprised to learn that the pain caused by health and beauty products is more insidious than you think. It is just as important to read labels on your cosmetics, lotions, hair products, and perfumes as it is on your foods. There are many chemicals that find their way into these products, some of which are endocrine disruptors, such as phthalates. Don’t forget about nail polish, hair dye, hair treatments…and bath bombs. Check out the Environmental Working Groups safety database of cosmetics.

Are your cleaning products safe?

More and more, people are becoming aware of the dangers associated with cleaning products. Aside from chemical burns and lung damage due to inhalation, cleaning products contain fragrances and other chemicals that can overtax our bodies’ detoxification mechanisms. Something as simple as dryer sheets can wreak havoc with our endocrine system as well as cause harm to the environment.

Bleach seems to be a common cleaning product that finds its way into even the most natural of homes. Read The Dangers of Bleach + Never Mix Bleach with These Three Cleaning Ingredients to learn more about the dangers associated with bleach.

By this time you may be asking, what can I clean my house with? Here is a great resource for safe and natural cleaning products: The Best Natural Cleaning Products to Limit Your Toxin Exposure.

Do you take medications, get the flu shot or have amalgam fillings?

This is where the can of worms I mentioned in the last newsletter gets “wormier.” I have no desire to get between a client and their medical doctor or dentist. My goal is to provide resources for my clients to educate themselves on risks associated with things like medications, vaccines, and amalgam fillings. My primary concern is detoxification and whether or not your system is overburdened or not. In other words, can your body handle the extra burden of one of these treatments? Sometimes certain treatments are necessary, and you have to find other ways to promote detoxification. Other times it’s better to find safer alternatives.

Do you find yourself taking ibuprofen daily to help with your aches and pains? Doing so brings about an extra burden on your kidneys, liver and digestive system. Think about whether you want to risk long-term effects. Check out Take Painkillers Often? Here’s How to Avoid Ibuprofen Overdose for a great discussion of the risks associated with ibuprofen as well as some good alternatives. If acetaminophen is what you use, you still need to exercise caution. Read Acetaminophen: is it as safe as we think? to learn about the risks associated with long-term acetaminophen use.

The flu shot is also a sticky topic. Whether you choose to get it or not is up to you. Just know you may have to do some extra detoxification from the additives and adjuvants (a substance that enhances the body’s immune response to an antigen) in the vaccine as well as from the immune residue of the attenuated viruses. Whether or not you get the flu shot, 12 Flu Natural Remedies is a good article on how to stay healthy during the flu season

Most of us have or have had amalgam fillings in our mouths. They are about 50 percent mercury, which is a very dangerous substance to expose our bodies to. There are now many alternatives to these potentially harmful fillings that are also cosmetically more appealing. If you are thinking of having your amalgam fillings replaced, you may want to consider coming in for some Nutrition Response Testing first, so we can get you on a program to prepare your body for the procedure. If your detox pathways are already overburdened, going through the process of removal will expose you to more mercury, causing potential side effects. It is also best to seek out a holistic dentist who will take more precautions to protect you from the mercury. To learn more about amalgam fillings, read The Dangers of Amalgam Fillings.

The benefits of detoxification

To recap, it is important to assist your body in the detoxification process to maintain and/or improve your health. There are many things you come across in your daily life that may be increasing the toxic burden on your body, and it is good to be aware of how you can make better and safer choices.  The more you control what you can, the less the stuff you can’t control—such as air pollution—will impact your health.

Again, here are the benefits of making less toxic choices:

• Decrease toxic load of the body, and improve liver function

• Reduce inflammation

• Aid weight loss

• Promote skin health

• Increase energy and mental function

If you need help figuring out what might be causing you symptoms of toxicity and would like to improve your body’s ability to detoxify, Nutrition Response Testing can help!

Hidden toxic stressors we don’t think about, Part 1

We hear more and more these days about the importance of “clean living,” but what does that mean to you? Are you aware of the many sources of toxins you are exposed to on a daily basis? Do you think something is safe just because it is on a store’s shelf, or because your doctor or dentist recommends or prescribes it?

We live in a toxic world. We are bombarded daily by toxic chemicals, metals, and microbes through our water, foods, cosmetics, cleaning products, medications, and medical treatments.

Our body is designed to eliminate the toxins that, along with metabolic byproducts, it can’t use. When the body is overwhelmed by the sheer volume of toxins it is exposed to, the system backs up and inflammation results. Persistent inflammation and the inability to detoxify are two signs of ensuing or entrenched chronic disease.

What are signs that your body is struggling with detoxification?

• Brain fog

• Headaches

• Fatigue

• Food sensitivities

• Constipation

• Bloating

• Nausea

• Insomnia

• Skin problems

• Depression

• Mood swings

• Bad breath

• Aches and pains

• Hormonal dysregulation

• Frequent illness

• Belly fat

How can toxicity in the body be addressed?

There are two ways to address toxicity. First, we can improve the body’s ability to detoxify through things that stimulate and promote detoxification, such as supplements, herbs, homeopathy, saunas, salt baths, and enemas. Second, we can remove as many toxins as possible from our diet and environment to limit exposure. The best choice is to do some of both. If someone is truly ill, they may have to use any method possible to get their body to function normally.

The benefits of detoxification

It is important to assist your body in the detoxification process to maintain and/or improve your health. There are many things you come across in your daily life that may be increasing the toxic burden on your body, and it is good to be aware of how you can make better and safer choices.  The more you control what you can, the less the stuff you can’t control, such as air pollution, will impact your health.​​​​​​​

The benefits of making less-toxic choices:

• Decrease toxic load of the body, and improve liver function

• Reduce inflammation

• Aid weight loss

• Promote skin health

• Increase energy and mental function

I realize I may be opening a can of worms, but my hope in this newsletter and the next (May/June) is to offer food for thought so that individuals can make informed choices about what they allow their body to be exposed to. The May/June issue will offer ways to  analyze how toxic your diet and environment are and what you can do to mitigate the effects.

If you’re interested in finding out how to help your body detoxify, and what kinds of toxicity your body is struggling with, make an appointment for a Nutrition Response Testing session.

Liver health – give yourself a fighting chance!

By Roberta Benson

Our health depends on our body’s ability to cope with all we encounter: substances taken in through air, mouth, and skin; mental and physical experiences; and the substances produced by every biological process of our bodies. The main detoxifying organ we have is the liver. It does an invaluable service in filtering blood and breaking down and then packaging toxins for safe removal. To give ourselves a fighting chance against the rampant toxicity of modern life, we need to cleanse and nurture this wonderful organ.

Stresses on the liver 

In the last 150 years, human-made chemicals used in modern lifestyles have increased exponentially. Pesticides, industrial compounds, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, particulates, and ever-present plastics are toxins our ancestors did not have to contend with.

Our modern diet also generates a load on our body. We rely heavily on processed foods that have much of the nutritive value stripped out and additives that extend shelf life slipped in. Agricultural practices deplete the soil and add petrochemical pollution. Our hectic lifestyle depends on crutches such as caffeine, alcohol, poor quality fats, and sugar to make it through the day. Meanwhile, our basic physiology has scarcely changed from Paleolithic times. Our environment has changed radically but our biology has not. We are not equipped to handle the onslaught of chemicals we are exposed to. This poses a real problem for our health.

Built-in capacity to detox

Our bodies do have a built-in capacity for detoxification. With every breath, we exhale carbon dioxide. Sweating removes heat from our body and also rids us of BPA (Bisphenol A, a plastic derivative) and heavy metals. The liver, kidneys, and lymph system work at filtering and cleaning our body fluids. All these biological processes operate to promote and maintain efficient cellular and organ functioning. Yet in today’s world we accumulate more waste than our daily detox mechanisms can process. It’s a no-brainer that we need to support our detoxification pathways.

Of all the organs of detoxification, the liver, the hardest working organ of our body,  deserves to be singled out. Not only is it responsible for over 200 different metabolic processes, it also filters roughly 2 quarts of blood per minute! Harmful substances are filtered out and, in an intricate process, the liver deactivates these wastes and re-packages them for safe removal from the body.

Liver’s self-detoxification

The liver detoxifies in two phases.

• In Phase 1, the liver is able to break substances down with enzymes into forms the body can remove immediately. No further processing is necessary. Coffee is one example of a substance detoxified in Phase 1. Other substances however, are broken down into intermediate compounds that are even more dangerous to the body than the original substance was. These compounds require further processing to be detoxified.

• In Phase 2, the intermediate substances are broken down further, and then bound with proteins or other water-soluble molecules. These can then be safely excreted from the body. Acetaminophen (Tylenol), xenoestrogens (estrogen mimickers), and glyphosate (the byproduct of Round Up) are a few of the many toxic substances that require the two-step process.

Detoxification works best when the body isn’t engaged in other biological processes, in particular, digestion. Both bodily functions occur best when our system is in its “rest and repair” (parasympathetic) state. The body, however, prioritizes digestion over detoxification. Undigested food rots and ferments in the gastrointestinal tract, causing inflammation. This spells trouble down the road. Because of this, much of our liver’s detox work occurs when we give our digestive system a rest whether at night or during an elimination diet, which is one component of a liver cleanse, as we shall see.

Elements of a good liver cleanse

So, what is the anatomy of a good liver cleanse? In general, there are a few crucial elements.

1. An elimination diet. Removing major allergens and hard-to-digest foods relieves the liver from many of its other functions, freeing it up to purge. Corn, gluten, eggs, meat, sugar, processed foods, coffee, and alcohol are some examples of foods that can be eliminated. An initial, short (1 day) liquid-only fast can be helpful in clearing the colon.

2. Improving circulation and enhancing elimination. All elimination pathways need to be open and flowing. Optimal hydration, manual therapies such as dry skin brushing, saunas, and massage, are techniques that are helpful to enhance blood flow and lymph flow. Toxins released from tissues, but not removed from the body, however, will ultimately be re-absorbed and could also cause side effects like nausea or headache.

3. The liver needs some supplementation. As mentioned above, Phase I detoxification is enzyme-driven and largely dependent on a plentiful supply of antioxidant nutrients. Whole complex E, C, the carotenoids, selenium, glutathione/NAC are some of the important substances for this phase of detoxification. Antioxidants and vitamins, however, are team players. They do not function well as isolated components of a complex. The Red Clover Clinic article on whole food concentrates vs. synthetic supplements. Understanding supplements: synthetic vitamins vs. whole food concentrates, explains this concept.

4. The liver needs to be optimally fed. Phase 2 detoxification requires several different substances to accomplish detoxification. Amino acids (proteins molecules) are one, making good, clean proteins critical in the diet. (This is one of the reasons why fasting and drinking only water are counter-productive for liver detoxification. During such fasts, the liver is starved of the nutrients it needs to do its work! Another substance required by some Phase 2 detoxification pathways are sulphur-bearing molecules. Here, consuming vegetables from the allium family is helpful because of their high sulphur content. These include onions, shallots, and garlic. Yet other pathways depend on nutrients found in the cruciferous family: broccoli, cabbage and kale are examples.

5. Specific herbal and food support for the liver. There are also foods and herbs that nurture the liver and its companion, the gall badder. Milk thistle, of which silymarin is the active constituent, is very protective and regenerative for the liver. Beets help thin bile, which in turn carries toxins out of the body via the intestines. Dandelion, yellow dock and burdock root are herbs used to promote liver health.

This is not meant to be an exhaustive list of nutrients necessary for liver health, nor is it meant to be a recipe for a cleanse. Instead this article is intended to supply a basic understanding of how our liver functions to protect our bodies from toxin load. Your nutrition specialist can help you design a detoxification program tailored to you and your needs.

Roberta is certified through the Nutritional Therapy Association and is currently studying Nutrition Response Testing and Morphogenic Field Technique. Currently she is practicing as a massage therapist at Red Clover Clinic, and is hoping to begin offering nutrition sessions to our clients soon.

Do you have a leaky gut?

In the May/June issue of the Red Clover Clinic Newsletter, we discussed the microbiome in your gut and how to attend to it. We used the label “dysbiosis” to describe a microbiome that is out of balance, that is, one with an abundance of harmful bacteria not managed by beneficial bacteria. The concept of dysbiosis leads us to the topic of this issue: leaky gut syndrome.

What is leaky gut syndrome?

The lining of your digestive tract is designed to be porous, so that you are able to absorb necessary nutrients into your bloodstream. When the lining becomes irritated and inflamed, the pores expand, allowing larger particles of semi-digested food to leak through the lining. These larger particles can include proteins (e.g. gluten and casein), undigested food particles, bad bacteria, and toxic waste. Ultimately the contents that leak out of the digestive tract and into the bloodstream trigger an immune reaction in the body.

What causes a gut to become leaky?

• Poor diet: sugar (feeds bad bacteria), un-sprouted whole grains (contain anti-nutrients), genetically modified foods (high in anti-nutrients and herbicides/pesticides), and conventional (pasteurized and homogenized) dairy

• Exposure to toxins: medications, herbicides, pesticides

• Dysbiosis: overgrowth of bad bacteria in the gut

• Chronic stress: stress hormones trigger an overgrowth of bad bacteria in the gut

What are the signs of a leaky gut?

As proteins, undigested food particles, bad (disease-causing) bacteria and toxins leak out of the gut and into the bloodstream, they trigger the body’s immune system to react. If you have a leaky gut, you might notice an increase in allergy symptoms, multiple food sensitivities, irritable bowel, fatigue, achy joints, headaches, acne, eczema, rosacea, weight gain, mood imbalance, hormonal imbalance, and/or any autoimmune disease.

It is especially important to note that behind most autoimmune disease, you will find a leaky gut. This means that if you have an autoimmune disease, you must make it a priority to heal your gut first. For more information, you might enjoy reading Amy Myers’ book, The Autoimmune Solution.

How do you repair a leaky gut?

Most experts agree on four basic “R’s” to repair a leaky gut.

1. Remove inflammatory foods and toxins.

2. Replace with healing foods and digestive support (enzymes, hydrochloric acid, bile salts)

3. Repair with supplements, such as bone broth, collagen, L-Glutamine, omega 3 fats, aloe, chlorophyll, licorice root, quercetin and slippery elm.

4. Rebalance/Reinoculate with probiotics, fermented veggies, and raw cultured dairy.

As you can see, the health of your gut plays a role in many, if not most, health conditions. Eating a clean and healthy diet and recognizing the early signs of something gone awry is the best way to avoid developing chronic health problems. If you need help figuring out what is at the root of your health complaints, Nutrition Response Testing is a wonderful tool, and we are here to support you through the healing process.

The invisible universe of the human microbiome

The wild world in your gut

You may have noticed the term “microbiome” being used more often in everyday discourse about health. What exactly does the word mean?  What role does the microbiome play in our health? Let’s take a look…

What is the microbiome?

The microbiome refers to the diverse environment of bacteria living in and on the body. Most often when the term is used, it is referring to bacteria in the gut. There are three to ten times the number of bacteria living in the gut as there are human cells in the body. This may sound a bit disconcerting, but we’re awfully lucky to have these microbial guests. They help us digest and absorb nutrients; they play a huge role in our immune systems (70 to 80 percent of immune tissue is found in the digestive tract); and they help to manage mood (gut bacteria produce 90 percent of our serotonin).

A balanced microbiome equals health

The goal is to have a balanced and diverse microbiome to promote and maintain health. The modern lifestyle tends to throw this balance off, causing an overgrowth of bad bacteria, a condition known as dysbiosis. This imbalance can lead to inflammation in the gut, which eventually turns into leaky gut syndrome. This is the root of many health conditions, including

• bloating and fullness after eating

• food sensitivities

• fatigue

• chronic joint pain

• headaches

• skin conditions

• weight gain

• ADHD

• mood disorders, and

• autoimmune diseases.

In order to maintain health, we need to tend to the health of this ecosystem living inside of each of us. Think of it like tending a garden. If you give it good compost and water, it will flourish. If you pull the weeds, it will make room for the plants that you want to grow. If you use heirloom seeds, you will maintain healthy biodiversity. On the other hand, if you you feed the garden with chemical fertilizers and manage the weeds and pests with herbicides and pesticides, you will grow nutrient-deficient and chemical-laden vegetables.

What damages the microbiome?

• Sugar: Sugar is one of the biggest culprits in damaging healthy diversity in gut flora, especially when eaten in the quantities of the standard American diet. Sugar feeds bad bacteria, yeasts, and parasites that can cause ill health.

• Antibiotics: Antibiotic medications tend to kill off both good and bad bacteria in the gut, leaving limited good bacteria to protect health. It’s important to remember that 80 percent of the antibiotics consumed aren’t coming from doctors; rather, they come from antibiotic-laden animal products. This is why it is important to eat only organic, free-range, antibiotic-free meats and dairy products.

• Medications: Proton pump inhibitors (gastric acid blocking agents, including Prilosec, Nexium, and Prevacid); non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (including ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen); and oral contraceptives have been shown to upset the microbiome.

• Chronic stress: Stress tends to decrease the biodiversity of the microbiome, so it is important to manage stress and maintain good sleep hygiene.

Building a healthy microbiome

• Being born: The microbiome begins at birth, and depends on our mother’s microbial diversity and whether we’re born through the vaginal canal or not. Sometimes a C-section is necessary, but then extra effort should be made to build up the newborn’s gut flora.

• Eat fermented and sprouted foods: Fermented vegetables, cultured dairy, and sprouted seeds will promote the growth of good bacteria in the gut.

• Eat prebiotic (plant fiber that nourishes healthy gut bacteria) foods: Foods like jicama, Jerusalem artichokes, raw asparagus, raw onions, and garlic feed good bacteria.

• Eat organic: Organically grown and raised vegetables, fruits and animal products will nourish the body and feed biodiversity of the microbiome.

• Take probiotics: Probiotics can help to support a healthy microbiome, especially if you haven’t started to add fermented foods to your diet.

It’s never too late to clean up your diet

If you eliminate processed sugar from your diet today and add in organic vegetables, fruits, and animal products, your microbiome will begin to shift in as little as two days. It may take awhile to heal your gut entirely, but it’s never too late to start reaping the benefits of a healthy diet and a balanced, diverse microbiome.

If you suffer from a sensitive digestive system, remember to start slowly with probiotic supplements and fermented foods. Too much of a good thing will cause a huge die-off of bad bacteria, which is not a comfortable experience. Also, if you find that probiotics and fermented foods only make you feel worse, it would be best to see your nutrition practitioner for additional support.

What you need to know about GMO foods

There has been a lot of talk about GMO (genetically modified organism) crops and foods over the past several years. On one hand, those who are fiercely opposed to growing and consuming these foods say GMOs endanger human health and the environment. Biotech companies, on the other hand, continue to make the argument for GMOs because they increase crop yields and thus produce more food to feed the growing population.

These types of crops are heavily regulated throughout the world, yet the United States continues to increase GMO production. At the state level, there are big debates over labeling laws. Consumer organizations are fighting for foods to be labeled to increase awareness of GMO ingredients in food. Large biotech companies are fighting this tooth and nail.

How can we navigate all of this complex information? What choices should we make? Below I address the issue predominantly from my primary perspective, health, and offer more resources to consult in order to make an informed decision.

What are GMO foods?

GMOs are created in a laboratory by taking genes from one species or organism and inserting them into another to obtain or enhance certain characteristics. Historically, hybridization or breeding has been done within a plant or animal family (plum with apricot, or pig with pig).

When something is genetically engineered or modified, an animal gene may be spliced with a plant gene, something that would never occur in nature.​ As a part of the genetic engineering process, a plant virus is combined with the gene to act as a promoter, something like turning on a switch. It activates the gene and keeps it “on” constantly to increase the effect of this added gene.

Finally, in testing for viability of the GMOs, antibiotic-resistant marker genes are used to saturate the GMOs with antibiotics to see which survive. Survival indicates that the organism has taken on the new DNA.

What traits have been added to GMO crops?

Currently, the primary traits that have been added to GMO crops are herbicide tolerance and the ability of the plant to produce its own pesticide. What this translates to is more toxicity. The plant won’t die when the farmer sprays more herbicide on it, and the plant itself is toxic to insects and anything that eats it. The farmers who are aware of its dangers have already switched to safer alternatives such as roller crimper or crop rollers, which happens to perform the same function as a herbicide, but the struggle to completely remove this chemical is still ongoing.

How can GMOs affect health?

• Toxicity
  As previously mentioned, there are higher herbicide residues (primarily Glyphosate, a.k.a. Round Up) on GMO food crops. This leads to increased toxicity in the human body, which can manifest in many ways, including liver damage, reproductive problems, birth defects and cancer.

• Increased allergies
  In the UK, a 1999 study showed a 50% increase in soy allergies one year after genetically modified soy was introduced by U.S. imports. That is a scary statistic! The theory is that new genes produce an unrecognizable protein that causes a potential allergy. Furthermore, tests show that some people react to genetically modified soy and not to wild, natural soy.

• Potential antibiotic resistance
  A recent study in New Zealand showed a correlation between glyphosate and antibiotic resistance. Despite the fact that the concentrations of glyphosate studied were above the currently approved residue levels on food, this link warns of potential danger.

Which foods to be concerned about

The primary genetically modified crops in the U.S. include soy, cotton, canola, sugar beets, corn, Hawaiian papaya, zucchini, and yellow squash. Despite the fact that this list is relatively short, you must think about all the products derived from these crops, such as soy protein, soy lecithin cornstarch, corn syrup, canola oil, and so much more. Don’t forget about meat, eggs, and dairy products from animals fed with genetically modified feed. Now we have quite a long list!

If you wish to avoid GMO foods, avoid all processed foods unless specifically labeled “Non-GMO” or “Organic.” You can also consult the following shopping guide:

The Non-GMO Shopping Guide

​Where do we go from here?

A big part of the concern regarding GMO foods is that we are venturing into the unknown. Nobody knows what potential problems could occur from tinkering with our food supply in this way. More research must be done before dumping more and more genetically modified foods into our grocery stores. It’s noteworthy that at the end of April the restaurant chain Chipotle made a big splash with its announcement that they would no longer use GMO ingredients, citing the need for more research and to give them a marketing edge.

Our health is of utmost importance, and we should make it our first priority. The environmental impact of biotech farming will also affect our health eventually…not to mention the health of the planet.

Why and how to do an elimination diet

The article on gluten intolerance in the last issue of Red Clover Clinic Newsletter got a great response—thank you! The most common comment was “Now I understand why gluten has become such an important health issue.” The demonstrated interest in gluten intolerance means the obvious topic to discuss next is the elimination diet. 

Elimination diets are a useful tool for two reasons: they can not only unravel food sensitivities, but they also give your body a break by reducing its toxic load. Other than a stool test that screens for antigens, an elimination diet is the only way to figure out which foods are creating issues for an individual. 

People suffering from fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, skin rashes, arthritis, asthma, irritable bowel syndrome or other chronic digestive issues, chronic migraines, and sinus issues should consider doing an elimination diet to see if they have any food sensitivities that are triggering their symptoms. 

Even if you choose to not permanently avoid a food you may be sensitive to, eliminating it completely for a few weeks periodically will help to get your symptoms back under control and make you feel better. It is also a good reminder of how well you can feel if you avoid their triggers most of the time.

There are four main steps to an elimination diet: 

1. Planning what to eat and what to avoid.

2. Avoiding the suspected foods for at least 2 weeks.

3. Challenging your body by adding back the suspected foods one at a time, allowing at least 3 days in between each addition.

4. Creating a new, long-term diet plan based on the results of your testing.

Planning what to eat

A thorough elimination diet will be very structured, eliminating all of the typical foods associated with food sensitivities: wheat, gluten, soy, corn, dairy, eggs, beef, chicken, pork, nightshade vegetables (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplant), peanuts, sulfites, citrus, shellfish, sugar, caffeine, chocolate, alcohol, vinegar, yeast and artificial food additives. Whew!

The foods that can be eaten include: rice, quinoa, millet, non-nightshade vegetables, non-citrus fruits, nuts, seeds, legumes, fresh fish, and wild meats. 

If you are mostly curious about how your body reacts to gluten and dairy, you can do a modified elimination diet that focuses primarily on eliminating all gluten and dairy products. In this modified version, it is still best to eliminate alcohol, caffeine, sugar, yeast and vinegar, in order to avoid yeast overgrowth in the system. Yeast overgrowth, also known as candida, can be an added burden to the immune system and can cause many of the same symptoms listed above. While you’re making the effort, it’s important to give your body a break from all of the potential irritants, and allow it to heal.

Avoiding suspected foods

Once you have your diet planned out, it’s time to avoid all the foods listed above for a minimum of two weeks. You may experience a worsening of your symptoms in the first few days, as your body starts to flush out the toxins associated with your food sensitivity. The symptoms should start to improve after the first week if they are due to a food that you have cut out of your diet. During this period, you may find it helpful to keep a journal, and track the foods you eat and the symptoms you experience.

Adding back suspected foods

After two to three weeks, you are ready to start challenging your body by adding foods back in. If you haven’t already started a food journal, this is when to begin. Be sure to log what you are eating, what your symptoms are, and when they occur. 

Begin by selecting a food that you want to test out first. The test period for each food is 3 days. On the first day, eat a small amount of the food in the morning. If you don’t notice any symptoms, eat a larger portion with lunch and again with dinner. 

For the next 2 days, avoid this food again and see if you notice any symptoms. If the food doesn’t cause symptoms anytime during the 3-day period, it’s unlikely to be a problem food. If this is the case, it’s important to wait to add it back into your diet until you have tested all the other foods on your test list. Now proceed to the next food on your list, and introduce it following the same method.

Creating a long-term diet plan

When every food on your list has been tested, you can start to create a long-term diet based on what you have learned. First and foremost, avoid the foods that caused a reaction. Other than that, it is best to center your diet around organic, whole foods. The primary focus should be on lots of fresh vegetables of all colors, complemented by nuts, seeds, whole grains, and protein from organic/free-range/wild-caught sources. 

The information gleaned from doing an elimination diet can make a profound change in your health. The successful implementation of an elimination diet requires a lot of planning and commitment. If you are ready to commit to the process and need some help, Red Clover Clinic is here for you.