[bernadette]

oh so glad to hear your detox is going well!! Love that you’re inspiring your husband too. Let us know about your experience once you’re done.

Well done for committing to it!!

[bernadette]

 I wanted to share another natural solution that can help lower blood pressure that I just recently came across as I was doing research for the newest adrenal balance course releasing soon.

It’s called RESPeRATE and it’s an FDA regulated device that claims to reduce blood pressure without the need for a prescription. It also has 16 clinical trials proving its effectiveness so this seems promising to me, although I don’t have personal experience to share.

The idea behind why it works is that it helps a person work on breathing exercises (ideally 3 x per day for 15 mins at a time) to help the blood vessels relax and reduce blood pressure over time.

Just thought to share… please do let us know if you end up buying one and using it. Would love to hear your experience if you do.

[bernadette]

 Physio and osteopathy are actually complimentary so they can be helpful during and after prolotherapy, so I wouldn’t delay if you’re feeling inclined to schedule a consultation. But Dr. Suaad would also be in a better position to advise you on these treatment options and the timing of them all.

I did an upright MRI at American Upright – and that’s a whole story on its own. Trying to find a doctor to order an upright MRI through insurance was difficult because unfortunately traditional MRIs pay higher commissions to referring physicians. It’s unfortunate, but money and politics are also involved in healthcare. It’s sad. But I did find an amazing orthopedic surgeon who gladly gave me a requisition (Dr. Stefan Ortner – orthopedic surgeon at Health Bay Polyclinic).

[bernadette]

Hi – I’m happy to hear you’ve lost some weight and increasing your exercise. I respectfully have to disagree with your doctor, as there is plenty that can be done to normalize blood pressure in the body.

The body is always responding to our environment, so what we have to do is put our detective hats on and try to figure out what is causing your body to respond by increasing its blood pressure.

If you haven’t already seen it, here is a handout about hypertension (high blood pressure) in the Symptom Dictionary that lists possible root causes that can be at play.

Let’s go through them together, and let me know what resonates most with you:
•  Chronic stress (high cortisol) leading to loss of potassium

->Cortisol naturally increases with age due to the increased amount of oxidative damage in the body, but in addition to that, how would you rate stress in your life? Emotional, physical and physiological stresses. Has Cortisol ever been measured?
•  Sodium/potassium imbalance (especially potassium)

->Do you avoid salt by any chance? This can actually contribute to high blood pressure, contrary to what most people are told. Unless there is overt kidney disease, natural sea salt and Himalayan salt SHOULD be part of our diets. It’s excess sodium from processed foods and fast foods and processed table salt that should be avoided.

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen me adding ‘sole’ to my glass water bottle. This helps bring on board more electrolytes – especially sodium.

And here’s a video to help correct a potassium deficiency or insufficiency with some food recommendations that you can start to include more of. Here’s another video to see the signs and symptoms of a need for more potassium to help you figure out if that’s the issue. These are all in the Mineral Balance course if you care to dive deeper.
• Nutrient insufficiencies like magnesium to ensure cellular absorption of potassium, and Vitamin B6 & taurine which increases cellular absorption of magnesium & potassium.

->Here’s a video with the signs and symptoms of a magnesium deficiency (also in the Mineral Balance course) and here’s a video how to correct it. All of these nutrients can also be measured in blood if you wish to do some testing like RBC magnesium, potassium and Vitamin B6.
• Obesity and/or lack of exercise

->I’m glad you’re already tackling this root cause. Keep up the effort!
•  Insulin resistance/diabetes – ideal fasting insulin is 5 mIU/ml and HbA1c < 5.3% (causes mineral loss through increased urination & inflammation on lining of blood vessels)  ->Have you ever measured your fasting glucose, fasting insulin and HbA1c? Do you know if blood sugar regulation is an issue for you. If so, then we have a whole course to help address blood sugar dysregulation.
• Heavy metal toxicity (cadmium, arsenic, lead, etc)

->With age, we lose bone mass and with that comes a release of lead into the body. It’s not uncommon for that to happen as we age unfortunately. Are you aware of any exposures in your lifetime to heavy metals? Amalgam fillings? Workplace environment? Consuming a lot of fish? Eating a lot of canned foods? So many toxic exposures today but something to think about and potentially explore if nothing else  I’ve mentioned resonates with you.
• Excess DHT testosterone

->do you experience any of these symptoms that could point to androgen dominance: scalp hair loss, facial/body hair growth, anger, aggression, irritation, quick to snap, acne?
• BPA from canned goods

->BPA is also found in plastic and anything coated with plastic like plastic bottles, cash register receipts, lining of microwavable foods, etc.

As you can see, there’s lots to consider and address, and it’s absolutely possible to normalize blood pressure naturally when we identify and address the root cause.

Please take some time to read through the handouts and watch the videos, and let us know what resonates most with you so we can continue guiding you.

[bernadette]

 I’m so glad you’re finding answers and also finding some relief!! That’s always great to hear.

I can share my personal experience with my neck instability and bulging disc. It got to a point where surgery was offered as well but they couldn’t guarantee that it would provide stability since almost every cervical spine in my neck was affected. The cause of my issues started as a teen when I was in a bad car accident and experienced major whiplash. Over the years, the ligaments surrounding my cervical spine became very lax which created that instability and allowed for bulging discs and extreme/debilitating pain at times where I literally could not move or walk – it became frightening.

The only treatments that helped during acute episodes were chiropractic adjustments and acupuncture. But these sessions starting becoming way too frequent (and expensive) and I needed to find a more permanent solution.

That’s when prolotherapy entered my life and made all the difference. I shared my experience with prolotherapy on Instagram here, and here in my stories if you’d like to see how the procedure is conducted.

By injecting a sugar solution into ligaments, tendons, joints, muscles, etc, it creates irritation in that area to promote natural healing. For me, it helped strengthen the ligaments around my cervical spine, and after 3 sessions (once per month for 3 months), I was a new person. I know it sounds too good to be true, but it actually worked!! I’m still pain free!

Now I don’t want to give you false hope because we’re all so unique, but if your disc bulges are also due to instability in ligaments surrounding that area, prolotherapy might be an option for you too. Definitely worth having a consult with the doctor to see if you’re a candidate. (Dr. Suaad Trebinjac consults at HMS Al Garhoud Private Hospital on Sundays only – rest of the time he’s in Al Ain) The best part is that it was all covered by insurance too!

Now from a root cause perspective, here is a list of risk factors that can lead to a herniated disc:
• Weight. Excess body weight causes extra stress on the disks in the lower back.
• Occupation. Repetitive lifting, pulling, pushing, bending sideways and twisting also can increase the risk of a herniated disk.
• Genetics. Some people inherit a predisposition to developing a herniated disk.
• Smoking. It’s thought that smoking lessens the oxygen supply to disks, causing them to break down more quickly.
• Frequent driving. Being seated for long periods combined with the vibration from the motor vehicle engine can put pressure on the spine.
• Being sedentary. Regular exercise can help prevent a herniated disk.

If any of the above apply to your situation, working to remove these risk factors will also likely help.

[bernadette]

 HCL ease is not an enzyme formula. It only contains pepsin to help break down protein, so yes, it can be taken in addition to enzymes which will cover not only protein breakdown, but carbs and fats too.

[bernadette]

great question and topic. I actually just replied to your other post and shared a handout that we have for supplements that I feel might help you. Here it is again (When to take supplements) and here’s another supplement resource that you might find useful as well (Supplement Resource and Tips). Let me know if this is what you’re looking for or if there’s anything else we should add to this resource.

[bernadette]

I’ll reply to your questions in order below:

1. No need to go vegan and eliminate meat, only processed and cured meats. Here’s the handout again with the list of high histamine foods. You’ll see that fresh or frozen and rapidly thawed meats like chicken/eggs, sheep, goats, beef, wild boar are well tolerated. So no need to restrict animal foods. Only dairy. Here’s a handout of what those foods are.

2. As I mentioned, don’t follow the low histamine handout that I provided to a T. It will feel too restrictive. Instead, use it as a guide to help you identify which foods you’re consuming regularly in larger quantities, that might be contributing to higher histamine levels. So for example, if you’re having sauerkraut or vinegar every day, that’s best avoided. Your diet should follow the VPF principle here.

3. Coconut yogurt is not a yeast, but check the ingredients to make sure none are added for some reason. Eliminating dairy and yeast would be longer term eliminations to give your immune system a break and reduce inflammation. Typically, clients can bring back in foods they’ve eliminated for several months without any issues, but not after doing a lot of work on their gut and immunity. So for now, it’s best to eliminate these for a minimum of 4-6 months, while working on gut health/immunity.

4. DAO can be used for rapid relief when needed for as long as needed. The goal is to NOT need this support because hopefully your histamine levels will become better managed in time as you address the cause. Initially, I have clients take it regularly to see if it makes a difference.

5. I like Thorne and Pure Encapsulations for brands of boswellia and quercetin. You can find more in B Better’s Fullscript dispensary.

6. Regarding the B complex. Thorne’s B Complex #6 has a much higher dosage of B6 so I would NOT start with that. Instead, I usually start off my clients with the Thorne Basic B Complex (very low and slow) for a month or two, and then switch to the B Complex #6 for another month or two.

7. Some clients experience disrupted sleep when taking a B complex in the evenings, so I generally recommend my clients split their doses across breakfast and lunch. Vitamin D should be taken in the morning (logically we are exposed to vitamin D during the day, not at night). In fact, here’s a reference sheet about basic supplements and how best to take them (with/without food).

8. Methylation is a biochemical process that happens billions of times per second in every cell of the body. It basically adds methyl groups to a molecule which in turn tells the body what genes should be turned on and off. An indirect way of measuring methylation status in regular blood work is by measuring the marker called homocysteine. Homocysteine is part of the methylation cycle so if it’s elevated, it could potentially be indicative of methylation issues due to genetic SNPs like MTHFR or a need for B12 and/or protein absorption. Optimal homocysteine is usually between 6 & 7 for your reference. An endocrinologist should be able to order this test.

9. Be prepared to present scientific literature between asthma and GERD, and don’t feel bullied. H Pylori can be tested at a doctor’s office with stool or a breath test (considered gold standard), but I’ve seen many false negatives which is why I prefer the H Pylori stool test by Diagnostic Solutions. We can help with the requisition so you don’t need to go through a doctor for that. Another option is to go through MyMedLab.com and order it directly yourself.

10. My favorite magnesium for general support is the glycinate form. If constipation is an issue, then the citrate form can help with that as well. Pure Encapsulations is usually my go-to for magnesium glycinate, but there are so many brands on Fullscript that you can search for. I also like the emulsified vitamin D by Biotics Research (Bio-DK) and liquid vitamin D by Seeking Health (D3/K2).

Let us know if you have any other questions. I’m so glad you’re finally getting answers. This is the exact reason I created B Better so thank you!

[bernadette]

 thanks for sharing your evening routine.

If you always get cravings after dinner specifically, there’s a few tricks to try and avoid this:

1. Try to increase the amount of healthy fats at dinner (not in the form of oil/butter). Often, cravings hit when there’s an imbalanced ratio of fats to carbs. So try adding in a sprinkle of pine nuts, or have a few walnut pieces, or some olives along with your meal for example. Fats are satiating and can help reduce cravings.

2. Distractions. I would also encourage you to get into the habit of going for a light evening stroll right after dinner. This not only helps reduce the post-prandial glucose curve if the meal was higher in carbs that can lead to sugar cravings, but it also exposes your eyes to the evening colors of the sun (or no sun) to help with sleep, and can serve as a healthy distraction if the habit is emotionally-driven. It’s also just an overall healthy habit to adopt.

3. Amino acid drops under the tongue. Watch this video where I share more tips for tackling cravings. You can also watch this video where I share tips for reducing glucose spikes (which can lead to cravings as well).

Give these a shot and let us know which ones you end up trying and helping you.

[bernadette]

Hi  – yes, in fact you can read more about my UTI protocol here which includes Uva Ursi and D-mannose.

[bernadette]

Hi  – once again, hormones dance together so it’s always best to go upstream and address possible root causes so that the body shifts to a more optimal state of balance. The following are common reasons for higher prolactin:

•Low dopamine (brain hormone)
•Dopamine antagonist medications
•Low GABA (brain hormones)
•High histamine (↓dopamine)
•H2 receptor antagonist medications 
•(ie. Cimetidine)
•SSRI’s depression medications
•Hypothyroidism
•Low vitamin B6
•High cortisol

I encourage you to watch Dr. Carrie Jones’ presentation “Estrogen Gone Wild” in the All Call Recordings. She discusses reasons for high prolactin.

[bernadette]

Hi

1. Correct, I add 1 tsp of the clear salt water to my glass water bottle which is about 750ml.

2. Keep the jar on the counter. I’d put a piece of wax or parchment paper between the metal lid and jar. Salt corrodes metal so it will rust with time.

3. Salt is a natural preservative so no expiry date

[bernadette]

I’d love to see those studies about ginger if you can ask her to share them please.

And those supplements are methylated. As I said in my previous message, some women can’t tolerate those forms.

She can stop for a few days to see if they relieve her symptoms and then look at methyl-free options if it does.

[bernadette]

 my freezer is still something I need to improve on because I still rely a lot on ziplock bags for freezing things. But one way to make it less harmful is to ensure whatever you’re putting in the bag isn’t hot. You can also wrap whatever food item you want to freeze in aluminum foil. It’s going into the freezer so no worries of aluminum leaching into the food.

I do have silicone bags but not enough for everything we freeze. I do also use glass jars for some items and you can also use stainless steel containers with rubber lids in the freezer too.

[bernadette]

correct – it may have some benefits but not necessarily towards your goal. Listen to your body…